Kaze no Stigma Episode 19: Pandemonium

14 Comments

1. daffodilistic
   Posted August 17, 2007 at 8:44 am | Permalink

   FIRST POST! Is Ren really named “Cui Ling” in the anime? Is it based on a chinese novel or what?

   PS: The half-masked man reminds me of Gundam Seed. LAWLS.

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2. Nanaya
   Posted August 17, 2007 at 11:58 am | Permalink

   The masked guy’s name is Vernhart Rhodes, he is one of the leaders of Stars of Sagacity, although the number 1 or the top boss of the organization is Erwin Leszaar who Kazuma personally killed for vengeance. Also Kazuma thought all along that the ritual (which apparently was his fault to begin with that Tsou Rin is captured) that Tsou Rin died. If you remember the first arc, when Ren is to be sacrificed for the Fuga clan’s youma, Ren is to be eaten alive! So he would be dead for sure, however it is different in Tsou Rin’s case, she has been taken over! Her body and mind has been taken over, but no one knows if she still is there and has memories and feelings for Kazuma, which i think she has, after all why did she watch him the first time in the alley? Second of all why did she ran away instead of fighting him?

   Tsou Rin was destined to be sacrificed as what the organization says because she was the so called perfect vessel for the youma Lapis, who has the ability to void out any kind of magic, no it isnt just the sword.

   Also i believe that Tsou Rin is quite a strong magic user, it’s my speculation that she might be the one to discover Kazuma’s talent to become a great wind user, although it’s not confirmed, but we do know that it was because of her that Kazuma became strong.

   My speculation on why Kazuma has exact memories of the ritual is that he was captured, yes even though he was suppose to protect her, he has been the cause of her downfall because he was used as a hostage or something. That was why he witnessed the ritual as he saw his own lover cried and told him that “She wasn’t born to be just eaten by a youma.” Which really made a big impact to him, and formed his resolved to seek power and avenge her.

   It’s quite obvious that he loves her even now, because she was perhaps the only one to ever acknowledge him and found him important as to my speculation to even give up her own life for him. It’s as if for the first time in Kazuma’s life that someone treats him important and loves him, and that was Tsou Rin.

   That’s why i cant wait for the next episode where it shows Kazuma and Tsou Rin’s past. As to your question Briar: It is somewhat both, Kazuma has the look that says “I’ll kill anyone who gets in my way!” Which i believe that he is resolved to put an end to the stars of sagacity by killing the last man, Vernhart, and possibly liberating the imposter Tsou Rin, which judging from her reaction in the preview that she is surprised, no doubt about something to do with her interaction with Kazuma.

   Also is it just me or does Tsou Rin despite being taken over still harbors feelings for Kazuma, since her usual look to Kazuma wasn’t the same as to Ayano’s.

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3. Kyokii
   Posted August 17, 2007 at 12:29 pm | Permalink

   Dernit, I want to watch it, but the ermm… *coughsubscough* haven’t come out. I’m already 2 weeks behind or 2 episodes behind as far as Kaze no Stigma goes.

   Ren is always kidnapped. Maybe the villains have a thing for little shota. hmm…

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4. Hola
   Posted August 17, 2007 at 3:44 pm | Permalink

   I agree, Ren was a total disappointment in this episode, he lost his cool and became totally defenseless. On another note he I wonder what would happen with Rin and Kazuma and specially how Ayano will react. Thanks for the summary!!

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5. Darklord
   Posted August 17, 2007 at 5:47 pm | Permalink

   Ayano has been gradually improving throughout the show. She has evolved from being completely useless to being able to hold her own against one of the most powerful opponents in the show(I’ve heard Lapis is supposed to be pretty powerful at least).

   It’s perfectly reasonable for her to rely on Kazuma since, well, she’s been doing it throughout the entire show. The first three big battles she was never able to defeat any enemy alone. It was always Kazuma with his contractor power who did most of the work and he always allowed Ayano to participate in order to boost her self-confidence and abilities. Oh, and she was not “able to handle the giant turtle that Kazuma could not defeat”, she could not even scratch it. Again it was Kazuma who dealt the most damage with Ren and Ayano helping just a little in order not to feel useless. Then Catherine was the first enemy she defeated with just a little guidance from Kazuma the first time and on her own the second time.

   I guess what I’m trying to say is…you should not be angry at her for relying on Kazuma, you should be happy for her for growing so much and becoming stronger throughout the series. Her power development is like a constantly iincreasing function. You make it sound how she was all high and powerful in the past and now she has to rely on Kazuma. And trust me, the producers do not need to downplay Ayano to show how badass Kazuma is, I think everyobe knows that already.

   As for Ren, his power development has been like a Bell-shaped curve. He started off pretty weak, then became pretty confident and powerful in the middle and in the end went back to being “damsel in distress” again.

   So I guess Ayano is a linearly increasing function, Ren is a Gaussian curve and Kazuma has been pretty much constant throughout the show, to put it mathematically:)

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6. Briar
   Posted August 17, 2007 at 8:47 pm | Permalink

   @ daffodilistic: Actually, I’m not really sure if Rin is named Cui Ling. The Chinese subs called her “Cui Ling”, and I vaguely remember seeing some sources floating around the Internet that Rin was Chinese. Would have to ask the light novel readers to be sure, though.

   @ Nanaya: Thanks for your information! I never could decipher those names; they are like made-up names from fantasy novels. How am I supposed to spell them?

   I gather that you think that Rin #2 is also Rin #1, except that her memory has been destroy (probably) and that she is now under the control of the Stars of Sagacity (this name reminds me strongly of Black Cat and their organization)?

   I’m not sure Rin #2 is Rin #1, personally. The eyes are different, yes? And we already know that cloning is possibly in the KnS world (Ayumi). With some magical aid, probably derived from the ritual, creating a new Rin from the sacrificed Rin might be possible.

   As for why Rin #2 ran away, I think maybe that’s a sense of self-preservation. I doubt Rin #2 can defeat Kazuma, although I suppose that’s possible. As for watching him in the first place, I just thought that she was scouting for news. Not to mention the fact that it’s a suitable plot device.

   Kazuma definitely watched the entire thing, and I strongly suspect that’s the whole factor that pushed him to making a contract with the Wind Lord in the first place.

   I’m not sure about Rin harboring feelings for Kazuma. To me, that look is blank and expressionless, almost as if nothing is inside there to feel anything. That’s just just personal opinion, anyway.

   Of course, all my speculations may be crap, as I haven’t read the light novels. We’ll know next week.

   @ Kyokii: I can only say that at least it isn’t Ayano who is always getting kidnapped. I’m afraid that would be a grave offense to my hidden femininistic tendencies. Good luck for subs! I’m sure they will be out soon.

   @ Hola: You’re welcome. I’m looking forward to seeing the whole triangle, myself. Here’s to hoping I don’t get disappointed.

   @ Darklord: I might have mispresented myself. I never thought that Ayano is this strong and powerful figure in the past. I simply think that Ayano today has moved so far from the weakling from the past that she should stop being so reliant on Kazuma.

   I am actually glad that she has grown stronger. However, I still cannot avoid feeling quite irritated by her constant reliance on Kazuma. It’s just completely aggravating that she is obviously capable of holding her own, yet she can’t resist asking for help. Why does she need help? It’s time for her to become more independent and stand on her own feet. Kazuma wouldn’t always be there to bail her out. Especially since she doesn’t even need to be bailed out.

   Ayano is actually more powerful than 99% of the world’s population. However, because she is always besides Kazuma-the-strongest-person-on-earth, and always against beings that populate the 1%, that she always come across as so weak. She has never been weak. She is merely comparatively weaker to her opponents.

   Because she is complacent that she is stronger than 99% of the world, she couldn’t deal with facing the remaining 1%. Personally, I think it’s her techniques that need work. In terms of raw power, she could have held her own, if only she uses her brain and think.

   A thought just strike me as I’m writing this. To be honest, I wouldn’t say Ren was getting weak, when contrasted with the previous episode. Considering that last episode his opponents are so far out of his fighting standard, I think it isn’t a surprise that he is relegated back to the damsel in distress when faced with someone a lot more powerful.

   The difference is, I think, a matter of attitude. Ren looks so cool even though to be frank he is being a “bully” for picking on people a lot smaller than his figurative size. Ayano, on the other hand, rarely comes across as competent with encounters of figuratively smaller people. C-Chan, the mahou shoujo of last week, comes into mind. Ayano could have flattened her in own shot, but it is Catherine who does it, and seriously, Ayano just stood there and watch.

   I place the blame firmly on the producers. Come on, producers! Give Ayano a chance like you gave Ren a chance!

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7. Kyokii
   Posted August 17, 2007 at 10:44 pm | Permalink

   @Briar I’d choose to kidnap Ayano over any one of them any day…

   Ayano… MmmmMMMmmmmmmmmm…

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8. D.J
   Posted August 18, 2007 at 8:10 am | Permalink

   I have to agree that its irritating how Ayano is this really kick ass fighter and then Kazuma comes along and all her finesse goes out of the window.

   Whenever he’s around her fighting skills seem to degenerates into wild swings in an attempt just to hit something.

   Ah well at least she does fight.

   I guess her thinking she needs him all the time is because she does feel inferior to him in some way. Since he arrived he’s had a way of making her feel stupid all the time and I think her self-confidence has suffered a bit since he’s arrived even though she has gotten stronger.

   Although we know this is his way of trying to make her stronger I’m not sure that she’s realized that herself.

   Frankly the method sucks, trust me I know. And so I really feel bad for Ayano on that level and can understand why she would be so unsure of herself at times.

   As for Rin 1 and 2 being the same person. Even though they have differing eye colors I think it could be possible. After all she is being possessed by a different entity if that is her body.

   But the clone idea is also a sound theory.

   And as for Kazuma ignoring Ayano I think its a combination of not really considering her at all because he’s so wrapped up in what’s going on with Rin’s double. And partly because he doesn’t need to worry about her because she’s strong enough to handle it on her own. He has more confidence in Ayano than she has in herself.

   He has more confidence in her than she has in herself.

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9. i am so f'n pissed
   Posted August 20, 2007 at 4:30 pm | Permalink

   O MI GAWD. I HAVENT EVEN WATCHED EPISODE 18 YET BECAUSE IT IS NOT IN SUBBS. AND THE NEW FREAKING EPISODE IS ALREADY OUT. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? OK I AM NOT GOING TO BREAK THE RULES AND ASK FOR SUBBS BUT I AM GOING TO ASK IF ANY1 HAS ALREADY SEEN IT IN SUBBS OR IF U KNOW IT IS OUT……………………SO PISSED. PISSED PISSED PISSED. I AM PISSED.

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10. i am so f'n pissed
    Posted August 20, 2007 at 4:31 pm | Permalink

    thank u for the summary Briar, great as always!!!

    Reply
11. rich
    Posted August 23, 2007 at 6:16 am | Permalink

    actually 20s already out now btw please make a summarize it for us lowly non japanese speaking people : ( it isnt a great ep or anything but it looks like its building to make 21 super badass

    Reply
12. Briar
    Posted August 23, 2007 at 6:51 pm | Permalink

    @ DJ: I guess none of us can deny that Kazuma is a lot more powerful than Ayano… or any other character in the anime. Still, the fact that Kazuma is more powerful doesn’t necessate the weakness of the weaker characters; they are just comparative weaker.

    I think part of my piss-off-ness is due to Ren being able to (for 1 episode, anyway) shine bright and steady, despite the fact that he is weaker than Kazuma; Ayano never have that chance, and that’s just so unfair.

    I do agree that Kazuma has more confidence in Ayano than she has in herself. Though personally I think the bigger part of the reason is that he simply didn’t think about her. Sad, but true.

    @ pissed: I vaguely remember seeing episode 18 a couple days ago. I believe the subs come out weekly as well, as regular if not as soon as the Japanese versions. And you’re welcome.

    @ rich: I’ll be watching it asap, but for the actual blogging I would need time to actually write it.

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13. Alevtin
    Posted August 24, 2007 at 10:54 am | Permalink

    Can’t wait for the subs to come out. But one question is bugging me, for those who read the light novel: Do Kazuma and Ayano ever get together?

    Reply
14. Mizuki
    Posted August 14, 2009 at 2:09 pm | Permalink

    Is the pandemonium site real? If so, I want to see it.

    Reply