Zyl on August 31, 2010 · in Strike Witches 2

Summary:

After witnessing Mio’s Reppuzan training, Yoshika begs her mentor to teach her the ancient Fuso ultimate technique so that she can save more people by helping to end the war earlier but Mio flat out refuses. At breakfast, Yoshika is noticeably dejected and becomes even more distraught when her flying agility dips, allowing Perrine to beat her three out of three times in training. But there’s nothing wrong with her Striker Unit, physical health or output of raw magical power – a sternly worried Trude then revokes her combat flight status until they can get to the bottom of things.

Minna receives an emergency call from the approaching Fuso fleet; there has been an explosion onboard the flagship Yamato and a medic is requested. Yoshika sets off with Lynette and patches up the ten injured crew just in time for a Neuroi to attack the fleet. Lynette flies out alone to shield the fleet while it escapes – Yoshika is unable to get her Striker started but, as her tears flow down, her father’s voice unveils a new Striker unit which she mounts and charges out to save Lynette, defeating the Neuroi single-handedly. Later Minna and Mio discuss how Yoshika’s power had grown too great for her old Striker to handle and that the new Magnificient Lightning unit will allow her to reach her full potential.

Reaction:

Well, I was completely fooled into thinking that Yoshika’s funk was due to Mio’s rejection and that she would rediscover her mojo by the need to save Lynette from Certain Doom. Her father speaking to her in the hanger and the Magnificent Lightning appearing so dramatically was incredibly cheesy and did not make any sense but, in this context, I actually like (blue) cheese and have long since stopped attempting to make sense of things as long as all the girls continue being awesome. And Yoshika was certainly awesome in the way that the new hardware allowed her to go all out LIMITER RELEASE, launching like a Gundam with the foot docking clamps, catapult, sea surface skimming charge, complete with battle cry.

Of course, I also enjoyed the humorous moments – like Yoshika being so chirpy about the one thing she was really proud of, i.e. never falling sick. To which my reaction was twofold: I thought only idiots didn’t catch colds? And I thought the one thing you were really proud of was the size and strength of your shield?

Regular readers will know of my dislike of Perrine but even I had to admit that she was really lovely in this episode – she had noticed immediately that something was off about Yoshika and was completely sincere in reporting her concern to Mio without delay. This was further reinforced with how she (with Lynette) was spying on Yoshika during her physical checkup and then again (on her own) while she attempted broom training secretly at night – and got hit by Eila’s bucket missile for her pains. Certainly has softened me up enough to look forward to the Perrine-centric next episode.

As always, I loved the battle scenes between the conventional forces and the Neuroi. The Fuso Empire’s fleet looked really impressive, especially with its escort carriers, air cover and 46″ cannons though sometimes I wonder what’s the point of sending all the men and materiel into a war where they, like the Venezia 1st Battle Fleet, have to be constantly rescued by pantless girls with animal ears and tails. The Fuso fleet deciding that discretion is the better part of valour also was a dead give-away that the Strike Witches universe is an alternate history; methinks the Imperial Japanese Navy would have rather gone down with all hands rather than sensibly accede to Lynette’s plea to run away, run away! *clip clop clip clop clip clop* It was also somewhat strange how none of the men have made any lolicon-type comments… but I suppose it’s like the way no one, in the show, comments on the Witches’ lack of pants.