Discussion: Episodes 31-35

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Episode 31 is now subtitled and available![/url][/size]

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A mostly fanservice episode, one that wasn’t handled as well as the Onsen episode from, say, OVA1. Take it or leave it, but Tenchi does seem to acknowledge their looking for the “Treasure” at the very end. Some serious stuff is about to get pulled together soon.

Though, I have to wonder why Momo’s plan of covering Tenchi’s ability to see them excused him being in the room altogether. Can’t quite see how, other than, “Oh it’s just Momo’s goofy plan”.

But alas, you can’t have logic in your harem anime comedy. Gotta put that protag in the most awkward situations possible, regardless of how easily avoidable they are. aquateencarl1

As I mentioned last week (spoiled of course), the Onsen episode was pretty much a guarantee. Here, we see Tenchi going in way over his head. Though, I have to wonder why Momo’s plan of covering Tenchi’s ability to see them excused him being in the room altogether.

And does any teaching happen at the school at all? mmmm1 Feels more like the school is there to act as cover for this Treasure, everyone is after.

And I wonder if we have a ‘Sakuya’ situation here, where most of the students ‘don’t exist’, or something akin to what Yugi did. I’m probably wrong there… but…

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Episode 32 is now subtitled and available!

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As a totally unrelated aside, the scene which I used for the gif above reminded me a lot of the haunted korean webcomic (don’t click unless you are willing to forgo sleep tonight) which used the same odd creaky-noise and jarring stutter technique. While likely just a general trope for Asian horror, it was the first thing that came to my mind.

Yuki’s lack of understanding with what was presumably her own equipment is veeeerry interesting, and leads towards the conclusion that Washu is meddling far more than has been imagined.

And what type of “treasure” does Goriki-kun sense? Beni’s downed ship is a viable theory, and/or…well, notice the choice made for the ending fade-out shot: Tenchi’s back pocket, and what does he keep in there???

Tenchi-ken, obviously, which makes me think the sensors can detect Jurain technology in general. The emphasis on the sword itself may also point towards Momo’s own “Tenchi-ken.”

And yeah, I seriously believe that we’re dealing with Jurai akin tech. I wonder if that original crashed spaceship, we saw early on, has something to do with it.

http://tenchiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=1407” class=”bbcode_url”>http://tenchiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=1407

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Episode 33 is now subtitled and available![/url][/size]

Episode 33:

Beni and Momo’s history has some more light shed onto it. Beni being some form of delinquent, while Momo is some manner of precious cargo the king entrusts to Beni. Will be very interesting if we can get more information on their background, who they really are in scheme of things on Jurai. Especially the elderly man and the woman standing to his side.

Back in the “feudal” era, Tenchi confirms that Momo and Beni are the two people he was looking for and hits that universal “reset” button. Only, when he activates it, the process doesn’t quite complete. Tenchi and Momo are swallowed up into the rift, but what about the rest of them left on the planet?!

(Ancient?) Jurai, Momo and Beni’s intertwined backstories and identities presumably as nobility and space pirate respectively, Tenchi’s mission, time travel, and the “proper” placement of characters Hachiko, Hana, and Touri along with the rest of the cast ending up at a place (and setting-wise, a time?) called Junai Academy (which I suspect will be elaborated upon further soon).

And, as I commented on yt, how about the fact that Tenchi’s device failing at just the right–or rather, wrong–moment seems a little too contrived…coincidence? Or did something or someone cause it (and is indeed perpetuating all of these rifts)?

I think that “something” is
our antagonist, Ukan.

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Episode 34 is now subtitled and available![/url][/size]

Episode 34:

Beni displays her more contemplative, subtle side, if only for a moment of reflection. It doesn’t take long for her to charge Tenchi like a bull once he brings up the “treasure” she seeks. She’s been thinking a bit about Sensei, and she’s been able to put the dots together that he isn’t who he says he is. When she lashes out towards Tenchi and Momo, a lil somethin somethin comes out of nowhere sup light hawk wings to shield them from the blow.

Quite a bomb to drop there.

Also makes one wonder what the Ep. 35 Momo-chat will be like, this time around. Probably off topic as usual, but one wonders…

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Super Cut of Episodes 31-35 is available now!

For those who have been looking for the plot, you have your prize as of Episode 33. Admittedly, several episodes, including Episodes 31 and 32, built up to the reveal, but the realization is blatantly shown from Wednesday’s episode. In short, those realizations are as follows.

Momo is Juraian, and Beni too is from space and perhaps Juraian herself. Beni no doubt lost her memory in the crash of her ship, Toshika, given to her by the Jurai royal family. As a child, Beni was given favor by the king (of Jurai?) and installed as Momo’s handmaiden/guardian. What exactly she did to earn this favor has yet to be revealed as of Episode 45. Notably, young Beni is very brazen, not unlike the Beni seen in the school era. One wonders if the memory loss reverted her back to before she had Jurai’s influence. One could likely play a lot of nature-vs-nurture games here. In particular, notice that Beni’s memory sparks when Momo touches her hand in Episode 34. Part of Beni remembers, as she told Tenchi on the roof. She always seems just on the verge of remembering, which obviously frustrates and infuriates her. This seems very much the “X-Men” complex that many teenagers feel. They feel different and don’t know why. They crave an explanation that no one seems to give them. Hence, they lash out, as Beni does with Tenchi. There is some fun psychology to study here. gendo1

Of course, this week had some fun comedy bits as well. Tenchi’s situation in Episode 31 continued the fan service from Episode 29, which lends the same commentary I had from the previous week’s thread.

Episode 32 took me back to my undergraduate study, cooking ramen in the dead of night, skirting curfew to infiltrate different portions of the school. I am glad to see Yuki and Rui living the life of a starving student, very nostalgic. mmhmm1 Moreover, this episode dropped visual and dialogue hints to the happenings on campus. Not only do we hear Yuki and Rui’s explanation for their “war” against the Student Council, but also we find out that Yuki built Goriki but doesn’t quite know what powers it. Notably, the camera pans over the crab plushie as she says this. Also, Goriki’s “treasure sensor” goes off, spurring everyone to scramble to digging under the floorboards. While they find nothing, the camera pans over Tenchi’s sword in his back pocket while Yuki mentions the sensor. Dare I say, the “treasure sensor” detects Juraian technology or Juraian energies? gendo1 Then, there is the revelation that Beni is the one after the treasure. Yuki and Rui are in it for the prestige and funding, and to help their comrade.

Yet, in both comedic episodes, Tenchi mentions to himself that he sees the pieces falling into place. He has been playing the hapless protagonist, but he has not forgotten his mission. fyeah1

While we were at Chibi Pa, Wwwwhhhhoooo and I had some fun speculation on the raw Japanese episodes in the airport. Since we didn’t have a translation, we theorized on what could be going on, and I have to say, Wwwwhhhhoooo’s thoughts have been nearly spot-on the last few weeks. kiyonesmile1 However, for posterity, and potential fan fiction, I would like to record one of the darker theories we had.

What if the entire school era storyline was a shell universe? That is, the Ryoko and Ayeka with whom Tenchi lives are simulacra of the real Ryoko and Ayeka. What if in a fit of anger and sorrow, Momo created this world to resurrect a deceased Beni, dragging Tenchi and the other feudal era characters into the spacetime rift? This has precedent with Haruna’s pocket universe, as well as the Time-and-Space Adventures from Universe. How would Tenchi feel to know that his current life was a lie? How would he cope with telling Momo that her lost friend Beni was dead, and could never truly be brought back? Could she even accept that? dawohki1