r/anime • u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ • 1d ago
Rewatch Simoun 20th Anniversary Rewatch Episode 16
"The simoun showed me something I did not want to know."
<- Episode 15 | Index Thread | Episode 17 ->
Today's Eyecatch: Dominura | Limone
Selected Harmonies: #1 #2 #3 #4
Discussion Prompts
- Q1: How many times has Paraietta made an error in judgement since trying to assume command? What has this done to her ego?
- Q2: What do you think about the use of Dezaki postcard memories in this episode and the show in general?
- Why did Dominura destroy the shrine? What did she see in the helix?
- Q3: What meaning is there in Dominura's and Limone's sacrifice with the immediate arrival of Chor Tempest and the Arcus Prima?
Tomorrow's Questions, Today!
- [ep 17 Q1:] How has Neviril changed since yesterday?
- [ep 17 Q2:] Who are the other simoun, and why do they look like that?
- [ep 17 Q3:] How can the Spring exist in both the ruins and the capital?
- [ep 17 Q4:] How can that be Angulus?
Trivia: The tango music used in episode 1 during the Emerald Ri-Maajon, and elsewhere in the series, is track 2, "Youen na Kizuna no Hibiki". (The Alluring Sound of Bonds) However, the more forceful version from today's episode with full orchestra appears as a reprise in track 18, "Oozora no Auriga." (Charioteer's Open Sky)
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 1d ago edited 1d ago
Rewatch Host and First Rewatcher
It's really hard to tell, but the show as shown us that Dominura and Limona have the V-bottom'ed simoun. I think perhaps so that you could recognize it in today's battle.
I'm certainly paying more attention this time around.
- How do you hide that
- Argentum pilots must be blind behind those masks.
- How does the choir find its base ship if the base ship moves?
- Dang it, she brought the doll again!
I just had the unpleasant thought that if Dominura had just followed her stupid orders to sit tight, the choir wouldn't have been baited out of position, and the Messis wouldn't have been in such danger.
Addendum to today's trivia, I really get a lot of Yamato at the end. To /u/IndependantMacaroon's dismay, if any song could be called the "Theme from Simoun" it would that "tango music."
/u/Vatrix-32 gets unofficial comment of the day for recognizing that the Argentum squadrons were luring the Simoun away from the Messis.
I've realized why they stick to their zerg strategy. There are only so many simoun in the Holy Land. Even if you suffer horrible losses, if you take out a simoun, Simulacrum's loss is equal or greater than yours.
Chor Tempest is now crippled; they can't do the Iron Ri-Maajon anymore. Although, that may not matter, since the heavy fighters are fast enough to bug out when they see the light trails.
In answer to my QOTD, the postcard memories become more and more frequent from this point on. It's clearly an excuse to not animate. I wonder if Berserk was like this. Maybe there will be another rewatch next year.
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u/moichispa https://myanimelist.net/profile/moichispa 1d ago
Iron Ri maajion too strong, had to be nerfed
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u/IndependentMacaroon 1d ago
I just had the unpleasant thought that if Dominura had just followed her stupid orders to sit tight, the choir wouldn't have been baited out of position, and the Messis wouldn't have been in such danger
Fortunately we have a world-building excuse for everyone on the protagonist side being terrible tacticians
To /u/IndependantMacaroon's dismay, if any song could be called the "Theme from Simoun" it would that "tango music."
I will definitely be remembering this as the Shitty Tango Show. I mean it's not a terrible piece but definitely not used very effectively a lot of the time, although they have been getting better at the soundtrack it seems
the postcard memories become more and more frequent from this point on. It's clearly an excuse to not animate
Given how lousily off-model a lot of this episode was they needed the break
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u/Great_Mr_L https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L 22h ago
Argentum pilots must be blind behind those masks.
"I can't see a thing in this helmet."
How does the choir find its base ship if the base ship moves?
By praying to Tempus Spatium and then hoping for the best, apparently. It's hard to plot a course back with no radio.
I've realized why they stick to their zerg strategy. There are only so many simoun in the Holy Land. Even if you suffer horrible losses, if you take out a simoun, Simulacrum's loss is equal or greater than yours.
That does make sense as a strategy. The Holy Land seems like they'd be lost without the Simouns. They'd lose both their most advanced weapons and the symbols of their religion that maintain the morale of their population.
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u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 22h ago edited 22h ago
How do you hide that
Argentum pilots must be blind behind those masks
That did also bother me, but to try and give the show the benefit of the doubt here, you could argue there is technically a matter of perspective here. Like, the show needs you to see what's happening, and the noticeably out of place CG models don't help either, but this is supposed to be in the middle of the night, from the overhead and high-up view of an aircraft, one with probably not the greatest visibility field anyway.
The Messis still feels too chonky and conspicuous to actually miss to me (And it left a giant trail!), but I feel like you could stretch it a bit to say that the intention was they were mostly seeing pitch black and trying to track movements instead.
How does the choir find its base ship if the base ship moves?
Also a thought that came to mind!
If you want to take the closest parallel in something like, say, WW2 carrier pilots, they did actually have navigation tools, techniques, and tech to deal with that and know to plot the general path back even if the ship moved away from the initial intended area, but obviously we haven't really seen anything for that for the Simoun here.
And I also really doubt we'll ever see it, but it's still kind of fun to think about anyway. Maybe the reason it always takes them so long to patrol is that they just get lost on the way back lol.
I've realized why they stick to their zerg strategy. There are only so many simoun in the Holy Land. Even if you suffer horrible losses, if you take out a simoun, Simulacrum's loss is equal or greater than yours.
They'd also probably have a much easier time winning this war if they just learned not to always clump up their aircraft like zerglings in front of the Simoun's giant lasers earlier.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 18h ago
Like, the show needs you to see what's happening
Yeah, exactly, and this was sort of lost on me. The Messis stands out like whale on a freeway. But, I forgot that it was night AND raining, and that didn't click until I read about people saying that the stormy weather reflected the tempestuous situation in Chor Tempest, etc. I guess it really was pitch black. So I was being a little unfair.
Maybe the reason it always takes them so long to patrol is that they just get lost on the way back lol.
Lol. Do they even have compasses? Do any of these princesses know how to use one? Does a compass even work near a helical motor?
I guess we can hand wave it and say simoun gems can find other simoun gems and motors.
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u/HereticalAegis https://myanimelist.net/profile/XthGen 1d ago edited 1d ago
First-Timer
Episode 16:
First episode I've been kinda underwhelmed by in a while. Which isn't too surprising since it has to be largely a combat episode.
I didn't think the story would pull the trigger on killing off any of Chor Tempest, much less two at once, but losing Dominura and Limone at once...only makes me more confident no one important is actually dying. That's right, I don't think they're dead. No bodies, baybee! That means it's theory time. Put on your meitantei caps, we're figuring out what the emerald ri maajon is. There are a few options I can think of.
Theory 1: The emerald ri maajon sucks in its surroundings with no regard for the one that drew it before closing at a certain point. Perhaps after it's consumed enough mass. Miniature black hole. Honestly, doesn't seem that likely to me because it's boring.
Theory 2: Same as the black hole theory, but with the twist that the inside is a tesseract of some kind, a la [meta live action movie]Interstellar. Also unlikely as a black hole theory, since the emerald ri maajon doesn't quite seem to be pulling in light and object pulled in doesn't seem subject to the spaghettification of a typical black hole.
Theory 3: So if not a black hole, some kind of gate then. But to where? An alternate universe, or some other world perhaps. Evidence: no bodies or debris left behind. Also, enemies were left behind after Ship Bad Touch completed theirs. Could those be enemies that were sucked into Amuria's emerald ri maajon and returned to offset this one. Probably not, there were most likely just an actual fuck ton of other enemies sitting around out of the emerald ri maajon's range.
Theory 4: So a gate, but not to an alternate word, or at least somewhere from where return is particularly unlikely. Somewhere like...the past. Dun dun dun! What's the evidence? Dominura herself. More specifically her fear and hope. What did she witness inside the deconstructed helical motor? What if she witnessed herself? Would that not sufficiently break a person and shake their faith? It would also fill in some major unexplained parts of the lore. Where did the helical motors come from and why are they limited to what can be dug up? If they're the reconstituted bodies and/or souls of Sibyllae transported from the past, that would explain the limited number, and probably also why they exist in pairs. It would also potentially explain why helical motors enable flight: they're all Sibyllae who have completed the emerald ri maajon and achieved the pinnacle of flight. This theory could also explain why Simoun react to a Pair's emotions. Honestly, this theory checks a lot of boxes for me, but Simoun is about flight, and about girls who want to soar higher. I think we can get higher.
Theory 5: The design for the emerald ri maajon is pretty conspicuous. It looks like a human brain. So what if, what if! The emerald ri maajon is the gods' final test to the people of this world, and completing it allows them to ascend to a higher plane. But not just any higher plane. They become part of the living consciousness of the world. This country is called Simulacrum. And those able to complete the emerald ri maajon become part of the Simulacrum's brain. That's right, the entire world of the show is actually a cosmic scale entity being constructed by the gods, and those taken by the emerald ri maajon are being mashed together to become the operating system. Now we're cooking. But why stop there?
Theory 6: The Sibyllae who complete the emerald ri maajon aren't constructing any old cosmic brain. They're constructing the writer's brain. Yes! Our final theory brings us to the inevitable truth. The emerald ri maajon is not just a test, it's an invitation to the real. Those who reach the highest of heights are allowed to step through the final gate and ascend into the real world. Our world. Friends, they are among us. Living. Breathing. Writing Mayoiga. We are among holy Sibyllae and we didn't even know it.
Anyway, Aaeru bags Paraietta with no other options left, but it's a hollow victory as the eleven-timer theory dies for now with Dominura. Aaeru hasn't flown with Dominura yet, right?
Whatever. Either way, I hope we get back to the more interesting character drama tomorrow. I'd rather not sit through more of the boring battle stuff.
QotD:
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 1d ago
The idea that Simouns are powered by dead sibyllae appeared early in both this rewatch and the previous one (thanks no doubt to the influence of a certain anime) but I like the idea that Emerald specifically sucks up sibyllae to stuff them into simoun gems and buries them to be found later.
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u/rickamore 1d ago
So if not a black hole, some kind of gate then. But to where? An alternate universe, or some other world perhaps.
El Hazard please. We need some levity in here.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 1d ago
Uh. Has Paraietta made any correct calls?
Well, she thought Aer would be a good partner for Neviril. Wait, no....
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u/Great_Mr_L https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L 21h ago
Ship Bad Touch
Theory 4: So a gate, but not to an alternate word, or at least somewhere from where return is particularly unlikely. Somewhere like...the past. Dun dun dun! What's the evidence? Dominura herself. More specifically her fear and hope. What did she witness inside the deconstructed helical motor? What if she witnessed herself? Would that not sufficiently break a person and shake their faith? It would also fill in some major unexplained parts of the lore. Where did the helical motors come from and why are they limited to what can be dug up? If they're the reconstituted bodies and/or souls of Sibyllae transported from the past, that would explain the limited number, and probably also why they exist in pairs. It would also potentially explain why helical motors enable flight: they're all Sibyllae who have completed the emerald ri maajon and achieved the pinnacle of flight. This theory could also explain why Simoun react to a Pair's emotions. Honestly, this theory checks a lot of boxes for me, but Simoun is about flight, and about girls who want to soar higher. I think we can get higher.
Those who reach the highest of heights are allowed to step through the final gate and ascend into the real world. Our world. Friends, they are among us. Living. Breathing. Writing Mayoiga.
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u/The_Draigg 1d ago
A Science-Fantasy Fan Watches Simoun Episode 16:
Captain Wauf is right to feel a creeping concern. They’ve sent out four Simoun to track down the base ship, but none have come back yet. They’ve only got two left in reserve, and their presence of the enemy has only been increasing over time. And with the size of that enemy force approaching, it’s probably safe to say that the base ship is practically right on top of the Messis, but they can’t determine where it is in the bad weather.
We’re just continuing on that train of sending Paraietta spiraling into doubt. It’s really hitting her now that Aaeru truly does have a better grasp on war than her, and that for as much as she’s nominally a leader within Chor Tempest, she doesn’t actually have the full understanding of it needed to survive. Much like other people we’ve seen, she’s been slow to grasp the harsh reality around her. It’s no real wonder why Paraietta is just feeling so out of step with everyone, she’s basically without anything to hold onto and understand now.
And because of all that, I’m not surprised that Paraietta is lashing out when presented with the grim reality of their situation: either the Messis flees entirely and leaves the unreturned sibyllae to their fates, or they stand their ground and fight when the next air patrol spots the ship. And it seems like my train of thought about Paraietta still being obsessed with Neviril is right, since even Aaeru calls out her behavior as such. It’s the kind of arrogance to expect from someone who still believes that they know what’s best for someone else and that only they have the best intentions for them. Unfortunately though, it does seem like everyone concedes to go and try to find the missing members of Chor Tempest than the other two practical options. Since there’s only two Simoun available right now, I guess Paraietta is forcing their hand a bit.
Woooo, smash the altar, Dominura! Whatever she learned about Tempus Spatium and the Emerald Ri Maajon from the dismantled Simoun really has changed something in her, since she’s entirely rejecting that religion now because of an eldritch truth she got beamed into her skull. It’s a shame that she’s still refusing to tell anyone about what she learned specifically, since apparently it really is quite a startling revelation for her to act more this way.
You’ve got to give Argentum credit, they really have improved their Air Force in a short amount of time. These new fighters that’ve been shown lately are much more impressive than those small capsule-like ones that had to be towed by airships before. These ones have higher altitude capabilities, can fly fast enough to dodge the area of effect of a Ri Maajon, and have good enough machine guns that they can interfere with a Simoun trying to make another one immediately after. I wonder if this sudden boost to their technology is a product of their alliance with Plumbum?
Hope? That’s the terrifying thing that Dominura saw beyond the veil of the Emerald Ri Maajon? I don’t really follow there. Maybe the hope is the true power that sibyllae can control, beyond just the power of belief in Tempus Spatium? Learning to control the powers of time and space beyond what a religion says would be both scary and hopeful for someone in a life or death situation.
Holy fuck, I legit wasn’t expecting Limone and Dominura to actually perform the Emerald Ri Maajon successfully, let alone the actual effect it had. Unlike the failed Emerald Ri Maajon, the successful one didn’t result in a nuclear-level explosion at all. If anything, all it did was cause Dominura and Limone’s Simoun to vanish without a trace. It wasn’t that Ri Maajon that saved everyone, it was only the timely intervention of the Arcus Prima that did. That does make me wonder, perhaps everyone was completely mistaken about the Emerald Ri Maajon being a weapon? If there was hope in the vision that Dominura saw before, and the Simoun can control time and space, maybe the Emerald Ri Maajon is actually a way to warp a Simoun to another space-time? I don’t know where they would end up, but if Dominura insisted that she felt hope, maybe an actual place to escape the violence and conflict of Daikuuriku entirely? Whatever Limone and Dominura experienced in that moment before they vanished, they were totally at peace. If they did wind up somewhere else far away from the Holy Land and its wars, then I hope the two of them find peace.
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky 1d ago
First-Timer, subbed
Ah, there’s the Paraietta-slapping-Aaeru scene I was expecting way back in episode 4. They sure made us wait for it.
This is either a massive Limone death flag, or an excuse to get her back safely so she can return the stuffed animal.
Oh, at least they got proper backup instead. But uh. Dominura and Limone are still gone, right?
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u/The_Draigg 1d ago
Ah, there’s the Paraietta-slapping-Aaeru scene I was expecting way back in episode 4. They sure made us wait for it.
It's been a long time coming, that's for sure. Although I'm more just surprised that they didn't even animate it, instead just going for a Dezaki shot of it. Is it truly a mecha-adjacent series if we don't get a fully animated slap to the face?
Oh, at least they got proper backup instead. But uh. Dominura and Limone are still gone, right?
Talk about the cavalry arriving too late. If the Arcus Prima had only gotten there a few minutes before, then Dominura and Limone probably wouldn't have felt the need to blink out of existence.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 1d ago
Is it truly a mecha-adjacent series if we don't get a fully animated slap to the face?
Oh dang you're right!
They also didn't animate the girl catch. It's like they are denying that they are making a mecha show!
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u/The_Draigg 1d ago
The Simoun are closer to being plane anyway, I suppose. The full mecha rules don't necessarily apply.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 1d ago
Planes can't catch falling girls, only mecha (that usually look like planes)!
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u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee 1d ago
First-Timer
The OP got upgraded with Yun, and Rodoreamon's new haircut!
It's interesting that Neviril sensed something when Limone and Dominura did the Emerald. I wonder if the incomplete one that she did with Amuria is still "lingering" for lack of a better term.
I will go ahead and say that I don't think Limone and Dominura are actually gone. It's possible that I'm just misinterpreting what the production is going for, but the vibes were off. Amuria seemed to just vanish, too..
Questions
How many times has she tried to assume command? That many. She's just not cut out for it, which is perfectly fine! As long as she doesn't actually end up being in command full-time. Even then, tehre is potential for ehr to grow into the role, but we're getting short on episodes..
In general they're good, but this episode they felt a bit forced outside of the one at the end.
With the context of the shrine destruction, I assume that she saw some proof that their faith is a farce.
They proved that completing the Emerald Ri Maajon is both possible, and seemingly pointless because it causes the performers to vanish and doesn't even completely wipe out the enemy fighters.
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u/rickamore 1d ago
I will go ahead and say that I don't think Limone and Dominura are actually gone.
The "no bodies" trope certainly implies a lot here. It's hard to trust anime when this happens.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 1d ago
can't trust anime
It's just so much easier to not draw the bodies! And cheaper! The temptation is always there....
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u/JimmyCWL 19h ago
They proved that completing the Emerald Ri Maajon is both possible, and seemingly pointless because it causes the performers to vanish and doesn't even completely wipe out the enemy fighters.
Maybe now people will remember that the Ri Maajon are supposed to be prayers, not weapons.
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u/Great_Mr_L https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L 1d ago
First-Timer
On today’s episode of Simoun: RIP Rodore’s plushie. It will never be forgotten. Oh, and I guess RIP Dominura and Limone as well.
Ooh, the OP changed! Yun is actually in the OP now so I can stop waiting for her to die! Rodore also has her new haircut!
If even Dominura is now praying in the church, she must really have seen something crazy inside the Simoun.
Pariaetta just gave Aaeru an incredibly aggressive “shut up already” kiss.
Dominura is even now calling the Simouns chariots of the gods again.
I have a bad feeling that Rodore’s plushie won’t survive this battle.
I find it hard to believe the Messis somehow hid itself when it sticks out so clearly above the treeline.
Aaeru did say she’d fought on the frontlines before this, so it makes sense that she’s probably encountered this particular enemy trick before where they pretend to leave only to circle back.
Aaeru wants to learn the art of war? Time for her to start reading the wisdom of Sun Tzu.
Fascinating that Dominura admitted to Limone that she only said she’s pursuing the Emerald Ri Maajon for Limone’s sake because she needs to believe she’s doing it for someone else. Dominura is admitting that the Emerald Ri Maajon is a selfish endeavor of hers, but she needs to believe it isn’t if she’s ever going to make progress. She needs to believe she’s doing it for the good of others. I’d guess that also includes the memories of her comrades who died trying to perform it.
It really is insane just how long those recon flights have been gone.
Parietal’s desire to fly out and find the missing Simouns is so obviously motivated by her desire to find Neviril instead of anything else.
The show has shifted entirely into Dezaki frames. I guess it makes the animation easier, but we don’t even get to see the slap be animated, just the aftermath.
Darkly comedic in a messed up way that Aaeru goes from opposing Pariaetta’s flight to supporting it after being hit.
Holy Shit! I completely misread Dominura! She just smashed the church’s Tempus Spatium statue!
Dominura says that everyone needs something they can believe in to ground themselves in life and that both the Holy Land and Tempus Spatium were what she used to believe in. I take it she no longer feels this way because she smashed the Tempus Spatium statue.
If the enemy planes have returned, then that means there really is no choice but to stand and fight.
Oh boy, this is pretty bad for Chor Tempest. Not only have the Archipelago’s plane designs improved, the pilots also seem to have improved as well. They’re actually able to maneuver out of the range of the Ri Maajons now. Plus there’s way more Archipelago planes than there are Simouns. The war situation is looking ever more grim for the Holy Land.
Limone can be wise beyond her years, picking up that Dominura is actually scared when she proposes using the Emerald Ri Maajon.
What did Dominura see in the Simoun? She says it destroyed everything she ever believed in, but that she also saw hope beyond that. But the really intriguing part is that Dominura claims that “hope” is also what terrified her so much.
Dominura and Limone are actually going to do the Emerald Ri Maajon. This is going to end badly, I just know it.
At least the sight of the Emerald Ri Maajon got all the missing Simouns to finally get back to the Messis after being away for god knows how long.
Dominura and Limone pulled off the Emerald Ri Maajon, but I really don’t think they are going to make it. This is reading as a death scene for them.
Well shit, that didn’t help very much! There’s still countless enemy aircraft!
At least the other Simouns finally came back. And so did the Arcus Prima!?!
This does make for a pretty incredible visual of the Simouns and Arcus Prima coming to the rescue.
Dominura and Limone’s death was sad, but it was also pretty well telegraphed that it was going to happen. Dominura had previously said she wanted to achieve the Emerald Ri Maajon and she had enlisted Limone to help her in achieving it.
One of the main questions here is the extent to which Dominura and Limone are doing this for either selfish reasons or for the sake of another. In both cases, I’d argue it’s a mixture. Dominura says one of her most fascinating lines when she says that she needs to believe she is pursuing the Emerald Ri Maajon for someone else’s sake. She needs to believe she is pursuing it because of what she promised Limone, not for her own selfish reasons. This ties in with another line of Dominura’s later on: that humans need some kind of belief to ground themselves to. Humans need some firm belief to guide their actions. For Dominura, that’s the belief that she’s pursuing the Emerald Ri Maajon for someone else. At first it seems it was for the sake of the Holy Land and Tempus Spatium. That was what kept her going as a former migrant who was just thankful to have found a new home. But after her faith was broken, she switched it to being for the sake of Limone. In both cases, though, there was always a selfish motivation as well. She was doing it to finish up the business of Chor Dextra. She wanted to give her own life meaning by achieving what Chor Dextra had set out to do.
Limone is likewise someone with mixed motivations. Limone is someone who wants to draw perfect Ri Maajons. She had to rediscover that personal motivation because for so long she was just doing what others told her to do. But at the same time, Limone is also someone who has been working out her feelings for others. Limone has been working out how she feels about Dominura as her partner. They seemed pretty incompatible at first, but it’s also clear that Limone has come to care about Dominura over time. Limone’s also been pretty observant about Dominura’s emotions, correctly reading her real feelings multiple times.
In the end, both Dominura and Limone end up achieving the Emerald Ri Maajon for these mixed reasons. Certainly there is a lot of personal motivation, but the only reason they are able to accomplish it is because they had each other. The most telling moment for me is how both of them say that they don’t feel afraid of the Emerald Ri Maajon because they have each other. Dominura and Limone provided each other with the motivation and the feeling of belonging they needed to achieve the Emerald Ri Maajon. In the end, they cared about each other enough that they were feeling to die for each other.
Dominura still speaks very mysteriously about what she saw in the helical motors. But I think I can parse out what she means. Dominura saw something that horrified her, something that only a Sibylla can see. This seems to indicate that there is something unworldly about what she saw. Perhaps she really did peer right into the face of Tempus Spatium or she saw the souls of the dead powering the Simoun. In any case, this is what shattered her faith. But at the same time, it also gave her hope. I’d imagine that whatever she saw was so terrifying that it meant she couldn’t follow Tempus Spatium anymore. But perhaps what gave her hope was the knowledge of how powerful the Emerald Ri Maajon could be if they could properly harness what she saw. Maybe she saw something that she hoped could turn the tide of the war, just as she was hoping it would.
QOTD
1) Pariaetta has made too many errors to keep track of and I imagine her confidence is shot.
2) I like it when they are used to emphasize a particularly important moment. But I think this episode might have gone too far and overused them a bit.
3) Discussed above.
4) It did act as a kind of homing beacon, telling all the other Simouns and Arcus Prima that something was wrong with the Messis and that they better get their butts over there ASAP. So in that sense the Emerald Ri Maajon did help out. But maybe it’s a larger thematic point that the Emerald Ri Maajon actually didn’t accomplish much by itself. For how powerful it was, the Messis wasn’t fully saved until the Simouns and Arcus Prima arrived.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 1d ago
Ooh, the OP changed! Yun is actually in the OP now so I can stop waiting for her to die! Rodore also has her new haircut!
I totally didn't notice! I only noticed yesterday that the picture I've been using at the top of the post only has the sibyllae from the first episode.
I really like your take on why this Emerald was different from Amuria and Neviril's. I think it echos what the show had been trying to say about the Simoun up to this point.
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u/Great_Mr_L https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L 23h ago
I really like your take on why this Emerald was different from Amuria and Neviril's. I think it echos what the show had been trying to say about the Simoun up to this point.
Yeah, the show has made a big deal about the Sibyllae needing to be in sync in order to fully access the power of the Simouns. Because Dominura and Limone's goals lined up and they were doing it for the sake of each other, they were able to achieve the Emerald Ri Maajon. This is in contrast with Amuria and Neviril, who were not fully in sync at that moment.
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce 1d ago
Aaeru wants to learn the art of war? Time for her to start reading the wisdom of Sun Tzu.
Shit, now I'm imagining a Simoun parallel universe spin-off with Team Red on the Arcus Prima.
So, who'd you think make the best pairs?
Personally, I think Sniper x Scout has the best chaos potential and Soldier would 100% take Blu Soldier and philosophise about warfare together, leaving Medic behind without his pair.
Limone can be wise beyond her years, picking up that Dominura is actually scared when she proposes using the Emerald Ri Maajon.
She learned that from Mamiina, when she called out Rodore's fear who wanted Limone to sleep in her bed.
It's actually a pretty nice callback.
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u/Great_Mr_L https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L 23h ago
Shit, now I'm imagining a Simoun parallel universe spin-off with Team Red on the Arcus Prima.
So, who'd you think make the best pairs?
Hmm. I think that Medic and Heavy would actually make a pretty good pair. Heavy doesn't seem to mind being a guinea pig for Medic. I doubt that Spy and Scout would be a good pair, but I'd love to see them be forced to work together.
She learned that from Mamiina, when she called out Rodore's fear who wanted Limone to sleep in her bed.
It's actually a pretty nice callback.
That's a very good point. Limone is like a sponge, absorbing everything around her before then applying what she's learned to other situations. She's a smart child.
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u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 21h ago
RIP Rodore’s plushie. It will never be forgotten. Oh, and I guess RI Dominura and Limone as well.
Aaeru wants to learn the art of war? Time for her to start reading the wisdom of Sun Tzu
This does make for a pretty incredible visual of the Simouns and Arcus Prima coming to the rescue.
I can't tell if this is just a quirk of this postcard, or if the Arcus Prima really is supposed to be like 5 times the size of the Messis, but now that I see it, it makes for a really fun visual comparison.
Don't really have anything to add on your Limone/Dominura thoughts here, just really like how you put it all
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 16h ago
Arcus Prima really is supposed to be like 5 times the size of the Messis
Yep, that seems to be the scale.
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce 1d ago edited 1d ago
Simoun First Timer
And with this, quite suddenly most of my recurring appointments, schedules and events are gone. It’s crazy how summer break just straight up cuts everything off, even if you technically don’t even have vacation.
I’m just enjoying this tranquility right now. My headache even got better and the weather of the following days looks much more consistent.
Today, I chose to continue with an old picture study where I used a reference picture of a late night diner and thought it’d look cool if I made the scene into a meeting between some randos eating there and cosplayers coming from a convention.
No Paraietta? Huh, I wonder if that has a reason.
Simoun Ep.16 – The Emerald Ri Maajon
Yo, what? I genuinely thought that the Emerald would be the grand finale of the show! It’s such a heavy plot device tying so many things togethr, I’m shocked to see it as the episode title here in the middle!
What are we doing here? Has Paraietta hit the bottom of the dried up well that she has been thrown down now?
It’s some high level insult that Dominura of all people pronounces her faith to Wapourif. Come on, bitch, you are the reason he fell from it so suck it the fuck up!
I’m glad to see that attacker aircraft are used for their proper purpose: Ground assault. Well, or at least ‚big thing‘ assault.
The only problem I have with this is that the Messis isn’t hidden at all. They could just fly around the mountain they saw the Messis flying around and… observe the gigantic bronze-golden sphere carving a path through the woods? That little smoke from the Falcon impacts is gonna be washed out by the rain within minutes.
Finally a character flaw that isn’t muh Neviril! I can live with this.
Hey, even an interesting one. Though, it’s done the usual abrasive Simoun way and just force fed into you with a cannon at point blank range.
Oh, I understand! Someone put Paraietta through a lobotomy in her sleep and put the maturity she originally learned into Dominura!
It hits harder because she’s my favourite, but seriously, slap those writers! Someone just switched her out for a petulent child! This is what I mean with them just mishandling characters to make a plot point. I’ve read your opinions, thought on the interpretations, and can only conclude that this is Stormtrooper writing. They are scary, accurate and competent when the plot needs them to be, but completely inept to even walk through doors when the heroes are around.
I’m sorry, what is this bullshit?! „The ghost of Aaeru the Inisghtless has started haunting your group. Quick! Identify who’s possessed and exorcise them before it can move on to the next!“
Would’ve felt better either early on or in that one episode. Now? Myeh. Apparently I’m supposed to believe Aaeru is the mature one suddenly. This is an actual clown fiesta.
„And that’s why I will now break this table.“ A reference only Germans can get.
Since when did they add turbine spin-up sounds to them starting? That is honestly quite a change that never was there before. Militarisation yes or no, the helical motors physically cannot make turbine sounds.
„Look how high they are! Almost like the Simoun!“ Literally @ 200m I’m sorry, but please look at your frames before you add such dialogue! Fyi, cloud layers are typically at 2-4km (that’s your normal cumulus or puffy clouds) and 8-10km (cirrus and stratus-types, those thin strips and very high up „carpets“)
At least we get a pretty new Ri Maajon! (Which should’ve killed them straight away, they are literally entering their enemies’ combined cross hairs.)
Ah, evolving tactics powered by the Scientific Method’s Heresy! #3
I’ve got to admit that I’m not feeling it. I think even trying the Emerald here is a waste of a plot device.
And we didn’t even have to do that ritual like Neviril and Amuria did?
And there are fighter jet noises again! Why do they suddenly use fighter jet turbines?! Where does that come from?!
So, the Emerald wasn’t even useful to do, in the end? Nothing would’ve changed if they wouldn’t have done it!
I don’t know what to write. This was absolutely and thoroughly awfulon everylevel
I’m open to suggestions, because I don’t even know what sort of copium I could mix for this one.
On the high level, we wasted a massive plot element, the Emerald Ri Maajon, for a side plot that was questionable at best and lost two characters and the main mystery for our MC for that.
On the mid level, I’m not even sure what this episode was really about. Is there a lesson or a reality portrayed by Limone and Dominura or was this just a flashy suicide livestream? The worst part is that it solidified child grooming and suicide pacts as pretty fucking rad.
On the low level, it’s a complete joke because the Emerald didn’t do anything! It wasn’t relevant to the plot, it had no effect, it had no personal payoff and worst of all, was built entirely on godawful characterisation lobotomy of nearly the entire cast.
I don’t even need to write anything here, the episode did so itself. Nothing changed. Well, actually no! It made everything worse!
Neviril, our eternal seat warmer of the sat-through motel cuck chair, got her 6th time in the trauma dungeon! Hooray! The episode would’ve literally been more valuable if they would have done nothing. I was literally laughing when this random ass avengers assemble moment came around out of godfuck nowhere for no reason and tried to be cool.
Funniest shit I’ve seen in my life!
I was really mad somewhere around the first third because of Paraietta’s terrible character assassination, but it got so much worse I’m having fun now. I’m deeply sorry to anyone enjoying this, but I’m having the best time shitting on this entire dumpster.
I guess I have this positive thing to say: Maaan, did Okada improve until Horou Muzuko and the like. That must’ve been a rough journey.
Praises of Helical Motors powered by Tempus Spatium’s Grace: 23 (+0)
Violations of Helical Motors powered by the Scientific Method’s Heresy: 3 (+1)
[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?
No seriously, I think we should ask an ouja board or seek out ghostbusters. It must be in the pipes or something.
[ep 16 Q2:] What do you think about the use of Dezaki postcard memories in this episode and the show in general?
The postcard scenes are cool and do add a nice weight to some moments, but the choice of moments feels so random at times, I’m having a bit of whiplash. Like, the slap? Sure, that’s a good one! But Paraietta turning? What, why? It takes me out because I try to analyse what they try to tell me and can’t really come to a conclusion.
And now please believe me! I made the comparison to [recently rewatched show] Flip Flappers out of jest! I thought Simoun wouldn’t collapse in the second half! I never asked for this!
[ep 16 Q3:] Why did Dominura destroy the shrine? What did she see in the helix?
A future glimpse of the new constitution Simulacrum will form after the war and it outlaws lolicons.
Suicide was the only way.
[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?
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 1d ago
Since when did they add turbine spin-up sounds to them starting?
They also added shakey-cam to the cockpit today.
Paraietta’s terrible character assassination
This is a very common opinion and it keeps popping up, episode after episode. I can't say that I agree. That maturity you think she had back early in the show? It wasn't there.
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce 1d ago
That maturity you think she had back early in the show? It wasn't there.
But what was it then? There was not only character decisions and learning, her attitude and outlook changed. If not growth, what do you call it, then? And why would she flip flop back just when another character's plot demands it?
I'd call Aaeru's regression and sudden calmness or whatever that sisters episode was similarly jarring, but for Paraietta it's just closer to home and makes me mad.
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u/Malipit 1d ago
I’ve read your opinions, thought on the interpretations, and can only conclude that this is Stormtrooper writing. They are scary, accurate and competent when the plot needs them to be, but completely inept to even walk through doors when the heroes are around.
Don't mind me. I'm jsut shamelessly stealing that comparison for a future rewatch
Emerald Ri-Majoon rant
My take is that if done properly, the Emerald Ri-Majoon do bend reality to its caster favor. In exchange of its existence/essence/soul/whatever. Hence why everyone at Chor Tempest reunited to snatch victory from the Archipelago jaws with the Arcus Prima arriving out of nowhere.
I do hope we have an explanation like that in the remaining episodes. Otherwise, it would be disappointing to say the least.
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce 1d ago
It must be something like this, but honestly, I don't give a fuck. I honestly believe this plot was completely wasted on Dominura, even if I would've found the episode enjoyable and well directed.
All the things of such high stakes taken for a random patrol mission trap and blown up for a lame Avengers moment that sent two people (possibly returnable) to super-problematic ship heaven.
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u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 21h ago edited 20h ago
I’m just enjoying this tranquility right now. My headache even got better and the weather of the following days looks much more consistent.
Meanwhile, I got extremely sick overnight. Please beam me some of that tranquility
No Paraietta? Huh, I wonder if that has a reason.
The art must have been swallowed up by the Emerald Ri Majoon as well...
Though, it’s done the usual abrasive Simoun way and just force fed into you with a cannon at point blank range.
This isn't really what you're talking about here, but I feel it works well enough as a springboard to say that while I'm personally still totally cool with Paraietta's character here, I do think how this episode tackles her at points is a good highlight for some of what we were talking about yesterday about how the show treats Aaeru's character flaws.
Because it does feel like the shows know to really spell it to the characters when it wants to make sure you feel Para or Neviril are going the wrong direction because of emotional circumstances, in this case, multiple blunt times this episode, and I do like that, but we don't really do as much for Aaeru? There, you're at best just kind of meant to think through it on your own, which is kind of a weird inconsistency that makes it harder to grasp where the show wants to be standing sometimes.
I’ve read your opinions, thought on the interpretations, and can only conclude that this is Stormtrooper writing. They are scary, accurate and competent when the plot needs them to be, but completely inept to even walk through doors when the heroes are around.
I’m deeply sorry to anyone enjoying this, but I’m having the best time shitting on this entire dumpster.
I mean, I really can't say I feel the same for a good chunk of it, but it's still honestly quite fun to read haha.
It feels pretty fresh to actually be almost fully on the positive cope side of a divisive rewatch for once, now that I think about it.
On the high level, we wasted a massive plot element, the Emerald Ri Maajon, for a side plot that was questionable at best and lost two characters and the main mystery for our MC for that.
On the mid level, I’m not even sure what this episode was really about. Is there a lesson or a reality portrayed by Limone and Dominura or was this just a flashy suicide livestream? The worst part is that it solidified child grooming and suicide pacts as pretty fucking rad.
Hmmm, see, I think there's almost no shot they actually just died, and especially that the Emerald really did nothing, not just from a narrative satisfaction sense, but also in how leading the show has felt with the Emerald in the past few episodes, so I definitely think it's much too early to call it wasted! I'd also argue that it does give Dominura some solid resolution, both for her motivating trauma and within that "People need to get stronger together" point we brought up a few episodes back (Just in a general "Themes and such" way, I guess).
Though that does somewhat rub against the grooming point, which... I don't know, I've been trying really hard not to look at it that way, and I think the show conveys itself ambiguously enough that it doesn't feel too weird, but I won't deny that I'm absolutely coping on that point specifically, because after [Recent rewatch]Bravern and [Recent rewatch]Flip Flappers, and yet another different rewatch that all had some glossed-over weird age-gap relationships in quick succession, I'm just really fucking done with thinking about this shit lol.
A future glimpse of the new constitution Simulacrum will form after the war and it outlaws lolicons.
Suicide was the only way.
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce 15h ago
Please beam me some of that tranquility
It feels pretty fresh to actually be almost fully on the positive cope side of a divisive rewatch for once, now that I think about it.
Honestly happy for you!
But I think I get what you mean here with Aaeru and Paraietta. Although I dislike both approaches, to the surprise of no one, haha. They do tend to drop one line that's sorta the "Go ahead!" sign of the current emotional fluctuation and then it just bounces off from there.
At least, the bluntness and suddenness of these changes from one episode to another is I think my biggest issue. I cannot settle on some state and go to another from there as audience. Aaeru is brash, but empathetic in one episode, knowing to shut up at times and instead go to the other person directly. In another, she bursts into a room full of people and unloads a container of diarrhea onto everyone, then being pissed about why everyone's mad. In yet another, she's level headed and focussed on the task, thinking ahead of the consequences and pushing others to think ahead, too.
I could write the same about Paraietta of Floe, I just don't know what the show thinks the characters are and it rarely gives me any hook on why so many of these drastic changes keep happening out of nowhere. The first I hear of any reason is when I read through the comments and to be completely honest, I can rarely, if ever, spot these written narratives in the show. What I see is the very obvious string on the pupper coming down and forcing it from one direction to the next.
Well, if it's enjoyable to read my rants, I think I can go to bed satisfied.
I think there's almost no shot they actually just died
Ah, of course! A third layer to the Emerald Ri Maajon where it didn't just not matter, and also not just matter even harder, but it did not matter so hard that there even weren't any consequences retroactively.
I'd love if we were sticking with nonsense all throughout to the end that we'd thoroughly beat Marvel!
[Recent rewatch]
Depending on how this turns out, we might refer to this year's Pride rewatch as the "Problematic Little Triplet".
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u/rickamore 1d ago
Rewatcher
Are they now moving the ship while all the Simoun are out? The craft that was stationary when they left, the craft that was moored for repairs or whatever contrived reason it was. The craft they would go back to look for and will no longer be there? That craft?
Protect the Messis! Make a smoke screen and hide on the ground... That's fine for the two person craft, but when you are hiding an airship larger than the tree line, good luck, going to stick out like a literal sore thumb even at night.
"I should have known they were trying to split up our forces and lure us out." I highly doubt that, there is no reason to think they were splitting up your forces, YOU did that, but not even you, the girls did that.
I get that Parietta is frustrated here but you guys should have just sharked them all when you had the chance.
Wapourif living in the chapel now, might as well give him a nun outfit.
Oh no the enemies are smart enough to get out of the sky drawings before they blow up.
How many times has Paraietta made an error in judgement since trying to assume command? What has this done to her ego?
I ran out of fingers. Honestly her ego swings so wildly that I assume she must be in two states at once.
What do you think about the use of Dezaki postcard memories in this episode and the show in general?
I like them but the use of them here was too drawn out.
Why did Dominura destroy the shrine? What did she see in the helix?
To show her new resolve, but otherwise I will refrain from commenting as a rewatcher.
What meaning is there in Dominura's and Limone's sacrifice with the immediate arrival of Chor Tempest and the Arcus Prima?
Like everything else in the show so far... NOTHING.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 1d ago
Wapourif living in the chapel now, might as well give him a nun outfit.
Perfect.
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u/GondolaMedia zj: 1d ago
First Timer
How did Limone bring that stuffed toy with her?! I even went back to try and spot it but for no avail.
I know that Aer and Neville were on that day long search but it feels like every single pair is on a similar goose chase. You would think at least one of the pairs would catch on that something's off.
I really liked Dominura's character and I'm sad to see her go. I guess Limone too.
QotD
1) She is too Neviril brained to make any sort of decision.
2) It's okay.
3) Well whatever she saw it shattered her faith (and the shrine by proxy). Honestly I got no idea what she saw and I kinda hope we don't get an answer.
4) I mean... I hate to be mean because their sacrifice was well told but a flare would have done the same.
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u/baboon_bassoon https://anilist.co/user/duffer 1d ago
first timer
the spooky track when they landed in the forest, feels a little alien
dominura kind of aura farming the last few eps
if "RAGING SEA" ri maajon doesnt work, why would "FISH"
the final symbol for the emerald looks pretty neat
"looks like were just in the knick of time" i mean maybe a minute earlier could have helped sirs
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 1d ago
"looks like were just in the knick of time" i mean maybe a minute earlier could have helped sirs
IKR! First timer me and rewatcher me are in full agreement!
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u/AbbreviationsWeekly 1d ago edited 1d ago
Rewatcher
The exit of Limone & Dominura is one of my favorite scenes in anime. They were at such peace and calm that it was awe inspiring. Iirc Dominura’s final line was some like “We will be together”.
I really enjoyed the final sequence when they were speaking telepathically. So calm and at peace, heading to an unknown fate. Apparently the normal rules of reality don’t apply in the center of the Emerald Ri-Maajon. It does make me wonder about Amuria’s fate.
I suspect this scene was a direct inspiration for the ending of [Another well known series]Darling in the FraXX.
I continue to love everything about the series. The characters, the settings, the music and the harmonies. Too bad it came out Spring’06 and was completely lost in the midst of so many other great series (Haruhi, Higurashi, Black Lagoon, Gintama, and the Host Club). Furthermore the were other great series that overlapped Simoun’s run.
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u/LittleIslander https://anilist.co/user/LittleIslander 1d ago
First Time Sibylla
That conversation with Paraietta was, uh, an “interesting” use of Dezaki frames.
So maybe I was a bit too optimistic with the Paraietta and Mikasa comparison last time… instead of internalizing the “let me go” moment from last time, she just slips even further into Neviril obsession to the point of stupidity. As in, her denial of facts and proposed handling of the situation is literally fucking insane. I do like the idea of her being overwhelmed by the situation and admitting she is not built for this war shit! But it never really builds to a defined character beat so it feels like we’re just continuing to tread water with her Neviril obsession.
Also, did Dominura go to the church partially to buy time for the enemy to attack them, so that Paraietta’s stupid plan would fall through? That’s kind of neat.
Aer, for her part, continues to not really be a character for the third episode in a row. Which is good, because it’s become clear that nothing good happens when Okada lets Aer be a character. You stay on that backburner, girl.
Otherwise we get Dominura and Rimone performing the Emerald Ri Majon, which is in a similar territory to the stuff yesterday. It’s about as close to explicitly romantic as you can get without them literally kissing (err, they do, but you know) and the creep factor kind of takes away my ability to enjoy an otherwise decent storybeat. Although, the fact it doesn’t even defeat all the enemies kind of weakened the sacrifice? The Arcus Prima suddenly… emerging from hyperspace how does that thing sneak up on them was cool and all, but having such a big story beat carry some actual weight in the script would’ve been better? For now it seems we don’t get to learn what Dominura saw, but I’m willing to bet that we’re going to see these two again in the future.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 1d ago edited 1d ago
Also, did Dominura go to the church partially to buy time for the enemy to attack them, so that Paraietta’s stupid plan would fall through? That’s kind of neat.
She said she had something to do. And that something was apparently smashing the altar to bits. Chatting up Wapourif was an unexpected diversion.
edit: I think? I didn't rewatch the episode in its entirety last night, and my memory is terrible. Maybe I just inferred that.
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce 14h ago
Also, did Dominura go to the church partially to buy time for the enemy to attack them, so that Paraietta’s stupid plan would fall through? That’s kind of neat.
That's an interesting thought and Dominura would be smart enough to think that way. It's kinda her jam, so to speak.
But that wouldn't really explain the statute? That seemed to me like the actual reason, but it also didn't make much sense to me when she then turns around and calls the simoun by their religious name again.
Destruction of false idols, return to the original, maybe?
Aer, for her part, continues to not really be a character for the third episode in a row. Which is good, because it’s become clear that nothing good happens when Okada lets Aer be a character. You stay on that backburner, girl.
Yeah, give Aaeru to the other writers, please. Paraietta, too, for the love of God!
having such a big story beat carry some actual weight in the script would’ve been better?
If we see the Emerald as a "miracle" Ri Maajon, or something that grants wishes in a sense, it would tie into the Arcus Prima saving them. As it would've been summoned, basically. Still, the episode didn't do a good job of either explaining it or making us feel it was impactful.
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u/Rinoi https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rinoi 1d ago
Rewatcher
Before starting this rewatch, the one thing I kept remembering was this incredible OST.
And we getting both Hitori no Yuuki — one of my absolute favorite tracks — AND Oozora no Auriga in the same episode !
Simoun's soundtrack is just on another level.
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u/moichispa https://myanimelist.net/profile/moichispa 1d ago
Rewatcher
We need more tango as anime ost imho. Today song was specially good. One one my favourites besides *spoiler one* I'll let you know then. I like more track 2 in general but the arragement was cheff kiss. I liked the subtle electronic music, the sort that you don't hear anymore, very nostalgic.
Paraietta is near breaking down, Dominura got into taliban mode and brought the kid with her, what a mess, but as a rewatcher I knew what I was coming for. But sincerely, there is a special place in my heart for the mess that Simoun is. There are great series out there but have you ever seen such a chaotic mess? It is amazing.
- Q1: How many times has Paraietta made an error in judgement since trying to assume command? What has this done to her ego?
She's breaking down, for got what goes foward tho. My memory if this show is not that great. I din0r remember grave mistakes really.
- Q2: What do you think about the use of Dezaki postcard memories in this episode and the show in general?
I did not like the first paraietta one since it is too close to the second one but the second one is perfection (also they are runnig out of animation budget and it shows)
- Why did Dominura destroy the shrine? What did she see in the helix?
I have two teories, one says that she saw something to make her understand that the holy land and tempus spatium are a lie (which explains her breaking the shinre), rthe other one is spoiler so I'll say it the next time.
- Q3: What meaning is there in Dominura's and Limone's sacrifice with the immediate arrival of Chor Tempest and the Arcus Prima?
I can't help to think it was slightly rushed, and maybe arrogant ( they're taking the plushie too). but Dominura says something good will come from it.
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u/Burnouts3s3 1d ago
Looks like Dominura and Limone have disappeared the same way Amuria did.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 1d ago
It does raise the question, was this also a failure, or did Amuria succeed?
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u/Great_Mr_L https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L 23h ago
If anything they managed to disappear even harder because they took the whole Simoun with them to who knows where.
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u/Malipit 1d ago
First timer, french fansubs, 480P quality found on a totally legal streaming site. Perfect conditions for that rewatch
On today's episode :A cathartic view for some watchers here, an experiment on how gravity work by Dominura with a Tempus Spatium statue, and the most expensive distress signal
Welp, the death flag wasn't bluffing yesterday. Dominura having her one-way trip to the Simoun core is something I'm expected. But I can't get over the fact she took Limone with her.
From a pure narrative view, that double sacrifice was necessary since it would be odd to have Limone being pairless for the 11 remaining episodes. And introducing another Sibylla while characters like Yun still doesn't have their time under the spotlight would be too much. And people at Deen may have voiced their concerns about that age-gap relationship.
So at least let's have those two go with a bang. Let's have them save the day with the ultimate Ri-Majoon as the situation becomes hopeless. Now that the Archipelago fleet nullified the Simouns superiority by using that advanced tactic called ''learning the pattern''.
I have to admit, seeing the two remaining Sibyllae pairs reacting like that to the Archipelago aircrafts dodging their Ri-Majoon and interrupting their cast with well-timed fire was a reality check so violent to them it had me laughing.
And I laughed harder when the emerald Ri-Majoon went off, with a touching scene of Dominura and Limone accepting their fate. Only for the cold realization that nothing happened since the Archipelago squadrons just stepped out of the AOE zone.
But don't get me wrong. I actually liked those scenes. The two Simouns being outmatched by their enemies is just the logical result of a whole army stupidly losing a war because they thought having God on their side would be enough.
That scene where Dominura toppling the Tempus Spatium statue is an ironic echo of it. You may have the purest faith of Tempus Spatium almighty power to protect you. It amount to nothing if you don't act to prevent it's fall by outside forces. That point is reinforced by the fact Dominura didn't suffered any consequence of that blasphemy. And it's apply to Simoun supposed to be invicible divine artefact. When it comes to face a competent enemy that learn from their mistake and adapt their strategy, the divine Simoun are in fact just advanced aircrafts piloted by emotionally unstable teenagers. And they would have been wiped out if not from the cavalry arriving just in time.
On that matter, Dominura and Limone sacrifice may not have been for naught. In fact I think it's evocative on what Dominura told about what she saw inside the helix motor. Something horrible but hiding a light of hope beneath it. And illustrated by her Simoun in a hopeless battle with a bright sun in the background.
And what did their emerald Ri-Majoon do ? Bringing back all of the Chor Termpest together and the Arcus Prima like a light of hope at the end of an horrible battle.
On the contrary of Amuria's botched attempt, I think that Dominura and Limone actually pulled of a proper emerald Ri-Majoon. One that doesn't aim at destroying their opponent but saving the one they care for. I mean, Limone hugging that plush who was a symbol of Chor Tempest deep companionship despite their dissenssion may be a hint of her wishing to be with her pair and her friends forever. A wish that got granted as every Chor Tempest Sibyllae saw her emerald beacon and got reunited.
And with a bit of luck, Limone and Dominura didn't die. Maybe they were just sent into another plane of existence where they get to have a happy life as a mother/daughter duo and absolutely not as a disgusting pedophilic couple.
Questions of the day
How many times has Paraietta made an error in judgement since trying to assume command? What has this done to her ego? Way too many times. Paraietta is dangerously close to becomes an anti-villain, having noble intentions of protecting Neviril from the chaotic Aaeru and wanting the best for her Chor. But ending up sabotaging it because of her growing desperate actions. What do you think about the use of Dezaki postcard memories in this episode and the show in general?
More Dezaki please.
Why did Dominura destroy the shrine? What did she see in the helix? Already talked about the helix. And I think she saw the souls of her previous Chor hanging out in there with Amuria.
What meaning is there in Dominura's and Limone's sacrifice with the immediate arrival Chor Tempest and the Arcus Prima?
Already discussed
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u/Malipit 1d 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. *And 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. New development in this episode : Neviril felt in turn the energy of the emerald Ri-Majoon after performing one.
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
2
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 1d ago edited 1d ago
I really didn't grok that the Emerald Ri-Maajon was a giant beacon, but it's obvious in hindsight. I thought it was a plot contrivance to have everybody show up right AFTER they were dead.
3
u/AgentOfACROSS 1d ago
First Timer
Today’s episode is called “The Emerald Ri Majon” which makes it feel like it’ll be super important.
Today we’re seeing the episode from the POV of one of the men at the start which is interesting. We haven’t really seen that before.
Dominura seems like she’s still losing it
Wow that’s a lot of enemy planes.
I think this air battle scene is fairly well done.
Paraietta seems like she’s having a bit of a breakdown after the battle.
I don’t really have any notes for these scenes of just characters talking but it definitely feels like a lot of important things are going on.
I am starting to like Dominura more with how protective she is of Rimone now.
Paraietta and Dominura have a lot of conflict brewing between them.
It’s pretty cute how Rimone brings the giant plush into the Simoun.
Wow they are blowing up so many enemy pilots.
Okay so many of the Ri Majons are named after materials but now I’ve just been thrown off by Fish Silhouette Ri Majon
We’re finally getting payoff for the Emerald Ri Majon
It seems to create a black hole or something.
Also it lets them talk telepathically?
I’ll be honest, the resolution at the very end of this episode feels a bit sudden and rushed but I hope we at least follow up on it next time.
2
u/deus_machinarum 23h ago
First Timer
Not a lot of time today so I'm going to focus on the QOTD:
I haven't counted. I'm not too fond of her nor of her new 'still pining for Neviril but this time I'm incompetent in every single thing I try' arc. Maybe it's just because I'm annoyed by her but IMO she needs to be removed from any position of responsibility ASAP. As for her ego, well yeah her constant failures have destroyed it and rightfully so but it's more important that Chor Tempest gets the leadership they need to be save than to protect Paraietta's ego. I know I'm being harsh but she's annoying af. She's also treating Aaeru way too harshly in general. Ok stopping now, I'm being far from fair to her.
I wasn't familiar with the term before this show although I have seen the technique used in other anime. In the show in general I love em, they are used sparingly enough as to not get annoying. In this episode however I would have loved to see the Aaeru slap animated for real, way too important of a scene for a postcard treatment.
She lost her faith/she knows it is all front for something worldly(and possibly sinister going by how this power has used the whole nation for its purposes by pretending to be a god-like entity). She destroys the shrine because she is angry that she has been duped, possibly her whole life assuming she migrated when she was still young. It makes me angry trying to empathize with her: she has trusted this deity her whole life and is now faced with having nothing in terms of spiritual stability. I think she saw two things in the helix: (A) the truth about the god and the old faith as well as about humans in general and Sybillae more specifically. I'm assuming it is going to be a banal, worldly truth something far removed from the high of the heavens. (B) The second thing she saw would IMO be the thing that lead to her fearing the 'hope' that comes behind the truth about Tempus Spatium. It's the grueling realisation that she, the Sybillae possibly mankind as a whole is themselves responsible for their world and their future. There is no greater power that takes care of you. This must be terrifying for Dominura especially since she has the experience of being a refugee who was then taken in by the theocracy. Very fitting to have her be the one to see the new truth first. And then not reveal it to us...
Tbqh I can't even think about it as a sacrifice yet, I'm not ready for a Simulacrum without Limone.
This episode speaks to me on a personal level: a horrible realisation that leads to anger, a feeling a abandonemnt and despair but ultimately is the only way towards freedom, self-actualization and an authentic life. As simplistic as it sounds all I'm seeing is a methaphor for growing up, it's not easy, it's not going to happen when you want or the way you want it to. It's still the only to live and to keep being you(I prefer this to 'becoming' you because it's not suddenly a new person living this new life, it's a gradual change that's based on a lot of prior experiences)
Man, what a cool episode and we don't even know what Dominura saw OR what became of her after the Ri Majoon. Limone's calm demeanor helps calming me down to, I'm not even really worried about them.
10
u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 1d ago edited 1d ago
First Timer
Not the plushie too!
Also, the OP changed! We have a Yun now! Also new haircut Rodore. Good thing this is a no-skipper because of Chikai Ishikawa lol. Although, while I do get keeping the Rodore thing as a surprise change, kind of weird that we do it for Yun too when Mamiina is in the first version? Mayhaps Yun gets more focus from now on?
Of course, right after I said I wanted to see if you could notice the split in writing credits via episode focus (Between wider thematic meaning and pure emotional character drama), the show gives me an episode written by both Okada and Nishimura. Well, either way, once more we have a decidedly moody episode that mostly does actually continue off of last episode's throughline. Decent split between battle and drama here, and while the battle is still somewhat so-so for me, it's also probably the best we've had from the show in that regard, both visually and just in the fact that having the enemies evolving and doing a better job introduces a needed bit of extra variety and stakes. Plus, I swear storms are just such a buff for this show's atmosphere; it just feels in its element when it's brooding lol. Love shots like this, and the whole part where they hide in the trees while it's raining, waiting for the enemies to pass, was super mood.
Paraietta is still having a very bad time in the same ways, both being needlessly combative and being overruled in her role, though at least in some regards she's starting to come to terms with it, even if that doesn't quite consistently stick throughout the episode. A point the last few episodes have raised is the need for belief in order to have resolve, and I do think how Paraietta slots into that is pretty interesting. Like, her two major driving beliefs lie in A) Being a Simoun Sybilla - specifically through the "original", spiritual connotation of that. B) Neviril. This entire situation is forcing her to give up on the former, while agreeing she feels totally out of place in this new, military form, and as for Neviril, well, we know all about how that's going. She also can't believe much in herself, exactly because of her thoughts on failing in the other two. So Paraietta feels very lost in her purpose right now, and is kind of stuck in this push and pull trying to find her place.
Saying something like "It's only the captain's opinion that the enemy will strike again" is genuinely insane, but I do think it does a solid job of pulling out her conflict. She's still not always taking the view of the Simoun (Vulnerable military craft, not holy untouchable constructs) Dominura presents here to heart, especially because that clashes with how she views her attachments, but then she'll effectively concede her conflicted view by still wanting to go out despite Aaeru even trying to back her up, falling back on her overprotectiveness to make up for it. They end up being attacked anyway, so her complete indecisiveness doesn't end up mattering that much, but hopefully the shake-up this episode presents steers her back on course to a better place.
For Dominura's side, she still doesn't tell us what exactly she saw in the Simoun, and uh, well, I guess she won't be around to say anymore either, but the way she talks and acts here, saying it broke apart her faith and downright rejecting their religious view by taking down the altar, certainly implies it wasn't something pleasant. Though hope being behind that is an interesting thing to keep in mind. I do think there's a sort of interesting parallel to be made here from Limone's episode a while back. In a sense, Dominura getting to do the Emerald here has a similarly therapeutic effect, like Limone doing the Silver back then. They do disappear afterwards, but there is a certain calm bliss to their end here, like finally getting to this has lifted a lot of the weight of the scars of Dominura's past.
Speaking of, they do the Emerald Ri Majoon! And it... kind of does nothing? Well, character meaning aside, with the fact that we intentionally set up a mystery around it, I doubt they're actually dead, though exactly what happened to them isn't clear. I suppose if the Emerald is the ultimate Ri Maajon, and the Simoun affect time and space, maybe they got like, sucked into a different dimension or plane of being? Regardless, in practice, for Chor Tempest, Limone and Dominura are gone, and I'd assume will stay gone from the show for the foreseeable future, and that's a pretty big deal!
So obviously Chor Tempest now has to contend with both loss and incompleteness again, which should be interesting. And beyond that, how will Neviril deal with losing more people she knew to an Emerald Ri Majoon? How will this affect Aaeru really wanting to do one earlier? Paraietta for partially enabling this with her strategy? Looks like we might move back to the Arcus Prima as well, which could affect interaction a bunch given what we got out of the Messis. So this is a really big change in status quo, and there's lots to look forward to here in terms of how we might tackle it.
In the grand scheme of things, I like having them! Actual execution on them aside, I do just generally just rather appreciate having it as a little stylistic touch. With that being said, I think it's been a bit of a mixed bag here? I mean, I don't have too much to compare to, it's not really a technique that's used that much in modern anime, and I haven't seen enough Dezaki or older works in general, unfortunately, but both just by feel and comparing it to say, Rose of Versailles, I do think Simoun's uses leave a bit to be desired.
The way I see it at least, the strength of postcards is in really accentuating a singular emotional reaction or dramatic/meaningful moment. These kinds of super detailed, often more uniquely artistic and evocative frames are just inherently much more expressive after all. To that end, stuff like Aa-e-ru or Dominura's ones do a fantastic job!
But then this episode you have something like the slap, which okay, that's a dramatic moment you want more impact out of, but we also just... hold on it for way too long? I feel like you're undermining the purpose of that specific expression by having the conversation just continue on top of it, while also introducing needless dissonance. This Paraietta one has the same issue. Paraietta is feeling cornered, lost, and alone in this argument, but I feel like that would work better if we did it after the argument, to reinforce her state and stew in her difficult emotions, instead of running it in parallel where continuing the conversation alongside the frame feels counterproductive. Just normal expression would do the job the same in that case imo.
And cases like this, of either applying the technique to moments that don't necessarily feel they get much from it or are otherwise undermining its strength, have popped up before as well. Still, like I said, I do much prefer having that style with the occasionally awkward execution compared to not having it at all!
Well, outside of the fact that I don't really think they've fully sacrificed themselves, not much I guess haha? They did act as a sort of beacon that let the other Simoun spot the battle, but I don't know how much that mattered.