Because of her traitorous brother’s actions 3 months ago, Sara had to cut her hair, change her surname to Cruz, and join the Virgin Collective War School. No longer an elite Reasoner, she has to train with all the scrubs in the grunt Gambee suits. Obviously this is tough, but Sara feels the only way she can see her brother again is on the front lines (plus her MIMIC was destroyed in the betrayal). To achieve this goal, Sara must train hardcore to pass all the drills in 4 weeks before being allowed to take part in the sub-light-speed battle.
Of course Sara’s got her fans and detractors. Gambee pilot Isabella hates Sara for being so aloof and arrogant, and Sara’s remark about Isabella just taking on easy targets makes them quick enemies. Oh the other hand, the “Queen of Reasoner” Lotti Gellar (and her toadie Jesse) is intrigued by Sara. The forces collide in the final test, but Sara is able to pass. Unfortunately, the other girls rip up Sara’s uniform and steal her pendant as a cruel joke. Sara wanders alone into a strange room with a tarp-covered strain, and a defunct MIMIC-doll with the words Serial E.M.L.Y. On a Deague spaceship, the purple-eyed girl from episode 1 mentions that her name is Emily.
This episode was a real winner! It really had almost everything I like in an episode. There was tremendous drama and angst, especially with how alone Sara was. She couldn’t even tell her last name to Lotti, and it was clear that Lotti has a bone to pick with Ralph. Fortunately, we did have some uplifting 4G treadmill battling, so it wasn’t all a big downer. The whole thing with Lotti coming through after the last drill reminded me a lot of something that could happen in Hana Yori Dango.
Now all Sara needs is a dorky mask and she can make the impossible possible. I wasn’t surprised that the crew featured the requisite nerdy mechanic pair of Carmichael and Melchisedec. However, Melchisedec is going to have to work on his skills if he ever wants to play dodgeball.
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This is probably my favorite show of the season. Unfortunately for the show, if it wasn’t for the powers of Kawasumi Ayako (who makes any series instantly decent) it would probably be of Vandread quality, even though the story so far has been quite engaging and fast paced. The animation isn’t so good aside from the decent battle scenes (ever since Macross I’ve loved having the multiple missiles attacking thing that the Tumors mimic quite well), and the music is pretty crummy. What’s with the OP which belongs more in a fantasy sword epic than a space adventure anyway?
Still Ayako makes this show awesome, and there’s enough kawaii-moe-ness to keep all of us interested. That and the fact that considering people keep dying (see the first episode), that NOTHING is sacred and keeps us on our toes.
Hopefully this show will end well, because the beginning has been quite well written and fun so far.