Welcome back to Anime Rants. I’ve had a rough week and haven’t felt like writing much, but I’m trying to get back in the swing of things. I’ll catch up to where I want to be soon, hopefully. In the meantime, I’ll discuss the latest episode of my favorite continuing anime from 2024, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth. There was a time skip, and the feel of the show has changed somewhat – but not in a bad way, in my humble opinion. Orb continues to fascinate me with its new direction. Let’s review.
Episode 16: It’s Time To Begin The Operation
Episode Rating: 8/10
25 years have passed since the execution of Oczy and Badeni. We don’t know what became of Jolenta or Nowak, but Anthony is still alive as the Bishop. In this episode, the new character in focus was Schmidt, a captain of the Heretic Liberation Front. With his two closest companions and many other inspired followers, Schmidt infiltrates churches and rescues heretics from inquisitors. Also, he’s currently trying to acquire a mysterious heretic book desired by the leader. (It’s Oczy’s book, obviously.)
I had some mixed feelings about the concept of the Heretic Liberation Front. Because of this plot point, Orb now feels less historical and more like – well, an anime. It’s mostly the naming sense of it. I don’t doubt there were rebel factions against the orthodox Church in the 1400s, but they probably didn’t call themselves the Heretic Liberation Front. They probably weren’t that cool or well organized, since they didn’t make the history books. Still, even if it feels slightly less historical now, I am enjoying the story.
Additionally, just because the believability went down a bit doesn’t mean this anime is not historically themed. In general, it’s been accurate – or at least remotely possible. Remember how the Heretic Liberation Front used explosives to beat the church guards? Well, that’s also possible. According to my quick Google search, gunpowder was being used in Europe by the end of the medieval ages. Since Orb is set a bit after that, it’s feasible that some groups had primitive gunpowder explosives.
While we’re on the topic, there was another historical reference in this episode. Schmidt and his two companions (Frie and Lewandlowski) are in need of supplies, so they take what they need from a village that’s been wiped out by the plague. Now, if you know about the bubonic plague, you know the worst of the pandemic was in the 1300s. However, I did a bit more Googling and learned that localized epidemics of the plague continued for centuries – even as late as the 1700s. So, this plot point is believable.
Side note: I didn’t have time or energy to include any sources for the facts I’ve cited. If you have any doubts or are curious, please exercise critical thinking and look this up for yourself. The point of this show is to highlight the need for critical thinking (as well as freedom and humanism). So, don’t just take my word for it.
Schmidt is so far a fascinating character. He reminds me of Lelouch when he plays his Zero persona in Code Geass. That moustache is really something, too. The philosophy and faith of Schmidt are definitely worth talking about, but that would require more time and motivation than I currently have available. I will eventually write about it in detail. For now, I’ll just mention where I stand on the big stuff.
I love the character writing for Schmidt, and I applaud him for saving heretics. Whatever his reasoning, rescuing people from torment and death is noble. However, I disagree with almost everything Schmidt says. I’m an atheist, so I don’t share his belief in a God of Nature. In addition, I am a humanist who values freedom, so I don’t think all religion should be forcibly wiped away. (I do personally hope that humanity outgrows it, though.)
As for the rest of the episode, I believe we are seeing the origin story of our next main character. I don’t know his name yet. He was a young boy whose family were Church loyalists. When the village started supporting violent opposition to the Church, the family tried to run away. But sadly, the husband/father was slaughtered by his own psychopath brother. The wife/mother probably also died fighting for her son. Only the child escaped. Grim indeed.
The eventful episode ends with a scene of Bishop Anthony. The Church guards report that Schmidt and his friends escaped. (However, they did not manage to secure the book they wanted before needing to retreat.) Beside Anthony is an old man with a scar over one eye. Anthony smiles ominously and says that this man can offer help. I’m guessing he’s a traitor within the Heretic Liberation Front. To be continued.
~Thanks for reading~
Written by 7Mononoke
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