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Vision of Escaflowne DVD 6: Fate and Fortune

Episode 18. The Gravity of Destiny: Hitomi, Van and Allen are teleported before the Emperor of Zaibach, Donkirk, who reveals that he is Isaac from Earth and how he wanted to learn the laws of fate to end man's destiny of constant war. The three are locked up and Van is in agony as the Sorcerers start to dismantle Escaflowne. With Hitomi's help, Van activates Remote Control to bring the mecha to their cage prison. Rocket Form is engaged to escape from the pursuing Guymelefs.

Good grief, security at these Imperial headquarters are terrible! The converse of that old adage that the most dangerous place is also the safest place is also applicable. I loved how love between two people was described as a form of gravity given that attraction operates in both cases (though in different meanings); I don't know enough basic physics to know how far the analogy can be stretched but, hey, physics has never stopped animu before. Rocket dragon FTW!

Episode 19. Operation Golden Rule of Love: Donkirk notes that Van x Hitomi = Level Up and orders Folken to break them up. Using hairs and the Fate Alteration Engine, Folken and one of his catgirls attempt to pair Hitomi with Allen instead. It works, coming hot on the heels of Van making the same mistake with Hitomi at Freid and the damage is sealed by a kiss in the rain.

Van no baka! Well, being upset like that is surely a sure sign that Hitomi is in love with Van. Why else would she be upset at him if she didn't value his love? Look on the bright side, at least he came straight out and wanted you... for your power - still better than The Awful Truth. And we learn that the Shoop Shoop Song is right! I did feel rather sorry for the twist about the catgirl who got to kiss her dear Folken-sama as part of re-directing the Hitomi x Van vector; in the end, she felt that it was her sister who didn't kiss Folken who got to keep the dream of having Folken's love.

Episode 20. False Vows: Allen 'fesses to Hitomi and tells her about Chid. Millerna comes to her for a reading about her marriage to Dryden and Hitomi changes the cards to say that the marriage will have some small teething problems but will bring her happiness. But fulfilling Hitomi's vision of devastation, the catgirls attempt to kidnap and due to their super luck charge up, everyone else is powerless to stop them.

I liked how there was a great deal of ambiguity about Hitomi's fortunetelling. In the first place, Millerna should not have asked her because she knew that Hitomi is not an uninvolved party and there's a conflict of interest; it's a sensible rule that one cannot tell one's own fortune since you are too bound up in your own feelings. It was also quite sad to see how Hitomi blamed herself when Zaibach was going to attack anyway, that needless claiming of responsibility and blame as a means of countering guilt. She really needs to watch the Spider Mistress arc of xxxHOLIC to understand how she can't just sacrifice herself because it's also irresponsible to ignore all the cares and worries and sacrifices that others have for her.

Related posts:

1. Vision of Escaflowne DVD 2: Betrayal and Trust
2. Vision of Escaflowne DVD 7: Light and Shadow
3. Vision of Escaflowne DVD 5: Paradise and Pain