*** [TSR] *** Episode 2 - Underwater Scenery

[Weltall Elite]

True, true - but one wonders whether the scene needed to be added at all. Yeah, I'm a hypocrite, and fanservice is an integral part of FMP, but even so, is it necessary to push the limits that far?

Well, I won't say it was 100% necessary. But I won't say it was gratuitous either. As I mentioned somewhere before, it did a great job of pointing out how dysfunctional they are emotionally. I'd be hard pressed to think of a better way of portraying it to quite that extent.

[Ariane]

Well, I understand that the nudity was in place because they just got out of the shower, however, it seems to me that they could have easily had the discussion when they hadn't just gotten out of the shower. They could have talked at any time, right? You definitely have a point when it comes to indicating how twisted they are, though.

Really, I don't care and it's not as if I'm offended, I just think it was dumb. But to be fair, I'm not sure I'd be saying that if it were Sousuke and Kurz sitting there naked, lol. So whatever.

As for realistic battle sequences, you definitely made a good argument. I'll have to think about that for a while.

[Tulip Baroo]

I didn't really mind that there was nudity in it, although I did think it went on a bit too long (I mean, people could always pause it if they just want to stare at some naked women ) and I hope it isn't going to be a regular thing when there's so much other stuff they could be putting in It was still a really good episode

And naked Sousuke and Kurz? Heh heh, if only

[AEmer]

Pyrite, that’s perfectly fine with me, it gives me a chance to elaborate and ponder it some more

And you’re quite correct – it would be very hard for them to be out of character at this point. But, for arguements sake, I'm going to argue that this scene was done in order to develop their relationship. In other words, that this scene specifically is _crucial_ towards shaping their character(s).

You asked if the scene 'was really necessary' - well, it is, from a certain perspective...

Let me ask a hypothetical question: How would you introduce two twins who are disturbingly intimate with eachother?, they're not sexual with eachother, that would be incest, they're just...intimate. You want to show that they're alone, because they're necessarily intimate to that degree in public. You also want to show that they think of eachother as an extension of themselves, that they care for eachother as they would for their own body.
To top this off, you'd like this to be apparent from the very first scene they're shown in.

There is probably no better way to accomplish this than to show one of them wiping the other off after a bath...I certainly can't think of a better way. No, so far, this scene is all about defining their relationship, and who they are, and it does a good job of it. If todays, or any later episode is contradictory towards this scene, well, then it's a different deal, but I very much doubt it will be. One of the reasons is that the same level of intimacy was shown later in the episode, without any "sexual content" at all - that is, when one twin reaches in beneath the others jacket and pulls out a phone from somewhere around the middle of her chest. They're just that disturbingly close.

To increase the maturity rating is a concious step, and it has undoubtedly been taken because the animators and Gatou feel that this way, they'll be able to deliver a better product - be it because they want to appeal to more fans, or because they want to create a more artistic expression.

Now, I would have a problem with it if the step was taken because of the former reason - if it was taken simply to appeal to drooling fanboys, with no regard to the integrety and quality of the product. The later reason, however, demonstrates the wish to improve and refine the quality through using stronger means of expression.

In the end, I won't deny that having those twins be as intimate as they are is probably a choice taken for several reasons, and one of those is probably that it appeals to 15-16 years old japanese boys. But from an adult point of view...I think having those two be twins, and be intimate, and be close to a whole new degree, and to show it in that way is actually pretty cool. They're very unique villains, very eerie, and very dangerous-seeming. I think their character development can be seen as an asset to the series rather than something that is 'too much' or 'unnecessary'.

It _is_ possible to show naked people for a reason other than fan service ;-)

[Pyrite]

I'm cynical, so I'll just reply with a "Yeah, right," and let you win the argument.

No, I agree with the "disturbingly intimate" part - the twins in the ODBD novel didn't have any character development to speak of at all (it's okay to mention that, right?), so the presence of a "sibling dynamics" scene was a good thing, even if this new take is in line with the entire show becoming more and more twisted. However, I'd just like to bring up the point you made about the phone retrieval: I do think it's more subtle than the post-bath scene, but as you mentioned, it's also "disturbingly close" - even if it isn't overtly sexual, there are still heavy undertones in it.

I'd think of a better way to show the dynamics without the need for full frontal nudity, but the boobies killed my brain. And cellphone-tossing was cool.

[HELLFIRE]

TSR #2

...Gate's is whacko, bar none. But nowhere near Gaulun's level of evilness.
I mean, the guy does enjoy his work, I'll give him that. But he's like a sledge
compared to a scalpel. Also -- and this is mere speculation on my part so far --
he seems more handsoff than Gaulun does. I mean, he's busy singing opera
whie his men are gunning everyone down... charming, but Gaulun was the
type that if there was a problem, he'd take care of it with his own hands

The assassins: okay, twins? lesbians? a bit of both? fanservice desires this
fulfills... not mine... *shudders*

Sousuke's little toy... I WANT THAT FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!













Regards

[Nekosan]

Hi, I am new. I watched ep. 2 yesterday. Who is the guy with the long, white hair, who speaks with the twins?? He looks like Tessa, when i saw him i thought he was her brother, but he cant be since he is with the bad ones right? Does anyone know?

[Circle]

Yes, that is most likely Tessa's brother, who is with the bad ones, as are the twins.

[Nekosan]

Yes, that is most likely Tessa's brother, who is with the bad ones, as are the twins.

O when i learned about her brother i expected him to be a Mithril officer, or something.

[Tulip Baroo]

I think he used to be, In last week's episode [ecs]Tessa's uncle says something like "if only your brother were still here" [/ecs] or 8something* like that, cna't be bothered to check

[PookaKitten]

IIRC, in the novels it was hinted that [ecs]Leonard was a member of Mithril, in the R&D department. Tessa was in that department when she designed the TDD-1.[/ecs] Does anyone remember if Tessa mentions more about her brother in the 1st season, other than he solved some equations at a younger age than her?

Samantha

[Tulip Baroo]

Well, firstly, sorry about the bad typing in my previous post, what can I say? It was late at night and I was tired

I seem to remember her saying at some point that he looked after her? Or did I dream that?!? *Way too much stuff to remember!*

[Nekosan]

IIRC, in the novels it was hinted that [ecs]Leonard was a member of Mithril, in the R&D department. Tessa was in that department when she designed the TDD-1.[/ecs] Does anyone remember if Tessa mentions more about her brother in the 1st season, other than he solved some equations at a younger age than her?

Samantha

She said she felt inferior to him..i think. Anyway i havent read the novels (impossible to find in Greece), so I dont know anything about Leonard (i guess he is Tessa's brother)

[KashimArbalestAS]

Leonard, as Tessa said it, was like her guardian than a brother, so the not very healthy brother and sister relationship, but he cared for her, and was the only one Tessa had after their parents died. Then later Leonard left to wherever he went, assuming when Tessa was already in Mithril.

Where in the novels is it hinted that Leonard was of Mithril? I think he was, then he left. Tessa was in the Research Department when she was designing the Tuatha de Danaan? She was in the Operations Department even before that, but that would make sense.

[Weltall Elite]

I don't remember if it was mentioned in the novels, but in the anime, during the Mithril meeting someone said to Tessa, "If only your brother was still around, your worries would be less than half of what they are now."