Mysterious Cities of Gold - S3E1-9 English Recap

Jump for joy!

Guess what? The show finally has been released with an english dub... in Australia. Thankfully the world is tied together with the internet so I was able to get my hand on them. Hopefully it won't be that long until the show gets a proper DVD release in the Europe. Still wonders why it took 2 years before it came into english. So I got to watch the whole season again since I need to see (or hear) what I missed.

Episode 1: Its funny how correct I was in my first watch through it. The only things I missed was that the fisher kids talk about the fact that they are forced by the law to turn them in to the local lord. Also, I didn't mention that Zia tells Tao that she also is a descendant of the people of Mu. And the documentary was more about the volcano that is still active today than about Japan in general as I gathered the first time. Also, Ambrosius handed over some kind of orichalcum matrix to the woman as well as Esteban's father. And by their discussion it seemed like they knew each other from before. Also, the fact that Zia can feel natural disasters before they happens are shown here the moment the condor falls into the water. Maybe I didn't notice it because it could just have been the birds and such flying away that warned her, but since it come up multiple times since then maybe it's something more to it. At least they are smart enough to say that it might just be a coincidence or it might actually be a real power, comparing it to Esteban's own sun calling abilities that might or might not be real. And it seems Mendoza's full name is Juan-Carlos Mendoza which he identified himself to the japanese.

Episode 2: Pretty much accurate this time as well. The water image didn't say anything special other than that the mirror shield was the key and apparently was supposed to be in the orichalcum capsule, but as Yoshi told the kids, was given to the lord of the lands that put it in the sacred temple at Izumo (I think its the place they are talking about). Also Ambrosius did indeed sell out Mendoza and Co as spies. The documentary was as described about the White Heron Castle and also about the fact that you have to take off your shoes in Japan... which is a strange thing to make notice of for a Swede that have the same custom. I know the Americans don't always do it, but does the french as well?

Episode 3: Nothing different really. It was clarified that the kids happened to fly over the field of rice with Mendoza and the others. What I don't get is the geography of the place. They start in Kagoshima that is almost the most south-western part of the country. They travel to Izumo that is north-east of there, but they somehow see Mt. Fuji which is even further east? That doesn't make sense really. So I checked where the mirror shield is located in real life, and it's supposed to be Isuzu and yes, it aligns better with Mt. Fuji and is probably in viewing distance since it is the highest mountain in Japan.

Episode 4: Another episode where the dialog really didn't matter so I got most of it the first time around. 

Episode 5: I actually understood the riddle on the mirror shield and that the key was missing from its place on it this time around. Also the daiymons plans was a bit clearer in his aspiration for the shogunate and wanting Mendoza to hand over the Condor and the city of gold in order to achieve that, The documentary was cut in my original viewing of the show, but it was about the tea ceremony and a bit about the real temple that the mirror shield was hidden in together with a short bit about the existence of Kappa.

Episode 6: Understanding Gaspards motives are pretty interesting since it seems that he isn't that stupid. Since he knows the dayimon needs Mendoza he isn't willng to upset the lords plans by killing him. I like that. The documentary was about the smithing process of the katana, how they fold it and hammer it under running water while hot and so on and a small bit about the japanese clans different emblem and how they appears all over the place in buildings, clothing and what not.

Episode 7: Pretty much the same, probably due to it being action focused. The documentary was more about the sharpening of the katana and then it was more about the different parts of the katana.

Episode 8: Another action oriented scene. Most fun to listen to the insults Mendoza throws at Ambrosius during their duel. Also the documentary was about the scabbard of the katana and about Seki, a japanese city with workshops for the modern day katana-makers.

Episode 9: Apparently the inscription on the submarine was Thallios and Tao told everyone. Also the script on the statue at the third city was the name of that city, Soundgata or something like that. Googling it led me to this wikipedia page about the founder of the Mali empire, the empire that had so much gold that it almost destabilised the economy of a country they visited on a pilgrimage (I think the legend goes). Now, I don't know if it was supposed to be that word or such, but that seems to be a huge coincidence. If that's true the city names have meaning beyond what I could imagine and have to go back to season 2 and find what the name was. I don't think the first city got a name beyond Eldorado, but I don't think that was its Mu-name. The documentary was about the real world inspiration of the rock formation that hide the city of gold and the discussion if they were man-made or natural phenomena. Also talked about the spider-crabs that attacked our heroes.

This concludes the recap of the first 9 episodes so then we're back to our normal viewing schedule, but without me complaining about not understanding what they are saying. I also gotta mention the voice acting. I still think that Esteban sounds more like a girl than a boy, but I'm probably getting used to them by now. And maybe that's the reason for the delay, since it sounds like the voice acting been tweeked and I don't know if its due to looking at a better version of the show, but the music sounds better. Just something I thought would be worth noting.

Mysterious CIties of Gold S3E9 - Le Thallios

Told you it was a submarine

So they climb the mountain and as the kids and Mendoza reach the top and try to figure out what the orb in the water is, Sancho and Pedro climbs a lot slower and somehow the crabs are disturbed and are travelling en masse up the side and as our heroes jumps to the orb they are under attack from the pincers of the crabs. Here the 3d animation really enhance the experience since it could pan around the heroes as they fight of the crabs on the orb. Tao and Zia finds a symbol on it and after pushing it and turning some kind of lever they escape into the machine. Mendoza triggers the control panel and as they use the symbol they got from the samurai as a key it activates. The ship sinks to the bottom and as they take control they pass through the water. The music is amazing, the animation fantastic as they do more circles around the submarine and they really got creative with the underwater scene. Fantastic. After travelling some time the machine goes on autopilot into rift and another city of gold, caught in a stone coffin. Zia's medallion triggers it to reveal the true city of gold. They enter an airlock, dismiss the water and can walk around. The statue that signals the docking point looks a bit like the feathered serpent which was an important figure in the original series. Although I can't recall if it was the name people gave Estebans father or if it was some ancient person describing the way to the cities of gold.

The kids active another stage of the city and walk around it, finding water pillars like Morpha in  the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time just dangling around. Tao stays behind since he is depressed about Ambrosius betrayal and thinks back to him over and over again, even when it came to the name of the city, which I can't understand what they call it. Sancho and Pedro finds a huge cube of orichalcum (I assume since it is established that Mu and Atlantis used that material due to its conductive properties, and that it is a fantasy element you can do whatever you want with) and as they touch it smaller cubes from it fly around them and they fill their pockets. Zia and Esteban meanwhile finds some crown/tiaras laying around and as Esteban puts one on his head, fooling around a bit, the flying cubes starts to surround him and the episode ends.

I'm really into it at the moment. I just wish they would release it internationally with english subtitles since I suspect that from here on out you really need to understand what the hell is going on. I'm also too much attuned to the series and its ideas as well, since I had a notion that I mentioned solar powered submarines before, and lo and behold, I did so during season 2 when they found Shangri-La and the mass producing condors. I'm so into this series. 

Mysterious CIties of Gold S3E8 - Quand le masque tombe

Tell Your Sister you were right, Luke!

So I was partially right, Ambrosius tried to attack Mendoza, but got distracted by Sancho and Pedro so Mendoza was able to hit him so hard that compass flew out of the bag, revealing the fact that he got even though Zares supposedly had taken it. Being cornered by everyone, he threw a flash bang that blinded them, stole the sword from Zia and got back his compass and tried to escape with the airship. Mendoza followed him and climbed the airship while it flew off and the others chased after in the condor. Mendoza cornered him in the cabin as Ambrosius went to the chamber where he had the Zares suit. And the whole scheme is laid bare for our heroes as the fact that Ambrosius is Zares is shown. An epic swordfight between Mendoza and Zares culminates when Mendoza goads him to strike at the machinery and bring the fight back up to the deck. He is able to make him lose the sword and with some help from the others on the condor he is able to get it for himself and jump on to the condor. Awesome scene, great non-synthesizer music that just feels like an adventure movie as Mendoza glides to the cockpit of the condor while in flight.

Ambrosius chrashes into the water after fixing the leak, and then tries to follow them. The others reach the volcano and walking toward it Sancho, Pedro and Estaban are fuming about the betrayal of Ambrosius and that he had kidnapped Estaban's father while Tao is broken by the trust into the old man, even defending him at times. Entering the volcano they are able to find a gate they can enter by pushing two stones at the same time. Walking through the orichalcum corridors the synthesizer is in full swing. After walking they find some crabs that lead them to an open area where an overgrown pyramid lies surrounded by water and by larger crabs. They all walk up the stairs and it ends on Estaban seeing what lies hidden on the top.

Mysterious Cities of Gold S3E7 - Sword of the Samurai

Zia with the mentioned sword of the samurai

So after escaping from the castle Mendoza takes command of the ship and are about to throw Ambrosius over board for betraying them, but since he is the only one that fly the ship as they are about to crash into the ocean he is allowed to stear the ship. They find the kids and are finally reunited. As they discuss what they know, about the emblem Mendoza relises that the key must be the hilt of the sword of the samurai lord. So they concoct a plan where Estaban gives some food to Gaspared that that is looked in the ship, but breaking a glas that allows him to escape in the night by cutting the ropes. While he get the samurai, our heroes creates sleep gas, traps and whatnot in preparation for the army. As the army arrives everyone gets smoked, Mendoza fight the second in the command in a sword duel and Zia is the one knocking the lord of his horse and then gangsta style smoking him with the sleep gas and take his sword. Meanwhile Ambrosius tricked Tao to leave him alone so he could take a sword and the episode ends on Mendoza trying to get some information from one of the soldiers and Ambrosius comming up behind him to strike with the sword.

Now, that would have been a good ending if it wasn't for the snippets from the next episode where they clearly show both Ambrosius and Mendoza in the aftermath. Thanks show. This time I got the documentary, and it was of course on the japanese sword making skill. I don't think I got the whole episode, but still. They are kinda pointless when you don't get what they are saying.

The Mysterious Cities of Gold S3E6 - The Return of Zares

Finally, the villain returns

It started a bit weak as the Gaspard revenge scenario was pretty much twarted at the get go with him declining to attack Mendoza for some reason, so Ambrosius gave him a sleeping potion instead so that he could use the Zares-suit to kill Mendoza and get back his compass. But while he gets there Mendoza gets a visitor as the kid the children have been staying with have come as part of his watch duties and gives Mendoza a message from Estaban. Mendoza hands over the compass together with a written note on how they are about to escape. The kid gets to town and are tailed by Zares. Estaban gets there as well and after a short hunt is able to knock several logs of wood over Zares as they escape to the woods. In the woods Zares gets them again, knock the kid unconscious and retrieve the compass from Estaban, but are chased away by Zia and Tao who are looking for Estaban.

Reading the note Zares relises that Mendoza plans to escape with the airship so he hurries back (I think), knocks Gaspard unconscious again and tries to leave. Meanwhile Mendoza and Co escaped their cell by hiding under the floor and letting the guards open the doors for them. They climbed the roof and jumped on to the ballon as it began rising and flew away as Ambrosius escaped the caste.

Back at the kids home they tend to his wounds and the episode ends as Zia discovers that the emblem of the lord looks like the emblem on the mirror shield.

Decent episode, the music as the guards look for Mendoza and co in the castle sounded like some old tune from the first season. The story feels a bit slow, Mendoza episodes are more action oriented I feel, but the story take a back seat and it feels like its the other way around when the episode is kid centric and that make me actually appreciate the kids stuff more so far... probably more if I understood everything they said.

The Mysterious CIties of Gold S3E5 - Le bouclier miroir

Where we left off

The kids are now trapped in the cave with the mirror shield. Turning it upside down the medallions activate it somehow as golden liquid tentacles (for lack of a better word) emerges from the back of the shield, touch the medlions and from there active some scripture on the surface. All I got out of it was something about between fire and earth... and it means volcano. The next city of gold is in the volcano just out of Kagoshima. Turning the shield again they realizes that the front of the shield is a map and touching the volcano creates a symbol. The kids are interupted by Pichu and discover a way out by climbing up in the cave and finding the water that creates the waterfall outside so they ride it into the pond. They board the condor and return to Yoshi, the old man and his two kids where they are brought up to speed on Mendoza and friends.

Meanwhile Mendoza and co are waiting in their nicer prison cell. Sancho and Pedro eats the food while Mendoza are looking at Ambosius outside fixing the airship. Gaspard arrives to get Medoza to the lord. The lord wants his help in finding the lost city of gold... I think, the translator turns it into the golden fleece and it is hard to know if it is a mistake or the actual thing he is looking for. With it anyway the lord is aspiring to unite Japan with himself as shogun. Mendoza asks to think about it over the night. Gaspard have been given the right to take Ambrosius stuff back to him, but the lord ain't happy and Mendoza gets his eye on the compass. As he is escorted back by Gaspard he goats him enough so that he can steal the compass and with it cripple Ambrosius ability to track the condor and the childre.

Ambrosius is furious that the compass is missing and decide to get rid of Mendoza the best way is to give Gaspard a gun he have hidden and the episode ends on Gaspard doing some tricks before pointing at the camera. That is all, and the documentary wasn't part of the episode I watched, which is a bummer since it's part of the experience.

The Mysterious Cities of Gold S3E4 - La colère du Naï No Kam

It's again airborne

Been a while, but now we're back with more episodes of the Mysterious Cities of Gold. As I stated last time, 5 seconds later and they saved Estaban from the water, but one of the guards at the temple entrance notices something and begins tracking them while they are in the temple. Hiding from the guard they are trying to wait for the parade of the mirror shield and listen in to some local story about putting a rock on a piece of paper and if it connects you will marry the one. Of course Zia puts it in thirst and Estaban and Tao try their best to get their own piece of paper in the pond. Nothing happened in this episode with that so I won't know if it will come back. The ceremony starts, but as they try to keep up Zia feels something and believes that another earthquake are coming. Now, usually in these type of shows one would have seen signs like animals acting weird or running away, but out of the blue it seemed like she felt it, making me wonder if they are hinting that she also possess some (as of yet) unexplained powers? If Estaban is connected with the sun and sky, is she connected to the earth? Well, she warns the people moments before the earthquake erupts, they are caught by the guard, but break free and after saving Tao from falling into a crack created by the earthquake they follow one of the guards that have taken the Shield and hidden it in its safe place. They hide while the guard closes the room and approaches the shield and the episode ends on them finding it.

Meanwhile Ambrosius and Gaspard joins forces to stop Mendoza and get the airship working again. Mendoza and Co are hiding in the village and waiting for the right moment to board the portuguese ship that is guarded by the daiymo's men. The earthquake happens and the guards scatters, but as they are about to board the ship a mother cries out about her two children trapped in their burning house. Mendoza tells Sancho and Pedro to board the ship and he will join them later, but they follow him instead. He position himself in the doorway and holds it up with his own body while Sancho and Pedro grabs the children and run out. The daimyo's second-in-command that have patrolled the town for Mendoza arrives and witness the scene just as the house gives way and buried Mendoza in the rubble. And I like this scene as it just shows the faces of the people standing there in shock and then a close up on Mendozas cape that flickers in the rubble, and then, like freaking Hercules emerging from the Hydra in Disney's Hercules Mendoza stands up, pushing the rubble away from him. And then they get captured and the daimyo himself appears wondering why they didn't just leave, but risked their lives saving some strangers they didn't even know. Sadly I didn't catch what Mendoza answered due to the language barrier. They are arrested again, but treated better this time around.

So no cliffhanger this time around. Nice. The mini-documentary was about the temple and the customs we observed during the episode. I even think it's the same temple that Soma Cruz entered in Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow to enter Dracula's Castle. Mostly it was the stairs that looked the same. I really wish there was an official english version (or I even take a proper english subtitled french version).