r/anime • u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ • 2d ago
Rewatch Simoun 20th Anniversary Rewatch Episode 15
"Amuria was never looking at me. To both of them, I'm just a tool."
<- Episode 14 | Index Thread | Episode 16 ->
Today's Eyecatch: Paraietta | Aer
Selected Harmony: #1
Discussion Prompts
- Q1: The Emerald Ri-Maajon draws moths to the flame. Does Dominura have a death wish?
- Q2: What do you think about Wapourif's crises of faith, and his relationship with the simoun, the sibyllae, and Mornias in particular?
Tomorrow's Questions, Today!
- [ep 16 Q1:] How many times has Paraietta made an error in judgement since trying to assume command? What has this done to her ego?
- [ep 16 Q2:] What do you think about the use of Dezaki postcard memories in this episode and the show in general?
- [ep 16 Q3:] Why did Dominura destroy the shrine? What did she see in the helix?
- [ep 16 Q4:] What meaning is there in Dominura's and Limone's sacrifice sacrifice with the immediate arrival Chor Tempest and the Arcus Prima?
Trivia: The composer for Simoun is Toshiko Sahashi, who composed the soundtrack for all four seasons of Full Metal Panic, all of Gundam Seed, and Gunslinger Girl.
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u/Great_Mr_L https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L 2d ago
First-Timer
On today’s episode of Simoun: The ones who ought to be playing hide-and-seek are the Sibyllae that flew off and then never showed up again. They’ve hidden themselves so well that I have no idea where they went.
Aaeru and Neviril are finally back. It's impressive that they could fly for that long without needing to take a break to eat or go to the bathroom.
Going back to the chapel is such a good setting for Wapourif feeling regret about his choice to defy religious doctrine and take apart a Simoun. By extension, this is also Wapourif feeling regret about acting on his romantic feelings towards Morinas. More tragic romance.
It’s so funny that Morinas’s ass is right there on the screen while Wapourif laments, “I should not have touched them.”
HOLY SHIT!!! I was joking around but then Morinas just forced Wapourif’s hand to touch her breast! Morinas is not happy at all at Wapourif’s words! I assume Morinas was happy that Wapourif kissed her and is now extremely upset that he’s backing off by saying he should never have done that. I’d also be upset if someone kissed me and then immediately said it was a mistake.
Like all the other Sibyllae, I’m also surprised that Aaeru backed off when Pariaetta told her not to fly. It is funny to see the other Sibyllae say it’s out of character for Aaeru to be considerate of others.
Of course the drama-loving Floe would enjoy watching Aaeru’s usual troublemaking antics.
Wow, go Neviril! I love how Neviril called out Aaeru for trying to apologize without even knowing what she was apologizing for or why Neviril was feeling so down in the first place. An apology like that is worthless.
Oof, that’s rough. Interacting with Aaeru has made Neviril conclude that Amuria looked at her the same way. Neviril was just a tool so they could fly higher.
Pariaetta is once again showing maturity here, refusing to let Neviril even ask to be her partner right now because she knows she won’t be able to resist that offer and will give in to the obsession she’s been trying to overcome.
For all I complimented Pariaetta above, she is still definitely letting her feelings for Neviril (and also Aaeru) disproportionately influence her command decisions. I can see trouble brewing.
Morinas must really be feeling down about Wapourif if she isn’t visiting the Simouns.
It’s cute that, despite her protestations of it being a kids’ game, Limone actually got into hide-and-seek once she started playing.
Dominura knows the lyrics to the song from Aaeru’s music box?
Ah, so it’s a song of migrants who are searching for a peaceful land. If Dominura was one of those migrants, then it stands to reason that Aaeru’s family were also migrants at some point.
Wow, Dominura’s backstory is pretty messed up. Chor Dextra was formed with the expectation that they would probably die trying to perform the Emerald Ri Maajon, but Dominura was okay with that. She was so happy to make it to the Holy Land, that she would gladly die for the Holy Land because that death would give her life meaning.
Is the implication that all of Chor Dextra came from this same group of migrants as Dominura? If so, then that’s really fucked up for the Holy Land’s leadership to specifically select migrants for a mission with near certain death.
At least Pariaetta recognizes that she’s no good as a commander in her current state. She can’t make any good decisions. Her and Aaeru are also on a collision course once again.
It really is odd how so many of the Sibyllae haven’t returned from their flights yet and haven’t brought any news of enemy sightings, but the Messis’s alarm keeps going off to indicate enemies are nearby.
Good on Neviril for taking charge when she could tell she needed to, but Pariaetta really is at a low point right now to have fallen so far.
Dominura says she saw something beyond the helical motors when she looked inside them, but what exactly was it? Maybe it was something so otherworldly that it’d be impossible for her to put it into words.
Dominura is back to acting creepy around Limone, promising Limone that they will draw the Emerald Ri Maajon together.
Dominura’s backstory and motivation is so fascinating to me. Her devotion to the Holy Land makes a lot of sense knowing that she and her family were migrants. We don’t know where her family originally came from, but it’s likely someplace that they considered to be far worse. Dominura is someone who is thankful just to be in the Holy Land. Of course she would be willing to give up so much and take so many risks to protect her new home. This is also why she’s willing to go hard on militarizing the Sibyllae for the purpose of protecting the Holy Land.
Dominura’s willingness to give up her life is pretty sad. Dominura really feels like she herself is worthless. The only reason her life is worth living is because she was taken in by the Holy Land. So, she’s willing to give up her life for the Holy Land. Doing so would give her life a meaning it would otherwise lack.
Pariaetta is falling apart. Yun was right when she warned Pariaetta about being disproportionately concerned for Neviril. Keeping Neviril safe is the main thing motivating so many of Pariaetta’s decisions. Even rejecting Neviril’s request to become partners falls under that motivation. After all, Pariaetta was the one who said that the Sibyllae are a bunch of children who end up inadvertently hurting each other whenever they try to help heal the wounds of someone else. Paraetta knows she’d be too obsessed with Neviril as a partner and end up hurting Neviril instead of helping, so she ends up rejecting the proposal. The rest of Pariaetta’s decisions are similarly affected. Pariaetta isn’t ignorant of this. She can tell that her command is faltering and that her decisions aren’t up to snuff. Her concern for Neviril is clashing with her desire to do well as a commander, which is causing her to doubt herself even more. Then there’s the issue of others like Aaeru and Dominura directly challenging her, which just makes Paraietta’s spiraling worse.
QOTD
1) I don’t know if Dominura has a death wish per se, more like she doesn’t care if she lives or dies. She would gladly give up her life, but only in the context of sacrificing it knowing that she had advanced the cause of developing the Emerald Ri Maajon. Her goal is to master the Emerald Ri Maajon and save the Holy Land. Whether she lives or dies is secondary.
2) I talked about it a lot in yesterday’s thread, but I think Wapourif’s character journey has been fascinating to watch. It’s one of the strongest character journeys we’ve seen thus far.
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u/rickamore 2d ago
They’ve hidden themselves so well that I have no idea where they went.
Removed so plot can happen without them in the way.
It really is odd how so many of the Sibyllae haven’t returned from their flights yet and haven’t brought any news of enemy sightings, but the Messis’s alarm keeps going off to indicate enemies are nearby.
This was driving me nuts. If they were gone 20 minutes to an hour to go scout a reasonable perimeter and come back, sure, but to just fuck off for like a whole day... you have no way to communicate, do not do this. They need to invent radio communication asap.
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u/Great_Mr_L https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L 2d ago
This was driving me nuts. If they were gone 20 minutes to an hour to go scout a reasonable perimeter and come back, sure, but to just fuck off for like a whole day... you have no way to communicate, do not do this. They need to invent radio communication asap.
Yeah, it should be much more worrying that the Simouns have been gone for so long when the alarm keeps going off that enemies are in the area. That's a potential sign they might have run into those enemies and gotten into trouble.
It is curious that they don't have radio communication, but I imagine a lot of their technology was inspired by the helical motors and so they never went down that particular path of technological development.
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u/The_Draigg 2d ago
HOLY SHIT!!! I was joking around but then Morinas just forced Wapourif’s hand to touch her breast! Morinas is not happy at all at Wapourif’s words! I assume Morinas was happy that Wapourif kissed her and is now extremely upset that he’s backing off by saying he should never have done that. I’d also be upset if someone kissed me and then immediately said it was a mistake.
Yeah, I'm also getting the feeling that Morinas would actually be down for a relationship with Wapourif, if only that Wapourif actually committed to chasing after it instead of wavering back and forth on his beliefs. You've got to commit, my guy.
Is the implication that all of Chor Dextra came from this same group of migrants as Dominura? If so, then that’s really fucked up for the Holy Land’s leadership to specifically select migrants for a mission with near certain death.
It figures that the Holy Land would consider migrants expendable. After all, they were born outside of Tempus Spatium's grace, so the Holy Land probably felt that they simply weren't worth as much compared to natural citizens, regardless of how skilled they could be. With how insular and dogmatic the Holy Land's leadership can be, this perfectly tracks with them.
Pariaetta is falling apart. Yun was right when she warned Pariaetta about being disproportionately concerned for Neviril. Keeping Neviril safe is the main thing motivating so many of Pariaetta’s decisions. Even rejecting Neviril’s request to become partners falls under that motivation. After all, Pariaetta was the one who said that the Sibyllae are a bunch of children who end up inadvertently hurting each other whenever they try to help heal the wounds of someone else. Paraetta knows she’d be too obsessed with Neviril as a partner and end up hurting Neviril instead of helping, so she ends up rejecting the proposal. The rest of Pariaetta’s decisions are similarly affected. Pariaetta isn’t ignorant of this. She can tell that her command is faltering and that her decisions aren’t up to snuff. Her concern for Neviril is clashing with her desire to do well as a commander, which is causing her to doubt herself even more. Then there’s the issue of others like Aaeru and Dominura directly challenging her, which just makes Paraietta’s spiraling worse.
Paraietta is also someone who really just needs to commit to a decision, even if it's a harsh one. Although the show has framed indecisiveness as a good thing in certain ways, such as refusing to go to the Spring, this is definitely one of the more harmful examples. Although for her own sake, I do think that Paraietta should just let Neviril go. For as much as she's obsessed with her, she also has never taken any opportunity to really become anything more than her loyal follower. And given how much that's been eating Paraietta up inside, it's just for the best to be rid of that entirely.
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u/Great_Mr_L https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L 2d ago
It figures that the Holy Land would consider migrants expendable. After all, they were born outside of Tempus Spatium's grace, so the Holy Land probably felt that they simply weren't worth as much compared to natural citizens, regardless of how skilled they could be. With how insular and dogmatic the Holy Land's leadership can be, this perfectly tracks with them.
That is about how I see it as well. Since the migrants weren't natural citizens, they were considered expendable. The irony is that one of those migrants, Dominura, is probably the most devoted character to the idea of protecting the Holy Land as a country rather than serving as a Sibylla for religious reasons.
Although for her own sake, I do think that Paraietta should just let Neviril go. For as much as she's obsessed with her, she also has never taken any opportunity to really become anything more than her loyal follower. And given how much that's been eating Paraietta up inside, it's just for the best to be rid of that entirely.
I would agree. Paraietta even seemed like she had accepted that idea on some level when she told Aaeru to become Neviril's partner. But she hasn't committed to it fully because Pariaetta keeps flip-flopping on it.
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u/theangryeditor 2d ago
It's impressive that they could fly for that long without needing to take a break to eat or go to the bathroom.
The Simoun provides
Of course the drama-loving Floe would enjoy watching Aaeru’s usual troublemaking antics.
Our lovely little shit stirrer
Oh my, Pariaetta looks so dignified in her eyecatch.
She's quite dashing. Kaimu has good taste.
Dominura’s really wolfing all that food down
Just like me after I enter a fugue state and forget to eat for days
Pariaetta is falling apart. Yun was right when she warned Pariaetta about being disproportionately concerned for Neviril.
Yun was right but even so we love a girl that yearns
Since Gundam Seed was mentioned I remembered that I found Paraietta very reminiscent of Athrun at this stage, where her obsessive feelings and hesitation over them made her a mess and exposed her lack of leadership skills.
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u/Great_Mr_L https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L 2d ago
The Simoun provides
Imagine if it was like G-Reco and the Simoun came equipped with a built-in toilet.
She's quite dashing. Kaimu has good taste.
Since Gundam Seed was mentioned I remembered that I found Paraietta very reminiscent of Athrun at this stage, where her obsessive feelings and hesitation over them made her a mess and exposed her lack of leadership skills.
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u/HereticalAegis https://myanimelist.net/profile/XthGen 2d ago
First-Timer
Episode 15:
That was a very moody, broody episode. Feels like half the Chor is ambling around broken to some degree or another:
Neviril is wrestling with the Amuria emotional baggage and rightfully confusing scarousal toward Aaeru. And also taking uncalled for shots from Floe too. Rough.
Aaeru understands she did something wrong but has the emotional intelligence of a light novel protagonist.
Kaimu has not fully addressed the trauma with Alti and whatever totally real grey area that isn't made up and definitely 100% exists.
Morinas has lost the sauce with Waipouf and is officially out of moving bodies to hit on.
Dominura had her soul stolen by a lesser Junji Ito adaptation.
And Paraietta is trying to be the Utena Tenjou understudy but landing somewhere closer to community theater Kaede J. Nouvel. I'm sorry, that was mean, Kaede doesn't deserve that.
It's such that the game of Hide and Seek Aaeru and Morinas play with Limone reads once again as a big flashing metaphor for the state of Chor Tempest: these girls are all emotionally lost and scattered, and before they even get a chance to find each other—to wit, Morinas finishing her count and searching for the Limone Lime duo (yes, I just wanted an excuse to use that nickname again)—the raid alarm goes off and it's back to war operations before anyone has a chance to be found. They remain lost as they get sent out two by two to face an enemy we're we don't even know the scale of right now.
It's also pretty ironic that the most level-headed, emotionally stable of the bunch right now is probably Limone. Which isn't great news with Dominura trading dead fish eyes for dead set on my pet loli prodigy eyes. I honestly have no idea how far or in which direction they're actually going to take that pair. I doubt they complete the emerald ri maajon since, you know, Aaeru and Neviril exist. But I also don't really buy anyone in Chor Tempest dying yet—though if anyone does, Dominura rushing recklessly into trying to complete the emerald ri maajon is as likely a candidate as there is—which leaves what for their relationship? I guess some kind of sister relationship maybe? But the show has shown it's willing to go all the way with its taboos, so who knows.
QotD:
No, I think she genuinely wants to complete the emerald ri maajon. She seems like the kind of person who would be extra motivated to complete ut perfectly without dying precisely because she's the only Chor Dextra member who survived. She's hella naive though, thinking all she needs is willpower and her loli prodigy.
He's here to be the avatar of one of Simoun's main running themes, the non-Sibylla stand-in offering average person perspective we otherwise cannot get with a cast of almost exclusively holy Sibyllae. He's also one of the most well executed explorations of theme in the show so far. His struggle between faith, desire, and duty is pretty pointed and well built and ties in nicely to some of the other themes Simoun is playing around with.
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u/Malipit 2d ago
First timer, french fansubs, 480P quality found on a totally legal streaming site. Perfect conditions for that rewatch
On today's episode : A ragequit from Paraietta, a suprised Pikachu imitation from three sibyllae and an error from Studio Deen as there should be three Simouns remaining of the Messis here instead of four
Simoun does have a lot of self-contained episodes focusing on one character. But its become tiring to me that said episodes doesn't have a proper resolution and kind of leave that subplot just hanging as it goes on another arc.
This time, Wapourif got his episode yesterday with that heresy now burdening his soul. And all we got for a resolution is him atoning his sins at the church. And Morinas scolding him that if he considers himself unworthy of laying his hand on a holy artefact, he shouldn't try to lay his hands on Sibyllae as well... Which I guess is a way for Morinas to cope with the fact Wapourif may never flirt with her like she wanted ?
And that's it. Wapourif is unceremoniously shoved on the side whith his character arc as a new hot topic arrive with the Archipelago forces closing in on the Messis. We have 10 episodes left and now several loose threads to resolve. There is still time but it would be nice to start addressing them.
Anyway, now that Dominura is out of the pictures. It becomes painfully apparent that Chor Tempest Sibyllae are just teenage girls at the end of the day. Not seasonned soldiers who can deal with the crisis at hand in an efficient manner. And despite Neviril pilot skills and Paraietta resolve, no one among them have what it takes to be a good leader as for now.
Hence why they grow distant from each other, going on that suicide mission patrol one by one, playing hide and seek, and having heavy rain pouring on them to make it clear they can't act together and rather hide from each other than faces the internal issues they have to solve them.
Even Dominura miraculous return won't do much as her guidance is too clouded by that rain to be of any help right now.
The only thing that certain about her is that nice death flag put on her head following her interactions with Limone.
Questions of the day
The Emerald Ri-Maajon draws moths to the flame. Does Dominura have a death wish?
What do you think about Wapourif's crises of faith, and his relationship with the simoun, the sibyllae, and Morinas in particular?
It would be nice to have more screentime for him.
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u/Malipit 2d ago
Theories corner
Theories in progress
From episode 1
Given the huge religious aspect of Simulacrum culture. I smell some shenanigans about higher ups knowing much more than they let appears and will be the actual villains of the story. And I'm sorry, but the character design of Onasia doesn't convey a ''good girl'' energy. But Onasia seemed the only reasonable people among the Holy Land Parliament. Making her either a Palpatine level manipulator or an actual good person.
Following the previous theory and how the Archipelago pilots were portrayed. I suspect there will be a team-up between Sibyllae and Archipelago pilots against a greater threat.
From episode 2
People on Daikuuriku may not be born the same way we are on Earth. I don't recall seeing someone pregnant in the two episode nor talking about pregnancy. Erif mentionned his body will progressively develop a male chest and voice, but said nothing about his genitals growing a penis. And the Chor Tempest captain said they needed an equivalent number of male and female citizens for the creation of a nation, not for reproductive needs. So maybe there is a place similar to a source where baby girls comes from ? One that will dispatch those new souls, randomly or equally, to every nation on the planet ? And Simulacrum retains a classic family structure with parents and children. Meaning that if they born other than sexual intercourse, it's likely each children is either assigned to a family like they are assigned a gender. Or that there is a reproduction through lewd hand-holding act.
The Archipelago pilots here to take pictures of Simulacrum battleship might be a foreshadowing for a future reveal about them developing similar looking battleships of their own. Somehow, Dominura is aware of a new Archipelian aircraft stationned in their flying fortress. Could that be it ?
From episode 3
- The Simoun tech used by Simulacrum may not be used for act of violence. Another watcher mused about Amuria dying because she used the emerald Ri-Majoon to kill other living beings. And this episode have some Sibyllae lamenting that their battleship used to be a place for artistic performance with their ballroom. Could it be that Simulacrum theocracy misused the Simoun technology to assert their dominance over other nations ? And the way the Simoun core activated through Kaimu and Paraietta feelings enforce the fact those aircraft are powered by love rather than hatred. But given the outrage inside the Parliament when Neviril speak about becoming fighters as well as priestess, there is at least a part of the theocraty that believes the Simoun tech is still used for ceremonial purposes.
From episode 4
- Magnafeana had some interesting thoughts on the very origins of the Spring :
I wonder who the first one to go to the spring was and what life was like back then. What came first: was everyone born AFAB because God is a woman and my Eve x Lilith ship is finally validated, or people were born a spectrum of sexes, but a disease caused all future generations to be AFAB? And if so—how long ago did that happen?
From episode 7
- deus_machinarum speculated on how Tempus Spatium and Animus divine figures complete each other. Implying they derivate from an old religion or a old god who got fractured in two :
I need to talk about names of the god for a bit, I apologize if this has been mentioned already, I might've missed it: One the one hand we have Tempus Spatium(space time in modern parlance) and on the other hand we have Animus(simplistically: the soul, I'm also told by anime fandom that Japan has a very old animistic tradition i.e. ascribing life to inanimate objects which in modern times manifests as e.g. easier acceptance of robotic caretakers for eldery people); when we combine the two we get a whole so to speak, the inner world and outer world. It's easy to see how this could mean different but still related parts of the same wholeness. Definitely an angle I will keep an eye out for
From episode 8
- Given Aaeru's name signifcation, she could be of Plumbum descent. New development with this episode : Dominura's immigrants song being like the melody from Aaeru's music box is a serious hint of the later origins.
From episode 14
- The emerald Ri-Majoon is the most powerful one. But a caster who would use it for purely destructive purpose would have her essence dissolved and merged into the Simoun core. That would explain Amuria's disappearing without leaving a trace and Chor Dextra disappearing -save Dominura- as they tried the emerald Ri-Majoon for military purpose. And Sibyllae having already casted the emerald Ri-Majoon would be sensitive enough to discern said Sibyllae essence trapped inside the helix. Hence why Dominura reacted so violently to the Helix interior and why Aaeru sensed her distress.
Confirmed theories
There is no other Spring outside Simulacrum and only its inhabitants get to chose their gender : confirmed by that Archipelago solider in episode 4 who was forucefully made a man through artificial means.
Ri-Majoon does comes from the Sibyllae soul/heart/lesbian power and not the Simoun itself : Althougt it comes for Dominura speculations, there is so much occurrences as for now it can be counted as confirmed.
Jossed theories
- Ri-Majoon are automatically generated by the Simoun aircraft and the Sibyllae jobs is to interpret them correctly to perform the corresponding figures : Aaeru lines in episode 4 confirm it's the Sibyllae who initiate the desired Ri-Majoon
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u/The_Draigg 2d ago
an error from Studio Deen as there should be three Simouns remaining of the Messis here instead of four
At least this case of Deening isn't as bad as some of the characters looking like their wax voodoo dolls are being held over and open fire to have their faces melt off.
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u/moichispa https://myanimelist.net/profile/moichispa 2d ago
It is the infamous Deen quality memes from the 2000's
It might be related to the boss deciding to give the workers a better job life balance and schedule.
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u/The_Draigg 2d ago
Yeah, probably so. And you can’t really complain against that, since it’s basic decency.
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u/moichispa https://myanimelist.net/profile/moichispa 2d ago
Yeah, I used to make fun of the faces back on the day but since I read about the boss idea I like to say that. I don't mind some derp here and there if the people making the anime are happy.
They manage it better nowadays, so it is fine (at least the series I watched).
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u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 2d ago
Simoun does have a lot of self-contained episodes focusing on one character. But its become tiring to me that said episodes doesn't have a proper resolution and kind of leave that subplot just hanging as it goes on another arc.
Yeah, I made a similar observation yesterday about how this last stretch of the show doesn't really like to extend narrative beats over more than one episode, and doesn't resolve stuff in a more typical segmented style but leaves it out to stew afterwards.
I don't think this is a problem right now myself because of what the show generally wants to be going for in how it handles both the character drama and the larger themes (As in, let everyone stew together in drama, and only then, probablyt after it already explodes, get resolutions), though it is still pretty unusual, but it does also put a lot of weight on the eventual conclusions, which could defintely prove a problem depending on how well it handles the big plate it built for itself here.
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u/deus_machinarum 2d ago
First Timer
Not a lot of time today so I'm going to focus on the QOTD:
I don't think she has a death wish per se, I think she wants to(or has been brainwashed into, her connections to the religious and political side of things run deep) protect Simulacrum, no matter what and that might include sacrificing herself. I'm kinda hoping she would choose to live for Limone though, should it come to such an extreme decision.
I think it's very interesting since in Waporif's case he has already undergone the gender transformation at the holy spring so he HAS witnessed the potency of the faith first hand yet now he is forced to accept the reality that it is all seemingly based on machines and technology. That is to say there is no spiritual meaning or any sort of guidance behind it all. And it makes me wonder it that realization could retro-actively make him doubt his gender decision since that is intrinsically linked to an actor of the faith. It could have been his wish back then but it could also have been forced upon him(like we saw in certain flashbacks at the spring) but having the choice made for him he could have eased his mind by assuming it was a choice of a higher being. That possibility is now gone. As for his relationship with Morinas: I think they fit each other very well and could also work as a pair in this new non-faith base paradigm. It might even help since it strips her of her special status as an untouchable Sybilla.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 2d ago
Rewatch Host and First Rewatcher
- I sure hope somebody else is watching the border while everybody is vacationing in this forest.
- They really should have sharked that thing a few episodes ago
- This is the second time the priestess have pointed out Paraietta has changed from a religious mindset to a military mindset.
- Is that a Gunpla Messis?
- Everbody's pairs are getting scrambled
- The sibyllae right, Aer is getting really passive...
Everybody is fighting everybody for no reason. I think it's the new script writer.
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u/rickamore 2d ago
I think it's the new script writer.
Definitely seems like there was a sharp left turn very recently that happens to converge with a writer change. I'm not pointing any fingers but if the script fits...
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u/moichispa https://myanimelist.net/profile/moichispa 2d ago
The religious to militar mindset/language use is one of the big points of Simoun, other characters have swifted as well but it is often pointed on Paraietta for some reason.
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u/Great_Mr_L https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L 2d ago
Everbody's pairs are getting scrambled
We have to make the yuri love dodecahedron even more complex than ever before.
The sibyllae right, Aer is getting really passive...
Which is the opposite of her previous method of simply bulldozing over people who didn't agree with her.
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u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee 2d ago
First-Timer
I forgot to mention it yesterday, but I was actually expecting the forced chest grab yesterday. My anticipation was before Morinas started talking about how she considers the Simoun divine, though. It's like.. Wapourif's relationship with the Simoun is identical to his relationship to the Sibyllae. He desperately wants to cross the line, but also fears the consequences too much. Most of the rest of the cast can see this, and a couple like Floe and Morinas are sympathetic to it. They understand that they're just normal people who have had the divine thrust upon them.. much like the Simoun are simply machines that merely operate through divinity.
We often talk about people becoming the mask that they wear.. are machines really so different? When was the last time a chainsaw was used for surgery?
I appreciate Aaeru and Morinas letting Limone just.. be a kid. For a bit. She puts on a strong front, but Limone is still very young. The weight of expectations has her mostly focused on "bettering herself" like all the foolish adults tell her to do, but learning how to have fun is an important skill too, and one all-too-easily forgotten.
Questions
No, not at all. I think Dominura's breakdown was because she had to reckon the fear against her lack of a death wish, and she woke up because she realized that she had to perform the Emerald and live to honor her dead compatriots.
Discussed above.
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u/theangryeditor 2d ago
He desperately wants to cross the line, but also fears the consequences too much. Most of the rest of the cast can see this, and a couple like Floe and Morinas are sympathetic to it.
They understand that they're just normal people who have had the divine thrust upon them.. much like the Simoun are simply machines that merely operate through divinity.
We can get some strong symbolism out of that connection, like the mechanical shell installed over the Simoun's helix engines for piloting and control being representative of the social and structure expectations placed on the characters in order for them to serve their role, whether as religious symbols, as soldiers, or as adult members of society (in donning a mask and choosing their gender). And of course for Wapourif in particular stripping down the Simoun to its bare parts not only being a test of his faith but also an extension of his desire to strip down Morinas.
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u/Great_Mr_L https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L 2d ago
They understand that they're just normal people who have had the divine thrust upon them.. much like the Simoun are simply machines that merely operate through divinity.
That has to be especially rough for how young the Sibyllae are. They are still quite young themselves and going through all the usual angst of growing up, in addition to having these divine expectations placed on them. Having romantic feelings would be quite a complicated situation when the Sibyllae are also expected to be separate from the rest of the world, unreachable by others.
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u/zadcap 2d ago
It really makes me think about the end of this all too, which I guess was what the beginning? The way these girls are being raised, treated as borderline holy children, their life dedicated to flying the holy machines to make holy symbols in the sky, almost literally everything we see about them and their life is in dedication to the Simoun/Sibaylle relationship. Until one day it's not. They turn 17 and go to the spring and can't fly anymore, and what is the purpose of your life now? What other skills have you gained, what training have you had outside of being a holy pilot? Oh well, go get a job now, I guess, because you're too old to be holy anymore.
They are a sperate, holy existence, right up until they aren't. Is it any wonder Neviril doesn't want to go to the spring? Is not just the scary choice of gender ahead of her, she'll have to give up everything she's ever known, been raised for, is considered the unquestioned best at. The top pilot of the top chor, upon going to the spring, will never pilot a Simoun again.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 2d ago
Did I mention this already? It reminds me a lot of the real-life Kumari that we all learned about in the FLAG rewatch. Almost the exact same situation, except the Sibyllae are much less special and probably get dropped even harder.
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u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee 2d ago
Which is why the stuff with Limone in this episode is so important! It's a reinforcement of how young the cast are.
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u/LittleIslander https://anilist.co/user/LittleIslander 2d ago
First Time Sibylla
So they can write a strong dynamic for the stupid age gap couple, but not the main pair.
Honestly, I did not expect to hear anything about Dominura or the Morinas/Waporif plotline this episode given the show’s penchant for putting things on the backburner. Even if it’s only a couple scenes, I’m really glad we actually addressed the tension between Morinas and Waporif. Whether it’s intentional or not, “I never should have touched something so sacred” is a double entendre and Morinas takes the “fine, have it your way” route.
For some reason, I always gravitate towards these obsessive Mikasa types as my initial favourites. Thankfully, though, I am enjoying Paraietta’s writing more than all that. On one hand, we have basically wrapped back around to resolving the conflict we supposedly resolved way back in episode six. But then again, what Paraietta did back then was entrust Neviril to Aer. If that relationship turns out way worse for Neviril than you expected, wouldn’t you have to grapple with that resolve again? Despite a moment of mutual weakness, Neviril has to tell Paraietta that they can’t solve this new problem by going back to Neviril as a shut in and Paraietta as her white knight. Really, this episode is a rejection of reversing their relationship, which I think is cool. Having a scenario where she has to gradually send out more sibyllae works really well to set up that “Paraietta, let me go” moment that resolves that idea.
Still, I wish that Paraietta’s dynamic with Kaim would factor in here at all. The fact she shared some feelings for Kaim seemed like it was a big reason for letting Neviril go, but she hasn’t spared a thought for her since? Hell, Kaim is out flying for Yun for some reason? Why do we keep swapping around pairs for no reason! I guess it’s because we needed Rimone, Morinas, and Aer to be the ones left on the ship? On the brighter side, I do really like Paraietta having to step into the leadership role with Dominura out of commission. The tension and responsibility that comes with it brings out the best in her character, and using Dominura’s state to put Paraietta in a position of authority over Neviril and Aer is a great use of the two stories playing out in parallel.
We also get more out of the Aer and Neviril plotline. It is nice to see Aer show a little acknowledgement that she hurt Neviril, even if she somehow still can’t comprehend why that’s the case. On the other hand, seeing Floe want Aer to be more pushy and dunk on Neviril for standing up for herself remains worrying, framing wise. But then again, Floe is a little shit and I’m not convinced anybody other than Waporif actually likes her? So maybe we’re not meant to agree with her? It is also interesting that we question her relationship with Amuria, who was on a pedestal until now. Much like this episode tests Paraietta’s resolve to look forward and not to the past, this feels like a low point for Neviril that questions the finality of her deciding to accept her reality and move forward when she talks to the council. Letting go of her reverence for her relationship with Amuria feels like a step forward to living for herself.
I think it’s a good place for her character, but with Aer decidedly not being meaningfully challenged in the way that Paraietta and Neviril are makes me anxious that the way they choose to resolve this is going to be satisfying. But hey, maybe Neviril realizing nobody values her is going to make her stand up and start expecting Aer not to treat her like dirt? Time will tell.
Finally, there’s Rimone and Dominura’s storyline. I like how Rimone continues to be so impressionable, and her previous established desire to perfect Ri Majon works really well into Dominura needing to latch onto a reason to go on. We learn more about Dominura’s past, the personal stuff that the captain can’t just research. It seems implied she’s an immigrant, and clearly established that she motivates by wanting to be needed. Very Evangelion of her, I must say. We don’t learn exactly what she saw in the helix, but it’s clear that her attempt to experiment her way through this problem as she’s been doing this whole arc isn’t going to work. You can’t resolve the weight on your heart by dissecting the Simoun, you need to fly it. Living with yourself comes from within.
It’s a really great ending scene… and I just wish I could fully enjoy it without wondering the whole time if the show is about to turn Dominura into a pedophile. Listen, I get it. The jaded adult trying to deal with this in a rational adult fashion, and the little girl who hasn’t let go of her ambition and tells Dominura to let go of her science and just believe. It really does work! But when Rimone makes that face… we’ll see where it all goes.
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u/theangryeditor 2d ago
Whether it’s intentional or not, “I never should have touched something so sacred” is a double entendre and Morinas takes the “fine, have it your way” route.
Oh it's absolutely intentional. Part of the whole "profaning against the sacred" motif the show's got going on for the Simoun. Plus the Sybyllae and the relationships - desired, unrequited, forbidden, or otherwise - are a big part of the thematic conflict of the Sybyllae as religious symbols, as soldiers, and as individuals.
On the other hand, seeing Floe want Aer to be more pushy and dunk on Neviril for standing up for herself remains worrying, framing wise. But then again, Floe is a little shit and I’m not convinced anybody other than Waporif actually likes her?
Every team needs their dedicated little shit to give bad advice
I think it’s a good place for her character, but with Aer decidedly not being meaningfully challenged in the way that Paraietta and Neviril are makes me anxious that the way they choose to resolve this is going to be satisfying.
While I think what Aaeru represents and her role in the story are fine the way she's presented does get pretty irksome at times. I complained about this quite a few times in CDF.
It’s a really great ending scene… and I just wish I could fully enjoy it without wondering the whole time if the show is about to turn Dominura into a pedophile.
Limone and Dominuura's relationship is quite good though with the way they come to reach out and support each other through their fears and worries. They're also not unchallenged on the taboo factor thanks to the sisters
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u/LittleIslander https://anilist.co/user/LittleIslander 2d ago
Oh it's absolutely intentional.
Ah, I see how that's confusing. I meant whether Waporif intended the double entendre, not the writers.
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u/Great_Mr_L https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L 2d ago
Whether it’s intentional or not, “I never should have touched something so sacred” is a double entendre and Morinas takes the “fine, have it your way” route.
Morinas's ass taking up so much of the screen when Wapourif says that line just makes the double entendre even funnier.
Still, I wish that Paraietta’s dynamic with Kaim would factor in here at all. The fact she shared some feelings for Kaim seemed like it was a big reason for letting Neviril go, but she hasn’t spared a thought for her since?
It is annoying that after Kaimu and Pariaetta had such a fantastic episode together their relationship hasn't been in focus that much. It'd be interesting to see Pariaetta feel conflicted over her new feelings for Kaimu that clash with her lingering feelings for Neviril, especially in a context where she thinks it was a mistake to entrust Neviril to Aaeru. There's plenty of opportunity for drama there.
It’s a really great ending scene… and I just wish I could fully enjoy it without wondering the whole time if the show is about to turn Dominura into a pedophile. Listen, I get it. The jaded adult trying to deal with this in a rational adult fashion, and the little girl who hasn’t let go of her ambition and tells Dominura to let go of her science and just believe. It really does work! But when Rimone makes that face… we’ll see where it all goes.
It is worrying to see Limone blush like that when Dominura holds her cheek. There have been good scenes where Dominura handled Limone well, like how Dominura responded to Limone kissing her cheek, so let's hope the series handles it well here too.
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u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 2d ago edited 2d ago
First Timer
We truly are a love dodecahedron and I'm so here for it
Well, that was quite the tasty stew of moody emotions and character drama. Probably one of the more multifaceted episodes we've had in that regard at that, with a lot of emotional difficulty and contemplation to nicely distribute among a good chunk of our cast. Of course, the inherently fun part of getting everyone closer together both physically and emotionally as we'd been doing for a few episodes here is that it makes the drama recoil on a wider scale! I had this thought yesterday, but I do wonder to some extent if this is going to be how the Okada/Nishimura writing split will come through. Like, the latter taking the much more thematically loaded episodes, like the last one with Wapourif, while Okada does these kinds of almost purely emotional and messy character drama pieces? Sample size is too small right now to say that, but it should be something to think about.
We also had a pretty good atmosphere here again, although a lot of that is baked into the episode's premise as well. I'm pretty sure someone had mentioned this in one of the earlier episode threads as well, but I really like how the Simoun's lack of ability for communication is used to build up tension here! The Simoun are being split up while the Messis is being left increasingly vulnerable to a large-scale attack itself, and both the people left on board and those who left just have no way of actually grasping their full situation beyond feeling ever more restless. Obviously, this is why the kind of strategy they're going for is really bad, something our characters eventually recognize, which is part of this episode's point on Paraietta's leadership problems, so you get a solid helping of both drama and suspense through that.
As for that drama, we've got a few angles to go through here, though Paraietta's is probably the biggest one here. At the end of episode 12, Neviril gives some sage advice to Alti by telling her that a one-sided, overbearing protective desire does not make a strong relationship, and that a true close relationship is built on both sides working for that strength together, and it's exactly that problem which drives Paraietta here. I suppose as an expression of regret around letting go of Neviril and pushing Aaeru towards her, leading to some drama, not only is she back to being overprotective of Neviril, she's actually worse off now, and has also tied that feeling to taking the role of leadership, which is a big conflict that makes her quite ineffective at it. In a sense, this is exactly why Yun called her out on last episode; regardless of Paraietta's actual capability in the role, you can't really lead when your first thought is "How do I protect Neviril" and then the rest of the group second, you can't really lead when your thoughts always move towards "I need to to be the leader so Neviril doesn't have to" instead of sticking at "I need to be the one who leads us right now".
The big difference here, though, is that unlike on the Arcus Prima, Neviril isn't actually in a completely despondent state, and she can push back against Paraietta on that, which only makes it worse! Instead of taking Neviril's desire for agency at face value, she's just blaming herself for not doing enough, which is a really distorted way to look at it all! Again, you can't effectively lead when it's intensely obvious you're tackling it from a conflicted obligation. At the same time, she's also keenly aware she's not really being a good leader, which leaves her actual confidence down in the dumps and makes her try to double down on her every move to forcefully assert herself. So she'll stonewall Aaeru and Morinas' very correct advice in an indeed very petty way, to try and prove herself, something literally no one is buying, and now you've got that mix of bad decisions coming through and a distinct dissatisfaction across everyone for it. And on top of all that mess between interpersonal relationships and general responsibility she's got going on, the wider conflicts of Chor Tempest are also weighing on her. Dominura's "Praying" and Paraietta's "Orders" can't go in the same sentence, but it's a great expression of how lost in the sauce she is right now.
The results of the Neviril/Aaeru conflict are admittedly not making things easier on her there. I missed out on the episode 13 thread, but to talk about it a little, I do think it's a really fascinating look at Aaeru's character. Like, 12 ended on Neviril making that assertion that she can't get closer and more intimate with Aaeru because she believes Aaeru is only seeing her as a means to an end, with her motivation of staying a Sybilla, a thought she much more directly also expresses this episode. Going into 13 then, the easy question to be asked is where Aaeru's feelings for Neviril actually lie between a genuine relationship and being a tool for her motivation, but instead we took a really interesting swerve with her character, and the question we came out with was "Can Aaeru even distinguish between the two in the first place?".
She seemingly just does not actually understand the internal emotions of others, while also genuinely viewing the relationship within piloting the Simoun as the highest form of connection, again, not really comprehending the kind of emotional relationship Neviril is trying to get at. I do wonder if this is simply the way she's always dealt with the skeletons in her closet (For someone decrying "useless memories" back in 12, Aaeru has also clearly shown a lot of sentimentality towards stuff like her music box), but either way, the end result is that she understands emotions at surface level, and likewise understands the purpose of apologies or acts of intimacy within that framing, but her headstrong and overbearingly positive approach to it doesn't work because she doesn't have the actual intricate emotional understanding behind them.
It makes for a really intriguing interaction with Neivirl here, because Aaeru comes off as sincere in expressing that she's sorry but also not really understanding why she's causing Neviril emotional turmoil, but obviously to the person going through the turmoil it ends up sounding like "Oh, well, I guess I made you mad somehow, so sorry for that, can we go back now?", which is just about the most frustrating thing you could hear in that state! To that end, I really disagree with Floe's (And hopefully not the show's?) "Not cool" assessment. I mean, yes, Neviril is also, by her own words, lashing out at Aaeru for the feelings she's making her more deeply confront towards her relationship with Amuria, and again, the difficult thing with Aaeru is how she is genuinely being very sincere, but ultimately it's really not up to Neviril to express to Aaeru which buttons she's accidentally and very forcefully pushing on? Nor does it change the fact that she does have plenty of good reason to be frustrated with Aaeru's view of her and how insensitive she's been? Well, all that drama ends up ricocheting onto Paraietta, though, not just for her past decision with Aaeru, but also in that Neviril expresses that she might've been better off with Paraietta from the start because of her conflict with Amuria and Aaeru's views, given Paraietta had only moved on from that not too long ago; that's a real gut punch!
Beyond that, there's an extension to Wapourif and Morinas from last episode, specifically in that we really nicely use that parallel between the Simoun and the Sybillae to express Morinas's anger here. Wapourif feels regret for choosing to take apart the Simoun, and that's exactly what makes Morinas so mad here, because within the parallel Wapourif expressly stated himself, that means he's also regretting his feelings for her, in which she has a rather physical expression of dissatisfaction towards Wapourif's current feelings.
Finally, in our giant drama stew, is Limone and Dominura. We still don't know exactly what she saw, but it sure put her in quite the existential mood for a bit, though thankfully Limone happens to run across her and give her some purpose (the hide-and-seek is a very device to enable that lol, but it does make for some nice dissonance to our situation I guess). Quite liked this moment where she comes back with the shine in her restored. On the whole though, she still doesn't look to be in a particularly great state with wanting the Emerald Ri Maajon, though she is more honest about it purely as her personal motivation right now, so should be interesting. And so not only do we have a delicious bit of interconnected drama here, it's drama that affects our military situation as well, and if a battle is coming, which it almost certainly will, we're not looking to be in great shape to deal with it...
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u/Great_Mr_L https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L 2d ago
We truly are a love dodecahedron and I'm so here for it
Who needs yuri love triangle drama when you can instead have yuri love dodecahedron drama?
I had this thought yesterday, but I do wonder to some extent if this is going to be how the Okada/Nishimura writing split will come through. Like, the latter taking the much more thematically loaded episodes, like the last one with Wapourif, while Okada does these kinds of almost purely emotional and messy character drama pieces? Sample size is too small right now to say that, but it should be something to think about.
That is an interesting thought to keep in mind when observing future episodes.
I'm pretty sure someone had mentioned this in one of the earlier episode threads as well, but I really like how the Simoun's lack of ability for communication is used to build up tension here! The Simoun are being split up while the Messis is being left increasingly vulnerable to a large-scale attack itself, and both the people left on board and those who left just have no way of actually grasping their full situation beyond feeling ever more restless.
There is a lot of good built-in tension because of delays in communication. In reading about the Pacific War, for example, there's many instances where communication delays cause all sorts of trouble with how difficult it could be for messages to cross long distances between ships and planes. Communication problems heavily impacted how some battles played out.
The communication problems between the Simouns and the Messis also mirror the communication problems between the Sibyllae themselves. So many of their issues are made worse by the fact that the Sibyllae have trouble understanding each other or conveying their own emotions to each other.
I do wonder if this is simply the way she's always dealt with the skeletons in her closet (For someone decrying "useless memories" back in 12, Aaeru has also clearly shown a lot of sentimentality towards stuff like her music box)
It is possible that Aaeru tries to avoid understanding her own emotions too deeply. After all, Aaeru is the one who is running away from having to grow up and confront the choice of what she wants to be as an adult. Easier to run from the decision than to actually think through all the difficult emotions that would lead her make a decision she would probably still feel conflicted about either way.
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u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 2d ago
Who needs yuri love triangle drama when you can instead have yuri love dodecahedron drama?
In reading about the Pacific War, for example, there's many instances where communication delays cause all sorts of trouble with how difficult it could be for messages to cross long distances between ships and planes. Communication problems heavily impacted how some battles played out.
You know, maybe it's because I'm just a lot more used to some of these themes being tackled specifically from a more traditional sci-fi or mecha angle, but it is really rather fun that we have these kinds of major tech limitations that recall back to an older state of warfare while still ostensibly being, y'know, basically magic lol.
(Which isn't to say those other works don't either incidentally or intentionally allude to that either, just often in diffrent ways)
The communication problems between the Simouns and the Messis also mirror the communication problems between the Sibyllae themselves. So many of their issues are made worse by the fact that the Sibyllae have trouble understanding each other or conveying their own emotions to each other.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 2d ago
Back in episode 3 or so, with the drone attack on the capital, somebody complained about them not securing the border and not warning the capital. But, of course, they don't have radio.
I ended up not saying anything because they probably could have sent a simile to warn the capital with 10s of minutes to spare.
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce 2d ago
Simoun First Timer
Mondays busy. Not many words.
Corrected 2 whole chapters of PhD thesis. Nice!
Blotted some basic shading in today. (Don’t wanna finish the top clothing, too lazy.) And she finally has eyes.
Simoun Ep.15 – One By One
Oh, I think she’s taking revenge on the night kiss and drawing consequences. Morinas is someone who equates the vehicle and her body rather similarly. F to that relationship, at last, and a dedicated statement for the sanctity of Tempus Spatium’s Grace! #23
That’s because you are... I thought we established this by now? With the ground assault and such.
STOP! Floe, stop right there! Nobody appreciates an Aaeru like Ep.13! And don’t you dare try to bring that back…
Ah, Neviril reflecting in the spot where Morinas established serenity and belief (paraphrasing a bit here)! The helical sparkling water is powered by Tempus Spatium’s Grace. #24 But this creek really is a beautiful spot.
Violently holding myself back from a rant I’ll just say one thing: Aaeru never even once asked why to Neviril or someone else. Not even after her massive blunder. She is not interested in mending or changing.
WHAT?! Oh for fuck’s sake, is it this kind of episode again? Will I be shitting on Okada full-time again? How the everloving fuck can you write this, blaming the victim, again? Wapourif desecrated this creek throughly it seems.
Neviril is just at her end, being gaslighted by half the chor and indirectly blamed for it. Of course she’s desperately grasping at straws by now to save her sanity.
I am in intense emotional pain for various reasons right now. (Some of those are the good sort, dw)
Why are working so hard to erase a perfectly done and executed character arc?
This hide and seek will go either of two ways: Limone hides with Dominura and bad things happen or Aaeru hides with Neviril and bad things happen.
Cool, the first is going to happen. God, she is so not well.
I hate a lot about what we’re doing this episode, but this might be interesting.
Yeah, like we already did about 15 episodes ago! Just why are they doing this?!
She must mean by suicide. It was a really good decision to lock her up alone in a cargo room, right?
I hate it. Are the writers just writing different shows here and don’t tell each other?
I can live with a bit of jank and rugged characterisation, as long as it has a point. But I’m just mad at this point how obviously uncaring they are towards the history of their own show. Even I thought Aaeru’s last main screen stay was completely over the top and not in line with her character, but now they also throw Paraietta down the drain for fuck-if-I-know why.
C’mon, you can’t be so incompetent that you can’t think of anything else besides muh Neviril as her character flaw. Especially so, because we. Have. Solved. That. Already!
I don’t even wanna rant about it any more. It’s two for two now that Okada is shit at writing simoun and doesn’t respect the work of prior episodes. For reasons I can’t discern we absolutely have to make problematic realtionships happen, because… well, I don’t even get it, I don’t know. But apparently it’s so important that we throw away all character agency, decency and accomplishments to have shitty relationship danger slop.
When I was complaining about the fact that Simoun sometimes takes its characters hostage to do a specific terrible thing or be specifically immersion-breakingly stupid just to make one espisode’s plot happen, this is what I mean.
And then, the elephant in the room, that I have to unbuckle my belt and unload the biggest crap my ass muscles can press out on, is Neviril accepting that she was at fault. I could just puke. Completely unopposed by anyone, even supported by the likes of Floe, and gaslighted to hell for literally no reason beyond making it an unnecessary drama that I don’t see any point in having around except disaster watching.
It wasn’t as terrible as that Aaeru episode, but it was still very bad. I don’t get it, is it so fucking hard to respect the other writers and not be a terrible slop shitter?
You know what I can compare this to? To how that [other recently rewatched show flopped hard into a B-story] Flip Flappers that was just all around worse, badly planned and that felt genuinely bad to experience since the first story was so good. It’s just even worse here that I can’t cope my way around it like back then.
Ah, oh there was this other grooming thing or something, but it’s literally the least worst thing of today, so whatever.
Hmm, I guess I didn’t hate a lot on Aaeru today? That may be a positive.
Praises of Helical Motors powered by Tempus Spatium’s Grace: 23 (+2)
Violations of Helical Motors powered by the Scientific Method’s Heresy: 2 (+0)
[ep 15 Q1:] The Emerald Ri-Maajon draws moths to the flame. Does Dominura have a death wish?
I don’t vibe with her character today. It’s so… irrationally jumpy? I can’t tell if she has or not, she feels like an utter tool today that is puppeteered by whatever the writer says another character needs right now. It feels a bit trashy.
[ep 15 Q2:] What do you think about Wapourif's crises of faith, and his relationship with the simoun, the sibyllae, and Morinas in particular?
Explained mostly yesterday. Today was just the consequences and Morinas taking back her agency and saying goodbye to that relationship of his trespassing. At least that was good writing!
As for Wapourif himself. He fucked around, did find something out, but still has the price to pay. I don’t think he’s evil in any sense, it was perfectly reasonable to try to improve your situation imo. But the stakes were pretty clear and he even knew it. He chose against Morinas and that’s that. I think he still believes in general, but he also traded away his purity of belief in chase of progress. It’s more distant now and he cannot go back.
I really like how this story played out.
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u/The_Draigg 2d ago
Blotted some basic shading in today. (Don’t wanna finish the top clothing, too lazy.) And she finally has eyes.
It's coming together quite well!
Oh, I think she’s taking revenge on the night kiss and drawing consequences. Morinas is someone who equates the vehicle and her body rather similarly. F to that relationship, at last, and a dedicated statement for the sanctity of Tempus Spatium’s Grace! #23
I do wonder though that if Wapourif had committed harder in that moment, he wouldn't have lost out on a potential relationship with Morinas. I think she would've been down for it if he wasn't wavering as hard with his beliefs.
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u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 2d ago edited 2d ago
That’s because you are... I thought we established this by now? With the ground assault and such.
That's not very reverent of the grace of Tempus Spatium's Helical Motors of you
(Seriously though, I mean, even with that ground assault I think you see that some characters really haven't fully come to terms with the idea)
C’mon, you can’t be so incompetent that you can’t think of anything else besides muh Neviril as her character flaw. Especially so, because we. Have. Solved. That. Already!
Hmmmm, I kind of disagree with this sentiment. If you're writing your characters as very emotionally troubled people, then resolution is often very intentionally not a linear point of progression, but rather one that exists to go back and forth between. Because outside of writing, it's hardly uncommon for people to not be so straightforwardly linear either and get emotionally stuck with destructive results.
This is, of course, often also very frustrating to see! In both the real and the fictional cases, that is. And how compelling you might find that type of character writing to watch very much exists on a spectrum (And is also what tends to be the make-or-break for people in Okada's very personally informed melodrama haha), but I definitely wouldn't characterize the repetition of a character beat and personal drama across diffrent emotional states as lazy or bad writing. The recurring swing in emotions despite a clear solution existing and being acknowledged is the point.
Now, the question to be asked imo then isn't whether or not we should be "retreading" this arc for Paraietta, but how strong the execution on how we get to this point is. And on that, I'm admittedly not the most sure myself. I did have to ask myself, "I see and like what you're doing, but when did Paraietta reach this withdrawal?" after the episode, which I think suggests it didn't convey that the best, but even though it's a bit fast, I do think it mostly checks out.
She gave up on Neviril and her overattachment to her because she also felt she had Aaeru to pass that torch to and help Neviril out of her slump. That worked out fine for a bit, but now it's exactly Aaeru that's driving Neviril back into that same state! I don't think it's unreasonable that she'd not just feel she has to go back on her previous attitude now to course correct, but also try even harder as a resolve to make up for it.
Except circumstances aren't the same, and Neviril outright goes against Paraietta trying that this time, which only pulls her even deeper into her own complex, alongside all the other drama she's embroiled in at the same time. Again, it's maybe a bit too sudden, but I think there's good drama in there.
Neviril accepting that she was at fault. I could just puke. Completely unopposed by anyone, even supported by the likes of Floe, and gaslighted to hell for literally no reason beyond making it an unnecessary drama that I don’t see any point in having around except disaster watching.
This one I'm a lot more inclined to agree with, although I think it depends on how we go about tackling this later on.
Character statement doesn't have to be the show's statement, and it's also irespectively true that Neviril has an internal conflict to resolve here herself, which Aaeru highlights, but then the show isn't really pushing back much on the innately problematic nature of Aaeru's approach in the same way it clearly does for the others, and it even gives her reinforcements Again, whether those exist to make more drama or to actually make a statement are two seperate options, but the show isn't exactly doing the best to not make it seem like it's the latter.
So if we do end this arc without Aaeru also having to come to major conclusions and changes on the problems within how she approaches emotions, relationships, and interaction (Or at the very least, distinctly adressing that she needs to in the same theamtic way we have for every other character conflict),then I think we'll have a real problem with what the show wants to be saying with its characters, though for now we're just skirting that line.
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce 2d ago
(Seriously though, I mean, even with that ground assault I think you see that some characters really haven't fully come to terms with the idea)
Yeah, sure, it's an ongoing topic. But it's note like they have had several leaders command them around by now. I don't see how Paraietta taking the lead would be such a divergence today that it warrants "woah" noises from the chor when they've been there a dozen times by now.
The recurring swing in emotions despite a clear solution existing and being acknowledged is the point.
You're right and, say, in Horou Muzuko I was a great fan of this dynamic!
Yet, looking at Simoun and the size of the cast, I can't help but feel like seeing a trainwreck happening that was completely unnecessary and even endangers to take other characters down with it. We have 24 episodes and I feel like it is a complete waste to resurface the same damn point in multiple episodes while there are other characters (Yun, Alty, Kaimu, Anubituf and I'd appreciate more coming from Mamiina x Rodore as a couple) who are direly lacking characterisation.
So, while I can see how Paraietta's spinning between emotional states could be interesting and dramatic for all the right reasons, it cucks at least 5 other people from spotlight and drags her character down while doing nothing much to help anyone else present a better plot. It worked well in Horou Muzuko because the same people kept bouncing off of each other and slowly worked through their issues with repeated clashes. Also, that story had Chiba who would be the greatest foundation of badassery and offensive firepower to make amazing fireworks out of that drama.
We neither have that relationship, nor the time to make this relationship ping pong work when there's 12 main characters and at least 4 important side characters for only 24 episodes of screen time.
"I see and like what you're doing, but when did Paraietta reach this withdrawal?" after the episode, which I think suggests it didn't convey that the best, but even though it's a bit fast, I do think it mostly checks out.
It sorta works when you understand her first instance of this issue as more a cope than an actual solution. That she decided on a way how she should do it rather than actually coming to a realisation that it's the right way, if you know what I mean. But the issue for me is that this doesn't work with how she was portrayed or acted. At least after the duel, she truly felt like she desired the fight to prove both that Aaeru was capable, so she could be entrusted with Neviril, and that she herself could be defeated, so that she wasn't the infallible guardian that could protect Neviril from all pain. Both truths were given to her and she accepted them wholly. I don't see a flaw in this characterisation.
Except, the writers now do and I have to throw my hands in the air and yell, "WHY?! IT WAS GOOD!"
whether those exist to make more drama or to actually make a statement are two seperate options, but the show isn't exactly doing the best to not make it seem like it's the latter.
Yeah, that exactly. Since the show isn't presenting anyone (even Paraietta) who speaks up, or even notices anything wrong, I have no other choice but to assume either of three things about everyone else: 1) They agree, 2) they somehow don't notice after all the ruckus we've seen or 3) they don't care that it happens. At this point it's not really whether the show tries to tell me a moral, it's that they show me every characters goes along with it and that really sucks. It sucks quadruple for the characters who encourage it, because how can I ever think good of them now? It's a stain on Floe's characerisation and I don't see the point in doing that to her.
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u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 2d ago
But it's note like they have had several leaders command them around by now. I don't see how Paraietta taking the lead would be such a divergence today that it warrants "woah" noises from the chor when they've been there a dozen times by now
Oh, got it, yeah, you're right.
I guess the point was to highlight the contradiction in her sentence there (Calling Dominura's commanding a prayer but her own orders), but it does read as pretty awkward that this got a reaction now, especially when we've also already had a character pointing out Para shifting to military language in one of the earlier Messis episodes.
We have 24 episodes and I feel like it is a complete waste to resurface the same damn point in multiple episodes while there are other characters (Yun, Alty, Kaimu, Anubituf and I'd appreciate more coming from Mamiina x Rodore as a couple) who are direly lacking characterisation.
Ah, that sentiment I do get! Or, well, outside of specifically the moments where the show has needed a large amount of viewpoints (That is, mostly with the religion/military theme), often underusing or not managing to get full mileage out of the wider cast is actually a problem I've had with the show for a good while now. Since the early-show really, where some dramatic moments didn't have enough weight because the show was putting too much on its plate.
So in that sense, I really can't disagree I would like more work on the rest of the cast, but I'll admit I've also kind of conceded on that by now, and I'm also fine with the show pulling its weight on the dramatic elements and characters it already has constructed quite a bit, and squeezing the most drama it can out of those (And obviously I'm also not as bothered by the arc itself, so I'd consider fairly solid drama at that). Though, how we'll try to put it all together towards the end is a genuine worry.
I am still very much yearning for that Yun episode though!
Also, that story had Chiba who would be the greatest foundation of badassery and offensive firepower to make amazing fireworks out of that drama
Tbf, every story wishes they could have Chiba
It sorta works when you understand her first instance of this issue as more a cope than an actual solution. That she decided on a way how she should do it rather than actually coming to a realisation that it's the right way, if you know what I mean. But the issue for me is that this doesn't work with how she was portrayed or acted
I do think I get what you mean! I guess more fundamentally I just don't necessarily think that it's unreasonable for a character that had a full realization, and even straight-up acted out on it, to still waver and regress on it over an emotional scenario as part of that wider back and forth. Even more so here, because Aaeru dragging down Neviril again is, in the long term, part of Para's decision, so I think a harder-hitting sense of regret makes for a solid driver in that case.
Though I do still think my problem with it is that what I'm describing is still generally more of a gradual thing to see, rather than this very quickly dramatically loaded and upfront execution we have here, which, tbh, I would probably say is because of Okada's style lol.
Except, the writers now do and I have to throw my hands in the air and yell, "WHY?! IT WAS GOOD!"
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce 1d ago
I would like more work on the rest of the cast, but I'll admit I've also kind of conceded on that by now, and I'm also fine with the show pulling its weight on the dramatic elements
Don't let me ruin your opinion on it! I've considered several times now whether you, Aegis and the others enjoying that are maybe having the best time here.
I am still very much yearning for that Yun episode though!
You're goddamn right.
I just don't necessarily think that it's unreasonable for a character that had a full realization, and even straight-up acted out on it, to still waver and regress on it over an emotional scenario
That is indeed sometimes a thing humans do.
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u/rickamore 2d ago
Rewatcher
To me it feels like any miniscule progress Neviril had got erased in the last two episodes and were even further back than before.
Sending out ships one by one only to be gone for HOURS and seemingly finding nothing? How far are they travelling and what's taking them so long. They should be able to cover hundreds of miles and make it back in a couple hours to search for an enemy that was within visual range. Aeru and Neviril being gone for basically a WHOLE day was bad enough, this is even worse. Better hope the ship isn't destroyed by a strike force moving at walking pace towards them while they are gone.
The Emerald Ri-Maajon draws moths to the flame. Does Dominura have a death wish?
Squad-mates were all destroyed and she is the only one left, she 100% has a death wish.
What do you think about Wapourif's crises of faith, and his relationship with the simoun, the sibyllae, and Mornias in particular?
One of the more interesting recent plot points but it has still been handled really weird because it seems like he has no real convictions but that could be said for most of the crew.
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u/theangryeditor 2d ago
2
u/rickamore 2d ago
Best not to think about it, just like Wapourif.
On a first watch, I'm generally good at just letting things go. Now that I remember enough about where this ends up (and have to bite my tongue about some things) I can't help but notice some of the tertiary aspects.
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky 2d ago
First-Timer, subbed
Waporif, saying that in front of the “sacred thing” you touched last episode is, uh, something alright. I completely understand Morinas storming off like that.
Aaeru… actually apologized? It doesn’t actually change anything, but wow.
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u/GondolaMedia zj: 2d ago
First Timer
The Aer and Neville relationship just flip flops that it's taking me out a bit. This is somehow turning it around where everything is Neville's fault, isn't it?
They've been making bad decisions all season along but now when Paraietta is in charge it becomes an issue?
Dominura, age-gap aside, has been consistently good.
QotD
1) She is so devoted that she would throw her own life away. So yeah she does.
2) I wish we focused more on it. Really liking it.
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u/Magnafeana https://anilist.co/user/Magnafeana 2d ago
I have tickets for Doomsday for three separate “early” showings, and I am still flabbergasted at this “Infinity Vision” business. Back in my day, it was just IMAX 😭
Sibylla First Timer, Chor Subbed
Yessssss more little religious/cultural practices!!!
Wapo, you are my favorite nephew.
I really love Morinas and Wapo’s dynamic. Goodness, this is giving me flashbacks to a friend ending a relationship with someone who could not escape the (in my opinion) abusive relationship he had with his religion. The friend didn’t want to constantly juggle their ex-partner’s need to “repent” for their relationship and being in a closed relationship.
Aer being inconsiderate should be its own counter 😭
It sounds like the army.
I’m glad we’re seeing more perspectives.
Well… She’s aggressive. I guess she was tactful.
What we doing Tsundere Floe
Speak it, Nev. Apologies should contain what it is for 👏🏾👏🏾
How TF is she going clack clack in the mfer grass and dirt and wearing loafers? I sink down like I’m in a sinkhole when I’m in heels in the grass.
OPE. Giiiiirl this is getting soapy
She should eat a snickers bar.
Hehehehe just the Star Wars little fighter jet noises.
Oh goddamn, Domi.
Was Chor Dextra similar to an 86 Unit?
Can someone make a DBZ meme with Para in the rain, all somber, and then Aer being a goober and trying to drink the rain? That was my first thought 🤣
Me thinking there’s symbolism in the once clear, clean, and still river now becoming muddied, translucent, and rapid, and then realizing “This is just Mama Nature doing what she do”.
Yun told you so. Yun been knew you’d do this, Parachute.
I started cackling at Aer just being there when Para’s beating that wall, had me in stitches sksksksksksk 😭😭😭
Yes. P-E-to the-T-T-Y.
Could Simouns and sibyllae be part of the Rebel Alliance, I wonder?
Where was the Morinas x Nev kiss? Queerphobic.
Girl, you just aren’t as over Nev as you thought you were. Get it together.
Is she sick? Or do we mean suicide?
I wish my mental health had that quick of a TAT and I emerged from my bedroom ready to slay.
OOOOO the shade! Read her, Domi, read her 🪭
Is it symbolism that we had the beautiful stained glass windows aglow, which symbolized a strong faith, and we get the up-close shot of another window on the airship that almost mirrors the stained glass window up-close shot where drops and the glow make it seem the glass is shattering. We should ask Onasia.
Sibyllae 🤝 Haikyuu cast: flying high
Yeeeeeeaaaaah, is Domi going to mirror Amuria in a way?
Post Episode Ri Mājon Thoughts
| Episode | Girlkiss Count | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 6 |
| 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 3 | 1 | 9 |
| 4 | 2 | 11 |
| 5 | 1 | 12 |
| 6 | 4.5 | 16.5 |
| 7 | 4 | 20.5 |
| 8 | 0 | 20.5 |
| 9 | 5 | 25.5 |
| 10 | 5 | 30.5 |
| 11 | 5 | 35.5 |
| 12 | 1.5 | 37 |
| 13 | 3.5 | 40.5 |
| 14 | 1 | 41.5 |
| 15 | 2 | 43.5 |
| 16 | ||
| 17 | ||
| 18 | ||
| 19 | ||
| 20 | ||
| 21 | ||
| 22 | ||
| 23 | ||
| 24 | ||
| 25 | ||
| 26 |
I do think Amuria used Nev originally, but we are only viewing Amuria as the culmination of others’ memories and her one episode with her present and alive. I wish she had left behind some hidden diary or letter that could have her speak for herself and quell Nev’s conclusion that Amuria used her to soar.
I still feel really 😑 about Domi and Limone because of how Domi is portrayed as a mature young lady, and Limone is “just a little girl”, so… Le sigh.
I’m still like… confused about what’s happening with Chor Tempest as a whole. Sibyllae are going missing. We’re sort of back to the beginning core with the Sibyllae being largely left to their own devices and not really wanting to touch on the differing dynamics within the group. I’m just wondering what’s going on with the wars on all fronts.
I really like Wapo and Morinas's drama. Sitting here with my popcorn. Put them on Big Brother, please 🍿
QOTD
- I’m worried she wants to complete it but at the cost of her life while ensuring Limone remains safe and gets to see it at least once.
- Said much about that yesterday. Very much is something I’ve seen in person, and it was always distressing to be a witness to it.
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u/Malipit 2d ago
Me thinking there’s symbolism in the once clear, clean, and still river now becoming muddied, translucent, and rapid, and then realizing “This is just Mama Nature doing what she do”.
But what if Mama Nature wanted to do some symbolism ?
I still feel really 😑 about Domi and Limone because of how Domi is portrayed as a mature young lady, and Limone is “just a little girl”, so… Le sigh.
I hope so hard there is just ''mother/daughter'' feeling between them and we won't go to forbidden territories.
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u/Magnafeana https://anilist.co/user/Magnafeana 1d ago
Mama Nature feels like shroedinger’s symbolism. We love a woman who gives us whimsy and mystery and can destroy humanity if she wants to. My type of woman, honestly.
I hadn’t considered a mother/daughter angle for Domi and Limone but I rather like that over the weirder dynamic I’m seeing.
I honestly thought “Maybe Limone is Domi’s hidden younger sister and Domi wants her protected?” but then everything got too weird for me to consider it anymore.
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u/baboon_bassoon https://anilist.co/user/duffer 2d ago
first timer
onee sans need to get over themselves
can Morinas even count to 100
the sound of her walking around barefoot is unsettling
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u/moichispa https://myanimelist.net/profile/moichispa 2d ago
Rewatcher
I like Paraietta she's a complex character. Not sure what's happening but people not coming back is a terrible signal.
Dominura getting fixed by eating a ton of food, tottaly granma aproved.
I like that even Mari Okada knows when to stop when it comes to Limone-Lesbian Karen relationship.
I used to dislike this arc on the anime because the new ship feels too small but this time I'm enjoying the extra moments of intimacy that the girls have thanks to the shared room.
I forgot to add, Neviril afmitting that both of her "love insterests" were using her is a huge step and one of the most in point things said on the whoole series.
Hold your sealtbelts things will get interesting from the next episode onwards.
- Q1: The Emerald Ri-Maajon draws moths to the flame. Does Dominura have a death wish?
Limone did said that she had the eyes of somebody close to dead but who knows
- Q2: What do you think about Wapourif's crises of faith, and his relationship with the simoun, the sibyllae, and Mornias in particular?
He saw first hand what happened to Dominura, that would scare anyone. He likes Morinas and she is throwing way too any signals that it is ok if gay since he will be a men (hidden yaoi). Also the sibyllae she i close but distant at the same time.
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u/Burnouts3s3 2d ago
Have no fear! Limone the Loli is here to help Dominura put her lipstick back on!
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 2d ago
The fact that she is never seen without it is kinda freaky. Like that one aunt with 3 layers of mascara.
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u/Great_Mr_L https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L 2d ago
It turns out that the lipstick is what gives Dominura her mojo.
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u/AgentOfACROSS 2d ago
First Timer
I like this opening scene with Yun. I’m glad they’re finally doing something with her besides her occasionally saying she doesn't like war.
Feels like Yun is putting a lot of pressure on Rimone all of a sudden.
Not sure why Morinas just made Waporif touch her breast. That was strange.
I’m glad Aer is apologizing to Neviril.
Neviril still seems pissed off at her. Which, you know, seems fair.
I like the stormy atmosphere that this episode has got going on.
I guess we’re playing hide and seek now.
So, uh, Dominura does not look well
Oh hey they brought Aer’s music box into things.
Well Dominura has her appetite back now. That’s good at least.
So is this ending implying that Dominura returns Rimone’s feelings for her?
My notes for this was pretty sparse but I thought it was a good episode.
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u/Vatrix-32 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Vatrix-32 2d ago
First Timer, subs
- Is That Folk Religion I Hear?
- Are you not planning on telling Aaeru? Or were you hoping that Floe take care of it for you?
- Did they seriously just play that dramatically straight? There were a lot of ways you could have run that, but that isn’t one of them.
- Giving orders? And who decided that?
- Reconnaissance is one thing, but interception with a lone Simoun is asking for trouble.
- Tsun Tsun
- It’s OK, Aaeru, apologies are hard.
- Imagine being that shook from Floe calling you uncool.
- I’ll say it. It’s probably a bad idea. You have not training or experience with command, and you’re still treating this like holy work.
- The rejection of childish things is itself a sign of immaturity.
- empty eyes
- How could you possibly tell those were the same song with that little clarity?
- I now have even more questions about how your sexes work if you didn’t originate from the land of the Spring.
- I see. Very clever. Contrasting Limone’s willingness to expose weakness if she sees others doing it with Paraietta’s retreat in the face of being seen doing the same. From their perspectives, of course.
- At this point I’m betting they are trying to draw all the Simouns away so they can target the carrier directly.
- The Power of Immoto Compels You!
- That’s a… concerning shot to postcard.
- I mean, it would be kind of weird at this point if we never drew the emerald.
QotD:
1) She has looked past the veil. The fear of death has no hold on her now.
2) If this is all the pay off, it seems a mostly wasted effort.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 2d ago
Giving orders? And who decided that?
IKR, who put her in charge??? Why didn't Aer tell her off?
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u/The_Draigg 2d ago edited 2d ago
A Science-Fantasy Fan Watches Simoun Episode 15:
Man, talk about things just being totally FUBAR lately. Not only is Dominura still in a bad state from having her skull runneth over, but the base ship that they still haven’t dealt with has moved away from where it was last time. They really should’ve figured that would happen. It’s not like the enemy would just stay there if the Holy Land was giving them ample time to pack up and fly elsewhere.
I know that confrontation between Wapourif and Morinas in the chapel was supposed to be dramatic, but all it did was remind me of this reoccurring bit from Arrested Development.
You know, at least Aaeru made an effort to apologize to Neviril for her behavior, even if she clearly doesn’t understand just how it’s her fault. Like Floe said, that’s pretty surprising coming from her. Although even then, the issue runs deeper than just being something that can be papered over with an apology. Like Neviril admits to Paraietta later, she’s actually very insecure about where she stands now. Now all she can feel is that she’s just a tool for people like Aurea and Aaeru to get stronger. And even if we know that Aaeru doesn’t exactly feel that way about Neviril, we never really got any confirmation if that’s how Aurea felt, and that alone would provide tons of doubt for Neviril to stew in.
At least Dominura has recovered enough to be able to talk, but it does seem like what happened to her is just a part of a chain of rough times. Seems like she was part of a large group of migrants from another place entirely that wandered ceaselessly until the Holy Land took them in, but that refuge came at a price. Chor Dextra was made out of them to study the Emerald Ri Maajon, since they were ultimately considered expendable by the Holy Land. And we know that Dominura is the last survivor of them, but it seems like she had already made her peace with death, since she was perfectly fine with dying as long as she finally had a place to rest. With all that, it’s probably safe to say that Dominura has had the hardest life out of anyone in Chor Tempest.
Speaking of people going through it, Paraietta is pretty down in the dumps this episode too. I have no doubts that she was stopping by Dominura’s room to try and get her to be the leader of the group again, or at least ask for orders. Between that and her ongoing inability to reach out to Neviril where it counts, she feels utterly useless. Neviril coming out of her room to sortie with Morinas on her own and dismissing Paraietta’s concerns really must feel like she’s being left behind and has nothing to cling to. She’s fully feeling the brunt of willingly playing second fiddle to other people, and now those people can’t provide anything for her in return. Paraietta has trapped herself in her own sense of learned helplessness.
If there’s at least an up side to this episode, it’s that Dominura has finally come out of her room and is fully on her way to recovery. Limone coming by her room to talk and be a comforting presence really did help to pull her out of her willingness to just lay down and die. Although hopefully that relationship between those two remains chaste, since I still really don’t want to deal with that age gaps in the relationship. In any case, we finally know what Dominura saw within the helical motor: the truth of the Emerald Ri Maajon, although there’s no way to prove that until someone actually manages to pull it off. We’re finally one step closer to unraveling the full mystery of the most powerful Ri Maajon.