First Impressions / Rinne no Lagrange

「鴨川の誓の」 (Kamogawa no Seino)
“A Vow to Kamogawa”

First of all, the peace conference. After Dizelmine’s plans became clear for everyone to see, it was quite likely that the other planets would bend Le Garite over their collective knee and wail on them. Traditionally, kings who embarrass their countries this much don’t come out smelling like roses; they have trouble keeping their thrones, and quite possibly their heads. Here’s where Lagrange’s wonderful idealism comes into play. Villagulio could have gone to his old pal – you know, the one who tried to exterminate his entire planet using his younger sister! – and figuratively stepped on his neck. That he took Madoka’s message to heart and buried the hatchet speaks volumes about his true character. That’s not how politics works in real life, though I wish it did. That’s okay, though. What’s fiction without a little idealism, and a little painting the world as it ought to be? Plus, we don’t have Madoka in real life, so that counts for something. A lot, really.

After the conference, the maru and D’AAAWWW readings flew off the charts. After all the strife these two kings have caused, it was nice to see them fully reconcile with their imoutos. Lan’s smile was wonderful, but of the two, Muginami’s nearly broke me. So much worry, so much insecurity about Yurikano, her onii-chan’s real imouto, and then Villagulio wiped it all away with just a few words. Beautiful. That’s a good onii-chan for you, blood be damned.

While I enjoyed the conversation between the three girls about love, it was their vow that really intrigued me. A vow to never fight in the Voces again…you can’t tell me I’m the only one who immediately thought “Yeah, like that’ll happen.” But this brings up an interesting thought. Before I go into it, picture in your mind how Madoka is. Got it? Good. Here’s the thought – Madoka doesn’t break vows. Now, I don’t doubt that she would do so if it was truly necessary, but this means that if some kind of trouble is stirred up again – and with five more episodes, I’m damn well sure that’ll happen – she’ll either have to go full pacifist or break her vow, and either way sounds utterly fascinating to me. Will she stay true to her word and try to solve what’s likely to be the biggest crisis the Earth has ever faced without violence, or will she break her word, despite the damage this is liable to entail for a proud girl like her? Hmmmm…

Finally, there is Asteria…or should I say, Queen Maycun. We’ve all long suspected that Asteria was one of the Vox pilot from 20,000 years ago, but her reaction this episode plus the flaming symbol that matches the one we saw on her chest back at the end of Season One pretty much confirms it. This also raises the likelihood that she was one trapped behind the Rin’Ne who was booted out when Yurikano arrived to nearly a certainty.

Still, the question remains – what effect will Asteria have on the end of this show? The 20,000 year question, the 1,000 year problem…none of these have answers yet, and Asteria and the Voces are at the center of them. Between a vow that seems destined to be broken, three mecha that have started moving based only on their owner’s thoughts, and a loli commander who may have once nearly destroyed the planet, we have more questions than answers…and I couldn’t be happier! That’s why I love original shows, because no one has any idea what will happen! Have I said that before? I’m sure I have. Bring on the apocalypse, baby! I can’t wait to see how Madoka and her waifus avert it.

…but probably not next week. Next episode looks like it’ll be more carefree, with the Jersey Club back to its normal escapades helping people. I’ll admit, I’m a bit apprehensive about returning to the silly antics with so few episodes left, but I’ve learned to trust Rinne no Lagrange to deliver the good storytelling, so let’s see where it goes. Hopefully Madoka will get some time in to study so she can graduate…and maybe we’ll learn a little more about what is to come.

tl;dr: @StiltsOutLoud – An intergalactic incident ends w/ smiles & handshakes…& questions aplenty about what is to come. Maru~ #Kamojo #Lagrange

Random thoughts:

  • These two intergalactic rulers have a stark lack of bodyguards. I mean, if a Japanese schoolgirl tried to punch my country’s leader, she’d be buried in a pile of muscular men wearing impeccably tailored suits before she could cock her fist! Put it down to that idealism again…or, more likely, animation budgets.
  • This whole planet-colliding-incident will take place in 1,000 years. Given that time frame, I’m surprised they’re worrying about it right now! By Earth standards, that’s practically forever…though then again, by Earth standards that’s also half of recorded history, while to the planets of the Polyhedron that’s more like 1/20th. I guess it should come as no surprise. If places like Europe and China are swimming in history – at least compared to young places like America – then the planets of the Polyhedron are drowning in it.
  • Wait, a thought just occured…if the planets of the Polyhedron have history stretching back 20,000 years, why are at least two of them ruled by absolute monarchies? Do they know something we don’t know? Because otherwise, CAN’T A PLANET GET SOME DEMOCRACY UP IN THIS BITCH!
  • The yuri was enough, but now this show also has an epic bromance for the ages. I feel like im watching Turk and J.D. again, except with a regrettable lack of hugging.
  • Moid is still here? Kill it! Kill it with fire!!
  • Actually, another thought. Have you ever considered that Moid might be a good guy in the end? That would be a wonderful turnabout, if he spends the entire series slinking around and being shady…only to help save everybody in the end. I’m not saying it’s likely, I’m just throwing it out there.
  • Zetsubou! Zetsuboushita!
  • The other question about Asteria – why is she a loli? Because clearly this hasn’t always been the case! But please, don’t say “covering all of the fanbase.” That’s not very maru…even if it’s probably true.
  • I’ll admit, the upbeat ED has grown on me. I still like Lan’s version the best of the three, but…well, it’s not bad.
  • Oh man, the wan, the kashikomari, and the maru are all back in full force. I… *gets choked up* I missed this!!

Full-length images: 05, 24.

 

Preview

End Card

60 Comments

    1. Agreed. It fleshes out the galaxy a bit to have people from other planets there. One of those little details that makes Lagrange’s universe so good…even if the animation on all the other delegations was a bit lazy 😛

      Stilts
      Reply

    2. Madoka is just awesome. Punching Dizel and Villa in the gut and giving them a big lecture is enough to justify that. Thanks to her, the two boys have come to a truce and they rightfully settle things with Lan and Muginami.

      Everything is back to normal and so as the Jersey Club. Madoka and her waifus Lan and Muginami discuss some topics like Yurikano and love. They go to the statue where they set a vow to meet again some time ago. They have fulfilled it but Madoka has set a new one: they will never use the Vox units as weapons again. It is great to see them being happily together again.

      Looks like another crisis is about to happen. As Yoko and her team decipher a new section of the tablet, Asteria sees the section and remembers something disturbing. She reveals to Yoko that she herself was responsible for the other tragedy that happened 20,000 years ago. So Asteria will be getting some character development. Very interesting.

      In the preview, the girls tell us something about the upcoming OVA and the black-haired background girl will have her time to shine.

      JohnHayabusa
      Reply

  2. Dizelmine has given Lan his blessings to marry Madoka! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

    This episode is definitely going to be a calm before the storm. Especially since Asteria foreshadows something bad is coming. Normally I’d have problems the way the war is resolved, but Lagrange was always a show about optimism so I don’t really mind it here. At least we get to see Madoka punch the two brothers. I’ve been waiting for that to happen for a long time. I’m disappointed that she didn’t sock them in the face but that’s just semantics.

    As for the vow, it seemed vague to me. It seems more like Madoka didn’t want Midori, Orca and Hupo to be used for war. I don’t think they would have any problem to use them to protect Kamogawa and their friends. This also goes back to Asteria’s claim that the Vox is more than a weapon.

    Someone in /a/ pointed out that this girl has apparently been around since that first episode of the second season. Looking back at previous episodes she’s actually been everywhere in the background. I have to wonder how relevant she will be.

    fragb85
    Reply

    1. Dizelmine has given Lan his blessings to marry Madoka! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

      I guess I can respect Dizelmine for this. It is the only good thing he has done so far, other than making peace with Villagulio.

      I just noticed how similar the Muginami/Madoka/Lan yuri trio is to Smile PreCure’s Akane/Nao/Reika fandom yuri trio, only with blatant non-PG yuritexts. Someone should make a fanart of the Jersey Club girls in Cure outfits.

      Someone in /a/ pointed out that this girl has apparently been around since that first episode of the second season. Looking back at previous episodes she’s actually been everywhere in the background. I have to wonder how relevant she will be.

      I found out about this girl from /u/. She makes 1-3-second appearances in almost every episode. She will get her time to shine in the upcoming OVA Kamogawa Days and maybe next week.

      JohnHayabusa
      Reply

  3. Yeeee catchphrases are back! *Happy*

    I wholeheartedly agree with you on the Moid thing. He still gives off unshakeably sinister vibes! But I keep doubting that he’ll turn into a bad guy because that would be cliche and I have to keep in mind this is Rinne no Lagrange I’m watching :D! Eagerly waiting to see what happens next *_*. I think Moid’s role in the story will be quite “special”.

    My reaction was exactly the same when Madoka punched them. But I guess Dizelmine’s private royal garden has some absolute rules.

    I’m wondering what exactly is the relationship between Vox, Memoria, and their respective pilots. It’s been slightly hinted that Vox “choose” their pilots. What confuses me is Yurikano destroying Zodia with a Vox in what we can assume to be the same age generation as Madoka and co. And Asteria lighting up Earth but with a different memoria? Maybe there are more than the 3 Vox we see now? It doesn’t make sense in my mind for the same Vox to give out different memoria, nor for a tool of destruction to suddenly hide in an aircraft hangar gathering dust on Earth. Maybe the Vox are like…a different sentient race? Kind of like LFOs in Eureka Seven or the Heroic Tribe Nodos in Heroic Age?

    I have no idea what’s supposed to happen for the remaining episodes but I’m terribly excited as well for that very reason. I highly doubt next week’s episode will be completely “fun”. There will be plot details kindled here and there, otherwise I’ll have to check whether I’m really watching the same show as I have been this entire time.

    This is always the best part of the week :D.

    Jello
    Reply

    1. Going by color scheme alone, there was definitely a 4th Vox (yellow). As for Yurikano though, I don’t think she was in a Vox, just a “Vox Core,” the same thing that went berserk on Dizelmine’s ship due to Yurikano’s revival. So basically, it’s a Vox without all the robot around it, just the part in the center that potentially makes everybody die, lol

      Stilts
      Reply

      2. …remember me of this “Alien KI” build with Robots that save the World with “Idolmaster” Girls.. I forgotten the name. But it came before “idolmaster” and the Girls was used in this Anime. Except the “Blond” Girl

        Germanguy
        Reply

      3. @Germanguy

        Which anime are you referring to? Your broken English isn’t helping at all. The only thing that one could make out of your gibberish is Idolmaster, girls and robots. From those three words one may deduct that you’re referring to Idolmaster Xenoglossia?

        Wait, maybe if it’s written in correct English you won’t understand at all like you’ve demonstrated with countless comments, so let’s “bad” machine translate into german!

        Die Schönheit, die Sie empfehlen können? gebrochenem Englisch ist, alle helfen. Der Kapitän des Mädchens und der Roboter kann nur auftreten, das Idol Xeno glossia. Sie beziehen sich auf diese drei, die der Master Idol Kredit offenen Texte.

        Yomero
        Reply

      4. @Yomero

        Yomero… Is it even in broken English? Though the arrangement of the words are awkward, all you need to do is just to rearrange them as you read it. It can’t be THAT hard for you right? Seeing that you have an impeccable grasp and command of the English language

        c2710
        Reply

      5. And though after rearranging it, the choice of words seems awkward. That can’t be helped since online translators tend to translate it verbatim from what ever language that was put in.

        Don’t tell me that your English has been flawless since the first day you learnt how to speak and write in English? I know mine wasn’t. And even till now its not though I make an effort to improve and perfect it.

        I draw the line at comment writers who write in a condescending manner.

        c2710
        Reply

      6. Thank you c2710

        I must say for defense, that i hold 3 Languages in my Mind. German is my Mother language. So i wrote in English but with German grammatic “Style”. So, have mercy. But you guys understood it anyway 🙂

        Germanguy
        Reply

  4. I got chocked up with a couple of scenes in this episode but yet again another maru episode :):). Still.. i wonder how the show is going to be especially when we have a couple of episodes left. (makes me want to eat a load of roasted potatoes and drink some energy drinks until next episode)

    MM
    Reply

  6. BEST.EPISODE.THIS.SEASON.EVER!

    And the trio is back! I wonder how will they handle the few remaining episodes. I’d wish they can do a five episode arc with more WAN-MARU-KASHIKOMARI goodness…

    The Moondoggie
    Reply

  7. OK, hopeless optimism aside – but Madoka wouldnt be herself without forcing her “Maru” onto two kings – this was quite interesting episode. From the glimpse into delegations from other planets of the polyhedron, to the new excavation we got courtesy of Madoka’s Oneechan, to the confirmation that Asteria is “really 700, erm, 20.000 years old” (trope!), to Moid being his enigmatic self again (If there is going to be trouble again , perhaps testing girls newly found pacifism, I am betting a beer that it will come from him!).
    On another note, history is choke-full of mortal enemies making peace, or even allying themselves – but it is usually forced by emergence of another power endangering both parties involved. Classic example would be WW2 with UK and Soviet Union brought together by German threat.

    ewok40k
    Reply

  8. Good series. The 1,000 years threw me, too. As if anything they decide now will be acted
    upon in 1,000 years, or will it take 1,000 years to implement. We know they’re human, so
    they’re not long-lived (maybe a little given their technology)…

    I feel that this series has lost its way, just a little. It’s beginning to feel like
    Mouretsu Space Pirates. Not necessarily bad, mind you, not mind blowing or as sharp
    as it has been…

    I like when a series plays against the human condition, that is, provides an insight into
    what it is to be a human – or rather what the writer reveals about his personal beliefs.
    Whether its delivery method is meca, ecchi, romance, or whatever, those series’ ring true to us.
    We know those series because we we identify with them against our own unique experiences,
    sometimes at a level too embarrassing to admit. To me, this is the jewel of Anime –
    and why it has such an interesting appeal, and U.S. cartoons can’t hold a candle to.

    I though Rinne was headed there two episode ago with the discussion of Madoka’s virginity.
    Ah… I bet everyone thinks I was speaking to her physically, but, where I thought the series
    was beginning to explore her emotional virginity. That would have been very interesting.

    Still, no regrets about watching so far, and I’m looking forward to how thing will wrap up…

    mac65
    Reply

  10. Wait, a thought just occured…if the planets of the Polyhedron have history stretching back 20,000 years, why are at least two of them ruled by absolute monarchies? Do they know something we don’t know? Because otherwise, CAN’T A PLANET GET SOME DEMOCRACY UP IN THIS BITCH!

    Because it worked for them. China was an absolute monarchy for about 5000 years, it only ended with the Cultural Revolution.

    Democracy is a good system but it can be as bad as any absolute monarchy, or even worse, and of course a Monarchy can be good it just depends on the people ruling. In our modern world democracy sucks, and a lot because people aren’t aware of how much power each vote has.

    Regarding the episode, just great, as always, this is definitely the only show I’m loving this season~

    Kamui
    Reply

    1. As a wise man once said, “democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” It doesn’t work particularly well sometimes, but it’s better than the other options. At least usually : )

      Stilts
      Reply

      1. I agree that is the best, but it’s way too flawed, at least the modern version of it.

        Monarchies do have an advantage above Democracies, and that is “time” The government today make plans, but the next one in 4/5/6 years time will make plans too, and if those plans are in crash course with the older ones, they new guys on charge will get rid of them, and that would be even worse if the ones on power are from the opposing party that was in power the last time, they will get rid of them just because “it came from them”

        Still it can work, we just need to be aware of the power we hold in our hands, you know that clichéd phrase “Each vote counts.”

        And on the matter of this show we love… Do you have any guesses about who will be the “Big Bad” at the end? I’m a lost at that matter

        Kamui
        Reply

      2. Instead of all of us getting into a discussion about governing systems, it would probably be more fun and informative to have a discussion of Legend of the Galactic Heroes.

        Maybe we can even try to get an LOGH class inserted into some Political Science curriculum in some college somewhere.

        Tre
        Reply

  11. I’m still not sold on the idea that Moid is a bad guy. Sure he has the evil fox eyes and is a bit shady, but there is Asteria who has been hiding just as much stuff but gets away due to being a cute loli. Moid knows a lot more about the Vox than he lets on, but being a end boss or something similar doesn’t feel right to me.

    I think Moid is there to be a red herring, but also prepare the idea that there is something more sinsister with the Vox along with Asterias flashback. I’m going with the idea that the Vox themselves are the final boss, or whatever red thing they have within them.

    None of that means I think Moid is going to be a good guy either, True Neutral.

    Errant
    Reply

    1. I agree that it’s quite possible that Moid isn’t going to be evil (having truly evil characters doesn’t seem to be Lagrange’s schtick, though they can get away with one or two as long as they’re justified well enough), but I don’t think Asteria will be. Loliness aside, she strikes me as more of broken than anything else. She’s haunted by the past, and wants to avoid a repeat at whatever cost. That might lead her to doing the wrong thing, but at least she’ll have good intentions. That counts for something, right?

      Stilts
      Reply

  12. Asteria smaller form is probably a for of regression in the body we saw in Yurikano as well. Yurikano looked and sounded younger then herself then the woman in the Rinne when Madoka first meet her it don’t think just her body had halted aging as to what the kings thought she looked like. If you think how long Asteria (Queen Maycun) was in the Rinne…. that is a very slow regression. Asteria and Yurikano’s body is probably no longer considered human in it’s properties although they look structurally the same.

    Ani_BEE
    Reply

      1. The “background” of the Yellow Girl!!!…

        I think. The War Is on hold. And now… well, lets see. They dont let us see this “reaction” for nothing. There must be a meaning to it… I bet, “Yellow Princess” is coming into Focus now.. Well what they have to do now anyway? 🙂

        Germanguy
        Reply

  16. IDK why they are doing this but the drop in quality in certain episodes is really noticeable, this being one of them.

    The featured girl in the preview actually appeared in this episode (walked pass the jersey club) as well as randomly in another episode (maybe even more than that). What’s up with that?

    Next week things seem to swing back into SoL mode. Things have been rather story-heavy till now so that would be a nice change of pace for me, hopefully it makes up for the lack this episode’s lack of lulz.

    LightnDark
    Reply

    1. LagRin is pretty close to break even atm, based on DVD/BD sales, so they’re skimping on the animation to avoid going into the red. Disappointing, yes, but since I knew about it going in I’ve been ignoring it. I’m just happy we’re getting Season 2 since they’re not making as much as they wanted (and deserve, I might add!)

      Stilts
      Reply

  17. wtf where is dog days? Hoping this gets into recent comments cuz this is bull. Try emailing the kid who was supposed to do it and their dead at the wheel or something. What a horrible choice of new crew-member! I’m getting tired of this site for forgetting series that they devote to. No ones got the guts to tell him its over and replace him i guess? Whatever take the toll its just sad because this site was so much better once.

    ReaderFor6Years
    Reply

  19. Which anime are you referring to? Your broken English isn’t helping at all. The only thing that one could make out of your gibberish is Idolmaster, girls and robots. From those three words one may deduct that you’re referring to Idolmaster Xenoglossia?

    Wait, maybe if it’s written in correct English you won’t understand at all like you’ve demonstrated with countless comments, so let’s “bad” machine translate into german!

    Die Schönheit, die Sie empfehlen können? gebrochenem Englisch ist, alle helfen. Der Kapitän des Mädchens und der Roboter kann nur auftreten, das Idol Xeno glossia. Sie beziehen sich auf diese drei, die der Master Idol Kredit offenen Texte.

    Yomero
    Reply

  20. These two intergalactic rulers have a stark lack of bodyguards. I mean, if a Japanese schoolgirl tried to punch my country’s leader, she’d be buried in a pile of muscular men wearing impeccably tailored suits before she could cock her fist! Put it down to that idealism again…or, more likely, animation budgets.

    At first Dizel was the only person stupid enough to be standing around in a garden while his ship was destroying itself. Any bodyguards were busy doing something that was actually important. And Villa’s guards were still out in space, as he was the only one who was allowed through to board Dizel’s ship. Remember, Madoka’s punches came less than a minute after the crystals stopped ripping the ship apart. It would have been stranger if bodyguards HAD shown up out of nowhere.

    You know, those girls really should be celebrities. I’m amazed they can go anywhere without being mobbed.

    Wanderer
    Reply

    1. Yes, but they also didn’t have any bodyguards when they were down on Earth. Sure, they could be hiding, but in my experience world leaders don’t walk around without extremely noticeable protection (in addition to the other types). It’s just one detail they didn’t seem to bother with, is all

      Stilts
      Reply

  21. Well if the they still have a 1000 years till their solar systems collides they can still do something about it. Heck, even with today’s technology we can calculate the orbits and the effects of the gravity of the large objects in our solar system or simulate the collision of the milky way with andromeda in a few billion years. We can even calculate if asteroids passing thru Earths orbit will come back at us hundreds of years later from the effects of Earth’s gravity tuck on them.

    Even if our Sun starts expanding into a big red giant in a few billion years, people have thought of the possibility to alter or manipulate the orbit of a big enough asteroid so each time it passes by, it gravity tucks the Earth a bit outside our orbit.

    If the Polyhedron has advanced technology, spaceships and intergalactic travel why can they do something as simple as that? Over the course of 1000 years they can alter the orbits of the planets little by little so they won’t outright collide but rather have their orbits meld together and in the end they could end up with a binary star solar system.

    But oh wait, it’s too much realism and it wouldn’t make a good story isn’t it?

    Kamui04
    Reply

    1. I was more commenting about how it is uncommon for humans to think so far ahead, at least based on what we see here on Earth. It’s hard to get people to think more than a few years out, if you’re lucky. Thinking a 1,000 years out to a problem like this is damn smart, no question about that.

      Stilts
      Reply

  22. What if there was a third season?… *shrugs* I sure know I’d watch it, it probably means the story gets fluffed and filled a bit, which’ll suck, a little.

    “Moid is still here? Kill it! Kill it with fire!!” Can we just sic Madoka on it instead? Make up a list of bad things he’s done? He deserves anything that comes to him >>! Asteria! Set him up!

    It’s almost hard to watch this series now, such high hopes, and wanting them to be met ^_^;;.

    kumakaori
    Reply

  27. What gets me about this 1000 year problem is this:
    Show Spoiler ▼

    With all that I’ve read about in astronomy, binary systems are the most unstable and chaotic, though rather beautiful in my opinion. Being as advanced as they are to leave Earth 20,000 years ago, you would have thought that they would have figured out that a binary star system was not a good idea in the first place. You’re literally playing Russian roulette every 1,000 years.

    So many questions as pointed above–

    What exactly happened 20,000 years ago and the Queen? Sacrificed herself so the others could escape or she is the reason they escaped in the first place?

    With both De Metrio and Le Garite at peace now, how will they solve the 1000-year dilemma now that destroying one of their planets is not an option anymore?

    And, for the fans of a Lan x Madoka pairing, will we see them confess to each other? (Wishful thinking, I know. 😛 )

    Yup, many questions, very little answers and 5 more episodes to go.

    I love Rinne no Lagrange. I absolutely enjoy seeing original anime stories like this. It’s unpredictable, and you don’t have to rely on a manga or light novel to find some semblance of closure or conclusion. I’m going to miss this anime when it ends.

    I hope to see more anime original stories in future seasons.

    octoberasian
    Reply

  28. There has always been one thing that irked me when the show presented the problem of the two planets going to crash into each other. Why couldn’t they just create a gravitational anchor to pull their respected planets so they won’t crash into each other in 1,000 years???? They seem to posses science that either allows them to travel faster than light or to circumvent the light barrier. Whatever, this is anime, can’t really expect realistic solutions haha XD.

    darkkodiak
    Reply

    1. Like I said above in my reply: I’m sure they were advanced enough 20,000 years ago to know that a binary star system is bad. Very bad. Orbits are completely unstable in a binary system, especially the stars themselves if going by theoretical physics anyway.

      If they were advanced enough, they would have settled in a similar solar system like the one Earth was in before.

      Maybe it was desperation and just settled on the first planet(s) they found. Who knows?

      octoberasian
      Reply

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