Escaflowne special (#2)

Hitomi & Merle, ep.8

Episode#13 The Zaibach crush resistance in the Freid capital. Boris is mortally wounded but hits a carved trigger device which (rather implausibly) brings the whole palace crashing down. Dilandau, momentarily terrified, watches in satisfaction as the palace is demolished without any further effort on his part.
The members of the Court, with Hitomi & Van etc, escape by airship. It seems they are still in visual contact with the destruction on the ground. Prince Chid is crying because Boris and everybody left behind is dead.
In a flashback, Boris says goodbye to Van and wishes him well.
The Freid King angrily tells his son not to cry and to behave like a prince of Freid. Mirana thinks about Marlene and wonders why Allen is looking at the Prince so sadly.
The scene shifts to a massive stone building with high pillars. In this place of refuge, the Freid King addresses ranks of monk-warriors, and one of them presents the King with a ceremonial sword. He calls his son, and then invites the King of Fanelia (Van), Allen and the others to accompany him to be shown something.
They enter a dimly lit chamber and the doors shut behind them. "Bad feeling" says Merle. The Freid King inserts the sword into a slot. At once the figure of an angel appears, but seemingly this is only visible to Hitomi. From an energiste-like jewel, a beam is projected on the wall. Apparently everybody can see this, and the King explains that what they see is an image of Atlantis. Hitomi vividly sees beautiful buildings and winged people. "But" the king says, and the images change instantly to scenes of destruction. After watching this for some moments, Hitomi faints. Seemingly it is Chid's turn to be shown this record of the destruction of Atlantis, entrusted to the Freid rulers. King Freid explains about the legendary Power Spot of Atlantis.
Later, while Allen is occupied elsewhere, Hitomi finds Van seated next to Escaflowne and communing with the mecha's inner mechanisms. She asks what he is doing, and Van confides that he is employing some of her techniques to link himself more closely to the gaimelf. Rather than being pleased, Hitomi finds this rather disturbing. Van is about to say something more to her, but stops and hurries off. Alone, Hitomi sees the jewel on the gaimelf's breast pulse, and then has a horrid vision of a bloodstained and dying Freid King sinking into a lake of blood. Drops fall on her hands. "Red rain!" she exclaims.
Prince Chid passes Allen, pointedly not speaking to him.
Zaibach forces mass near the site, at the top of a slope. They receive the order to descend. At this moment Hitomi, indoors, exclaims, "It has begun!" The crew of the Crusade and others run about shouting orders.
A rapid cut to the battlefield, with all the principal warrior characters in gaimelfs. "The Freid King" Dilandau exclaims, with pleasure. He proceeds to outfight the king, repeatedly chopping and stabbing at his mecha and finally ripping away the front armour. Allen intervenes.
While Allen and Dilandau fight, the King, who has dismounted, makes a rather fatalistic-sounding speech, referring to the future, and ending by calling out that the King of Fried is here. He is pierced by arrows. As he dies, he has a vision of Marlene saying that now they will be together.
Van intervenes in the fight between Allen and Dilandau. (It's impossible to make out which mecha loses an arm; you can try frame advancing it...) Allen dismounts, and is distressed to see that the Freid King has fallen. He has to be held back by one of the soldiers.
Van attacks, running his sword through another mecha, and causing Dilandau to wonder if this fellow is a demon.
Folken tells Dilandau to withdraw, saying that the Freid King is now dead.
Next we see Prince Chid in an audience room, smiling bravely and accepting the condolences of Hitomi and the company of friends.
Chid appears before Folken and a mass of Zaibach troops; evidently Folken intends to accept the surrender of the remaining Freid forces (if any). Prince Chid, realising that further resistance only means more destruction, accepts Folken's terms.
The Fried are guarding the secret of Atlantis' power, to prevent its destructive use by mankind. Just before dying in battle, King Freid changes his mind, and tells his son to habd the secrets over to the Zaibach empire. His son, Cid, hands the Sealing Sword to Folken.
One of the Crusade's crew runs in to tell them that something strange is happening with Escaflowne. On hurrying through to where the gaimelf stands, they see blood running out of the ends of the arm mechanisms and pooling on the floor.
One can't help being impressed by the emotional power of this episode.
On the military front, one can't help thinking that the Zaibach clearly have some deficiency in air-to-air attack capability, otherwise our heroes would not be able to escape by airship so easily!

Synopsis v1.2 by G.C.

Episode#14 Hitomi & co. run in to find Van still inside Escaflowne, from which blood is dripping. When they get him out, he appears to be wounded in various places. Mirana is called to give him medical attention. However, Van sprouts his wings, to general astonishment. (Only Hitomi and Merle knew of his ability to develop wings).
Van is in pain. He has been bandaged up, but Mirana suggests that the problem may be to do with Escaflowne itself. Hitomi goes to have another look at the mecha, and while looking at it explains that she thinks that Van and Escaflowne are too closely linked in some way.
A lookout calls that Astorian air forces are in sight.
Dryden (whom we have not seen before; he is the son of Meriden, King Aston's adviser) is lounging in what seems to be an underwater palace and chatting up a mermaid.
Dryden gives the mermaid her freedom, despite his accountant's protests.
Dryden's rat-like servant calls him. Dryden recognises the airship tethered outside as the Crusade. A visitor is announced, and she says, "That's Dryden, isn't it?" while being introduced. (Although Aston intends to marry Mirana to Dryden the couple have not met before.)
Meanwhile Allen & Hitomi wonder what's keeping Mirana.
Dryden entertains Mirana in his library, and presents his good points as a prospective husband. (His father is very mercenary and no doubt rich.)
Dryden looks at the gaimelf and explains his view of the problem. Repairs are put in hand, and a gang of short cyborgs (the Ispano tribe) set about the work. Unfortunately Van is in agony as the cyborgs set about Escaflowne with power grinders.
Prince Chid ceremonially disposes of the notched sword seen earlier, aided by Folken, and green rays spring up from the crater from which it is dropped and from Domkirk's base.
Van has now completely recovered, and the Escaflowne is repaired, but it seems the cyborgs could not fix the root of the problem, which was that Van dripped his blood over the energist before inserting it into Escaflowne. Hitomi is still worried, though Van insists that he'll be OK
Dryden has underwritten the whole enormous cost charged by the Ispano tribe for having the Ispano Guymelf repaired. We also learn that an Ispano Guymelf assimilates its master unto death, and can act independently.
Dryden's ship vanishes through some sort of interface in the sky.
Hitomi tries to prevent Van getting into Escaflowne. In the end he thrusts Hitomi and Merle aside, enters the mecha, and leaps out of a loading door into flight mode.
As Escaflowne descends, a pair of animals wearing coats scurry for cover. (One of those incidental details that make this more than just another anime series.)
Escaflowne lands, and is surrounded by Dilandau's troop of Zaibach mecha. Van goes on the attack, and even when the Zaibach turn on the invisibility system (invented by Van's brother Folken, incidentally) it doesn't save them. Dilandau watches in terror.
Hitomi and Merle watch from an external railing on the Crusade. Merle is excited, but Hitomi is worried and says that Escaflowne is weird.
Van is about to advance on Dilandau and finish him off when he hears a voice saying he should stop. Escaflowne locks up, goes dark and falls over.
Synopsis v1.2 by G.C.

Episode#15 The company surround the fallen mecha, trying to get Van out. Escaflowne lies dark and smoking slightly. Hitomi pulls ineffectually at the face grilles, and then her arms pass through the metal, and the glow of the jewel on the mecha's breast fades. Hitomi slumps limply on top of the mecha.
Hitomi approaches the grey figures of a line of marching dead from the rear, and runs through their lines, shouting, "Van, where are you?" A grey Van is marching with the other dead. As Hitomi reaches and touches him, her arm passes through him and he fades away.
Mirana is feeling Hitomi's pulse. She releases Hitomi's wrist and says, "It's stopped."
(These scenes are among the most powerful and best executed in the whole of animation. The march of the dead is brilliant, and the glimpse of Hitomi's footwear, as she slumps over the mecha, powerfully adds poignancy to the sudden collapse of a 15 year old schoolgirl. Better than the demise of the bad-but-beautiful Prince and Dark Elf in LODOSS WAR; only the death of the little girl in TOMBSTONE OF THE FIREFLIES comes close. -GC)
Hitomi2 is lying on the stones of a great courtyard in what appears to be Atlantis, complete with fine buildings and flying angels. She finds Van, seated beneath a tree, and asks him if he will return. The scene darkens into one of fiery destruction, and the ground starts breaking up as if consumed by a volcanic eruption.
Merle shakes Hitomi1 and when this has no effect slaps her on the face, calling out Van's name.
Hitomi2 hears, and she and Van ascend a shaft of light, clinging together.
Hitomi1 wakes, Escaflowne brightens, and Van climbs out.
Dilandau, standing at the rail of an airship, has an emotional crisis, and slumps to his knees, saying that he is alone. Presumably he means that all his handsome companions are dead (killed in battle by Van).
Van, practicing sword moves, has an unpleasant red vision of dying boys.
Allen talks of an earlier incident when a younger Allen challenged the Fanelian warrior Valgus (now deceased) and was promptly disarmed and suitably chastened.
Dryden is in his library with Mirana, trying to find a solution to their urgent problems in the books. Allen seems unimpressed. Mirana says that Escaflowne is the least of their problems.
Mirana asks Hitomi if she can talk to her as a friend, and talks about her own feelings for Allen, while saying that she is asking about a friend. (Both girls are 15, though Mirana often seems much older) Mirana asks for advice, and Hitomi (the minx) is quite willing to give it. Mirana complains that Hitomi's suggestions are rather heartless. (No doubt Hitomi would be pleased if Dryden paired with Mirana and left Allen to her). The cat-girl's ears are flapping, and she butts in and asks who Hitomi loves. Hitomi asks what her feelings have to do with Merle. Merle insists on an answer, and Hitomi says that she does love Allen. Asked if she loves Van or not, Hitomi is unable to give a satisfactory answer, except that she doesn't know.
Two cat-girls (Naria and Erya, proteges of Folken) climb into their Zaibach mechas and zoom off to attack the Crusade, causing some panic and confusion. Van launches Escaflowne, but fares rather badly, especially when he realises he is fighting women. He also has that bloody vision of dying boys again. Merle places herself suicidally in front of the downed Escaflowne to protect Van. The cat-girls recollect an incident in their own childhood when one of them tried to shield the other from a mob. Declining to attack another cat-creature, they withdraw.
Synopsis v1.1 by G.C.

Episode#16 A man is seen climbing a cliff. on reaching the top, he sees a figure descending in a beam of light. She is young, and wearing a kimono.
On a Zaibach airship, Folken talks with his two cat-girls.
The company is on Drysen's airship. Dryden reads from the book written by Allen's father. The conversation ranges over the Illusory Moon, and maboroshi no tani ("the mysterious valley") which is the focus of interest in this episode.
On the Crusade. The knife incident is a scene from one of Dryden's books. The story angers Allen, who is struggling with his feelings about his lost father.
The scene switches to modern Japan. Hitomi's mother receives two friends of Hitomi. It seems that Hitomi is missing! The mother says that she has dreamt about Hitomi, and that she is well and with someone called Allen. The girl visitor has dreamt of Hitomi too. On the Crusade, they are reading about the traveller, who meets "Isaac". Allen's father' Leon Schezar, knew Dornkirk and was investigating the valley.
In Japan, Hitomi's mother shows the visitors a photo album. One picture looks like Hitomi, but in fact it is Hitomi's grandmother, wearing a kimono. On the Crusade, Hitomi has a vision of the traveller - Allen's father - climbing the cliff. She sees her grandmother as a young girl - and this is the person whom Allen's father meets and falls in love with. The two speak briefly before Hitomi's grandmother is pulled back to Earth.
Hitomi returns abruptly to her surroundings aboard the Crusade.
A brief scene of the Zaibach capital. The Zaibach are also interested in the Valley, which has some connection with the Atlanteans, and with the "Dragon Clan" - Van's ancestors.
Dilandau has had a mental breakdown and is strapped to a table, shouting incoherently about Allen Schezar and about to be injected by doctors.
Allen storms off, and Hitomi chides Dryden for upsetting him. She follows Allen and speaks to him about his father. Eventually, he thanks her for coming.
Van goes to look for her.
The Crusade runs into turbulence and scrapes by some floating rocks. In alarm, Hitomi grabs hold of Allen. Van sees them and plainly isn't pleased. Emerging from the turbulence, they sight maboroshi no tani - the mysterious valley. Dryden turns to Allen's book but finds a page has been torn out.
The Zaibach airship with Folken and the cat-girls on board is also here; having been alerted by Domkirk. The cat-girls launch in their air/land battle mechas, but as they near the Crusade a great beam of light strikes... Synopsis v1.1 by GC.

Episode#17 The two cat-girls land as the Crusade disappears in a beam of light from a giant circular craft hanging in the sky. There is a glimpse of a baroque exterior rim from the viewpoint of the Crusade. Then they are looking down on an Atlantean landscape. Hitomi de-materialises from the Crusade's cockpit, followed in rapid succession by Van and Allen. Despite being dismayed by the disappearance of their leader, the crew land the Crusade.
Van finds himself in what looks like part of ruined Fanelia, Van sees his mother.
Allen sees his lost younger sister, Serena.
Hitomi sees a vision of Atlantis, and it's destruction, and the transfer of the residue from Earth to Gaea. She describes all this in detail to her companions.
Hitomi reads from an Atlantean inscription which explains that the Dragon Clan are descendants of Atlantis, that the Atlantean secret was a machine that turned human thoughts into power, and that with it the Atlanteans were able to transform their appearance and give themselves wings. Their wishes created a new planet - Gaea.
The Traveller appears; Allen recognises him as his lost father.
Van meets Balgus (who's dead, of course). What Balgus tells Van is not at all to his liking. He tells Van that his vision is an Atlantean vision of death and destruction, and that he must fight against this with Escaflowne,
Mirana asks Hitomi what she sees, as Hitomi watches what is being experienced by the others. She sees Allen talking to his father, and Van being menaced by ranks of what looks like the Dead.
Hitomi's attention, and the viewer's, returns to her surroundings. The company gathers around her. Van's mother appears to Hitomi and tells her that she is a seeress. She warns Hitomi of aspects of the situation with Escaflowne, etc, saying that Hitomi's wishes and prophecies are bringing about a sad future. Hitomi feels responsible for what has happened and is happening.
Hitomi's grandmother appears again.
Allen sees how his father was killed by mechanized Zaibach troops during his search for the mystery of Atlantis, and is able to forgive him for never returning.
Domkirk,the Zaibach leader, is handed the book, with two pages torn out. He isn't pleased at not being told the secret. (This appears to be the same book that Dryden was holding in ep. #16). The book is dropped by the dying traveller's body; he is also holding the pendant. Hitomi's grandmother appears beside him; he asks her why, and gives her the pendant. (now Hitomi's) She disappears again in a beam of light.
The same book materialises again at the elegantly furnished rooms of Allen's mother. Allen's father explains what he felt about her, and about the girl from the Illusory Moon.
Allen's father explains that he realised that he loved his wife after all (it seems to have been an arranged marriage), and that he had discovered the Atlantean secret was to do with wishes.
The Cat-girls fly up to attack the Atlantean vessel, and appear suddenly, looming over the company. Escaflowne appears also, and confronts the cat-girl mechas.
Hitomi has a vision of Van, and then her grandmother, again.
A beam of light is seen from the Atlantean vessel, and cracks appear at its circumference. Abruply it vanishes in a violent disturbance, sucking Folken's airship away like a leaf going down a drain!
The Crusade, the company and Escaflowne are left standing in a freezing empty valley. Van's mother appears again, and hands her son a new energiste for Escaflowne, and tells him that his wishes will determine the future of Gaea.
V1.2 G.C. This is one of the more remarkable episodes, with its layering of images and illusions. At times the same character is onscreen twice, as actor and mentor. This is for 15 year olds?! I've seen art movies that looked less ambitious.

Episode#18 The scene in which Van gets a new energiste repeats. Then Escaflowne, Van and Hitomi disappear in beams of light, then Allen runs into one of the beams after them. The beams of light disappear upwards, leaving the remainder of the company dismayed.
In the Zaibach capital, scientists watch ranks of green tubes. Domkirk (the ruler) says "Unmei kaihen" which is repeated by the scientists. (means "Redirect Fate")
Van, Hitomi and Allen materialise alongside Escaflowne.
(Presumably the Zaibach are responsible for this teleportation. If so, one wonders why they are having a war at all if they can do this sort of thing!!)
Van climbs up the gaimelf, touches the now-green jewel on its breast and is thrown off as by an electric shock.
"It's a huge building," says Hitomi. The floor on which they stand is elevated till they are in sight of Domkirk, who is encased in a semi-mobile life support system. A lengthy dialogue with Domkirk follows, with him introducing himself as the Zaibach leader, Van snatching and brandishing Allen's sword as he confronts the man responsible for the destruction of his kingdom, and Domkirk being asked by Hitomi if he is in fact "Isaac" He is.. Domkirk now has everything in his hands that he needs to complete the work of his Fate-changing machine. Domkirk says that Escaflowne is partly an Atlantean machine. Domkirk goes on to explain how he founded his Empire, a fate-changing exercise in itself -after arriving from Earth and finding himself in a starving and war-torn country. Finally there is a scene of a moon (ours?) blowing up, at which Hitomi faints.
The scene changes to Mirana and Dryden on an airship, and back to Hitomi, Van and Allen now imprisoned in three suspended cages. Soon after they regain consciousness, Van cries out in pain. Allen guesses that this is to do with Escaflowne. We see that the Zaibach scientists are attempting to dismantle Escaflowne and rip off the jewel. Hitomi reaches through the bars to grasp his hand and exhorts him to call the gaimelf, which he does, with spectacular results.
Once freed, they make their way through the passages of the great building. Van has to battle another robot, so they split up. Hitomi and Allen look out over the Moloch-oid expanse of the city, and Allen tries to reassure her that Van will survive.
Behind them, a troop of soldiers bursts out onto the terrace. Allen vows to sell his life dearly. At this moment Van, riding dragon-mode Escaflowne, rises into view. Understandably, Hitomi looks delighted. They escape by air, pursued by several Zaibach gaimelfs.
"Faster! Faster" Van cries, as the enemy gaimelfs close in, readying their liqiuid-metal weapons. Escaflowne develops a rocket engine, and streaks across the sky, flashing past Folken's aiship (what happened to him?) and evading all pursuit.
Escaflowne slows, and Hitomi says, "Allen, you're hurting me." Allen, who has been holding her tightly, releases her. Hitomi says to herself that Domkirk came from Earth, and that they are all fated people.
V1.0 G.C.

Episode#19 Domkirk has a vision of Hitomi standing on a demolished mecha. Mecha with light beams attack airships.
Zaibach soldiers talk about the girl from the Illusory Moon.
In a town beside a calm sea, the Crusade's crew drink. Hitomi is astonished to hear that a Dryden/Mirana wedding has been arranged. Hitomi, Dryden, then Van, Mirana's sister Eries, and Mirana come together.
Mirana is choosing dresses when Hitomi comes in. Mirana asks Hitomi if one of the dresses is OK, then asks if she has come about the wedding. She goes on to say that it's alright, he is handsome and has money... Hitomi recollects how enthusiastically Mirana greeted Allen when she first met her. Hitomi says that it's a lie, then suddenly breaks off and apologises, as she realises that if the wedding goes ahead, Allen will be free.
Mirana asks Hitomi to tell her fortune. Hitomi hesitates, then runs off to get her Tarot cards.
Folken and Domkirk talk about fate, and the Girl from the Illusory Moon.
Hitomi finds Van, who gives her a fruit and talks about Atlantis and his plans. Hitomi is disconcerted. She stands on a bridge, throws a stone into the water, and mutters "Idiot". (A beautiful little scene, this).
Allen is visting a cemetery where his mother is buried. Mirana's elder sister Elise turns up and they talk about the wedding. She leaves flowers and he thanks her.
Zaibach talk of the presence of the girl from the illusory moon, with a flashback to the 3 cages. One of the cat-girls tosses a coin.
In the Astorian capital it starts to rain. Sheltering, Hitomi averts her eyes in embarrassment from a couple who are kissing.
Folken gives instructions to one of his cat-girls about Allen Schezar and Hitomi Kanzani. "Unmei Kaihen" he says. The change in Domkirk's planned destiny is beginning.
In the rain, Allen is thinking of Mirana. Hitomi is thinking of Amano (on Earth). Allen and Hitomi meet in the rain, and kiss. At the same time, Folken kisses his cat-girl. Domkirk, watching, approves.

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These synopses will be continued as I work through the 26 episodes.

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