This winter review includes thoughts and ratings on Ano Natsu de Matteru, Another, Bakuman 2, Black Rock Shooter, Brave 10, Chihayafuru, Danshi Koukousek no Nichijou, Inu x Boku SS, Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing, Mirai Nikki, Natsume Yuujinchou Shi, Persona 4 The Animation, Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle, Rinne no Lagrange, Senki Zesshou Symphogear, and Zero no Tsukaima F. Spoilers are included for many of them, so tread carefully.
I’m way behind on the episodic posts, but I’d rather still post about these past two episodes than skip them and just move on to the fourteenth episode. I’m still sticking to the official episode numbering.
I’m not sure whether to praise or berate Fam for this episode, “Backward Pawn”, since it is exactly what I wanted for so long, and yet works out very well exactly where it is. It’s almost like the show anticipated my anxiety over the past several episodes and used it against me to bring in this soothing balm of a flashback that showed exactly what was lost and where we are hoping to go once again.
Since the previous episode (9.5) was almost solely a recap, I’m skipping my thoughts on it and moving onto “Illegal Move”, where Fam becomes infinitely more interesting with Vincent’s commanding presence, Turan’s official alliance with Anatoray-Disith, Alvis’s return as the operator for Anatoray’s Exile, and Princess Liliana’s union with Luscinia. And even though I expected the majority of these, the episode still surprised me with Princes Liliana’s claim of an alliance with Luscinia and the following annexation of Turan. Fam does an almost complete change of tone with the most serious clinch we’ve seen yet.
A bit late on the response, but this week’s Fam was definitely an interesting one, though the confrontation was a long time in coming and I found its resolution too easy on our protagonist. In conjunction with Fam, Gisey, and Millia’s relationship issues, we also have an insightful view into Vasant’s worries about her role as a “sword” for the Ades Federation. Titled “Connected passed pawn”, episode 9 of Fam questions the strengths and weaknesses to an alliance, be it the friendship between childhood playmates, the bond between a pilot and navigator, or the loyalty between vassal and ruler.
Starting immediately where the previous episode left off, “Distraction” opens up with the unavoidable confrontation between an Ades Federation fleet, led by one of their most experienced commanders, and the Silvius. Due to this show’s penchant for miracles, I expected the Silvius to completely annihilate the AF fleet; thankfully, they barely manage to escape with their lives in their battle with AF and the following confrontation between AF and Glacies. And the confrontations don’t stop there–we get a much needed moment when Fam finds herself temporarily useless and realizes that the blame is all on her. Giselle, in turn, sees her best friend drifting further away from their bond, and fears displacement by Princess Millia.
This week’s “Weak Square” was just what Fam needed. Up until now, Fam, Gisey, and the crew of the Silvius have had ships handed to them on a silver platter, and seemed to expect that future conquests would be just as easy. The unrest that was hinted at earlier between Fam and Gisey proves to be the main chink in Fam’s grand plan to swipe up eight Ades Federation ships at once. And the weaknesses are not constrained to just our protagonists–Vasant is in a precarious position as both a loyal vassal to Augusta Sara, as well as a former leader of the once enemy nation of Keios. As dire as the situations are for all characters not of AF descent, I can’t help but cheer on the current downward spiral.
Following a fairly heartwarming episode 5, sixth episode “Overstep” is aptly named. Despite the named chess move referring to a breach of time limits, several variations of overstepping occur here: young Sara’s attempts to protect her kingdom, the alliances made between other immigrant nations with the Ades Federation, Luscinia’s push to power, Fam’s dominance over Gisey, Fam’s dangerous overconfidence, and Millia’s re-establishment of a Turan-in-exile. The results are mixed and not as sunny as you might think.
Yes, I hereby dub this show, Last Exile: Millia, the Second Princess of Turan. Of all the characters featured so far, she shows the most growth and has been one of the few interesting ones to follow. The titled lead of the show currently lacks complexity, as does her navigator, and I find myself constantly overlooking them in favor of side characters. This episode was no exception, as Millia has a small breakthrough that defines who she is and the nation she represents.
Anime B&B 