Claymore – Episode 14
4 July 2007
I think I overdid it with the screens last time, I’m way too lazy I mean, with summer prep school starting, I don’t have that much time to takes 30 screens per episode and besides, half of them weren’t even that good. So, after so careful selection and delicate handling of ctrl-alt-s buttons in VLC, I give you exactly ten screens, and a summary of moderate length.
Plot Okies, so here’s Clare, missing an arm, trying to learn the Flash Sword from Irene. Since her last uniform was torn to shreds by Ophelia, Irene gives Clare her old uniform, from that day. It’s missing the left arm, the arm that Priscilla lopped off, but Irene says it’s not that big of a deal. She tells Clare to sit by the fire and eat even though she’s not hungry, it’s better to have something in her stomach. Somehow the subject lands on Teresa. Irene presumes that Clare blames herself for the death of Teresa. She openly states that because Teresa traveled with Clare her skills declined and Priscilla killed her. Despite that, Irene notes that Teresa was the happiest during the short time she and Clare spent together and seemed the most human in those times. This leaves Clare in tears.
Meanwhile, a one eyed Claymore shows up somewhere, her significance at this point is unknown. Back to Flash Sword 101, Irene sensei just lopped off her own arm. The key behind the Flash Sword is to have a strong mind, forcing yoki into a single arm and knowing the limitations of that arm. Irene, at first, thought Clare’s surface personality would be fitting for the Flash Sword, but through their training realizes that Clare’s heart is never at easy, a burning flame. She goes on to say that the Flash Sword is a worthless technique to her, but nonetheless she’s made progress. Then, she cuts off Clare’s shoulder and lops off her own arm. She tells Clare to take her arm, even though now she has none, to carry on Teresa’s legacy and defeat Priscilla. Reluctantly, Clare agrees. Before she leaves, Clare promises that when her battle is finished, she will come and return the arm, so Irene has to still alive.
As Irene bids Clare to live on from the top of a mountain cliff, the mysterious one eyed Claymore arrives. She’s, apparently, Rafaela, number 5 and here to take out Irene the traitor. Irene throws a bunch of questions at her, all of which she refused to answer besides the one about her name, citing the reason that it’s pointless for a dead woman to know the answers. Somewhere else, Clare runs into the Awakened Ophelia, who is still oblivious to her transformation. She wants Clare’s guts, Clare, evidently, cannot give her guts, well, they’re hers! Battle ensues, Clare is pinned down by Ophelia in the bottom of a pond. Upon seeing her own reflection, Ophelia freaks out (eh, so would I.) This angers her even more, that she herself became one of the hated enemy, the one horned Awakened Being (ring any bells?) that killed her brother. Opportunity arises and Clare lops off Ophelia’s right arm. And then her other arm. In partial shock and bemusement, Ophelia asks who the heck Clare is, to which Clare replies, “Number forty seven in the organization, Clare, the successor of Teresa’s flesh and blood, the bearer of Irene’s right arm, and the one who will hunt down the head of the one horned monster, Priscilla.” More thoughts on this later.
Just when you think Clare’s going to kill Ophelia, Irene’s right arm starts acting weird. Since it’s not her own arm, I suppose it’s going to have problems. Like attaching MAC parts to a PC, which wouldn’t work at all, would it? Regardless, Ophelia being weird as always, takes this time to play another one of her games. The last one she played almost got Raki killed. Her Awakened Being form is a giant serpent like thing. She gathers up all of her human parts at the end of her tail and tells Clare that is she slashes through her entire body using Irene’s arm, she will win. Stupidly, Clare actually goes to destroy her entire body, when she could’ve just attacked Ophelia at the end of her tail. Watching her actions, Ophelia mentally calls her reckless, self-destructive and inconsiderate of the people she will leave behind if she dies. She then realizes that’s talking about her brother. Slightly angered by the memories, she pins down Clare again with spikes from her body (I had no idea how to describe that scene, it was weird.) Clare sensing her arm’s limit is ready to give, but then Ophelia yells at her, tells her that she can do. With new resolve, Clare hacks her way to Ophelia. Ophelia tells her that she’ll be fighting Priscilla for her and she won’t forgive Clare is she dies. Then Ophelia falls back into the water. Floating, Ophelia remembers her brother’s last smile that she had forgotten. He was smiling because she was safe, apologizing to her brother for forgetting, she wishes that they would play together again in the other world.
Preview “The Witch’s Maw – I” I’ve said this many times, I don’t understand previews, ever. A wandering warrior, half dead lady, Clare putting her hair up. It’s all very vague and blah and confusing and too short. But it serves it’s purpose, a taste small enough that leaves one wishing for more.
Impressions I thought this episode was rather fitting. It ended the Ophelia arc nicely. I’ve come to understand Ophelia better after this conclusion. Back in episode 12, I hated her guts. I despised her. She was the greatest evil, save for Priscilla who I still hate, thus far. Her actions were unforgivable and if I had the power, I wanted to hack her to piece, little tiny pieces and laugh. After 13, it kinda dwindle into mild interest because they brought up her brother and in her pain and agony she transcends into an Awakened Being. This episode closed up her story, it cleared up and brought up a lot of things about her character.
In the end, the evil bitch that I thought was Ophelia, had a lot in common with Clare, the fact that they were both going after Priscilla and the fact that someone dear to them was killed by Priscilla. I think that Ophelia’s decision to pretty give up and let Clare kill her reflected her own realization. She leaves everything to Clare, tells her Clare to fight in her stead, pretty much entrusting Clare to carry out her revenge. So, I learned to stop hating Ophelia, but appreciate her character. I’m surprised.
Like I said, I started watching Claymore because Clare and Raki kissed. However, it turned out better than I thought it’d be. The characters and a very unique plot kept me interested. The show has a way of spotlighting characters and making them important, no matter what their roles are. The fact that I ended sympathizing with Ophelia shows how well they handled the characters. Of course, with that said, I’m assuming all of this was carefully planned out in the manga already, but anyways.
The other thing that caught my attention was Irene. I didn’t like her particularly since she was trying to kill Teresa, but it was nothing like the hate I had for Ophelia and still have for Priscilla. I’m assuming that she’s just acting on orders and if the organization asks her to jump, she’s going to ask how high. The interesting thing was, at the end of fourteen, she ends up in a similar position like that of Teresa. A traitor, helping out Clare and subsequently hunted down by her former comrades. One main difference, she’s missing both her arms. Owwie. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens to her, I hope they don’t disappoint me.
Anyways, I liked this episode. Yeah, it was nothing exceptional, nothing to get my ovaries in an uproar about. A fitting, solid conclusion to an interesting character, a good segue into the next arc. I’m looking forward to a conclusion to Irene’s bit and Raki’s return. I know Claymore carries subliminal yuri implications, but I’m still gonna stick with Clare and Raki. After all, it’s the reason I’m watching this show!