[Paladin]

Houtaro must track down a Chemie that escaped the Driver.

[Zolda]

I thought Houtarou was gonna be saved by Hawkstar, but it turned out that he simply transforms with Spicle and Ganvhale.

So, I was wrong. I thought the mysterious man was his teacher/tutor, but it turns out that he's just the kid's dad. The dad says @ 12:25 that his target is not Riku, but Houtarou, because he also has Chemies, the same creatures as Saboneedle. This is weird. How does the dad know that Houtarou has Chemies? Did he secretly follow his kid when he met Houtarou and his friends for the first time? But the kid met Houtarou et al inside a closed room, so how did he know that Houtarou has Chemies? Or did he also see Houtarou et al capturing Mehanichani in the beginning of episode 7? Or was he told by Lachesis? How did he acquire the information that Houtarou has Chemies, thus giving him the intention to attack Houtarou? This smells like a plot hole due to a forced plot twist.

Happyclover looks like a Precure mascot. I can probably fool my girlfriend by telling her that it's the mascot for the newest Precure season. The weird thing is that it's already captured inside an RCC, not in wild form, a fact that Spanner also questioned in this episode. Looks like the Sisters can also capture Chemies, or probably someone from inside the alchemy organization has supplied them with RCC's, or both. As time goes on, it's shown that the Sisters (and their organization) have many things in common with the AA organization. I think it's true that they were once an ally of the AA, or even came from the same organization as the AA. The Sisters' organization is probably an offshoot, like the Deadmans. They were probably formed by rogue alchemists who aimed to misuse alchemy to gain power and rule the world.

Atropos looks like a creepy kid in this episode. She is apparently able to freely manipulate people. Or does the scene @ 03:15-04:33 only happen inside Rinne's head? The intention of her attempt to psychologically manipulate Rinne is still unclear. What is the "flask" they're collecting humans' malice into that Lachesis mentions @ 05:00, which Atropos also mentioned in episode 7 @ 05:49? Atropos also mentioned @ 22:31 that the harvest was great. Does it mean that the Sisters are harvesting malice from humans into a container, akin to Greeeds and Kougami harvesting human's desires into Cell Medals? I have a hypothesis that their main goal is resurrecting their true master (not Glion) through this "flask", and the Gotchardriver is the final key that can open that "flask".

The scene @ 21:21 still baffles me. When someone puts an RCC to that display, does it mean that he creates a copy of it, or does it only mean that he merely creates a fake display piece of it? It'd be a serious problem if RCC's can be copied indefinitely.

DokkiriShovel form debuts in this episode. So far, Gotchard has already got 3 forms with big gauntlets. Several more to come.

Minato will fight Clotho with bare hands in the next episode. Does it mean that his alchemy power is ineffective against her? Oh, and Kyoto episode. A bit too early for a Kyoto field trip episode. Who's the girl who greets Kajiki? Is she his former crush? Haha.

[DH21965]

I have never ACTIVELY avoided a KR series until this one. I’ve seen every series from Ichigo to Geats. A life long toku fan since 1968. I cannot make myself sit down to watch this show on any device. I’m not even sure WHY it bothers me so much, but it’s visceral. My hat is off to those who can stomach this series. Maybe this is the series that makes me drop KR like a bad habit. But I will buy the SHF to continue my collection… have a feeling this series is the new Ghost, as far as SHF will be concerned

[DreadBringer]

Already called it that the dad Kenji Sunayama is the Malgam. Being pressured to constantly study isn't a good thing.

Obviously Hotaro must be ecstatic here to have his belief validated seeing actual proof in Riku and Sabo's friendship and how it makes Riku happier despite constant pressure. It's viewed as something that validates anyone else's belief too however, like Minato blaming the Chemy in "disrupting" the bond between Riku and Kenji...

Minato's more reasonable in trying to explain their belief clash to Hotaro than Supana who's just all prideful, but he still has prejudice to ignore the fact that, human friends will "tarnish" said bond too, and that the father's the problematic one of being abusive and controlling, which doesn't actually represent a bond, that he's the one needs to loosen up.

Rinne seems to now being conflicted between fulfilling the law and her actual conscience of not involving humans in her job to capture Chemies, as the Dark Sisters are using humans as Malgams. Now Atropos gives me more impression (and likely Clotho next episode) like Lachesis, to have her approach as in testing humans and manipulating them, concluding that humans are easy to control that she can make Rinne look like the aggressor.

Supana further cements his anti-heroic status like many secondaries by refusing to aid amateurs out of pride, despite that people's lives are at stakes, but ofc, Rinne's concern for the innocents made him comply due to his soft spot for her, and even then it's implied that he's doing it out of price too. Renge can be infuriated with Sabi's allergy to people but she seems to cherish him as her partner. Sabi also seems to be developing to actually speak despite using low voice. So it's nice that the cast now seems to get progression.

After Dragonfly Madam was beaten, the resolution was to have the abusive parent and son make up once again like the Kurama family in Geats before (and Riku's kicking the orange juice can as well.... and the girl who hooks up with Kajiki in next episode really looks like Neon), I like that Riku reaffirms his own needs to his dad, that he needs a break too from studying. But of course they don't go beyond why Kenji forces Riku to constantly study other than "for his own good", his future, rather than it's the stereotypical tiger parent that Asians have.

[Sh Ranger]

Gotchard DokkiriShovel's reaction to Valvarad's disappearance was pretty humorous. Houtarou has a lot more self-respect than Bolt, but still, it must be annoying to have a rival who doesn't even acknowledge you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zolda

What is the "flask" they're collecting humans' malice into that Lachesis mentions @ 05:00, which Atropos also mentioned in episode 7 @ 05:49? Atropos also mentioned @ 22:31 that the harvest was great. Does it mean that the Sisters are harvesting malice from humans into a container, akin to Greeeds and Kougami harvesting human's desires into Cell Medals? I have a hypothesis that their main goal is resurrecting their true master (not Glion) through this "flask", and the Gotchardriver is the final key that can open that "flask".

If this mysterious flask is an actual thing that exists in the show, then I wish they'd at least show it so we could have some idea of how much malice an average Malgam yields, like Void Knight's Sporix Machine. Otherwise, it's just white noise until the plot arbitrarily determines when the flask is full.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zolda

Oh, and Kyoto episode. A bit too early for a Kyoto field trip episode.

It's even weirder than that. The Amanogawa Kyoto field trip episode aired on April 29th. The Furasu Kyoto field trip episode will air on October 29th. Literally 6 months difference, no more, no less!

I expect either AppareSkebow or EnergyMaru to appear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Already called it that the dad Kenji Sunayama is the Malgam. Being pressured to constantly study isn't a good thing.

Obviously Hotaro must be ecstatic here to have his belief validated seeing actual proof in Riku and Sabo's friendship and how it makes Riku happier despite constant pressure. It's viewed as something that validates anyone else's belief too however, like Minato blaming the Chemy in "disrupting" the bond between Riku and Kenji...

Minato's more reasonable in trying to explain their belief clash to Hotaro than Supana who's just all prideful, but he still has prejudice to ignore the fact that, human friends will "tarnish" said bond too, and that the father's the problematic one of being abusive and controlling, which doesn't actually represent a bond, that he's the one needs to loosen up.

It's like seeing a re-enactment of Amatsu Gai's backstory, but with cute cactus instead of cute robot dog. Fortunately, Riku has a good advocate in Houtarou who will stand up to the father that Sabosuke should be respected as a friend to Riku, not a mere distraction. While the story ends for Riku the same way it did for Asahi, it seems that he can still live happily as long as he continues to get the emotional support he needs. Sabosuke had provided that in the father's absence, so hopefully the father will actually keep his word and make more time for Riku from now on.

Looks like this will be the personal challenge for Houtarou, where he strongly believes that the Chemy Law is wrong while working within Alchemy Academy to change it and create a world where humans and Chemies can co-exist peacefully. It'll probably be a long road though, as Minato and Spanner won't be easily convinced and his opposing actions may risk deducting points which will count against him later, or at worst be branded another traitor like Fuga. Houtarou shaking up the system will surely cause Rinne, Sabi and Renge to reconsider their own values as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Rinne seems to now being conflicted between fulfilling the law and her actual conscience of not involving humans in her job to capture Chemies, as the Dark Sisters are using humans as Malgams. Now Atropos gives me more impression (and likely Clotho next episode) like Lachesis, to have her approach as in testing humans and manipulating them, concluding that humans are easy to control that she can make Rinne look like the aggressor.

Maybe Atropos' childish appearance is also the result of de-aging alchemy, as a way to appear innocuous to regular humans and thus manipulate them easier. Looks like she can do the memory loss trick as well, since those people act like nothing happened as soon as she's gone, sparing Rinne the problem of being seen threatening a "defenseless kid" like that. Shows that Atropos has a fair side, as she was only trying to appeal to Rinne in that moment, rather than trouble her.

[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

It's like seeing a re-enactment of Amatsu Gai's backstory, but with cute cactus instead of cute robot dog. Fortunately, Riku has a good advocate in Houtarou who will stand up to the father that Sabosuke should be respected as a friend to Riku, not a mere distraction. While the story ends for Riku the same way it did for Asahi, it seems that he can still live happily as long as he continues to get the emotional support he needs. Sabosuke had provided that in the father's absence, so hopefully the father will actually keep his word and make more time for Riku from now on.

The proof isn't exactly seen yet, Riku is shown to have his grades falling since befriending Sabo, which was how Sabo and Hotaro being a distraction means. It not being a distraction will be proven if Riku can keep his good grades while still making friends, or if they're convinced that living/future isn't only about getting best grades. M̶i̶c̶c̶h̶y̶ ̶a̶l̶s̶o̶ ̶g̶o̶t̶ ̶s̶u̶b̶j̶e̶c̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶K̶u̶r̶e̶s̶h̶i̶m̶a̶ ̶f̶a̶m̶i̶l̶y̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶w̶e̶l̶l̶,̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶t̶u̶r̶n̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶i̶n̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶'̶d̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶k̶e̶e̶p̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶e̶m̶o̶t̶i̶o̶n̶a̶l̶ ̶s̶u̶p̶p̶o̶r̶t̶ ̶(̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶r̶i̶e̶n̶d̶s̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶ ̶p̶l̶e̶a̶s̶e̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶,̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶o̶p̶p̶o̶s̶e̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶)̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶e̶n̶s̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶r̶y̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶.̶ For Hotaro being an advocate, would it be considered him being a nosy "busybody" who takes away someone's agency by telling Riku's dad what to do despite only knowing Riku recently? Though this'd be also what being heroic is, meddling when you don't need to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Looks like this will be the personal challenge for Houtarou, where he strongly believes that the Chemy Law is wrong while working within Alchemy Academy to change it and create a world where humans and Chemies can co-exist peacefully. It'll probably be a long road though, as Minato and Spanner won't be easily convinced and his opposing actions may risk deducting points which will count against him later, or at worst be branded another traitor like Fuga. Houtarou shaking up the system will surely cause Rinne, Sabi and Renge to reconsider their own values as well.

Yeah, even if the real proof is there (with Supana also being proven wrong) Minato won't be easily convinced. And in these kind of scenarios.... as what I already said in this comment, the audience will likely typically consider Hotaro or other kind of these boy scouts as just naive and sticking their nose in others' affair without knowing anything, always treating anything he says or does as in the wrong and doesn't listen to others who know more (particularly with Minato being the instructor thus is proven expert, and how rough and mean characters like Supana is usually portrayed as the experienced one to the greenhorn MCs, thus their words are always taken at face value and seen as sensible). If these kind of characters had shortcomings, their good-nature would be blamed, but those experts' shortcomings will be overlooked. True that Chemies being free may risk causing Malgams, but Minato is dead wrong here of Chemy being to blame for Riku and Kenji's "bond", but I've seen that Hotaro's the one who should listen to Minato's prejudice there rather than thinking over what any party says.

[Zolda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

If this mysterious flask is an actual thing that exists in the show, then I wish they'd at least show it so we could have some idea of how much malice an average Malgam yields, like Void Knight's Sporix Machine. Otherwise, it's just white noise until the plot arbitrarily determines when the flask is full.

They will probably show or hint at the "flask" in the next 5-10 episodes, at least indirectly, along with the first appearance of Glion (which I think is the Rose Woman/Niram/upper-mid tier villain of the story).

The "flask" could potentially be something that can greatly disturb the balance of the natural order. Rinne mentioned in episode 2 that alchemy can create something out of nothing or create life out of death. I think this may be the reason why Atropos attempts to psychologically manipulate Rinne in this episode. Perhaps she is planting a seed of doubt into Rinne's mind with the final goal to make Rinne defect to their side by showing that their use of alchemy (via the "flask") can even resurrect the dead, a very serious violation of the natural order. This could be an interesting plot, because a heroine rarely defects to the villain's side. If I remember correctly, the last time it happened was in Fourze episodes 43-44.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

It's even weirder than that. The Amanogawa Kyoto field trip episode aired on April 29th. The Furasu Kyoto field trip episode will air on October 29th. Literally 6 months difference, no more, no less!

Yes. That's why I said that it's too early. Kyoto field trip episodes are usually written as breather mid-season episodes, like W did in episodes 29-30 (the most absurdly funny W episodes) or Fourze did right after Cosmic States' debut in episodes 31-32.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I expect either AppareSkebow or EnergyMaru to appear.

I'd rather see EnergyMaru or other new forms in actual suits (not CGI Wild Modes!). So far, they've shown 7 base forms in 8 episodes. Still very far from the rumored 46 base forms, not to mention super forms and final form. Even if they plan to allocate 10 base forms to side story-/video game-/toy-exclusive appearances, they still need to show 29 forms in the series. Gosh, this starts to feel like an uphill battle. I'm not sure if I can find any competent writer that can achieve this seemingly improbable feat while maintaining coherence in the story.

Who the heck in their right, sane mind decide to put 50 forms in a 50 episode series? This can negatively impact the quality of the story in a very bad way.

[Androzani84]

I mean, to weigh in on the Kyoto trio discussion, Smile PreCure/Glitter Force did a three part mini-arc on a field trip to Kyoto and Osaka very early on (the first episode of said arc was literally the first power up episode)

[MKDremare]

The very simple answer of why the Kyoto field trip is early is just different schools have different times they go. Like it would be a nightmare if all the schools in Japan just try to go to Kyoto at the same time. Especially considering how I'm pretty sure most of these field trips tend to be overnight ones. Hotels would be PACKED with too many students.

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

For Hotaro being an advocate, would it be considered him being a nosy "busybody" who takes away someone's agency by telling Riku's dad what to do despite only knowing Riku recently? Though this'd be also what being heroic is, meddling when you don't need to.

While the father may consider Houtarou a busybody for intervening in a parent and child affair, Houtarou would argue that the father is the real busybody for intervening in a human and Chemy affair. I'd say they both have personal investment that exempts them from busybody label, but Houtarou presents the better case here, as he's actually arguing for Riku's freedom to be friends with Sabosuke, while the father is denying it and abusing his authority to justify his behavior. Minato claims that Chemy influence is directly responsible for the conflict, when really it was an existing conflict that had been exposed and that allowed it to be resolved, as shown in the end, Riku and his father formed a Great Bond by talking it out honestly. Riku found the courage to stand up for what he wanted, which is what Houtarou needs to do as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zolda

The "flask" could potentially be something that can greatly disturb the balance of the natural order. Rinne mentioned in episode 2 that alchemy can create something out of nothing or create life out of death. I think this may be the reason why Atropos attempts to psychologically manipulate Rinne in this episode. Perhaps she is planting a seed of doubt into Rinne's mind with the final goal to make Rinne defect to their side by showing that their use of alchemy (via the "flask") can even resurrect the dead, a very serious violation of the natural order. This could be an interesting plot, because a heroine rarely defects to the villain's side. If I remember correctly, the last time it happened was in Fourze episodes 43-44.

There was also Tsukuyomi who decided Sougo should be killed after she saw Zi-O II and before that, there was Asuna who was brainwashed to become KR Chronicle's navigator. But yeah, it's intriguing to see the conflict of opinions about the responsible applications of alchemy. Houtarou is expected to protect natural order at all costs as a member of Alchemy Academy, but his dream of co-existence between humans and Chemies is only possible by disturbing it, which is more aligned with the Dark Sisters' goals. Maybe Atropos perceives death as merely a limitation of natural order and the meaning of her advice to Rinne is that if you have power to change a bad outcome to a good one, then you should use it. The power to revive Fuga might give Rinne incentive to oppose it as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MKDremare

The very simple answer of why the Kyoto field trip is early is just different schools have different times they go. Like it would be a nightmare if all the schools in Japan just try to go to Kyoto at the same time. Especially considering how I'm pretty sure most of these field trips tend to be overnight ones. Hotels would be PACKED with too many students.

This makes sense. I presume these schools' management are comparing their curricula to prevent clashing with each other. Although it would've been cool if Houtarou and Rinne happened to meet Gentarou supervising his students' trip.