Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon II – 13 (END)

(Sakai Watari no Yoku Fukaki Mono Tachi)
“The Greedy Ones who Cross Borders”

Explanation

How did Malga & Margot get their new Zwei Frauen?

Malga says she got a message while on the way, and the sign frame she pulls up says EDEL Brocken. She also says “Perhaps it’s because M.H.R.R. is nearby.” Basically, EDEL Brocken is one of the manufacturing conglomerates based out of M.H.R.R., and the one that witches like Malga and Margot are linked to. I can tell you that this is the country which they originate from, though even without that recall that they use a lot of German words, and seeing as M.H.R.R. is the current incarnation of the Holy Roman Empire (which sits right on top of what will later become Germany), the link is obvious.

All that said, as for why they were contacted by EDEL Brocken and given new weapons, I don’t know, and based on what Margot said a minute or two after they suited up, neither do they. It’s possible that someone at EDEL Brocken / M.H.R.R. wanted Musashi to win though, and they decided to send along some weaponry to tilt things in their favour. That said, I’m told that Margot and Malga are test pilots for EDEL Brocken, and that the company decided to test out their new cutting-edge technology in the best place of all – the middle of a live battle. Good thing they just had crappy gas mileage instead of, you know, not working at all!

Why does Musashi lose if Tres Espaa gets behind them?

To satisfy the conditions to win, Musashi needs to fight a running battle with Tres Espaa (with Musashi being the ones chasing after Tres Espaa), and/or blow up quite a lot of their fleet while they’re at it (though that seems rather optional). However, if Tres Espaa gets behind them, then Musashi wouldn’t be chasing them anymore, but rather running away – that would make England lose the reenactment. That’s why they can’t let that happen.

By the way, the way Tres Espaa intends to force this is by firing on one side of Musashi repeatedly, in order to corral them into the direction they want them to go, which in turn would allow Tres Espaa to get their fleet behind them. Think of it this way – if you’re wearing your nicest suit or dress, and someone comes by with a hose and sprays it your right, you’re going to move to your left to keep from getting wet. Then all they need to do it move the hose a little bit more to the right, forcing your further to the right, and so on and so forth until they have you where they want you. Now, replace a hose with massive naval cannons, and you in your best suit with the ships that house everyone you love and care about, and that’s the situation Musashi (and especially Admiral Adele) were faced with. For a minute, at least.

Musashi’s paths to victory against Tres Espaa

Other than beating on Tres Espaa so much that they turn tail and run, Musashi was originally gunning for blowing up the aircraft carrier that was launching those mechanical phoenixes that Margot and Malga defeated. However, since they ran out of gas they couldn’t finish the job, after which Felipe actually blew up the carrier himself to prevent Musashi from destroying it.

This leads to the two ways Musashi was gunning to win. They could either 1) secure the wreckage of the aircraft carrier, or 2) relinquish the battle to the English navy and let them finish it. Both of these cause problems, though.

  1. The former is problematic because it’s a rather suspect method of winning, because though the aircraft carrier is a powerful part of the Tres Espaa fleet, it has already been destroyed, so it’s more like they’re taking credit for other’s actions than actually beating Tres Espaa themselves. This isn’t an especially strong way to win, and would require them negotiating with other countries to convince them that this was enough – and once again, that doesn’t put them in the best of positions.
  2. As for the latter option – relinquishing the battle to the English fleet – that would make Musashi look super weak, since they would be admitting that they’re not militarily strong enough to fight and win without calling in a stronger country to finish the job for them. They would in effect be admitting that their victory against Tres Espaa and K.P.A. Itaia in Season 1 was a fluke. This would be the most dangerous outcome of all (short of Musashi sinking outright, of course), because it would risk them losing any amount of their sovereignty that they have reclaimed. After all, if other countries know they can push Musashi around because they’re too weak to resist, they will. Not good.

How did Musashi fulfill the requirements for victory?

The victory requirement they ended up pursuing was making sure they stayed behind Tres Espaa (thereby making it a running fight) and destroying the San Martin. Now, that’s not an avenue of victory I discussed in the previous explanation, but it was the one that was always there – destroy the enemy’s flagship and you take the battle, and the enemy’s flagship is the San Martin. Actually, it’s all three San Martins, which were destroyed 1) by Grace’s ship slamming into the first, 2) Horizon destroying the second with Lyp Katathlips, and 3) Mary slicing through the third with Excalibur Collbrande.

Adding onto this, Musashi not only won, but they did it in a pretty damn spectacular manner. Remember, this is more about optics than anything else, about being able to say to everyone “We’re strong!” more so than actually being strong. The combination of Adele’s insane city-ship aerial back flip, Horizon cracking out a new Armament of Deadly Sins (“Musashi took one from England? Wow, we [all the other countries] didn’t know that!”), and then Musashi + their new student beating all of Tres Espaa’s best (despite them giving everything they had) and downing the rest of their flagships was all more than enough to convince the rest of the world that yes, Musashi is strong. Even were someone inclined to argue – though they wouldn’t have a leg to stand on – the manner they went about it pretty much removes the possibility.

What and where is IZUMO?

As EDEL Brocken is to M.H.R.R., IZUMO is to Musashi. That is, it’s one of the industrial conglomerate based in the Far East which manufactures for Musashi (or, you know, whoever will pay). In fact, it’s also the company that built Musashi itself! As for where the location they’re going to is, it appears to be based on a neutral floating island (see here) in Hexagone Franaise.

Why did Gin stay on Musashi?

My initial guess was that she was too ashamed. She talked so big, saying that she was going to beat Futayo and prove that Muneshige’s loss was just a fluke, and get his inherited name back, but she failed. However, there’s also the simple fact that she apparently didn’t have a chance to get off the ship before the Tres Espaaian fleet retreated. After all, she fought Futayo on Musashi, and Tres Espaa left in a bit of a hurry, heh.

Now, as for why Muneshige came to join her…well, that seems pretty obvious to me, d’aaaaawww! Okay, so maybe not…without any status left in Tres Espaa (upon losing his name), he was probably afraid he was going to be unable to get stronger and win it back…and more importantly, that Gin would be forced to be Tachibana Gin for the next Tachibana Muneshige. Given when we saw this episode, I can’t imagine for a second that he would allow such a thing.

All that said, the real question is why Tres Espaa let such powerful and loyal people get away. That’s not the way to stem your decline, guys. Just a heads up.

Impressions

It is always with a heavy heart that I write my impressions of the final episode of a series, to send it off and likely never talk about it in front of you again. Yet there hasn’t been a time I’ve been more saddened, more wistful for the ending of a series (save for perhaps one). Not because this episode disappointed – it did not, not by any means. Rather, though I have spent an objectively ridiculous amount of time working on these posts, I will miss it. Enough commiserating – there will be time enough for that in my Final Impressions. Here’s what I enjoyed this episode, and what I did not – though I assure you there’s precious little of the latter. Let’s do this thing, one last time!

Margot & Malga Fly Again

It was beautiful seeing them flying together again, as equals. It has been a rough season for Malga over all, and Margot was shot down last episode, I thought that was going to be what reset everything about their relationship (though Kimi-nee and Margot took care of most of that a few episodes back). I’m glad that instead of both of them becoming weaker, they both got a boost instead! Check the Explanations sections for reasons why this happened, but impressions-wise, I have to say that I’m surprised how little the whole thing annoyed me. Normally, such a seemingly ass pulled power-up would piss me off, but here it does not – I know there’s a reason, even if I – or even the characters! – don’t know what it is right now. And I have my suspicions anyway. Damn politics…I love it!

But other than that, it was the music, it was the way they moved, it was how they fought, it was how after so much trouble, they completely destroyed their enemies. I try to be objective, I really do. Oh sure, I fail frequently – most of the time, really, I’m not very good at it – but I at least try. Yet this was a scene I enjoyed simply because I’ve come to love the characters so much, and it was beautiful to see them flying together again. It was rushed, and flawed, and ill explained, but it was done with flair and it was plenty of fun. And Malga asking for Margot to smother her more? BWAHAHA! Malga, there are plenty of heroes that would love to motorboat their girl in the middle of a battle, but I think you’re the only one who’s done it. Well played girl, well played. Just a fun scene all around.

Musashi Maneuvers Into Position

While I’ll be damn near the first to defend almost anything Adele does, throughout this battle she’s mostly proven herself as a competent military commander, but not a great one. In terms of sheer tactical and strategic ability, Neshinbara outstrips her every day, so I’m glad he’s going to be fully back in action now that his curse is cleared. That said, Adele finally pulled out a ploy worthy of Musashi. To do a back flip with a city-ship…wow, that takes some steel the your spine! Though what I really enjoyed was how effortlessly brave Suzu was. When will people learn that it’s always the quiet girls with long bangs who are always truly brave? :3

Now let me talk about why this maneuver was brilliant. Adele had Musashi cloak itself, and then had a cargo ship de-cloak beneath the San Martin. Before Tres Espaa realized what they were shoot at, they had sunk the cargo ship, thinking it was Musashi. That’s when Musashi appeared above them and performed their city-wide back flip. The genius comes because Adele sacrificed a cargo ship in order to get all of their enemy’s main guns pointing forward and down, instead of up (as they were) or behind (as they were going to be). That meant the maximum amount of time required for them to reposition their guns – which allowed for more than enough time for Horizon and Toori (and as it ended up, Mary) to get in and do their work. A little late, but well done nonetheless!

Horizon & Toori vs Tres Espaa – and the Return of Mary

There are obvious parallels to pull from for this scene, and a lot of them. The final battle of Episode 13, Season 1 is the most obvious, so I’ll start there. Against that, today’s offering was the weaker or the two, though I have to say that it had a harder time of it. The commercial break in the middle really hurt it, as the tension climbed upwards…only to taper off, and then climb once again after the break. Horizon’s song didn’t fit as well here either, as rather than a mournful song sung as ships crashed down (as it was before), it was sung in the middle of an intense struggle, and took the place of Kyoukaisen’s wonderful OST that could (and shortly would) have been compelling the mood ever higher. Also, the simple fact is that avarice (greed) is a less compelling emotion than sadness. Horizon speaking of her greed, even while crying, is nothing like her crying out in sadness for the very first time.

Yet nevertheless, there were glorious elements to this scene. There were the parallels to the first battle of Episode 1, Season 2, where once again it was Horizon against the whole of Tres Espaa’s top soldiers, only this time they didn’t have Gin to take the shot for them, and Horizon had Toori. That’s not the glorious part, but rather the setup. It was next.

When Horizon pulled out the Aspida Phylargia and everyone exclaimed in surprise, I cheered. When Horizon stopped singing and she and Toori talked about her avarice, her greed of wanting to save everyone, everywhere, with the music climbing in the background and characters parading across the screen, I got chills. And they didn’t stop, not until Horizon engaged Aspida Phylargia and fired anew, making the battle all but won – only not. Too fast, I never saw it coming! The determination and pride in the soldiers of Tres Espaa, enemies who I cannot hate, as they reached out from their comrades’ sacrifice to grasp victory – yet it was not to be. The reversals, with victory nearly being snatched from defeat, only for a hero to step on the stage and do what only they can. Ohhhh man, this is the kind of things that legends are made of, when larger-than-life characters perform heroic deeds of bravery and power on a world stage. I cannot hate any of this. I cannot help but love it.

Yes, it was not to be. Lest we forget, though every season is Horizon and Toori’s show, this one they shared the spotlight with another couple, and it was only right that they come back and play a pivotal role, here at the end of things. Mary and Tenzou stepped out so suddenly but so rightly, so that I could only sit back in amazement as as she struck. Any deficiencies in plot or pacing earlier in this scene were made up for in its conclusion. Loved it. Loved it. And in case you’re keeping track, that’s the third scene from this season that I have a feeling will give me chills forever more. Only this series can do that. Only Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon can do that, every single time.

The Four End Couples – Felipe & Juana, Muneshige & Gin, Mary & Tenzou, and Horizon & Toori

I’ve never quite been able to tell whether it’s the epic scale, the intricate details, the sensational climactic battles, or the many lovingly dedicated couples that draw me most to this show (that’s a lie – the answer is “All of the above”), but the fourth option certainly showed its power in this episode’s final half. Let me quickly (me, quickly? Hah!) take each couple in turn. Expect gushing.

Felipe & Juana. The greatest beauty here was not in the relationship, but in Felipe. Felipe Segundo has been a terribly damaged man since we were first introduced to him, and one who just episodes ago was willing to fight to his death for his beloved country. To see him willing to have fun, to lose himself in the festival for even a time, is a remarkable change. Whether through Juana’s actions, or those of Musashi, or all the people who have rallied around him now and then, Felipe is starting to believe again. That they held hands as they returned home, in an echo of what once was, only so very different now, was just icing on the cake.

Muneshige & Gin. Oh my gods I cannot gush about this scene enough. First of all, the one thing I wasn’t too fond of: I’m not terribly fond of the somber Tres Espaaian music in general, and I don’t think it fit the scene terribly well here. That’s it. Now, for everything else, HNNNNNNNNNNG!!!! Also, HNNNNNNNNNG x2 and SUPER HNNNNNNNNNNG!!! Okay, I’m good now. So I brushed on it a bit last episode, but I was surprised to see that Gin stayed with Musashi after her loss (see Explanations section for reasons why). I suspected that she and Muneshige might join Musashi (that was half wishful thinking, half genre savvy), but I thought for sure that this would be a later thing, after she got back and the two decided to leave together. It does not matter! This is exactly what I wanted to see, Muneshige and Gin pledging their love to one another as man and woman, regardless of any historical names they may or may not possess. I love Kyoukaisen for its dedicated couples, and this one is one of the best. I cannot be more excited to see them join the Musashi crew. Amore!

Mary & Tenzou. Tenzou, you are an idiot and a coward! XD But that aside, they’re a clumsy and awkward couple, but I love them for it. I can’t wait to see Tenzou make faltering steps towards Mary, even though they’re sort of engaged (sort of). Should be fun!

Horizon & Toori. There is in truth not much to say, save that I am glad to see that Horizon finally has her resolve 100%, and that they still don’t quite understand each other, even though they actually really do. I look forward to more of them, always. Oh, and it was nice seeing Horizon in her old threads one more time. The more things change, the more things…change, but it’s nice to visit how things were.

Last Words

This episode rocked, and so did this season. Final season impressions are ahead. Make sure to hit the spoiler tag to see them all…though I haven’t written them yet, I have a feeling I’m going to go long. Big surprise, I know.

tl;dr: @StiltsOutLoud – So it ends. With a flash, Musashi is victorious once again, w/ new friends & lovers to show for it. Chills man, chills. Loved it #Kyoukaisen

Random thoughts:

  • Yes, Margot and Malga can gattai. Woo! Get out of the way, Aquarion EVOL, you’ve got two lesbian witches stepping onto your turf, and let’s face it…that means you lose.
  • I loved that they brought the Azuma and Miriam joke back. Yes, because it was funny, but as the above gushing quite clearly demonstrated, I’m a huge hopeless romantic who loves seeing romances who aren’t the usual harem antics that we see so often in anime (though those are fun as well), and shipping Azuma x Miriam certainly falls into that category. D’aaaaaww!
  • Oh yes, those character cameos. I know who a few of them are, but I’m going to stay my tongue so that we can all be introduced to them together when Season 3 comes around (it’ll happen! I believe in it!). By the way, if you know who they are (or anything about un-animated books), then please keep it behind spoiler tags. Thanks.
  • Loved their little impromptu concert. Kimi-nee is, as usual, amazing. Kyoukai Senjou no K-ON, anyone? 😀 Note: the song she sung is one of my favorite special songs from Season 1. That and the Adele/Suzu one. Highly recommended!
  • Sounds like the M.H.R.R. arc is next. I can’t wait for Season 3. Speaking of, Sunrise…does this include boredom? Or a lack of more Kyoukaisen? Because, you know, you offered… Ufufu~ >:3

Full-length images: 16, 23, 29.

Epilogue:

 

Final Impressions

This is literally the show I came here to write about. It was the lack of coverage of the first season of Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon that made me think hey, maybe they need a guy like me. Maybe they need someone who is crazy enough to cover every facet of that wonderfully complex fantasy story in such ridiculous detail that everyone else will be able to enjoy it like I do. Also, maybe they’ll let me terrorize the other writers and tell people to call me “onii-chan.”

…okay, so some of those came later. Yet it’s true that this series is why I’m in a position to write for you today. To date I have penned and published 80,864 words about this series (not including excerpts), 39,400 of which came from this season. For those that aren’t aware, that’s basically a small novel (I have a problem -_-). I’ve also spent something like 8+ hours every week producing each post, which is enough time to cover ~2-3 other “regular” shows. I’ve joked about putting more effort into blogging this show than I have my paying job, and even if that’s not strictly true, I’ve sure cared about the results a helluva lot more. That all begs the question – was it worth it?

Yes. Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon is fantasy as I love it, at my ideal. Actually, in truth it’s probably the books that are my ideal, as they contain all the crazy details and ridiculous minutiae that most people find tiresome, but I absolutely adore. As I’ve grown older I’ve learned to let loose and not sweat the small stuff, but there’s still a younger Stilts somewhere back in the mists of time (i.e. like a decade ago) who was frustrated when things weren’t explained. Why did this happen, why did that happen, why are these characters doing what they’re doing!? I’m told that Kyoukaisen’s “light” novels contain all these details, and so without having read them, I love them. Yet Sunrise did an admirable job of fitting a ridiculous amount of detail into the time they had, and firmly justifying nearly every action the characters took. Everyone worked at cross purposes, but they all did it for good reasons, like they are real people trying to make their best way in the world. So it is in real life, so it is here, and that’s how I prefer it.

And what a world! Horizon’s Earth is small by geographical standards (confined to merely the island that was once Japan), and yet immense in storytelling. There are more players from more countries that are fleshed out and vivid and interesting than in most stories I’ve ever had the pleasure to experience, and perhaps all of them (though there are certainly a few contenders). The scale of events is massive, with everything the characters do truly having effects on the world stage – not because they say so, but because we see it happen. There are simply things you can do with a cast this size that are not possible with smaller casts, because a scene with five named characters and a bunch of mooks is nothing next to two dozen people marching into battle together, each with a name and a story, and whom you’ve come to know and love. Nothing matches it.

There’s more, always more! Something the Kyoukaisen anime does perhaps better than the novels (I can’t vouchsafe for that personally, but there are things certain mediums do better, and I’ll shortly explain why) is deliver stirring scenes and climactic battles that run chills up my spine, no matter how many times I see them. The combination of characters and scale and music and art all coalesce together to create my favorite scenes among anime ever, just true beauties to behold. That’s just not something you can do on a page, you can’t compel people forward with images and sounds and pull feelings straight out of their spines as you whip them around with time out of their control. Oh you can do it other ways, of course, but some things are most exquisite when you can sit back and simply behold. Kyoukaisen has them in spades.

Then there’s the romances, the culminations of some which number among my favorite scenes. Rather than 5+ girls all fighting over one guy, every character has their own lover or love interest or none at all, but that’s right and proper and exactly how it should be. It’s not important to the story that Shirojiro and Heidi or Malga and Margot have been together since the beginning, but it’s important to them. Every relationship that has been introduced or come about has followed that model, giving us a succession of beautiful love stories to behold, with nothing held back and the assurance that there are always more in store.

Yet I’ve written exhaustively on why I love this series before (Part 2, the Final Impressions section), so I’ll stop myself there and focus on this season. Did it hold up to its predecessor, giving us everything we loved about it and preferably more? Once again, I say boldly and italically, yes! The scale was as large as ever, the characters were interesting, the plot was were clever and interesting and incredibly detailed, there were romances that got my heart pounding, there were fights that made me clutch my chair, there were scenes that make me dream and crow and shout out with glee so loud that my neighbors must think I’m a crazy person, and let’s face it, they would not be wrong. Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon II gave us everything the first season had, without having to spend four episodes leading us into it and with all the characters from Season 1 still there to have fun with once again. It also added three more scenes to the pantheon of ones that will forever send chills up my spine – Shakespeare-chan’s confession, the coming together of Tenzou and Mary, and the final clash of this last episode – and for that I am delighted, and grateful.

Perhaps my favorite part of this season was the change in focus. Rather than stay firmly fixed on Horizon and Toori, the series has enough confidence in its entire cast to give the limelight to others, to let Neshinbara and Malga and Tenzou (among others) have some time to shine. This had the effect of having all the excitement of the first season, almost like we were starting fresh, while still having all the old plots there and moving and pushing us forward. This is how it was able to hit climax after climax without the effect diminishing, and with each standing on its own and thrilling us (or not) by its own merits. I have said before that this show has several “normal” shows worth of plot all woven together, and it does, and I think that’s a tremendous way to tell a story when you can pull it off. Kawakami-sensei has proven once again that he can, and Sunrise that they can continue to do the impossible and adapt a series that’s so complex it has no right being on the screen. It’s not perfect, not by any means, but if you put in the time then it’s one of the most rewarding shows you can possibly watch. It’s a true treat.

Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon is a great series, and I recommend it heartily to anyone who has there wherewithal to stick with something that’s a little bit hard (okay, a lot bit) as long as the reward on the other end is great. And it is. Plus, I’ve even made it a little easier on you, so if you have any friends you want to suggest this show to, go right ahead. These posts will always be there.

Now, with my thoughts more or less taken care of, there is only one more thing to say. Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon has always been a bit of a polarizing series, one that people either love or hate. That’s why, though to me it has always been the height of High Fantasy, one of the kings of the fantasy genre, we here at RandomC have marked it as niche, and rightfully so. Yet I say that if this is a niche, it’s one I’m happy to be a part of and write for. I have read practically every comment you have posted, and am grateful for every view. Of any I have written so far (though there be much overlap, of course), those of you who have read and commented on my Kyoukaisen posts have been my favorite. Every critique has been well-thought out, and all the gushing has been…well, not so much, but it’s gushing, so who cares!! The discussions have been fascinating, rivaling the best of my Stilts Out Loud posts, and soundly trouncing the rest. So I guess what I’m trying to say is…thanks. I’ve probably poured something like 200+ hours into writing about Kyoukaisen, but it has been worth it. Maybe I have matured as a writer – save for my irrepressible tendency to prattle on incessantly – I swear I’ll work on it someday, when I have time! – but mostly I have just enjoyed the ride.

To me, blogging has always been about having a place to go to spend just a few more minutes in the worlds that I love, after the credits have rolled and the episode – or the season – has come to a close. Now, as a writer my goal has always been to give that place to you, so that we can come together and spend just a little while longer in this world, in Horizon’s Earth. I hope you have enjoyed your time there, both on the screen and here with me. I look forward to more adventures with Toori, Horizon, and all of the others when Season 3 eventually comes (I believe it will–in time, in time!). Until then, I’ll meet you all in other worlds, in other posts, in the hopes that we’ll all come together here again one day, beyond that lovely, lonely, brilliant, and beautiful horizon. Ja~

155 Comments

  1. Da5id

    Boobs, boobs, and explosions, with an extra dose of testosterone for good measure.Truly, this is a series every man should see.

  2. Shadiic

    Thank you so much Stilts!!!Now I’m going to sit in my corner from the lack of Horizon.

    • Shadiic

      Stilts I see a typo. In this sentence Rather than 5+ girls all fighting over one guy, ever character has their own lover or love interest or none at all. Did you mean every instead of ever?

      • Stilts

        Thank you kindly, and fixed. Sorry my editing was rather haphazard tonight…too tiiiiired *yawns*

      • Zhinvu

        Here too Stilts -> Why does Musashi lose is Tres Espaa gets behind them?

      • willowywicca

        Also:”Where and where is IZUMO?”Is presumably meant to be “what and where”… Thank you for all the excellent posts, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading them and they added to my enjoyment of this wonderful series!

  3. Access

    While I’m not sure we will ever see the animated conclusion to this series, let alone the translated novels (ha!), I think a season 3, at least, is highly likely from the way things are going.Alas, it’s probably going to be quite some time until then and your coverage of Horizon was always the post of the week I was looking forward to the most. The criminal lack of love for Horizon on the site was very disturbing until you arrived.Well.. can’t do anything but wait. Let’s hope Lantis doesn’t fuck up again with the OST.

  4. I’m sorta still pulling my thoughts together on this, but in regards to couples, I think I’ve figured out why Malga and Margot are in the story (aside from the general awesome concept of dogfighting lesbian witches). I would have included them in your list of couples, since while they were established from even the first episode of the first season, their struggles are right up there with four major het couples of the season. But removing the gender issue makes the concept of equal partnerships a bit more obvious in their case, thus making it easier to see in the others as well.Like I said its still a tad vague in my head, I hope to have it pulled together when I do my final series review sometime in the next week.

    • Stilts

      Oh, the only reason I didn’t put them at the end is because I went over them at the beginning of the post, and because those four couples were shown in that sequence at the end of the episode. No hidden reasoning beyond that!

  5. GoodwillWright

    What about the two ghost people of Tres Espana? The girl with the God of War and the baseball guy with the Testament Armament? You don’t consider them a couple?

    • Stilts

      There are many, maaaaany couples in the series, which is, as stated, one of the things I love about it. I just didn’t bother going over every single one.

  6. G27

    They’re going to IZUMO HQ in Hexagone Francaise.

  7. Kuma Kuma

    “To date I have penned and published 80,864 words about this series (not including excerpts), 39,400 of which came from this season.”Heck, to think that I have stalk and read all the words you have published for Horizon series. I must unconsciously joined the rank of crazy people out here.Nevertheless, great post Stilts ‘onii-chan~’, I couldn’t have enjoyed the story this much without your detailed coverage. Thanks a lot!~

    • Stilts

      That means you’ve read basically a novel on a bunch of novels. We…we’re getting into some inception shit in here. Where’s my totem!!^^ Glad you enjoyed them. Twas my pleasure

      • Voyager

        Eh, we are on the same boat pals, I have read every line Stilts wrote plus every comment by fellow Horizon followers, I think that amounts to some middle sized novel … I’ve never spent so much extra-time for any anime other than this one, but it was absolutely worth it. I enjoy reading books (both in English and in my native language) as much as I enjoy watching good anime and I have grown to be kind of critical when it comes to reviews and impressions, so I’m happy to say that the group of people that commented on Horizon is made of pretty “high quality” writers. Throughout the series, I didn’t have any remarkable note that you guys didn’t already point out, so I ended up never posting anything, apart from thanking Stilts for his amazing work, that one I had to post. From the reviews he made, their structure and content, the way to convey the feelings and the explainations in a balanced way … I can tell that he is a talented writer.Stilts, I heard about you writing your own novels, please make sure to let us know if you ever release something, I’m sure I would love to read it.To everyone, thanks for the wonderful time we spent together, let’s meet again when the new season (undoubtedly) will come, and re-form this little Horizon community. And Stilts, don’t you dare to let us down and fail to come back, it can’t be the same without this place you created for us ;)Ad maiora

      • Stilts

        Thank you, kind sir. And have no fear – the second I take care of my other RL stuff, get back to writing (which at this point mostly entails a damn lot of editing), and finish the sucker off, you all will be the first to know where it can be found 🙂 I promise!

  8. Xan

    I can’t even begin to properly express my own feelings without going into a similarly-sized overview, but I’ll just have to settle for saying that I agree with everything here. Even with just two seasons that seem to have gone by so fast, I feel incredibly close to these characters now, and just love seeing their trials, victories, and everything inbetween. Naturally, with some emphasis on the amazing couples too, this series really does have everything.Maybe most importantly, thank you Stilts, for the absolutely insane dedication in these posts. I’ll be on constant alert for news of a third season, and with just as much anticipation for you blogging about it, Horizon would no longer be the same without your input.

  9. Ozmalee

    IZUMO is within Hexagone Franaise, is a neutral zone. And yes, the floating island that see at the end.http://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/images/2/2d/Horizon3A_0007.jpghttp://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120929193829/genesis-horizon-esp/images/7/74/Gozen_Tomoe2.jpg Gozen Tomoe (3rd arc Horizon / Novel 6 – Volume 3B):A.H.R.R.S. Secretary (from M.H.R.R.). “Gozen-samaaaa”.http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/genesis-horizon-esp/images/c/c5/Mogami_Yoshiaki2.jpg Mogami Yoshiaki (4th arch Horizon / Novel 9 – Volume 4B):Chancellor and Student Council President, in the Mogami clan (from Siberia Unexplored Region). It’s a Kyuubi (nine-tailed fox), somewhat neglected.http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/genesis-horizon-esp/images/7/72/Salmon.jpg Hidetsuna Sakenobe (4th arch Horizon / Novel 9 – Volume 4B):Treasurer from Mogami clan (Siberia Unexplored Region), and a Salmon Maus secretary of Mogami Yoshiaki.http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/genesis-horizon-esp/images/4/41/Komahime3.jpg Komahime (4th arch Horizon / Novel 10 – Volume 4C):Fox-Girl from Mogami clan (Siberia Unexplored Region).http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/genesis-horizon-esp/images/6/6f/Turenne2.jpg Turenne (3rd arc Horizon / Novel 5 – Volume 3A):Vice-Chancellor from cole de Paris (Hexagone Franaise). She’s a werewolf, and Neito Mitotsudairas mother.http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/genesis-horizon-esp/images/8/80/Louis.jpg Ekushivu Louis, or Louis XIV (the 3rd arc Horizon / Novel 5 – Volume 3A):King of Hexagone Franaise, and Chancellor of cole de Paris. Idiot nudist, like Toori.http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/genesis-horizon-esp/images/b/b5/Terumoto.jpg Terumoto Mouri (3rd arc Horizon / Novel 5 – Volume 3A):Student Council President cole de Paris (Academy Hexagone Franaise). The Louis XIV Wife.http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/genesis-horizon-esp/images/7/77/Narumi.jpg Date Shigezane / Narumi (4th arch Horizon / Novel 8 – Volume 4A):Vice Chancellor of the Academy Sendai Date (Interior Sibir State). Oneesa type girl who likes both Ulquiaga Kiyonari (fanservise).http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/genesis-horizon-esp/images/8/8b/Masamune.jpg Date Masamune (4th arch Horizon / Novel 8 – Volume 4A):Chancellor and President of the Student Council of the Academy Sendai Date (Interior Sibir State).http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/genesis-horizon-esp/images/8/89/Ushinao.jpg Ushinao Houjou (3rd arc Horizon / Novel 5 – Volume 3A):Chancellor and President of the Student Council of the Academy Sanadawara (Union of Indian states). A robot with a soul.http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/genesis-horizon-esp/images/4/42/Yoshitsune3.jpg Kurou Yoshitsune Minamoto (3rd arc Horizon / Novel 5 – Volume 3A):Chancellor and President of the Student Council of the Academy Jueluo (In Qing-Takeda). But it is her first cameo, and appeared two times in the first chapter of the first season (the beginning of the first chapter, and near the end, on the cover of eroge Toori holding in his hand).http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/genesis-horizon-esp/images/d/df/Hideyoshi_Toukichirou_Hashiba2.jpg Hideyoshi Hashiba Toukichirou (3rd arc Horizon / Novel 7 – Volume 3C):Vice A.H.R.R.S. (MHRR Academy), and one of the “Five Great Peaks” of PA ODA .. A dangerous Moe.http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120929193707/genesis-horizon-esp/images/5/5e/Dousetsu_Tachibana.jpg Dousetsu Tachibana (3rd arc Horizon / Novel 6 – Volume 3B):Vice Chancellor K.P.A. Scuola (Academy K.P.A. Italy). And though it may seem, is the biological father of Tachibana Gin.Stilts, I enjoyed reading this, thanks.I hope for a third season again write as much as now hahaI assume Sunrise that will make a third season, considering that Horizon sells very well in Japan.Please, really sorry my terrible English.

    • Stilts

      Thank you to you and g27 above. Edited that in.

    • Benz

      I can just imagine there will definitely be a joke between Neito and her mom later on XD

      • boingman

        There is certainly hope for Neito. 😀

  10. Just a great last episode of season II. I love horizon. And I love your posts about it. It’s just an awesome show at the best sunrise can do. Well, I like to read the light novels, but I don’t want to watch it with knowlegde about it… what should I do?Also: “To me, blogging has always been about having a place to go to spend just a few more minutes in the worlds that I love, after the credits have rolled and the episode or the season has come to a close. Now, as a writer my goal has always been to give that place to you, so that we can come together and spend just a little while longer in this world, in Horizons Earth. I hope you have enjoyed your time there, both on the screen and with me here. I look forward to more adventures with Toori, Horizon, and all of the others when Season 3 eventually comes about (I believe it will, in time, in time!). Until then, Ill meet you all in other worlds, in other posts, in the hopes that well all meet here again one day, beyond that lovely, lonely, brilliant, and beautiful horizon. Ja~”T.T This is just beautiful. See forward to your posts on horizon III (It will! It will be there soon enought!)So Thank you for guiding us.

    • Stilts

      *bows* Thank you kindly. I meant every word.

  11. Mutare

    Love Kyoukai <3 I hate how Sunrise teases us with all these new characters. I want Sunrise to keep going with Kyoukai, they've done a fantastic job with this. Thank you for covering this Stilts, your posts always tell me what I wanted to know. Thank you for your hard work. Now to scout out for any signs of season 3.

  12. Shiyumi

    About Neito’s parentNeitos concerns over Toroko being accidentally purified turn into a discussion on how shes spoiling him, which conjures up more memories of her parents.She would sometimes see her mother walk into her bedroom with a 2 sets of leashes and collars, and hear the muffled moans of her father.It’s not like Neito had no interest in music herself. On the contrary, her father taught her how to appreciate fine music, and even how to play some. As a child, she used to dance with her mother while he performed.Being a werewolf, her her mother’s emotions and excitement flowed between the three of them. It seems like it would sometimes work in reverse too, since she would occasionally mimic the then-young Neito’s childish lisps and stutters. In fact, some nights she could hear her through the bedroom door.”Aww, what’s da matter, widdle man? Is dis what you wanted? Orr maybe dis? You’re being a bwave liddle boy, so I’ll let you go aftew just 10 rounds, okay? My,my, what a good widdle boy…fufu don’t wowwy, if you can’t hold it, I’ll help you cwean up and start over, ‘kay? Now wet’s keep going. Round 3…round 3.1 …”Come to think of it, she often heard her father’s high-pitched screams and sobbing too… It take 9 day sex marathon to impregnate Neitomama. Neitopapa did it by taking breaks and replenishing his energy, he got feedback from Neitomama to survive.

    • Lurker

      Holy heck.And I wonder why Neito doesn’t have any siblings yet.Also, assuming that the busty blonde who looks like Neito is her mother (and I’m pretty sure she is), why didn’t Neito get even half her rack. Poor Neito. (Maybe.)

      • Dynellen

        Genetics is a bitch

    • boingman

      Sorry, but who is “Toroko”?

      • Mukyuu

        Toroko is what Kimi nicknamed the mini cerberus that Nate was taking care of 1 year prior to the events of the story. From the mini novels that came bundled with S1’s BD/DVD Volumes. It seems to have been an ether based entity that was going to disappear shortly and well Nate ends up taking care of it until is does. Of course it grew quite attached to Nate, I mean who wouldn’t if you have someone moe like Nate taking care of you? (Stilts may have proposed on the spot though to Nate LOL)

      • Stilts

        Might? There’s no question about it! I would have on the spot. On the spot!

  13. dm00

    I think it’s wonderful that our “magical girl” pair, Margot and Malga have a magical girl transformation sequence they go through. Also: Malga’s new weaponized broom is a pen mightier than many swords. We’re at the dawn of the Reformation, the Protestant Germans probably want to hinder the major Catholic superpower as much as they can. Thanks for your glosses on each episode, Stilts. Reading your posts is like reliving the viewing if the episode, almost. After just having watched Last Exile again, I was hoping Musashi would do an Immelmann turn there.

  14. Kalmdaze

    Anyone know what the name of the song kimi-nee was sing during the festival? God I Love the ost for this show!

    • Rhoen

      It’s named Hoshi Matsuri from the Kyoukaisen special CD 1.. I kept listening to it on repeat these last few weeks and along with Sora no uta are among my favorite anime music. Yes! the ost for Kyoukaisen is fantastic!

      • Mukyuu

        Being a Chiwa Saitou fan I’ve been abusing the replay button on that song since it came out a few months ago…I was pretty shocked when Kimi started singing it in an actual episode XD

  15. EmD

    I am very upset Toori was wearing clothes in the epilogue.

  16. Cronny

    What is the conclusion of Shakespeare chan? Does she also reside in Musashi or still in England?

    • Ozmalee

      Shakespeare still on England, but…From the third arc, Shakespeare becomes the Neshinbaras yandere stalker from the chat.

  17. Dynellen

    “I havent been able to confirm whether thats where they originate from”Yes the two witches originally hail from M.H.R.R. The reason they were given weapons? They are Edel Brocken prototype test pilots (which is why the broom wasn’t easily fixed, prototype weaponry) and what better a place to test new weapons than a large battle? It was easy to see it was new prototype since, as Musashi commented, the brooms had some serious issues with fuel consumption.Oh and the music playing during their battle is called ‘Save you from anything’ preview available at http://youtu.be/ckr0omajXL0?t=2m59s“IZUMO”It’s a massive corporation with operations all over Far East, this particular base they’re heading to is a floating island within Hexagone Francaise territory.”The concert”The Horizon Blu-rays come with bonus mini-LN’s, they are written by the author and take place 1 year before season 1, they actually detail how Kimi/Tomo/Nate form a band among other things like the witches needing to defeat the previous Edel Brocken test pilots to get the job and Nate’s parents lovelife… Their band is called Kimitoasamade “Ki(mi/Mi)to Asama de [made up] of Kimi, Mito, AsamaKimi to Asama de [made up] of Kimi and Asama (well, thats just mean)kimi to asa made with you till morningKimi to asa made with Kimi till morning”

  18. Shiyumi

    From http://www.suiminchuudoku.net, about Toori and Horizon’s date Part 1: Horizons emotionsAoi. I want to hear your thoughts.For collecting the Logismoi Oplo, what do you allow?Can you still say now, at this point? That you would not rule out all-out war.-Right Everyone looked at Aoi as he crossed his arms. And then he, after a moment, stood up, and after yet another moment slowly lowered his hips, and then stood back up, and repeated,Dont start doing squats while completely naked-!They yelled, and Aoi fully naked began panting as he said,Well, but, you know, you asked me a really hard question out of the blue. Dumb brother.That was when a voice flew forth. Aoi Sister, who had been combing Mukais hair, spoke without even a trace of a smile.Have you forgotten about then? Or are you going to say those words were spoken when we were stupid? Then?For Seijun to not know what was being talked about, meant that it was something from the past that only this group would know. She didnt know how far back they were talking about, and she inwardly tilted her head to the side, wondering what could be brought forth in the discussion about Aois decision. Maybe one day, theyll tell me, too.She thought, when a new voice came flying through.Kimi.The next voice came from Asama. Seijun turned and glanced and saw that her brows were furrowed a bit,That was important for us, but it was a starting point. And because starting points are simple if you use the starting point as a standard, everything else becomes relatively tough.Thats why we should add things to the starting point, and then use what were left with as a standard. Do you understand what I mean?Fufufu, this no-bra miko. I understand that far more than you. After all, I used to use a small cup too, and I would keep being strained by it, and by shedding the bra over and over again I came to where I am now.Do you understand the sorrow that comes from realizing that all the bras youve bought to that point are useless!? And then the indignation when your mother picks that timing to take the initiative to buy an old womans type of bra ! Truly like come and replace it, your over-brazier!On the other hand, arent you the carefree one. You receive blessing as yours grows.Th- there are less good than bad when it comes to large breasts! When they grow your shoulders start cramping, your body starts tilting forward so you have to put extra effort into keeping your back straight, andAsama began speaking, but Balfette, facing down, forcefully raised her right arm from the elbows on.Hiding her expression with her frontal hair and glasses,I will agree that there is nothing good to come of having big breasts. Thats within acceptable bounds of pardon.However, if your breasts are lacking, it strikes at your pride. Definitely.At that, everyone quieted down. And after some time,There was applause. And at the sound of the clapping of hands, Masazumi couldnt help but nod her head with agreement, but,Ah, hey, lets get back on topic.Come to think of it, she did not know their past.And they understood that too. That was why Aoi Sister shrugged her shoulders, and asked,Dumb brother.Mm.The completely naked brother turned to her and scratched his head. Then, he looked at his sister and,Havent forgotten. ButHe tried to continue. But at that moment. Abruptly, Aoi Sister said:Fufu, dumb brother. Then thats fine. You need not say any more.Aoi Sister smiled and cut short the conversation.-Huh? Everyone seemed to stared, but the sister narrowed her eyes and curled her mouth into an upward crescent moon.Because, political stuff isnt my area. You know? Im fine knowing that dumb brother hasnt forgotten his own promise.Her lips clearly formed a smile as she spoke.Sister and brothers confirmation ends there. Now, here, I have no intention of letting the Far Easts political confirmation take precedence over this. Right, dumb brother, Ill go ahead and add some explanation without you, but its probably like this, right? you havent forgotten the starting point. But, other things have begun attaching themselves to it, and dumb brother has likewise not been able to gather his dumb, simple thoughts, right? If Im wrong, prostrate before me.However, the fool mumbled, slightly troubled.It was simple up to the point where Horizon came back.However,But after that, it doesnt suit me, but I started thinking too much. Like, frankly I got too excited and got carried away and I need to say stay! at myself. Nee-chan you get it? The level of beast-ness where the wild beast inside you wants you to take it out for a walk so its barking and yelping as it rubs itself against you!Fufufu dumb brother, now I get that your wild beast is like a Spitz. Like a cute dog, how nice.And after a bit of odd talk about dogs.Well, gather your thoughts soon. As Howard said during the noon conference, were having a conference with Britain after the first day of the festival a week from now, where well decide how Musashi will proceed.You dont have to be absolutely clear by then, but I want you to at least know whats alright whats not alright.Even if you dont decide, the worlds moving, and we can be forced to decide.Id appreciate it if you can figure it out by the time we have that conference.Yeah, then well, I want to have something to say by then, but,Aoi looked at Masazumi, then turned toward everyone else, and spoke.Im dumb, so I cant really say what exactly to do and the likes. But, Id prefer to never budge from knowing whats right. So,He looked at Masazumi again,Can you wait a bit? Ill definitely come up with an answer.And then he decides to ask Horizon out on the date. Why?Well, because and its embarrassing to admit, but.He took a deep breath, and positioned himself so that he could only see her,Horizon, I, want to look at you, talk to you about stuff. Because we skipped all of that and went straight to confession time, right? So I want to sit down and just talk to you about stuff.Talk, about?Horizon tilted her head to the side. And then he said welllll, as a precursor to thinking, and then,I want to, for Horizon, I want to reclaim all the things that I made you lose, right? But, I wondered how Horizon feels.How?Well, you know, Horizon doesnt have much interest in emotions. I made you cry at the Mikawa battle, and if you find that sort of thing rough, then you might think, theres no need for them.To be direct,Horizon immediately replied without giving any time for thought.Currently, Horizon believes emotions to be unnecessary.-[Nate] saw that he was looking at the sky as opened his mouth. His words:Yeah, sounds about right. Emotions, you dont really needem. Theyre a pain.Mitotsudaira realized that [he didn’t die from sadness] due to his words. That Horizon wouldnt want emotions, he had probably long expected this. after all, they walk parallel paths.Horizons decision was born out of being an automata, out of preferring efficiency. That was why, it seemed, Kimi sent inquiring words toward Horizon.Horizon, the wolf seems like shes going to become a guard dog, so can you tell your future sister? why, theyre unnecessary?Jud., to be direct, Horizon has spent the past year without them. Horizon determines that there was no problem. Then, Horizon determines that the effort of retrieving them is simply adding accessories to daily life.Right, Toori mumbled, still staring at the sky.Well, even if Horizon doesnt want them, I decided long ago that Id retrieve everything.He lowered his gaze, staring at the sand. And then, scratching his head with his right hand,Since it was my fault, I have to get them back. You know, like replacing broken goods.-Replacing broken goods.Mitotsudaira quickly looked away to hide the fact that she was about to burst out laughing at his word choice. She could hear others suck in their breath for the same reason, as they reacted the same way. why did he feel so much responsibility for such strange reasons?But, she could tell he was desperate. He was the type of person to think nothing of his actions, but in the end he would always stand before you looking at you straight in the eye.That was why this was so hard for him, Mitotsudaira thought.If he wasnt so fixated on where he would end up standing, he would be able to enjoy life more.So when she stifled her laughter and looked up, she noticed that he had been looking toward them. With the warm gaze that looked over them over Horizons shoulder, he began, you know.Nate probably already started noticing, or maybe you heard from someone else or something, but,We, me, Shiro, Neshinbara, Tenzou and such, when the Logismoi Oplo were distributed among other countries, we thought thats suspicious. I mean, Horizons dad, Motonobu created great sins, after all. we thought, if you combine all of that, you get a person, right? Then Horizon, even if you didnt come back, even if Mikawa never exploded, we, would piggyback on the end of the world and negotiate with every country, not necessarily for Musashi or the Far East or anything, somehow wed gather the Logismoi Oplo, and then you know, Eight Sins Gattai! or like, Eight Steps Combine True Great Sin! or like I mean, sorry! Really, sorry! We really said those things and if it rubs you the wrong way sorry please dont glare at me-!How many times do I need to tell you Im not glaring. This is the first.Nuooh thats so hard to respond to!!Everyone went and placated them.And then after a moment, he sat back down, and looked at Horizon and said.Well, we were scheming, to gather them all in your likeness, and then go from there.ThenShe began, but everyone could tell where she was going. What he was trying to do, originally, was something that was done without her. Then,Horizon was unnecessary for what Toori-sama and others were doing. Then please stop calling Horizon into this place and claiming that the reason is to retrieve emotions.After all, Mitotsudaira imagined her continuing, but Horizon continued for her.After all, everyone getting hurt in conflict, ends up being because Horizon existed.Whether Horizon wants emotions or not. To go on a date to confirm this, is that because you want to make everything Horizons fault?Of course not.Then, Horizon said.You dont need Horizon. Horizon doesnt need to bewith everyone, she was about to continue.And then Mitotsudaira saw. A tear drop from the edge of Horizons eyes. what?Why, she thought, and then she realized.Horizon has the emotion of grief. That was the one and only that had been returned. Then, Why.HorizonShe spoke. doesnt need the unnecessary.-Mitotsudaira sucked in her breath at Horizons tears and words. This.Was different from the automatas determination of efficiency, and was more a decision that was inefficient and which came from her soul.Even if efficiency dictated that it would be preferable that she did not exist, for her to become something that never existed, for her to become something that wasnt needed, is a sad thing.Mitotsudaira knew of that sadness. she had come here alone from home.However, Horizon did not have memories, and did not experience much life. She had just the basic knowledge of automata, and knowledge shed gleaned from books, so she was like a young lady with only superficial knowledge, but, having herself become unnecessary, just that alone was enough, to make her feel sad.Like a child crying to make her parents look at her.-Lets go on a date, Horizon.I do not understand what you are saying.She looked at him with narrowed eyes, but he raised his right thumb and eyebrows and laughed.Idiot, hey, you cant say that after crying! Alright? Youre going on a date with me, and then were going to look at things, eat things, play around, grope breas- ahyan! S- sorry I got carried away please forgive me. And, to get back on topic, umm, in other wordsHe said.Lets test and see if you become interested in emotions.I inquire, test, and then what?If you become interested, lets go retrieve the Logismoi Oplo together, Horizon. And if you cant, then make some food for us and wait. Thats more than enough, I think.Because, youre here, and for me, youre already here. Then, that goes for everyone. Thats why, if, if, okay? If you become interested in emotions, and end up wanting to retrieve them for yourselfHe breathed.Well, carry on your expectations. And you will have expectations of us, as we all move forward. In the end, each person, gets what they want, and the powers of everything get doubled, right? if, Horizon cannot become interested?Then we can just go at it singularly, right? Thats normal. Everything above that is bonus.Horizons eyes remained narrowed at his words. However, A dangerous thought. After all, you are telling Horizon, that if Horizon wants emotions, to go start a World War.Hey hey, World Domination is mine. You should come up with something else, parallel.World Domination is all mine, so you should look for something more fun, even if its parallel.So to get to that point, lets go on a date, to see if you become interested in emotions, alright?Do you intend to carry a doll outdoors?No, he said, as he took her hand.Im holding your hand and leading you outside.Part 2: Tooris decisionThere is a plaza made of stone.There is a fountain in the center, and it is surrounded by tall buildings, a plaza in the middle of a main street.Two shadows sat on the stone make of the fountain. A boy and a girl. The girl, an automata with silver hair, wore a hat with feather decorations along with a sleeveless British uniform, while the boy wore a black, Far East uniform.The girl looked around at the festival carts lining the sides of the plaza,Now, we have come all the way around back to the center of the city, so what shall we do. Toori-sama.Jud., alright listen Horizon. according to nee-chans manual, now that Im sitting beside you, I subtly place my arm around your shoulder, and whisper something that fits the mood!He said, and Horizon placed an elbow to Tooris shoulder. With her narrowed eyes, she looked at him,Arm around shoulder. Yes yes, like this. And? Toori-sama, is this fun? What sort of mood is this currently? Now, please.S- shit, I feel like a loser dog mood!However, Toori pulled out a B5-size sheep-skin date manual from his coat pocket. He looked down at it,Thats weird. According to nee-chans orders we should have kissed three times by now.To be frank, even if Kimi-samas battle plan is correct, you are not executing it properly.See, here, look good at the firing range and increase favor points, but earlier some fool couldnt hit anything and went, thats odd, does this thing really have bullets? and peered into the gun and the employees all took off and ran.Because, no matter how you want to spin it, that looked only like some fool couldnt hit anything and wanted to commit suicide.Huh? I thought that got some laughs but was I wrong? The shopkeep even gave us a stuffed animal. See, the evil fairy teletubby Akako, the food-eating version.Seeing as how that fairy was recreated from the records discovered in the ruins, Britain is quite a deep and fascinating place.However, Toori looked at the warnings written by the girls in the manual. Yet most of them amounted to if you do anything weird youre getting punished.Hmm, Toori leaned back and took a breath, then looked at Horizon.Right now, therere no bothersome people nor straightmen, so I feel like Im in an advantageous position, but what do you think?Jud., there are no buffers nor places to run from Horizons attacks. To somehow believe that this reality is advantageous for you, is quite worrisome. huh? For HorizonToori asked. You know, he scratched his head, and feeling awkward,For Horizon, is everyone else on my side?-Horizon quietly replied to Tooris question.I have not had a long-enough relation to distinguish between sides. However, currently, Horizons friends, as according to confirmed acknowledgement, would only be the kuromo (the black balls) and Masazumi-sama.-Jud., automata are specifically designed to help people.At that, Tooris face broke into a smile. But, Horizon furrowed her brows, whats with that face, how inexplicable.Horizon is Horizon, I thought.Jud., logically that is true and cannot be false. However, Toori-sama, whyHorizon began asking.Horizon determines based on pattern, but why do you create the expression of a smile? Toori-sama.-why I smile when Horizon is Horizon?I dont really know, Toori said while smiling.Its the same as eating, Horizon.? Horizon tilted her head to the side, and then tilted her head to the other side, and then,Eating when you eat, it is lost.Then, she stood up. She looked around the festival carts scattered about the plaza, then greeted Toori, this festival will not continue forever, either. It will end, then disappear. No, Horizon determines that there is nothing that does not end. Similarly, even if you have a relationship like a friend, for instance due to graduation or moving, as soon as distance is created the friendship tends to change.And, including all of those, everything, makes you sad, when they are lost.And to gain, to go, to engage in such things, is there a meaning to it?Horizon does not want to become sad. Then what Horizon should do is to live a conservative, repetitive life. With a minimal amount of human relationships, with the minimal amount of meaning, is that not enough?She took a breath.Toori-sama wants Horizon to become interested in emotions.However, emotions are born toward existence. There is an assumption that you have a relationship with something. And, the emotion of sadness, is born out of the loss of said relationship. At the end of every relationship remains loss, and this cannot be avoided. ThenThen,That which requires relationships emotions Horizon cannot think of it as necessary.To have a relationship with someone, with something, will inevitably lead to different paths which leads to sadness.And Horizon does not want to gain sadness, so Horizon rejects everything else. Other emotions, relations with people and things, Horizon rejects everything. So how is it?Horizon asked.If you are left with loss and sorrow in the end, what reason is there to have emotions, to have relations for emotions?-Horizon asked.Toori-sama lost Horizon once.Horizon reasons that you must have felt sorrow, how is it?She asked.If you are with Horizon, then eventually, you will lose Horizon, then be sad.Even so, does Toori-sama seek to have a relationship with Horizon?She said, as she looked at Toori.However, he was not where she looked, on the stone fountain. Where, she thought, and then she noticed that she was sitting on the stone tiling. It seemed he was trying to tie a string from the stuffed animal theyd received to one of her hardpoints on her hip,Stop. It is unnecessary for Horizon.Why?It will eventually be lost, and is unnecessary for living, so Horizon has no need for it.Tsk, if you said it will eventually be lost, I was going to negotiate using the tactic of not needing clothesHmmhmm, he nodded, and he finished tying the stuffed animal to her. As she thought that an unnecessary weight had been placed on her however light Toori stood and smiled.You know, honestly, even if you were to take good care of this, itll become all dusty within a month, and after a while you might not even want to look at it anymore and throw it away.Jud., then, what meaning is there to such a thing? Its just forcing sadness upon Horizon.Right, Toori said. However,But, youll remember that you received this, that you had it on you, right? from here on forth.Jud., automata memory is perfect. Yes, during preparation of the school festival, you kept staring at Masazumi-samas butt as she climbed the ladder, a total of twenty three times.Wrong it was 25, the 7th and 15th happened while you were go-, s, sorry sorry Horizon-sama, wait my memorys pretty good too isnt it?Hoho, I see you are trying to change the subject.Y- youre the one who changed it!!within acceptable bounds. So, Horizons memory, however, what is the meaning of that?Right, Toori scratched his head.I cant really explain myself well, but. When you died once before, I was pretty down? But, nee-chan and the other brutes helped me get back on my feet.That was when I realized something.That was,Even with you, whenever something happened I realized I thought, if Horizon were here, she would do this, and then say this.Then?Jud., Toori said.Even if youre nowhere, youre with me.-Toori answered.When theres loss, of course youre sad. Because we have the emotion of sorrow.But even when I was just a kid, by having relations with you, by talking to you, by brushing by you, by spending time with you, I could know what type of person you are.Because we had such a relationship, even when you disappeared, I wasnt just sad. Even after that, the you that I know stayed by my side.But, he said. And he glanced at the sky,I, grew taller, but Im still dumb, but the guys around me, they became really mature.What the Horizon inside me could do, wanted to do, everyone started being able to do, and you know, forget once, after several times, I started to, you know, think.Maybe I should let Horizon free.The Horizon who was with me as a kid, who stayed by my side when I was sad, couldnt be with me for much longer, and its not like I could just magically fix that.So, after gathering the Logismoi Oplo, after giving them back to the Horizon inside me, I decided that I would give the old me to Horizon.The old me, you say?What do you mean, she asked, and Toori nodded.Next to the tombstone for you, I would place another one, and I would continue living the next me.Not starting over. Continuing. Just that, I would say thank you to the old me and to you, to try to find a new person like you.Dont tell anyone though, Toori said.I havent told anyone what I just said. though, to be honest they probably figured.Jud., I understand. It is also no longer necessary. HoweverHowever, Horizon said. in other words, Toori-sama wants a relationship with Horizon, because even if Horizon is lost, you can store in your memories all of Horizons action patterns?That even if Horizon is lost, you can create a replica in your mind.Then, she placed her fingers on the stuffed animal by her waist.In order to maintain a minimal relationship, a single instance of a reaction to every incident is sufficient. Then, after gathering all information, Horizon is free to die.Nah, thats wrong.Toori said, still smiling.Were not having fun so that you can die. Its the opposite.If you have fun, even if someone dies, you naturally get the extra change.However.Horizon said. how can you get the feeling of fun?-Horizon stated.The Logismoi Oplo gave Horizon the negative feeling of sadness.The Logismoi Oplo did not give Horizon a positive emotion.Then, even if we were to gather the Logismoi Oplo, Horizon will be filled with negative emotions.Then, I dont need them.She said, and then,She cried.It appears that she was weak to the word unnecessary, Horizon determined. The Logismoi Oplo were created using her emotions as a base, so if that is a negative emotion, then she thought even if it belonged to her, she did not want it.Believing that rejecting herself was correct, yet she felt that if she rejected herself, then who would accept her? However,Thats why were returning your emotions to you, Horizon.?She wiped away her tears and looked at him, and saw that he had stuck a few roasted apples from a nearby cart in a bag and bought them.She accepted one, and placed it in her mouth to forget her tears,Good?Jud., Horizon nodded. And then she thought of responding to her question,It has strong acidity, but when its roasted, the sweetness also becomes strong. Horizon can determine that this falls under delicious.Alright, Toori gave the old man behind the cart a thumbs up. The old man also raised his thumb and smiled. And then the storekeep took a green apple from a basket,Here, if this is your first time tasting these, take one thats not roasted, too. If you like it, head over to the market. Though if youre eating it raw I recommend eating it with a salad, so take a look at the vegetables, too.Also, dont make girls cry, brother.Aye aye, Toori caught the apple that was thrown to him, and then patted Horizons shoulder. And then he turned his back to her as if he meant to walk around the plaza.Do you hate negative emotions, Horizon?Jud., Sorrow alone, is sufficiently painful.Then you have positive emotions, Horizon.Why?Because, he continued.If you only have negative emotions, you wouldnt struggle against it youd accept it. And then youd soak yourself in it.But youre struggling against it. That means you have positive emotions.Then.Horizon hit him with a question shed asked herself many a time. Placing a hand over her breast,What exactly is a positive emotion!?She took a breath,What is the positive emotion that Horizon simultaneously gained with the negative emotion?In response to her question, well, she did get a response. That was, his, while scratching his head,Well to be honest, I dont really know myself-I want to punch you, Horizon honestly thought.Hey, HorizonWhat is it?She asked back, with the sound of pigeons flapping their wings firmly in her ears, and he shot back another question. Are you, feeling sad right now?-Horizon tilted her head at his question. Of course she wasnt feeling sad, how could she be? What exactly is he asking, she thought, as she answered,I am not sad, but why?Then, Horizon.His smile broadened as he spoke.If youre not sad, it means youre happy, Horizon.-I think, Toori thought to himself. But, however,Probably, because you started from zero, you dont realize it. That not having anything is normal. But, thats actually not true. Emotions react to everything and anything, you know. is that so?THat is so.Immediately, man, immediately! When youre walking next to me and your breasts jiggle pewwwww! When I see the sides of your breasts through your armpits boooom! When you crouch and your legs- s, sorry I got carried away!Hurry up and keep talking.Yes yes, Toori did a quick standing prostrate as he continued.Whether the emotions from the great sins are giving you the emotion of rejection, or whether the great sins are just reacting to emotions that were within you from the start I dont know.But you have an emotion, a will to struggle against the emotions of the great sins.Then the emotion toward sadnessYeah, Toori thought about the past. About an answer to Horizons question. That was,To wish for happiness, which isnt sadness. Which is like, thinking of nothing happening as happiness, which is a really foolish and luxurious emotion I think, but thats probablyHe couldnt explain it very well, but,As usual, I think, isnt it.-As usualIt was hard to understand his expression, but she understood what he meant.That feeling of relief, after being freed from the a state of sorrow, was probably what he meant. Like.Like when shed gained the feeling of sorrow, when she realized the meaning behind losing her father, and crumbled. He had stayed by her side then, so, she was able to withstand it, was she allowed to say that?Even now she would sometimes think of her father, and beat herself up over why she felt nothing whenever she crossed paths with him. However, Horizon.She lifted her arms, and the flock of pigeons that rested on them. And their flapping of wings hid her expression as Horizon asked.A Horizon that does not crumble and cry and scream over losing her father, as she did the first time is a cruel person, is she not?A parent that demands the child to keep crying and screaming is really mafioso, no? And if I can say another thing, dont parents say? dont cry forever.She could definitively hear his words through the beating of wings.If you arent crying anymore, it means youre fighting against the sadness.And your father didnt die to make you sad.He said to gather your emotions and save the end of the world.Then HorizonDont rush yourself, Horizon. Actors who jump at the first opportunity to use a joke cant use the joke well. wait, that means me doesnt it? Because I jumped at the Logismoi Oplo immediately upon seeing it at Mikawa!? Seriously!? .. ah, are you angry!? Youre angry, Horizon!I said I dont have the emotion of anger. What is this boy going on about.I feel like youre really angry!!In any case, Horizon mumbled. The apple lost its shape, and she felt the weight of the pigeons that stopped flapping their wings,Regardless of what sort of negative emotion I may get, Horizon has positive emotions to struggle against it, and right now, because I started from zero, I just dont realize it?Jud., because, no one can laugh just by being told to laugh. Its the same thing.You know, he said.Lets make a grave for your dad. When youve calmed down a bit.Ill say it again, but your dad didnt die to make you sad. So you dont need to feel sad, but were going to be busy with fun things from now on, so lets make a grave to make a visible sign to remember your mafioso dad. And when youve got time to spare, look at it and feel sad.And when you stop being sad, go greet him at Bon or New Years or whatnot, and talk to him. Lately Ive been having fun doing this or that. Or can I do the reporting, as his son in law!? F- father!!This boy sometimes went into his own little world and didnt come back, and this was one of those times.In any case, she gazed at him with the pigeons, and eventually he seemed to have come back,- wow! Perfect! like that! Right!?I have no idea what youre talking about.There there, the fool said. And then he continued,Youre fine, Horizon. Youll be able to fight off any negative emotion. After all, your dad was mafioso, so he added Rebellious Age II with extra toppings.Then all thats left is for you to want to fight off any negative emotion.If I fight them off, what happens?I said it before, didnt I? Once youve gotten everything back, all thats left is for you to gain a lot of happiness.ThatsIs that good, Horizon thought?Could she be able to overcome crumbling to sorrow?She could not know. Their conversation was made up entirely of assumptions and predictions, and had nothing conclusive. That was when no matter how many answers they come up with, she could not make any judgment. Furthermore,Can Horizon, for the sake of her own selfish wants, add to the war of the world?Who knows. I mean, I dont know.If we gather the Logismoi Oplo which were made using your emotions, then we can save the world. Thats why, thats already enough for you to join in retrieving the Logismoi Oplo, I think anyways.However,You want to avoid people dying, countries being demolished over your want of emotions, right?Jud., Horizon nodded. Because,The grief when father died, I would be spreading it for my selfishness.Horizon can determine that this thought process is paradoxical.Right? So, just think about it.About what?Jud., if, if, right? If you want to gather the Logismoi Oplo, and by gathering them you can save people from sadness and negative emotionsHe took a deep breath.Then, you can war.- As opposed to her, whod been rendered speechless, the fool seemed not to understand the magnitude of his words, as he suggested it like a quick idea.It doesnt matter when. If you feel like you can do that, at any time, just tell us.Until then, well be fighting a war on our own. If you can accept yourself, and can stand on your feet, then tell us that you want to war with us.And at that time, probably, well really, truly be together.Horizon could not immediately reply to his words.Would it be possible for her to save anything by wanting war?Just when would it be that she could find confirmation of that saving?She did not know.She did not know, but Horizon crafted words.The thoughts that shed gained her. That there are means of fighting back against sadness, that she has positive emotions. And including that there was space for her to find meaning to war, what she should say here, was neither rejection nor acceptance, but,Horizon will defer judgment, but Toori-sama, what will you do?Yeah, Ive decided. Now, sort of. what?Im warring. Because, he smiled and sounded happy.You wont lose to Great Sins. Then, I want to see you when you have all your emotions back. even if Horizon does not want that?Thats a dumb question, he said.Who cares. If that causes you to hate me, then that just means I go back to the start. After I return everything to you, Ill continue the next me somewhere.It was a short time, but it was a lot of fun, Id think. I would say thank you to you and all the idiots that helped me, and then go look for a new person like you.Alright? he said.Im doing this all of my own accord. I decided. Id decided. Since when I killed you. And since when I saw you again.And then,Thats my way of exorcising my greatest sadness.Part 3: Horizons decisionThis is ep 9. The anime kept a lot of the lines, but I dont think you quite appreciate them until you read the previous two conversations between the two, because this wraps it up. The last part would be in the last episode, but I think that one doesnt add as much, as it has mostly to do with the effects of Greed upon her newfound wants.Toori clenched his fists too and yelled.Then theres no helping it! Hey, Horizon. Ask him. Ask Tenzou your question.Jud., the one-haired automata turned to Tenzou without emotion. Her question, as she tilted her head to the side,It may be a redundant question, but, why, are you going to save the person named Mary-sama?That was indeed a question that had been asked many times. Hed asked himself the same question over and over again.However, the pondering would always end at the wound on his back. The meaning behind it was certain, so,I want to go take Lady Mary.Take? Even if the person in question does not desire it, and wants death instead?It was like a parrots repetition, but Tenzou nodded.If Lady Mary is lost, I will be sad.That was it. It had nothing to do with how others, her included, felt.I do not like sadness. Shinobi () are when you hide the soul () beneath the blade (). It is a well-designed letter. That is why shinobi are often told to restrain their emotions. However,However,From the letter shinobi, the letter kokoro (soul) has never disappeared.ThenShe asked.In Horizons case, if Horizon were to be lost, would someone have been sad?Not just Tenzou, but everyone here answered her question. Jud.!Jud. Jud. Jud., they all said the same word that overlapped each other. That their decision was not a mistake.Then.Horizon asked. There was a bit of confusion mixed in,If Mary-sama is lost, would Horizon, too, be saddened?Everyone looked at him. How is it, they seemed to ask.But the answer had already been known.Jud., even if you do not know her now, when the time comes that you know of her, absolutely.You would think that we had lost a good person, that you would have wanted to speak to her, you would absolutely think that.Then.Then?if Tenzou-sama saves Mary-sama, would that wish be granted.Her words were more like a confirmation than a question.Likewise, if, Horizon were to, choose to save people from all loss, then would Horizon be able to avoid feeling sorrow? an astonishing statement!Horizon herself may not have realized it, but what she said was insane.After all, the idiot sang the tune of conquering the world, and by his side his partner began singing the tune of saving the world. and that was simply because she did not want to feel sad!Then, abruptly, Horizon nodded. She bowed her head to him,I am sorry, Tenzou-sama. The question just now, Horizon was given enough guidance to generate a solution within Horizon. That isThat is,Toori-sama, if Toori-sama is going to conquer the world to gather the Logismoi Oplo to save the world, in order to give negative emotions to Horizon and end up at happiness, then Horizon states, from the parallel line:She took a breath.It is parallel. Horizon determines that Horizon will save the world from the greatest loss called the end of the world, and then, having no need of the negative emotions gained, will end up at happiness.

  19. sinkingmist

    I just wanted to say I thank you for your coverage of Horizon.The background posts were in particular excellent and really helped my understanding of the show./salute

  20. Tarage

    You have to admit, the “Everyone, please be sure to get plenty of rest and prepare for our next voyage. Over.” was a pretty big hint that we’re going to get a season 3.

  21. Hunter McDaniel

    Wait, YOU’VE GOT THE BOOKS!!!I can’t find the books anywhere and I absolutely adore this show. I’ll be honest, this is the 3rd time I’ve read your logs (or blogs is it???) about this show and how thoroughly it explains this show and comes to help me myself understand things, but I’ve always been a little detailed orianted and this show didn’t have enough. In your words, I feel it was a bit rushed, but done wonderfully.Ever since I watched just the first few minutes of this anime in April this year, I fell in absolute love with just the show itself, and I actually fell in love with it more than DBZ (Which is hard for ME to believe considering DBZ has been my very #1 since I was about 5 years old), but this show actually beat it. It’s non-harem, all the characters play roles and get in a relationship (somewhere…), I honestly think it will be hard to enjoy any other kind of anime other than this one just because of how awesome it is.On a questionative note, you are reading the novels, correct? Are you reading the original Japanese or an english translation, because I’d really like to jump right into Season 3 (Novel Episode 3 I believe) with those mystery characters I’ve been seeing on the covers of google. I don’t think I can wait another three years or even one considering I’m writing a fanfic on this show (on free time during school), I need to let my imagination explode, I need to. So if you maybe point me to where you are reading the novels (unless you like, actually have them), then could you maybe do that for a Kyoukai Senjou fan???

    • Stilts

      Sorry if I was unclear, but I don’t have the books, nor have I read them. I was merely guessing that they contain all the details I so enjoy since people constantly come forth with more details pulled from them. To quote myself:

      Im told that Kyoukaisens light novels contain all these details, and so without having read them, I love them.

      Sorry! :X I do know that the (unofficial) English translations are like halfway through Book 1, and that the chance of the series getting fully translated is somewhere between slim and none (and slim is starving to death as we speak), so if you want to read them then you’re going to need to know Japanese.

    • s_w

      Books are only available in Japanese. If you don’t speak it, it’s not worth the trouble to get them. (Start studying, and come back in a few years to get the books.) If you do, go to honto.jp or amazon.co.jp (shipping is expensive from Amazon) or kinokuniya’s NA stores (they’ll ship in the US for a lot cheaper than getting it from Japan, but prices are higher.)Downside from buying online– if you buy the books at a store like Tora no Ana in Japan, you get all kinds of extra freebies, like a Nate clear file and a Seijun clear file. Whee.

      • cdjapan.co.jp also handles books, now. I’ve switched over to them from Amazon.co.jp because shipping is so much cheaper. I’ll have to check honto.jp out.My Japanese isn’t good enough to be ordering novels from them, though. Mostly I stick with manga. The Horizon manga is quite good, but it sticks quite closely to the anime. Volume one of the manga only goes up to about episode four of the first season, volume two was just released. There’s a tiny bit of supplementary material, but I haven’t noticed anything that Stilts doesn’t already cover in his series overview.

      • s_w

        What I like about Honto (used to be bk1) is that you can choose your shipping from a lot of different types, like SAL or Air Mail instead of EMS (which is expensive as hell.) You can even choose surface mail, if you feel like waiting 3 months to get your stuff.Keep reading manga. (Or anything else for that matter.) Just doing that alone helped me make big strides in my Japanese reading ability over time.Also, if you can get to Japan, Book-Off. It’s everywhere, it’s cheap, and it’s full of manga and LNs. Used books in excellent shape that are dirt cheap.Watching the end of Horizon and listening to Musashi-sama talk, I get the feeling that we’re going to be waiting a while for the staff to recover and gear up again for the next season… like a year or two. The hints, they were not subtle. So you have plenty of time to get leveled up and start reading.That really goes for ALL of you. 😀

  22. Ken Sanders

    All I can say to this show is that its FREAKIN AWESOME!!!!! Of all the Light Novel animes Ive seen so far, KyoukaiSen I & II, is the best Light Novel adaptation Ive ever seen.Im glad that Sunrise took this series under their company. They even animated the characters from Vol. 3A, B, C & Vol. 4A, B, and C. I guess they deserve the break after all the work theyve done. Im so happy that Anime is such a wonderful existence and KyoukaiSen series is one of my favorites. I salute to all people who are involved for making this series; especially the voice actors and actresses. Thank you for your hard work. Whats left now is to wait for the news to come for S3..Amazing scenes in this episode:-BAD-ASS brooms for the Lesbian Witch couple.-Musashi(Ship) doing the most impossible feat for a giant ship to do, and that is doing a HUUUGGEE BACK FLIP. OH MY GOD!!! Only in KyoukaiSen.-Azuma got a chance to sit on top of Miriam, along with their kid, and gave him the permission to hug her. Then, he hugged her quietly. Lucky guy, that Azuma.-Tori and Horizon using the Lype Katarripsi & Aspida Philargia combo and later, the ones who dealt the final blow was Tenzou & Mary with Excalibur Collbrande.-Musashi are having a party afterwards. Ulquiaga receives a galge with elder sister characters on it. Kimi, Tomo, and Nate are performing on a fiery stage, so hottt! Gin is reunited with her husband, Muneshige, and decided to stay on Musashi.-Tenzou & Mary are staying in one room; Mary did a traditional Japanese bow to Tenzou for accepting her. Ah, truly a wonderful, scarred-woman and to top it all, she sleeps naked!!! Definitely a wife material. But Tenzou didnt sleep with her at all! Oh, well, someday theyll sleep together.-Tori and Horizon are talking things over as they watch the night and looking forward to their next adventure.This song is dedicated to the women of KyoukaiSen and especially for Tori and Tenzou:Song of FanserviceThey rise from a womans bodyTwo great favorsThe twin peaks of hopeShine with a gentle pinkOppai! (Oppai!) *Breasts*Daisuki! (Daisuki!) *I love them*Haiotsu! (Haiotsu!) *Titties*Kaide! (Kaide!) *So huge!*Ah! Oppai!Oppai! Oh!

    • Voyager

      LOL at the song from Binbougami ga! when I saw those guys singing it with such passion in the sunset, just in the beginning of the episode, I literally cried from too much laughing :DThat was another show I really liked a lot, KyoukaiSen remaining the top one.

  23. ewok40k

    So the season of horizon comes to an end in truly epic style. First and foremost, BIG thanks to Stilts for research and explanations. Without it we could not enjoy the series to full.It was immensely gratifying to see moves and counter-moves in the battle unfold. With Musashi pulling the Blue Thunder loop (bonus 80s movies/combat helicopters fan points for anyone who knows what I’m talking about…) it was more than awesome, and Mary just finished the battle off with her “combined” 2 swords – eat this, double wielding Kirito!Ah, and I would add 2 more pairs to the 4 listed by Stilts, Malga and Margot are so HNNNNGHHHH when they fly together… and I’d say Azuma and Miriam are well on their way to become one! I almost fell off the chair at “You can wrap your legs around me… you have my permission!”

  24. Stilts, do you think Musashi(City) can do roll over as well.

    • Shadiic

      MUSASHI DO A BARREL ROLL!!!

  25. Rhoen

    Awesome work Stilts onii-chan~ This anime sent more chills down my spine than any other anime I had ever watched and in such a few number of episodes at that. I actually knew I was going to like this show ever since I first read about it on the Fall 2011 preview and I was right! Now it’s among my favorite anime EVER! I was a bit down when the first season was stopped being covered on this site(I was like “Why the hell isn’t this show being covered anymore?!? This shit’s awesome!!) but then you came along and covered it better than I could have ever hoped! I’m very thankful for that! Now I just hope they make season 3(I believe they will! I know they will!) sooner rather than later.

    • Stilts

      Nyahaha, domo domo *bows* Though…*wobbles where he’s standing* I, uh, could probably use a little break before Season 3, lol. This show sort of takes it out of me :X In more ways than one.

  26. Vain

    Stilts,I think I speak for everyone when I say “Thank you!!”. I was one of those fans who became enamored with the show from the very beginning. Needless to say, I was very disappointed when RC dropped it halfway during the first season. At the same time, it allowed you to come on board and write those fantastically thorough posts that very few would have been committed to doing. For that I am grateful. I just hope that Sunrise adapts Season 3 sooner rather than later and that you’ll still be around to write about it…. Although I do worry about your health and wonder if you would have another season in you, especially if it is a 2 cour

    • Stilts

      Hah! Well, I’m game (provided real life continues to allow such a thing), but I might take a little bit more time to push out these posts with a 2-cour. I can burn the candle bright for a 1-cour, but not so much if I’m doing it for half a year! Though that’ll probably just mean I’d post the day after instead of sameday, ’cause I’m an M like that 😀

  27. The Moondoggie

    Awesome season: full of action. And with Stilts’ commentary, it was easier to understand. Thank you for all your hard postings.But it isn’t over yet. The novel is still going on and a season 3 might be in the near future!Series score: 9/10

  28. Mukyuu

    Going to admit it stilts, you’re probably the best blogger out there for Horizon IMO. When S2 was coming I was just going to expect nothing much and quietly enjoy it as I had loved S1 to death when it was airing. (though I joined a couple weeks late when it started…)So it was a huge surprise & satisfying surprise to see you commit to blogging this. I thought your retrospects were insane & awesome. I did have some doubts that you were going to stop blogging it from all the work, but bravo sir, bravo. Sticking through this whole thing like that, you deserve a lighter workload just like the Horizon staff! Well done! Definitely going to miss seeing these mega posts. (and Moomba reading OnC? You should teach Moomba how to do mega posts just for that!) XD

    • Stilts

      Teach Mooma how to do mega posts? Challenge accepted!And thank you for your kind words. I have many flaws, and doggedly sticking with things far longer than any sane person would is among them. Or is that a virtue? I’ve never been quite sure.

      • Damrod

        That is called stubborness and can be considered both a flaw and a virtue depending on how one looks at it i guess.Stubborn people usually get the best grades, jobs and what not more but it can also be a flaw in that they don’t take a break when needed or something along those lines.And although i know it is most likely not the smartest of ideas, i do hope that you are gonna cover the next season with just as much detail or even more detail than now stilts onii-chan ^_^

      • Mukyuu

        Well Damrod seemed to have shared my thoughts on that matter. So accept his reasoning as my own as well Stilts-onii-chan!

      • Stilts

        Nyahaha, d’aawww, well… *scratches back of head*

  29. Asta

    A little correction on the requirements for Musashi’s victory. Adele said that if they sink and capture the carrier, they’d have cleared the criteria to win the Armada battle (which was what Malga and Margot were trying to do until they ran out of gas). In response, Segundo blew up the carrier under the premise that if they blew it up before Musashi does, Musashi can’t meet the criteria to win. This leads to the 2 options Musashi had. The second one you mentioned is correct. The first option though was for Musashi to secure to remnants of the carrier then claim that it could be considered meeting the criteria. However, because this does not exactly fulfill the original criteria, Musashi needs to negotiate with other nations to allow it.

  30. Klashikari

    Stilts, I’m pretty sure the first victory condition you were speaking of is slightly different: characters were talking about recovering wreckage of a ship, which is to say, that aircraft carrier that Margot and Malga destroyed earlier (as the San Martin is the name of the 3 flagships, third being shot down in Episode 12).Destroying the San Martin is the actual “best victory condition” since they take down the enemy flagship, rendering Tres Espana defeat clear cut, especially that in this case, it means they took down 3 of them.Which did happened after the Deadly Sin Armament showdown and Excalibur Collbrand: San Martin #1 and San Martin #2 are respectively heavily damage and utterly destroyed, making Tres Espana fleet as defeated.Whereas the first “lame” victory condition involves the remnant of a ship, which would be considered as a captured ship, which is why it would be debatable that Musashi really won the battle for the history reenactment.

    • Stilts

      @Asta and KlashikariThanks for your help. I’ve edited the post accordingly.

  31. All good things must end, but thankfully for Horizon, that will not be the case for a long time yet(hopefully!) with 2 3-part volumes of the novel still un-animated, and more(as yet unwritten) to come. A spectacular finale, the episode closes off the second season with the conclusion of the armada battle plus a few tease shots of some of the new characters we’ll probably see in a season 3. Episode highlights:– The return of Weiss Frauen. Good to see Gacchan back with her new and improved broom, plus gattai mode Zwei Frauen is quite overpowered (although its quite the gas guzzler), making mincemeat of the remaining Mechanical Phoenixes with ease. – Adele and her crazy idea of making Musashi perform a freaking back-flip above the San Martin. Sometimes its the crazy ideas, that most people would never even dream off, that can turn the tides off battle. And for that, Adele finally in my eyes, vindicates her appointment as Musashi’s commanding officer, after getting had so badly by Segundo’s tactics in the earlier battles.- The ADS face off between Horizon(with Toori ‘helping’) against Juana(plus Tres Espana’s best). From how desperately Tres Espana’s forces scrambled to counter Lype Katarripsi’s overdrive shot, to Horizon pulling out Aspda Filargyra to widespread surprise from all other watching nations, this scene was rife with epic moments. The moment that sent the biggest chill down my spine though had to be when Horizon finally activated the overdrive for her new ADS and finally had enough juice to crush Tres Espana’s futile resistance. My spines still feeling the cold even now :D- Muneshige and Gin’s reunion. That background music may have felt out-of-place for the moment, but it didn’t detract from the heartwarming moment of their reuniting. The prospect of them joining Musashi has me salivating for when we’ll get to watch them strutting their stuff, except this time they’ll be fighting for instead of against Musashi.With the end of season 2, my Sunday(RAWs) and Wednesday(subs) mornings will never be the same again. This is the only anime to have made me watch the RAWs (despite my piss-poor Japanese), and also the only anime that managed to make me watch an episode 4-5 times each week. You could say that Horizon is the drug for my fantasy cravings, so I’ll probably be experiencing withdrawal symptoms in the coming weeks. Just hoping the BD sales are good enough to make that 3rd season a reality, and will hopefully be coming not too far away from now. P.S. Anyone else thought how pathetic(in a good way, sort off) Masazumi looked acting all lovey-dovey with her maus, while flanked by two of the major couples, during the ending credits? I just pitied her a bit at that moment, seeing as how shes only adored by the Brown Algae for now, while also being the target of choice for a certain walking skeleton. Oh well, in the whole wide world, there must be someone for our reverse trap, queen-of-debates, student council vice president, right?

    • Stilts

      What’s this about Seijun being alone? Dibs!(or Adele. Or Suzu. Or Naomasa. Or Neito. Or Asama. Or Kimi-nee. Or…)

    • boingman

      Masazumi and her maus looked so adorable together. So damn cute. 🙂

  32. Lurker

    I’m surprised there wasn’t any mention over Half-Dragon’s birthday and the how his gifts were “conveniently” tossed into the bonfire. Poor Uluqui. You don’t get to shine as much until a potential season 4.

    • Lurker

      Adding on, I just looked at the translated names of Urqui’s eroge B-Day gifts.The Big Sis SwordswomanBig Sis, Do It RightBig Sis and AsamaAlready, Asama (and likely Mary) are getting featured in an eroge right after the battle.Pretty funny yet queer, when you think about it (your friends/teammates playing an eroge that has you/your girl in it).Also reminds me of how Asama occasionally goes rampant with h-thoughts, like Gaachan.

      • Stilts

        To be fair, I believe Asama has been staring in eroge (and ero-doujins) since far before the battle. Sniper maiden is quite popular ^^

    • Xellos^_-

      i think Big Breast Miko is more popular.

  33. Vesperia

    NOOOOOOO I will miss this series… who knows when S3 will come out…. ~__~

  34. SQA

    Stilts: Thank You. You’ve put a huge amount of work into these posts and they’ve helped. I’ve looked forward to each post for the past 10 weeks or so (I didn’t have a chance to start watching S2 until a few weeks in), as much as the episodes themselves. All of the little details are wonderful.Again, thank you and good job.

  35. shinkirou

    Malga & Margot have got busou shinki armor ? that new although next week shinki start airing

  36. GAIAMAN

    question for any LN reader what is the next arc for Season 3 ?

    • wicked

      Going to France, more crazy politics, meet the parents and guys from Musashi macking on chicks, but mostly ridiculous large scale multi-nation bouts(not all at the same time ofcourse). Trust me, 13 episodes is not nearly enough for what’s to come, 26 might not even be enough

  37. Yes!@

    First – Thank you oni-chan the effort you put in this series is huge as the Horizon series is.When I saw Jin sitting at the bone fire I was filled joy. Totally called it last episode. What was really un expected was having Muneshige embrace Jin, Tought that will be next season. Totaly fell in love all over again.Tenzou !!!! you promised a heir for England, hiding under the blankets won’t help you reach that goal !! Super series, the only down, if you can call it was that all plot threads felt closed at the end. To me it felt that if the studio drops the series now, (Hell no! I’m totaly ready for season 3), it did end properly. Even with the cameos of the new charactes, that flying away was like a really full end. Finally loved how they tied that “Save you from Anything” at the end from Mary’s story.Meet you guys next time: youkai senjou desu!

    • Stilts

      I liked the closure we got. The major plot threads we were dealing with this season were all satisfyingly closed (as they should be)…but the larger plot, the collection of the Armaments of Deadly Sins and stopping the apocalypse and Musashi taking back their sovereignty, those are all still alive and well. There’s still plenty more story to tell…

  38. Myriad Truth

    wohoo nice screenshot STILThttp://images.randomc.net/Kyoukai%20Senjou%20no%20Horizon/Kyoukai%20Senjou%20no%20Horizon%20II%20-%2013%20-%20Large%2053.jpghttp://images.randomc.net/Kyoukai%20Senjou%20no%20Horizon/Kyoukai%20Senjou%20no%20Horizon%20II%20-%2013%20-%20Large%2054.jpganyone who haven’t watch the episode yet will misunderstand this

  39. xRichard

    Thank you Stilts. All your work was not in vain. I’ll forever link people interested in Horizon to your coverage. You gave this amazing show the care it deserved.Thanks!

  40. aiueo123

    A little info from the Q&A. Gin was left at Musashi because she didn’t have a chance to return to Tres Espana fleet after losing to Futayo. Remember, the Tres Espana fleet basically went right away after they were hit by Excalibur Colbrande and Gin battle Futayo in Musashi ship.

  41. if that so then does that mean she supposed to be as prisoner?

    • Stilts

      I don’t think so. They let her and Muneshige join up a little too readily for former prisoners, and Gin didn’t appear to be restrained in any way while at the festival. I imagine that she was considered more of a respected former adversary who no one expected to go on a rampage, because that wouldn’t be the honorable thing to do. Sometimes, the old ways are nice.

    • wicked

      She is treated as special guest of Musashi until her injuries healed, and gave the choice of whether to return or not to her. Since they strip Muneshige of his position and name, also the fact that he’s still injured and need rehab, they chose to stay at Musashi

  42. xephx

    If the second half of the second season made me glad to have picked it back up after dropping it for a bit, this season makes me 10 times happier that I did. It was interesting, exciting, romantic and it gave me favorite girl of the season. Well thank you for these in depth posts and fingers crossed for season three.PS. Bunk beads Tenzou, Seriously!?

  43. fragb85

    Truth be told I haven’t been watching Horizon because I found it a little complex for a weekly sitting. I did learn to enjoy it during the first season much later. I also found the first season a much better watch when I marathoned it so I figured I’d watch the second season the same way.Now that all the episodes are all out and I’m going to have a blast marathoning the second season during the weekend.

  44. puppygod

    While Ill be damn near the first to defend almost anything Adele does, throughout this battle shes mostly proven herself as a competent military commander, but not a great one.

    I think that this should be put into proper context. Crucial thing here is the age limit for Musashi students. So what we have here, is a teenage girl (how old she is, sixteen?) pitted against Segundo – an old fox of a commander, basically a career military officer with even more tricks up his sleeve than years he lived, who have suicidally loyal subordinates, lots of resources (Tres Espana got into serious debt preparing all their talisman-stuffed fire ships, mechanical phoenixes and multiple invisible battleships) and – most of all – lots of experience. And she has Musashi and a couple of cargo ships, small and rag-tag band of an army (though, they are awesome) and, well, it’s her first naval battle ever, isn’t it? Not fair by any means.Despite all this she proved herself to be his equal and, thanks to the out-of-box thinking and a little help from her friends (and listening to the right people is what makes good commander) managed to pull quite a few numbers on him and finally got the upper hand. She might not be the ‘great commander’ when the battle started, but now, with all the experience and resolve she gained I think that she fully deserves to be recognized as one.

    • Yes!@

      As a side note loved the face and reaction when Adele looks at Toori, kind of a little help here? He he is like you’ll do it girl , go!

    • Stilts

      You’re not wrong, and I should have mentioned that context more myself. That said, war isn’t fair. We can say “she did well, considering…” until we’re blue in the face, but the simple fact of the matter is that the battle was between her as she is now and Felipe as he is now. Until the end she came up lacking, and I would say that even afterwards she was the inferior commander, but of course, war isn’t fair for all parties, and Musashi had some advantages Adele was able to take advantage of that Felipe couldn’t counter.Also, there’s the fact that Adele isn’t as good as Neshinbara has proven. Still, you’re right that she’s better than she was when the battle started, and she’ll be better going forward. I look forward to seeing more of her in command…hopefully she’ll come into her own as a truly talented commander in time.

      • puppygod

        Well, whether she is ‘great’ or just ‘good’ commander is a matter of opinion, so there’s no proving one way or the other. I just wanted to point out that, IMO, she went above and beyond the call of duty in her commanding. Sure, she had weaker moments – most notably when she lost initiative after being hit by the talismans from fire ships, but she recovered and proved herself to be fast learner – like when she predicted Segundo scuttling the carrier and ordered evasive maneuver.I agree about war – as that old AIM-9X slogan said “it’s not supposed to be fair”. But my point is more to the effect that despite all the advantages Felipe had over her, she did come as a winner. She used her limited resources to the best effect, she learned from mistakes, she changed tactics when it was appropriate and she come up with winning maneuver when it really counted. If she was grizzled veteran of many battles I’d said that she was just good enough, but taking into account that she was just teenager fighting her first naval battle ever – that makes her, at least in my book, great.And compared to Neshinbara, well, the guy is a regular, bona-fide genius, so yeah :)Now excuse me, I’m going into corner and cry that Horizon has ended. And later maybe I’ll start re-watching S1 from the beginning.

      • Stilts

        Ahaha, I’ll give you that. And don’t cry too much! It’ll be back someday, I’ll bet… ; )

  45. Whee

    Tenzo u lil cute bastard.I really loved this season… probably my favorite from this season and past.AND HOLY BALLZ ITS SO REFRESHING TO SEE TOORI WITH CLOTHES ON AT THE END.

  46. ^^0nMe

    Amazing finale! I loved the nonchalance when Tenzo, Mary et al rushed back on board like nothing was happening on the background 😛 One thing that keeps surprising me is the really fleshed out cast, from support to comedic relief to enemies that don’t feel like enemies. If the whole story is finished, I would love to have a Suikoden-like RPG game that lets you recruit any character of Kyoukaisen in your party. Btw, anyone noticed that in the cameo’s there was a blond guy that also seems to be completely naked. Toori finally has a rival !!!

    • Stilts

      Does this mean we’re going to get a duel between naked men? Talk about a coc– I’ll stop ^__^(P.S. who says women don’t get fanservice too? Even if their fanservice machines happen to be sort of idiots, lol)

    • Xellos^_-

      More like s3 will be a Nudist Convention s1 – Music festivals2 – School Festivals3 – Nudist Convention.

  47. Dunn

    There goes another great series.First and foremost, I’d like to applaud your dedication and spirit to these posts, Stilts. You enhanced my experience and understanding to this amazing world of Horizon. For this I thank you very much.I concur that this season is much better than the previous one, the sheer detail in every story… to say this is just good is a gross understatement.When season 3 does come around, I’ll know exactly where to get my detailed explanation and reviews./Salute. 🙂

  48. Rhaegar

    am i wrong or did i see tachibana muneshige with musashi’s uniform at the end?

    • Stilts

      You are not wrong.*Tachibana Muneshige and Tachibana Gin have joined your party!*^__^

      • What are their names, now, I wonder?

      • Stilts

        The same, I’d warrant. They’re just not the “official” Tachibana Muneshige and Gin anymore.

  49. Sherylfan

    Even though I followed the series by myself I commend you on your efforts stilts and I liked reading your impressions in this final post. Thank you for putting in effort and making these blogs worth a read. like to also thank Takaii and especially Moomba for doing the OST blog. Glad there are others who are passionate and like to share this wonderful series with.

  50. Zreon

    I love this show so much and your blog posts were really helpful to get all the small and big details I missed. Thank you so much for all your hard work.I’m also eagerly hoping that we’ll get a season 3. Until then I’m gonna rewatch season 1 & 2 again a few times.

  51. Rusanon

    I can`t see Seijun as anything but THE victor in S2. While others fought on more or less personal level and got to squash their insecurities or won themselves a blonde and shit, that girl singlehandedly put Musashi on the political map, made them a party to be reckoned with. Pope Kenny and his ugly devil friend even articulated it.If anything, she has all the rights to go around with enormous smug, and the fact that she does not only speaks to her credit.And about her being “pathetic” in the end with her mouse and all – Masazumi simply does not give a fuck. People are too far below now, her harem consists of countries.

    • And the brown algae balls, don’t forget. They’re in her harem, too. I loved them calling out to her as they slid through the gutters when the Musashi did it’s loop.

      • Rusanon

        Algae in Horizon is a pure thermonuclear HHHHHHHHNNNNNNGGGGG.And also final boss(contrary to popular belief, Hassan is only a midboss).

  52. Benz

    Horizon & Toori vs Tres Espaa I was so piss off during this fight it was a 2 vs 2 lover group vs lover group fight, even if Musashi loose Iw ould have been ok since it was a fair fight but those ill-manner cheaters from Tres Espaa join in like it was there f!@#@#@ing business, I was like mind your own business damn it and stay to the sideline, they should know better than butt in a fights between generals, I mean a leader bs leader fight should have been left alone, is common sense it was so disrespectful and rude for them to butt in. So glad when Horizon pull that second deadly sin weapon out and wipe their F@#@ cheating ass from the face of this planet.

    • Mukyuu

      Well in ep 1 of S2 it was Horizon’s DSA vs Diego, Hironaka, Fusa’s Michiyuki Byakko, & Gin. Now of course Horizon had Toori + Tenzou & Mary helping out this time. While Tres Espana lost Gin’s help but gained Segundo’s supporting of Juana. Seemed perfectly fair without one side getting wiped out. Horizon is firing something on the level of a nuke afterall…

  53. Benz

    If Muneshige & Gin & Mary really join Musashi, that be so awesome that is some serious firepower we have there, cause one thing I notice about Musashi is they are missing some good hand to hand combat personal, Futayo is the only one who can really fight hand to hand, the guy with the boxing style is good but he sort of need to meet certain requirement before he becomes useful. So with Muneshige & Gin then Musashi will definitely become much stronger consider all teh screencap showing us all those new character from season 3 who look like they can fight hand to hand combat really well.

    • yokushi

      Tenzou and Ulquiaga are good fighters even if not Futayo level, is just that they had not a serious combat yet.

      • wicked

        Ulqui in particular belongs to a race that should be able to take on battleships by itself

      • Kunagisa

        his ancestors sure, Ulq probably not.

      • wicked

        You know, it’s never been specified what the half dragon race’s relationship is with the half dragons of the AHEAD series, because they are nothing alike

  54. Silivious

    I can’t wait for the next season (PLEASE!!!!)The series has got so much left to cover, and I can only hope the sales of the season’s discs will convince them to make a season 3. :DLoved this season, and the first so much, lol.

    • Mukyuu

      Sales are definitely good. S1’s BD/DVD volumes were all averaged around 20-21k IIRCS2’s Vol. 1 hit almost 18k in the 1st week, mainly since Fate/Zero’s BD boxset released same week, I think it’s climbed almost up to 21k now…

  55. Mukyuu

    Stilts I recognized something but…In S1 Toori started clothed, while some nakedness and ended naked.S2 Toori starts naked, naked most of the time, cross dressed once, and ended clothed.How much you wanna bet Toori will fabulously cross dress all S3, while being clothed or naked only a few times?I know I’ve definitely gone bi for Toori, and him crossing dressing will only make it worse. >_>

    • SQA

      I think Toori’s only option is to go naked from the waste-down and cross-dress above that. He can be the perverted opposite of Masazumi.

    • Stilts

      Please, you two need to stop giving people ideas for glorious terrible Toori x Toori slashfic. This can only go to wonderful frightening places.

    • wicked

      When Toori cross-dresses(he will eventually), he’ll go all out. You cannot believe how far he will go

      • Dorian

        Is it wrong that I can actually picture how wrong? Cause I certainly can. Unless he goes like FABULOUS wrong, Then I will only watch in horror and mutter “awesome” under the breathe that was taken away.

      • Mukyuu

        Well I’ve seen an LN illustration of how far he goes…and how good he is at it. I felt like I lost something that day.

  56. acolyte

    Have yet to read the comments.. so many XDMy favorite show this season! Thanks for blogging this Stilts – I always read up on your useful notes after watching.Maybe next weekend I’m gonna re-watch season 1-2 marathoning them with your notes XDThis show seriously stuck a grin on my face everytime I watch it

  57. Getchman

    im not clear on how Suzu knew what Adele wanted to do. was Suzu able to see what Adele was doing with her arms?

    • Kanly

      well, she’s hooked up to mushashi’s sensors, might it be also internal sensors?

      • Stilts

        Suzu can hear everything. Everything. No exceptions!

    • wicked

      Suzu has the ability to discern minute sounds from any movement, she’s the equivalent of a human sonar

  58. wicked

    Gin stayed because she was too late to return to the Spanish shipThey took out the best joke of the book where Mary found Tenzou’s eroge stash under the bed with one labeled “Climax! Virgin Queen Elizabeth!”(remember when Mary was impress that Tenzou knew so much English history? apparently this is why.) Prompting another awkward but yet strangely sweet exchange of Mary being flustered thinking Tenzou is actually into Elizabeth, then Tenzou has to proclaim he like the supporting character of that game better than the titular character. Apparently the “Mary” in the game is not as well-endowed, so she asked Tenzou about it thinking it’s not up to his standards, to which he replied “Mary is the best to me.”

  59. Kunagisa

    I think Tres Espania gets too little appreciation. Musashi didn’t outright defeat them; if Mary didn’t transfer with Collbrande (or if Shakespeare didn’t give away Avarice for that matter) the last hit would’ve been Tres Espania’s victory. The timing was a huge issue, as they didn’t really leave in a hurry at the end of the fight; in fact, it’s Musashi that left in a hurry. If TE didn’t have such a huge timer on their heads, with all their firepower they could’ve crushed Musashi if the battle gone on indefinitely. They “gave up” the Tachibana couple because they want the two to stay together (Gin will have to remarry if they take her back; this was mentioned back an earlier episode). At least when I was reading the novel, I wanted Musashi to win against England, but not against TE.The staff also deserves tremendous applauses as well. Something I know people already appreciated but still not enough because they don’t know the full extent of everything that happened.The production team didn’t just perform to the best of their abilitiesthey put in so, so much extra effort to make this anime happen. For anyone who follows Kawakami, Kawahara, or Ono’s twitter, they would know that this anime is very, very special. You probably won’t see this kind of communication between the author and staff for any other adaptation; Kawakami did so much unpaid work behind the scenes, and the staff reciprocated his effort with their own. While working on each episode, they just keep wanting to add this and that (and still manage to finish on schedule, unlike some other high profile anime that just leaves everything to the BD), which is why the end product is so stellar. It’s worth mentioning that none of the scenes in the OP are used as bank cards, everything in the actual episodes are redrawns if they’re similar to the OP. Nobody in their right mind would do this for action anime. I find it funny that some of the staff mentioned that another animator working on Accel World came over to mess around with the Horizon team because he did not have work before the final episode, and he just randomly started drawing for Horizon instead.For a late-night anime, I have not seen any anime even come close to this kind of team effort in the past 5 years. For this reason, even among high quality production, Horizon remains unrivaled.Thanks for working on this Stilts; I was livid when Takaii dropped it season one that I whined about it in RC for a while. Not that I blame him, but still … Ok I lied; I still blame him even though I know he had a busy schedule and it is 100% not his fault that he didn’t enjoy it.

    • Stilts

      You’re totally right. Tres Espaa were worthy adversaries, and if not for a few things, they would have won…though it’s also true that if not for a few things going the other way, the battle might not have been anything like as close. That’s what made it such a good one! That final showdown really could have gone either way, and nearly did.Lemme echo your words on the production studio, and really I should have included this in my post as well (though I have brushed on it before, it cannot be said enough) – their work was simply stellar, with no corners cut and they pulled out all the stops for every single episode they worked on. Once upon a time I didn’t have as nice of things to say about Sunrise, but they’ve been exemplary for a while now. Well done.As for Takaii…well, Divine once told me that he regretted not taking Kyoukaisen S1 for himself when he realized it was the kind of show that needed epic-level masochism (my words, not his). Not Takaii’s fault, he’s just less crazy than either Divine or I >:D

  60. Vaan

    “Save you from anything”

  61. Passing By

    The eroges… they got burn.. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO save the eroges!!And thank you very much for blogging this series, it was a really fun and amazing ride >.<, hope for a season 3 soon!.It really helped a lot with all the information.

  62. Freddeh

    <3 you Stilts! Thank you for being awesome and blogging the heck out of this! Such an amazing series and I'll see you for S3!

  63. FantasyLost

    So this concludes the second arc right?

  64. Delezie

    This will continue to be one of my favorite series ever. Thank you so much for blogging/explaining/loving this series Stilts. I expect Season 3 to be amazing and I can’t wait! I want more Tenzou/Mary action as well as some more scenes with Asama xD. Until then…

  65. deafvader

    @stilts:Malgot has wings. why can’t she fly after her broom was shot?Gin still wears the red uniform although she transferred school?So what are Gin and Muneshi names now that they lost their title?

    • puppygod

      I think that Margot can fly, just like Malga did. She was just knocked unconscious by the God of War. Also, what really matters is performance. To use analogy – her flying is like swimming, and her broom is like armed speedboat. Even if you are the best swimmer ever, you can’t exactly do much when it comes to firepower only with your breaststroke.

  66. Soronter

    @Stilts: Thank you for your great blog posts for season one and two. I believe without that I would have never found my liking in this anime. Now it is my most favourite anime ever.Thank you for your great woke.

  67. euler271

    can anyone explain to me the “Mary Stuart!, no, for me it would be Mary Tudor” scene ?

    • Stilts

      First of all, recall that Felipe Segundo has the historical name of Philip II of Spain, while Double Bloody Mary has the historical names of both Mary I of England (Mary Tudor) and Mary Queen of Scots (Mary Stuart). I say this mostly to drop those links, which you can use to double-check the shit I’m about to say.Felipe initially called her Mary Stuart probably just because that’s the name that first came to his mind. However, Philip II was more connected to Mary I (Tudor) because they were sort of married for a while. I’m not sure if Felipe Segundo and Double Bloody Mary were married as well (though they likely were…Mary noted she had been married multiple times, after all), but that’s definitely the Mary closest to him, so he switched to that name.

      • wicked

        Mary and Felipe did have a quick marriage and divorce, but the 2 has never met. They did an equivalent of drawing up marriage papers, signed it, then ripped it.

      • Stilts

        And there you have it! Thank you for the assist, wicked ^^

  68. Ryner

    @Stilts: I agree that Tenzou was a bit of a coward when he didnt sleep together with Mary, but what can you expect they are still awkward to each other since they recently just hooked up. But what REALLY SURPRISED me is the Muneshegi and Gin, was he serious when he said that it was his first time hugging Gin? What?! Seriously?! They are husband and wife right? and I could’ve sworn during the flashback that Gin did last episode was that Muneshegi hugged her, so I’m really confused. Or did he simply mean that it’s the first time he hugged her like that, like in that position? Ok im confused, a clarification would be good, cuz if they never hugged, let alone had sex, then I guess it must have been really a big shocked for Gin to hear Futayo had “sex” with Muneshegi lots of time lol.

    • Mukyuu

      I think that’s the first hug of love between them.In the flashback, Muneshige probably held Gin tight to prevent her dying from blood loss, since well he sliced off her arms lol.

      • Stilts

        What Mukyuu said. All in all, Muneshige and Gin are a pretty awkward couple as well…their marriage was never really founded on mutual love, despite the fact that it was there. Rather, because they married due to historical recreation purposes, they never had to openly express their feelings of love for one another. That’s what happened here – the first time Muneshige openly hugged Gin, not to save her life, but out of love. D’aaawww! 🙂

      • Ryner

        Thanks for clearing that up! The flashback scene seemed so romantic that’s why i thought it was out of love and that’s when she started falling in love with the guy, didnt realize that for him it was simply trying to stop the blood from flowing out. Finally like how they openly express their love now, since it did seem so one-sided before with him not really openly responding to her feelings, and especially love the fact that they stayed in Mushashi. I wonder if they will stay there for good? That would be nice, cuz the people in Mushashi seemed so much of a merry happy go lucky bunch compared to the tres espana guys

      • wicked

        Muneshige loves her all along, she’s probably the reason he inherited the name Tachibana Muneshige. Because in the book she recollects about the mailman(Muneshige also inherited Garcia de Ceballos’s name, but it was cut by Futayo’s beast of an old man) who suddenly showed up at her clan intended to inherit the name, and how how she beaten him to severe injuries several times until he’s strong enough to beat her. In short she hated him when they first met because he’s taking away a name she wanted to inherit. The 2 of them always had kind of an invisible wall between them because of the complication behind their names, even though their relationship evolved into love when Gin’s arms were cut

  69. Beckett

    Just wanted to say, thank you Stilts. Because of your detailed posts this show went from being one I didn’t like at all in season 1 (I didn’t read your posts then) to one I loved in season 2. The show really only gets good for me once I start grasping what’s going on, and since it never takes the time to explain things itself, without an outside source such as yourself I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it. So, thanks.I think the only way I can sum it up is by saying “season 3 WHEN?!”Just about the only thing I didn’t like in this season was Felipe and Juana hooking up, maybe I’m in the minority but he seems way too old for her, I can’t help but get squicky creeper vibes from this pairing. Every male/female relationship doesn’t have to be based on romance, and this is one that for me personally would have worked better as more of a familial relationship. Hopefully I won’t get downvoted into oblivion for saying that :P.

    • Stilts

      That thought did cross my mind in regards to Juana and Felipe. Combine that with the fact that as a half-elf, Juana is not as mentally mature as her body would seem to indicate, and it raises a bit higher….that said, Juana is undoubtedly a woman, and Felipe screams loneliness. I don’t think they’ll be, ahem, consummating that relationship anytime soon, if ever. Mostly I think that Felipe just needs the support, and Juana wants to give it to him. And personally, I can’t fault her for her feelings. More power to you, elf-girl.

  70. Kanade

    Call me weird but half of the time I didn’t understand what is what, but I still enjoyed watching this show. I guess I’m the minority here. Anyway, thank you Stilts, for covering this show. I think no other bloggers can blog a show like you.

  71. herpderp

    To be perfectly honest, there’s no way I would have enjoyed this series so far as much as I have if it wasn’t for your blog posts about each episode. Tons of detail is simply lost on me as I watch it, so things often don’t make a lot of sense until I read about the details in these posts.And really, if you’re having trouble making sense of a show, you probably aren’t enjoying it very much (for example, I loved LoL Heroes but the ending episodes were all over the place and made little sense). These posts keep that from happening (for me at least), and allow me to really get at what this show has to offer.Also, I’m a lot like you when it comes to writing/speaking. I go off on lots of tangents and provide far more detail than I probably need to, and end up having three times as much to say about something than the next guy. So you’re alone. :B

    • herpderp

      Though I’ll admit I did enjoy the first season quite a bit even without your super detailed posts. I think I just found the complexity intriguing and the characters interesting, despite not understanding at least half of what was going on.

  72. Scullycat

    Geez, I am late to party as usual… but I think I would have probably not even glanced at this show had it not been for your extensive explanatory posts. “Like, what the hell is he going on about ALL the time….Kyoukaisen what?” Now I understand (though am still a bit confused but I get the general gist of the story) and most importantly, just grew to enjoy the characters and all their little nuances. Anyways, a be-lated thanks for all the hard work you put into these posts!

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