STAR DRIVER: Kagayaki no Takuto – 22
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「神話前夜」 (Shinwa Zenya)
“Legendary Night Before”
With the Night Flight drama club’s play depicted for most of the episode, the only thing that stood out more than all the parallels between it and the actual story was the allusion that there’s more to Sarina and their little vice president than it seems. Not only did they make themselves out to be galactic overseers of what’s happening with the Cybodies on the island, Sarina also made it clear she’s aware that Reiji (i.e. Tokio) is a lot older than he seems by referring to him as an “old man” after he asked if he can paint a picture of her. Then there’s the little fur ball himself, who either spoke off-screen or telepathically communicated with Sarina. Kyuubei comparisons are surely abound.
The play itself undoubtedly warrants a more in-depth look that goes beyond what happened on the surface, where Columna (Sugata) made an agreement with a witch, Ayin (Tiger), to board a ship at the northern island and sail it, in exchange for the Night Gem that will allow him to physically embrace a girl named Crace (Wako), whom he had fallen for and normal people can’t see. Some obvious parallels were the mention of Columna’s “brilliant aura” that allows him to see Crace, the witch’s “magical eye” that allowed her to do the same (Ayingott?), the flying ship that Columna was able to move (Samekh?), and the inheritance of the Night Gem (akin to a mark).
To be with Crace, Columna even killed the Queen of the Fish Planet (Jaguar) who deemed it taboo for anyone to be higher than her in the world, and took over the throne as king. He became drunk with power and lost sight of Crace completely, becoming the magical ship itself, and wouldn’t even hand it over to Ayin who had been after it for the past 7000 years. (Cue crushing of Ayingott.) He had resigned himself to an immortal life of solitude in his castle afterward, leaving behind his magical ship to be sealed away. A member of the galactic race Entropeople (Sarina) informs Mark (Takuto) that they can’t use magic and are powerless to destroy or prohibit the use of the ship left behind, and it’s now up to him to decide what to do with its powers since he also radiates a brilliant aura. All she does is plea that he doesn’t follow the path that Columna did. Cue the kiss and curtain call.
It’s a lot easier to see the connection to the main story from the rest of the play, and Reiji’s remark about how Mark would only end up repeating the cycle seemed to suggest that the Cybodies’ powers cause a perpetual problem. If the play is indeed any indication of things to come, the downfall of Columna sort of foreshadows a potential bad ending for Sugata, whereas Mark’s vow to use its powers to protect Crace is the good ending that Takuto can bring about. Sarina’s conversation with the vice president appears to be in agreement, as they continue to oversea what’s happening with the ship (i.e. Cybodies) and are unable to help in any way. What’s interesting is how Sarina alluded to everything being up to Takuto, Sugata, and Wako, and how the vice president mentioned that Tauburn was created just for Earthlings and its potential is unknown even to them. While that doesn’t really change what’s going on, it does broaden my perception of the Cybodies and puts new meaning on all the galactic stuff that Takuto tends to spout out.
As for Hana, I’m not entirely sure how much she adds to the story by coming to the island to meet the girl that she’s heard so much about from Takuto (or so she claims) only to leave right after, aside from reiterating that our Ginga Bishounen does indeed have feelings for Wako. Keito on the other hand looks like she’s been re-energizing Sugata’s mark for some time now, since he seems to fall into a coma even without using his powers. More so than confirming their nightly meet-ups are completely innocent, Sugata learning that Keito’s the east maiden should take the series in any interesting direction in its final three episodes.
* I gather it’s no coincidence that the kanji for Keito’s lastname, Nichi, looks just her Heth mark.
* In addition to 9nine’s Kawashima Umika playing Hana this episode, the other four members were credited as female student extras.
Preview
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March 6, 2011 at 2:53 am✙Croosboy✙
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yeah she was re-energizing sugatas power. though i felt that this episode was like “WTF its over already”
March 6, 2011 at 2:56 amRei
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damn no sex. jokes. Wako finally gets her kissu :3c can’t wait to watch the play!
March 6, 2011 at 12:38 pmMSP
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Well I mean, she was straddling him naked and was panting pretty heavily afterwards. Don’t rule it out :D
March 6, 2011 at 3:05 amAzure
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The entire play sounds like a sequel to Sakana-chan’s story.
I think we all expected Keito to be recharging Sugata’s seemingly steadily declining libido…
Entropeople must be shouting out to Madoka Magica~
March 6, 2011 at 3:39 am*chu
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yeh, i havent watched the ep yet but just judging from the description that divine gives, it sounds like either a prologue or epilogue to sakanas story.
March 6, 2011 at 5:14 amWatermelon
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More like prologue, there’s part (ep 6) about king drinking blue blood to end his immortal life.
March 6, 2011 at 6:22 amsynkronized
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The episode has a weird take on all of the background from what I saw. It parallels the Reiji x Sora x One eye story while fleshing out the background of the Cybodies and then hints about the things to come.
March 8, 2011 at 2:13 amdeafvader
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Should be a prologue, if not in Sakana’s story it would not be possible for Sam to get the ship from the king… the ship is with the king not with Mark… Is Sakana-chan called Sakana-Chan because she is from the Sakana planet?? She sure knows about the Ship and all
March 6, 2011 at 6:54 amSuppa Tenko
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Sugata should just take some viagra.
Yayness for Takuto’s kiss, it seems like they are finally doing a 2 on 1 next week and Sugata’s chasing Wako again :3
March 7, 2011 at 1:44 amfeal87
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Shinbo must be laughing right now. :D
March 6, 2011 at 3:44 amN
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win
March 6, 2011 at 3:45 amEliteF22
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So does this mean Tauburn is potentially the strongest Cybody? Heh Wako got her kiss, but she also got to meet the childhood friend competition.
March 6, 2011 at 7:53 amjrj
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I thought the childhood friend was more for the deceased man-power airplane guy? it is true that she is mysterious :3
March 6, 2011 at 4:08 amShadiic
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Looking back at all my spammy comments on irc while watching this ep live stream has reinvigorated me to put up a post
my intial reaction when this ended was -> FAK why did it have to end
Considering it felt really fast and was wondering where my Zero time battle was. Though Divine is probably sick of me blabbing out crap on irc, I can’t believe that aliens are involved in this. If that is true then the real Columna, Crace and Witch were aliens and that Mark was the only human thus he was called the Galatic Pretty Boy.
March 6, 2011 at 9:40 amNY
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The alien part seems kind of random at first but not if you read “The Little Prince”. Star Driver takes a couple of themes from the book.
March 7, 2011 at 12:34 pmZero
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GOD. DAMN. IT. You had to remind me about that… I don’t think I can ever watch this show with a straight face… ever again….
March 6, 2011 at 4:57 amSchmell
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TBH, Samekh looks BAD ASS
March 6, 2011 at 5:12 amSchmell
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Whatever, best episode so far
March 6, 2011 at 5:38 amMadox
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No one is going to comment that it would appear Vice-president SPEAKS?
With a cute little body…
A voice like a kid…
Kyuubei!
Kyuubei has many bodies indeed :>
March 6, 2011 at 8:05 amKyubey
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There’s only room for one moeaweosome mascot plushie alien character!
March 6, 2011 at 8:18 amKyubey
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what gets me is that no one notices the vice president SPEAKING ON THE STAGE! I mean, WTF?
March 6, 2011 at 7:09 pmEliteF22
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I think at that point the voice of the vice-president was more symbolic. Sarina’s mouth was still moving so it seems the vice-pres was speaking through her. They had to introduce the audience to the vice-pres’ voice though since it speaks to Sarina at the end for literally one sec.
Sarina’s people not being able to use magic makes sense since their only supposed to watch. If they could use magic, one of them could have gone rogue and used a cybody and caused havoc.
March 6, 2011 at 6:27 amsynkronized
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I think it was cool to see the Vice President speak. Sarina and him seem a lot more neutral than Kyuubei though. They fall under the “Watch and pray the humans don’t screw this up again.” category than the grand manipulator of innocent girls for the sake of the universe.
I have to say the way they wove in a sort of prologue, foreshadowing and the parallels to Takuto’s parents made the episode feel very clever. I wish the benign episodes of this series with Cybody combat didn’t have to so many bland, generic elements. Star Driver has a lot more potential than it used in those episodes.
March 6, 2011 at 7:09 amSean
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Well, now we know what killed the dinosaurs.
Samekh seriously looks powerful with that uber Pillar it used, though that’s to be expected I suppose. This story seemed to use many elements of the Sam story the North Maiden told and I wonder if it may be the prologue as we saw the rise of the King before he wanted to Squid Emperor’s blood to go to sleep.
While this generally seemed to be a lesson of the past with it seeming to give us the info that Samekh is the main reason for the seals, it also seemed to parallel quite nicely with current events. That bit with the witch saying she’d waited long for someone who could move the ship reflects how Sugata was the first recorded bearer of the mark to use the First Phase and not end up in a coma.
We also learned why Tauburn always seems to break into Zero Time and why it isn’t with the others, which is that it alone was created specifically for the use of humans. The fact that they don’t know it’s full potential is interesting as well. Perhaps the reason it always pulls out new moves is because it was also created specifically to defeat other Cybodies.
Sugata seemed quite relaxed regarding Keito despite the fact she was naked and pressing her body to his a second ago. I’d guess that she was perhaps pouring her power, her libido, into him for some reason which may explain the panting. Or she had sex with him, but I’m not sure about that one. They may just be going for the imagery there.
So, next episode marks Sugata’s joining of the Crux. Which still seems quite odd though it seems he actually gets serious about Wako from the looks of things, which is honestly quite odd given his demeanor in all the other episodes regarding allowing Takuto and Wako to be together. Perhaps the play changed his mind or something to that effect. It’s going to be hard to watch the trio fall apart.
I think we’re heading for a downer ending myself. Either Takuto or Sugata shall be dead.
March 6, 2011 at 7:19 amDurifto
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Sounds more like a bittersweet ending. Takuto gets Wako and Sugata dies or is trapped in Zero Time.
March 6, 2011 at 7:22 amSean
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I consider that a downer in this case since they’ve focused so much on how happy they all are together. But yeah, that would seem the most likely scenario to happen. And I had fooled myself for some time that we might just get an ending where they are all together. Should have known better. No one does happy endings much anymore.
March 6, 2011 at 9:41 amPoiira
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wait what makes you think Sugata’s joining Kiraboshi?
March 6, 2011 at 6:29 pmjrj
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remember the name of the 1st squad in kiraboshi? also the title of the next episode is emperor… which is probably a reference to Sugata and his possible joining…
March 6, 2011 at 7:25 amrasone0104
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Sugata just kept stabbing people….
March 6, 2011 at 8:37 amrosmant
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^this
March 6, 2011 at 7:50 amjrj
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interesting play… and I like how it not only runs parallel to the main story, it also can be related to fish girl’s story in the beginning.
what I am curious though is that if pres and vice-pres are overseers, then why aren’t they involved in the zero time side of things. i.e. they never get pulled into zero time, and freeze when it happens…
As for Hana, maybe she just came here to show the resolve Takuto got… remember the man-powered plane, anyone?
the title of the next episode, emperor, should be interesting… maybe Sugata will get on with his cybody of king, or join the 1st squad for real this time?
March 6, 2011 at 8:49 amlilu
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Sarina’s people doesn’t use magic.
March 6, 2011 at 3:25 pmjrj
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that is hinted, but then again, if they don’t use what they refer as “magic”, how can they be aware of such things exist? it sounds like a bit of plot hole here… or maybe just me being picky :3
March 6, 2011 at 7:56 amkeiOnDaisuki
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XDD it was said that shinbo/gen made some changes w/ ep. 09′s script of madoka before the said ep. aired. It’s possible that they changed the part w/ the enropy stuff a bìt. but it could just be coincidental w/ this weeks stardriver.XD
March 6, 2011 at 7:57 amKyubey
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There’s only room for one moeaweosome mascot plushie alien character!
March 6, 2011 at 8:01 aminfo600
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expanding on what we’ve seen from Ep. 18…
WHOA Keito…
…and I was correct on the play foreshadowing the next few eps…somewhat.
ps. I still want that bowl of rice…
March 6, 2011 at 8:58 amSerapita
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This episode feels too short. I didn’t even notice that 24 minutes pass by after it ends. And next episode is interesting judging from the preview, those original Vanishing Age trio against Takuto. I wonder how he’ll do… Tau Missile x3 on them?
March 6, 2011 at 9:16 amawdf
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It’ll be so sad if Sugata ends up dead or by himself: he has arguably suffered more than anyone else in that group of three, and it’s simply not fair -_-.
March 6, 2011 at 9:31 amDee
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“I gather it’s no coincidence that the kanji for Keito’s lastname, Nichi, looks just her Heth mark.”
Quite a few (all?) of the characters had a(n obscure) correspondence with their name and their mark, iirc.
March 6, 2011 at 9:38 amPoiira
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I was like “Wait, what’s with the kiddie voice?” during the play and then “OMG IS IT KYUN-FUKUTAICHOU!?” and then “O.O”
And I wonder if it’s really necessary for Keito to get COMPLETELY naked to re-energize Sugata’s mark…
March 6, 2011 at 12:22 pmxcswmboy
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She didn’t get completely naked, they just touched marks.
March 6, 2011 at 1:14 pmArbuz
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Marks are touching, it means you are Ginga Bishonen.
March 6, 2011 at 10:45 ampineapple
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SARINA IS AN ALIEN???
March 6, 2011 at 11:18 amkabayongtao
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Looks like rumors about Samekh wiping out dinosaurs seems to be true.
March 6, 2011 at 11:24 amdrcnch
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As much as I enjoyed the episode and all of the foreshadowing and parallels it created through the play, the one thing that was on my mind was, “What kind of funding does this club have to have all those moving lights for a high school production?!”
March 6, 2011 at 12:22 pmxcswmboy
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I was thinking that this play was the prequel to Sakana’s story in the beginning. I forget all the details though.
Fuku-buchou is awesome. I forbid Kyubey comparisons because a talking fox is soo much cuter than a talking cat/rabbit/evil hybrid.
March 6, 2011 at 12:27 pmSwift
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I am sad that Takuto and Wako kissed and may get together. There is nothing sparkling about her personality. I feel like any of the other maidens would have made a better lead heroine.
Takuto and Wako = Naruto and Sakura.
March 6, 2011 at 1:24 pmBROOKLYN otaku
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“Takuto and Wako = Naruto and Sakura” u hit the nail on the head with that one!
March 6, 2011 at 8:40 pmamado
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not really, naruto rejected sakura so far.
but yeah, im annoyed by this relationship…
March 11, 2011 at 2:22 pmPeaches
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I agree
for me Naruto & Sakura make a really bad couple, Sakura does not deserve him she had her chance…
Wako is just blah. really wish she would just choose one guy already
March 6, 2011 at 12:42 pmb3arz3rg3r
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I can’t wait for Sugata to kill Tokio.
March 6, 2011 at 1:23 pmBROOKLYN otaku
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Wako is WHACK.
March 6, 2011 at 1:56 pmDer Fur Shur
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Wako with the long hair is win
March 6, 2011 at 2:35 pmNecromas
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The childhood friend showing up was probably just a way to confirm that Wako *doesn’t* have to compete with her, or maybe just to confirm he did have a crush on the other girl so as to show that Wako wasn’t the first girl Takuto ever had feelings for.
March 6, 2011 at 3:14 pmkaon
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o.o………………
March 6, 2011 at 7:31 pmReader
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hmmm ahhh so much to think about, this was the most awesome ep since the marino/mizuno arc ending
i say it’s more of a prequel to sakana chan’s story
fish planet should be … the cybody’s home planet i suppose
if that’s the case, i wonder if the *queen* would make her appearance (yes i know she died),
also the fact that mark can operate the ship, does that mean takuto can drive samekh too? (just hinting at possibilities)
i wish my school’s drama club was this gd >.< but more than that, i wish all four maidens will come back for an epic battle song in the last ep (or last few eps)
SASOU TOUJO!! GINGA BISHOUNEN TAURBAURNNNNN!!
March 6, 2011 at 8:04 pminfo600
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* In addition to 9nine’s Kawashima Umika playing Hana this episode, the other four members were credited as female student extras.
…cue “SUGATA-KUN” @ the end of part 1…
and I think Vice actually talked, since Takuto’s suprised that he heard yet another voice during the final scene of the play…
…so every time Sugata is in zero time and/or use the king’s pillar, he has to “recharge”, huh…interesting tidbit…
March 6, 2011 at 9:00 pmA person
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Hana’s purpose was probably to give Wako her blessing, and settle any doubts we may have had about Takuto liking Wako. There was always that “if Hana showed up again, would Takuto abandon Wako and go after her?” feeling since she first showed up for a lot of us. This episode showed us that he’s moved on.
I, too, feel a bittersweet ending coming, though…
March 6, 2011 at 10:44 pmOtaku_Brawler
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lol, intro appeared halfway into the episode.
March 6, 2011 at 10:48 pmRoberta
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Wako, Sugata and Takuto = s2 forever
March 6, 2011 at 11:33 pmlime
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http://randomc.net/image/STAR%20DRIVER/STAR%20DRIVER%20Kagayaki%20no%20Takuto%20-%2022%20-%2035.jpg
Sugata: “How long have you been doing that?”
Keito: “I’ve been rape you in your sleep since we were children”
March 7, 2011 at 2:40 amShirt
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Sugata: “I don’t mind if you rape me when I’m awake too..”
March 7, 2011 at 2:36 amShirt
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Definitely strange seeing Wako with long hair (the ENTIRE episode) when we all know she got dat weave.. >>”
The play, however, was beautifully acted. Props to the voice actors. That was brilliant! :D
March 7, 2011 at 2:48 amamado
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I think sugata was awake and just pretending to be in a coma again. it was more like sugata was suspecting or feeling something wrong about why he still wakes up.
despite me being quite a shipper, I dont really like to pair up anyone in this series. maybe sugataXwako but thats pretty slim anyway…
March 7, 2011 at 3:28 ampaulrenzo
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I know this is weird shipping, but I want someone to pair up with Sarina.
March 7, 2011 at 4:53 amlilu
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Sarina already has a pair – Vice President.
March 7, 2011 at 4:14 amKarl
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My thoughts are the same. I think he just wanted to know what or who “wake him up” all the time. Then again: why didnt he say something before she raped him? Ok, well, answer should be obvious :p
March 7, 2011 at 5:57 pmHucSao
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I dunno if anyone said this already, but its funny how we can count Takuto’s first three kisses.
Episode 1 (?): Wako giving CPR
Episode 12: Kanoko kissing directly (through the glass!)
Episode 22: Wako during the play
March 7, 2011 at 11:44 pmShirt
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It’s funny how the kiss wasn’t as hype as the characters made it out to be.
March 7, 2011 at 6:14 pmanishuma
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Ok ok ok ok ok.Keito was totally dry humping and improving her skinship with Sugata instead of raping him.
March 7, 2011 at 11:33 pmsekitx2
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Hana’s comment about Sugata… was that Sugata would also make a fine choice (besides Wako) for Takuto or Sugata is also a good choice for Wako??
March 8, 2011 at 7:18 amReader
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lol. anyway you want to take it =)
March 8, 2011 at 2:14 amdeafvader
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Anyone notice the ?rabbit? vice president said a line during the play just b4 the kiss scene?
March 9, 2011 at 4:47 pmAvalanche
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I think the play, up until the point that the fox started speaking, was the prolouge for Sakana’s story. I’m also starting to believe the dish planet exists.
So, Foreshadowing probably comes down to Takuto or Sugata will have to make a choice between Wako and the Cybodies seeing as ‘history’ /always/ repeats itself in anime. (Atleast, up to a certain point,)
March 10, 2011 at 2:43 pmGia V.
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If, indeed, history did repeat itself, then Takuto would not end up well either. Just as Reiji told Sarina, if the play had gone any further, Takuto’s character would have become drunk with power as well and didn’t he end up killing the girl for this power? So, if the play was the prologue to the Fish girl’s story, then not only do things look dim for Sugata, but they do so as well for both Takuto and Wako. I’d like to believe that if these things are related to what’s happening/going to happen with the three of them, that it’s as Sarina stated, all up to them. Which means they can decide for themselves and not end up like either the play or the story.
March 12, 2011 at 8:27 pmsealouse
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Ok the whole Entropeople kind of ruined it for me because it just sounds so silly and I couldn’t stop giggling at it. Awesome episode other than that. Is it possible Sugata faked his coma to find out something?
March 18, 2011 at 11:50 pmalien
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Ah this is killing me!! I want to know what happens!! TT
I hope the ending is just fitting of the story/ I can’t believe it’s ending in 3 episodes!!!!!!
I hope they don’t mess up everything they’ve been working 22 episodes to build up. TT
March 19, 2011 at 5:37 pmDensebrains
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Sugata is the decendant bearing the King’s mark. He will take up the King’s Cybuddy in the end thus ending this animation series with a fight with Takuto-kun. Hopefully Takuto will not die but if he is determined to protect Wako then it could be a possible end.
Oh and I agree with DeafVader in that this play seems to be a prologue for Sakana-chan’s story. Didn’t the King give Sam his ship for bringing the Squid King’s cursed blue blood to him? The same ship that requires the death of Sam’s love otherwise it will not fly at all.
March 19, 2011 at 5:52 pmDensebrains
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Hmm, thinking back since the King killed Ayin it could explain why the Cybuddy Ayingot was the only one that was destroyed among all the Cybuddies (As mentioned by Watanabe Kanako) prior to Marino reviving the Cybuddy and subsequently being controlled by it. The evil Cybuddy…