Rewatch Pandora Hearts Rewatch - Episode 03
Prisoner & Alichino
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Questions of the Week:
1) How scary is the Abyss?
2) What's up with Alice and her lookalike?
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u/lC3 17d ago
03: Prisoner & Alichino
- "Lost Child and Black Rabbit" alternate title?
- The Abyss looks like Road's dimension from DGM, toybox-themed
- "tasty looking" NO
- that Trump was pretty creepy
- "perverted dominatrix"
- Creatures born in the Abyss are Chains?
- The two brown-haired girls aren't the same person?
- AHAHAHA he's like a chipmunk or something
- Oz was kidnapped before?
- Alice, in Wonderland?
- Alice wants to escape Abyss?
- Contractor?
- A voice? Was that Sharon?
- ... "Sharon" is sus
- A magic circle exit? That sounds too convenient
- Sharon says Alice intends to murder Oz?
- Oz is sticking up for Alice?
- ... How would "Sharon" know about that?
- How does "Sharon" know her name is Alice?
- THAT'S NOT SHARON!!
- Mad Baby peers into your memories?
- She heard the pocketwatch?
- Oz is screwed if Alice dies here
- I love this music
- She kissed him? Welp
- He became her VESSEL?
- Oz and Alice escaped!
- Oz has some connection to the secret behind the Tragedy of Sablier? he's the key?
- Sharon KOREDEMO
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u/ShadowGuyinRealLife 9d ago
Oz and Alice escaped!
It's funny the rescue party from last epiosde was about 15 minutes late.
[Pandora Hearts] OK as we know in later episodes there was time shenanigans, but even on a rewatch it's pretty funny.
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky 17d ago
Pandora First-Timer, subbed
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u/lC3 17d ago
This is the Abyss, huh…
Yeah, it's like Road's toybox dimension almost. But more creepy
I think my soul would have left my body if I stepped on a (living?) doll like that.
I was waiting to see how you'd react to that
Holy shit.
The horror vibes in this are on point!
That’s how he describes Alice?
He's not wrong?
The cookies made him suddenly turn so unserious, wow.
Oz has many sides!
Is that true, though…?
No, "Sharon" is sus
OH GEEZ.
The watch was key…
Definitely!
Nice job springing into action, Oz!
Sounds like Seibaa has a new Master? Or is Alice the master and Oz is her underling?
The key to what…?
We'll find out more about the Tragedy of Sablier; it's an important mystery, so
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u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 17d ago
First Timer
Well, that basically answered none of my big questions from last episode haha (It actually only added more!). Nevertheless, that was a pretty cool episode! It's mostly spent on Oz's in the Abyss, and I really like the vibe we get across with it. The whole nightmare dollhouse aesthetic, together with the all-around strange design, feels pretty perfect and eerie in its weirdness.
Plus, smaller details like the one doll that tries to throw a rock at Oz but crushes itself or the random appearance of cookies for Oz to munch on really nicely add to the surreal feeling this place should give off. Also, I've mentioned this other rewatches before too, but I have a thing with eyes; Whether they're misplaced, weirdly shaped, oddly numbered, or especially on things that shouldn't have them, weird eyes just kind of freak me out. So I assure you, this shit was appropriately uncomfortable lol.
Oh, and have I mentioned I really like Yuki Kajiura's music already? Okay, I promise I'll stop talking about her every episode lol, but man, I like the OST a lot.
As for character stuff, we learn the rabbit girl's name is Alice (How fitting), and it looks like she and Oz have some fated and/or past connection? Neither can seem to really place it either, but they do evidently have some innate internal familiarity in each other for some reason. It's weirder in Alice's case too, because she doesn't remember that interaction from episode 1 where she choked him out either, though IIRC, back in that interaction, Alice mentioned knowing Oz and there he obviously didn't recognize her, so there's definitely something deeper going on with their relationship, and some locked old memories or selective amnesia type thing seems very possible for both here. Alice's actual goals are definitely a big question mark here too. Either way, I'll say that I also really like Alice! Still very fun how domineering and forward she is.
Oz is also pretty interesting here on his own, in how quickly he gets used to the situation and lets that carefree nature take over again. I mean, good for him, I guess, but like Alice, I end up wondering if he's really just that adaptable or if maybe there's something more fundamentally wrong with him here haha. Especially considering he brings up and glosses over being kidnapped in the past in the same breath. Regardless, I guess Oz and Alice are already out of the Abyss, and they didn't even need Sharon and co's help! Probably says something about her strength, together with Oz's remark on how strong she seemed even with a limiter, but more importantly, I'm now even more curious to see what the aftermath of Ep2 really is, because it didn't really feel like Oz spent a lot of time in the Abyss? Though I suppose dark alternate dimensions are generally not necessarily known for maintaining the same time scale as the regular world either, so I guess we'll just have to see.
I do wonder how this possession thing will end up going, because as cool as Oz is with red eyes, I can't imagine a full-possession sticking will be a good thing lol, so we'll probably have some power-sharing agreement to work out here. And with what Sharon says about Oz at the end, being the "Key" to the Tragedy and one who will bring destruction, I am still leaning towards my thoughts from last episode about him being condemned for something he can lead to and his role in some negative prophecy. Though with the way she phrases that, maybe I'd expand it so that it's actually both the potential and that he had also caused something negative in the past already, that is, the Tragedy? I do love me a hero with a doomed, destructive fate to overcome, so that'd be fun if that's really where we're going.
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u/lC3 17d ago
Well, that basically answered none of my big questions from last episode haha (It actually only added more!). Nevertheless, that was a pretty cool episode!
Mysteries galore! The more we learn, the more mysteries there are?
It's mostly spent on Oz's in the Abyss, and I really like the vibe we get across with it. The whole nightmare dollhouse aesthetic, together with the all-around strange design, feels pretty perfect and eerie in its weirdness.
Perfect for October!
Plus, smaller details like the one doll that tries to throw a rock at Oz but crushes itself or the random appearance of cookies for Oz to munch on really nicely add to the surreal feeling this place should give off.
Also, I've mentioned this other rewatches before too, but I have a thing with eyes; Whether they're misplaced, weirdly shaped, oddly numbered, or especially on things that shouldn't have them, weird eyes just kind of freak me out. So I assure you, this shit was appropriately uncomfortable lol.
Oh, and have I mentioned I really like Yuki Kajiura's music already? Okay, I promise I'll stop talking about her every episode lol, but man, I like the OST a lot.
One of her best, alongside Xenosaga II-III and .hack/Sign, IMO.
As for character stuff, we learn the rabbit girl's name is Alice (How fitting)
Alice in Wonderland?
and it looks like she and Oz have some fated and/or past connection? Neither can seem to really place it either, but they do evidently have some innate internal familiarity in each other for some reason.
Yeah ...
It's weirder in Alice's case too, because she doesn't remember that interaction from episode 1 where she choked him out either, though IIRC, back in that interaction, Alice mentioned knowing Oz and there he obviously didn't recognize her, so there's definitely something deeper going on with their relationship, and some locked old memories or selective amnesia type thing seems very possible for both here
Alice's actual goals are definitely a big question mark here too. Either way, I'll say that I also really like Alice! Still very fun how domineering and forward she is.
Alice is fun to watch! Definitely a fan favorite
Oz is also pretty interesting here on his own, in how quickly he gets used to the situation and lets that carefree nature take over again. I mean, good for him, I guess, but like Alice, I end up wondering if he's really just that adaptable or if maybe there's something more fundamentally wrong with him here haha
Regardless, I guess Oz and Alice are already out of the Abyss, and they didn't even need Sharon and co's help! Probably says something about her strength, together with Oz's remark on how strong she seemed even with a limiter, but more importantly, I'm now even more curious to see what the aftermath of Ep2 really is, because it didn't really feel like Oz spent a lot of time in the Abyss?
Aftermath? yeah, there better be consequences
I do wonder how this possession thing will end up going, because as cool as Oz is with red eyes, I can't imagine a full-possession sticking will be a good thing lol, so we'll probably have some power-sharing agreement to work out here.
WIll it be like Naruto and the Nine-tailed Fox? Continually trying to take Oz over?
And with what Sharon says about Oz at the end, being the "Key" to the Tragedy and one who will bring destruction, I am still leaning towards my thoughts from last episode about him being condemned for something he can lead to and his role in some negative prophecy. Though with the way she phrases that, maybe I'd expand it so that it's actually both the potential and that he had also caused something negative in the past already, that is, the Tragedy? I do love me a hero with a doomed, destructive fate to overcome, so that'd be fun if that's really where we're going.
He and Alice both seem to be linked to whatever happened to Sablier ...
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u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 17d ago
Mysteries galore! The more we learn, the more mysteries there are?
One of her best, alongside Xenosaga II-III and .hack/Sign, IMO.
Don't think I've ever given Xenosaga's a listen, but .hack/Sign is unequivocally my "Favorite OST from a show I haven't actually watched yet"
(Well, it's basically an honorary favorite of mine in general at this point, just feels a little wrong to say that without any of the context lol)
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u/lC3 16d ago
.hack/Sign has an amazing soundtrack ... but you've never watched it?
Don't think I've ever given Xenosaga's a listen
Xenosaga episode I has a great soundtrack by Yasunori Mitsuda, and then the cutscenes in II and III were done by Kajiura. Here's the theme for II.
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u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba 16d ago
.hack/Sign has an amazing soundtrack ... but you've never watched it?
Yep! Just randomly came across one of the tracks a few years back via Youtube rec, really liked it, listened to more, and eventually I'd listened through the whole thing multiple times without having watched the show haha.
I don't really plan on actually getting to Sign any time soon either lol, but I think Kajiura's work there is so good that I'll still often just put it on in the background when I'm doing something else.
Xenosaga episode I has a great soundtrack by Yasunori Mitsuda
The Chrono Trigger composer? I've really liked his stuff too!
[Here's the theme for II.
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u/fieew https://myanimelist.net/profile/fiew 16d ago
Oh, and have I mentioned I really like Yuki Kajiura's music already? Okay, I promise I'll stop talking about her every episode lol, but man, I like the OST a lot.
No no its okay keep talking about. Pandora Hearts is like Tokyo Ghoul's anime. You can't talk about it without mentioning the incredibly OST.
I'll say that I also really like Alice! Still very fun how domineering and forward she is.
I love her full unabashedly forward attitude. She does her best to get what she wants and has her own goals it seems.
I end up wondering if he's really just that adaptable or if maybe there's something more fundamentally wrong with him here haha. Especially considering he brings up and glosses over being kidnapped in the past in the same breath.
Kind of reminds of DBZA World's strongest when Bulma and Roshi got kidnapped and Roshi's line to a screaming Bulma was something along the lines of "settle down this aint your first kidnapping" . Just how causal crazy things can be to different people in anime worlds.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 16d ago
the one doll that tries to throw a rock at Oz but crushes itself or the random appearance of cookies for Oz to munch on really nicely add to the surreal feeling this place should give off.
The doll getting crushed by his own rock was pretty funny ngl.
The doll manifesting stuff out of nowhere, and Oz finding cookies, suggest that the mind can create things in this dream world, and that Oz has that power.
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u/StickPrevious9581 17d ago
Finished the episode at 11:59pm my time - that still counts as today, right? :) I do feel like the show is improving with each episode, so that it a good thing, and the ost continues to be on point, which is excellent. Unfortunately, while I can see what they were going for with the abyss, the combination of surreal and horror they used just came across as neither to me - I feel like it would have come across better if it was just surreal, or just horror, the combination didn't work. Looking forward to seeing if it's Oz or Alice in charge of his body next episode, and if Oz, how he reacts to the time difference between reality and the Abyss - it looks like his hourish in the Abyss was more like 10-15 years in reality. Regarding the 'other Alice', since we know there is time differences in play in the show, I am going to guess that at some point in the future, Oz will betray Alice in some way, and that future Alice is the one who attacked him in the first episode.
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u/fieew https://myanimelist.net/profile/fiew 16d ago
I do feel like the show is improving with each episode
I LOVE the series but even I admit the first 2 episode are just kind of "meh" not bad but not really super engaging either. But as you go on more and more questions appear and you get sucked into the story and world.
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u/lC3 17d ago
Nice! Glad you think it's improving.
Unfortunately, while I can see what they were going for with the abyss, the combination of surreal and horror they used just came across as neither to me - I feel like it would have come across better if it was just surreal, or just horror, the combination didn't work.
Looking forward to seeing if it's Oz or Alice in charge of his body next episode, and if Oz, how he reacts to the time difference between reality and the Abyss - it looks like his hourish in the Abyss was more like 10-15 years in reality.
Regarding the 'other Alice', since we know there is time differences in play in the show, I am going to guess that at some point in the future, Oz will betray Alice in some way, and that future Alice is the one who attacked him in the first episode.
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ 17d ago
First Timer
I'm now 3-4 episodes behind on HnG because I can only watch one show a day....
That Sharon and Break had a doll, so I thought they had leaked into the "real" world like Doldrem....
The show also reminds me a lot, from the start, of the 2011 sequel to American McGee's Alice, Alice: Madness Returns.
- The Abyss of Misfit Toys
- I think I learned the word "parasol" from an Alice game from 1985. I had trouble with that puzzle because I didn't know the word and couldn't figure out the riddle.
- I was never a fan of Chucky movies, and this sequence is going on a bit long....
- Now that guy is a walking copyright violation....
- don't eat anything in the underworld......
- LOL. oops. Contract made.
- But it wasn't the real sharon, so it's fine
So many factions...and still don't know what's up with the two Alices...
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u/fieew https://myanimelist.net/profile/fiew 16d ago
The show also reminds me a lot, from the start, of the 2011 sequel to American McGee's Alice, Alice: Madness Returns.
It does have the same vibes. I played the game and immediately thought of Pandora Hearts. NGL, I went through a bit of Alice in Wonderland phase. I just love love loved any and everything that was Alice in Wonderland. I love the twisty more dark take on whimsical worlds. There's something about the contrast between whismy and horror that I adore. And both PH and Alice:Madness return hit that twist perfectly imo.
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u/lC3 16d ago
I'm now 3-4 episodes behind on HnG because I can only watch one show a day....
That Sharon and Break had a doll, so I thought they had leaked into the "real" world like Doldrem....
You mean Emily?
The show also reminds me a lot, from the start, of the 2011 sequel to American McGee's Alice, Alice: Madness Returns.
Huh, I haven't seen that one.
I think I learned the word "parasol" from an Alice game from 1985. I had trouble with that puzzle because I didn't know the word and couldn't figure out the riddle.
Nice vocab!
I was never a fan of Chucky movies, and this sequence is going on a bit long....
Now that guy is a walking copyright violation....
The Trump?
don't eat anything in the underworld......
I had the same concern lol. Pomegranates much?
LOL. oops. Contract made.
So many factions...and still don't know what's up with the two Alices...
Mysteries to be solved?
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u/fieew https://myanimelist.net/profile/fiew 16d ago
Rewatcher:
QOTD:
- Not so much scary as creepy. You get those goosebumps feeling imo. Its just unsetteling. The best way to describe the abyss imo is from a quote form Disney's Alice in Wonderland:
"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary-wise; what it is, it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?"
Just the contradictory logic fits the theme of the abyss perfectly imo.
- No comment.
As for the episode, I love this one. You just get to see Oz and Alice interact. I love it. Seeing Oz just be goofy munching on cookies. But also shown is his adaptability. He is in an impossible world and immediately started to adapt and adjust to his surroundings. The background OST during the Alice Oz chat was chefs kiss. I love it, it added so much omph to the scene imo.
We got everything with the fake Sharon but the highlight was Oz doing his best to save Alice. As shown in the earlier conversation Oz had a pain in his chest when he initially heard her name and he couldn't bear to lose her to the chain later. I guess you could say they are "chained" together now with the contract and kiss.
Now Oz being a chad made it out of the abyss with no outside help and we get to see where we'll go from here now. Where's Alice and how will everyone react to what happened to Oz?
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u/lC3 16d ago
"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary-wise; what it is, it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?"
Just the contradictory logic fits the theme of the abyss perfectly imo.
Yeah, that does really fit it!
You just get to see Oz and Alice interact. I love it. Seeing Oz just be goofy munching on cookies.
But also shown is his adaptability. He is in an impossible world and immediately started to adapt and adjust to his surroundings.
He's more than meets the eye at first glance!
The background OST during the Alice Oz chat was chefs kiss. I love it, it added so much omph to the scene imo.
I love this OST in general.
but the highlight was Oz doing his best to save Alice. As shown in the earlier conversation Oz had a pain in his chest when he initially heard her name and he couldn't bear to lose her to the chain later.
I guess you could say they are "chained" together now with the contract and kiss.
Now Oz being a chad made it out of the abyss with no outside help and we get to see where we'll go from here now. Where's Alice and how will everyone react to what happened to Oz?
Stay tuned! Now for ep4 (I'm about to watch it myself)
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u/ShadowGuyinRealLife 9d ago
It was pretty funny watching Alice be like "ok let's have a contract!" (apparently all verbal no need to say the fine print) and was like "yeah I finally got a body!"
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u/TheDanubianCommunard 17d ago
First-time
Despite Oz was saved by his girlfriend, as expected, he was casted into the Abyss. It is a really dangerous place, as many cursed and doomed spirits and entites exists there, who are not different from being dead. And they are hostile to any kind of living beings. It might be a joke within myself, but I do think it might be true to say, I call or refer to the Abyss as the Shadow Realm. I think you might get the reference.
If Oz casted into the Abyss, then this means he is reunited with Alice, who also wants to break free and use her own power. Contract, huh? I think she means marriage by that. Every contractor before died by her hand, but Oz is different, since this contract is actually a marriage contract, as the bond within is called love.
And then the contract is complete, they do kiss each other, they are now an inseparable couple. Oz is not just the husband or contractor, but rather a host body for her. And looks like she has deep involvement in the Tragedy of Sabrié, probably the cause of it.
1) How scary is the Abyss?
It's a dark, cold and endless space of nothingness, with a horde of cursed creatures.
2) What's up with Alice and her lookalike?
They love Oz, and want to marry him.