Strike Witches Episode 9 – My Afterthoughts
The plot becomes serious, real serious. No more characters running around in bikinis or witches stealing each other panties. Strike Witches is looking into sad and depressing issues like life and death.
I remember catching the very first episode with an optimistic and curious manner. It started off on a light note though the plot was set in a war stricken time. Homes were destroyed, Neurois were introduced and the battle to save mankind from continuing Neurois attacks was introduced. There was much optimism and laughter as I follow newbie Yoshika in her journey to become a Witch.
The beginning few episodes were interesting and kept me on my seat. The plot progresses and it was even more fun to watch the bikini episode where characters parade around in them during their excursion training. Then come the episode on pantie stealing and characters exchange panties, or better put, got their panties stolen by their fellow recruits.
Finally, everything takes a pessimistic turn when it came to Minna’s BGR past. For episode 9, we’re told that there’s an age limit to being a witch and the various repercussions were not touched upon. What exactly happened to witches who hit their limits? Do they die on the battlefield or is there compulsory retirement? I’m pretty sure that witches won’t lose their magic completely since Yoshika’s mum and grandmother are still healing others in a clinic but will there be a dip in magic efficiency? Either way, its sad to know that a favorite of mine, Sakamoto, would be out of the picture soon.
“Politics is dirty” and this is reflected even in the world of Strike Witches. The boundaries of friends and foes are further blurred as a high ranker in the military ranks is suspected of being an enemy of the Strike Witches. Being a high ranker has its cons; they have more access and are more involved in the managerial of the whole military system. With more access, they get to know more about the “dirty happenings” and would become targets of purges, which is a major con.
My knowledge on Neurois actually increases as the series progresses. A major contradiction would be the origins of the Neuroi. It was mentioned at the very start that no one knew the origins of Neuroi, that they came from nowhere but I soon learn that there was actually a Neuroi hive somewhere in the Strike Witches world. Also, Neuroi shaped like planes from the start become rarity 99 enemies as they transform to take on more complicated forms and abilities. Previously it was cube-shaped, now it actually takes on the form of a Strike Witch.
With Sakamoto down and Minna emotionally affected, the platoon’s situation is rather shaky now. If they were to lose both leaders, I see no good replacement as Barkhorn is a good soldier but might not make a caring leader while Shirley, on the other hand, is no leader material. It seems like Yoshika is on the path to some major discovery but was disrupted in the midst of it. Hopefully Strike Witches do not turn out to be a tragedy where witches die like flies in the remaining few episodes.
Sakamoto!!!
Serious Plot is Serious.Also, my own post is late, NOES, will do it soon. Poor Major Sakamoto~
C.I.s last blog post..Cdanitius <– yep, new AUTHOR.
Just take a break and enjoy your birthday C.I.!
Eh, Sakamoto was too cold after the first couple of episodes and now I don’t really care about her. Or anyone but Shirley and Francesca for that matter.
Omisyths last blog post..Mnami-ke Third Season Announced!!!!!!
With three episodes to go, I wonder if it will be enough to flesh out the story to at least have us leave with satisfaction.
53RG10s last blog post..Tokyo Akazukin – My Spot in Hell has Been Reserved
>53RG10Season Two.
@Anonymous: I haven’t heard or found any news regarding a second season, I won’t get my hopes up until…or IF, an official announcement is made.
53RG10s last blog post..World Destruction – I Like teh psycho B!tch
@Omisyth
Sakamoto also dropped a few ranks from my favorite list due to her contradictory actions for this season but I’m hoping that not only her, but all the Witches will be fine at the end of this season.
@53RG10
If I’m the script writer, it’ll be a happy ending where all the Strike Witches will live to battle the Neurois another day and there will be 2nd, 3rd and 4th season in the near future.
@Anonymous
Like 53RG10, I’ve not heard any announcement regarding a 2nd season too.
Hynavian: Can you explain what you mean by Sakamoto’s contradictory actions?
TheBigNs last blog post..Thoughts on Hidamari Sketch x365 Episode 6: Say
@TheBigN
Erm where did I mention that Sakamoto contradicted herself? The major contradiction that I had mentioning was the point regarding Neurois. At first (ep1) it was mentioned that no one knew where Neurois came from so I assumed that each Neuroi just appeared out of nowhere, like “poof from air”. But in the last episode, I learn that there’s a Neuroi hive located somewhere. When there’s a hive, Neurois should be appearing from the hive so its not like what they’ve mentioned from the start, which is “nowhere”. Oh mine, hopefully this explanation is not so confusing.
There hasn’t been an official announcement on S2, but come on, it’s a sure thing, considering the financial success of the show.
To expand upon my points:First, you have to consider that Gonzo shows rarely sell well. But Strike Witches has been a large success. Just the 1st DVD has already sold more, in preorders alone (it comes out late September) than ENTIRE SERIES worths of DVDs for otherr Gonzo shows. When I last looked on amazon.co.jp, the 1st DVD volume of SW was in 4th place for sales of anime DVD’s…right under a Bleach movie, Code Geass, and Macross. Now those are some pretty big time, mainstream productions. And I bet their budget is a lot more than Strike Witches…SW looks good, yeah, but you can tell they’re not blowing the bank or anything on it. Plus Strike Witches has made at least some money in the R1 market already, through paid downloads via BOST and CrunchyRoll (as weakened as these potential profits are by people pirating them via torrents, not caring about legality or supporting the creators). But it has gotten lots of positive attention on the internet and grown a devoted fanbase that will automatically and enthusiastically pay for a second season on BOST. (The AnimeOnDVD SW thread always stays on the front page…) Plus, with the anime doing so well, you know the many figures, novels, manga adaptions, etc are also being picked up by a new enthuiastic TV-show created fanbase. (We get Yeager and Hartmann figs in september!)It’s Gonzo’s biggest commercial hit ever, and there’s plenty (PLENTY) more source material. That’s why I say a second season is a sure thing.