12.14.04
Report on December 5 meeting
This was a fairly small meeting — only about five folks other than myself showed up. But I was able to bring the projector, so we had a good show. The regular schedule was slightly modified, since Naruto was a double episode, so we skipped Galaxy Angel this time. Episodes shown were Naruto #26-27, Full Metal Alchemist #11, Hikaru no Go #36, and Scrapped Princess #24 (the final episode).
Episode summaries follow.
Naruto #26-27: A special double episode, basically starting the second season. The first episode is really just a big recap. In the second, the Second Exam begins. The examiner explains the rules: each team will receive either an Earth scroll or a Heaven scroll, and enter the Forest of Death. Within 5 days, the team must acquire the scroll they weren’t given, and reach the tower in the center of the forest. Everybody must sign a consent form to get a scroll, since from this point forward, people will die… The teams get their scrolls, and all start simultaneously from different gates. Traps, attacks, and other maneuvers begin immediately. Naruto goes behind a bush to answer a call of nature, and when he emerges, Sasuke attacks him, asking where the real Naruto is.
Full Metal Alchemist #11: Ed and Al travel to a former mining town where research is being done on the Philosopher’s Stone. Ed saves a girl trapped under a mine car, but is accused of lying when he gives his name, because the “real” Elric brothers are supposedly helping Magwar with the research. Ed and Al confront the imposters but the fight is a draw and they retreat. Al notices many of the townspeople have coughs. The fake Al, whose name is Fletcher, tells the real Al that he and his brother are trying to continue their father’s research. Ed and Al sneak into the castle again, and find a room filled with a mysterious red water and red mist, which seem to be responsible for the townspeople’s illness. Ed is overcome by fumes, but Fletcher leads them away. The older imposter brother appears, and he and Ed fight.
Hikaru no Go #36: Hikaru and Su Young continue their game, each telling himself he can’t afford to lose. Hikaru plays what looks like a bad move, but several moves later it’s clear that it was preparation for a fight that nobody else saw coming. Hikaru now has the advantage, but Su Young fights back. Hikaru ends up winning by 1.5 points, and the observers praise both players, but Su Young is devastated. He asks for Hikaru’s name and promises to return to play him as a pro. The Go teacher from the Kaiou club sees the game, and says Hikaru played as well as the first time he saw him (which was really Sai playing). Sai gets an uneasy feeling…
Scrapped Princess #24: Shannon fights the Peacemakers as Raquel tries, and fails, to stop Pacifica’s bleeding. As she lifts Pacifica’s lifeless body, it disappears, and Pacifica’s blood moves in a spell-like pattern that apparently causes the world to freeze. Pacifica finds herself on a grassy hill, speaking to a person who resembles her and who calls herself Seria Mauser. Pacifica asks, “Are you God?” She replies, “I’m a traitor.” She explains how the “sealed world” came to be, because she betrayed humanity in order to protect her brother and sister. Seria asks Pacifica to decide whether the world should continue as it is. Pacifica says she understands why Seria wanted to protect her siblings, but it’s wrong for people not to be free. Seria disappears, and the world restarts — and is unsealed. Seria speaks to the people, setting them free… and they lived happily ever after. More or less. :)