Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts
Gate Thus The JSDF Fought There Episode 4 Review – Quick Summary
In Gate Thus the JSDF Fought There episode 4, “To Unknown Lands,” Piña Co Lada, Hamilton Uno Ror, and two other of Piña’s knights continued their undercover mission to learn about the enemy at Alnus Hill. They were fortunate to find a Coda Village refugee working as a waitress. But can they believe her story that the “men in green” actually drove off a Fire Dragon? Meanwhile, Youji Itami brought the refugees back to Alnus. There, he learned that he’s responsible for them! How will he handle the extra responsibility? Finally, Piña found that a church had taken in Duran to treat his injuries. What he told her about her own father’s decisions chilled her to her core. What will the princess do with this information?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Gate Thus The JSDF Fought There Episode 4
Rory’s presence of her mind and her ability to grasp possibilities are impressive. No wonder she’s a demigoddess. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
This is something I missed the first couple dozen times I watched Gate. That’s one of the reasons I love rewatching series like this for my throw-back reviews: I catch tiny details that I didn’t catch before!
My favorite quote from this episode almost seemed like a throw-away line. Lelei, Rory Mercury, and Tuka relaxed in the baths. The baths in and of themselves were significant: Lelei had never bathed in hot water before. Rory, while she had experienced “imperial-style” baths at temple, spent most of her time in the field. Even Tuka said that these accommodations were beyond anything that had been in her village.
Lelei had just been musing about what must be on the other side of the gate. What kind of world has the power not only to project force like the JSDF has shown so far — but also the wherewithal to setup something so civilized as baths?
Tuka could only shake her head in amazement. Rory, though, got this wistful smile and said, “Sounds interesting.”
I had originally missed the tone of her voice. It was almost musing or reverent. She really, really wanted to go to this other world. The Apostle of Emory wants to visit our world — to do what, I had no idea. But I wanted to know!
Such a world of possibilities in a single statement uttered with such profound voice acting skill (props to Risa Taneda)… I love this show.
Best in Show Moment for Gate Thus The JSDF Fought There Episode 4
Piña physically recoiled from Duran’s words. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Piña, Loyal Daughter and Princess…
If you’re a fan of character development like me, watching how Piña Co Lada grows through this series is a real treat. In this episode, we learned more about her starting point. She’s a serious young princess who is full of patriotism and trust and optimism and ambition. All the stuff you’d expect from a princess.
In this episode, we specifically see just how serious she is about the assignment her father, Emperor Molto Sol Augustus, gave her. She sees it as her chance to prove that she is capable and that her Order wasn’t a plaything to keep her occupied. She wants to impress her father.
It’s almost painful seeing how naive she is.
Piña had every intention of fulfilling her mission. Even if it meant eating bad food and drinking terrible ale. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
She gets a clear lesson in empire politics just after hearing about the “men in green” at a local bar. She learned that a nobleman lay healing in a local church. He had taken wounds in the battle at Alnus, and Piña desperately wanted news about the enemy. So, she sought out this nobleman.
To say that Duran’s condition shocked Piña would be a profound understatement. His left arm and leg were mostly gone. His other arm and leg were heavily bandaged. Bandages wrapped his head as well. Her shock was such that she could barely answer his question of why she had visited.
Delivery: … Learns an Important Lesson in Politics
He seemed outraged that she, daughter of the Emperor, hadn’t heard about what happened at Alnus. The more he asked her about her, the more angry he became. Duran lamented that the Emperor had known his own army had fallen before Alnus, yet he sent the Allied Forces anyway. “We were a potential threat to the empire,” Duran said bitterly (16:36). “So he used the enemy to get rid of us.”
Rushing to his bedside and kneeling, Piña protested. It’s not that she had evidence to the contrary. She just couldn’t accept what he said. Piña tried to change his mind, but he just repeated that their true enemy had been to their rear.
She didn’t understand. No, she couldn’t understand. Finally giving voice to some of his rage, no doubt in agony from his wounds, Duran shouted (16:56), “Don’t you understand? The empire! The empire was our true enemy!”
Duran laid it all out for Piña. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
That was too much for Piña. She couldn’t accept it. He ended their interview by saying she had to go to Alnus and see things for herself.
I’ll give Piña full credit. She maintained discipline. She stayed on mission. But understanding what her father had done had to shake her to the core.
Why do you think Lelei kept trying out gas masks? What was your Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!
Gate Thus The JSDF Fought There Episode 4: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: [Spoilers] Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri – Episode 4 [Discussion]
- RABUJOI: GATE – 04
- Chibi Reviews: Gate Jieitai Kanochi nite Kaku Tatakaeri Episode 4 Anime Review – Language Barrier
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Gate Thus the JSDF Fought There Episode 1: The Self-Defense Force Goes to Another World
- Gate Thus the JSDF Fought There Episode 2: The Two Armies
- Gate Thus the JSDF Fought There Episode 3: Fire Dragon
- Gate Thus the JSDF Fought There Episode 4: To Unknown Lands
- Gate Thus the JSDF Fought There Episode 5: The Battle of Italica
- Gate Thus the JSDF Fought There Episode 6: Ride of the Valkyries
- Gate Thus the JSDF Fought There Episode 7: The Princess’ Decision
- Gate Thus the JSDF Fought There Episode 8: Japan, Beyond the Gate
- Gate Thus the JSDF Fought There Episode 9: The Hakone Mountain Night Battle
- Gate Thus the JSDF Fought There Episode 10: Despair and Hope
- Gate Thus the JSDF Fought There Episode 11: Visitor
- Gate Thus the JSDF Fought There Episode 12: What Would Itami Do?
Basically here to agree with your assessment of Piña… She has a strong character arc across the span of the series. Rory gets a lot of attention for various reasons, and Piña doesn’t get near what she should.