GATE: Season 1 – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)

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Episode 5: Battle of Italica

Overview

We find Italica destabilized, and under attack, possibly thanks to Emperor Molto Sol Augustus’ doing, and what once seemed like it could have been a clash between Princess Pina and the SDF, may need to be an alliance.

Characters & Story (with Commentary)

Topic 1: Something to Prove – Princess Pina

In the episode we learn Princess Pina is the daughter of the emperor, but also the daughter of a concubine. Due to this, while given a privileged life, she isn’t given the respect she feels she deserves. Though, alongside being a concubine’s daughter, it could be because, since she was a teenager, she wanted to have her Rose Knight Order to be taken seriously. Something which the emperor never did and, in fact, would at most use them as honor guards.

But, with most of the lords dying due to either trying to invade our world, or push back the SDF, now one of the major trading posts, Italica, is vulnerable. Especially since, as of now, Myui, an 11-year-old, is the current ruler. So, off go the Rose Knight Order and while they were able to stop one band of bandits, the next wave threaten the trading post’s longevity.

Topic 2: Suicide Squad – Itami & Princess Pina

Upon arrival to Italica, Pina quickly introduces the dire straits of the city and asks for the SDF’s help. This is despite both sides becoming familiar that they should be enemies, and Rory mentioning this. However, being that Itami is trying to make friends, upon asking to be posted at the south gate, he has his crew guard the area.

Unbeknownst to Pina though, who sent the SDF there in what she herself calls a suicide mission, the south gate isn’t the location to be attacked. It ends up being the east gate and, with the east gate defended by run of the mill civilians, of which are no match for the hundreds the enemy has, alongside a spirit wielder, it turns into a massacre.

Topic 3: Over Before It Even Began – Princess Pina & Itami

Leaving the princess to watch people, hot tempered and irritable, facing off against trained soldiers who have wild looks in their eyes and seem ready to murder any and every person who stands in their way. As for Itami? Well, he awaits, alongside his team, for an order, or request, of some kind to abandon their post and help.

Final Thoughts

Being that the emperor is so treacherous, a part of me wonders if maybe he setup Italica to be attacked, to maybe take out Pina. For, as of now, I don’t see him as a loving father, but someone so desperate to stay in power he would kill off any threat, which would include his own daughter. After all, a sweet princess, who champions her people into battle, is naturally going to become more beloved than an emperor who sits on his throne and sends people off to slaughter.

Though maybe I’m giving the emperor too much credit. After all, while he did mention he wanted to make his city strong, fortified, and a true political capital for their world, he might not be as powerful as he seems. I mean, there was a time when I wondered if he had control of that dragon which burned down Chuka’s village but, if he had that sort of power, then likely he would have sent a few dragons to attack the gate right?

So, now I’m under the impression that things might just be as they seem. Princess Pina was sent to Italica because of its economic importance and may have truly been a test to prove herself. However, being that the lords are gone, and likely the people want a bigger share of the riches often denied of them, or heavily taxed out of their pockets, they are rebelling. That, to me, is the main way to explain how what currently seems like a leaderless faction has trained soldiers and a spirit wielder. Things which, I assume, don’t come cheap.

Now, as for the SDF’s part in this, they have bullets and Rory, who seems ready to sacrifice for Emloy, who we learn is the god of war [1], but is their presence so fearful that it can maybe end this incident? Granted, words of them scaring off a dragon are traveling, but the crazed look in some of those soldiers eyes may mean a gun is nothing to them. Never mind the fact that guns, and maybe even that rocket launcher, won’t necessarily even the odds.

Things To Note

[1]: It seems Emloy isn’t necessarily a well-respected god. Part of it deals with, in Pina’s words, the followers relying more on whim than a doctrine, and it seeming to her that their whole belief system is nonsense. Perhaps more hinting to Pina’s disbelief than the people’s, for thus far it seems Rory is well respected, and her god in extension.

Apparently there is a summons for Itami back at base, due to what I’m unsure of.