Scrapped Princess ep.4-6

December 22, 2003 | 1 Comments

When I saw the first three episodes of this series, I said that that this series needs to improve its pacing. Imagine my surprise to find out that not only episode 4-6 do exactly that, they also unleashed many interesting questions, mysteries, and backstories on top of it. On top of that, these episodes managed to make the characters even more sympathetic. I'm also glad to find that the attitudes, intentions, and allegiances of some of the characters turn out to be quite different than what I previously thought. Or rather, the attitudes and intentions of the characters changes as the series progresses.

Just take a look at Chris Armatile, for example. I really thought that he was going to be one of the regular nemesis that the Casulls have to contend with from episode to episode. That turns out to be wrong at this point in time. Episode 4 shows how Shannon managed to easily beat Chris in another weapon-based combat that occurs not long after Chris kidnapped Uinia. However, instead of turning into a bitter and resentful character, Chris is shown to have a chilvarious side. He's reasonably nice and protective of Uinia. And when he finds out that the church has sent one of 'The Peacemakers' to eliminate Uinia's village (because it has been 'infected' by Pacifica), Chris doesn't hesitate to ask for the Casulls' help to defend the village. And at the end of the day, he ended up fighting against 'The Peacemaker' along with the Casulls.

The 'Peacemaker', however, is not one of the usual assassins sent to dispatch Pacifica. He can create a black blob-like substance that gobbles up some of the poor villagers. He also has the ability to turn all humans, including Shannon and Raquel, into mindless zombies who will listen to nothing but his command. However, when Pacifica was in danger of getting killed by Shannon's sword, Pacifica unleashed a desperation scream which reverberates throughout the village, creating a black circular ring which undoes the Peacemaker's control of the humans. Throughout all of this event, Pacifica's sadness at having to watch other people suffer because of her existence is very palpable. Ironically, it is that sadness and anger that produces another wave of mystical reverberations that freezes the black blob, allowing Raquel and Shannon to destroy it.

The Peacemaker himself, however, seems quite okay to simply see a confirmation that Pacifica really is the 'Scrapped Princess' and for now decided to leave the villagers unharmed. Meanwhile, from afar, Zephiriss observed the going ons below. She noticed how despite of her human form, Pacifica is able to resist the Peacemaker's control. She surmised that Pacifica is definitely the poison that will destroy the world, the one last hope that Zephiriss' master has left behind. Meanwhile below, Pacifica is left behind to broke down in tears, only consoled by her two siblings. Despite having saved the entire villagers, none of the villagers are keen to have her around. However, when the Casulls are about to depart the village, Uinia with Chris' encouragement decides to go against the villagers' opinions and invites Pacifica to return to the village whenever she feels like it because Uinia will be waiting for her friend.

In episode 5, Pacifica's life is in even more danger than ever before. Especially now that her status as the 'Scrapped Princess' is confirmed. Bounty hunters who are interested in rewards are starting to come after her. One of those is a guy who looks like a musician but his instrument is one that is used to command a group of poisonous bugs instead of making music. The guy introduce himself to Shannon as Kidaf Gillot or as some people called him, 'The Silencer'. It doesn't take long for him to successfully ordered one of his bugs to poisoned Pacifica. Unable to return to the village, the Casull has no other option but to contact Doyle Barrett, the local doctor who used to be the head of the Amber Knights, Leo's favourite elite soldier group. Just in case someone decides to come after Pacifica while the others are trying to obtain an antidote, Raquel asks Shannon to take care of Pacifica while she tries to contact Doyle Barrett.

Just like in episode one, this episode allows the viewers to see Raquel's mastery of her magic as well as her resolve when it comes to protecting her sister. Raquel believes that no matter what the Oracle of Grendel (who prophecied Pacifica's world-poisoning ability) said, Pacifica is her precious little sister and she'll do whatever it takes to ensure that Pacifica stays alive. It is also in this episode that the cat is out of the bag. In an attempt to make Leo and Doyle to turn against Raquel, the Silencer lets them know that Pacifica is the 'poison that will destroy the world'. Doyle, who once was trusted with the task of dispatching the baby Pacifica into a cliff is relieved to know that Pacifica is still alive. He never once believed that Pacifica is capable of destroying the world but was unable to resist the order from the King and has lived with the guilt of 'killing' the baby Pacifica ever since. Leo, on the other hand, begins to question whether or not he should associate himself with Pacifica and her siblings. Regardless, the group managed to get the antidote from the Silencer. Mostly thanks to Raquel's determination and magic power.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Chris has returned to his Special Forces base. In there, he was given a new assignment where he has to investigate the Oracle of Grendel from 15 years ago and her connection to the Scrapped Princess. This, however, is not a formal investigation. Chris must infiltrate the royal family's Castle Zauel and find the truth behind the Scrapped Princess. In order to do this, his superior, Baroness Bailaha faked his identity to make the people inside the Castle believe that Chris is actually her adopted son. In the Castle Chris gets to meet a young man who turned out to be Pacifica's twin brother, Prince Forcis. Forcis questions Chris whether or not he knows if the 'rumour' about his twin being alive is true. The Baroness, however, managed to divert the question and prevent Chris from having to divulge his knowledge that Pacifica is still alive.

The 6th episode continues from episode 5 with Chris still investigating Castle Zauel and its inhabitants. Chris now appears to be making friends with Prince Forcis, Pacifica's twin. Forcis seems to be concerned about Pacifica and tells Chris that his mother may feel the same way. In the middle of their conversation, they are interrupted by the presence of the king, Forcis' father, who questions the identity of Chris. However, upon hearing that Chris is the adopted 'son' of Baroness Bailaha, the king allows Chris to continue conversing with Forciss. Meanwhile, while travelling along the forest, Shannon and Raquel are abducted by the same Peacemaker who threatened to destroy Uinia's village back in episode 4. Pacifica, who is desperate to find her foster-siblings receives a help from the reluctant Leo, as well as an unexpected help from the Silencer who poisoned her back in episode 5. The Silencer orders his bugs to find the whereabouts of Shannon and Raquel, allowing Pacifica to find the location of her siblings.

At the same time, thanks to the Silencer's bugs, Zephiriss also managed to find out the Peacemaker's secret hideout. Agitated with Zephiriss' words, the Peacemaker transform into a strange being that floats over the sky. However, just as he's about to destroy Shannon and Raquel, Shannon make a request of wanting to protect Pacifica and to obtain power to help her. This request allows Zephiriss to turn Shannon into her temporary master, a D-Knight (Dragoon Knight), and herself into a sword that is capable of not only dispelling the Peacemaker's attacks but also slicing it dead.

Once the Peacemaker is defeated, Zephiriss reveal to the Casulls that she is a 'weapon' that has been handed down to the humans a long time ago. When humans have the will the fight against the God, Mauzel, Zephiriss will appear as the final Dragoon that was hidden within space to help them. Zephiriss, however, explains that she's not fully resurrected into this world and that she has a time limit when it comes to the length in which she can appear in the humans' world. She also can't interfere in the fight between humans. However, when the Casulls fight the remaining three Peacemakers as well as the God, Mauzel, they can call for her help.

The episode ends with Leo parting ways with the Casulls and bids goodbye to Pacifica because he wants to go back to the Taurus village and think about what justice really means. However, he also tells Pacifica that if he does find the answer to the question, there's a possibility that the next time they meet, they will be enemies. I find this interesting because while at the moment Leo may not even be able to fight either Shannon or Raquel, it at least shows that no one in this show is what they appear. Just like real people, these characters often change their mind about the people that they meet along the way. All in all, this ever-changing opinion of the series' characters makes them unpredictable and creates a rather intricate storyline that forces the Casulls to be careful of who they should trust in their journey.

© memento 2003