Mai-Otome Zwei - 03 May 24
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Summary:
Stuck with Mai and the others on an island, Mashiro is worried about Akira even though she acts like she’s not. She also wants to attend the Strategic Otome Reduction negotiations which have already started with Natsuki presiding. It is at these negotiations that Yukino points out that the more important matter they have to deal with is the mysterious being that attacked Windbloom and Aries. Natsuki knows that Nao is investigating the case, and Nao’s brought Nina with her to some ruins hidden in the mountainous regions. Arika meanwhile is in the bath with several of the other Otome, but her thoughts dwell on going to look for Mashiro. Mahya points out that Arika was arguing with Mashiro before and questions what Arika will do if she finds Mashiro. Since Arika is unsure, Chie and Laula tell her that everyone is worried, but it’s unclear what they can do and what they should do, so for now they should rest. The girls then proceed to have some fun in the form of Mahya breaking apart Akane and Kazuya, Shiho arguing with Rosalie, Mahya running away with Arika’s bikini top, and finally Anh Lu - who is drunk - proposing that they all strip and then taking off everyone’s tops.
Inside the ruins, Nao says that Nina wouldn’t have had to come here if she had handed over the book she’s clutching to now, but Nina had refused to do so. This book which belongs to Sergay can guide them through the ruins, but Nina realizes too late that she stepped on the trap that she just read about out loud, and the two girls fall down a long shaft after the floor under them crumbles. Nao manages to save them by using her red string to grab onto a pole, but Nina’s already unconscious. During this time, Nina has a dream where she remembers how she took the book - a diary - from one of Sergay’s chests and how she had stared at the picture of herself, Erstin, and Arika before reading the diary. When Nina wakes up, she finds that the diary is now in Nao’s hands, and Nao gives it back only after teasing Nina a little. As they proceed through the other traps in the ruins, Nao asks if Nina is still an Otome/virgin, and since Nina still is, Nao asks if it’s Nina or Sergay that’s holding back. Without directly answering the question, Nina says that Sergay right now is kind, and she likes him, but the father she knows is in the diary. Nina treasures her days at Garderobe, and she talks about Arika and the other Otomes protecting everyone and atoning for what she did.
Arika meanwhile has accidentally discovered the crayon picture that Mashiro drew a long time ago of herself in a sunflower castle. Aoi tells Arika that Mashiro had been keeping this with her and treasures it, causing Arika to remember how she had, all that time ago, proposed a race between herself and Mashiro to see whether Arika could become a Meister first or Mashiro could become a queen who made everyone happy first. Back at the ruins, Nao and Nina have finally reached the final door and open it to find a large round object hanging in the middle of the room. As they begin investigating the nearby stack of books, and Nina finds one about the god of the sea with a serpent on the cover. She suddenly notices something come alive behind them and has to dive out of the way to avoid being hit by a projectile. To make matters worse, the shadowy figure that resembles Fumi also shows up and almost slices through Nao. Not ready to give up, Nao materializes her Robe and starts fighting both enemies at once. The shadowy figure then activates the object in the middle of the room, and all around the world, metallic stalks start emerging from the ground.
Although she can’t seem to hurt the shadowy figure, Nao is able to destroy the other monster by using her “Bloody Stripe Curcus” attack. The shadowy figure then turns the first monster’s sword into a different sword, and Nina tries to get in the way even though she doesn’t have any more Otome powers. The shadow figure’s next move after clashing with Nao a bit more is to use its red eye-beam on the Meister Otome. This hits Nao squarely in the stomach, though Nao still tries to attack with her red string even as she’s turning to stone. Nina’s shocked cries for Nao attract the enemy’s attention, but the shadowy figure finds that it cannot attack Nina because Nao’s red string has tied its weapon to the nearby wall. In ripping its weapon free, the shadowy figure tears off a chunk of the wall, and the ruins start falling apart. To Nina’s surprise, the sea god book she’s carrying begins to glow and sends her flying into a red portal that collapses soon after she passes through. Around this time, Mashiro is fishing on the island when she catches something. She tries to pull it up, but her line breaks and a large stone structure emerges from the water in front of her. Inside this structure, Mashiro finds Nina’s unconscious body, with the sea god book beside her.
Preview:
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Well, I didn’t expect them to put a topless scene in here, but I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised. Because of GEASS, I didn’t find any of this is too shocking, especially not since this was on a DVD and not part of a television broadcast. I actually feel rather indifferent about the inclusion of such a scene. It doesn’t really advance the plot any, but after the previous episode of Zwei, I started thinking that the Sunrise team wouldn’t be able to develop the story to perhaps its full potential (whatever that is), and this light-hearted scene didn’t do anything to change my mind. There are just so many unanswered questions, and I don’t think one more episode can wrap things up nicely.
Having said that, I still consider this a good episode overall, largely due to Nao and the return of Nina. Nao’s still the same as ever and I enjoyed watching her battle even though I wish she hadn’t been turned into stone. Nina on the other hand we learn still is capable of being an Otome even though she doesn’t have the powers right now, and aside from satisfying our curiosity, I suspect that that there is a reason that she and Nao had that conversation. It might mean that we’ll get to see Nina in action one more time, so maybe Mashiro or someone else on the island will activate Nina’s powers. Unfortunately, the fourth and final DVD won’t be out until August 24th, so it’ll be three more months.
Nekozama at 8:57 am on May 24th, 2007
Are they freakin Serious, Kagutsuchi will appear in this OVA? ……….. omg if ever the orignal Childs will appear in this OVA…. that would be cool….. waaa cant wait for the 4th episode…. (umm where did Nina go…….. )
Yen at 8:59 am on May 24th, 2007
Mai-Otome has never been better xD.
Nekozama at 8:59 am on May 24th, 2007
sorry for the double post …… ahhh now she’s with Mashiro
Fisherman Horizon at 9:22 am on May 24th, 2007
They are getting desperate, arent they??? No such scene in mai hime nor mai otome. But mai otome zwei…. gosh
Mentar at 10:19 am on May 24th, 2007
*draws deep breath, then counts to ten*
Let me get the ugly out of the way first. During the fanservice bathing scene I was seething with anger. To be blunt: This kind of crap is grating on my nerves, TERRIBLY so. If you feel the need to service the juveniles like that, then PLEASE do it as some separate extras. It’s totally ruining the pacing, it’s totally ruining the suspense, and I feel kind of insulted that I’m supposed to LIKE this crap. This has been the low point of the Mai franchise for me so far.
On the plus side, the rest was good, and in fact, several parts have even been excellent. Lots of Nao (return of the MVP, wonderful!), lots of Nina (a pleasing alternative to the mass naked child event), and a pretty intense underground action scene.
What I don’t get: The first OVA already did a terrific job at developing a credible and suspenseful threat. The second OVA was a letdown, because it didn’t keep up the pressure, but deflated it in some stupid comedy. And the third one would have been excellent if the first 10 minutes had been cut away, because afterwards things tagged along fine.
I watch the Mai Universe for the suspense parts. No problem with Comedy AT THE RIGHT SPOTS. They’re simply not there here. Imagine the Mai Hime end run, with stupid pool fanservice tossed into the middle. If you do suspense/action, KEEP it that way. And outsource tits-comedy to extras instead of the main storyline. Otherwise you end up with a loaf of strawberry jam with fish on top. That’s what we have here.
AloneinVoid at 10:20 am on May 24th, 2007
school appearing…I can atleast hope, that they integrate the manga background even a bit(old and new worlds, dark childs and stuff, otome star and stuff)
Zim4o3 at 12:01 pm on May 24th, 2007
Mai Otome is good enough without fanservices…
Typer at 12:07 pm on May 24th, 2007
I 2nd what Mentar said.
I hope they wrap up the OVAs well. Then i can enjoy more Mai Otome
zomgfruitbunnies at 12:08 pm on May 24th, 2007
This is one of the few instances where I think to myself “Why, just why…” instead of “zOMfg Nipples!1″.
tonbo at 1:15 pm on May 24th, 2007
in case you guys never read abt the beginnings of Mai Hime or Otome, Sunrise(Inc) had wanted to do a M-O-E series, right from the beginning… so i have to say, at least it hasn’t ended up like Ba(be)Watch … heh heh. good thing they stopped acting like they are making a series for under 15 year-olds, for which OVAs are not meant for.
I’m getting to like Sunrise
buta_hill at 1:34 pm on May 24th, 2007
well i didn’t like mai-otome i think mai-hime is funnier and better than mai-otome so i don’t watch mai-otome zwei too ^__^
mikemil828 at 1:36 pm on May 24th, 2007
//Mai Otome is good enough without fanservices…//
Mai Otome had plenty of fanservice, don’t kid yourself.
philip72 at 1:46 pm on May 24th, 2007
Hot!
I usually agree with Mentar on most things; but I personally couldn’t be happier at seeing all their cartoon goodies. It’s not like we watch Zwei with our moms or kids or anything.
It’s a show aimed at males 15-25 and probably 95% of us will be overtly or secretly delighted at the flying breasts.
Only the infinately more moral 5% will probably take Mentars firm position.
But lets not deceive ourselves; anyone who thinks that Otome was not a fanservicey train wreck to begin with, does not remember the series at all.
This episode was simply its spirit made visible. Sunrise knows its target audience and what we want to see.
King~Philip at 2:21 pm on May 24th, 2007
wow ..there like … another philip here …. cool XD
well .. I .. I … I dunno what to say about this episode…
all I could say is .. nice tits..XD
Tokki at 2:40 pm on May 24th, 2007
I like this series, but what takes them so long to come out with epi’s?
Zeyr at 2:46 pm on May 24th, 2007
*sigh*, I wish they had made Mai Otome after the manga and not come up with this crap.
JT at 2:49 pm on May 24th, 2007
do you know when the last ova is coming out?? and i can’t believe they put nude scenes it just makes it weird watching but oh well i guess they need to attract audience somehow!
Mentar at 3:06 pm on May 24th, 2007
philip72, you’re way off if you count me to the “moral” group, nothing farther than the truth than that. I mean, that’s seriously funny
Personally, I’ve got nothing against tasteful fanservice at all. The problem is that this wasn’t funny or erotic or anything, it was just annoying. It doesn’t help that I consider 90% of the currently remaining active Otomes as oblivious shallow annoying airbrains. If you love this kind of “kyaaa! Damee desu!! Hahaha!! Yelp yelp!” situational “humor”, you may find yourself serviced well. This annoying screeching kindergarten made me want to run.
No, the problem is with the pacing. It just doesn’t fit. First this debile pool scene, and then serious drama afterwards? It’s as I said - strawberry tarte with fish as topping.
Hudson at 3:36 pm on May 24th, 2007
I really need to start watching this.
Nekozama at 3:43 pm on May 24th, 2007
haha people reacting over few minutes of flesh and nipples are bit something Otome fans and not suddenly split into three groups, those who dont like sudden service,those who like sudden juggling tits, and those who don’t even care a thing and just watch it like nothing happens……. sunrise and otome staff did make a surprising episode (though i’m already expecting this somehow~) but i do agree manga is better (wonder why they didn’t use that as a material….. too flashy and not moe i guess~