Rahxephon episode 4
Rahxephon episode 4: His Own Watch (Watch the Year Hand)
This is the episode where Ayato begins to realize that he is a second class citizen outside of Tokyo Jupiter. How odd it must feel, to go from living a normal life to finding out your world isn't the only reality and that outside of your bubble, you are mistrusted.
Jin Kunugi, the commander of TERRA, upon meeting Ayato informs him that he must re-set his wrist watch because "it is not the correct time." This line underscores the motif of this episode, which will be repeated throughout the series; Mulians/Tokyo Jovians are treated as an "other", and how this affects Ayato's identity. To Ayato, the time on his wrist watch has always been the correct time. That has been his reality. It makes sense from a practical standpoint to tell Ayato to re-set it since he is in the outside world now, but the way Kunugi says it is unsettling.
In the next scene, Kunugi discusses with a man from the Earth Federation about who gets the "O" part, the Rahxephon. The Earth Fed holds more sway, so it is decided that they will get it. When Kunugi says that TERRA also picked up a 17 year old Tokyo Jovian, the man replies that "...the Earth Fed has enough specimens of Tokyo Jovians.
On a different note, how the fuck has Ayato not figured out that there's a time difference between the outside and Tokyo Jupiter by now? Our hero is a little slow sometimes.
We're finally given an introduction to Elvy Hadhiyat, a bad ass female fighter pilot who is a shout-out to Lilya Litvyak, the "White Rose of Stalingrad", and one of only two female ace fighters. (Lilya Litvyak is also the name of the aircraft carrier in the show.) Elvy's entire crew has been killed in Operation Overlord, and the night before the mission Haruka treated Elvy to absinthe. "Were the lives of my men less important than saving some stupid kid?"
I find Haruka both horrible and admirable here. She got Elvy drunk just so that she could have Ayato? What an asshole thing to do. But she just doesn't seem to give a fuck that Elvy is about to punch her. Haruka's got some guts.
Considering that they're drinking buddies in the rest of the series I'm not sure exactly what happened with the absinthe. At first it sounded like Haruka bought it for her, and then later it sounds like Haruka slipped it to her. I cant' tell what's going on.
When Commander Kunugi and Ayato argue over ownership of the O part, Kunugi tells him "You should become more aware of what exactly your current situation is, Ayato Kamina." What is Ayato's current situation? He has the Mu phase in his blood. "WE don't know if he's a Mulian, but we'll deal with him as if he is." On board the Lilya Litviak, he will be kept inside a chamber that can only be opened from the outside, and if the occupant tries to force entry they will be blown to pieces.
Meanwhile, Quon stands upon the deck and whispers
A dream that came froth from the abyss illuminates up the boy's face
Blue are the eyes,
And its timbre.
A squid-like Dolem attacks the ship. The Rahxephon, which is strapped to the Ulysses, comes alive, breaks free from its bonds and flies to the Lilya Litviak. Ayato disappears from his chamber at this same time. He pilots the Rahxephon and defeats the Dolem. While this is happening, Ishki looks as if he's just had an idea.
Because TERRA has possession of Ayato, they can now also claim possession of the O part. Yakumo remarks to Kunugi that maybe they should rethink his confinement. So Ayato will not be kept in a holding cell, but he won't be free either. He will be the weapon.
At the end, we see Itsuki, who is intrigued that Ayato has appeared.
This is the episode where Ayato begins to realize that he is a second class citizen outside of Tokyo Jupiter. How odd it must feel, to go from living a normal life to finding out your world isn't the only reality and that outside of your bubble, you are mistrusted.
Jin Kunugi, the commander of TERRA, upon meeting Ayato informs him that he must re-set his wrist watch because "it is not the correct time." This line underscores the motif of this episode, which will be repeated throughout the series; Mulians/Tokyo Jovians are treated as an "other", and how this affects Ayato's identity. To Ayato, the time on his wrist watch has always been the correct time. That has been his reality. It makes sense from a practical standpoint to tell Ayato to re-set it since he is in the outside world now, but the way Kunugi says it is unsettling.
In the next scene, Kunugi discusses with a man from the Earth Federation about who gets the "O" part, the Rahxephon. The Earth Fed holds more sway, so it is decided that they will get it. When Kunugi says that TERRA also picked up a 17 year old Tokyo Jovian, the man replies that "...the Earth Fed has enough specimens of Tokyo Jovians.
On a different note, how the fuck has Ayato not figured out that there's a time difference between the outside and Tokyo Jupiter by now? Our hero is a little slow sometimes.
We're finally given an introduction to Elvy Hadhiyat, a bad ass female fighter pilot who is a shout-out to Lilya Litvyak, the "White Rose of Stalingrad", and one of only two female ace fighters. (Lilya Litvyak is also the name of the aircraft carrier in the show.) Elvy's entire crew has been killed in Operation Overlord, and the night before the mission Haruka treated Elvy to absinthe. "Were the lives of my men less important than saving some stupid kid?"
I find Haruka both horrible and admirable here. She got Elvy drunk just so that she could have Ayato? What an asshole thing to do. But she just doesn't seem to give a fuck that Elvy is about to punch her. Haruka's got some guts.
Considering that they're drinking buddies in the rest of the series I'm not sure exactly what happened with the absinthe. At first it sounded like Haruka bought it for her, and then later it sounds like Haruka slipped it to her. I cant' tell what's going on.
When Commander Kunugi and Ayato argue over ownership of the O part, Kunugi tells him "You should become more aware of what exactly your current situation is, Ayato Kamina." What is Ayato's current situation? He has the Mu phase in his blood. "WE don't know if he's a Mulian, but we'll deal with him as if he is." On board the Lilya Litviak, he will be kept inside a chamber that can only be opened from the outside, and if the occupant tries to force entry they will be blown to pieces.
Meanwhile, Quon stands upon the deck and whispers
A dream that came froth from the abyss illuminates up the boy's face
Blue are the eyes,
And its timbre.
A squid-like Dolem attacks the ship. The Rahxephon, which is strapped to the Ulysses, comes alive, breaks free from its bonds and flies to the Lilya Litviak. Ayato disappears from his chamber at this same time. He pilots the Rahxephon and defeats the Dolem. While this is happening, Ishki looks as if he's just had an idea.
Because TERRA has possession of Ayato, they can now also claim possession of the O part. Yakumo remarks to Kunugi that maybe they should rethink his confinement. So Ayato will not be kept in a holding cell, but he won't be free either. He will be the weapon.
At the end, we see Itsuki, who is intrigued that Ayato has appeared.