Hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Simoun! It has been far too long since we explored this fascinating show, particularly since the last episode ended on the cruelest possible cliffhanger. Having at last successfully performed the Emerald Ri Maajon, it seemed very much like Simoun was going to spirit both of my favorite characters up into the sky. I’m not cool with that! Dominura is both the dramatic irritant and iron core that this team desperately needs, and Limoun is both adorable and one of the only genuine friends a good half of this cast still have. Their team is far weaker without them, even discounting the fact that they’re two of the most impressive pilots in Chor Tempest – and ultimately, that may well be the point. What will the team do if they both lose their center and discover the Ri Maajons are a form of self-destruction all at once?
Man, it feels nice just to type out this show’s wacky terminology again. It’s good to be back, Simoun. Let’s see what episode seventeen has in store!
Episode 17
Wait a minute, they updated the OP with Rea’s character development haircut? I guess I gotta pay more attention to this thing, I didn’t realize they were actively editing it as the show progressed
It’s really nice just to see this show’s world again. It’s got a sort of ancient ruins pan-fantasy look that, combined with the inescapably awkward digipaint, reminds me of a show like .hack//SIGN
After a recap of Dominura and Limoun’s flight, we get our new episode title: “The Ruins.” Good. Given the consequences of that flight, I have to imagine the rest of the team are eager to find some answers
How I missed these PS2 ships over beautiful hand-painted backgrounds
Neviril kneels praying in the church. What can she hope for now? She most recently flew into a rage after realizing that both Aaeru and even Amuria saw her more as a tool for their own glory than a person they wanted to make an intimate connection with – but now, through Dominura and Limone, we’ve learned that the intimate connection Neviril seeks results in absolute destruction. Treating the Simoun as a vessel for your love is actually incredibly dangerous
Wapourif and the bridge crew are settling back into their old ship when Morinas walks up
Wapourif refers to Morinas as “Sybilla,” putting her role first, and echoing her choice about their relationship. There’s a clear and maybe even comfortable distance between them now
“It looks like we’ll have to make another difficult request of the girls.” “Not a request. An order.” Even their superiors have great difficulty with the ambiguous nature of a priestess. It’s no wonder the girls themselves can’t tell whether they’re soldiers or not
“There are so many things you must never forget, Neviril!” Aw shit, is Neviril finally resolving herself?
Lovely shot of Morinas and Rea reflecting in their chambers, with Rea’s missing doll acting as a symbol of the friends they’ve lost. An entire death can feel too large of a loss to really grapple with, but thinking something like “I’ll never see her hug that doll again” can make it tangible
“The Emerald Ri Maajon failed, huh?” Huh? I thought this was the result of its success? I’m not sure if this is Morinas’ misunderstanding or mine
“The important thing is not the reason, but the result. We’ve lost two more of our precious friends.” This is such a perfect line for Yun, the pacifist. Of course she would think it doesn’t really matter what your intentions are – only the pain you cause matters in the end
Given the fallout of the sisters, Floe and Alti are roommates now. Floe’s chipperness and Alti’s sad sackness are already causing friction
“In this week’s episode of Simoun, the girls unpack!” This sure is a unique show
Their war room stands in the shadow of a massive stained glass window, emphasizing the union of religion and war
Chor Rubor and Chor Caput’s Simouns were devastated by the bombing at the negotiation
“Most of their sybillae have gone to the spring.” Damn. This army is really not prepared for an extended war – their forces don’t see themselves as soldiers, and are unused to anything but overwhelming victory
Aaeru catches on this disconnect as always. “Relieved of their posts, eh?”
Neviril’s father arrives, looking weaker than ever
It’s her father who suggests they set a course for the Ruins. In spite of being a sacred forbidden place, they must defend it, or risk losing it to the Alliance
Floe asks if this mission is mandatory. One of the adults starts hammering on about their “sacred duty,” but is cut off by Guragief with the stern “This mission is mandatory, Sybllae.” I’m enjoying seeing Guragief accept the martial nature of this force, and be rewarded with more trust from his charges in turn
“I don’t think there is anywhere left to run anymore,” Neviril announces, both to the girls and to herself
And making good on that resolution, she goes flying in their practice space with Aaeru
Captain Walf of the Messis believes Dominura and Limone are still alive. SO DO I, NEW BEST FRIEND. TELL ME MORE
And so the whole team flies off to the ruins, all bearing their absurd cup-on-string communicator devices. Real tech geniuses, those Simulacrum folks
The ruins are neatly situated at the centerpoint of a massive crater, which seems like maybe a bad sign. Either whatever was left here truly fell as a gift from the gods, or was spawned in a massive explosion
The team run into three purple Simoun, and Para hesitates in giving her orders, leading to Morinas actually giving the order to pursue them. Para is so unequipped to lead this team
“Who is praying to the skies with those Simoun?” If all the events up until now haven’t shaken their faith, the fact that their enemies have already reverse-engineered their “holy vessels” and are using them to equal military effect has to be a serious test of it
Aaeru’s music box starts playing, and so she suggests that she and Neviril explore the ruins instead of joining the pursuit. This is a little awkward – this is basically a version of the classic “we’ll hold them off, you finish the mission” dramatic beat, but Simoun’s generally awkward dogfighting and the lack of immediate consequences or even goals here means Aaeru’s statement further undercuts the potential threat of these enemy Simoun. “It’s cool, they’ll handle those, let’s just go exploring”
That said, I’m happy Neviril and Aaeru are getting time alone. The two sorely need to develop some chemistry if their bond is going to be central to this show’s final act
The Ruins contain another copy of the Spring, and even Onashia is there
“I am everywhere, and at the same time, I am nowhere.” Welp, I guess Onashia truly is at least some kind of demigod
Gorgeous thick-lined closeup on Morinas during this pursuit. I love the variable line weight and gracefully curving lines
“Tempus watched over the flow of time, and Spatium placed people where they belonged. The two became a pair, and gave the people unending blessings… and terror.”
Yun finds a Simoun with a body. Perhaps her own body, given what Onashia is saying
And yeah, she admits that time basically doesn’t exist here
The Simoun contains… Angulas, the young woman who betrayed them
And Done
WHAT THE HELL?! Well jeez, that was just mystery upon mystery right at the end there. This episode’s first half was pretty much the predictable fallout of last episode’s battle, along with the team returning to the Arcus Prima. But I certainly wouldn’t have predicted that the Spring was a location which exists outside of time or place – heck, I was personally leaning towards this whole religion basically being a farce. But no, apparently their gods are real, time is mutable, and the Simouns themselves seem to act as some kind of teleportation device or incubation chamber for priestesses across time. Simulacrum doesn’t even seem to have a monopoly on these gods – even Angulas’ faith was rewarded, or at least, she’s a part of a cycle they all share. It seems like Simoun is finally ready to start showing its cards!
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