Genetically that doesn't work at all, but neither does weather summoning so I guess science isn't really grounds for argument here.
Genetically that doesn't work at all, but neither does weather summoning so I guess science isn't really grounds for argument here.
If it's not Isuzu-chan Mii~
Sure it does, if we are talking about recessive alleles from both parents, one of them being heterozygous. Well, I admit it's more unlikely than some trait governed only by a single gene, but it's still far from impossible. I'm sure you know some families with both darker and lighter haired offspring. It's merely taken to the absolute point here.Originally Posted by Buffalobiian
Episode 9 - HS
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An island of laid-backedness. Except for that one token jealous, shadowy dude. This almost makes me think they had no pressure whatsoever to send one of their princesses to the Sun country, rather they did it as a prank to Nike. Or maybe they really were just as super ignorant about the Sun country as Nike personally seemed to be. So, they might have thought better safe than sorry, even though it doesn't really matter. Considering the mastery of winds, they certainly could repel any uninvited fleets. Trade embargo and general isolation might be the only things to would worry about. However, if they really were ignorant, they might have thought Sun country could summon drought and fire magic, the same they can use rain and wind.
Exceptionally good development between Livi and Nike in any case. Previous eps have increased trust, warmth, understanding, respect, and such things between them, but now it truly felt like romantic feelings. Jolly good Livi could gouge all these lines and intentions out of himself and not mask them behind his usual arrogant personality. I do hope he manages to leave a bit more royal and capable impression of himself on all these people before they return to the Sun country. Now he's viewed as a toy.
Hmm, you're right. I forgot about Livi's dad being heterozygous.
I'm perfectly fine with Livi being a little kid until it's absolutely necessary for him to save Nike, since King Mode is just a hair's width from Asshole Mode when it comes to Livi.
If it's not Isuzu-chan Mii~
So, it turns out there is a legend about the Rain nation obliterating 3 other countries in the same night. It seems Livi's threat of burning their country to the ground is completely unfounded. Then they get the additional benefits of general environmental defenses. It's so humid and the air pressure so much lower that all invaders will feel ill almost immediately.
They also appear to be far more technologically advanced, at least over what we've seen. They're sort of based off South Eastern China. They also have color photography (which we've never seen anything remotely like in the Sun Kingdom, they've been sitting for paintings), as well as electricity and sound systems from the preview. The latter may merely be a plot convenience...but given Nike's attire throughout the series, the Rain Principality looks like it is hiding quite a bit of their own capabilities. No wonder the geezers were so devastated that they weren't allowed to go.
Starts to make me wonder what threat the Sun Kingdom posed to them after all. Perhaps a drawn-out embargo and endless numbers of soldiers and artillery? Based on what we've just seen, I'd more likely believe they just felt that war was a complete hassle when the problem could be solved by sending off a princess.
The next plot with the scheming local assassin dude clearly in love with Nike is typical shoujo trash, but that's not what we're here for anyway. Nike getting embarrassed about being called 'okusan' and the two of them having their first spontaneous romantic kiss is why we're here.
I'll postpone evaluating that for the time being. HS's translation was "Call an artist. We need a photo session." An artist? That sounds like somebody painted those small pictures, and they just called it a photo session in an atemporal kind of way. I also imagine Livi would have been a bit more interested in the photos if they really were that and the technology was totally alien to him. What comes to the preview, it might just be there for the sake of comedy.
Up until now we have been led to believe the Rain country is backwaters, poor, and insignificant. Nike herself has been doing nothing at all to deny that, even during her solitary moments. While they might be able to defend themselves against any military actions using the magic, if they indeed are poor to begin with, an embargo would be nasty, which seems more and more likely to be the reason they allowed Nike to go. Maybe they even thought to gain a little by having such an allience with the strongest country out there.
The legend likely is true, but it was probably achieved with their magic. Maybe their society is now as it is as a backlash; they got wary of their own high power and decided to become docile and leave others in peace. If it's a matriarchy, and the royals are always so lazy and relaxed, they would be a threat to nobody.
Episode 10 - HS
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Even after seeing the episode, I still don't know if it was meant to be only a joke or not... It would seem pretty strange they had that sort of technology, especially when they seem to be able to use magic for various other things as well, not only controlling the weather and moving air. I guess I'll take it as a joke.
A pretty nice twist in this episode. The best one in the show (let's forget the fact it's actually the only one), although what Livi said is true, now in retrospect: There's no way that granny would have recalled Nike because a sprained back. The duke was so happy go lucky it totally fits his personality to send a princess away when he happend to have the authority. Otherwise it looks like the Rain country isn't afraid of anybody and doesn't give a shit about the rest of the world. No wonder they are called poor, then, if they are isolationists. I'm not sure if it's as high righteousness as everybody says from the granny to keep her country poor and closed off, though. The people themselves should have the right to decide that. The rulers always live in comfort in any case, but the regulars folks are the ones to suffer from the adverse effects of isolation.
Livi sure needs to prove time after time to the world that he can make a queen out of Nike. First his own country's military tries to get rid of her, then the religious order, and now even her country tries to separate them. I'm quite happy he was on top of things, like a genius should, and didn't get poisoned but instead struck back immediately. Quite a funny way to treat a foreign ruler in any case... They really are afraid of nobody or any consequences in the Rain country. No wonder they stay poor.
More so than anything else, they isolated themselves so that their power doesn't leak out and destroy the world. That's what I got from all of it. This was especially the case during the drought since their power would be even more noticeable. One could argue that there were better ways to do things though.
If it's not Isuzu-chan Mii~
Yeah, the only other choice worse than this would have been to conquer the world using their magic. Now it's the classic case of forgetting they are still a part of the world. A country's first priority should be the well-being of its citizens, even a kid like Livi realised that as the regular folks in his country (and possibly the countries he conquered) are now enjoying a time of peace, economic growth, and a boost in state sponsored infrastructure. The Rain country totally failed that based on what we know, and they did that out of fear, even though they should have nothing to fear. So they are afraid for the sake of being afraid. Livi certainly had the better attitude of caring only for the present, not what might or might not happen in the future.
The plot developments this episode were obviously fueled by shoujo tropes rather than logical thinking. This could have been executed so much better, but we get yet another male suitor with random developments that make no sense from all previous information.
Livi has been humanized so much he no longer even seems to matter aside from being a pity symbol. He is the sun king from crying out loud. Receiving pity from grandma and being given a trial for Nike's hand is just pathetic and inconsistent.
Peace.
Livi aside, my favorite moment this episode was seeing Nike going apeshit at the thought of Livi forgetting her. That prison isn't breaking, but she doesn't care. Going with the idea of predictable developments though, I bet you get cousin will soften up and let her out.
If it's not Isuzu-chan Mii~
I reckon humanising Livi was one of the main elements of the larger story. He had become the devil conqueror king after his mother's assassination (although we learned already in the first episode that was only his personal behavior and in fact his actions largely benefitted the general population even if they hurt the elite). Nike's role was to return his humanity.
This particular arc was doomed to end up like this from the beginning. Livi didn't really even travel like the Sun King to the Rain country. He had nobody but the butler with him. No personal guards, for example. He sat on the floor much lower than the granny during the reception, the same as Nike and Neil. That basically means the Rain county never acknowledged him as a foreign ruler in the first place. Not that anybody's basic attitude would have indicated otherwise, perhaps with the exception of the meak duke. However, you can't really say Livi would have objected such treatment since he went through it all, even if he complained to Nike in private. Now in retrospect it was all in purpose: They insulted Livi as much as possible (as a ruler) since they intended to rob Nike back and mess with Livi's brain to make him forget everything, likely wanting to leave Livi with such an impression of the place that he would never want to return.
Doesn't this mean that for Livi to survive this ordeal, the Rain country (or at least the rulers) will have to be destroyed? If there is some random peaceful resolution to this, it is going to be horrible. The conspirators should at least be jailed for a time period, and that is the most lenient possible punishment.
Peace.
There are no conspirators. Or in fact you could say the duke was the first conspirator by sending Nike to marry Livi. Another conspirator could be the short haired princess for helping Livi. After all, the granny is the highest de facto authority in the country, and the plan to reprogram Livi's memory and separate him from Nike is hers. Thus, the official stance of the Rain country at the moment is to repair this breach in the total isolation. The fact this is happening at all is a reflection of the ancient legend that the Rain country could destroy other countries in a single night: They fear absolutely nothing but themselves. So, they don't give a shit about the Sun King or the Sun Country, they just want to get Nike back and Livi to leave and never return. Who's going to jail anybody under such circumstances?
I see this ending in the granny being moved by Livi and Nike's reckless and desperate love which basically means they would need to reprogram Nike as well. Like Bill said, the shadowy cousin will also give in. No doubt the other princesses will vouch for Livi. In the end the granny might not have much of a choice. I very much doubt anybody will be punished in any way. Livi wouldn't even want to punish Nike's relatives.
By conspirators, I meant Nike's family.
If the Rain country was so strong and unconcerned, why did they send Nike out in the first place? They could have just refused and that's it.
No punishment for doing all this sets a horrible image for the Sun King. He is no longer the feared ruler, but the whipped pansy who can't even fight back after being pushed around so much.
Of course, this entire incident will conveniently be unknown to anyone else not involved in the affair (as it always is for plot).
Last edited by shinta|hikari; Tue, 06-17-2014 at 01:29 PM.
Peace.
Because Nike's father, the duke, is super meek and weak. It's also possible, should he voice his own opinion, that he wouldn't like the country to remain isolated. Thus he gladly sent Nike out as an emissary to learn about the outside world while the tyrannical granny and the jealous cousin were out of town. But who knows, as long as the granny is present, he won't do anything, I reckon.
Since they want to remain isolated to keep themselves in check, the duke might have thought this was the easiest way out. They could have sunk any fleet sent to the island, but that would have also been using their magical powers, in a public fashion, which seems to be something they desire to avoid. I wonder if they know Nike's been using the magic all the time to amuse Livi's guests...
It'll be conveniently unknown to anyone because Livi doesn't have anybody with him, aside from the butler who would never betray him. The Rain country itself is isolated and I doubt they would want to advertise what happened: It's so shameful treatment of a guest. They would lose what little reputation they had and be treated as barbarians not knowing the basics of diplomacy and courtesy. They officially want to remain isolated, but I doubt they would want to be hated and mocked.
See, that is the main problem I have with this development. Nike's family are such asses, and all this will end with them being redeemed and without being punished, only because this is shoujo (yeah, just like the priest, the uncle, and now the cousin). They deserve to be jailed (or killed) for the asshattery they are doing.
Peace.
Normally I'd fully agree with you, but I don't like the concept of victimless crimes. I have a feeling Livi will forgive them all if he's able to return home with Nike, doubly so if they don't need to flee but the granny actually comes to accept their union. The granny is a highly important person for Nike, and a couple of eps ago Livi confessed he feels gratitude for the Rain country because it gave birth to Nike. So, I don't think Livi will want to hate the second most important person for Nike (Livi's the most important, obviously). Thus, I don't think there will be a victim once this is all over. And with no victim, I don't think anybody needs to be punished.
Yeah, the prideful ruler lost all his pride, so victimless it will be indeed.
Peace.
Episode 11 - HS
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I have to say I kind of didn't foresee this particular outlook of Livi's. However, it does fit his personality. As long as he's the winner in the end, he doesn't care what manner of shit they put him through. Considering his past, background, the assassination attempts (and even the successful one on her mom), the less dramatic internal political troubles in the Sun Country, the wars, and all the other problems, this makes sense. It's not like he would have grown up as a pampered prince (at least by others than his late mom). In other words he doesn't mind trudging in the mud if that's what it takes to have his way. It's also pretty obvious he's not overly concerned about what others think of him or his decisions. Thus, it was no trouble at all for him to forgive them all. On the other hand Nike herself went through so much in the Sun Country that it was only fair Livi faced challenges in the Rain Country.
After having seen both parents, it's not hard to understand how the daughters are all like that. I also liked how the emo cousing described Nike. It makes sense it took somebody like Livi to capture her. She was certainly somebody who wouldn't have been won over by any kind of passive methods. Throwing her into a prison cell was a good beginning, in retrospect, to gain her attention...
Not reading any of the postings in this thread. I´ve been waiting to pick this one up at the end of the season, so my question: Can you guys post some anime that this one is comparable to in terms of story/atmosphere/characters? Thanks a lot!
"She's the only non-loli girl in the show, your honor!" will be my defense in court
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