Look look! They're holding hands!
Katt: I have been so bad with blogging this anime! Terrible! Technically I should be blogging from episode 9, where I stopped, but then I’d just take even longer to catch up. Let’s just pretend that those past few episodes never happened and start anew at episode 13, okay? I have nothing else to blog, what with Hansakeru Seishounen taking a week off and Kemono no Souja Erin updating, like, never. Oh, and before I get into my review, here is my mandatory “I miss Minnie!!!” Now I know how she felt when I was gone to Anime North. It’s not the same without my twin around!
Oh yeah, there were angels in this plot somewhere…
The past few episodes have been gradually reminding us that, oh yes, there is a plot beyond the let’s-beat-the-Empire that we have been seeing as of late. At the moment, it looks like this plot is highly connected with Riannon specifically. So how has this been shown? Above all, Riannon’s bond with the elves has been greatly emphasized. We already know that she and Arthur are descendants of the elf Pwyll, but that doesn’t account for the fact that everyone keeps saying she seems more like an elf than a human. This, I do believe, is connect with the entire ‘angel’ portion of the plot.
On top of this, we finally see the brown-haired girl who appears in the OP and who i’s running through the ED animation. Apparently she is Riannon’s inner maiden. Uhhhh, yeah. I really don’t know what to make of that right now. A possible theory: since Riannon cannot hear “the voice of the maiden inside” right now, maybe the moment when she can hear it will be a moment of awakening for her. As an angel, perhaps? Definitely an awakening that will explain some of the odd things about Riannon.
Current plan to defeat the Empire
Until that bigger plot starts unraveling, we are stuck in the seemingly roundabout quest to overthrow the Empire. It is just going one slow step at a time, isn’t it? Invade the base. Kill Lidia (crazy bitch, I miss you!). Rescue Riannon. And now? Get the Brigantes tribe to team up with them.
The Brigantes, if I recall correctly, are referred to as a band of bandits. They are mentioned quite a few episodes back when the Gaels are partying in the woods and receive a warning from the wandering minstrel, Taliesin. Basically they are told to stay out of their lair if they are wise. But really, these main characters aren’t all that wise, so clearly they go back in attempt to form an alliance. As things turn out, the Brigantes don’t even have a chief–oh no! If that is the case, then who really has the right to accept or deny this proposal? Since accepting would be a more dramatic decision than rejecting, the Brigantes automatically opt for the latter. After Arthur duels with Taliesin, the classiest-looking Brigante around, he gains respect from the tribe and so maybe an alliance isn’t that huge a stretch anymore.
Taliesin the minstrel: what to make of him?
Taliesin is becoming less of a mystery…but he is still hard to read in a lot of ways. I like him him because of this, as well as for his fashion sense. I do so love a good hat. But okay–let’s focus on his character and try to understand what this minstrel is all about. When Riannon was kidnapped we saw that he has been making contact with the Empire, though he has not been bold enough to choose sides. Now we know why his cooperation was desired: he is part of the Brigantes, and it seems like even though the title of ‘chief’ hasn’t been claimed, he has the most authority in the tribe. He never does accept the Empire’s offer to join them, though, which gives Taliesin points for being a good guy.
He is also extremely deceptive, though. That stunt he pulled making Arthur think he was injured? How cunning! Everyone likes a good guy with a hint of assholeishness in him. Or at least I do. This sort of secretive nature that he has will definitely make him a suspicious character, though, to both the characters and to us viewers. This is what I believe at this point, in any case, and hopefully I won’t be let down.
I don’t know what was up with that scene with Taliesin at the end of the episode. I have no clue what to make of it. Was he drunk? If so, was it on alcohol or on the presence of elves? What an oddball. I don’t want him to turn into pure comic relief from here on, so he’d better keep some seriousness! Octavia didn’t end up letting me down, so don’t let Taliesin let me down either!
Katt’s overall rating for Tears to Tiara episode 13: 7.5/10
Katt’s anticipation for Tears to Tiara episode 14: 8/10
