03 May

The Hypernatural and Supernatural in Madlax -- Episode 11

Episode 11: delayed elucidation of the mystery
"Foreign Nation ~object~" : (異国: Ikoku)

In the avant, Margaret is investigating on the internet about Gaths-Sonika where Vanessa has started for.

Carrossea is watching Vanessa starting inspections in Gaths-Sonika. “So she was involved after all. Honestly, she’s such a straight arrow. Well, it would be easy to dispose of her, but doing so might cause him to find out about Secondari. However, I can’t very well leave her to her own devices, either. …In any case, it’s a pain to take on Enfant’s leader, Friday Monday.” As always, Carrossea’s monologue affords the viewer with explanatory details. Madlax makes use of this kind of fictional narrative sometimes called explanatory lines, skillfully utilizing for character makings as its peculiar creational strategy. Phases of presentation utilized in the manner of depiction also contributes to the creation of elemental qualities of a character. Vanessa receives an order to come back home from her company. Madlax is receiving a mission to guard an ordinary civilian.

Vanessa is recollecting the process her trial for hacking was counter-attacked. Badgis had judged there must be a trap prepared at the transferred data spot. Badgis has made arrangements to hire an agent to guard Vanessa in Gaths-Sonika. Madlax is now guarding her without being noticed. Vanessa finds out that it is a boy named Eins who is the owner of the terminal the classified data of the Bookwald has been transferred, and tries to contact him. But Carrossea has already deployed his subordinates to watch the boy. It will be the viewer’s concern whether the boy will be able to survive this episode or not. Vanessa has barely succeeded to gain the data from the boy, but Enfant’s henchmen approach her. Madlax, appearing at the critical scene, rescues Vanessa out of their hands.

Carrossea is watching all the details of the occurring, hiding in a car. Carrossea kills his subordinate who has been watching Vanessa’s actions, in order to prevent Vanessa’s existence being exposed to Enfant. Carrossea makes a false report to Enfant. “The person who hacked our company’s system and absconded with the data is Madlax. Whereabouts unknown.” Vanessa is not able to hide her agitations toward Madlax who had killed people cold heartedly, in spite of being rescued by her. Madlax calmly explains the situation. “Your face was seen by Enfant members. If I hadn’t killed them there, you’d have been targeted by all the Enfant members in the world.” For Madlax, the reason for her murder is no more than a matter-of-fact judgement.

Here, Laetitia is shown on the screen and she mutters, “To evade the things you don’t like, all you have to do is shut your eyes and plug your ears. Yes, just like you.” Laetitia’s following words overlap with the figure of Madlax. “ ‘Falsity’ is changing the truth.” Next words Laetitia speaks overlap with the figures of both Vanessa and Margaret. “ ‘Ignorance’ is not realizing the truth. ‘Incompetence’ is being unable to fully grasp the truth. And ‘escape’ is retreating from the truth. But running away is useless.” When Laetitia speaks this line, Carrossea’s figure is shown on the screen. “Because the truth is right nearby. The truth is this close.”

Several elements are beginning to be connected and seem to start to lead a definite storyline, but it is not to be foretold what kind of a story this show will make. There must be personal abilities and psychical peculiarities of the characters still hidden in the background information, together with the true substance of the mysterious organization and its incomprehensible purpose.