Special attacks against Yamato have failed twice now… The Gamilas try a new tactic.
Hit the jump and let’s dive in!
Episode 14 – The Whisper of the Witch
Disclaimer: Plot wise, this is probably the weakest episode of the series… Scott (my partner in the groupwatch and linked down at the bottom) covers most of the reasons why. So I’m just going to hit the high spots – useful stuff we learn, things to pay attention to.
Having failed to destroy Yamato with the Dessler Torpedo (Ep 8) and with the sneaky and deadly Dimensional Submarine (Ep 13), the Gamilas try a new tactic – a psychic attack. It seems that there’s at least one psionic among the Emperor’s entourage… and she uses her powers to make Yamato‘s crew relive their most precious memories in a bid to make them want to return to earth.
Along the way, we learn a few important things…
Kodia’s harmonica was a gift from his older brother… Yet another reminder of their connection. (As you recall, the brother should have been Yamato‘s tactical officer had he not died in the battle that opened the series.)
Yuki’s memory sequence was even more interesting… Confirming her lost memories are the result of some kind of accident or attack.
We’ve seen her in the hospital before (in a previous ep, via the memories of another member of the crew)… along with another woman who seems to be an identical twin. And now, in her memories, we see the alien technology she has was a gift from that identical twin.
Also part of this flashback is… a woman who resembles the Iskandrian pilot back in Ep 1. And whose presence shocks the attacking psionic. And who resembles Yuki.
They’re inviting us to make a connection here…
Speaking of connections… Misaki. Something happens to her in the Autonomous Navigation Room. She seems to have been… replaced.
The Emperor’s “witch”… But not the one who attacked Yamato, and was killed in the process.
A final mysterious shot of Misaki at the Autonomous Navigation Room. Again, they’re drawing our attention to… what?
And the traditional closing of the ep.
Yamato 2199 group watch:
Other Participants:
– Mechanical Anime Reviews: Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Episode 14 – Dead in Space
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You can see the all the postings in this series by visiting the Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2199 Group Watch category page. If you want to participate, this post has all the information you need.
Apprentice Mages Lounge. 
I find it interesting you consider this episode one of the weakest plot-wise, particularly since not only is it one of my favorites, but also one I find answers a lot of questions from earlier in the show. We also get a fair bit of character development for Kodai.
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I won’t disagree with you on the character developments and moments… And there’s some important parts to past and future plot elements too. I just find the framing story weak because the witches come out of nowhere and vanish (mostly) back into obscurity. In a series that overall does a bang-up job of foreshadowing and followup, that sticks out like a sore thumb.
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I tend to see Whisper of the Witch and the robot episode as in a similar vein. They both stick out from the main series stylistically and narrative-wise in ways that I like. Have you seen the film, Odyssey of the Celestial Ark? It brings in more of the Jibril race and their relationship with other races.
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They are both alike in that way. I just like one and don’t care for the other. :)
I have seen Celestial Arc, though I don’t remember much of it. I probably need to re-watch it.
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