A MASTERPIECE! Animated Short: The Embers of Glamoth REACTION | Honkai: Star Rail

[@hexzero3]

Not only a child soldier, the way they were engineered, they grow up faster and straight into military, so they have no time to have fun, make questions, etc, they literally only know how to fight the swarm. She mentions that glamoth no longer exists, which implies this was after the kingdom was destroyed. So possibly those were remaining knights executing their mission to fight for the empress(that is even no longer there)

[@teacup_ninja]

I think you’re the only content creator that really delved into whole sole survivor/child soldier trope. The tree wasn’t literal but metaphorical for Firefly’s renewing resolve, or a sort of revelation of self. Like to me she seems like she wants to find a purpose for herself which echoes what we know about her from the 2.0 story. I love it.

[@cheshireshadow518]

2:26 I KNOW, RIGHT!! The way she says it eats me ALIVE, I love it so much!!! The sheer desperation to believe in The Cause, even as she's about to activate a bomb that will kill them all! It's so good, SO GOOD 11:35 yes yes your words! You get it, the way you describe it, the way you see it! Yes!!

[@BRSxIgnition]

Regarding the moment at 11:25: Firefly's response right as the dying SAM throws their mask/transponder is so raw and emotional. The broken, automatic "F-For Her Majesty!" is peak VA on Analesa Fisher's part. It really not only gives you a sense to how programmed these SAM units/clones are but also to Firefly's emotions as her own training and brainwashing is starting to be torn down all around her. Like, these aren't her thoughts. This isn't actually what she's thinking in that moment. It's what she's been taught - programmed to feel; to say. Like a subconscious reaction, repeating it like an if/then statement, going against the pain she's experiencing in that moment. ... Then you see the aftermath. ... With no external feedback going into her internalized propaganda machine anymore; it's all she can do at that moment to look upon the scores of bodies and feel the grief wash over her; to ask herself... What was the point of all of this - all this carnage - for a planet/empire hat no longer exists? ... As she sets off to make something of it; probably expecting herself to be the final sacrifice that gives everything some kind of meaning.

[@specturv9836]

One thing I’d like to point out is the irony in this, Glamoth effectively decided to fight Propagation with propagation. They created clones from their own queen, making their own swarm and then sending it to fright the other.

[@ShapeshifterOS]

There is no queen, it was a fabricated lie. Titania is an AI machine.

[@thefunkslamdunk9224]

Article 1 of Glamoth's military regulations: Knights should feel honored to be born.

[@ubermenschen01]

I like the contrast of the "busy" first half and the "quiet" second half. They aren't afraid to get metaohorical/conceptual with the animated shorts, but this one might be the most conceptual one. Very Evangelion-coded (eve-on-gehl-e-on). I wonder how much of the part after she wakes up until Kafka finds her actually happened, and if they're going to touch on it ever. Depending on when Glamoth existed, Firefly could have been floating in space for 150K years (Swarm disaster happened in 13XX AE, current day is 2158 AE. Amber Eras are 50-250 years). Crazy to think that huge insect wasn't even an Emanator of Propogation, afaik. I think your interpretations are correct regarding the tree representing a new life/purpose; I'm wondering where she got that line from ("I dreamed of a scorched earth..."). I assumed it was from The Watchmaker's invitation, or possibly Elio. The "Scorched Earth Operations" line hits different now...

[@Isildil]

I actually didn't pick up on the visual symbolism of the dying girl kneeling before Firefly :o It could be nothing, but I mean... How did she manage to pull off that whole special transformation and planet-destructing move!? Loved the delayed "For Her Majesty!" line as well. It was somewhat visible in the Myriad Celestia trailer that she was already questioning her purpose and the meaning of all those Glamoth articles, but here? Anyway, MC is so lucky. Gotta make sure she never feels so distraught again. Goals! Beautiful music - check. Touching backstory following the rule of "show, don't tell" - check. Firefly AND Kafka in the same frame!? Also check. So peak. Tsukiii, signing o-... Wait, that's not my line

[@okamiman73]

I can't remember where I heard that the SAM armor grows more powerful with the strength of the user's will, but if it's true, it would explain how Firefly survived relatively unscathed, and how she was powerful enough to tear apart the celestial body they were on. Also, the Knight who died in front of her, I think Firefly must have known her. Because she has the same ribbon thing in her hair that Firefly does, and in the Myriad Celestia we know that they don't get things like that as part of their uniform. All in all I really just want to say that she deserves a happy ending...

[@ubermenschen01]

In her "Keeping Up" video Welt mentions that FF's armor goes above and beyond what it should b/c of her willpower.

[@TianaTelen]

If I was the god of destruction and I saw firefly destroy the swarm mother and the majority of the iron cavalry I would be like "I want that one!"

[@rpk321]

They were created to fight. And they fought for Glamoth, but Glamoth had long since perished. "What are we even fighting for at this point? What do we die for? What is our purpose for living now?" 😢

[@Dubstepchancez]

There's also the fact that Firefly says that exact line right before we fight Sunday for the first time. "I dreamed of a scorched earth... A new shoot sprouted from the earth... It bloomed from the morning sun, and whispered to me... Like fyreflies to a flame... Life begets death" I not sure how many others noticed this.

[@Phanto5692]

All the Fireflies are actually clones of The Empress so in a way that dying soldier was kneeling before royalty.

[@Isildil]

Oh! They're made out of the Empress' own genetic material? Not sure why I didn't know/didn't notice in game :o Amazing

[@Kitshat]

Dude that's so sick

[@FrostsGamingHub]

@@IsildilI think it’s in the backstory of the Glamoth relics

[@ubermenschen01]

The relic set doesn't say that they're clones of Titania; she just can telepathically control them.

[@ShapeshifterOS]

The Empress isn't real. The clones are controlled/directed by ai and brainwashing. Neither the Empire or Titania ever existed, it was a lie created to control this clone army by the Republic of Glamoth.

[@ezioasasyn2394]

Firefly is kind of like Samus meets Clone Wars. I mean, they're literally born to fight and die for the Empress/Republic. Also they're literally clones that need to find their own ways to stay unique.

[@zetsuna-friedshrimp]

Your reaction is the best cause you analysis the meaning of the scenes. I really love how you pick up all those small details that most reactor miss cause they too busy over-reacting. Very satisfying seeing someone enjoy all these small details

[@dagon7259]

Honestly after this, i just wanna see more SAM in action, whether it be animated or ingame. They just look so good

[@koko-hh2bq]

What's so admirable about Firefly's character is that even after the war, after experiencing her comrades die right in front of her, after finding out she was the only one left... She still wanted to live a new life. The sheer willpower and determination that she has to keep living despite all of the suffering and lies she's been told is genuinely immense, and it all culminated into her final transformation at the end. I love her, man.

[@GlassedGamer]

I love everything about the scene of Firefly flying at the Swarm. The colors, the music and emotions. Most anime would have this be the highlight of a season, the MC's final fight with the enemy. What everything had been building towards. Hoyoverse used it in a fucking short!

[@himikojou5111]

Some unfun facts about Glamoth and Her Majesty: 1. It's a Republic, not an Empire. 2. "Empress" Titania was also made as a weapon, she telepathically controls the Iron Cavalry Knights 3. The Knights were "woven into a dream" inside of those tubes about how their Welkin Empire is under attack and they must serve their Empress, for her Majesty. It is their honor to die for her. 4. The Republic of Glamoth successfully repelled the remnants of the swarm, but still died out due to debris of corpses from the insectoids and the dead cavalry knights blocking out the sun. 5. Empress Titania the puppet, who had zero actual political power was said to have rebelled. Likely taken out as she was in telepathic control of all of the Iron Cavalry.

[@ShapeshifterOS]

Empress Titania is the an AI machine. The telepathy is also probably a lie to explain intergalactic communications. Remember these clones are basically brainwashed kids. Have to keep it simple and it's easier to convey the idea as just magic.

[@imrulkun]

In other words, The Glamoth played a major roles in defeating the threat of The Swarm right?

[@ninjahaz0180]

Yay, been waiting for your reaction.

[@joefurry2337]

Honestly, I just want a Glamoth spinoff anime at this point. The tidbits of lore in game from the planar set are super interesting, but damn I want more. Might need to rewatch Darling in the Franxx now. Wasn't a fan of the ending, but damn if it wasn't a fun show regardless. Gotta love those doggy style pilot setups in the mechs 😂

[@onslaughtx8309]

The joke used to be that Hoyo is a music company, masquerading as a game company. These days, it feels like Hoyo is an Anime company. This is top notch anime quality, and I'd love to watch an anime of Glamoth. The Aeons then uniting against Tazzyroth would make a great ending for that anime arc as well.

[@himetsukich]

I would be so down for a Glamoth anime. This was such an incredible animated short. It definitely makes me want more Firefly content like, she'd be such a worthy main character in an anime. Also, yes! I actually think the Nines from Darling in the Franxx are especially similar to Firefly and her comrades if I'm remembering all the details of how they were created correctly.

[@thetalkingbear]

The lady was in shock and dying. Conditioning was all that was left.

[@radocar844]

also the short haired clone had a headband similar to our Firefly as if to show her "potential" end had she continued living as Glamoth's Iron Cavalry. also all these bodies with her face on it

[@Cipher048]

Firefly is unique in the sense that she was able to through sheer will power basically enhance both herself and her armor (as mentioned by Welt). It seems this is the moment she found that willpower hence the power up

[@onslaughtx8309]

Article 1: Knights should feel honored to be born Article 22: Knights must give all they have to Her Majesty, the queen. Including their lives That was firefly pulling the trigger on the SAM Nuke. You noticed the drilling of the "Majesty" stuff in Firefly's voice. Every SAM soldier would dream of Titania (the empress) giving them a rousing speech when they sleep. It is heavily implied that firefly still sees this when she goes to sleep, as she tells Acheron that she cannot dream. The last words of that other fallen soldier after the war, like you pointed out, was because the kids have been brainwashed right from birth right till they died. These are literally teenagers. Genetically modified, given false images and a false leader to worship (and the leader herself is a victim), not allowed to dream, to hope. Just bred for war, with a genetic defect (entropy loss) so they don't live for too long to start rebelling against the true rulers. In the end, they couldn't save the empress, nor the planet they loved. This is heartbreaking on a billion levels. I'm biased, as this is now solidly my fav character in HSR, Dethroning the MC and Kafka. This wrenched my heart. The wait for your reaction is always worth it. Top notch breakdown, as always! Edit: I don't know how accurate this is, but the swarm mother that Glamoth fought, is slightly lower or equal in power than the bug that Ruan Mei wanted to resurrect. I fear for Ruan Mei if Firefly ever found that tidbit of information out.

[@himetsukich]

I feel so bad for Firefly. She's really been through it. You can definitely see how deep-rooted that brainwashing is in this animated short. It really is heartbreaking. They've never known any different, which is really a testament to Firefly's strength and resilience. She managed to pick herself back up, question her own purpose, and resolve to find her own meaning. I freaking love her. Also, yes! This made me want to pull for her 100%. I just love how they wrote this backstory. I'm hoping I can win that 50/50

[@onslaughtx8309]

@@himetsukich Firefly has me grinding Gold and Gears for more jades. Make it stop Titania also started to rebel. You could see hints of it in all 4 stepping out of the SAM suit in the other trailer. Screw the council of glamoth. I've never seen Darling in the Franxx or Evangelion, but I can draw inferences from the Warhammer 40K series. The emperor, a cult following for him, and the Tyranids being the equivalent of the Hive. Glamoth died because the sheer number of bodies of the swarm and SAM suits created a river of blood in the atmosphere, blotting out the sun. No run, no photosynthesis. There were so many SAMs that people would fear them, while the actual Firefly pilots were going to fight for them and die for them every second. I wish Ruan Mei tried reserructing those politicians, so I could introduce them to MCs baseball bat.

[@imrulkun]

Well, thanks to them the remnants of The Swarm no longer posed major threat to the rest of the universe. The inhuman act, the part where The Council decide to conduct genetic enhancement on their troop to combat The Swarm is well in a way justified given the state of the universe at the peak of the Swarm Disaster (2/3 of the universe population were wiped out).

[@onslaughtx8309]

@@imrulkun Ah! This brings forth some interesting moral questions and an interesting debate! Does the end justify the means? So much so that sentient beings are created, brainwashed and their ability to dream.. to hope... to live... just stripped away from them, while The Council sit back and take all the plaudits for a potential victory? Apologise that the next point might hit a bit close to home in what is happening across the globe. But if one was in a war they could not escape, would they not pick up arms and fight till their last breath? An enemy like the swarm couldn't be reasoned with. There was no way out. I would like to think that people would step up and give it their best shot at beating such a foe, than to resort to heavily modified clones with fake memories and concepts of glory implanted into their minds. It is also telling that the clones created were teens, the most impressionable of all the age groups. Older age clones might have seen through the lie (like Titania did) and rebelled against the powers that be. Yanqing is an example of a similar age group (mentally), who just wants to lead the cloud knights without thinking that some of the generals might not have the most honorable of intentions. The Iron Cavalry of Glamoth has similar characteristics in my view.

[@shiroek5570]

Great analysis, also I think her entropy loss syndrome condition is sort of emphasized during the last transformation when the visuals made it looks like she was "reborn". Along with the Personal Escort model SAM in myriad celestia trailer also having the same condition I wonder if that's some how related to Firefly's abnormal powers compared to the other soldiers.

[@Xoulium]

When we see Firefly among the asteroids with a green glow there seems to be two more green lights behind her to the right. Maybe there are other surviving Fireflies?

[@mrJones-ii7sh]

Kafka even says fireflies dancing among the stars further confirming it also they wouldn't use Raiden shoguns voice actor on the older clone for nothing

[@Rin_3680]

Damn you right I haven't noticed the other faint green dots on the video till you pointed that out

[@ShapeshifterOS]

Kafka says "fireflies" as in plural. More than one firefly model out there.

[@seikijin2308]

I have my own theroy about this trailer that's has a few things going for it. This could be major spoilers so warning At the end we see kafka so assuming firefly joins the stellaron hunters after this. We know she joins the Stellaron hunters after to war so this leads to the next part. Qlipoth, HooH, Aha, Akivili and Xipe teamed up in an attempt to kill Tayzzronth however before the Propagation is a path diverged of the Permanence Tazzy inherited Longs immortality and had to be sealed instead to end the war. This allowed firefly to join Kafka after the battle. Now here's the interesting part, Fireflys power up after she starts reciting her understanding about "destruction" I think is when Firefly became an Emanator of destruction otherwise with that power only using it after every1 dies makes no sense. Also we know that the swarms attack on Adlivun indirectly leads to Nanooks ascention destroying his planet.. which is what happens in the trailer. Thankfully Elio interferfered and recruited Firefly before Nanook could reforge her as a Lord Ravanager. A friend questioned this and asked why wasn't firefly to become the Aeon and reading the lore about the Lord Ravanegers each of them only understood 1 "aspect" of destruction. The craziest part is the description on glamoths rope explains that the Empire never even existed and Titania attempted to rebel by letting the fireflys know of this "falsehood" Quoting 2 lines from the relic set; All the people knew was that the Iron Cavalry gave their all for the non-existent "empire." : No one knew when this falsehood was revealed. Titanias Telepathic powers was the whole reason she was chosen as the human weapon... to "trick" the "clones" to dying for them. Everything is speculation but... there's at least something in the lore to make it the most likely reason for the events.

[@scrappy_horns8139]

2:18 RIP AETHER 🫡 and all of Firefly’s brothers and sisters 😢

[@ALL_FOR_NOTHING_]

4:44 fun fact firefly question why should they die and live because glamoth already wipe out there is no more glamoth empire why are you still fighting? in the first video firefly and the other are just the remaining force and the recon call was just a last stand to fight the swarm.. in other words suicidal attack.

[@valynambrose]

imagine knowing you were the person that basically took out your entire army squadron as a kamikaze type of last resort and STILL didnt clear out the swarm on that planet.

[@imrulkun]

1:19 Yes, the sole purpose of the Iron Cavalry is exactly only to decimate The Swarm.

[@pandabosch]

She's my majesty

[@hackedgames2032]

Hoyo, just make an anime already. we all know u want to

[@MegaApostel]

The main inspiration is Evangelion Hoyo are big fans of the show HI3 also has a lot of easter egg of that show like the trailer before the other chars looks like the main cast of EVA ^^

[@ninjahaz0180]

HI3 also had an event. I got into the game when it was out, got asuka sss

[@vicente14568]

This looks awesome

[@madjoethegamer2269]

My question is this the planet they were on fighting was that glamoth that firefly blew up

[@soareciinumint5341]

I think that the saying was actually "like moth to a flame" but they changed it a bit. there is moth in Glamoth tho

[@jankentrexpalalay8879]

Did the SAM that got impaled by the swarm mother have the same voice with Aether from genshin?

[@Donatas-rp5yf]

Wow Jesus😮

[@agnishwarsamanta9622]

All my homies hate the swarm.

[@warbacca1017]

Okay. So I'm going to need everyone's help with this. We're going to build a reality breaking machine and force ourselves into the hsr universe to give firefly all the hugs she can handle. Does that sound good? Are we in agreement?

[@notsoptimistic]

IM BACKING YOU UP BROTHER LET'S GO

[@z62314]

我直接看哭了😂

[@jgong1]

Hoto took a great risk showing nudity here.

[@mnopinion]

They didn’t really though. If anything, getting impaled and showing dead bodies is more of a risk.

[@shiori2182]

​@@mnopinionHonkai always does this. Honkai Gakuen did it worst ( there was no censorship BS back then). So I am happy to know that we are finally back with ol good depresso 😂😭