Gosick

[Buffalobiian]

Finally, Kujo proves to be indispensable to Victorique. He understands how even she needs fragments in order to reconstruct anything, and seems to be a capable assistant even if purely by luck and instinct. Luck is still a rare asset after all.

Initially I thought of it as being the other way around, that Kujo proved to be pretty worthless. He recognised that Victorique needed all the fragments, and that things aquired from the media weren't enough, but he still "failed" to put everything together, let alone put it in time for her to save her from whatever fate awaited her in the chamber. Brian Roscoe's move served to fortify that reading since he effectively rescued Victorique, then put her in Kujo's arms before disappearing.

It's only a little later that I really appreciated Kujo for what he ended up accomplishing, and giving Victorique a lead. During the episode, the fact that Victorique needed rescuing overshadowed the fact that Victorique needed to solve the case, and I likewise weighted the actions of Brian and Kujo in a similar fashion at that time.

[shinta|hikari]

Indeed Kujo is useless as a protector, but it seems that isn't his role anyway. His role is a companion and assistant, and in those points he does well.

[Ryllharu]

I'm going to go ahead and assume that Sophie is rather deeply involved in this case. It's not clear how deep yet. Cecile just casually threw out that she and Sophie have been best friends for about 10 years now, which coincides with just about every other clue Kujo managed to scrounge up. The two of them didn't think anything of it, but Kujo misses obvious clues when he is all wound up over Victorica, and Cecile is an airhead.

[Kraco]

Sophie's relevance to the case is fortunately still a mystery - otherwise Kujo's work in this ep seemed to flow a bit too easily, especially considering the timeframe. He found and met all those people in the short time (it must have been) Victorica was tortured with the fumes. Naturally I'm happy Kujo finally managed to achieve something beyond bringing sweets to Victorica, and maybe it is, all things considered, suitable his work didn't require that much brains apart from noticing the actor was the queen's spitting image. It would have felt too much a departure from his normal character otherwise.

[shinta|hikari]

I was actually hoping he gets some brains from working with Victorique. Her intelligence should influence him a bit more than it already (has it?) has.

[Ryllharu]

[Victorique] Gosick 21

-------------------


Turns out my assumption was incorrect, but the idea behind it wasn't wrong. I was thinking that either Coco Rose or Nicole was still alive, and that Sophie was one of them. Sophie's real purpose was merely to narrate the commonly believed part of the story. I got a bit disappointed until the carriage scene. However, I felt it was a bit too convenient that on that same night, Victorica and the two just happened to meet.

Leviathan...you stud, you.

As for the two Brians, that should have been obvious to me some time ago. Oldest magician trick in the book.

I guess the only remaining question is whether Victorica thinks she beat her father and his organization, and if he feels he won anyway. She didn't quite give him the concrete proof (to be used for blackmail) he was looking for, but he certainly has his answer of the who and the how.

[Kraco]

I underestimated the plot this time. It was actually very nice, the motive created by Leviathan included. There's no way Kujo could have ever figured this out, but it was annoying how he figured absolutely nothing out, even after seeing the resemblance and hearing about the audition.

Good thing the story gets a bit more complicated towards the end.

[Buffalobiian]

Victorique - Episode 22

[shinta|hikari]

I liked this episode so much I had to make a new sig and avatar set.

[Buffalobiian]

The "howl" right at the end, along with the Inspector's realisation was the best part, but the entire episode served to build it up, so I guess the credit goes to the entire thing.

[Kraco]

I though it was admirable acting from Victorica's VA. It went well beyond any usual sobbing or crying.

Elements in this episode came a bit too much out of nowhere, like the rabbit cosplaying rebels, and the whole legend in general. If they had been mostly introduced before and only now applied relevantly to Kujo and Victorica, it might have had an even bigger impact. I'm not saying it didn't work like this as well, though.

[Buffalobiian]

I though it was admirable acting from Victorica's VA. It went well beyond any usual sobbing or crying.

Elements in this episode came a bit too much out of nowhere, like the rabbit cosplaying rebels, and the whole legend in general. If they had been mostly introduced before and only now applied relevantly to Kujo and Victorica, it might have had an even bigger impact. I'm not saying it didn't work like this as well, though.

Yeah. When I first heard the tale at the beginning of the episode, it just sounded way too convenient that it fitted them so well. It contrasts with the steady development of the whole Black Reaper and the Golden Fairy identity.

I will also admit that I was slightly disappointed at Victorique's costume. It wasn't bad or anything, just that pretty much all of her costumes have had the same gosick gothic lolita design. Variety would have been good.

[shinta|hikari]

Episode 23...

Bawling like a baby...

[Buffalobiian]

Victorique - Episode 23

[Buffalobiian]

Victorique - Episode 24



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This entire last arc just felt detached and rushed compared to the rest of the series. It had its moments, but they would have been much better if they were executed better.

I also agree with Ryll when he said the ending "should" have been more bittersweet - such as Kujo and Victorique probably never meeting up again (until maybe decades down the track) or something. You know, a bit more effort in trying to get back together after the war (instead of pretty much getting back together right after it finishes). That just throws the tension built up by the Wolf Elder right out the window.

Example Alternate Scenario: (ED2 playing lightly in the background) Clips showing Kujo and Victorique's daily living and stuff after the war, having them talk through their hearts etc. Follow that message through with Kujo and Victorique separately remiciencing that sunrise-in-water scene while they each look at the sea. But then something random (guy bumps into you - wind blows something out of Victorique's hand and she tries to pick it up off the ground) that reveals Kujo and Victorique were actually in the same location.

(music: Silence) (Camera effects: a few close-up pans from over each other's shoulder) (Actors: look awe-struck, Victorique's eyes in particular should have that unsteady shimmer of disbelief to it)

(sound of a wave crash)

"Victorique.."
"Kujo...."

(Music: Start again, louder than before, ) Whenever, Wherever~

You know the drill. For visual impact depicting what they've gone through, have Victorique's hair gone silver and have Kujo lose his legs. Also adds realism as to why they might have missed each other before.


This conclusion ties up loose ends, but didn't quite end with the bang and emotional uproar that it could have. And what was it that Kujo wanted to tell Victorique that he stated in his letter?

Gah! It just pains me to think of the unutilised potential this ending had when it's probably my favourite show of the season.

[shinta|hikari]

I agree about the pacing of the last arc.

My personal suggestion for a bittersweet ending would be Kujo losing his legs, but eventually meeting up with Victorique. I really felt anxious in that scene where he dreamed he lost his feet.

[Ryllharu]

Yes, I mean that Kujo should have lost his legs. What I wrote was:

hmm...I get the feeling that the Gosick ending was changed.
From something that was far more bittersweet.
from what I've heard, the final book isn't out yet.
I imagine it will be a bit different from the anime.

I didn't get into specifics because Buff hadn't watched the episode, but I meant Kujo losing both his legs. They made a big deal of showing him trapped underneath rubble and clawing his way through the figuratively desert, only to have him perfectly fine. It felt like something had been changed, it just didn't fit.

My only other complaint was they never really explained why/how Victorica's hair changed to silver. I'm not buying into any supernatural explanations because the series has been so good at using tricks or science to debunk those.

I loved the short scene with Avril though. That's totally what happens most of the time with bottles. She's the type more enamored with the romanticism of an idea than whether it is true or if it actually works.

I didn't feel that this arc was rushed, it was really only the feeling that they changed Kujo's fate to make it less bittersweet, and not bothering to explain her hair change.


Victorica nun cosplay

And what was it that Kujo wanted to tell Victorique that he stated in his letter?

That he love loved her and couldn't live without her obviously.

[Buffalobiian]

My only other complaint was they never really explained why/how Victorica's hair changed to silver. I'm not buying into any supernatural explanations because the series has been so good at using tricks or science to debunk those.

It's a common theme and occurance in anime (and other east asian cultures) where extreme shock or stress/grief causes your hair to whiten. I don't know if there's a scientific backing to that.. but that's the idea.

That he love loved her and couldn't live without her obviously.

Yeah I (and we) know. What I meant was that he never got around to saying it when he finally got the chance.

Personally I was more impressed with the "wedding dress".

[Ryllharu]

Still not buying the hair whitening. I was wondering if it was something like she had been faking having golden hair the whole time and took after her father...then I remembered he had blond hair when he was young too (as does Greviel).

Yeah I (and we) know. What I meant was that he never got around to saying it when he finally got the chance.

Aha, but by that time...he didn't need to.

[Archangel]

I won't criticize the ending, it surpassed any expectations i might have had and anything i would point at this point would just be nitpicking.

I'm seriously wondering why her hair turned silver though, does the original source ever go into detail on that one? Oh, and what's the meaning behind the title?