Night of the Graduation Ceremony: Mankind’s Comeback, Part 2

First Battle: Battle of Trost District, Part 1

The World She Saw: Battle of Trost District, Part 2

The Tiny Blade: Battle of Trost District, Part 3

As someone who has recently read the manga, the first 7 episodes of AoT made me wish I hadn’t. It’s that good.

Sometimes you can get lost in the spectacle, but AoT offers something that hasn’t graced anime for a long time. The pacing is lightning fast, but never loses you in its story telling. Each episode offers a new perspective of hopelessness but also a glimmer or hope for mankind.

With a combination of the animation, music and story telling, AoT isn’t something that you should miss this season. If I hadn’t already read the manga and knew what was going to happen, I may be tearing my hair out at the end of each episode. Thanks to Doofus and Dusk for making me read it, by the way(not really, I read it on my own…).

I really like what it did in regards to the pacing of the story. The third and fourth episode features Eren, Armin and Mikasa training to be soldiers to fight against the titans.  It’s here we meet the rest of the cast and it’s here we catch glimpses of what’s to come. There are a few standouts along with some that will take time to develop, but the first thing I thought when I saw the size of the cast was a lot of people were going to die.

In the manga, the training camp didn’t actually happen until the 15th chapter or so. I guess they wanted to get right into the action, but I admit it certainly betrayed the flow of the series. There was no slowing down and little time for the characters to develop. The development and back story didn’t come until later in the series when it actually showed the training camp in the manga. I thought it was a great move to put them right now as it certainly gave a better introduction to the characters. I can look at everyone in the anime and know who they are, but I couldn’t say I was able to do that in the early chapters of the manga.

I have to say this consistency is so far working better for the anime than the “action first” route the manga took. It is something that I feel it suffered through most of it, though I still enjoyed the hell out of it.

This is all contrasted by the excellent action scenes. The manga doesn’t have the best art, and it’s hard to show how exhilarating flying through the air fighting giant monsters is. They do look creepy, but the anime, coupled with the music, just knocks it out of the park. I get goosebumps no matter how many times I watch it. And can’t wait to see how they’ll adapt the rest, though I totally regret spoiling myself on everything!

I’m glad with how they adapted the Mikasa back story and how they handled the scenes. It was probably even more chilling than the manga, despite it being less gruesome. One thing I didn’t notice was Mikasa breaking the floor when she killed the person choking Eren. What significance does this have? Was it simple physics she was able to do that or does it foreshadow something else?

Now, I kept this rather short. It was four episodes but I don’t care all that much. The last episode ended with a rogue-like titan going crazy and attacking his own kind. The way is was animated reminded me a lot of berserker EVA, but I wonder who it could be? Huehuehue.

Doofus is expected to be back to covering this.

I was right. I was actually right. It seemed to me for the moment that the Gargantia was going to actually be attacked by the tentacle equipped “Hideauze” sea creature, and everyone on the fleet seemed genuinely frightened by the “sacred” slimy creature. Oh, great. Well at least they managed to get back to the plot now.

A good episode! After two episodes of what felt like just purely fanservice, I’m glad that they quickly turned the plot back round and got back on track. Back to the old Gargantia we knew and love, and back to the same Ledo we love. Hm, but either way, it seems that the peculiar Ledo attacked last episode was actually a whale squid or something like that. We soon learn how that these underwater beings are actually seen as “sacred” (trust it to be tentacles…) and because Ledo killed the squid, the whole fleet will now be cursed. Or maybe, just maybe, they really ought to move on from their pathetic superstitions and move on: Ledo didn’t know. He was only doing what was right, because he automatically assumed it was the Hideauze. Sure, maybe attacking it out of the blue was a little wrong, but I suppose if that were you you’d probably react the same or flee: It’s just human nature, and I know Ledo is from outer-space and all that, but he is still a human and still has that same human nature we all own. Nobody told him, so it was okay, right?

Wrong. Just after him killing ONE whale squid, it’s like the whole world is against him… Or the fleet. But I feel a bit sorry for Ledo. It must be difficult just coming from outer-space and spending so many happy days with the new friends he’s made and suddenly he tries to do what is right to defend the Gargantia and now people are honestly fearing for their lives. I suppose you can’t ditch your own beliefs and superstitions and etc, so I can see both sides of it. And at the moment, I feel like we’re leaning more to Ledo’s side and perspective. Because sometimes, Ledo does things that we can’t understand or we feel like we can empathize more with the people on the Gargantia more, so it’s like we can view it from their perspective and view at times (like in episode 6), and other times we can see it through Ledo’s eyes, which is pretty neat, because it’s like we can connect with both kinda… “Worlds”, and learn more about it at the same time.

Back on topic, and as soon as Pinion learns of the quirky Ledo’s sudden attack on the whale squid, Pinion is begging the young boy to come salvage with him, after it’s believed that there’s lots of treasure by the whale squid base: Although that being said, no one has ever managed to get close to the base, so how he knows well… Well, I’m guessing it may have been a load of…

But the whale squid won’t go down without a fight! Oh no! It seems a LARGE shoal of them is approaching. Oh damn. Looks like maybe my predictions of a giant tentacle monster attacking the fleet may actually have been true, or near abouts, but I was let down when they simply swam on by. But it was pretty tense, I’ll give ‘em that, with Ledo and Amy at gunpoint from Ridgett. Although, it’s not like I was expecting her to fire at the pair, since I too was focusing as to what was going on underwater, and so it seems everyone else was as well. But as they passed by, everyone soon began to realise that maybe the whale squid weren’t out to attack them, but I’m sure Ledo thought otherwise. I’m beginning to understand a little more now: Ledo thought that the whale squid was the Hideauze because they are of the same species, so naturally they’ll have the same instinct so… Maybe at the end of the anime, who knows? We might get to see an epic battle scene between Ledo and the Hideauze Whale-Squid!

So when the fleet learn the whale squid aren’t going to hurt them, it seems that everyone else is jumping on the bandwagon… Pinion’s bandwagon, but some are still a little uncertain on the idea. So, will they be led by their greedy ways and human nature, or do what is best for the safety of the fleet? And what about Ledo? … And how will he get home?

It’s good to see that Circus is back to its usual hectic routine now, after the depressing episodes we had to endure at Gareki’s hometown. All you need is a parade, a damsel in distress and Gareki wearing the Nyanperona suit, and it’s already a recipe for disaster.

What is even going on in this anime anymore? Is there even a plot or storyline? I understand the fact that it’s based around the Circus organisation and they’re trying to stop the Varuga and whoever is causing these… Hideous creatures existance but, what is next? Is that it? It feels like it’s all come to a stand still, and it doesn’t help when you have a filler episode like this to slow the pace of the anime.

Needless to say I did enjoy it much more than the previous episodes which we saw in Gareki’s hometown, because it was at least a bit more humorous. And in a way, I can’t say I found the episodes in the village all that emotional. I never got chance to really connect or get to know the characters there – Yotaka and Tsubame – so when I found out this episode that they had already killed Tsubame to run tests on her, I didn’t really know how to react. I was expressionless… I mean, when Yotaka died, I did say “awww” to myself, but that was literally it. It’s like they simply dropped all that tense and suspense at the end of the last episode and forgot about it and merely moved on. Episodes 5 and 6 were depressing, so naturally even Gareki feels the same after the death of this “brother and sister”, so Yogi deems it a good idea to invite Nai and Gareki to the parade they’re holding in town again. Which, as we all know, after the first or second episode in the parade, it really wouldn’t be so much of a good idea.

Anyway, regardless of the fact that Nai and Gareki really aren’t members of Circus (in fact, I nearly forgot what they were even doing there, but then I remembered they were or should be running tests on them, of which that idea seems to have gone out the window), I think we’re missing too much time of seeing the whole Circus group, so maybe it was nice to catch up with them. But I still feel some characters are much of a mystery. Even though they may only be a minor character, it’s like we completely skipped the introduction with them and it really feels unnatural (eg: Kiichi… Who even IS she?!).

But one thing that really made my day is when Kiichi runs up to Yogi and says they’re missing one of the security rabbits (really couldn’t think up an imaginative name for this one could they?), meaning only ONE person could possibly fit inside the Nyan-perona suit or… Kind of. And if you exclude Nai… Then that means Gareki would be fit for the job. SERIOUSLY. You could not have made that poor BOY even more depressed! Seriously! He’s LOST his poor “sister” Tsubame after she sacrificed her life for the further research on Varuga and NOW you’re making him dress up as a… I… I don’t even know… It’s just humiliation at its finest, but I couldn’t help but laugh a little at poor Gareki’s misfortune as he handed out the candy bars to the little kids: In fact that in itself sounds creepy enough as it is.

Anyway, over at the stage, Jiki and Tsukumo are rehearsing for a perfomance later on… And as Jiki declares his love for the beautiful mermaid he had captured and was utterly and truly infatuated with upon first sight, we notice Tsukumo wearing… A… Horse… Suit? Aha, what is up with Karneval and animal costumes?

But we soon see the strange rabbit at the stage and because the rabbit is malfunctioning, it will try and do everything it can to protect people which is… Weird, I guess, and doesn’t make much sense, but he seals the small tube of water in which Tsukumo is in, so she can’t escape… In the actual performance. And the water has risen to the top. Come on, this kind of problem is pathetic compared to what large a scale Circus are usually used to dealing with criminals and all sorts of top secret missions, yet they can’t even BREAK open the glass. Anyway, during the performance, super Gareki (without the Nyan perona suit), Nai, and Yogi all manage to save poor Tsukumo from drowning, whilst Iva decides to deal with Jiki herself whilst humiliating him on stage by getting him to call her “my Queen”. Oh dear.

Anyway, despite all the chaos, it seems Garek is back to his usual self and earlier on, after what Nai said about his definition of family, it feels like that the two eccentric boys have really found true family at Circus, which is what I feel like they were hinting at the whole time. Sure they may run into trouble like that, but deep down, they’re all together and all trying to help each other and to have fun, which was quite sweet and a nice way to end the episode. But, sadly, I really have no idea what’s going to happen next episode.. But I do hope that Karneval decides to take a step in the right direction and manage to get the story going yet again.

Just in the nick of time to stop Team Plasma from reviving Reshiram, Helena and Verbera make a return. However, it is the return that was expected?

I honestly didn’t expect them to turn on N and say that he’s been tainted, and I expected even less for N to turn against Helena and Verbera. However, it’s not long before they’re also at the mercy of Colress and his machine, and now there really is nobody left to stop Reshiram from emerging. It’s not very long at all until Reshiram actually does get revived, and comes down to face N and Ghetsis. It’s the Plasma Gang’s perfect victory, as Reshiram gets corrupted by Colress and his machine just like the other Pokemon.

Satoshi teams up N to save the Pokemon, and Team Rocket and Looker make a very unlikely alliance to end this madness for good. And thus, Meowth jumps in to save Pikachu and Satoshi, and the unlikely alliance grows even further. As Satoshi charges in as the bait, Jessie and James take their turns as main characters, with the inclusions of Iris and Kibago. Continuing forward, the next thing in the way is Reshiram, and this is probably one hurdle too far for them to jump over…or not. Pikachu manages to wake Reshiram from it’s trance with shock therapy, and the two of them take out Colress’s machine.

It’s N’s turn to take the frontline, as even with the machine stopped, Reshiram’s intense anger won’t stop anything. N’s ideals manage to touch Reshiram’s heart, however, and it appears to decide that there’s no need for the truth that it has to give to anyone. With N’s purpose changing and Helena and Verbera joining forces with him for good, walking into a future of ideals, it appears to be the perfect ending. The Plasma Gang was thwarted, Team Rocket got their chance to play the heroes and Reshiram gave up forcing the truth on humans. It was a predictable ending with a twist thrown in here and there and make things appear different, and in all honesty, it would have been so much better without the Plasma Gang getting in the way and messing around. The highlight really was N and Reshiram in the end, and I think i’ll actually miss N as a character. He grew on me a lot, and got a lot of unexpected development.

Sadly, the next season doesn’t appear to be all that special, and just thirteen or so episodes to pass the time until X and Y get released…so don’t expect it to be covered here. I also don’t really think I have anything to say in a review by this point, since i’ve covered everything I want to say in the episodes and so forth…so i’m not going to. Until next time!

You know, I’m not surprised by the fact that the Hideauze also happens to look much like any kind of sea creature with tentacles after this  episode, and it honestly would not surprise me if in fact in episode 7 the Gargantia was attacked by a giant tentacle monster.

WHAT HAPPENED SUISEI?!

okay. okay. I promise. I will try and make this post about the whole episode and not my rant about how creepy as heck that fanservice was in this episode. I’m sure probably some of you perverts will read this and tell me how it was completely fine! But I promise, I promise, I’ll justify my reason.

Nonetheless, if we exclude that, this episode was decent. In a way it’s nice to see Ledo adjusting to life on earth a little more though, and seeing him get used to the basic mechanics of life, like using money and as Amy said, being able to express his emotions a little more (and the whole practicing thing too I suppose). From this I can gather life in Ledo’s homeland must be pretty dull, and that they are only used as mere tools just to fulfill their purpose in life and to die. Whereas, here on earth, most argue that our purpose in life is to reproduce and to keep this earth spinning, but heck, I won’t get into too much of a debate here, but that’s what I’m just going with for now. I also like the fact that when Ledo was talking to Bebel about the salvaging, and Bebel says how “you can see things from the earth in ancient times”, which I gotta say is pretty neat, since they obviously must be referring to our present day. Hm. So maybe this is what is going to happen to this earth… We’ll all live on fleets in the near future. Well, it certainly sounds like an interesting idea anyway.

Yet there’s one thing Ledo cannot get to grips with… Getting a job and being able to swim. And it does not help even more when you’re stuck in a giant Yunboro and you cannot swim and have no experience of catching fish. Oh well, at least Ledo tried. It’s kinda sad how Ledo feels so alone and hopeless because he’s… So different to everyone else, heck, even Chamber can be of some use, and Ledo can’t seem to do anything at all. He managed to earn some money sure, but I guess it wasn’t much of a big job. Either way, I was really rooting for Ledo and hoping he’d be able to do a good job, but sadly no luck. Ledo runs into Amy and decides to invite Ledo to the carnival later. Yeah it was… Sure some great carnival, and if by that you mean three teenage girls dancing on stage for old men in skimpy clothing, then sure, that’s a carnival alright! Because that’s literally what it was.

I can’t really understand it. It was… Weird. Sure, it was for fanservice and hey, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with fanservice at all. Heck, it’s evident and found in pretty much every anime nowadays and that’s just how it goes. I mean, even in episode 5 there was too, except… Episode 6, it was just a bit too weird and creepy. Sure, it is what it is but I just… I dunno. Those girls are 15 years old, the same age as me, and they were dancing kinda… well, nearly naked in front of grown men and… it’s not like it was even dancing like ballet or tap dancing or anything like that. Heck, it wouldn’t have been so bad if it was grown women instead but… I dunno, it was just way too weird and creepy for me, the whole atmosphere, set-up, just everything that happened, and there was too much going on at once. There was that and the bickering between Pinion and Bellows on what they could do with poor Ledo and then finally, when they bring out the dinner, it’s… Octopus. Just… just trust there to be tentacles. Of course Ledo almost tries to attack the damn thing, claiming it’s Hideauze. Man. That was way too much all at once. But then again, if all that was going on at once, I think I would probably react just like Ledo did too.

And then Ledo and Amy spend more time together and Ledo asks Amy to dance for him and blah, maybe Ledo was just trying to show his more… Human side then, since it was just… Human nature. Yeah. I’ll just leave it at that.

Anyway, Ledo finally decides to do the wise thing and join up with Bellows, which seems a lot better than going off with perverted Pinion. Eventually, Ledo gets into Chamber and then he and Bellows begin to salvage underneath the sea with fish. I kinda like the whole teamwork thing going on with Ledo and Chamber too. It’s like, even though Chamber seems to be of more use than Ledo, he often ends up destroying things (like the fish in this episode too), and the same goes to Ledo, so it’s a real sweet… Companionship they have going on. Anyway, as they go further under the sea, they discover a sunken ship, and it seems inside it another tentacle-y creature inhabits it… And what’s going on? Is it the Hideauze again? Yep… Ah, I dunno. Maybe Ledo will finally get used to life on earth.

Either way, I dunno, this episode was okay I suppose. Everything seems a bit slow-paced at the moment, and I would honestly to see a bit more action like when Ledo attacked the pirates and… Things like that. It’s nice to have a filler episode or two, because it takes a nice break and you can meet a new subplot, but I feel like we need a new action-packed episode to keep the story flowing.

Amongst the day to day life of hard working Ledo and his Yunboro Chamber on the fleet Gargantia, it seems that it’s now rare to have a day off for rest. Yet, even now, work and jobs have to be done, as Ledo soon finds out and learns a little more about life and the people on the Gargantia.

Okay so… Some of you may be wondering “why on earth are you now suddenly writing for Suisei no Gargantia, Lucy?” It was decided after some rearranging that I would take over Suisei no Gargantia for the time being, what with Mimi being busy and all. So now I’m writing for both Karneval and Suisei no Gargantia, and I can easily say I am enjoying Suisei way more than Karneval.

I think that this episode was quite a nice break from the daily life on the Gargantia, and we finally got to see the more human-like side of Ledo. We’ve seen him act so awkwardly and unnaturally, and after we saw him thrown into an environment completely unlike his homeland in space, it was quite nice to see him settle and to begin to get used to the life on the fleet. The break was a nice little filler episode, and I really quite enjoyed it.

We firstly notice that Ledo has become… Bored recently whilst on the Gargantia. And heck, I can empathize: I suppose when you’re a foreigner from outer-space with no prior knowledge of earth beforehand nor unable to speak the language and are pretty much shut away from the society, completely helpless, I think you’d grow a little bit bored, it’s only natural. So we notice Ledo with the flute again, all that it reminds me more of an ocarina, and at this point I’m beginning to think that in episode 4 when Bebel was talking to Ledo about living for something or someone, that the flute he had which was identical to the other boy in his flashback was actually his brother… I mean, they do look quite similar and it would make sense, what with all the talk of family earlier on in the episode, which kind of seems to be foreshadowing it.

Anyway… Amy talks to Ledo and it seems Ledo wants to find jobs to do, of which he has to be insanely bored to want to do extra work, but what with Chamber doing all the work for him, I guess he feels like he has to contribute in one way or another to the fleet to thank them for their hospitality. I mean, I feel like that we, the audience are supposed to be like watching this anime from Ledo’s viewpoint. Sure, we do know much about earth since this is the planet we live on and all, but this is in the future and watching this all and learning it all is much like us learning more about a completely new planet. It’s quite nice, since we can understand some bits of it, and it’s nice to feel like we’re kind of joining in with the show… Or maybe I’m the only one who thinks that, but anyway.

Ledo looks around for jobs but with no luck. I suppose when you’re a strange man from outer-space not many people would be too keen on hiring you for odd jobs anyway. Anyway, Pinion seems to require Ledo for something, and they all decide to have a barbecue, what the sea being calm meaning they can run repairs on the fleet and also relax (hence the episode name “Day of Calm”). Just Pinion, Bebel, Amy, Ledo and also Amy’s friends Melty and Saya join in too, of which Melty seems to have quite a big crush on the mysterious man. I am also quite curious to know more about Ledo too, and more about his home in outer-space, since the majority of the anime is set on the Gargantia, which makes sense.

As Ledo and friends all head off swimming, we can see Ledo struggling a little to get used to the new skill. In fact, Ledo seems almost helpless at everything he does in his new life on earth, but I guess it is quite adorable to watch. As they try to get started on the barbecue, they notice the power is out, which seems pretty pointless since if it’s supposed to be a day of repairs then surely having the power on would also help any repairs they would need to run AND to well… Maybe relax too? I dunno. Either way, the barbecue won’t work, so naturally they feel that Chamber will be of some use again to cook the meat. But… It seems that this kind of command isn’t stored in Chamber’s database, so he ends up completely burning up the meat. See, even though the Yunboro may be a very helpful tool, it can’t even do one basic command, and as more people join in the barbecue, it seems Pinion has no choice but to send Ledo off for a job. A job specifically for Ledo too! I suppose actually working for once may be quite nice. It’s at this point I feel like the atmosphere on the Gargantia is quite happy and nice and peaceful, and I mean who can deny the art is amazing too (never mind the fanservice…), so I enjoyed seeing Ledo off and out for his errands, although after running into some… strange… “women”, I completely forgot about that and was sent into fits of laughter. But after finally being rescued by Amy, I soon began to learn that whilst Ledo may not have much of an understanding of human life on earth, he still has pretty humane reactions to things… I guess it would just be human nature if you ran into a group of people like that and began madly chasing after you, claiming you have such “a nice butt”.

But then I remembered how beautiful the art really was when they sent all the water out from the rooftops and watched and saw how amazing the scenery was. Ah. I would quite like to maybe just spend a day or two on the Gargantia, just to see what life was like. If only it were real…

Either way, finally Ledo gets the job done, after what should have seemed like a seemingly important task that only the professional Ledo could carry out, the small chest held a bottle of some sauce that tasted great on the meat. They also ended up grilling the meat on the overheated Chamber, laying on the floor. Oh well… It seems like Ledo had finally began to experience life on the Gargantia, and at this time I think we also learned a lot more too, after following Ledo’s funny adventures and mishaps on the fleet today, and that maybe, just maybe, the boy had finally made friends, as it turned out that Pinion had actually thrown the barbecue party for Ledo to help him relax and find something to do, since he had no work to do. Which was quite sweet, actually, as it shows that life may not always be work work work for the people on the fleet.

But it feels like trouble is on the way in episode 6, of which I shall be writing very soon! So stay tuned. :3

Things don’t exactly look good for our heroes right now, as with Satoshi and N out the picture and Team Plasma using the rampaging Pokemon to attack.

With the heroes captured and the screaming voices silenced, N’s obviously scared. However, after watching all of Satoshi’s Pokemon do everything they can to help them get free, N lends a hand, and before they know it the duo is freed, and staring down the Plasma Gang.

However, the rampaging Pokemon can’t handle the bonds of friendship between all of Satoshi’s Pokemon,however…since Pikachu won’t get in a Poke Ball, it becomes Colress’s target. As nothing will get through to Pikachu, N makes the choice to surrender the Light Stone.

Throwing everything that they fought for away and admitting that the Plasma Gang has won, N’s surrender marks the arrival of Ghetsis. As the ritual to revive Reshiram commences, the final to this entire arc depends on what happens next week. Reshiram is ready to be summoned, and the only party in any position to fight are Satoshi and his weakened Pikachu and Team Rocket.

With the professor discovering the Light Stone, things are about to get pretty interesting, as the bearer of that stone can revive Reshiram…

Upon arriving at the White Ruins, all the teams are in place, with N being the odd one out right now, being the fourth party who’s yet to make a move. The trio meets up with the Professor once more, and they arrive just as the seal is ready to be broken. As the White Stone is removed and it sends the signal of discovery, even N begins to converge on the White Ruins. However, N is far from happy to see the White Stone.

Infact, N goes as far as to dash in and steal it, claiming that he cannot hand it over to anyone. He has his own questions for Reshiram, who is equal to a god. He wants to become the Hero of Truths, and free the Pokemon if that it Reshiram’s just truth. However, as the White Ruins collapse underneath Satoshi and N, the two of them plummet to the bottom of the ruins along with the White Stone. However, unaware that the light Stone has vanished into the depths, the Plasma Gang makes their move to take over the White Ruins.

With N and Satoshi trapped, it becomes clear that Verbera and Helena banishing Satoshi and company was also a heavy weight on N’s mind, and the two have a chance to sit down with each other and talk about everything. What Pokemon are, what they represent and what they mean to not only Satoshi, but everyone.

Back on the surface, Looker makes an appearance at the White Ruins, threatening the entirity of Team Plasma and placing them under arrest, taking Angie captive. However, Colress doesn’t want to be arrested, and sets the Pokemon excavating the ruin on a wild rampage. With the Plasma Gang’s assault in full swing, things are certaintly getting interesting. With Satoshi and company taking Looker into their party to research the stone, N wanting to revive Reshiram to become it’s hero, Team Plasma wanting to control Reshiram and Team Rocket planning to take it to Kanto to study, the climax heats up.

As N’s departure and the heavy words of Helena and Verbera weigh upon our heroes, they can spot Dragonspiral Tower in the distance, and the White Ruins are getting closer and closer. However, just WHAT are Team Rocket playing at in the background?

Team Plasma delivers their report to Colress and the seniors about how N got away, but Team Rocket had tailed them all the way back to their secret base, and displaying talents worthy of a true ninja, they manage to lure away all of Team Plasma, leaving Meowth to negotiate with Colress.

Colress may be interested in what Meowth has to say, but he’s much more interested in Meowth himself, namely because a talking Meowth is far from common. With the two working together. However, Meowth appears to has underestimated Colress.

Elsewhere, N’s investigations reveal a bunch of Genesect running rampage, and the red one that’s featured in the upcoming movie. Elsewhere, Team Rocket escape with Meowth. With Ghetsis ordering the Plasma Gang to the White Ruins to use the machine on Reshiram and the little side-story about Satoshi and his Pignite over, we’re moving to the main stage.

It was a while ago, but at the end of the last episode, N got pretty seriously beaten around by the Plasma Gang, leading to the mysterious pair of woman to appear out of the fog.

The spring which he was placed in by the woman, named Helena and Verbera, has a healing effect which relives all of N’s injuries, and as the woman reveal that they can also hear the voice of Pokemon, they get introduced to N’s hideaway where he spends his free time. From here, all the Pokemon bear terrible injuries and memories from humanity, and although their bodies may recover, their hearts never will.

By this point, Satoshi and the group are so deeply involved with N that his reasons and his motives behind the journey should come to light, and lo and behold, it’s backstory time. A lot of this comes from the game, where N is never allowed to leave the mansion that he was raised in by Ghetsis to become his pawn of the Plasma Gang. We advance to two years in the past, where Ghetsis summons none over than Reshiram, whom rampaged and destroyed the mansion. Helena and Verbera took N with them, and they made an escape from the Plasma Gang to right their wrongs.

The only thing that’s missing by this point is what Ghetsis wanted to summon Reshiram for, and in exploring this motive, he discovered more and more of the wrongs of the Plasma Gang…or namely, humanity. Helena and Verbera advocate N’s ideals from the first game, where humans and Pokemon should live seperately, and they show no compassion nor remorse to Satoshi, Zekrom’s hero. With the trio of heroes ordered to leave by tomorrow morning, Satoshi has a pretty hefty burden on his heart. Mutal understanding, or free lives apart from each other. As they agree to talk to Helena and Verbera once more, their Pokemon attempt to befriend the shy natives of this reclusive hideaway.

Thanks to their Pokemon, they seem to have achieved the spying Helena and Verbera’s trust, as the scared ones slowly befriend them. However, Team Plasma is moving on the hidden hideout, and Helena and Verbera are giving our heroes even more faith and confidence as they get accused of leading Team Plasma to the hideout. With an actual evil in place, the battles against Team Plasma actually feel relatively tense and dangerous, compared to the ridiculous nature of most battles being for fun or sport. With Helena and Verbera going to the length where they go back for Satoshi and the group, it appears that we’ve said goodbye to N as the heroes are expelled from their hiding place. After what was actually a serious episode which worked incredibly well, we’re coming up to the climax of this series.