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Summary:
Five years ago, when he was in the North, Raigyo had been on a boat with a bunch of Ruikonism followers near a structure called the Diamond Tower. Shortly after Raigyo took a picture of it, a white-haired boy appeared on the deck and blew himself up. Raigyo survived the explosion, but he had a Hiruko seed implanted in his shoulder and began to turn to stone. He had been saved only after a young Nakiami appeared, and although she nearly became covered in stone herself, she brought him back to the Zanbani with Ahm’s help. Ishu had punished Nakiami for this by repeatedly slapping her, but she let Raigyo stay, and the rest is history. After Akushiba explains all of this, Akiyuki wonders why Nakiami is willing to go as far as sacrifice herself in order to save them. Akushiba’s only answer is that Nakiami can’t live normally and disregard the Hiruko’s voice like everyone else. Meanwhile, on Sentan Island, Haru runs into Furuichi again while she’s standing in line getting her military ID picture taken, and he makes a comment about how she should just continue waiting for Akiyuki. Afterwards, Prois approaches Haru as she’s starting at her photo and tells her that her heart doesn’t show up in it.
Later that day, Haru and Furuichi participate in target practice in their ASP Suits, and Furuichi does exceptionally well. When Prois observes that Haru isn’t improving, Kakisu suggests that she lacks resolve and decides to have her come see him. Elsewhere on the island, Ryuuzou goes to see his wife to tell her that the ship that Akiyuki’s letter came from isn’t registered, so they don’t know where it is. He wants her to forgive him, but he doesn’t say it loud enough and backs off from the statement when she claims not to have heard him. Since today happens to be Armistice Day, Ryuuzou then goes to a monument to honor those who died. He runs into an old buddy there, and after the two talk about the past, the other guy suggests that it’s time for them to take action. That night, Haru visits Kakisu in his office, and Kakisu claims that he doesn’t blame her for sticking up for Akiyuki. He thinks that she did the right thing as a woman just as Furuichi did the right thing as a soldier, but he feels that she has to mature. Kakisu then reminds Haru that this is the path she chose and advises her to give up on the past. As she goes to leave, he also tells her to take care of her little sister.
Back on the Zanbani, Raigyo shows the children the pictures he took during his travels, and he decides to take a photo of the crew. While the children go off to tell everyone, Akiyuki wonders if he’ll one day be able to live independently as a Xam’d like Raigyo did. Not directly addressing the question, Raigyo shows Akiyuki a picture of the Diamond Tower and asks if Akiyuki has ever seen it. Akiyuki gets a creepy feeling from just looking at the picture, and Raigyo notes that it’s the place where they were washed ashore. This statement doesn’t make sense to Akiyuki, and Raigyo subsequently takes a picture of him looking confused. When the time comes for the group picture, the guys are surprised to see Nakiami with a different hairstyle, courtesy of Yunbo. While Raigyo is preparing the camera, Nakiami takes the chance to apologize to Ishu for always causing trouble. The group picture goes off without a hitch, and Raigyo and Akiyuki develop the photos together afterwards. Raigyo takes the time to point out that the Hiruko in Akiyuki’s arm and in his own shoulder glow in the pictures, and he uses this to convey the idea that you cannot find yourself if you run away from reality. He wants to live on in order to show the white-haired children that the seed they planted in him grew up splendidly, and that is his tentative answer for what the Xam’d seeks.
Haru meanwhile has dinner with her family, and her father worries about her and mentions how she’s like her mother. This reminds Haru of how, two years ago, she had rushed to the hospital because her mother and little sister had been hit by a military vehicle that had ignored a traffic light. Her mother’s death had left Haru feeling lost about what to do, but she had heard her mother’s voice tell her not to cry because they would always be together. Akiyuki, who had followed her to the hospital, had suggested that even if two people could not see each other, they are connected through their souls. Haru now feels that she doesn’t want to just cry and wait, and she tells her little sister that she enlisted not because she wants to find Akiyuki but because she wants to protect her family and this town. As a result of this, she decides to cut her hair short. Back on the Zanbani, the crew detects a Northern Humanform Dropship approaching, but instead of trying to avoid it, Raigyo has Ahm keep the ship on course so that he can give Akiyuki some training. He instructs Akiyuki to take care of the Humanform Weapon coming as part of a lesson about protecting oneself, and he tells Akiyuki to think for himself instead of looking to him for answers. With no other choice, Akiyuki unwraps his right arm and prepares to fight.
Preview
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I realized as I was watching this episode that, in contrast to how I’ve felt about the series up to now, I’ve actually started to like the Akiyuki half of the story more than the Haru half. It probably has everything to do with Raigyo’s appearance making things more exciting on the Zanbani compared to how Haru keeps getting served downers by Furuichi and Kakisu (the latter of whom was rather creepy in the scene where he had his shirt unbuttoned – I kept thinking he was going to make a move on her). I’m not sure about the direction Haru’s character is going either. Her new haircut suggests a new attitude, but I’m not entirely convinced yet that her stated reason for enlisting (to protect) is genuine. Then again, one of the main themes right now on both sides of the story seems to be maturing/growing up, so maybe she really has decided to move on. If so, then it’s likely that she’ll have to face Akiyuki as an enemy the next time their paths cross.
As for Raigyo, he appears to be settling nicely into the mentor role, but part of me is still a little suspicious of him because he’s relatively new and would be perfect to pull off a betrayal. The problem is that we’re ten episodes into the series now, but aside from the generic Northern Government and Furuichi being an asshole, the writers haven’t really established a main villain. One may not necessarily be needed at this point, but I doubt they’d wait too much longer to introduce the character, assuming he or she hasn’t already been shown. I’m curious to see if any bad guys other than the Humanform Weapon show up in the next couple of episodes, and along those same lines, if Raigyo will stick around. The preview for next week suggests some big things could happen on the ship.
1st???
hmm nice episode
I don’t think Haru cutting her hair means she’s changed her stance in regards to Akiyuki. I look at it as her deciding not to “wait” around anymore and move ahead. This doesn’t put her on opposite paths from Akiyuki though.
GP: Well, that remains to be seen, doesn’t it? She has yet to cross paths with Akiyuki again afte rall, and considering that the South’s policyis rather Anti-humanform… Kakisu commente don that she did the right thing as a woman but not as a soldier, and he did go into that this was holding her back such as things were – all this does make me rather suspect that we’ll see an “Et Tu, Haru?” situation the next time they meet.. <_<.
Let’s hope that we dont get a “Brutus” moment when they meet again, I still think she would freeze if she had to harm Akiyuki..
a very cute nakiami this time <3 now let the training begin! :p
@ Sky
Hahah. Nice. I like the “Brutus” thing.
I really like that whatshername girl who wears the green shirt with the brown hair. >.< Kawaii!!
I doubt Haru will turn against Akiyuki. Much like Nakiami, she can hear Humanforms so she can’t cavalierly cast them off as stuff to be killed.
Sky:
Well, I’m not saying that she’d point a gun towards Akiyuki without heistating, but she has choosen to stick with the military and their ways for the time being – so I can see her heistate to harm akiyuki but still do it. We’ll see what happens whenever their paths cross again, I suppose.
Kinda reminds me of Kallen and Lelouch’s predicament in Code Geass. Altho in Xam’d Haru and Akiyuki loved each other.
I also have a feeling that Haru’s family has some secret hidden, with Haru can hear the voices of the Humanforms and the military (mostly Kakisu) is interested with her Imouto.
I particularly love the flashback of her running to the hospital only to find that Akiyuki had followed her and had picked up her shoe. Her resolve to protect her family was because of Akiyuki, thus you can say that because she still believe in him, that she chose this path.
On Akiyuki, I forsee him to grow under Raigyo. A Kaji like mentor is what he needs as his rebellious streak is not suited for him to be mentored by anyone else. Come to think of it Raigyo was older than Akiyuki when he got his Hiruko, thus why he can handle it better.
I was kinda surprised that Nakiami is actually younger that she looks. Considering that she looks like 12~13 when she saved Raigyo, she should be 17~18 at most now :3
All in all, in 10 episodes we have like what? 3 or 4 only fighting scene, only 1 haru x Akiyuki scene and all the others are character development, and yet I don’t find it boring or anything. And that said, I am quite picky (I find it boring in Macross Frontier) thus I take my hats of to the director of Xam’d
NOOOO 🙁 haru not your hair!!
https://randomc.net/image/Xam'd%20Lost%20Memories/Xam'd%20Lost%20Memories%20-%2010%20-%20Large%2023.jpg
Kirei!
Nakiami had a nice hair style for the photo… besides that Yaa Akiyuki more fight time. so cant wait for the next one, also next one may reveal more of Haru’s actual intention and stuff.
I don’t think Haru will turn against Akiyuki when she sees him the next time. There is a change in her atitude when she decided to cut her hair, but I feel that it’s because she understands that she can’t go on being a soldier (to protect her family, meet Akiyuki again) when everyone in the army doesn’t trust her. Heck, Kakisu even jokingly threaten to court martial her for helping Akiyuki escape.
I was wondering… where can i find this subbed?
ochibi: umm ya they already come with subs, and it shows on the PS3 network, but if u wanna watch it online, u should be easily be able to find it on those site u watch ur other anime if u do, if not well try crunchyr….
“Prois approaches Haru as she’s starting at her photo and tells her that her heart doesn’t show up in it.”
This is becoming alittle too predictable. Dow e really need characters too make philosphical every single episode. Ok nevermind it’s a weak argument, maybe I jsut hate the fact that it’s all Prois and Kakisu seem to do…
I have a feeling Furuichi is an Xam’d himself..
Anyone else feel like they might make a time jump? Like something a little bigger will happen and then it will jump to several months…possibly years later, to where the characters are more developed down the paths they are heading.
this is good
@silver: Furuichi can’t be one. He has no Hiruko, and from what we saw, the Hiruko only embeds itself in a person when the white haired children attacks.
On the subject of a main villain, it’s true that we haven’t seen one yet. We DO have a set of possible antagonists:
– The southern “asshole gang” consisting of Furuichi, Kakisu, Prois and the old man.
– Sun-maned/Kujireika (if there’s a Tessik village arc, she’s almost for certain to be the antagonist of that arc anyway – unless she’s just being “Theoden” and has a “Grima Wormtounge” at her side who basically cotrols her…
– Sannova (Can’t say that someone who sends out her children/disciples for suicide bombings is someone I’d trust nor think of as a “good person”).
So if’s not one of these, then either a main villain has to be introduced soon or maybe they’ll simply not create a main bad guy but instead give each arc a main villain/antagonist of it’s own? Or maybe give no clear main villain at all – BONES did that with RahXephon too after all…
When White Haired Children Attack, only on Fox!
Anyone else get a strange vibe with the suicide-bomb children and how it relates to today’s uncertain current events? I liked how Eureka Seven showcased quasi-Buddhism and the Tibet/China issue with its story. Xam’d also seems to take a similar route.
And go Haru! Nakiami’s fancy doo ain’t too shabby either.
@Specie
i wouldnt think Kakisu or the old man would be the real villains, obviously Kakisu as well as Akiyuki’s father have something to do with past events that happened during the war, but it feels like they have to talk it out and figure what they want to do about it at some point, the old man is just a crazy scientist looking to discover some cool shit and most likely die in the process, Furuichi seems like a prime candidate to be a pawn for whoever turns out to be the real villain, not to mention we havent even begun to find out about what goes on in the Northern Country. the white haired women dont seem very evil, they just have something they have to accomplish regarding the Hiruko, and they exist to let the main characters know what the hiruko are and what they seek. point is, there are a lot of characters at this point, but none of them seem to have cornered the whole, i wish to control the world, theme
Haru’s haircut reminds me of Vestemona’s in Mars Dayhreak.
I just hope it end up like Saikano which sucked where the childhood friend gives up her body to another person eventhough she doesnt love him just becase her freiend was too dense to realize her feelings but unconsiously he had feelings for her but didnt realize till too late when she was about to die. I’ll be pretty pissed if that happens. From the looks of this episode it seems like something to that extent might happen.
Happy Ramadan to everybody. Why this web site do not have other languages support?
Nice summary :). Im looking forward to episode 11 and 12 ^_^
NOO! HARU WHY! WHY WOULD YOU CUT YOUR HAIR!
Man, now she’s just another ugly short hair girl like Nakiami. There’s too taboos women shouldn’t ever cross, 1. Scar there faces with the abomnation known as “glasses”. And 2. Cut there hair.
Jeez.
So if they both meet on Sentan Island in the end doesn’t that mean the end of this series?? Problem solved, bam. I really have no idea where this series can go if they do, so I doubt they will be reunited in the next episode. Maybe they’ll unfortunately just miss each other…?
Why Haru? Why cut your beautiful hair? That’s my second biggest taboo when it comes to anime girl, first being wearing glasses.
WHY ARE YOU NOT FOLLOWING THIS SHOW ANYMORE? It’s so good!
I still don’t understand why you dropped this show.
Why did you stop bloggin this?