#earthian

We knew from Earth House and Sophie/Norea that the situation on earth is bleak. But this was the first proper glimpse at how much. Constant rationing, unsafe living conditions, lack of medical care; the worst possible situation for these people. And that's not factoring in Spacian warmongering for the sake of profit margins.

And poor Guel is caught in the middle of it all. You have to feel sorry for the guy. Sure, he's a spoiled spacian 'prince' but he also murdered his father and now his family company is about to be bankrupt while he's trapped as collateral. To the earthian's credit, they're trying to keep him alive. Sadly, Guel lacks the will to live after the plant incident.

Nika's situation is also dire. Norea is devastated by Sophie's death and has no patience for Nika being a spacian sympathizer. She wails on Nika and chides her for being selfish. Norea has a bit of a point here, much as I like Nika. Attacking a school full of civilians was shitty, but so is the earthian treatment by spacians.

Meanwhile, Shaddiq has an enlightening conversation with his adoptive father. It's revealed what exactly the corporations are doing to make a profit. To my understanding, they're funding wars by selling weapons to the highest bidder. Perhaps funding both sides of massive conflicts if it's profitable. Partitioning implies they divvy up sections of earth to corporations.

I suspected Shaddiq was some flavor of earthian since we know he's an orphan with a lot to prove. Half-earthian is interesting, since it implies he remembers his parents and sees himself relating more to his earthian heritage. He says he wants to break this system, but is that his true goal? The DoF were retaliated against because of his actions. We'll see.

Sophie's gravemarker being stuffed animals hurts so much. She was a hero to these kids apparently. UGH! Twisting the knife. We also see the DoF prepping for the Benerit retaliation with these small bits of humanity. A soldier embraces his family as worried civilians watch on. The spacians are looking worse by the moment.

I really liked this subplot for Guel. This girl was about to murder him as revenge for her father dying at Plant Quetta, but when she was crushed by rubble he tries to save her. She even asks him why, and the truth is he doesn't know. He just heard her calling for her dad and could relate to her grief.

But for all his urgency, the child dies in his arms. He sounds shaken and visibly changed from the Guel we once knew. Guel has seen the horrors of earthian oppression first-hand. The only positive is this incident rouses him from depression.. I'm so proud of him. Though, it's still a mystery what he intends to do. Protecting the last he has of his father could mean anything.

**Quick addendum, it's so smart to have Guel go through these trials in particular. Not just because of his privilege , but he was the most entrenched in the dueling games and prized his piloting skill. The school intentionally familiarizes its students with weapons of war, reducing their impact when they begin selling or piloting for real. It's a cyclical horror-- children who become coporporate heads have no idea of the damage they're doing by selling these weapons at the earthian's expense.

Brief mention to Olcott. I think you're pretty cool. He's apparently a former Dominicus soldier aquianted with Kenanji. Just like Guel with the girl, he empathized with Guel during his captivity, and it's implied he was the reason why the spacians didn't just do away with him. The man is shown to be traumatized himself by the rampant conflict. I'd love to find out more!

This post-credits scene was a doozy. It's painful this is the bulk of Mio's screentime but at least it was interesting. We learn Notrette was a botanical engineer who veered into human bioengineering at some point. We also learn Prospera wasn't lying and QZ was indeed Notrette's vision. Rajan is cagey on the exact details but apparently Delling wants to complete it for his wife's memory. Sorta noble? The Notrette-Elnora/Prospera connection seems very likely now.

It was lovely of Rajan to say this to her. He wants her to follow her heart and not what would please her parents. Whether Moirine will decide to proceed with Quiet Zero is for another day. i CAN'T BELIEVE IT ENDS HERE ;-;

See you next Suletta Sunday!