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「それぞれの死闘」 (Sorezore no shitou)
“Each of Their Deadly Battles”
Who knew, a little patience can pay off. Alright, maybe not entirely (this is episode 10 of a single cour show after all), but MSTA certainly seems eager to start going ham into the things I suspect many of us expected it to from the start. Magical fights, magical suffering, and the first real promises of answers after so long: it’s the mahou shoujo showdown you’ve all been waiting for.
I think one of the bigger surprises of MSTA of late isn’t so much the themes the series espouses, but the lack of attention and focus paid to them. PTSD for example has been continuously mentioned or highlighted at various points so far, yet the show seems almost hesitant to really delve into the weeds and show the ugly reality of wartime trauma—at least outside of Asuna. Remember Sayako and that fun-filled first encounter with angry guys wielding high velocity boom sticks? You’d almost think she never had that experience given the courage mustered up this week. To be fair of course it’s a little harsh thinking the girl should fall apart at the first sign of trouble (no one ever likes truly weak characters), but I would’ve imagined a little more struggle on her part getting over past experiences. Something like Asuna’s worry which could implode any minute, a sense of foreboding dread that truly rams home the severity of that deleterious mental state. Might just be me though—after all it’s easy to guess Asuna more than making up for this in the not too distant future.
In terms of the future as well, it’s likely not that long before the true purpose of the Babel Brigade finally gets revealed. We now know for example best mama Tabira isn’t actually the target of this little expedition, but rather the new magical weapon she was keeping for our cutie ops squad and just never happened to reveal. Yeah, you can guess exactly where this is going next. Enemy acquiring super-secret Wunderwaffe? Baby it’s world conquest time. Or well something along those lines, because whatever the Queen is after, it sure isn’t world peace and rainbow unicorns for all (at least if the look of our absolutely ridiculous looking cyborg Somali antagonist is anything to go by). I’m sticking by my guns of the enemy’s ultimate objective being something to do with sealing away or monopolizing control over all magic (because magic is suffering and all that), but hey, you never know. For all we know it just might be taking over the world and everyone—and mascot spirit—in it.
One way or another we’ll find out soon enough, because with only two episodes left, you can bet MSTA is itching to bring out the big guns.
Preview
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This will be a meme.
https://randomc.net/image/Mahou%20Shoujo%20Tokushusen%20Asuka/Mahou%20Shoujo%20Tokushusen%20Asuka%20-%2010%20-%20Large%2025.jpg
While I’m kinda sympathetic to the Somali terrorist, him hurting Mama Tabira is a no go.
https://randomc.net/image/Mahou%20Shoujo%20Tokushusen%20Asuka/Mahou%20Shoujo%20Tokushusen%20Asuka%20-%2010%20-%2036.jpg
https://randomc.net/image/Mahou%20Shoujo%20Tokushusen%20Asuka/Mahou%20Shoujo%20Tokushusen%20Asuka%20-%2010%20-%20Large%2025.jpg
NOBODY HURTS THE MILF YOU GET ME!
I love how his fingers aren’t even touching the trigger and have no way of pulling it. Guess it’s the thought which counts XD
Shows that he has trigger discipline
https://randomc.net/image/Mahou%20Shoujo%20Tokushusen%20Asuka/Mahou%20Shoujo%20Tokushusen%20Asuka%20-%2010%20-%20Large%2007.jpg
What are the odds of the 2 of them forming a contract with Tabira?
Damn interesting idea, never even considered that. I’d guess it’s not that farfetched though, especially for Sayako considering her recent display of courage.
I wonder what that will do with a certain wiped memory?
Only two episodes left? Pei-pei still hasn’t shown up yet. They assigned her a voice actress and I can’t remember her saying anything. Now I have some suspicions about her.
Btw, why Asuna?
Yeah it’s confirmed one cour. Always potential for a surprise sequel announcement, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
As for Asuna I’m expecting her PTSD to impact her fighting performance in some capacity. Probably not enough to cause her to lose of course, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns into the reason Gies and new illegal magical girl are allowed to escape. Have to keep the major players alive and well after all.
https://randomc.net/image/Mahou%20Shoujo%20Tokushusen%20Asuka/Mahou%20Shoujo%20Tokushusen%20Asuka%20-%2010%20-%2032.jpg
I was really looking forward to Tabira holding her own especially since she has a goofy personality (which I really enjoy about her) instead the writers just allowed her to get beat. Yes rapture is strong, the writers will pit the cyborg with the main mahou shoujo but I kind of wanted Tabira to be strong too.
I feel like Tabira isn’t important to the writers…
I got the impression she was always a figurehead, the sort of character good at leading and organizing, but not one who you’d expect to have major screen time—i.e. be involved in the actual fighting. Probably a letdown overall, but I can see why the writers would have her lose against Gies.
Yeah. I imagine she’s strong enough to take out mooks (e.g Halloween-class Disas) but up against Somali cyborg terrorist, that’s a whole different league.
There’s always the possibility that she’s more efficient at magical combat instead of pure brute force. Wasn’t the dog supposed to show that Mr. terrorist has very high physical defence and offence?
The enemy has the advantage because they’ve studied the Magical Girls (and their allies) in depth and are well-prepared, while the protagonists have absolutely no idea who they’re up against.
Kenjou’s mistake was to attack immediately rather than gauge his enemy first, and got his weapon destroyed as a result. He could’ve fought defensively until he could figure out his opponent, or at the very least, buy some time until a magical girl arrived to assist.
In Tabira’s case, it’s also possible that her fighting skill has dulled due to being in command (and out of combat) for too long.