Yet again: an episode that gives a complete new spin to the story. And we’re only nine episodes in yet; normally you see these kinds of things ten episodes later or something. This episode again did something that went completely against my expectations, it brought in A TON of new stuff, characters and plot threads.
Mizuno, the west maiden really brings a huge new plot along with her. From out of nowhere, she introduces a new Crux Brigade member (replacing the head, who went on a holiday after what happened in the previous episode), who turns out to be Mizuno’s twin sister, entirely in it to protect her sister from being found out (even going to the point of setting up a flamboyant act for it), not knowing that her subordinates (four also totally new characters) have formed their own brigade and are pretty much just using her as a tool. This definitely brings some great new potential to the series. Also, this episode on top of that introduces painter R. We have no clue who it is apart from that it’s special to both good guys and bad guys.
I don’t really understand the whole point of the shrine maidens at this point, though: why is the West Maiden necessary to reach third phase? I mean, I can understand it if you’d need 1 maiden for phase 1, 2 for phase 2 etc (opening up the possibility for a phase 4 as well), but the fish girl just left and the brigade members still were able to enter phase 2.
This wasn’t the most enjoyable episode because it spent quite an amount of time introducing these new characters (plus, I’m missing the fish girl song). The fight scene in this episode also was a bit unremarkable (again, it was just used to build up and nothing more). The romantic hi-jinks were also not the most enjoyable, but the fanservice could have been much worse I guess. There were no stupid cliches nor was there too much of a focus on the fanservice, so I guess it’s all-right.
Rating: * (Good)
Only one of the seals is broken, fish girl’s. If they need one more to unseal Phase 3, it means that by destroying fish girl’s seal they obtained Phase 2, entering Zero Time. I think it’s a fair assumption that the Crux hadn’t used been in it before. However, there’s been hints that Keito might be the East Maiden – if so I don’t understand why her seal is still whole.
Anyway, Miko #2 would give them Phase 3, and Miko #4 Phase 5 which might be taking the mechs out of Zero Time.
The mysterious R might be Head, they did say (or write somewhere) that he used to be a painter.
I really liked this episode. I’m rooting for a threesome ending so I’m glad Takuto and Sugata got some friendly interaction.
I have a feeling that when the next seal is broken, what Zero Time is to normal time, this will introduce the next level. That’s my theory anyway. I’m pretty sure that the next seal being broken is gonna completely alter the context of the show.
The R painter is Takuto’s dad, which was explained in ep1 IIRC.
They are looking for another maiden, since Wako is hands off due to having to defeat Ginga Bishounen in order to get to her.
Is this still on going? The mecha action looks promising.
They said before the miko maiden are seals preventing cybodies to move irl and taking over the world.
I like this tomboysh maiden far more than Wako, but she’s a secondary char, so her love story most likely won’t be granted. Pity ^^
I personally expect the Third phase is simply each Star Driver being able to manifest their own Cybody in Zero Time, without the need for a machine. This would also mean more than two Cybodys in Zero Time at one point.
I guess from then on, it’s manifestation of Cybodies within the Islands, and then the final seal means they can be used anywhere.
Omo answered the question about the West maiden. Wako has Takuto and Sugata as her body guards, putting her totally off limits. It makes sense to go for the hidden, but (supposedly) less guarded maidens first.
I wonder who the final maiden will be, I’m curious about that one.
Whenever I see that R painting I can’t help but think about Rahxephon… I wonder why :S
They Changed the picture on the bus in the ED from sakana chan to mizuno O:
@synkronized
Well, I think the 4th maiden’s identity was pretty heavily hinted at in the previous episode. And given that Mizuno DID turn out to be the West maiden…
I loved how the rest of the Crux just seemed exasperated and bored of Manticore’s personality pretty quickly. I do wonder if she will become a silent, or not, ally of Takuto an Co. in the future for the sake of Mizuno’s safety as she definitely seemed interested in him and Mizuno’s interest in him.
And as for the painting, yeah, as ever, agree with the RahXephon vibe.
I wonder if ‘Ryousuke’ holding up the painting signed ‘R’ was a little bit of misdirection, as if not then that would be a disgustingly heavy-handed ‘hint’.
Really wish they would do a new transformation sequence, 9 episodes using the same transformation sometimes more than once each episode.
Yeah,this episode seems a bit lackluster but I do like Mizuno as a character. I thought she would be all annoying from the last episode preview, turn out she’s not and Marino is obviously faking it too. I hope the Glittering Crux can enter third phase soon, since the battles are becoming a bit dull. Or maybe more than 2 participants in a battle,that would be nice too.
I miss the fish girl song so much…
And I agree with the seals having to be broken to acces another fase, not actually posessing the maidens.
The song and mini stories the show lacks something. It’s kind of like the shadow acts in Utena. (BTW i never actually liked the formula but Star Driver is very different)
I don’t think it has to do with having the shrine maiden there, as more as releasing there seal on the cybodies. I believe when they kidnapped Wako earlier in the series they were going to break her seal on the cybodies in Zero Space.
If the bus scene from the last episode taught us anything, it’s who the four shrine maidens are – which means Keito is the East Maiden. Perhaps her seal was broken first to get the Crux into the First Phase. The North Maiden (aka Fish Girl)’s seal was broken in episode one which advanced the Crux into another phase. They said that if Wako (the South)’s seal was broken, they would advance into the Fourth Phase, which means Mizuno’s seal is the key to the Third Phase.
What I’m wondering about… is the Kiraboshi gang is holding their meetings somewhere at Sugata’s mansion?
@Kuromitsu
I’m also wondering where these meeting are being held. It must be a pretty sizable place if it can fit the members of Kiraboshi AND the cheering audience that occasionally shows up in some scenes. -_-
Phase 1 is when the Cybodies are not functional. This is the default state, I think.
Phase 2 is when the Cybodies can move in Zero Time while being piloted from Cybercaskets. Head broke Fish-girl’s seal to enter Phase 2 after the Science Guild figured out how to operate the Cybercasket.
@Kuromitsu + Kurara.
The pink haired girl said in the firts episode nobody had to get near some mines nearby.
That, obviously, triggered Takuto’s curiosity on the double. ^^
Now just imagine where Kiraboshi’s hideout could it be?