Posted by  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「Case 23 Humble Double」
Isolation
In her attempts to forewarn the Princess of the assassination plot, Ange is thwarted at every turn. First off, Control instate Zelda as a new bodyguard, and her job is to keep an eye on any attempted interactions. Dorothy mysteriously vanishes without any notice, and Chise receives orders from Lord Horikawa to leave her post. Beatrice was never exactly useful outside of her voicebox, and even she kind of disappears after peeking at the blank note Ange sent to Princess.
Forced into a corner, Ange plucks up every ounce of her imagination to find a way of saving Princess. She even tries to communicate with a member of Control’s upper echelon, albeit with little success. But Ange is no quitter. We learn she had contemplated suicide at a young age, a fate she was rescued from by Princess. This is the reason she harbours strong feelings of loyalty towards Princess, and would put her life on the line to rescue her.
Against all the odds, she succeeds in pulling off a daring escape, with Princess in tow. However, her methodology doesn’t try to consider how Princess feels. Might seem pretty stupid of the Princess to reject Ange’s solution, and I was fuming at how she dared to treat someone who only had the best intentions for her. But I admire how Princess cares for the greater good, even if it comes at the expense of her own life. And it was implied she was acting cruel for Ange’s sake too, so that Ange need not risk her life for Princess’ sake. So by pretending to be Ange pretending to be her, Princess heads into the Lion’s den of revolutionaries, a high stakes gambit that may cost her life.
The True Mastermind
Consider why both factions are discreetly going rouge onto the Princess, and it all makes sense. On top of having command of the Military, the Duke of Normandy is clearly pulling strings behind Control’s new faction. L’s displacement by a general is no coincidence, because the Duke of Normandy is finally making his scheme come together.
So, what are this man’s motives? My guess is probably as good as anyone else’s out there, but some say he’s trying to make Albion great again. Depending on his position as heir to the throne, his ascension could require the elimination of Queen Victoria and Princess. If that’s still not good enough to earn him the throne, then he’s probably got a proxy monarch in place to exercise the widest extent of political and military power. Perhaps he intends all the best for Albion, but like Ange, it’s also possible that he’s not considering that his methodology might be wrong. In all likelihood, turmoil and instability like this can only serve to weaken Albion on the international stage.
Concluding Thoughts
I look forwards to seeing how the curtains close. In the darkest hour for our cast, will anyone rise up to save the day? Doesn’t look likely at the moment, but of all the girls, we should never count Ange out.
What a terrific show this has been. Thoughtful, astonishingly well-written, and deeply emotional. Whether the final outcome for the characters is happy or sad, I just hope that the finale lives up to the quality of everything we’ve seen so far.
It’s well-written for the most part, but I would love to see a second season that fleshes out the gaps. I have a pretty good idea of what the outcome will be like, since I accidentally checked out the name for the finalepisode, but I’ll keep what I know under wraps for now.
I think Princess was designed as a 1-off show from the start.
Much like Sakura Quest, I have a hard time waiting for the new episode to air. This series has been truly amasing I think. For me it feels very original and fresh. Not the same tired cliches, fan-service, and over-used plots that have infected so many others. (looking at you Smartphone…).
I am going to miss this one when it ends. To me this is a true anime. As the poster above stated so well it is thought out, written beautifully, and given obvious care all around.
It’s not often I go around outright recommending stuff, but based off your comments last week, I highly recommend giving Clannad + Clannad After Story a shot if you haven’t already.
Pretty happy with how original Princess Principal has been. 3Hz are a studio to look out for when it comes to things, and hopefully this show gets the success it deserves (RIP Flip Flappers). I’ll save my final thoughts for next week, but I was tempted to write an elegy for the series too, right after I came off the end of that episode.
Thank you! I have heard of that one before but never thought much of it. From what I just read however, it looks like one I am truly going to love.
Smartphone taught me that Slip happens.
I have to remember that one hahahaha!
So this is what they were wearing origianly
https://randomc.net/image/Princess%20Principal/Princess%20Principal%20-%2011%20-%20Large%2021.jpg
Then they changed clothes for the escape
https://randomc.net/image/Princess%20Principal/Princess%20Principal%20-%2011%20-%20Large%2028.jpg
Princess never takes her coat back
https://randomc.net/image/Princess%20Principal/Princess%20Principal%20-%2011%20-%20Large%2032.jpg
Which means!?
https://randomc.net/image/Princess%20Principal/Princess%20Principal%20-%2011%20-%20Large%2038.jpg
https://randomc.net/image/Princess%20Principal/Princess%20Principal%20-%2011%20-%2030.jpg
From the episode last week to this, my soul is left bruised and broken… And just like Charlotte right now- we drown in shock, confusion and denial. How could she? Indeed, how could she? But then again, perhaps…
Once again, it’s a miracle how I am able to sleep past the event… Geeehhh… ( ; _ ; )
Right now, a twisted irony embodies Ange’s existence, for she is once again called Ange at the price of her identity and an eternal bond burned in the heat of passion and grief. How tragic… How tragic…
Not as good this time shame Dorthy is remvoed
https://randomc.net/image/Princess%20Principal/Princess%20Principal%20-%2011%20-%20Large%2004.jpg
Will the group get back together in EP 12 out of random I wonder, Chise giving a half ass reason why she is back, Dorthy with loose ends to tie up, Beatrice and her—Ange loyal to the end.
I don’t want this to end as a tear jerker like Mobile Suit Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans S2, these girls deserve something for their efforts.
https://randomc.net/image/Princess%20Principal/Princess%20Principal%20-%2011%20-%20Large%2004.jpg
Bad Luck Dorothy strikes again, her father killed, her childhood friend suicide, “removed” from mission.
On top of having command of the Military, the Duke of Normandy is clearly pulling strings behind Control’s new faction. L’s displacement by a general is no coincidence, because the Duke of Normandy is finally making his scheme come together.
OK, I’m confused. As far as I know, the Duke of Normandy works for the Empire and Control is part of the Commonwealth. How do you get that the Duke is behind the change in Control leadership? What am I missing?
The General is a member of the military. I reckon he’s operating under orders from the Duke.
But they’re on different sides! The General and Control are part of the Commonwealth, the Duke works for the Empire and the Queen! The girls are Commonwealth spies.
It just means that the Duke has managed to plant his own agents in the Commonwealth and is likely plotting with certain elements in the Commonwealth government for mutual benefit.
The website explains that the Commonwealth’s government is dominated by the republicans and the military, who are competing for control. The Duke likely has agents that are assisting the military faction in the same way that Ange is assisting Princess in taking the throne of the Kingdom. Most likely, they cut a deal wherein the Duke helps the military come to power in the Commonwealth while the military helps the Duke eliminate Princess (without getting the Duke’s own hands dirty).
I wonder if the current situation is foreshadowed by the Opening in symbolic ways. In the opening we see the world tuning upside down for Charlotte, this corresponds to her involvement with the revolution. Next she falls into a giant abyss, this corresponds to her isolation and her live at risk. In the opening the team shows up jumping into the abyss and Ange saving the day, I’m curious how next episode plays out.
Princess emulating how Charlotte is instead of how Charlotte should be. Next episode she’ll be emulating Charlotte emulate Charlotte I presume. She’s as much a spy as Agent A or D.
Also can’t help notice the military actually ordering Charlotte to kill Charlotte. Ironically they still ended up with an imposter ready to take the throne.
Wonder whose side she’s on?
https://randomc.net/image/Princess%20Principal/Princess%20Principal%20-%2011%20-%2011.jpg
Her reply to Ange just doesn’t seem right. We’ve seen the dynamics at Central a few times already, and I don’t think it’s something she’d normally say. So, I can’t say for certain whose side the two civilians are on. I assume the military guy is with the general, but we’ve seen that even he was flexible enough to see the others point of view. Makes me wonder who is and who was pulling the strings.