GATE - Episode 14 Discussion / Poll

[HandofFate]

did the Pina route get closed off here?

[thundrakkon]

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Originally Posted by SakurazukaJames

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Huh? I would have reacted the same way as Itami in that situation. If you are referring to Kuribayashi, then yes, it was a little showy, but she is a very well trained soldier. She could have easily shot everyone instead of doing her martial arts, which would have resulted in the same. If you're referring to Sugawara, then his statements are very consistent with any democratic modern country in our world today.

There are certain opinions that are very anti-Japanese in the Gate forum, but this one is really stretching it.

[ReddyRedWolf]

Thing is with Piña she may have to play her own bid for the throne. Or at least get her smarter brother on it.

As it is with Zorzal as next in line the Empire is doomed.

[SakurazukaJames]

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

And that's what bothers you? That Itami saved one of his countrywomen from slavery and rape?

Dude seriously, you spun that around to make it sound like I was bothered by them saving a woman. No, my problem is this was another NIPPON BANZAI moment added with they touched our women, that is what I said.

[rladls2121]

Do you people think that the elite female knights led by Pina could have fought better than these elite knights led by Zorzal against Itami and company?
Zorzal's knights does not look really professional though, maybe because of Kuribayashi.

[The 48th Ronin]

Damn, Sugawara basically told the Emperor "Yeah, we're softies because we've been through much worse." and "You're all lucky you guys didn't met Imperial Japan" here.

That poor Noriko. Makes me wonder, how many more Japanese are taken hostage by the Imperials.

[outlaw97]

I can kind of see where SakurazukaJames is coming from - yes, it's established that Gate can get quite jingoistic/patriotic at times. But in some cases there's a gray area separating "this is what a decent human being should do" versus "look at how great our military / country is".

I think if it weren't for the dialogue between the ambassador and the King immediately following Itami and Kuribayashi's scene, it would've come off as much more straightforward - Itami doing what was right. But for those who are more critical or sensitive to the nation chest-thumping, it's equally easy to interpret that scene as such.

(For the record I personally don't have a problem with the jingoism, and believe that Itami was perfectly in-character to act like that.

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by outlaw97

I can kind of see where SakurazukaJames is coming from - yes, it's established that Gate can get quite jingoistic/patriotic at times.

Yeah, but it wasn't one of those times. Seriously, of all the things to complain about, that's what he picked?

[SakurazukaJames]

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

Yeah, but it wasn't one of those times. Seriously, of all the things to complain about, that's what he picked?

Yes, it was dude.

[YF19EX]

Marine General James Mattis put it best: Be polite, be professional but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.

[quigonkenny]

Originally Posted by DmonHiro

Well, from my understanding, the army forces sent through the gate are technically on a peace keeping mission. I say technically because they're racking up a body count in the tens of thousands...

The vast majority of the casualties occurred in the initial taking of Alnus hill, where their current military foothold is located. They made no bones about that being payback for Ginza and prevention of further invasion. The "peace keeping mission" is what came after. Outside of the defense of Italica (which could arguably be considered an extension of the Alnus battle, since the raiders were largely composed of its remaining native combatants), the "battle" (such as it was) in the throne room and the taking out of the criminal group in the previous episode have probably been the only JSDF-caused losses of native life. The destruction of the senate building was just that: flashy demolition. Their "body count" during the peace-keeping portion of the mission is maybe fifty at the outside, if you don't count Italica. And all were arguably in defense of themselves or others.

Originally Posted by thundrakkon

If you're referring to Sugawara, then his statements are very consistent with any democratic modern country in our world today.

This. It's not "NIPPON BANZAI" so much as "quit living in the Dark Ages". Or at the very least "if you're going to live in the Dark Ages, keep our citizens out of it". American, British, European...even a Russian or Chinese group would have the same reaction, if not a more extreme reaction. Once this story gets out (if it ever does), I imagine the standard reaction of a citizen in most of our countries would be "I'd have killed the [local expletive] prince, too."

[rladls2121]

Originally Posted by quigonkenny

This. It's not "NIPPON BANZAI" so much as "quit living in the Dark Ages". Or at the very least "if you're going to live in the Dark Ages, keep our citizens out of it". American, British, European...even a Russian or Chinese group would have the same reaction, if not a more extreme reaction. Once this story gets out (if it ever does), I imagine the standard reaction of a citizen in most of our countries would be "I'd have killed the [local expletive] prince, too."

Makes me wonder why I, myself hold pointless animosity in these kinds of series first place, no different than any racist actually.
I feel so stupid of myself.

So many things to talk about here, even without the main female trios.

Pina, after she traveled with the SDF forces to their world and coming back to her home country just to be in a position to pick which side.
Zorzal states that Pina will be his enemy, as for the rabbit creature her true intention is still unknown.

The story starts with the Empire's war of aggression in Ginza, I think it is actually a tragedy.
The Empire in the Special Region is like a Roman Empire, not sure if it really is, but the century obviously to me is very far older than the world we live in though it is a fantasy world, and ways of living so different than us.
I actually feel bad for the Empire, especially for the people who are serving under as servants and soldiers, being born in that kind of era, to have too much less freedoms compared to us, not being able to change their fate for better things ahead.
And yet some people have no other choice but to have feelings of hatred for these kinds of people for what they did to the defenseless people in Ginza.

When Itami gave his comrades the permssions to shoot the Empire soldiers they are already in a very dangerous situation that might end up getting themselves killed plus Noriko if he did not give any commands.
And they had to took most of their lives leaving only few because letting more of them alive would mean higher probability of not stopping the battle.
The other hostages are dead as stated by Noriko and Zorzal.
Just like in the Ginza incident, some people who were taken to the Special Region did not survive.

[Nachtwandler]

I just say one thing. Do you even get that majority of Sci-fi/fantasy authors are a bit nationalistic. It's not exclusive fro Japanese. Any author if he writes a book about people from our worlds moving to another will use the ones from his nation and will add this "our nation is the best" and some national ideology in it. Cause this books in general are oriented on inner market and it's easier to use familiar things for plot.

The same way you could blame majority of American or Russian writers for this, for example.

[jvcscasio]

I think it's just the way you look at it. You guys think this is japanese nationalism, but all I see is an author showing how much our entire world is more advanced than their.

Of course he is going to use japan as an example. It's way easier for a japanese author to write to the japanese public using Japan. To write about another country he would have to do a lot of research about the culture of that country and imagine what they would do. And then expect the japanese readers to relate to that different culture. Or worse than that, he would end up writing, let's say, an american army that does everything a japanese person does and nothing what an american person would do, or write a character out of stereotypes.

So, to avoid stereotypes and not being able to relate to an audience, the best choice is to write about your country going through the gate and showing off our world.

[rladls2121]

Actually I did not feel any shows were a bit nationalistic until someone pointed out, that's when I started feel the same way, but then it was also because I also read about some posts that shows the country's contradiction in reality and the country's history, so it made me more disappointed about the show.

In case of GATE, I sometimes thought why JSDF exists in the first place.
Because I selfishly judge based on its history and reality.
But that's not the way to enjoy the show is it.

And the most interesting part about this show is that SDF is on front, not some American soldiers that requests SDF for support aids in Iraq.
To me it is one of the rare shows that these armed forces actually have fight for the first time in the country other than Japan, correct me if I'm wrong.

[BWTraveller]

To be honest, I didn't really think of this as all that nationalistic, or at least no more than "we're as decent as any other nation and will not take this sort of thing lying down". But then again I also liked Independence Day and didn't think IT to be as nationalistic as people claim, so maybe I just view "nationalism" in a more accepting light.
I'll admit I found it a little unpleasant the way the few appearances of other governments was very negative, but then the Japanese government is also shown being rather concerned with how they can profit from their situation while covering their own backsides, so it doesn't really feel like any government is treated as better or worse. No problem with saying "our nation has heroes", because just about any nation does and should be proud of them.

Anyway, it's not all that boastful to say that members of your army aren't barbarians and don't tolerate slavery, or that you've got enough military might to take out armies that are CENTURIES behind you in terms of technology. You want to show off the might of your military, put them up against some sorcerers who can actually defend themselves and launch attacks with real force in them.

[Sheba]

They should have brought John Wick, telling him the Prince killed his dog wwwww

[quigonkenny]

Originally Posted by jvcscasio

Of course he is going to use japan as an example. It's way easier for a japanese author to write to the japanese public using Japan. To write about another country he would have to do a lot of research about the culture of that country and imagine what they would do. And then expect the japanese readers to relate to that different culture. Or worse than that, he would end up writing, let's say, an american army that does everything a japanese person does and nothing what an american person would do, or write a character out of stereotypes.

Gotta love seeing honorific-happy American soldiers bowing to their generals and talking with their compatriots about how they never thought they would miss konbini bento this much...

Originally Posted by BWTraveller

I'll admit I found it a little unpleasant the way the few appearances of other governments was very negative, but then the Japanese government is also shown being rather concerned with how they can profit from their situation while covering their own backsides, so it doesn't really feel like any government is treated as better or worse.

You do get the feeling that, despite differences in objectives, the other countries would have done things much the same had the Gate opened within their borders.

The only thing I ever had an issue with was the complete slaughter the JSDF laid down on the American, Russian, and Chinese special forces teams, but when you realize that those three teams were made up of only those forces they had on hand in Japan (who were probably only there for Gate-related information gathering) or could insert into Japan within the time frame between learning of the SR natives' visit and the time of the op, and that the Japanese not only had advance knowledge of the likelihood of infiltration but also access to their best forces, it makes sense.

Originally Posted by Sheba

They should have brought John Wick, telling him the Prince killed his dog wwwww

Well, they don't want to wipe out the entire Empire.

[germanturkey]

well, i stopped reading the manga prior to these events. i wasn't quite expecting events to pan out the way they did. either way, entertaining episode. the empire still doesn't quite understand their position on the totem pole, but interesting developments for the prince, since he realizes the role he needs to play to survive.

[Yan3242]

People need to laid back a little when they said this anime is all "glorious nippon". This series was created by japanese and its about jsdf so obviously they will be the overall "good guys/hero of justice" its that simple.

Did captain america ever said a bad thing about america? Maybe, but in the end america is still the good guys right? Yet nobody raising their voice about "glorious USA"

Every country has their dark side but who in the right mind want to make a novel or story about their country as pure evil.