Bringing Zaibach back

If I had episode 25 at my fingertips, I'd have grabbed a certain scene. But as it stands, I'm loathe to dust off my collection for any reason short of rewatching it all.

So, Zaibach. Pretty classy, huh? I mean, the second syllable is Bach. Maybe you've heard of him. I bet Yoko Kanno has. It's probably why Zaibach's scheme theme carries shades of counterpoint.

Zaibach is an embodiment of a Western Europe filled with imperialist ambitions. They're run by Isaac Newton (why so British?), and J.S. Bach may or may not have written their anthem. Zaibach has SCIENCE and chromatic harmony on their side, and they have a bone to pick with, among others, the Aristocrats, the Buddhists, and the Shogunate.

There's no better way to educate the masses than through conquest, right?

The role of the Coalition was not to promote the constituents' backward ways, it was a gesture more akin to saying "Stop conquering me!" Why? Basram.

Recall that Basram is a Zaibach wannabe in some sense, but it might just be the United States circa the early 20th century. Their government is democratically elected, they're a rising power, and they embrace technology. And in episode 25, what do they do?

They drop a nuke on Zaibach's army. And their own allies, mind you, but they had the bomb, and Zaibach didn't.

Welcome to 1945, kiddies! Who's backward now?

Pro-nothing. If Escaflowne was pro-feudal, then Basram would have allied with Zaibach, steamrolled Goliaths and Marines with Tanks and cloaked Wraiths, and then nuked the CC's, Boxer style. The Korean commentators would then go absolutely nuts, followed by GG.

Lest I dig myself even deeper into tangent-land, I'll stop there.