Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit

[Jingai]

Episode 1 : Balsa, the Female Bodyguard.

Let's keep it simple shall we?

No flaming, being disruptive, the usual.

I suspect that many of us have already seen the series, but in case

anyone hasn't, please mark spoilers with the nifty spoiler tags alright.

Share popcorn.

Be sure to thank Doxie for making this possible.

[doxiedachsie]

Hopefully people can enjoy this at a reasonable time now.

In this episode we get introduced to Balsa and her new charge, Chagum, second prince of the Imperial Family.  Along the way there is a little bit of excitement and a daring water rescue.

[doxiedachsie]

Tivial fact: The voice of Tanda in the Japanese version is none other than Inuyasha's Miroku, Kouji Tsujitani.

[Jingai]

I'm always kind of surprised that the ox would suddenly rear up
like that. The second Queen hinted that it was one of the Mikado's
assassins, but after watching it I didn't see anything, the ox just stopped
and reared up.

I like that Balsa actually takes the time to enjoy the fancy life, and
I can't really blame her, that spread was something else.

[doxiedachsie]

I always thought that someone left a scent marker or an object in the middle of the bridge where it would panic the ox as it drew near and create the accident.

Checked again.  The boards in the middle of the bridge were weakened and started to give way under the ox's weight.  That panicked the animal and caused the accident, if you want to call it that.  All it took was 1 guy with a keyhole saw.  Most humans wouldn't notice it much; but the ox would be terrified.

[ALchemist81]

The only problem with this is it seems you can't go full-screen or expand the video, which means it remains frozen in its nice little 5"x 7" area on my computer screen. It's pretty cool that we can do this for shows [as] lost the rights to that are now streaming online, but it's still not without flaws.

And yeah, that ox totally got spooked. Man, this series is beautiful!

[doxiedachsie]

There is a basic incompatability with these boards.  That is why you can't see the ads, either, although I doubt this last thing saddens anybody.  You can always use the link under the banner.

[DoxieMoxie]

From now on, there will be a direct link to the hulu stream for the episode in the episode's post.  The original hulu feed is re-sizable.  I think that the board's tendency to filter some HTML out is the reason the video is not re-sizable.  I wonder what would happen if I changed the size parameters to something bigger...

[ben0119]

Why did no one tell me this was going on?!?!??!!! O_O I only noticed it by happening to glance at Doxie's sig today. x_x

I think it's totally cool that they're putting Moribito on Hulu, and that we're having threads for it.  I have the DVDs, though. And, I had already watched 1-11 or so with a friend to try to get her into it, but no avail.   Oh well, I suppose if I start at episode 1 again, I would be just like everyone else who saw the first ten or so episodes umpteen times before AS got the rest. I was lucky enough to start watching Moribito consistently on the last airing... so I saw 1-26 for the first time with no break, just like that. I was sad later though, when I found out that AS lost the rights and it would never get another re-air.  Granted, I had the DVDs, but still...

I should re-watch the first ep and get up to date on this thread, I guess.  NEW LIFE, to this folder!  Woooo!

[doxiedachsie]

I announced it three days ago here.  You should check that thread periodically.  It's for announcing events that are going on around the boards.

Now that you're here, welcome, and enjoy Moribito once again.

[Jeebus201]

This is a show that I wanted to like.  I mean, it has a lot going for it.  OMG OLDER PROTAGONIST.  (Seriously, the last manga I read with an older lead was RRR, and that apparently only lasted 100 chapters or so)  Not to mention, anime has a very strong history of fantasy/adventure stories going back to Record of Lodoss War, Beserk, and others.

But this show is just so insufferably BORING.  You can tell it's based on a novel because the translation is so literal, and what's needed in a book to express detail is just painfully mindnumbing in animation. The setting is not interesting, and nothing happens.  TV is different from literature, and this is the proof.

I'm glad the fans of the show have the Hulu run, but it's painfully obvious why this show failed on TV.

[doxiedachsie]

But every anime seems to have something working against it.  Look at Bleach.  It takes 3-4 episodes just to cover a single fight.  Look at Durarara.  It is so disjointed and repeats events from different points of view.  Inuyasha was filled with pointless filler episodes that totally broke its rhythmn, and on and on.

But this anime was not really as boring as you say.  It started with a daring river rescue that led to a mystery and continued for at least three more episodes with a tense chase and several fights, not to mention a scary run across a rock formation and a boy hunted by a wolf.

Perhaps you should rewatch the first episode or two to confirm that your impression is accurate?  It doesn't take that long and may change your opinion. 

[Metatronda]

---

Jeebus201 wrote:

This is a show that I wanted to like.  I mean, it has a lot going for it.  OMG OLDER PROTAGONIST.  (Seriously, the last manga I read with an older lead was RRR, and that apparently only lasted 100 chapters or so)  Not to mention, anime has a very strong history of fantasy/adventure stories going back to Record of Lodoss War, Beserk, and others.

But this show is just so insufferably BORING.  You can tell it's based on a novel because the translation is so literal, and what's needed in a book to express detail is just painfully mindnumbing in animation. The setting is not interesting, and nothing happens.  TV is different from literature, and this is the proof.

I'm glad the fans of the show have the Hulu run, but it's painfully obvious why this show failed on TV.

---

Valid criticisms. I'll allow it.

(Don't agree with the criticisms, at least not all of them, but there are some decent points. The show is VERY literary in style. I personally don't find that at all boring, but I can understand the viewpoint.)

[ALchemist81]

Like the new video size in the thread. That's actually watchable!

As for when it should change, I say Mondays at midday, and it should be called "Moribito Mondays".  Now run tel dat!

[DoxieMoxie]

Can't do that.  I'm at work during the day on Monday.  I can't log on from work due to a block on the proxy server.

[ALchemist81]

Ok, then midnight Sundays/Mondays, just so the first full day they're up is Monday. Lol!

[doxiedachsie]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

I have to get back to discussing the episode first, though.

[Revenant]

In this episode we get to meet almost all of the major characters and see their relationships to one another.  Balsa is the central figure.  Female lead.  No unusal in itself, until we learn she is almost 30 years old.  This is not a teenage hero, but a mature woman who seems to have sacrificed her reproductive years for a life of violence.  That is different.

Most of the others seem to know her and are waiting for her return after a long absence.

Then there is the young prince, Chagum.  Someone is after his life and Balsa just happens to be present for the latest attempt and saves him.  But the encounter seems to be fate because Chagum becomes her next job.  She is a bodyguard and he will be her charge for a very, very long time - perhaps even the rest of her life.

Interesting situation.  Here is a woman who renounced motherhood for various reasons, mostly related to a guilt debt she feels she must pay.  Suddenly she is plunged into exactly that condition.  She has, in effect, inherited a son.

Not to give away any spoilers; but the two of them have more in common than we think.

[ALchemist81]

Yeah, this is the perfect time for me to rewatch Moribito because I'm the same age as Balsa!

[DoxieMoxie]

Then I should watch it twice because I'm twice that, plus some extra.  Since this thread didn't fill up, what say we discuss Episode 2 in here as well?

[Jingai]

Should I just edit the title to make this the entire re-watch thread?
If you think that would be easier I'm fine with doing that, or can do it yourself.

[doxiedachsie]

Be my guest; and thanks for caring enough to offer.

[DoxieMoxie]

The second episode deals with intrigue as we meet more of the characters in the story and get a glimpse of the political climate and palace plotting.  Against this backdrop, Balsa plans her escape with Prince Chagum and heads out of the city and across the countryside.  However, not all goes smoothly.  Pursuers are hot on her heels and very soon catch up to her and the boy.

Now she has a fight on her hands if she wants to keep him alive.

[Jingai]

I'm really impressed by Chagum actually.
His life has just been turned upside down in a matter of hours,
but he remains collected enough to actually not burden Balsa
too much. That speaks a great deal of his character.

Spoiler

This series is interesting, because there really aren't any instantly identifiable villains
per se, just circumstances that are forcing an unfortunate turn of events it seems.

[doxiedachsie]

We only start to see what he is made of in the second episode.  Chagum was already able to impress Balsa with his grit and may still show us some surprises in the next episode.  We have also seen some aspects of Balsa that make her unusual and even the elements that are working against her are all doing so in the belief that their actions will save an entire country from an ecological disaster.

Most of the comflict comes from a lack of understanding and from a serious lack of knowledge about what they are up against.