Puella Magi Madoka Magica 10
They should just rename this show to Commando Girl Homura Magica already.
Moemura!
There are quite a number of epic shows, but rare is the one that manages to transcend that to the annals of legendary. SHAFT promised a lot for this episode, and oh boy did they deliver on that promise. And more. And securing the show’s ascent in to legendary status. At least by my book.
Golfmura
I don’t think I have the capacity to go in to detail here right now (mainly because I will go fucking tl;dr) but suffice to say, Homura’s really marked herself as an integral part of the cast of Madoka Magica. She has been admittedly very passive despite hinting so much from the start, and in this episode not only we see why, we also see how and the true reason for her struggles as well as her determination and will power. Not to mention character growth as well.
I admit, while this “twist” has been seen coming for a long time now, I was more worried on the execution itself and I am extremely glad to say that SHAFT has managed to do it well and do it in a way that strikes right in to the heart as well. Not only there was flair and style in this episode, most importantly, it also had emotion and heart as well. With each timeline, I could feel the increasing desperation and determination of Homura as she tries her darndest yet unerringly fails. Just like in Higurashi.
And oh god, Prior Madoka(s). Oh god. So… SO GAR.
*sigh*… Good job, Gen. Good job.
This week’s ending card drawn by ムラ黒江 (pixiv)
P.S. Dumping the timeline notes I took for this episode, might as well….
TIMELINE 1 (ORIGINAL TIMELINE)
Mami and Madoka are Puella Magi, they save Homura at first.
No sign of Kyoko or Sayaka appearing as Puella Magi
Mami dies fighting Walpurgis, Madoka sacrifices herself to defeat it. → Madoka doesn’t turn in to a Witch after death.
Homura contracts with Kyubey in the aftermath → Homura’s Wish: Redo her meeting with Madoka until she is able to protect her.TIMELINE 2
Homura wakes up right before she leaves hospital (Start Point) → Homura has congenital heart disease
Mami and Madoka are Puella Magi.
Homura helps with Witch hunting with Mami and Madoka. → Still very dojikko at this stage :P → learns the basics of her time stop skill.
No sign of Kyoko or Sayaka Puella Magi
Madoka turns in to Giant Witch after defeating Walpurgis. → Homura discovers the real truth of the Soul Gem system.TIMELINE 3
START POINT → Homura discovers Kyubey’s lies.
Sayaka and Kyoko appear as Puella Magi this time. → Sayaka doesn’t believe Homura’s revelations of the Soul Gem system. → Doesn’t like Homura.
Homura upgrades her arsenal.
Sayaka turns in to a Witch. → Homura kills Witch Sayaka → Proves Puella Magi turn in to Witches.
Mami goes berserk, kills Kyoko → Madoka kills Mami to defend Homura.
Madoka and Homura face Walpurgisnacht together
Both of them win together, but Madoka saves Homura from turning in to a Witch with a secret Grief Seed stash. → Homura shoots Madoka (at her request) before she becomes the Giant Witch.
Homura returns again.TIMELINE 4
START POINT → Homura hunts Kyubey down before it approaches Madoka
Homura hunts all the Witches alone, no sign of Mami. → Fuck yeah machine gun Homura!
Walpurgisnacht(WN) appears → Episode 1′s prologue part happens → Homura can’t handle it alone.
Madoka accepts Kyubey’s Contract → Destroys WN in one shot → becomes Giant Witch
Kyubey – energy collection is finished after Madoka changes to Giant Witch, leaves it to Humanity to deal with it. Implies Madoka will destroy Earth any how.
Homura returns again.TIMELINE 5
CURRENT TIMELINE
feal87 Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 3:08 am
Last 2 episodes…what they will reserve to us?!
Mentar Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 3:19 am
Zetsubou Homura >>> Moemura
kureejii Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 3:39 am
MAMI~!!!! Megane French-Braid Twin Tail Homura! *____*
Exar Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 3:52 am
Dam, I cant wait to watch this subbed….
Also so Homura has been going through 5 Timelines? Jebus, doing that and still
having composure just shows how much Will Homura has to save Madoka…
but is it possible that in the current timeline she doesnt let Madoka go Mahou Shoujo?
haitechan Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 4:06 am
Timeline 3 got me shocked. I really wasn’t expecting that about Mami, it’s was maybe a good thing for the rest of the girls that she got Charlotte’d, I guess o_O. Also Sayaka-witch lair was sightly different. No Kyouske but the wheels were there. And talking about witches, THAT witch was creepy as fuck, even more creepy than any of the previous witches. It was like she was staring into your soul.
So Homura is on a time loop until Madoka is saved, this reminds me of Higurashi. At the end of timeline 4 I was like: “Don’t do that stupid Madoka, *insert Darth Vader NOOOOO! here”. I wonder if Madoka will believe any of that. I can’t believe she is the same girl as the previous Madokas, those were really GAR while Homura 1&2 were like Madoka is right now. Anyway, I’ll be stalking TT searching for subs D:.
Suning Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 4:08 am
so the first episode was the last timeline well that makes senses homura been training until now to fight and win against walpurgis night alone and she will return to past and train until that works and probably kill herself afterwards…
being meguka is suffering…
Metalsnakezero Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 4:09 am
I have a feeling that Kyubey is lying about the whole “reversing entropy” since Earth is doom when Madoka changes in to a Witch.
I been wondering where Homura was getting those weapons. Didn’t think the Yakuza would be holding MGs.
Speaking of Homura, WTF GLASSES!?
It was pretty hard to see Mami to kill Kyouko but I felt she needed to so she would have to kill her when they were Witches.
Man, what a change with Personalities with Madoka. She really is brave once she is has the abilities.
“Homura has congenital heart disease” She’s not going to live long, isn’t she?
stuf Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 5:07 am
Holy fucking shit.
This episode made me speechless. Actually, I still am. Oh my god.
This is just… herf.
bahutmut Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 5:10 am
THE OP WASNT A LIE AFTERALL
bahutmut Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 5:32 am
wait! im confused on HOW sayaka became a witch under timeline 3 scenario , didnt she became a witch becuz they realised about the soul gem -> kamjio-kun berserk mode -> “watashi de baka da”
Dude Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 6:13 am
Time Commando Akemi Homura
Anise_Punter Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 6:31 am
That was something else, in an epic way.
How many times must they off poor Kyouko? ._.
qwerty Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 6:39 am
Well holy fuck. So much for Episode 1′s fight being a flashback from the final fight, well from this time-lines final fight at least. Now you have to wonder what Homura learned from the last iteration that will change this time line’s Walpurgisnacht.
This episode just broke my brain from start to finish. So much exposition, so many possibilities, so many freaking awesome scenes and character development out the ass.
Maximilian Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 6:44 am
Really, Madoka wins best show of the season; nay it might even go for the show of the year. Damnit, if only I didn’t have early morning classes I could enjoy the episode right now :(
And yes, I( and probably everyone else after learning how girls’ power is based on wish)saw it all along; that Homura wished to redo everything and protect Madoka. And as you said, the execution was awesome.
@bahutmut: I believe if you overuse your magic, you will turn into a witch anyway( case in point, madoka after fighting with WN in timeline 2). It’s just that in this timeline Sayaka fell easily due to her emotions.
read005 Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 6:47 am
gahhhhhhhhhhh…………………………………..dang….need the subs….. X_X
DmonHiro Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 6:47 am
My mind is full of fuck right now… but it’s GOOD fuck. It’s the best fuck ever. I love this show… GODDAMN IT I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!
qwerty Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 6:58 am
The key to this time-line finishing happily must be Madoka’s wish.
In the earliest timelines Homura’s focus was on winning against walpurgisnacht and not on stopping Madoka from making a wish so she likely just made her “I want to be strong/helpful/whatever” wish which likely just helped her become a stronger witch in the end.
In the last iteration it seems like Homura tried to 100% shelter Madoka from everything so it’s likely she didn’t know anything about becoming a witch or anything and made the contract to save Homura.
If we combine Madoka’s last minute wish with everything she’s learned watching her friends die it’s likely it could be a game changing “happily ever after” wish.
Di Gi Kazune Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 8:10 am
This is….
QUANTUM LEAP!
Kaisos Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 8:41 am
That. That was amazing.
Exceeded all my expectations. Wow.
Vage Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 8:50 am
Another keypoint in Timeline 4 is that Homura gives Madoka a red herring about Kyuubei (albeit it was vague to Madoka, she hadn’t met Kyuubei yet). Madoka ends up making the contract anyway. Explains why she doesn’t bother saying anything in the current timeline. I did find Timeline 2 to be a little odd however. Shouldn’t Sayaka be a Puella Magi in every timeline? Then Homura should’ve found out about Puella Magi turning into Witches before the Walpurgis of that timeline. It makes sense that she didn’t in the first timeline because she wasn’t a Puella Magi at that point. It’s at least fathomable that she turned into a witch and Madoka/Mami dealt with her without Homura knowing.
Dios Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 9:04 am
So with this episode it’s painfully obvious that Homerun never played a rpg game before or else she would know to stockpile grief seed in her hammerspace over the countless recursion she been in or go to an experimental military base and steal nuclear armaments,infrasonic/ultrasonic weaponry, chemical lasers, or the C.E.R.N itself instead of using conventional weaponry. Furthermore couldn’t she just kidnap the from puella magi one timeline and place them in her hammerspace then go groundhog day, thus having an army for Walpugis Nacht.
GBolt Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 9:20 am
Man, the guns. Gotta love them.
Kurogane Shiroikaze Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 9:28 am
On the time loops, it does seem that each time loop has various differences depending on decisions Homura takes.
It’s actually quite interesting that Sayaka and Kyoko only appear on one single loop, but not on the other 2 loops aside from the original timeline. And it seems that if Sayaka becomes a Puella Magi, only then will Kyoko appear as well.
Well, it’s pretty much become Higurashi/Umineko, only with Magical Girls.
Homurakastel anyone?
South Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 9:38 am
@Vage: Take into account Homura lead a lot of the situations in the current timeline. The first things she does is attacking Kyubei and acting cold and weird towards Madoka, making her scared, and making Sayaka angry at her. And thus Sayaka meets Kyubei. In other timelines Kyubei might have just targeted Madoka and met her alone, or they just didn’t show the Sayaka moments, but I don’t think that’s the case.
Suning Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 10:05 am
so rewatching now on original timeline QB plan failed since madoka died without turn into a witch and died as a hero it was kinda “good end” of course not good for homura i guess she wants to die instead of madoka it is a chain that one of them must die kinda sad… or maybe everything will change depending on madoka wish since now she knows what the true history about QB without turning into a mahou shoujo.
Xellos-_^ Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 10:10 am
15,531
and QB has a quota
Vage Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 10:28 am
@South. Sayaka becomes a Puella Magi in Timeline 3, it is assumed that she is already one when Homura warns the group about the Soul Gem system, but confirmed obviously when she does turn into a Witch and Homura does her work. In timeline 3, Homura is still “nice” Homura. Her (and Kyoko for that matter) wish really has nothing to do with Homura. Whether she shows up or not she’d have the same helpless feeling @ crippled Kyousuke…one would think anyway. This is just nitpicking, I thorougly enjoyed this episode. But I feel for the sake of time constraints, things were left out.
Organics Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 11:08 am
Oh God… Homura’s mercy-kill of Madoka… That SCREAM. ;_;
cx Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 11:26 am
i have a feeling she did more than 5 timelines though.
Good ep
neko Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 12:04 pm
holy fucking shit?! at mami going crazy… that was the scene that had the most impact on me. i don’t think it would be that far fetched for mami to actually attempt to kill everyone so they remain in a state of purity. watching all the girls die over and over again was pretty heart wrenching =/
this show is so brutal, yet awesome in so many levels.
Kagekyuubi Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 12:21 pm
Mind blown from watching the episode. Unable to process feelings or excitement for the next two eps. Already suffering from awesomenss withdrawal. Thursday can’t come fast enough.
SaharaFrost Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 12:27 pm
I have only one thing to say:
KYYYYYYYYYYYUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUBEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
TroytheSkull Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 12:56 pm
I wonder if Madoka wishs been different for each time line. I think it’s a important question but maybe she just wish for cake[kind of a joke]. -=x
Mami going crazy after finding out about turning into witches makes me feel a bit better about her death in the current time line. Though the first time line wasn’t so bad too.
Harbin Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 1:00 pm
So what about the cat?
Zzz... Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 1:33 pm
Well now…
…this time loop scenario’s got me thinking…
The key here seems to be Walpurgis…
She is the insurmountable barrier that is the DIRECT cause of every BAD END…
…every TIME.
…so…
…just who is Walpurgis?
This will probably not pan out into anything though.
Th clockwork gears she’s made off may just be a red herring…
TroytheSkull Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 1:43 pm
Probably wrong, but Madoka wish is what I believe be the biggest key, at lest in the current timeline it is. -=x
Manabi Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 2:03 pm
@Metalsnakezero: The heart problem should be a non-issue. First off, she was well enough to start attending school again and she keeps returning to that point. Secondly… her physical body no longer matters remember? Her soul’s in that gem.
@Zzz…: Hate to say it, but the only Puella Magi we know that’s associated with clock gears would be… Homura. And apparently Kyubei can at least sense other timelines, one version of Kyubei apparently showed that ending in another timeline to Madoka as a dream in the start of this one. I’m guessing that would have been the Kyubei from that timeline, or maybe it was just an accidental side-effect of Homura’s time traveling. Still, makes you wonder if Homura, from a different timeline, IS the Walpurgis night witch.
I was totally blown away by the revelation that the OP’s lyrics are a red herring. They’re entirely about Homura, not Madoka. Throwing that in at the end of the episode was just mind-numbing (in a good way).
Zzz... Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 2:08 pm
@ Manabi Said
…now that we know how Homura looked starting out…
Take another look at Walpurgis’ design…
warning wild guess warning
DJd Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 2:18 pm
HOLY TITS IN A HANDBASKET
So, Homura’s the main character, right? Poor gal, going through the same days, the same failures, so many times…..
Da5id Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 2:31 pm
She should’ve just stayed in timeline 3. At least that one had a bitterSWEET ending, not a BITTERsweet ending.
So now we need to come up with nicknames for all of them:
Mahou Shojo Madoka Magica
Homicidal Composer Sayaka Magica
Ticking Time Bomb…er, Death-Prone Veteran Mami Magica
Yuri Zealot Kyouko Magica
Time Commando Homura Magica
There we go.
HoHo Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 2:58 pm
If this time loop is infinite then doesn’t this truly counter entropy like the theory in your previous blog post? 0_o
Kyuube: Just as planned. ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼
ryukiloveshomura Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 3:35 pm
HOMURAAAAA!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!
SAVE THE WORLD!!!
Skribulous Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 3:39 pm
@HoHo
The InKYUUBEEtor had a quota. Quotas are finite.
Homura is stuck in a Groundhog Day scenario.
What? Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 4:07 pm
Homura should’ve not bothered in the first place. I don’t think she can save Madoka at all.
Da5id Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 4:15 pm
Guys, Walpurgis Night ends with a flooded city.
Now watch your local news station about what’s happening in Japan.
Funny Aneurysm Moment if I ever saw one.
Aa Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 4:25 pm
Save the loli save the world.
Manabi Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 4:43 pm
@Da5id: She may not have a choice, her wish was to redo her meeting with Madoka UNTIL she is able to protect her. So far, in every timeline, Madoka dies and thus Homura fails at protecting her. Perhaps the wish is essentially forcing her to repeat things until she actually succeeds (so far her wish has _not_ been granted). But I think Homura would have gone back anyway, she’s damn determined to save Madoka no matter what the cost to herself. (ノД`)・゜・。
Another thing I find interesting… Madoka wasn’t that powerful at first. I have this nasty feeling the time travel and entropy thing are combining here. Madoka’s potential is getting stronger and stronger because of the time reversals. That would fit in with Homura from another timeline (or even this one) becoming the Walpurgis night witch since she and Madoka are the two tied together via the wish & time travel. So if Madoka’s power levels are going up each reversal, so is Homura’s potential… grief perhaps? She’s experienced so many failures now it wouldn’t be surprising that she becomes an overwhelmingly powerful witch. (ﾟﾛﾟﾉ)ﾉ
FX102A Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 4:52 pm
Best bit without a doubt was Kyubey getting totalled by Homura at the end of Timeline 4.
Never has the squelching sounded so good and satisfying.
edru Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 5:04 pm
since homura = cat is impossible now….
new theory: the cat is walpurgisnacht in disguise.
Suning Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 6:35 pm
i don’t think walpurgis night is homura else she won’t appear in the original timeline since she didn’t turned into a mahou shoujo yet… so QB seems to knows about it maybe he is the one that made it to force madoka turn into a mahou shoujo.
Saber Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 7:43 pm
LOL for 1 second I am actually glad that Mami got chewed and guess what Madoka is a frigging archer and Homura still kick ass.
Hope Homura stole some nukes and nuke down the WN :D
Manabi Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 8:11 pm
@Suning: Homura’s powers involve time manipulation, so it’s too terribly much of a stretch to see her warping across timelines if she becomes an insanely powerful witch. Although then you have a bit of a grandfather paradox where her eventually becoming a witch causes her to become a Puella Magi in the first place.
In any case, I think her time traveling has something to do with how (potentially) powerful Madoka now is in some way.
willowywicca Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 8:59 pm
In Timeline 4, Homura warns Madoka before kyubei meets her. Which is before Homura transfers to school. But madoka recognises her (starts to say her name as she disappears). And as seen in episode 1, Madoka is having some dreams of the previous timeline(s?).
Thus, even if Homura tried to behave exactly the same in a new timeline, the outcome ends up different as Madoka has some subconscious knowledge of what has happened before too. This can explain why the fates of the other mahou shoujo end up differently too. (Doesn’t really explain why there are some completely different witches in the different timelines though ^^)
Benigmatica Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 9:20 pm
This is so… MIND BLOWN!
I guess Madoka’s fate is sealed in every timeline… (Fuckin’ Kyubey) Unless Homura can finally stop her and the Walpurgis Night on the current timeline. (most unlikely when Gen-shachou is screwing us)
Doh Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 9:27 pm
Homura Akemi will be in my favorite character list now.
And I am totally speechless over Timeline 3, never expected Mami to go berserk.
Probably next week’s episode, my prediction, Homura found a way to save Madoka?
& Homura looks cute with spectacles and when she’s blushing. (lol)
Boo Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 11:00 pm
Yeah, the start of timeline 4 is the dream we first saw when the show aired. Also, they all say about Kyubei deceiving everyone, and all we saw up to now was the entropy thing and “Kyubei doesn’t understand what emotions and stuff are”. Is there something I am missing there? Seems like this logic is way too weak compared to the potential of this episode.
Other thing I noticed was about the Walpurgisnacht. Was it originally a mahou shoujo? Seeing Madoka killing it 4 times now and in one occasion transforming into a witch after that, makes things a little fishy. They also didn’t say anything about it, everything about it was in the lines of ‘it is approaching’ or ‘the strongest witch’. Is it something Kyubei did, like the grief seed on the hospital?
Anyway, this episode was done magnificently.
What? Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 11:21 pm
@Doh: Well she loses her head in all timelines I guess.
EXM Said,
March 11, 2011 @ 11:38 pm
Homura being Walpurgis Nicht, a witch that is able to manipulate time and show up in different timelines isn’t that farfetched a theory given the close-ups of her geared shield indicating time and the gears on Walpuris Nicht (as well as the fact that Walpuris Nicht is uanffected by her time ability, indicating it has the ability to manipulate time as well). Once she becomes a witch, she’s a soul from a different timeline, thus she’s able to appear in any timeline, even a one where she hasn’t become a Mahou Shoujo, explaining the paradox.
Still, even if Madoka gets saved, this can’t end well. If Homura does take out Walpuris Nicht in that timeline. She’d end up committing suicide anyways because she herself is a mahou shoujo and therefore a witch. Therefore, it solves nothing.
Also, Homura time-travel commando magica sounds boss as fuck.
Doddler Said,
March 12, 2011 @ 12:09 am
The Higurashi/Groundhogs Day comparison is close, but it seems Homura has to make an active decision to return in time, it doesn’t just happen, and by extension of that, dying or becoming a witch is the end, she gets no do-overs if she dies or goes witch. It’s a pretty big difference.
Xellos-_^ Said,
March 12, 2011 @ 12:29 am
looks like Walpuris night just hit Japan.
8.9 EQ off coast of Japan, Sendai flooded.
Zzz... Said,
March 12, 2011 @ 12:55 am
Have anyone noticed how each iteration is getting progressively worse since Homura started her time traveling?
In the original go around, Madoka dies, but she go out like a champ. She defeats Walpurgis, stays true to what she believes, and have no regrets. It’s a tragedy yes but a inspirational one.
In the second go around, she turns into a horrifically powerful witch instead, implying a lot of things went wrong in the process.
In the third go around, everyone falls to despair and start offing one another. Madoka still turns into the Giant Witch in the end (if it weren’t for Homura preempting that).
Fourth go, Madoka almost instantly turns into the Giant Witch and is indicated to, in no uncertain terms, destroy humanity utterly.
Now on this fifth turn…
One of the underlying principles in this show is that wishes, especially ones made for the sake of others, have a way of turning around and biting you in the ass.
What is a wish to protect someone from their death but this?
As much as I respect Homura for her determination I can’t help but feel her wish and inability to let go is what is screwing everybody and everything over.
Kirbstar Said,
March 12, 2011 @ 1:26 am
I’m thinking that the end result will end in Homura’s death, but not before the Walpurgis is successfully defeated with the rest of the Puella Magi surviving somehow. If Urobochi is aiming for a bittersweet ending (he will not do endings where everybody survives or everybody fails), what better way to do it than knock out the character we most sympathize with?
I think somehow Madoka and Homura will defeat the Walpurgis together, which would then fulfill the wish that Homura wanted (to protect Madoka). But upon the expiration of said wish, since Homura has a heart condition (which I think will worsen), she would not survive while Madoka does.
In other words, Homerun-chan hits the game-winning grand slam, but collapses just as she crosses home plate.
I’m sure there are many fallacies to my argument–I’m not one to detail conspiracies.
EXM Said,
March 12, 2011 @ 8:23 am
Her heart condition shouldn’t really affect her, considering her soul is in a jewel.
kaz3phyrous Said,
March 12, 2011 @ 10:17 am
Didn’t Homura already healed her body as the start of the fifth iteration had shown? So the heart condition thing shouldn’t really matter.
I wonder how many more iterations Homura had gone through, I’m pretty sure it was more than 5 since none of the iterations excluding the current one has shown the revelation about how the Soul Gems = the Soul of the Puella Magi.
PS: After seeing this episode I can’t help but notice how in the last part of episode 1, just as the credits were rolling, Homura had a slight reaction to Mami’s threat to her and in this episode, which shows what happened before episode 1, Mami was about to kill her.
Maggie Said,
March 12, 2011 @ 10:43 am
This series is such Nanoha/Hidamari Sketch/Higurashi clusterfuck it’s ridiculous…but god, I’m enjoying it. And FUCK THAT LITTLE RODENT BASTARD. Hope he dies in a fire.
Also, Homura is a straight-up BABE. Time-travel? Grenades? Guns? An eternal loyalty (LITERALLY) to her beloved friend and dare-I-say love interest? Delicious.
Speaking of Nanoha, Homura is quickly becoming one of my favorite magical girls…beside the beautiful, enigmatic Fate Testarossa of course. Be still my heart!
MORE, MORE I SAY!
Da5id Said,
March 12, 2011 @ 12:09 pm
@Manabi
There’s obviously some choice in the matter, otherwise Homura would’ve been sent back to the start of the current timeline the moment Madoka made the contract in the fourth, and she wouldn’t even had time to have that conversation with Kyubei. The other times she went back as soon as things got hectic again, like Madoka dying, turning into a witch, or dying while turning into a witch.
@ZZZ
Madoka didn’t turn into a witch in the fourth timeline, she defeated Walpurgis Night in one blow, and was destined to turn into the most powerful witch, but she never actually turned into a witch. No idea how you came up with that.
@kaz3
She probably learned it during one of the five. Mami aimed right for Kyouko’s Soul Gem in the third, and Madoka aimed for Mami’s, so its obvious they all knew by then.
foshizzel Said,
March 12, 2011 @ 12:27 pm
Best episode so far finally the truth behind Homura! Seeing the time lines play into effect really impressed me just goes to show how many times she failed saving Madoka.
Well we sort of get to see Madoka as a magical girl! Although it always ends up being depressing when we see her die so much T_T
LoliHat Said,
March 12, 2011 @ 1:42 pm
Again, I am reminded of Madoka’s mother’s speech. Her mother said that it is better to make mistakes when young then as an adult. In the previous loops, Madoka acted like and adult…and things did not end well. In this loop, she is acting like a child. This suggests that her not being a strong adult in this loop will be a game changer…that is *if* she doesn’t start acting like a strong adult…
Also:
QB said that humans could somehow reverse entropy, and that his race is just using the girls for that end. Considering that conceit, traveling back through time as a (unintended?) side effect related to that isn’t much of a stretch.
I don’t get out of shape about the entire entropy thing since QB’s explanation came across as not so much violating the laws of thermodynamics, but of humans, and teenage girls in particular, being some type of energy accumulators that the QB race is just harnessing.
Eyes Said,
March 12, 2011 @ 6:11 pm
In the ED theme’s CD there is am image of Modaka holding her longbow while Homura helps her aim, they both look battle worn. Interesting image anyway…
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-twqaJjteWzM/TV43B2WE57I/AAAAAAAABWQ/CitGeZbBenE/s1600/Mahou-Shoujo-Madoka-ED-single-magika.jpg
read005 Said,
March 12, 2011 @ 9:57 pm
bad end madoka = new timeline…
Yamibakeru Said,
March 12, 2011 @ 10:07 pm
I mean, we all knew this episode would have to happen, but, boy am I glad it happened THIS way. It was engaging, explored a LOT of possibilities (like Mami going unstable, and a Madoka that is actually quite GAR, and how a nerdy ass wimp like Homura became gun-totting and bad ass), and it was emotional. I believe I almost teared up at some bits. And I haven’t done that since Gurren Lagann.
Except it kinda baffles me why Homura doesn’t learn how to control her time manipulation more carefully to allow for more accurate corrections of history. Also, I’m guessing her disk doesn’t allow her to travel FORWARD in time, only back and static.
yuan Said,
March 12, 2011 @ 10:43 pm
Madoka asking homura to kill her reminds me of the “Black Card” system in the Claymore universe.
In the Claymore universe, human-monster hybrids (Claymores) fight monsters (Yoma). However, they Claymores turn (awakens) to Yoma eventually. To prevent this, the Black Card system was used. When a Claymore senses that she is about to awaken, she sends a black card with her name (or more accurately, symbol) to a fellow Claymore of her choice, usually a friend. This fellow Claymore then finds her and gives the coup de grace, thus preventing the awakening.
kaz3phyrous Said,
March 13, 2011 @ 12:08 am
@Da5id
or she could have learned it somewhere in between the 2nd and 3rd iterations that were shown.. there’s a chance that there could have been more iterations in between.. It even looks like the “3rd iteration” was more that one iteration.
Destroyar0 Said,
March 13, 2011 @ 12:23 am
@EXM
It would work if she discovers the Walpurgis Nicht is herself before defeating it. After the battle is over and sensing she is going to become a witch she understands what she has to do: go back in time at the start of Walpurgis Nicht when she knows she will be defeated be her past self. Loop closed, Madoka saved.
If Kyubei is harvesting energy from each timeline he won’t be very happy though. We know the timelines are not totally unrelated because Madoka conserves some faint memories.
Enough with the speculation!! I want to watch the next episodes NOW!
arigatou Said,
March 13, 2011 @ 3:34 am
Solution here, Madoka makes a wish that power up Homura in some way, then resets the world once again with the new powers she obtained through Madoka’s wish.
Da5id Said,
March 13, 2011 @ 4:53 am
@Kaz3
Or they learned it IN the 2nd or 3rd timeline.
I doubt Homura spent more then one run-through attempting to convince them of the witch ending. Plus, there’s no implications of there being more than one version of the third, at least from what I can see. Homu tries to warn them, Sayaka doesn’t believe them, turns into a witch, they turn on each other, Madoka and Homura take on WN, Homu kills Madoka at her request. That’s the whole third timeline. Maybe you’re seeing something I’m not.
hikaricore Said,
March 13, 2011 @ 3:03 pm
I especially like when she throws a bomb into the witch’s vagina near the beginning of the episode.
Moondogg Said,
March 14, 2011 @ 10:21 am
@Da5id
Chrono Commando Homura Magica
rincewind Said,
March 15, 2011 @ 6:52 pm
Your book is right, this stuff is legendary!
Being able to see Mami again was great. Watching her in deep despair… T_T … I wanted to give her a BIIIG hug.
Homura needs to trigger the Hinamizawa effect, and make everyone remember the past time lost. Then, they could fight together and defeat Walpurgis without the need of Madoka, and without depleting their magic.
ironysteeth Said,
March 19, 2011 @ 10:38 pm
OMG. I remember watching episode one whim.Just finished the week’s new anime. Pink haired girl has cutesy dialog with mom, goes to school, and gets in “Pinch.” Blah blah blah. At least Sailor Moon had the hawtie sailor jupiter. So I dropped it.Few weeks go by and I decide to see what’s up. The episodes had piled up, So I decide to give the show one final try. I have to say that the line that turned me into a fan of this show was at the end of an episode when Kyoubi was Talking about How girl is the word for an undeveloped woman. and how apropriate Mahou Shoujo is title given to non-transformed witches. Of course that episode completely turned the series on it’s ear. Stealing it away from the land of rainbows and lolipops and plunging it into the dark gritty world we now know our magic girls inhabit. And I love this show for it.
stealthmomo Said,
April 14, 2011 @ 12:09 pm
@ Metalsnakezero: when Homura gets out of bed (STARTING POINT, TIMELINE 4) looking all determined and bad-ass, she rips her glasses of and there is a bright purple flash of magical energy in her eyes. She obviously figured out she could use her magic to correct her astigmatism (and to repair her congenital heart failure as well, one would assume)
@ kaz3phyrous : Yeah, right? Thank god they didn’t pull an “Endless Eight” on us. But I got the distinct impression that Homura has gone through considerably more than five iterations.
Anime Review: Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica Episode 10 | This Euphoria! Said,
December 2, 2011 @ 4:32 am
[...] “There are quite a number of epic shows, but rare is the one that manages to transcend that to the annals of legendary. SHAFT promised a lot for this episode, and oh boy did they deliver on that promise. And more. And securing the show’s ascent in to legendary status. At least by my book. ” – Kurogane’s Anime Blog [...]