Tame that Tusk
Looks like my hopes were somewhat dashed when I said Ange, Not-Kira, Vivian, and Salamandinay would return to Earth and start a ruckus. They do return, mind you, but only into the waiting trap made by Embryo and his new squadron of Black Vilkisses, pilots of which are a few familiar faces. So as a result of this, the entire Misurugi Empire invasion is delayed indefinitely. Now Ange, Not-Kira, and Vivian have to deal with not only old friends who are new foes but also what the remnants of Arzenal will want to do with her when they meet again.
While not exactly dropping bombshells like the last few episodes (it’ll definitely resume next episode), there is a lot to like about this episode. For one, the mecha battle in this one is perhaps the best as of yet in the series. This is mostly because it isn’t heavily reliant on footage you could have sworn you saw in a previous Fukuda work, and it really hit the point hard how Embryo wanted to deal a swift blow to a markedly hyped up event. FINALLY some effort was given to a major marketing point of the show! It’s all done in a fashion that works within the style of the show, and makes you truly wonder what happened. Hopefully it also answers how long Ange was away, for you can only measure so much duration of absence by episode count after all. Add in the usual rigmarole of the characters being who they are and well… it still entertains.
I probably should have seen it coming how the three mysterious pilots reflected in Ange’s visor alongside Embryo in the OP were Ersha, Salia, and Chris, but their volte-face seems warranted. I do not think it is just Embryo’s actions in episode 13 that compelled them to join the other side. Interestingly enough, when Ange returned to Arzenal the second time, those three took her desertion the hardest. It reaffirmed Salia’s inadequacy and envy; it reaffirmed Chris’s lack of trust in the one who killed the Alpha Waifu; and it probably really broke Ersha’s heart after growing attached to her. This spices things up a bit as their new status as Embryo’s minions may not seem to be the result of brainwashing. They still retain their personalities and have strange quirks like Salia’s penchant for overly flowery attack name that only involves tying a Paramail down by wires so she could shoot her with a rifle. How this’ll pan out remains to be seen, but either way I’m looking forward to how this’ll affect Ange and friends’s side emotion-wise.
Unfortunately those particular things will have to wait until next episode, as it seems judging from the preview things will heat up once Ange reunites with Commander Jill. Here’s to hoping we’re not relegated to Arzenal’s submarine for the next few episodes like the DRAGON Earth. Maybe this meet-up will convince Ange to finally take up a side, for as much as I appreciate her not being wed into higher ideals as of yet, the heroine must take her stand once and for all.
Rondo of Notes:
- Altered ending this time around. Instead of the classy, Fukuda-standard, character pan from left to right; we’re now relegated to stock images set against that Windows Media Player imagery whenever you play music in it. Much cheaper fare than usual.
- Quiz time: Who is the most awesome gift that keeps on giving when it comes to fucking adorable awesomeness? It’s Vivian! [GIF of her rather amazing little rescue coming soon]
- Huh, who knew there were people of modest taste in the show? Embryo’s Angels (as I like to call them) have paramail suits that show absolutely no skin at all. For a murderous, arrogant, god Embryo sure does have classy pilot suit taste.
- I wonder if Salia is correct that the production crew doesn’t like Ange during the next episode preview ramble.
