Suisei no Gargantia Ep 7: Ominous Overture

Impression:

/SCREAMING
SOMEONE HOLD ME. SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT!
THERE WERE SO MANY RED FLAGS THIS EPISODE THAT IT ISN’T EVEN FUNNY. WITH EVERYTHING BEING SO BRIGHT AND FLUFFY FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS AND THEN WITH THE LAST EPISODE’S FUCKING CLIFFHANGER OF LEDO DEALING WITH THE WHALESQUID/HIDEUAZE WAS OMINOUS AS FUCK.
Holy shit, if it weren’t for Fearokku, lets face it- the odds of Garnatia having been brutally annihilated right on the spot would have been extremely likely. That entire scene of the HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS of Whalessquids/Hideauze swarming right under their ship was especially nerve wracking as there were at least three god damn death flags throughout this episode- so much to the point I actually felt sick to my stomach due to anxiety. But now Garnatia is fucking screwed since as we were warned that Fearokku was not in top health and someone else will be put in charge very soon and now it looks like he is either going to be bedridden or perhaps he may have just died. Either way at this stage, this is a very bad time for him to entrust his position to his successor. I pray to god that it’s Ridget who will be his successor since she is the most rational one who seems to have learned a lot from him in particular. If it’s anyone else, they might react differently or irrationally if the Whalesquid or even Pirates were to attack them. The leader needs to be cool under fire, and make rational decisions that can help ensure the safety of their people and foreign passengers.
That being said, it’s interesting that in order not to ‘provoke’ the Whalesquids, Fearokku commanded everyone to shut down the ship’s engine/lights and nobody is to make a sound. Seeing that the Whalesquids had not attacked them under so circumstances implies that Whalesquiqds are very sensitive to noise/vibrations and perhaps even foreign light. By being nothing by a silhouette amongst their swarm, the Whalesquids paid no mind to them, probably because they did not pose as a threat or display themselves as a potential predator (given the size of their ships and foreign sounds). It was also interesting as it seems no one on Gargantia was aware that Whalesquids could swim in incredibly shallow-waters. This might imply that they could potentially be both sea/land/space inhabitants- or, they may have simply just adapted to the environment- this could be all part of an evolution.
The ancient tale that the people of Gargantia are aware about are records and knowledge they have from the past about how Whalesquids are considered sacred creatures. When you label something as ‘Sacred’ it supposed to be treated with great care/respect. So by labeling the Whalesquids as ‘Sacred’ creatures, it sets a golden rule of to not provoke/attack/kill them. It’s same as those in the ancient past and present crying out, “Don’t provoke the Gods or else we will all be punished!”
When Ledo had brutally killed that Whalesquid/Hideauze, (oh god- it was gross to see its guts and everything) most of the people became very anxious and terrified of what was in store for them. As of right now, Ledo can’t and isn’t able to grasp that regardless whether he is part of Gargantia or not, his actions of attacking the Whalesquids will negatively impact everyone. Honestly god, I hope Chamber could properly explain that to him as he has been learning and adapting to Gargantia’s culture/society faster than Ledo is because as a program it appears he isn’t particularly influenced by Ledo’s cultural mindset.
For the entire episode, Ledo has been on the edge, desperate to get permission to attack and had quickly resumed his mindset as a soldier on duty. At first, he actually thought he might have brought them to this planet when he had gotten tossed elsewhere in the wormhole. However Chamber quickly assured him that it isn’t necessarily the case as the Whalesquids’ exoskeleton has been adapted to the different environment, but the genetic data is very similar with the Hideauze. Chamber comes to the conclusion that they are the same specifies. Then later Ledo lashes out at Amy when she gets made at him for being obsessed with the mission of annihilating the Hideauze/Whalesquid and dragging them into his world’s problems because he is so frustrated that nobody is doing anything nor seem to realize just how dangerous these creatures are to humankind.

Which brings me to my next point. Today we learned something incredibly distinctive about Ledo’s culture/society. They do not have the vocabulary of ‘Co-Existence‘ nor any words of such meaning in their dictionary. As result nobody- such as Ledo ever known about (or had possibly chosen to ignore/banished (something I wouldn’t put past me as they get rid of those who are ‘weak’))  the concept of ‘co-existence’. That being said, it tells us that the Galatic Alliance probably never considered the possibility co-existence with the Hideauze. Understandably with the given circumstance as we’ve seen in the first episode that co-existence is something that can only happen once one side adapts and learns about the nature of their predators/foes- and sadly, until someone figures it out, it is inevitable that lives are going to be lost in the process.
As of right now, I honestly god want to bitchslap Pinion because ever since Ledo had killed the Whalesquid he has been especially excited about it and wants to wander into the Whalesquid’s territory- which is a stupid ass idea- in hopes to find exclusive treasures they can’t find elsewhere. And it’s not just that- but he wants revenge. It has been implied throughout this episode that his brother had been killed by a Whalesquid, which is why he didn’t have any particular worry or problem with Ledo having killed one.
And if that isn’t bad enough, Pinion had managed to get Flange to join his scavenger party which results the two of them announcing that they are leaving Gargantia. This is really bad for Gargantia since Flange’s ships are their main defenses and result of their leave would put Gargantia in a vulnerable position and ultimately defenseless.
Now here’s the thing about ‘wandering into the Whalesquid’s territory’.
I smell something dangerous. You know what I think that danger is?
The first thing that crossed my mind was that horrific mother-ship–plant-like giant we saw in the first episode that effortlessly wiped out 98% of the Galactic Alliance Fleet.
And I have a bad feeling something like that is within that territory in a deep slumber or something.
You know what they say about the sleeping giant, DON’T. WAKE. IT. UP.
This is exactly what frightens me. If it turns out the motherfucker is exactly that, something that isn’t supposed to be disturbed (let alone be found), then lets face it: unless they miraculously have a way to calm the beast…
THEY ARE DOOMED.
AKA: LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE.
END OF STORY.
AND THERE YOU GO, UROBUTCHER GETS LIVES UP TO HIS NICKNAME JUST AS WE FEARED/HOPED.