Posts in Mai-HiME Category
January 14, 2005
Note: Please note that from now on all Mai-HiME entries will be "quickie" impressions/speculation-only entries. For more complete summaries see the blogs linked at the end of this post.
Excellent episode, what more can I say? Those who've watched the episode know what I'm talking about :) The tension built up recently comes to a excellent climax this time. It's too bad Miyu won't be with us anymore (or at least it seems that way). Over the last few episodes I had come to like her character more, and even felt a bit sorry for both her and Alyssa in the end...
The question now is "Where do we go from here?", isn't it, with the SEARRS people seeming to give up on their plans for now. At least for next time, it's fillerish silly looking stuff, judging from the next ep preview.. not fitting at all with the serious emotional way things ended this episode (違和感 is a word that comes to mind here).
There are still many questions out there that need to be answered.. more things about the HiMEs, about Nagi, so on, so on. And then there's the whole love quadrangle thing with Mai-Tate-Shiho-Reito. Well, we'll see how those are taken care of (or not) in the next 11 (it is a 26 ep show, right?) episodes on the way to finishing it up with a bang, hopefully. With the way it's going it will be a favorite of mine :)
See Mentar , Moyism (do you really need that many screencaps?), and Athena for some more views on this episode (probably better thought out than mine, lol) ;)
I'm going to defer to Mentar for this one :) I have not put in anywhere near as much thought as he (and Garten) have put into Mai-HiME so far (maybe since I've been watching too much other stuff to really think about it). Perhaps it would be best for me to put this in the "Other" category and just be along for the ride... If I think of something insightful to say about this episode I'll be back later ;)
(after reading Mentar's review...) I'm with him :) Though I did think of some random stuff... With the mood shifting from the comedic tone of earlier episodes to more serious goings-on (though still with a touch of comedy).. if I were director I would've changed the op sequence.. or maybe that's just because I think it could've be done better in the first place ;)... Also check Moyism's post. For some reason, Alyssa's child (in orbit, yeeesh) makes me want to do the "laser" thing from Austin Powers :P
Midori finally shows up and talks with the others about all that's happened. Of course, Natsuki's got her own things to do... Midori thinks that there are 12 HiMEs, so with 8 known that leaves 4, or 3 if Alyssa is a HiME.
It's time for the 魂響祭り tamayura matsuri and all the girls are excited, but Mai doesn't know about it, of course. Supposedly, if you write the name of the person you like on a ribbon and tie it around the rail in the 水晶宮 suishouguu then you'll be tied together forever. Giving a ribbon with the name of a person you like to that person is an invitation to the festival. Reito asks Mai to go on a date with him.. she doesn't respond right then...
Tate and Shiho have their own worries about that kinda stuff.. Tate about Mai, of course, and Shiho about her "onii-chan" ("It's okay. If onii-chan wants to do that..." brought back memories of Koikaze....).
So the festival comes and Mai goes with Reito to it, and brings Mikoto. That isn't really a date, so Aoi and Chie lure Mikoto away with food to get Mai and Reito with just each other. Shiho's also dressed up for the occasion for her onii-chan ;) Mai and Reito end up talking.. but Shiho and Tate see them.. and just as Reito's about to kiss Mai, Tate screams out "Tokiha!!". Reito isn't pleased with it, and Shiho's pissed as well...
But an aurora-like thing appears in sky and suddenly something comes down and blows the heck out of the bridge over the lake. It's Alyssa's CHILD. Her and Miyu look over from a ridge, their target destroyed. So now it's time to notify the "Golden Fleet" (those ships, I'm guessing) to "open Valhalla's gate"
I'm in agreement with moyism here. Whoa :) Things just keep on picking up episode by episode now.. and now you've got the whole Mai-Reito-Tate thing and Alyssa blowing the heck outta stuff (that was a "OMGWTF is going on?" moment there). Exciting stuff there.. And I wonder what it is Natsuki saw... she saw "one f'ed up Akane", according to Momotato (I really must've not been paying attention. Must be the weird sleeping schedule I'm on now, lol)
Anyways, can't wait for next time. And please keep up the commenting as y'all did last episode (correct me if I've made mistakes or left something important out, okay?).
Back to Mai-HiME after taking a break for finals (hopefully you Mai-HiME fanatics will be satisfied now)... Randomness for now :)
Last time we left off with Sister Yukariko revealed as a HiME fighting one of those vampire mosters, though she'd rather not be. As for Mai, she's rather pissed off that no one will help her out in hunting the vampires down. Mashiro can't do anything, and Midori and Nao won't help out. And Natsuki's doing her own thing (as usual), investigating the church and getting knocked out by Miyu... However, Mashiro did put in a call to Yukino, who also turns out to be a HiME with some nifty surveillance abilites that allow her to see all that's going on... Things look to get somewhat interesting on the Tate-Mai-Reito front as Reito was spying on Tate and Mai as they were talking... And we finally hear about who's been moving behind the scenes... the organization that the priest was working for, the Searrs Foundation, an organization hoping to bring about an age of ORPHENS. Mai, Natsuki, and Mikoto fight against Miyu and her awesome cyborg powers, but even bringing out their CHILD they can't beat them... As for the priest.. well, the Searrs people weren't pleased and he got fired. Alyssa kowai~~~! She might seem cute, but Alyssa can be mighty scary..
As I said earlier, next time things might get interesting with Reito making a move on Mai it seems, guessing from the next ep preview. And Yukatas, too! Anyways, good stuff this time :) Back to the normal blogging schedule for Mai-HiME this week (either Thursday or Friday).
I'll pass on doing a big summary this time (not in the mood now, lol), so randomness for now.. Taking something of a step back from the seriousness of last time, we find out a bit more about Natsuki's past and her mother, who seemed to be involved with something with that organization that led to her death... That same guy who saw too much of Natsuki is back again this time and once again ends up in a somewhat compromising situation with her (that Mai happens to see). And Natsuki ends up trying to hitchhike in a two piece... just happens that it's Reito and Midori who stop. Hilarious ;) More of Natsuki like that would be good :) Anyways.. I wonder when Mai and the rest will find out about cyber-Miyu.. that'll be a fun fight when it happens.. Okay, I'm done :)
Fencedude speculates about what might happen next time based on the preview (thanks, btw). Hmm... that would be interesting, wouldn't it? ;)
Full spoiler mode (as Mentar suggested)! No screencaps, no summary, but still don't read until after you watch ;)
Mikoto searches for her brother in the city at night, and there she sees one of her classmates, Nao, and follows her. Nao is with a guy and it seems like they're going to make out (with Mikoto watching)... but she brings out some Wolverine claws and beats the guy up...
Mikoto doesn't say anything to Mai about what happened. Her and Nao have agreed not to say anything. Mikoto and Nao talk the next day at school.. Mikoto doesn't like being treated like a kid.. Nao will help her search for her brother, but she wants to do something as well..
Mikoto and Nao go out at night to search, but they're going to do it Nao's way. Mai's worried about her and goes to find her. She runs into Natsuki, who had been gathering some information, and they find her. Just as Mikoto has her turn and invites a guy to come "play" with her. Nao's about to beat him up when Natsuki and Mai come and stop it. Nao's going to use her power the way she decides.. Natsuki and Nao are about to fight.. but a very drunk Midori comes and interrupts. They're about to go at it again.. but everybody's favorite character, Nagi, drops in from his high perch (as usual) to stop the fighting. No fighting among HiMEs. But Nao decides to take down the whole building. Mikoto seemed to be trapped in there, but Reito saved her..
Mai goes to Mashiro to ask again.. What are the HiMEs? For what purpose do they have that power? To defeat the ORPHENS, Mashiro says. Mai isn't satisfied with that, though.. the next day at the chapel we see a young girl singing in the choir, Alyssa, with the usually stoic Miya smiling as she watches.
So another HiME is introduced this time. And I don't really like Nao that much. Perhaps she'll be less of a #*@&! (she's not one I could like Marika-chan or Shinku) in the coming episodes, but anyways...
Next time seems to be rather interesting for Takumi. And that's all I'll say ;)
Yuuichi and Shiho ask Mai, Mikoto, and Takumi to help out at a wedding at shrine nearby. There's supposedly something quite evil sealed away behind a door there... Midori is scouting the place out in a not-so-great disguise and gets herself locked where that door is.. so she reads all the books there ;)
Meanwhile, Shiho's worried that Mai's going to take her onii-chan away from her. Mai says she isn't.. and Takumi's feeling the same about Yuuichi and Mai. But Yuuichi says he has no interest in Mai.. of course ;)
Midori wakes up in the morning and remembers what she was there to do and removes the seal on the door as Mai walks in. A giant stone monster is released and attacks Mai. Mikoto and Natsuki come to support her but they can't handle it.. but guess who can? The next HiME, Mahou Shoujo Midori-chan, fighting for justice, love, and friendship! And she's pretty boastful about it. She makes pretty quick work of the ORPHEN with her axe and her CHILD. And now she's going to be teaching Japanese history to Mai's class?
Tamura Yukari voices Midori, and she's a pretty different character than the mild-tempered Nanoha. I don't really have any problems with it, though.. but I'm not as knowledgeable about seiyuu as Momotato is :)Anyways, so now we've got 4 HiME. Any more out there to be introduced? And when will Nagi die? :P Still much to be answered. But I know one thing; no one else can use Mai as a pillow except Mikoto! ;)
To sum it up quickly... Mai has issues™ that go way back that we still don't quite understand. Though it seems to be something related to her mother.. There's an orphen wrecking buses, but Natsuki can't catch it... And Mai finally breaks down and talks with Yuuichi of all people about things a bit. Knew they were going to get friendlier eventually ;) So no big progression of the story and no fighting this time. No cute Natsuki faces either :P
Next time is もえる十七歳（＾＾；）. Yes, that's the title. Now which moeru could that be? ;)
Yes, I know, lots of Natsuki screencaps. But she was the main character this time ;)
There's a thief at Fuuka Academy... a shitagi dorobou that's stealing the bras and pantsu of the girls there. And boy, is Natsuki pissed. After swimming she goes back to the locker room to find her stuff missing... so she has to go out no pantsu and as she's going through the school she runs into Takeda of the Kendo club who likes her.. Mai and Mikoto walk in, and there's a gust of wind.. TKO! Takeda gets a nosebleed that'll last a very long time ;)
Mai and Mikoto chat with Natsuki a bit about the situation at the school and she agrees to leave them alone so long as they don't get in her way. Haruka and Yukino are trying to find the shitagi dorobou, so Haruka sends out teams of people to search.. and they end up getting Takeda.
But he's not the thief. Natsuki comes up with a good plan.. it's a rather interesting one. She hung up her entire collection of various shitagi outside Mai's room... so they wait and wait and the thief comes. It's a cute little thing, but Natsuki wants to kill it very dead. Turns out there's lots of those little buggers running around, and they all combine to form a giant one, which Mai, and Mikoto, and Natsuki get rid of. But there goes Natsuki's collection..
Gosh, I don't know how many times I laughed this time. After that little gust of wind I was laughing as much as Mai. Anyways, this episode made a Natsuki fan outta me. All her expressions were cute ;) Too bad she missed Nagi, though. That guy needs to die :P
So after this little comedic break, perhaps we'll get back to some more story next time. Or maybe not :)
