Star of Poison | Saintia Sho Vol 2 Review


OFFICIAL SITE (Animation): https://www.saintia-sho.com/pc/ (Japanese)
COMIC: https://www.akitashoten.co.jp/series/3583 (Japanese)

About VOL 1: Beauty and strength in a picture | Saintia Sho Vol 1 Review

SEE ALSO:

#WeLoveSaintiaSho
#WeSupportChimaki

Check out CHIMAKI’S TUMBLR sometime.

CHAPTERS

  • Ch 5 indivudual desicions
  • Ch 6 Evil seeds
  • Ch 7 Right and Wrong
  • Ch 8 Reunion

The above-mentioned link is the music theme “Evil SEEDS” used in the Saintia Sho animation. The theme is absolutely appropriate in describing Eris and her children, who embroil in humankind’s destruction and despair, and exploiting Athena’s weakness. That same seed sleeps in Shoko, a vessel used for Eris’s reincarnation.

Saori Kido is the reincarnation of Athena, the nemesis of this series’ antagonist Eris, the goddess of malice and discord. She must face this inevitable fate where she and those affiliated with her will be constantly hunted. Saori often blames herself for this situation, but made a commitment to protect the Earth. Shoko has decided to do the same and wishes to become a Saintia in order to save her sister.

Mayura’s awesome by the way.

Back in the Vol 1 review, I spoke about the beauty and strength in a picture. While women are “equal” to men in a degree, their roles and conduct vary through time. As the core characters in a series primary focused on boys and martial arts, unhindered by emotions and romance, to imitate that theme, the girls must first face fate. They aren’t muscular, they probably can’t lift 300 pounds and their voices are lithe, but it’s all about determination. What makes the Saintia strong if they are beautiful? Is that possible? Thinking about it again, it fits the picture acting of Seiya, whose characters are mostly built elegant or cute, and what causes them to sprout are their personalities and supernatural fighting ability. Also, with romance mostly absent, the action has to play a role in this spin off of Saint Seiya.

What is an Evil Seed? It’s said to be the malice that is magnetized by Eris. When they enter souls, they create Dryads, the soldiers of Eris that personify evil. Thus, the title of this entry “Star of Poison”. As Shoko was the intended vessel of Eris, when she was sent to Togakushi Mountains to begin her training, she emitted an evil force that was sensed by silver Saint Pavo Mayura. Mayura and her subordinates Mirai and Shinato has been attempting to remove Shoko from the mountain and deter her throughout the volume, but the “poison” inside of Shoko is festering due to her strong, blind emotions. When Shoko tried to touch the Box of the Equuleus Cloth, it rejected her due to her amplified evil aura. Shoko’s desire to become a Saintia to save her sister Kyoko and prevent her from becoming Eris’s new vessel was deemed obsessive to Mayura.

At this point, you wonder what is right and what is wrong? How was Shoko going to become “Saintia Sho” and live up to readers’ expectation? Would it be willpower? Mayura is quite strong and sealed Shoko with her mountain technique (万刧仙石; mountain rock of eternity) after failing to remove her dark desire with Flash Soul Fracture Exorcism (秘閃 破折調伏, hisen hajakuchōbuku; secret flash smashing exorcism; chobuku seems to be “surrender”).

Sho becomes aware of her connections to Saori, Mii and her sister, which makes her Cosmos rise and break through the seal. Selfish desires become poison, but a selfless desire becomes conviction.

Another thing that’s pressed on in this volume is Saori struggling with her fate as she is often attacked by guilt.

When Toki, one of the Graude orphans sent all over the world by Saori’s grandfather to train as a Saint, returned to her a manor, he attacked her. It turned out he was revived as a Ghost Saint by Eris and his despair turns into the desire for revenge. Aside from Toki, one of Eris’ Dryads Emony appears in hopes to defeat Athena in her incomplete and despondent state. Toki is defeated by Unicorn Jabu, while Mii battles the Dryad Emony. After what has happens, Mii and Jabu put all of their faith in Athena and fights to wash away her worries. They believe in her kindness and compassion, which Eris does not have. Surprisingly, Mii’s calmness is broken by Emony’s teasing of Saori-Athena.

Emony is defeated, or at least, sent away. When things seem to calm down, having found her conviction like Shoko, Athena gets another guests.

Much to my surprise, Eris in Kyoko’s body appears out of no where!. Volume 1 was dedicated to Dryad Ate stirring trouble. Now, the main antagonist herself, apparently in an incomplete state as well, brings an foreboding aura. After easily defeating Jabu, Eris has the intention of making Athena die a slow brutal death by using her golden apple.

However, Shoko is literally launched back to Saori’s mansion with her Cloth, and it turns out she is interfering with Eris’s control over Kyoko.

What will happen?

Isn’t this not exciting? Done correctly for a female spin-off?