New to the series

[Cesternino53]

I just watched the first episode of RahXephon today. Don't get me wrong, I liked it but I do have a question. Does the series ever get any more, um how shall I put this, coherent? I mean this first episode was fairly chaotic and didn't make a lot of sense so I'm just wondering if it ever really "settles down" or is it just this pretty random stuff the rest of the time. Again, don't get me wrong.

My other question is a little weird but I have a question about one of the characters. I was on a RahXephon site before buying the series, and the character that looked the most intresting (not to mention looked the coolest in my opinion) is Dr. Itsuki Kisaragi. I'm just wondering what episode can I expect him to show up in for the first time in.

Thanks in advance. I'll probably have more questions during the series, and I know I'll have questions after it's over, so expect to hear from me again.

[Zash]

The series does give answers to questions presented. That's what makes it soo interesting is the intriguing plot. True, the first episode they throw you into action but it's all good. Yes it all comes together eventually but you have to somewhat think things out. At the very end, is the huge shock lol. I remember when I first saw it, i was just stunned beyond words..Remember, at the end i mean after the credits of the final episode. I thought it was at the end of the episiode before credits and i was goin off like wtf i dont get it. But that 1 min of footage at the end..brings it together.

Kisaragi comes in around episode 3 or 4? im pretty sure it's 3 but he's there till the end.

[Levon]

I think episode 3 or 4 is when the show isn't as odd with you thinking of a million questions. After the first few episodes its not as heavy & "settles down"(at least for a while...).

[Zash]

It really turns a corner at the last few episodes and becomes quite a dark series..

[TheDemonSlayer]

Yeah I guess your right about that, but it does it in a way that it didn't feel rushed, it came along perfectly...

[Cesternino53]

Alright now I've seen up to episode ten, and I really am enjoying the series so far. As expected I do have quite a few questions though.

1. Could someone explain Kunugi's past, as was given in episode 10? I didn't really understand why he had a falling out with his daughter and what Quon's realationship with him was.

2. What exactly happened in episode 8, where Itsuki gave his assistant the D-1 part? Did he know she would "become" the Dolem?

2B. What was the assistant's problem, anyways?

3. What is the nature of the "alliance" that Itsuki's assistant and Isshiki have formed. What are they trying to do?

4. What exactly was that gateway that Ayato and Quon entered in episode nine?

5. Who was the old man that Kunugi and TERRA's leader were talking too in episode... um I believe it was six?

6.Who is this reporter guy, and how does he know Haruka's uncle?

Thanks for your help guys. Take your time answering, theres no rush. Very good anime series!

[Levon]

You should watch it all before asking all the questions because they will be explained.

[Cesternino53]

Ok, I suppose I can save my questions for after I finish. One thing though. Does anyone know of a really good, detailed RX site? A fansite would probably be best.

[Levon]

A member here had just what your looking for, but I don't remember the link or if its even around(although using www.archive.org might work). I think it might have been Krueger, but I can't really remember.

It explains a lot in detail.

[Cesternino53]

Well I finished the series, and I have to say I really enjoyed it. At first I was planning to ask questions on every little thing I didn't understand, but I've decided against it. Most things I am am very very close to grasping but it's just not quite clicking. You know the feeling. I'm sure I'll understand better with later viewings. That being said, I do have some questions.

1. So the Ixtli is basically there to guide the "true" instrumentalists (Ayato and Quon) so that the tuning happens and then help Ayato make the right choice?

2. Bahbem's goal was basically to see the RahXephon project complete, and to do so he manipulated lots of people over a long long time right? (I know thats simplifying it)

3. Who all knew about Bahbems plan? I know: Helena, Makoto, Istuki (though by the end he was sick of it by the end), Maya (and probably the other higher ups in the Mu government like Kuki and Torigai). But can someone confirm: Kunugi, Watari, Rikudoh. These three were all pretty good guys, so if they did know, they were probably going along with it cause they didn't want the world to turn to mud, which would have happened.

4. The stuff the Bahbem (in Helena's body) was saying to Sayoko Nanamori at the end: true or not? Was she really another clone, or was he just playing on her insanity?

5. One line I didn't get. At the end, Itsuki (who is already dead) says to Quon that he always wanted her to love him. That means in a motherly fashion right?

6. So who all is alive at the end?

7. So I've heard that time isn't actually reversed at the end, just "changed". Does any time actually pass between when Ayato decides what he really wants and the scene where him and Haruka are married with child?

8. My biggest question: Do the people that are alive at the end remember what has happened? Note- This one may have no clear answer, that could just be an interpretation.

Oh and I'm still looking for real detailed RX sites ^_^

[Krueger]

It's due for a face lift soon as well as more updates, but you can check my site for questions. It has a few FAQs you might enjoy reading. If there's something that's not covered there, post it in this thread and I'll try the best I can to answer it.

http://www.kenoki.com/nko

[Cesternino53]

Thanks, you really cleared a lot of stuff up. Again, subsequent viewings will probably help me understand better as well.

As for the ending, I like to think that everyone is alive and well, and they all remember what happened, but that's just my interpretation.

I do have two new questions though:

1. Could you explain Mamoru? I'm not sure if he is a human or Mulian.

2. Some food for thought about Kuki. If he was high up enough in the government to order the missle strike against the Mu, he must have been there for a long time. So was he a human that had sided with the Mu, or another of Bahbem's creations, installed in the government for just that purpose.

Here is what I think the two possible interpretations of the ending are:
1. After Ayato makes his decision, everyone is revived and they are immediatly in the last scene (not including the scene where Ayato and Haruka meet). Everyone has false memories, except possibly Ayato, that leads them to believe this is the way things have always been. There would be no TERRA or Mu and as such, Ayato and Haruka might not know some characters, like Kunugi, but they would still be alive.

2. Ayato makes his decision, and everyone is brought back and they do remember. The only difference is, Quon is not present untill years later when she is born as a baby. Of course, this wouldn't explain why Ayato is the "correct" age... This is still the one I favor.

Tell me Krueger, what is your interpretation of the ending? Is it one of the two above, or do you think there are other ways to interpret it?

[Levon]

It was very clear that Mamoru is a Mulian-_-;

[King Otaku]

You need to stop asking questions and just watch. It's a great show later on and it is probably in my top 50 all time maybe..? :naughty:

[Cesternino53]

I got the first and second novels, and I have to say it's not too bad. You can tell it's translated, but it's a pretty cool inside look. You get into the heads of everybody, even minor characters like Gomi, Yomoda, and all of Alpha Squadron. I recommend you guys check the first one out.

[Krueger]

Sorry I didn't respond earlier, I didn't even check this thread from the last time I was here.


Here is what I think the two possible interpretations of the ending are:
1. After Ayato makes his decision, everyone is revived and they are immediatly in the last scene (not including the scene where Ayato and Haruka meet). Everyone has false memories, except possibly Ayato, that leads them to believe this is the way things have always been. There would be no TERRA or Mu and as such, Ayato and Haruka might not know some characters, like Kunugi, but they would still be alive.

2. Ayato makes his decision, and everyone is brought back and they do remember. The only difference is, Quon is not present untill years later when she is born as a baby. Of course, this wouldn't explain why Ayato is the "correct" age... This is still the one I favor.

Tell me Krueger, what is your interpretation of the ending? Is it one of the two above, or do you think there are other ways to interpret it?


Those are some interesting interpretations, my final interpretation would probably be a merger of the two with some added elements. For one thing, I do strongly believe the world was recreated, not simply people being revived and installed some false memories. That's something that was done to Ayato so I doubt he would want the same thing over again.

The peculiar thing is that Quon is now Ayato and Haruka's baby, so there was definitley a shift in the time/space continium. Not only that, but Ayato and Haruka apparently have the same age now which further proves the recreation. Quon being born as a baby is a big issue for me as it means many things. For one thing, she was a Mulian before, an original Mulian at that, not simply a Mulian with a human host like Mamoru/Asahina. So her blood was pure. Now that she's a baby she's the daughter of a half-mulian and a human. This can symbolize the unification of the human race and the Mu, but that's only my take on it.

Further along, there's really no way to tell if all those are alive now have the memory of the events that happened earlier. When Ayato finished his painting, Haruka plays around for Ayato to tell her the story again. From this we can infer that Haruka probably has no memory of what she did during the events of the series, but we can also infer that she's just playing around and does in fact remember. The memory issue is definitely open for debate. Personally, I like to believe they don't remember. For one thing, Asahina and Mamoru got married and if you remember correctly there was some bad blood between them when they got turned into Mulian hosts. So memories of those events probably wouldn't lead to marriage, wouldn't it?

Anyways, the beautiful thing about the ending is that you can form your own theory about it. It's concrete enough to avoid people from fully ********ting it, but also vague enough for anyone to form their own conclusion. So I wouldn't say your theories are entirely incorrect.

P.S.
Check out my ending gallery! (http://www.kenoki.com/nko/ending_gallery8.html)

[Effect]

For me, part of how I took the whole Quon being Ayato and Haruka's baby, was this way. Towards the end Maya tells Ayato when he asked if she is his mother she tells him she wish she had given birth or something pointing to that from what I can remember. That leads me to believe that in this recreated world at the end, that's what happen. Quon being their daughter completely takes out of the pictuere of her being the female donor for Ayato and Itsiki(sp?) which was the case in the series before the tuning.

The only thing that isn't explain is what happens to Itsiki(sp?) and others that were connected with the Foundation. Stands to reason that they most likely were removed from the picture all together but I don't think Ayato would do that, not willingly, doesn't seem to be in his nature. So could be that he has a brother out there or simply he hasn't been born yet (allowing him and Quon to be together as siblings like they pretended in the first place).

I wish the ending had gone on just a bit longer. There just isn't enough at the end in order to figure out what happen to everyone. That is unless you just assume I think that because the Mu situation never happen to begin with that the events leading up to everyone's involvment in the series just never happen and they most likely are all safe in some degree or another but possibly didn't evne meet. For example Kunsagi (sp?) and his wife most likely never split since the daughter wouldn't have died. Kim and the young commander might not even have gotten together due to there being no Terra. That along with her parents never dying in the first place so her whole life could have ended up differently.

As for Haruka at the end, at first I figured she was just being cute and asking to explain things again. Then I realize that she most likely didn't know what happen in the series but what she was talking about having Ayato tell her the story of how they meet which is where that picture comes into play (him originally drawing her during their first meeting). Still a cute moment all the same but that's how I look at it now.

I still wonder about the Asahina and Mamoru situation. Yeah, towards the end when he went all evil there was a serious rift between the two and I don't think her feelings for Ayato came out of nowhere. They most likely were always there. If that's the case then it could have been that Maya somehow stopped those feelings from being realized cause she wanted Ayato to love only her, thus tune the world in the favor of the Mu when the time came. She did the same so Haruka was out of the picture, no doubt she'd do it again if the situation came about.

I'd just love to see Ayato's childhood as a result of the tuning though. I don't doubt that Maya would be a far better parent toward Ayato (even she realized she did do the best job even though she did love him and even wish she had given birth to him before the tuning).

[Cesternino53]

Effect, I believe it's completely reasonable to say that Itsuki is alive at the end. Remember, Itsuki was one of Ayato's better friends during the series. Now, what happened to other children of Bahbem ( Makoto, Sayoko, Helena) is a different story. Personally, I believe Sayoko at least was probably alive, but everyone has their own theroies. Now the question on who remembers: we'll never know. As Kruger stated on his last post, that's the great thing about the ending: Not to open, not to vauge.

I reccomend going to Krueger's site for most things Rah. It gives good answers for most things that are hard to understand.

[SandalpHon]

I bet you read the last page of a book before you actually start reading it?

[Vir]

I think most things have been addressed by reading Krueger's FAQs.

Just one point about the stone that Itsuki gave to Nanamori: I don't think he intended what happened later. It was like a trophy. I don't think he was using her a test subject, but once the unnatural weather came he started suspecting that something was up with that stone. At least that's what I got out of the series, but the novels might have more on this.

I got the first and second novels, and I have to say it's not too bad. You can tell it's translated, but it's a pretty cool inside look. You get into the heads of everybody, even minor characters like Gomi, Yomoda, and all of Alpha Squadron. I recommend you guys check the first one out.
Thanks. I'm reading the first one. I actually enjoy the style, except of course for the horrible translation and copywriting errors. (It's supposed to get)

This can symbolize the unification of the human race and the Mu, but that's only my take on it.
I think that's exactly what it means.

When Ayato finished his painting, Haruka plays around for Ayato to tell her the story again. From this we can infer that Haruka probably has no memory of what she did during the events of the series, but we can also infer that she's just playing around and does in fact remember. The memory issue is definitely open for debate. Personally, I like to believe they don't remember.
I think it's like the following, which is still not an authorative answer, and only one possibility, mind you, but the simplest one and most consistent with the series:

Ayato may or may not remember tuning the world. The others don't remember it because they haven't been through it.* Ayato turned back time, so the other characters did not experience the tuning. They live in a world where Bahbem's tuning accident did not happen, and thus no resulting split between the Mu and the rest of the humans. Ayato and Haruka still met each other in the same way in this version of the timeline, so when she asks Ayato who it is, she is just being coy.

*: Let's be philosophical for half a minute though, and point out that these versions of Asahina, Mamoru, etc. in fact would not have the lives they have or might not even exist at all if they had not lived as they did in the flawed version of the time line where they met Ayato. In a way, they live in this "correct" timeline because of Ayato's will. Gathering all the musical phrases and making a composition. Quon speaks of it more in the OVA if you need help understanding. Also look at the Music of the Ainur or other musical creation stories.

Mamoru would not have met Asahina without his mission to protect Ayato in the split timeline. Asahina might not have been there either. So in a way they owe their relationship in the "corrected" timeline to Ayato's wish for them to be together, which was caused by somewhat "evil" designs by Maya.

Towards the end Maya tells Ayato when he asked if she is his mother she tells him she wish she had given birth or something pointing to that from what I can remember. That leads me to believe that in this recreated world at the end, that's what happen.
Yes. Ayato gets to decide, and he takes their wishes into account.