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「いつわりの奇跡」 (Itsuwari no Kiseki)
“A False Miracle | Das falsche Wunder”
So, real-life Liechtenstein is a pretty Catholic place, right? The coronation of Finé got me wondering whether Elystadt is as well. Obviously it’s a pious country (check out their state motto) but are they still Catholic in this alternate history, or some inoffensive fantasy religion? Actually, any fantasy Western religion is anime is invariably turbo-Catholicism anyway, but it’s still not exactly clear how much we can assume about Elystadt culture. Again, it’s about the interplay between the ‘traditional’, Anglo-Christian view of witches (servants of the devil, float, burn easily) and the Elystadt legend of the White Witch. At least, the initial reaction of the press seems to be less, ‘Oh no, the princess is consorting with heresy!’ and more, ‘Look at this awesome thing!’, so maybe the Vatican is cool with Elystadt’s pagan superweapon.
The story of the White Witch and its significance for the common citizen is probably something Shuumatsu no Izetta will get into with more detail later, and even if they didn’t it won’t be a huge deal, but it’s something interesting to think about, nonetheless.
And now, for things that more people than just I care about: explosions! After something of a production break last week (and maybe the guy on checks is still on holidays; do the heads look comically big to you, or is it just me?), Shuumatsu no Izetta is back to what it does best, which is wanton destruction of Nazi hardware. It’s not quite the visceral awesome of episode 03, perhaps, but we had our moments, to be sure. Once again, I’m made to appreciate how the soundtrack really carries the entire show; it just does so much. For example, when Puppet!Izetta flies overhead, you can feel the fakeness, right? Because her musical cue didn’t play. Without the music (and the sparkles, I guess), there’s no magic. It’s when the choice comes back for when, er, Izetta invokes the spirits of the earth that the hype becomes real. I think the point of this episode is for Izetta to fully embrace her role as the White Witch, especially by choosing not to use a stunt double. Sure, it’s all theatrics, but the power of the symbol, of she who protects Elystadt, is legit.
Or maybe the episode just wants to finally introduce Izetta’s fancy custom laser rifle. And then have her join the Ghostbusters. I can see it
Where to from now? With Izetta her special effects crew holding off the Germanian advance, the war is at a bit of a stalemate. We need to shake up the plot, and what do you know, right after the debut of CovertMuggle!Izetta, the secret is already out. I don’t know if it’s better or worse that it’s a true believer who finds out, one under the command of a spy, no less, but I do know I take issue with the entire development. For crying out loud, guys, this is Elystadt’s top military secret, one on which the fate of your entire nation hinges, and here you are just standing around blabbing about it. I just can’t bring myself to approve of drama by stupidity and coincidence. It’s not wrong, per se, because both stupidity and coincidence are found in great abundance in real life, but it still annoys me. It’s like following a chess game (don’t judge my hobbies), and the game turns not because of clever and elegant play, but because one of the players has a stroke. No matter which side you’re rooting for, it’s not satisfying.
Well, it still depends largely on what comes out of all this. It was inevitable that the masquerade would drop eventually. The important thing is how our protagonists deal with the fallout when it does.
loose mouths sink ships…
goddamnit the Eylsatdt general should have known better than to discuss such things in an unsecure open-field location… and not even in hush-hush tone.
The river rocks have ears and the trees have eyes…
Loose lips reveals a witch’s secret
It’s already been shown that this general isn’t the sharpest hammer in the toolbox. 😛
At least they aren’t talking about the issue inside a tent, which is A WHOLE LOT EASIER TO BE EAVESDROPPED.
Well, this ceremonies could also be some sort of orthodox church thing, but yeah this is just an other sort of catholic faith
Perhaps the General is envious about Izetta, and thats because he spoke loud in this scene
and you could be right, for this Boy Izetta was some sort of God and Angel, and now his faith are tainted that she has an weakness, as if it is an sin to be not perfect inside his mind. But lets see in how they play with his faith in Izetta now
here, a gist what i mean:
Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable;
When using our forces, we must seem inactive;
When we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away;
When far away, we must make him believe we are near.
– Sun Tzu
Basically that was the main take away that I got from episode 5.
So right now, the High Command of both nations are engaged in an elaborate game of chess and it seems that the
Gestapohas the upper hand at the moment.I do like the fact that Izetta isn’t using deus ex magica to solve every single military problems that they have.
https://randomc.net/image/Shuumatsu%20no%20Izetta/Shuumatsu%20no%20Izetta%20-%2005%20-%20Large%2023.jpg
https://randomc.net/image/Shuumatsu%20no%20Izetta/Shuumatsu%20no%20Izetta%20-%2005%20-%20Large%2021.jpg
Truthfully speaking, it did not occur to me that the fake Izetta that was flying in formation. But I did had a hunch that it was towed since we were left with the stunt double before they cut to the battle scene. I must say, they stunt double really does look similar to Izetta herself, down to her “sand bags”
“The natural formation of the country is the soldier’s best ally;
but a power of estimating the adversary, of controlling the forces of victory, and of shrewdly calculating difficulties, dangers and distances, constitutes the test of a great general”
– Sun Tzu
https://randomc.net/image/Shuumatsu%20no%20Izetta/Shuumatsu%20no%20Izetta%20-%2005%20-%20Large%2034.jpg
https://randomc.net/image/Shuumatsu%20no%20Izetta/Shuumatsu%20no%20Izetta%20-%2005%20-%20Large%2027.jpg
Again another excellent use of geography to force the enemy. Though what perplexes me is that why would OKW command an attack on a narrow ravine as such? Wouldn’t OKW know that it’s bordering suicidal or insanity?
https://randomc.net/image/Shuumatsu%20no%20Izetta/Shuumatsu%20no%20Izetta%20-%2005%20-%20Large%2016.jpg
Now that Elydstadt have made their move, I’m looking forward to see what move would Herr Flick, von Smallhausen, Capt. Hans Geering and the
Gestapowould doOh please, for the love of milk, never again refer to breasts as “sand bags.”
I do agree it’s good they have having to tackle a situation without magic.
But plz, never sand bags. You make my chesticals hurt. (I hate “chesticals”, too, but they’re already in pain so it’s ok)
it is only a question of time that Germanians – probably the smartass intelligence major – will find about Izetta’s limitations., Plus, how about simultaneous assault on all fronts? Even invincible witch cant be everywhere at same time…
also we should not forget that our White Witch are capable of feel anger and hate, Do you saw this little glimpse when she was hunted from the village peoples? this red mana spirits? This must be the “Dark Side” of the Force. So even the Witches can be Angels and Devils in one Person…
So when Fine get hurts in front of Izetta’s eyes, her inner Demon will get the upper hand. Let us hope that she do not lose her innocence until her mind take back control. Berserker mode? Kill friend and foe? want to Burn the whole World not just the enemy? can recreate the Landscape with new created Rocks and Mountains?.. there is no end to her rage
It is up to the writer, in how he play with her powers and sanity
best example: Star Wars, when young Anakin killed not only the one that killed her mother, no he killed their entire race…
Japanese Amazon lists 6 Bluray releases for Izetta – likely a 12 ep run.
It looks like the Major already has a hunch about Izettas Power and that that last battle was somewhat fake. It was a great performance, sure, but one could note that she never talked before. She always just destroyed the units without any warning or chance to retreat peacefully. The spy will probably confirm this sooner or later. And this nice new shiny map might go “missing” as well.
Oh well, I like the Major as one of the major antagonist. I wonder who else is going to join his Witch-Hunt Unit.
On another note: That little detail about old photographing tech was kinda confusing. Why show something like this during the coronation? All these little things dropping to the ground. Thought it was something important, like a sneak attack and not some burned out lightbulbs xD.
The little things dropping are called flashbulbs. That’s what a photographer would have used in the 40’s. They have a bunch of filament inside them that burns up quickly when electricity is applied to them making for a bright light. One shot use so that’s why you see them being dropped by the cameramen. Same reason the photo’s are in black and white and the cameras are so big: verisimilitude to the era.
Another good episode and proof so far that producers know what they are doing. All the worry about a OP witch situation handled nicely with great political thinking.
Me I would have been tempted to send the Witch to attack in a high mana zone to explain her not being at the pass assuming that blowing the tunnels would stop the Germans anyway. My main iffy on it was that the only spy they had was there it would have felt better if he had said we have several says but none above low level officer. The Major does not seam like the head of German Intelligence in WWII and not really interested in doing his job as he has gone sour on Hitler.
Yep even if realistic the lose lips secret being out bugs, hate the truism that never assign planing before you rule out incompetence because it is incompetence more often than not. Although our solder boy might be a Izetta love interest if the picture gets him picked up.
Just learned about the Double agent who worked for the British who’s main code name was Garbo. Major help to winning the war and keeping the German’s thinking Normally was faint keeping a large amount of German troops thinking Paton’s command was real. Man was god tier bullshiter. Look him up, a Spaniard who hated fascist and communists and decided to help the good guys. The British refused to recruit him three times so he got someone to give him a real blank passport that he used to make himself a Spanish fascist German lover and got the Germans to hire him as a spy to work in Britain. Instead of going to Britain he went from Madrid to Lisbon, made up a network of fake spies in England and pretended to operate from England. He then had the German’s looking for convoys that did not exist, and the British detected the German efforts to find them. He also had the British running all over England to find spies that did not exist. He then contacted the Americans who had entered the war and with the proof he knew what he was doing the British took him to England greatly enlarge his fake spy network to report what the British wanted the Germans to hear. The Germans paid him over 4 million dollars in modern money to pay his fake spies and run his network. The Germans never figured out he was fake and awarded him the highest form of the Iron Cross, The British gave him their best award as well.
The new leader should shift rapidly modernize the military hardware and spend time discussing increase military budget.
It’s a bit to late to modernise your armed forces, when the enemy is already in your small country.
And besides the assimilation of new hardware will take time since your soldiers will not be familiar with it.
Eylstadt will have to manage with their current equipment.
Seems there’s no Luftwaffe around anymore in this episode.
I think the Battle of Britain is now ongoing where all the Luftwaffe units stationed in France. Im sure the numbers of volunteers from occupied Germania join the RAF and train them to master the flying controls of Hurricane and Spitfire.
Eylstadt Airforce and there Witch could provide some air raid against railroads and supply depot to prevent the Germania buildup from all fronts. Without the supply depot they cant supply there invader army.
The military industrial have enough time to manufacture there new weapons of small arms and anti-aircraft, minefield, artillery, airforce.
British Expedition Forces could supply there equipment to the ill-equipped forces and trained them.
You seem to have a lot misconceptions.
The British pilots could handle their Hurricanes and Spitfires very well; There wasn’t any need to teach them how to fly and fight.
The volunteers were needed to bolster the ranks of the RAF Fighter Command.
Regarding the Eylstadt Air Force, there is no evidence whatsoever that it possesses any bomber aircraft to launch raids against Germanian supply depots.
Their main fighter MS.406 isn’t equipped with bomb racks, so it could only use machine guns and cannon to engage ground targets. It wouldn’t really be effective.
It was already established that Izetta isn’t omnipotent in the previous episode. She can’t simply fly around and wipe any major Germanian base out on a whim.
War isn’t a computer game that you can snap your fingers and, voila, have access to better weapons.
Besides does Eylstadt have any arms industry? All of their equipment is of French origin, so I would guess they don’t have the factories to manufacture heavy weapons like tanks and aircraft.
As previously stated in my last post, you can’t simply dump unfamiliar equipment on your troops and expect them to become instantly profecient with them.
Even with the help of instructors, you will need training areas outside the range of enemy bombers and, most importantly, time to train your troops.
We shouldn’t expect the Germanian Empire to simply twiddle its thumbs and let Eylstadt has its way.
Shortage of British junior and senior pilots cant handle there own without much need pilot volunteers to defend themselves. Polish volunteer pilots have more credits kills than the British.
Christ. MS.406 can straff the ammunition supply and fuel depot. Wooden box cant protect itself from repeatedly straffing machine gun.
I dont agree with you unfamiliar equipment mentality. French Resistance where equip British weapons and communication drop by air. Czechoslovakia volunteer defending Tobruk by using British equipment. Philippines volunteer equip US bazooka destroying hundreds of Japanese light tanks. Chinese volunteer pilot the P-40.
Oh great dont you know Austria has vast resources of Iron ore where the German annexed that country to produced tanks and ammunitions?
“Shortage of British junior and senior pilots cant handle there own without much need pilot volunteers to defend themselves. Polish volunteer pilots have more credits kills than the British. ”
So the British were to incompetent and the volunteer pilots were the only ones fighting and saving the day, huh? @@
“Christ. MS.406 can straff the ammunition supply and fuel depot. Wooden box cant protect itself from repeatedly straffing machine gun.”
Of course the supplies will conveniently be in the open and unprotected, so the fighters can machine gun them without any trouble, silly me. :S
“I dont agree with you unfamiliar equipment mentality. French Resistance where equip British weapons and communication drop by air. Czechoslovakia volunteer defending Tobruk by using British equipment. Philippines volunteer equip US bazooka destroying hundreds of Japanese light tanks. Chinese volunteer pilot the P-40.”
So in your examples the factions involved could use the equipment they received immediately and competently without any training whatsoever? Without any instructors teaching them how to use the equipment in question? Yeah right.
“Oh great dont you know Austria has vast resources of Iron ore where the German annexed that country to produced tanks and ammunitions?”
Yeah? You mean iron ore can be used directly for the production of weapons and ammunition, without any processing and refining? Silly me again.
I don’t think Germania would be sitting around leaving their supplies unprotected. Firstly, by this time I’m sure they have air superiority over their own lines. Second, Eylstadt pilots would have the devastating 88’s to contend with not to mention 20mm Olerikon or Flak 38’s. It might work once, but suicide the second time.
Looks like things are happening fast.
Sieg and the old general should talk when back in the castle.
Wonder how many episodes are planned.
Berkman has good wits 😛
Perhaps next step after deducing that Izetta cannot use her powers at certain places he would set up random battles to plot out where? But how would he discern what is real witchcraft? By using Basler somehow? Air battles?
Berkman the ‘wizard’ of wits 😛
Was hoping they would spend some time on explaining the development and modification of the rifle.
Or they will drag it out with filler eps and Jonas not telling the infiltrator superior so soon.
Next episode seems like filler and fanservice 😛
Perhaps 24 episodes?
If 12 I don’t see any new shows starting mid-December on AnimeChart.
@So in your examples the factions involved could use the equipment they received immediately and competently without any training whatsoever? Without any instructors teaching them how to use the equipment in question? Yeah right.’
Tell that to the defensive layer perimeter around Moscow mostly manning by millions of untrained civilians forcing them to fight in the frontline. Only thing they instruct how to shoot and cover in the bunker and trenches but they dont know how use to method of attack, flanking or retreat. Despite poorly coordinate to command them they still held there ground and won.