Junketsu no Maria (Maria the Virgin Witch)

Not really.

It's actually pretty accurate to how witches in Witch hunts were punished.

That's not really the part I meant. I went to school, I know that part was accurate.

They really had to jump through the hoops to make this shit happen. Everyone leaves, and then Maria's magic just stops working for no reason. And in the end Galpha didn't even go through with it. Don't get me wrong, I'm relived that Maria didn't get raped but Galpha has been consistently shown to be the lowest of scum so this seems kinds random.

Fucking peasants, they could use some more Black Death.

Michael is such a dick. He spews his self-righteous bullshit but at this point he's just being a jerk for the sake of being a jerk.

Bernard is just straight up crazy I think. Maria totally blown his mind there. I liked his rant tho.

I mean, yeah, Micheal should not be bothering to do anything. Like, okay, Maria earned his wrath because she wouldn't stop using magic openly, but Viv hasn't been doing that. Like, it seems like he's just trying to stop her from rescuing Maria, which is... none of his business.

I think it was implied that Galfa 'raped' her with his metal arm; but it was hard to tell what's going on besides the light ball flickering.

The amazing thing about Bernard was that oration was pretty much a run down of multiple Christian theological positions over the centuries leading him to the conclusion that is able to support God's authority and reconciling it with human free will; hence his respect to Maria.

Of course Michael will interfere since Maria is supposed to be punished. So it's amazing to me to see Viv being able to not die immediately while fighting him.

That's an uncharitable read of Galfa. He's an impulsive (literal) mercenary asshole, but he's been consistently shown to have something vaguely resembling a soul underneath all that, particularly in his interactions with Joseph. Maria not being able to use magic seems to be a combo of trauma and collapsed self-confidence, and holy shit does she have reason for that. As for Michael, we've learned that religions' power derives from belief - Cernunnos represents the dying, forgotten gods the Church drove out of France. As such, Maria, an increasingly popular supernatural power who actually helps people rather than being a lazy dick, represents a threat to their rule who he has to destroy and discredit pronto.

This episode was keeping me on the edge of my seat from the first to last minute what emotions!

Michael is a dick again. So if Galfa. Bernard is like "Give me a rest, I wasn't even in the manga!"

Yay, Maria is free, good job Edwina, doing what needs to be done despite your fear, that's true courage. Suck on it Church Boy!

Maria wants to head on to the battlefield despite all that happened and despite still not having magic. Her resolve is amazing. I think her magic might return soon tho.

Goddamn Galfa, you are scum. I really hope Joseph shanks the bastard, he deserves all the worst.

I really love this anime, it's great. The conflict is fascinating and all the characters have such strong personalties. I can feel their emotions, their dilemmas, and their resolve. Really outstanding characterization.

For me, this is without a doubt the anime of the season

Can I also say Viv was fucking awesome?

"You inferior beings with no knowledge of love! Stop reigning over us!" They took a character who would just be the 'slutty foil' in a lesser series (given Viv's flat out stated promiscuity and enjoyment of sex) and made her one of the most awesome and compassionate people in series.

Also, remember about Galfa having a semblance of a soul? Yeah...gonna have to disagree with that one now.

edited 15th Mar '15 3:44:03 PM by Lightysnake

Total agreement.

Initial impression on Vivi: Selfish bimbo who only cares about money. Possible enemy to Maria.

Current opinion: A kind if slightly jaded idealist. Maria's great friend and steadfast ally.

I agree, Viv was amazing. Her defiance of Michael aside, there's also that little bit when she gets up from bed, despite being close to death.

Also, LOL Gilbert. Wasn't that a slap in the face, realizing that you've ALSO been getting medicine from a witch's familiar?

For me, the strongest Viv-related moment was the reaction to her speech; specifically the look on Ezekiel's face. Just... that mix of shock, horror and disappointment.

I did not realize that while watching.

Edwina was that good.

Ayup. Viv's passionate speech and her determination to save Maria, even if she was near death. Edwina diving into the fray even if every cell in her body was on high alert... So awesome!

So you take offense at a physical attack over a verbal attack? Ooookay then, Micheal.

Huh, that cat was also Gilbert's info broker? Ha, Gilbert didn't see it coming.

....Geez, Galfa truly is rotten. Par the course for the times they are living in.

So. Most satisfying beatdown of the year?

Definitely. Seeing Galfa's beaten up face felt cathartic.

In fact the entire episode felt really good after the last few took the turn for the worse. It's nice seeing things work out.

Ah yes, Joseph finally confessed! About time. Just look at Maria, just look at how happy she is.

Maria got her powers back, it seems she just needed to believe in herself again. And wow, she's not called the most powerful witch for nothing, that was some awesome display of magical might.

Oh yeah, there's still Michael. I can't wait to see how she deals with this asshole. But looking at Maria, I don't feel worried.

I said it before and I'll say it again, this is the best show of the season bar none. I'm so glad I decided to watch it.

Okay, I also need to ask....what the hell is Lolotte? She picks up a grown man like Galfa, in full armor and using only one hand slings him over her shoulder and walks out singing.

Is she even human?

The fireman's carry is pretty good for lifting dudes, even if you only use one shoulder, and armour adds less to your weight than you might think.

Camp followers are just tough, tough people.

I'm also wondering if Galfa isn't a fit for the complete monster list at this point. The last episode cemented him as nothing more than a savage thug.

Nah, he really, really wants to be this evil badass, because that's what he thinks gets you ahead, and he's got some aptitude for it, but he keeps choking at the last moment. Joseph saw right through it during this episode with the whole 'by the way, I raped your girlfriend, so stop being so noble and principled at m- oh, huh, it's your girlfriend. Totally going to rape you this time, I swear. Honest. What're you two looking at me like that for?' thing.

Just checked out the first episode. Was pretty interesting, and I really like the art style.

I'm not sure where you're getting Galfa not having it in him to go through with this. He was actively trying to murder Joseph in that confrontation.

You mean the fight where he pauses halfway through and starts yelling at Joseph to start begging for his life or run away or something other than continue to fight back?

Well well, that kind of ties EVERYTHING nicely.

It's really too bad that we never get to see this scene animated though◊.

(for context, it's Maria's daughter Ezekiel, talking to a less dickish Michael).

Y'know, between having his attack against England's forces implicitly foiled again, his answer to Michael basically ignored by Heaven itself, his trusted nephew getting poofed into cooked rice, and his sort-of-trusted servant retiring from him for less than ambiguous reasons, Guillame seemed weirdly chill with everything by the end.

Other than that and a few other contrivances (which were already starting to crop up with later episodes anyway, so w/e), a pretty satisfying conclusion to a very pleasant series.

edited 29th Mar '15 2:44:04 PM by Demonfly

This was an amazing series and this episode. I loved how the things were resolved by taking in the account of Maria's life from all who knew her. And Ezekiel being reborn as her daughter is such a fitting resolution to her character arc.

Now the war ended and Maria might begin living as a human in addition to a witch.

Best anime of the season. So glad I watched it.

Just came back from the second episode... yeah, not really digging the religious debates going on here. If I wanted that, I could go to the on-topic conversations subforum and look around. Does this show ever get really into that again?

...it totally does, doesn't it?