Ryuusei 53 (I thought spoilers were my friends)

robo · Net Battler Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 63

Okay, pleasant surprise tonight--the latest ep of Ryuusei aired and I have to say, I pretty much hyperventilated the whole way through. The only thing I hated was that the episode couldn't be longer;_;

Things start off at Amaken and Amachi expresses his disbelief of Gemini using the energy of his fellow FM-ians to fill the Andromeda Key. Cancer's still in poor, sad shape, pleading that he hide out there, an idea that Utagai is not fond of. He even asks Cancer to leave...and of course, Cancer freaks. Subaru deduces that since only one FMian's energy is needed to activate Andromeda, Harp would be in danger, as well as Misora.

At the live concert, Misora sings a cute, upbeat tune to an enthusiastic audience while Gemini Spark skulks in the shadows offstage. Flash back to Amaken, Subaru heads off with WarRock to the concert. Cancer then asks why his precious 'Misoracci' would be in danger since Harp and Harp Note have nothing to do with her. Utagai breaks the truth to him that Harp Note IS in fact Misora. Cancer's image of her two identities are jarringly different: Misora is the sweet, sugary pop idol of his dreams and Harp Note is the twisted sadist of his nightmares. More Cancer freakage ensues.

Back at the concert, we see Luna, Gonta, and Kizamaro in the audience cheering Misora as she finishes up a song. She thanks her fans and then exits the stage only to be met with a surge of electricity that rips the handle of her guitar clean off. The attack also causes Harp to shriek in pain. The Gemini Sparks (you know, I can't keep my plural/singular straight when it comes to them/him/whatever) command Misora to turn that traitor (Harp) over. Misora, now angered, refuses and transforms into Harp Note. Explosions, chaos, and some of the best fight animation we've seen since episode 26 follows. Luna wonders what Harp Note is doing at Misora's concert, but Kizamaro and Gonta are in a mood to evacuate the place. Misora then decides to take the fight outside. More nice animation. Misora takes a nasty blow to her leg and Harp insists that they should separate so that the girl can escape, since it's Harp Gemini Spark has business with. Misora believes that her FMian will be killed if they don't stay merged. Merged or not, it doesn't seem to make much difference as Gemini Spark B can just walk over to her and lift her off the ground by her neck.

That's when our hero makes his entrance and sweeps the heroine away to safety. (okay, has anyone been keeping tally of how many times the two have saved each other? Are they even now?)

Awesome fight between Gemini Spark and Rockman....just as Rockman tries to use the Star Break, the twins let loose a double Rocket Knuckle. Mm, ouch? But despite the delay, WarRock reaches out and chomps down on the Star Break card and Subaru transforms into Rockman Ice Pegasus. Gemini Spark fires Rocket Knuckle again, but Subaru's ice attack stops it. He wastes no time to transform into his dragon form. So then it's Gemini Thunder versus Elemental Cyclone. Subaru's attack eventually prevails and AAAGH, Tsukasa and Gemini are forced out of their transformation!

Subaru is a little shaken to find out that his friend is Gemini Spark, Tsukasa stands back up, smiling despite losing this battle. He comments that Subaru has gotten very strong, but continues that his growth means little as Andromeda's gonna mess the Earth up anyway. Tsukasa and Gemini then teleport away, and oh nuts, Luna, Gonta, and Kizamaro saw the whole thing. Those three are pretty dense though, or just really incredulous...Kizamaro adjusts his specs and wonders about Tsukasa calling Rockman 'Subaru'.

Subaru takes Misora back to his home where they introduce each other as normal kids at long last, and Subaru admits that he knew about Misora being Harp Note for a long time. Akane wonders what all the fuss is about and finds her son with the pop idol. She then dresses the girl's leg wound and comments that she is surprised that Subaru is friends with Misora.

Man, Subaru is only ten and he already gets to have a cute girl in his room! Misora thanks him for saving her, and Subaru tells her that he should be thankful since she's the one always saving his skin. Misora then notes that Subaru looks pretty crestfallen, and WarRock asks if it's over Gemini Spark and Tsukasa. Subaru nods. I guess Harp tries to console him by telling Subaru that Gemini's influence is so strong that when merged with a human host, that human has no awareness of himself left. WarRock then adds that even if Gemini Spark is defeated and Tsukasa is returned to normal, some weird risk will be involved that I can't translate. Misora butts in and says that Subaru still has to try, regardless, since Tsukasa is his friend. She then says "Wouldn't it be really cool if just the two of us saved the world?" Harp and WarRock respond that it won't be two people, but four:) Awww. Suddenly Subaru gets a call from a cheery-looking Amachi who announces that the Star Carrier has been completed, and asks Subaru to come back to Amaken.

Once Subaru and Misora get there, they are each given their own Star Carrier and Utagai brightly demonstrates a great use for it. He makes an umbrella materialize, for a rainy day when you don't have an umbrella on you. Amachi teases him about his 'great invention'. I love how uppity the new Utagai seems to be now!

In the next scene, the Gemini Sparks converse. Whitey comments that the key isn't quite full yet, but Blacky counters that the energy they have already collected will be plenty to destroy the Earth and decides to chance activating Andromeda with that. A series of waves emanates from the key and Andromeda finally breaks free of her icy encasement....cliffhanger.

Oh man oh man oh man. Good episode. I know I say this every time, but the next episode just can't come soon enough!

cccd-erckie · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 9:34 am Post subject:

EDIT: Saw it. =)

I'm a bit bummed now, though, because there's absolutely no doubt now that Gemini is going to bite the big one. Which is a real shame. =(

=( Does the new Star Carrier system mean that we won't see any more Predation scenes?
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DynawaveXD · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 9:47 am Post subject:

I cannot wait for the next episode either. Man, I was hoping that Subaru explodes from anger and mauls him, but that isn't the case.

Tsukasa looks like he's acting from his free will, but maybe that isn't the case now...

Anime Master ZERO · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 9:49 am Post subject:

Being a fan of Gemini Spark, I look forward to seeing this episode.

I noticed at the end that you referred to Andromeda with a female pronoun. I was never quite sure of Andromeda was supposed to be named after the galaxy or the constellation (and yes, I've seen the end of Ryuusei, but I'm still not totally convinced).
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robo · Net Battler Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 63

AMZ:
My memory is kind of hazy, but the last time I played StarForce'...yeah, I don't remember if Cepheus referred to Andromeda as 'it' or 'her/she'. I could easily go with 'it' as well, but since Andromeda was a female figure in mythology, I say 'she', barring strange cases like 'Harpuia' and 'Thetis' in the other Rockman incarnations. But yeah, I'm not gonna argue one way or the other; it's just not that important.

Dynawave:
Yeah, Subaru was pretty contained after discovering that. A little despondent afterwards, but nothing like he was back when he thought WarRock killed his dad. I still get shivers just thinking about that.

I was a bit confused as well about Harp's comment. I think perhaps Tsukasa is willingly cooperating with Gemini, but in his transformed state, he just lends his body to Gemini but not his consciousness. It's kinda iffy, but that's the only thing that makes some sense to me.

CCCCCCCCCCD:
I suggest you log into NicoDouga and watch it right now, before it gets taken off. Just copy and paste 流星のロックマン into the search and it should be the second video result you get. I'm not up to 20 posts yet so I can't post URLs.

DynawaveXD · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 11:39 am Post subject:

So basically, Subaru went "My so-called friend just happened to be destroying the Earth, and endangered countless lives before. I have to stop/save him. Okay. Sure."?

When Subaru thought WarRock killed his dad, it had a much more emotional impact. Oh well.

ComicX6 · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:20 pm Post subject:

Hm, the art sounded nice. I hope Chikaoka Nao sticks around then, and doesn't become the next Kyoto Taketani, who did a fabulous job on Beast + 1, and was never seen noe heard from again. Can't wait to watch this one.
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DanSidney · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:36 pm Post subject:

robo · Net Battler Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 63

Like Dan said, it's not too surprising that Subaru wasn't super emotional about it. The anime plot differs so much from the game...if Subaru were to get as upset in the anime, as he was after Tsukasa's betrayal in the game, it would almost be inappropriate. Yeah, we get hints that they're better than acquaintances, like Subaru hanging back with Tsukasa while Luna, Gonta, and Kizamaro pack together on a few occasions and the website (the TV-Tokyo one, I think?) indicating they get close, but yeah, I don't think the relationship was explored a whole lot beyond that.

robo · Net Battler Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 63

Oh yeah, I guess I could get some screencaps for the moment as well...
just a sec...

Edit: Caps at TUS as Seiko mentioned, but I'll bet they don't have awesome Japanese captions flying across...yeah, I'll bet they don't.

smg?photobucket?com*albums*v343*RoboNyanya*ryuusei_53* (45 images- copy, paste, change question marks to periods, stars to forward slashes)
Password is yomama. I'm serious.

Crimson Seiko · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:16 pm Post subject:

There's screencaps at TUS, and the episode is absolutely GORGEOUS. Now that I see the art, I think this art director has actually done episodes in EXE before. It just seems familiar. I'll look into it; I'm not at my normal desk where my art director list is...

Anyway, TUS also has a screencap of Yasuo Shimizu's work for the next week preview. Hate to say it, but it looks like Yasuo's usual stuff. *sigh*
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ComicX6 · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:32 pm Post subject:

I hope that in the coming battle Andromeda will actually do something to, y'know, impress me. Andromeda did not strike me as being very impressive in its last outing, so it better do something else other than drill the world to nothingness. Maybe its battle form will get CG, but I kinda doubt that after episode 31.
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' I don't care if the buzz isn't real- I can roleplay being drunk!'

- Balmung, .hack vol. 1

I now have a site! Web page rather: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1048042/

robo · Net Battler Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 63

NumberGirl · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 3:55 pm Post subject:

Hmmm...
I think Subaru saying "I know" when they got acquainted as civilians goes both ways. I mean, who doesn't know who Hibiki Misora is? Razz

About what was said about Tsukasa and Gemini, Harp said that they're perfectly in sync that there isn't much humanity left when they're in Denpa Henkan, and WarRock said that even if they do get rid of Gemini, there's little chance that Tsukasa will "return to normal".

I guess they're assuming that Gemini took control of Tsukasa and not Tsukasa working with Gemini in his own free will.
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DanSidney · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 3:56 pm Post subject:

After looking at the 'caps at TUS, I noticed a few things.

1. Everyone in Ryuusei is very slim, right? But this goes somewhat beyond anorexic! Everyone is so slim, everyone's arms are so thin even! D: It's creepy. Ice Pegasus' armor too is far too "slim", while it should look fare more.... "buff".

2. BIG foreheads. D: Possibly because she draws eyes a little smaller than usual, but damn, those are some vast foreheads.

3. Every detail is so tiny! Seriously. Just look at the ears, the hands, the star carriers, and the shot where Andromeda is shown with the twins (and they're so small for the whole image). Expecially the hands. SO SMALL! DX

This episode, while not looking bad, and I'm yet to look at some real action, looks like somewhat of a chibi fest... D:

P.S. is it me or Akane's face looks like something that was touched up by Adachi?
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robo · Net Battler Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 63

ComicX6 · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:14 pm Post subject:

If you think that was anorexic, DanSidney, just read/watch One Piece. Many of the female characters look like they'd snap in two when faced with a stiff breeze!

Though, with that in mind, that sceenshot of Tsukasa crying out reminds me of back when we first saw him in the opening, one year ago, and everyone, myself included, thought for sure that he was a girl.
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' I don't care if the buzz isn't real- I can roleplay being drunk!'

- Balmung, .hack vol. 1

I now have a site! Web page rather: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1048042/

DrkXFuZion · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:31 pm Post subject:

DanSidney · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:37 pm Post subject:

Rock Miyabi · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 5:08 pm Post subject: