Despite being another relatively slow episode, I was happy that Arika and Mashiro have gotten over their “What am I going to do with my life?” angst bump. Hopefully we’re finally set up for some action and concluding arc plot development from the next episode onwards. I also liked the scenes when Midori makes an agreement with Mashiro in the latter’s capacity as Queen of Windbloom and then Arika addresses Mashiro as “Master” for the first time since Ep 7. This tied in nicely with my view that the essence of sovereignty is not force or power (although they are important in defending and maintaining that essence) but recognition - generated internally through consent and belief/imagination as well as external from peer states/rulers.
Well, it’s a small point but I was happy that Ers-chan’s memory burns bright in Nina and Arika. John Maynard Keynes may have been right when he (supposedly) said that “In the long run, we are all dead.” But other than genetic propagation, there’s also memories of us held by others.
I know that Tomoe all too willingly cast herself into Shizuru’s trap and that Shizuru is more than justified in making use of Tomoe’s weakness but it still rots my insides to see a person’s sincere (even if it is evil, twisted and warped) feelings being used like that.
And here my translations of this past week’s crop of Urayo Mai Otome parodies. Comments on errors and omissions in my translations will be super-duper appreciated. Click on dates for the images:
2006-02-27
Shizuru: Oh dearie me!
[Shizuru's escape is continued from last week's crop. The book shelf was previously parodied in 2006-01-08 and is, of course, a reference to a Tomoe Pining for Shizuru scene in Ep 8.
2006-02-28
Tomoe: Ttttttttttthree [leeks] have entered…
[I don't even want to think where three. X_x]
2006-03-02
First panel
Haruka: Hyahyahya etc etc. (background)
Yukino: She’s laughed herself to death!
Second panel
Yukino: What! To death?
Third panel
Yukino: (panting: Haahaa) If the weakness of Haruka-chan, our country’s ultimate weapon, is discovered, the Otome and military of other countries.. In order to make Haruka-chan laugh herself to death, maybe will advance upon us without their pants on haahaa…
2006-03-03
Tomoe: Harder! Hit me harder pleeeeease–!!
Shizuru: This is Shouchu (a cheaper type of alcoholic drink) Hitting Style~~~~!
Chie: Sorry, Tomoe, but this is for your own sake.
(Arrow at Chie): An interfering character who slips in front of Tomoe’s sight sometimes.
but it still rots my insides to see a person’s sincere (even if it is evil, twisted and warped) feelings being used like that.
Working in a customer service industry killed that part of me a long time ago. LOL Nope, still don’t have much sympathy for Tomoe, other than she’s woefully outmatched here. But it’s still compelling in the same kind of way when your favorite team is matched against a much weaker opponent, the outcome is never in doubt, it’s just a question of margin of victory. ;)
Re: 3/3/06 Urayo. I get the diapers as masks, but not the baby bottles on their heads. I wonder if SUNRISE knew what kind of monster they unleashed.
Yes, no question that Shizuru will win through but I was hoping that Tomoe will redeem herself by sacrificing herself for her precious oneesama. Would make her a lot more interesting as a character rather than just petty psycho lesbian.
About the baby gear, I don’t even want to think about it. -_-;;
I like this ep a lot since they had plenty going for plot and character development. Although I fear it’s still too late and too little. Much as I try not to dwell on it but I can only picture Tomoe using the baby goods and not Shiruzu oneesama…. :P