Overlord (Japanese: Shuto Shinkō - Invasion of the Capital) is the first episode of the series and first orchestration. The episode initially aired in Japan on 21 January 2002 and in the United States of America on 03 March 2005.
Synopsis[]
The episode opens outside of Tokyo Jupiter with TERRA launching the Vermillion from the Lilya Litvyak. On the ship's bridge, Jin Kunugi is listening to marching music. Quon Kisaragi approaches from behind, and takes the headset from Jin, listening to the music herself and comments on it being the sound of war.
At the same time within Tokyo, Ayato Kamina is staring at a painting which depicts Reika Mishima, a friend from school until his alarm goes off at 8:00. He discovers a note on the table from his seemingly absent mother Maya Kamina letting him know she will be returning late meets Hiroko Asahina and Mamoru Torigai at the rail station in order to take a chemistry test.[1] Ayato is distracted by the sound of aircraft, from the invading TERRA forces; this attack is responded with by the city's defense forces. Ayato's focus is brough back by Hiroko realising that they will be last if they don't make a move. Haruka Shitow has, unknowingly to the party, tailed Ayato from his home. At his home, two government agents sent by Maya have arrived to discover he has left, and indicate the first line of defense has been breached. Whilst on the train, Tokyo is suddenly invaded by futuristic fighters. Resulting in the train being derailed. At this point the agents have moved on to checking the testing center.
Coming around from the derailment Ayato finds Hiroko and Mamoru are both injured causing Ayato to take action and leave the train to seek help after covering Hiroko's wound. Upon reaching the surface, Ayato finds himself in the way of a defense force tank trying to chase after the Vermillion. The counter attack on the tank causes Ayato to be thrown to the ground. Returning to the derailed train, Hiroko and Mamoru have since come to, with Hiroko treating Mamoru's head wound. Haruka has also made it on board, realising whilst stood next to the two injured friends that Ayato is no longer on board due to a tracking device, she continues her pursuit.
With the battle overhead continuing, Ayato continues to run to seek help. Stopping briefly to catch his breath, a stray rocket hits a tower, causing the building to collapse around him. Recovering rom this additional incident, Ayato can hear music and follows it to find Reika Mishima stood on the edge of a collapsed building, surrounded by birds. Seeking refuge with Reika, before continuing to walk through the ruins, Reika hears singing, the sound of the dolem Allegretto, although Masayoshi Kuki expresses concern about its release Maya reasures him with the fact that without Ollin it will not react and cannot sing. Ayato and Reika reach another subway station and as Ayato reaches the bottom of the stairs he turns around to find Reiki is no longer there. Ayato turns around at the sound of the two government agents. Refusing to leave with them, they attempt to take him by force, an attempt foiled by Haruka.
During the fight between Haruka and the two men, one of them is injured with blue blood landing on Ayato, leading him to react at the sight of it. Haruka introduces herself only as a "champion of justice" before offering to show him the "truth of the world". Ayato declines this request and as a result Haruka pulls the same gun on Ayato as the guards, attempting to take him by force. Facing Haruka, Ayato sees Reika on the train which has pulled into the station and makes a run for the open door; successfully leaving Haruka behind. The train then pulls off, heading for the Shrine of Xephon under the Tokyo bay.
As the battle overhead continues, Maya makes the decision deploy another dolem, Fortissimo to assist in countering the attack; this is done although concerns are raised by Shinobu Miwa.
Upon arriving at the Shrine, Ayato and Reika they discover a Dolem in storage, and further in they find a room (Room of Rah) with a blue sky, and a giant egg resting in a pool of water. The Dolems singing above affect Ayato, but Reika breaks through them with a song of her own. Suddenly the egg cracks, revealing wings inside, and Ayato says "Rah...Xephon".
Narrative Elements[]
- The opening scene shows the date and time as being the 24 November 2027 at 16:27 normal time and 04 July 2015 at 07:56 in Tokyo. This time difference is not explored until Episode 3, Welcome to Our Town.
- Due to the sunset, the color of Tokyo Jupiter is masked due to the similarity in color and hue.
- The craft launching from the ship is the Vermillion.
- Quon Kisaragi listening to the headset from Jin Kunugi and commenting on the music is the first indication of her role as a Mulian instrumentalist.
- The panning from the photos to the clock show that the events within Tokyo are occurring at the same time (the clock shows 07:58)
- Ayato's opening line "All is well with the world I guess" indicate a subconscious awareness that something is amiss.
- The Vermillion acts a McGuffin to direct Ayato's direction toward Reika.
- Reika accepts a drink from Ayato, but does not drink while Ayato does.
- Whilst heading into the second station, Reika is zoomed in on with a picture behind her. This is foreshadowing of the RahXephon.
- The expression made by Ayato when he gets Hiroko's blood and the goverment agent's blood on him are the same.
- When Haruka watches Ayato escape from her on the train, she expresses a sense of loss rather than frustration.
References[]
- ↑ Mamoru is heard reading the chemical elements in carbon dioxide on the train.