Steins;Gate Episode 1 Analysis (SPOILER)

Preface

As we embark on this journey, whoever you may be... My name is john titor! I am a time traveler from the year 2036 and I am writing in retrospective about Steins;Gate. Without further ado, let us begin!

Episode 1

The opening line and scene of the show instantaneously gives a brief insight of what the show's content ought to be. The main character, later revealed to be this tall slender guy called Okabe Rintarou, speaks about his perspective of time.

"Consider, can the universe be justifiably called infinite? Doubtful. It may not have a discernible end, but it had a beginning and its component parts definitely have a limited cosmological shelf-life. Splitting hairs or not, if history tells us anything, it's that scientists often make very poor poets. We're all just a ship of fools chasing phantoms heedless of what really underwrites natural law." -Okabe Rintarou, Steins;Gate Episode 1

The opening scene has no introduction, plunging the audience directly into what the show wants to bring. "Consider, can the universe be justifiably called infinite? Doubtful."

The opening line is rather philosophical, where the string of words relate to a lot about Okabe's curiosity about the universe and the analogy about it being segmented into parts - a large foreshadow into the shows actual content about worldlines¹. "Limited cosmological shelf-life" would generally refer to worldlines having a so called "expiry date" due to his own satisfaction of what a perfect worldline is. (an allusion to Okabe's dilemma of saving Kurisu or Mayuri, a clear allusion to the trolley problem). Though, he changes the subject matter abruptly to scientists. Scientists, physicists especially, are finding truth to the universe, often falling short to the profound meaning of life and reason. There is this disparity between a poet and a scientist, having polar differences in the pursuit of aspects.

We simply just cannot understand life, it is too complex for us to understand.

 The second line is very subjective as Okabe's opinion towards the truth of universe and life is rather Platonic. It is not how, but why.

ship of fools

In Plato’s Republic, the “ship of state” is mismanaged because the crew (the people) ignore the skilled navigator (the philosopher). The effort of finding the origins of life is rather futile as the more deep we dive into the rabbit hole, the more questions we end up having. One thing for sure, our perspective should be changed from a "how" into a "why".

chasing phantoms

Chasing phantoms is a metaphor for scientists that are searching for answers, but it is to no avail. Phantoms are invisible and immortal, they are a figment of the imagination and they cannot be searched for whatsoever.

heedless of what really underwrites natural law

The lack of consideration of natural laws that govern the universe is often overlooked by many, negation of the foundations of the natural law (Plato, Aquinas and The Stoics).

This metaphorical sentence is grounded in many philosophical concepts and connotations which displays Okabe as a very intellectual, cynical and philosophical character. He does not stop at what is deemed as "The Surface" (Reference to Plato's cave), but more of the deeper more abstract perspective of life.

Visual elements of the scene

The visual metaphor of the power lines clearly refer to "worldlines" in Steins;Gate's microcosm. This is frequently used in many transitional scenes in episodes, which is paramount due to the fact that it may foretell that Okabe is going to time leap² to other worldlines.

Okabe being in the foreground, gazing into the distance right in front of the powerlines in a rather symbolic to Okabe's main abilities in the show; the ability to leap worldlines, remember worldlines. He owns time to an extent, so much so the manipulation of worldlines.

Transition into Scene 2

The mood and tone shifts drastically from philosophically to a much more quality of life state when we are introduced to the second character, Mayuri Shiina. The interplay between Okabe's intellect and philosophical nature serves as a complement to Mayuri Shiina and other characters, which ends up developing their rich character dynamics.

Okabe's other character trait is shown in his first interaction with Mayuri Shiina, the words "Yeah-yeah", said by Okabe reflects his obsession of playing the role of Hououin Kyouma - the nonchalant Mad Scientist, when he is indirectly ridiculed and ultimately called "Okarin" a much more intimate and casual, cute nickname by Mayuri. His obsession of the persona Hououin Kyouma is often shut down by other instances such as Kurisu's mockery of Okabe talking to himself on his phone.

The mood is very ethereal and dreamlike, an interplay between the metaphysical thinking space and the physical ordinary life. A long shot with foreground obstruction by a T-shirt where Mayuri and Okabe are seen at a distance represents how Okabe views that people just chase surfaces, they don't focus on what truly underwrites natural law. The "How" but not the "Why".

Mayuri then stretches her hand out into the sun, in which there is also an alternative version where Okabe is stretching his hand out into the moon.

I DONT KNOW WHAT THE HECK IM SUPPOSED TO BE TALKING ABOUT HERE!

Scene 2 - Akihabara

The choice of settings by the directors is exceptionally important, Akihabara, being chosen as the sole setting where the major events take place makes Steins;Gate a rather niche and "different" anime which caters to the internet nerds and the people who don't like the mainstream - me.

Akihabara is the haven for most internet people and it is widely known in mainstream and obscure that it is a place for games, Moe Culture³, old and new technology. It is indeed a place where foreigners like those of the Nintendo/Sega Japanese interest like to go to. Akihabara establishes Steins;Gate in the anime world as a borderline niche anime series. The setting also foreshadows many things that are generally related to Japanese internet culture, it represents you too! The viewer!