Pandora Hearts Episode 23-25 [END]: Lord, Have Mercy
Monday, October 5th, 2009Die die die -owait
Angel: Wow wow wow. I have not blogged in forever. I sincerely apologize for disappearing, as one life issue came after another (computer, school, illness). Regardless, I had plenty of opportunities to blog, so honestly, it is my own fault for neglecting HSA.
By the way, I do not have Photoshop for resizing/cropping. :[
On a brighter note… Later note.. Pandora Hearts has ended~
Frankly, the academy and Duke Barma arcs bored me. Yeah. -dodges rants-
Break is one of the funniest characters in this series and receives some nice development (stellar plot twist: Break was once an Illegal Contractor and escaped the Abyss, and also, we see him losing his eye to Cheshire). However, I saw this coming. I lost interest. I struggled halfway through the series like this because I spoiled myself by reading ahead the anime’s plot. >__<
I could not distinguish what I should know and what I should not in the anime. This makes speculating awkward.
Thus, let’s boogie with the last 3 episodes, which are entirely anime original, shall we?
…OK FINE. EPISODE 20 IS HILARIOUS. DRUNK ALICE VS DRUNK GIL GOGOGO. Uhh.
Episode 23
Overview
As Oz, Alice, and Gilbert tenaciously battle Chains in order to gather Alice’s memories but with little luck, the gang rests by visiting Ada. Oz’s bodyguards prove to be annoying with their stalking abilities (Jack had ordered Pandora to protect Oz) but Break arranged another mission for Pandora. Now focused, the gang examines the site where Oz first found Jack’s pocket watch for any clues. Meanwhile, a new tragedy is brewing…
Comments
- That electric deer Chain is awesome. Why cannot this be a Pokemon?
- Anyway, I still do not understand why Alice became the B Rabbit. Let me back up… Alice was born as a human (killed) and as a Chain (random rabbit), and then where does her twin fit in this? Was the Will of the Abyss born as a human and Chain too, is a split personality of Alice, or is she her own separate entity as the “queen” of the Abyss? I don’t know; this is what happens when I forget the plot after, oh, I don’t know, a month. Ack.
- Why Trumps? I am sure there are more Chains. Curse ye lazy designers.
- When Oz listens to the pocket watch, I thought that Oz would ask Eliot about Lacie and Eliot’s possible connection with the tragedy. Instead, Oz examines the grave site. Eliot is totally shafted. :/
- So far, PH is concluding with a typical plot of the world (well, city) is ending. It will be difficult wrapping up this series with so many arcs and so many questions left. I do hope for a second season..
Not much, but this episode is the bridge from manga exclusive to anime exclusive material.
Episode 24
Overview
Burning down, Leverru is under attack by many unleashed Chains. Upon arrival, the gang relieves and defends the city. These wild Chains were first believed to be released by the Baskervilles, but Alice asserts that the Will of the Abyss is crying out and disrupting the natural balance. Despite their resistance, one large dragon-like Chain is summoned and destroys the city…
Comments
- Obviously, Pandora officials have never played a shooting simulation/game. You never stand and shoot. Move. Have some stealth and strategy. Gah.
- Why is the Will of the Abyss crying out now? I barely remember the previous episodes, but was it not a flashback when Break sees her and Vincent? Why cry now of all times when she has been lonely for years? I guess she has cracked, haha.
- EQUES!!!! /orgasm
- Break is so badass when he slices up the Chains. The same goes for Gil. No Chains needed~
- Oz can properly fire a gun in this terror, posh. Oz uses two hands to steady his aim, but I believe that most people will profoundly shake if flames and monsters are everywhere. Let’s be realistic.. Despite the fighting monsters.
- Props to Oz for rescuing that boy, too. Everyone is a hero in this episode.
- Go Mad Hatter! We cannot grasp its power until it negates the Abyss in seconds, whereas everyone became exhausted after beating some dozen Chains.
- OMGGG. I cried when Break’s body hit the floor. His crazy smile gives me chills. At this moment, I thought he died. ;;
- It is not until the cabin scene and Alice’s description where I realized how hellish the Abyss is (as if the Chucky reference isn’t enough); specifically, the Abyss is an endless chaos of battling, waiting, and being alone in the dark. Deep.
- Ironic how the Baskervilles are helping Oz now when their last visit was unpleasant. Who gave the orders? Where is Vincent during all of this? I thought he was the Bad Guy. He has brother obsessions (check out the special DVD volumes, haha).
- Even an army of Pandora’s reinforcements are abysmal. I think I see a flying pony thing. New Chains, please.
- YEAHHHH now that is what I call a Chain. The black dragon/bird/bug Chain is so cool and I do not know why. Maybe because of the laser beams. 8D
- Woah, debris fall on Gil, Sharon, and Break (alive <3). Despite being one true action/destruction/death lover, I do not want PH to have an unhappy ending. I have a soft side for every character.
- Oz shouts STOP and the battle is over? Wah. Alice’s comment, “Your voice reached the Abyss” sounds profound, but why did the Will of the Abyss actually stop? Does she connect Oz with Jack, whom she has special feelings for? In Alice’s memory fragment, the Will of the Abyss stands on the shoreline and walks away, implying that she gives up fighting for Jack’s attention. However, the Alice on the boat is too innocent to be our cranky Alice. Who is who anymore? Twins are confusing.
- Another great line from Oz, “For the first time, I felt from the bottom of my heart that I wanted to live.” Congrats on not being emo or self-sacrificial anymore or so we think.
- The episode title, Kyrie, echoes “Lord, have mercy,” which really solidifies the horror felt and the chaos displayed. The tragedy is repeating itself (just as Jack predicted). I believe that the actual plunge into Abyss during the Tragedy of Sablier is never stated, so did the Will of the Abyss cause it? Either way, I like this episode more. Yay, chaos. <3
Episode 25
Overview
At the Reinsworth mansion, Uncle Oscar suggests that Oz returns home. Oz hesitates, and everyone can sense the tension. Oscar clarifies that Duke Zai Vessalius has been missing ever since Oz’s coming of age ceremony. Later that evening during supper, Oscar reveals that Zai had established a contract with Gryphon before the ceremony. Oz is shocked to learn that Gryphon was the Chain that first dragged him into the Abyss for his “sin” of existing…
Comments
- I once speculated that in Episode 1/2, the masked person Gil protected was Oz’s father, and it was.. I am shocked that Duke Zai could be an even bigger arse than depicted before. Not only did he directly send Oz into the Abyss, he never explains why he thought Oz was filthy. Normally, if someone has great power (Oz), would you not want them as an ally? Maybe he feared Oz’s power and the chance of repeating the Tragedy of Sablier. The audience may never know for sure what Oz’s father is thinking, as he never has an actual speaking role, minus flashbacks. This limitation bothers me more than some, as the son vs father theme is presented but developed and perceived only on Oz’s side, not on both sides.
- About the huge wall painting of Gryphon and whether or not Oz should have seen/remember it, Oz was still a child. Children hardly notice anything. Also, being royal, I am positive that Oz has many dining rooms (and maybe many mansions), so he may have not ate at the same table every time. I love how Oz nearly collapses and pulls the table cloth. On the other hand, I do not like his emo pout and “leave me alone” afterward. ><
- Yeah, Gryphon!… Taken down in less than a minute due to the power of friendship, or something? I did not expect a long winded battle, but I think that Oz/Alice had a cheap and anti-climatic win. After obliterating Gryphon, let’s eat up that son of a…
- Talk, daddy! T__T I cannot believe Zai did not respond with a crushing, “I don’t care,” “You’re filthy,” “Die” or something. I wanted Oz to be provoked into killing his dad, for Zai caused him so much suffering (though, no one deserves to die… But this is fictional anyways). Regardless, their meeting is a milestone in Oz’s character, as he accepts his existence no matter who wants him dead and finally gets on with his life.
- With Zai alive (as well as the Baskervilles?), I could suspect a second season. Oz did not completely wrap up his conflict with his dad. We do not know Eliot’s connection to the Tragedy based on his nightmares. We do not know why Jack is unresponsive. We do not know about a speck of Glen Baskerville. We do not know what Break’s promise to the Will of the Abyss is. We do not know all of Zai’s motives and why he joined the Baskervilles. And so on. We just have an idea of the Tragedy, who was involved, and how it happened. Sigh, such an impressive plot and Xebec decided to go anime original.
Overall Impressions
- Where to start? Pandora has stellar music, a unique concept of Chains/Abyss/Contractors (though, contracts are popular now in anime), and distinguishable characters.
- I think the latter (characters) is PH’s strongest aspect, as each character has their own bleak past and irrationalities, only to overcome their fears and repents and trust each other in strange ways, haha. I like characters with some flaws, which emphasizes the magnitude of their struggle and persevering. Break and Alice are my favorite characters, as both experience tragic pasts (and yet are bold and not melodramatic/whinny). One wants to rewrite the past and the other wants to forget it (and then ironically discover it again). I wish Echo got more screen time, as a quiet female is always interesting (what is going on in her head, nudge nudge). Also, I wish the studio did not downgrade Oz’s yandere personality so much.. We all know that the scene where he shoots the Will of the Abyss in the form of the rabbit is the smex.
- Shame there are not many PH followers. The first episode did not do justice to the the dark complexity of this series!
- I do recommended this series if one can sit through the “dirty animation” (I have high standards, and I did not think that PH’s animation quality is horrid). If you cannot digest it, pick up the manga. Pandora Hearts has a real story to tell and fleshes out characters in this wonderful mystery/fantasy addition to anime collections. Although Pandora Hearts is not a masterpiece, it is enjoyable to watch and you will find yourself adoring the characters, listening to Yuki Kajiura’s music 1 AM in the morning (like me! : D), and asking questions and thinking about the uncertainties in the world, as opposed to watching mindless fanservice and moe dribbles. Thanks for listening. May I stop procrastinating and typing boring, long winded articles. I am definitely improving, I think, so thanks for the opportunity. ^^
Overall Rating for Episode 23: 7.3/10
Overall Rating for Episode 24: 8.5/10
Overall Rating for Episode 25: 8.2/10
Overall Rating for Pandora Hearts: 80/100



























































