[Zolda]

It seems like Chemies are small manifestations of the great power hidden within the Ouroboros world. As usual, this great power is a duality that can be used for destruction or creation. I hypothesized about the destructive power of the Ouroboros world back in episode 2 here. What I've completely missed is the obvious hint shown since episode 1 that the door of darkness Glion's been hyping up is actually the Ouroboros symbol (a snake eating its own tail) floating in the sky of the Ouroboros world.

I think the Ouroboros world is the "original" universe/Earth where everything was created, and the current universe/Earth shown in the story is actually its copy. That explains how similar they are, although the Ouroboros world looks more surreal. The complete opening of the door of darkness will cause a reset that will destroy the current universe/Earth, and a new universe/Earth will be created out of its ashes. Anyone who can tame this wild beast (the raw, destructive power of the Ouroboros world) will have the ultimate power of reforging the entire universe/reality. The flasks seen floating in the sky in the Ouroboros world are the ingredients that constitute everything that exists in Houtarou's universe. I've just realized that what The Sisters have been referring to as "the flask(s)" are probably the round flasks seen @ 00:47 which also have been shown since episode 1. It's a secret hidden in plain sight. How could I miss that? Haha. I also think that the reveal of the Ouroboros as the origin of the universe is probably the true meaning behind the alchemists' mantra/chant. The hints are all there and I've completely missed it until this episode, haha. A very well-played symbolism, writers. You got me on this one.

What does Glion mean with "the key" @ 01:24? Does he mean that the key is the Gotchardriver or Houtarou, or Houtarou with the Gotchardriver? I've hypothesized about the Gotchardriver or Houtarou being the key to open the door of darkness, but I've just realized that what Glion means by the key is the Gotchardriver and Houtarou. As Glion states @ 09:01, the key is the Gotchardriver used by the right person that can max out its potential and evolve it, much like the Dreadriver that's evolved by its user's malice. So far, all clues point to that person being Houtarou. I've got a hypothesis that Houtarou will eventually manage to open and control the door of darkness, be overwhelmed by its power, and have it corrupt his Gotchard form into the berserker form.

Glion states @ 11:22 that the great power hidden behind the door of darkness was sealed 120 years ago. This is not a coincidence. The scene @ 11:29 very likely hints at it being the three-eyed ultra-demon that was defeated by the Alchemist of Dawn. I wonder if the Alchemist of Dawn will reappear (with his own ancient Driver). Why did he disappear after defeating the ultra-demon 120 years ago? And who was/is he? Is he Houtarou's dad, like what I've hypothesized since episode 25? Houtarou's dad might be the Alchemist of Dawn who's been faking his own existence. Or could he be the main villain who's been secretly manipulating Glion (and Fuga/Houtarou as well)? I still believe that Houtarou's dad has/had a very crucial role in the story. So far, Houtarou's dad is the most elusive character in this story, so the writers better be careful on his reveal. It's the main dish that could make or break the whole experience.

As shown @ 12:06 and stated @ 20:54, Glion's final goal is to turn virtually everything into golden toys. He should seek a therapist. He definitely has a very unhealthy obsession with gold, haha.

Thankfully, Hopper1 and the other Chemies aren't dead like I hypothesized last week. They're dying while being sacrificed by Glion. Different from Steamliner that was evolved by Houtarou's own hands, Hopper1 is evolved by Houtarou's motivational speech and the combined effort of all level 10 Chemies. KR Platinum Gotchard looks nice. Its color scheme is more in-sync and blends better compared to KR Iron Gotchard, especially the undersuit. I wonder if the sense of out-of-sync-ness with KR Iron Gotchard's color scheme and in-sync-ness with KR Platinum Gotchard's color scheme was the intention of the designers that aimed to reflect Crosshopper's ability to help Houtarou sync with Tenliner.

Is Glion finally dead and devoured by the three-eyed ultra-demon as shown @ 20:59? Maybe not, because the scene @ 22:46 implies that his favorite golden Rubik's cube could be some kind of Horcrux in which he stored a part of his soul. The Sisters might be Horcruxes as well. Could it be the case that he's also planned to be devoured by the three-eyed ultra-demon so that he can fuse himself with it?

It turns out Lachesis's still got the time to sabotage Glion's plan in the last minute. As implied in the scene @ 22:30, Kyouka probably thanks her for opening a portal to the Ouroboros world so that Minato could arrive at the right moment to help Houtarou from Glion's beatings. I wonder what she'll do next now that Glion's gone. Will she return to the other Sisters? Or will she become a masterless automaton?

Next week:

This episode seems to be a breather episode that focuses on Renge and her backstory.

And Kajiki is the pupil of a famous local yokaibuster who also happens to be an alchemist?