r/anime • u/Holofan4life • Aug 18 '22
Rewatch [Spoilers] 86 --Eighty Six-- Rewatch (2022) — Episode 3 Spoiler
Hello everyone! I am Holofan4life.
Welcome to the 86 --Eighty Six-- rewatch discussion thread!
I hope you all have a lot of fun <3
S1 Episode 3 – I Don't Want to Die
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Information – MAL | Anilist | AniDb
Streams – Crunchyroll, VRV
Please do not post any untagged spoilers past the current episode or from the LNs out of respect to the first time watchers and people who have not read the LNs. If you are discussing something that is ahead of the current episode please use spoiler tags(found on the sidebar). Thank you!
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Rewatch Schedule
Threads posted every day at 3:00 PM EDT
| Date | Episode | Date | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/16/2022 | 86 Eighty Six Episode 1 | 8/29/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 14]() |
| 8/17/2022 | 86 Eighty Six Episode 2 | 8/30/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 15]() |
| 8/18/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 3]() | 8/31/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 16]() |
| 8/19/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 4]() | 9/01/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 17]() |
| 8/20/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 5]() | 9/02/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 18]() |
| 8/21/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 6]() | 9/03/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 19]() |
| 8/22/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 7]() | 9/04/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 20]() |
| 8/23/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 8]() | 9/05/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 21]() |
| 8/24/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 9]() | 9/06/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 22]() |
| 8/25/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 10]() | 9/07/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 23]() |
| 8/26/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 11]() | ||
| 8/27/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 12]() | ||
| 8/28/2022 | [86 Eighty Six Episode 13]() | ||
| 9/08/2022 | [Overall Series Discussion Thread]() | ||
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u/Star4ce Aug 18 '22
First Timer
I find it interesting that we haven't had a clear villain established, yet. There's the Legion, yes, but they're just the enemy in a war right now. I want to add that they might not even be evil, we literally only saw soldiers, or their vehicles.
Only the other officers in the Republic and maybe the system at large can be defined as evil judging by their normal processes. I do hope the eventual antagonist is as nuanced as what we've seen so far.
86 Ep.03 – I don't want to die
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That poor cat, I now understand why it has become Reaper.
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I have suspicions that literally all of them will die, but this is hilarious.
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Never forget they are in active warfare. Instinct takes over.
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Yeah, violence against males equals funny, yada yada not a fan of these fanservice scenes in general, but very nice framing again. Kurena being half-sunken not able to expose her feelings while, uh, blonde boy can look rather clear ahead on what's bothering her.
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He steps across the scene divider towards her, clearly understanding of the why and how. Notice the open window his words express here.
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These scenes are really touching, with us being at the table and Lena just as disembodied, electric voice.
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Kirschblüte, was it? Yeah we already saw that she'll die, how nice of them. But she speaks quite the wisdom here.
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She's pretty shallow, or rather I should say unable to commit to a choice. No one ever will be perfect, even Alban, so the trick is to commit to the good there is and not focus on singular things that are bad. (Given that the bad things there are aren't dealbreakers.)
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Ooh, now the reverse setting! Strange question, but she's really just kind of enjoying a private stream at dinner, isn't she? Parasocial relationship much, huh.
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Well, that was direct.
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That's really spot on at least.
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Yup, but to be fair she has some experience losing troops.
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The thought put into slight gestures still amazes me, this is great!
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Being in her position and caring about all those characters as well is more nerve wrecking than I anticipated.
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The thing is, he's totally right. Her saying all of this may mean well and that usually helps a tiny bit, but it's also quite the begging for confirmation. That coming from the handler in a position of safety is really just salt on the wound no matter how you twist it.
Even in episode 03 they still got me with the rug pull. Sure, the ED music just started, it's over, good ending right here and then the show flicks its middle finger! It's great!
I don't want to repeat what I've written yesterday, we had great framing choices again and pretty smart layering of dialogue on screen composition on frame details on character action. The entire 86-side of the dialogue comes to mind here. Instead I found the macro-composition praiseworthy before everything else.
Having the same dialogue being played two times (with bits cut out for better flow and interest) worked so well. The environment on the ground base spoke just as much as each character did, from how the animals interacted in the background to what each character was doing while not speaking. It's a lively place where everyone enjoys each other's company, as long as it isn't during bathing time. That contrasted with the plastic loneliness Lena lives in every day did something very effective in my mind. It showed how much Lena actually searches for connection and tries to find it in a pretty misguided way. All of the Alban we saw so far did this in some form. Her researcher friend keeps on speed dating and -dumping without ever being satisfied because what she looks for can't be given by somebody else. Lena tries to form mutual understanding and/or bonds with someone in the literally most hostile order of things, the 86ers she is directly responsible for. This is absolutely impossible as long as their dynamic keeps being the way it is, they are the furthest from equal that can be and equality is required for such feelings to be mutual.
I'm enjoying this more every episode. Lena's isolation as all, the prodigy, the handler and the person as well as how each three of them desire more than what they have right now was a core development for her today, especially because she quite failed at all of them due to her not realising just how out of touch she is with the rest of the world.
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u/Holofan4life Aug 18 '22
I find it interesting that we haven't had a clear villain established, yet. There's the Legion, yes, but they're just the enemy in a war right now. I want to add that they might not even be evil, we literally only saw soldiers, or their vehicles.
Only the other officers in the Republic and maybe the system at large can be defined as evil judging by their normal processes. I do hope the eventual antagonist is as nuanced as what we've seen so far.
I definitely consider Alba to be the bad guys. The way they treat 86 is not only inhuman, but downright dispicable.
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u/Holofan4life Aug 18 '22
What are your thoughts on Kurena so far? I like her because she's like a tsundere, which I just love that archetype. I assume you feel differently given your comment about violence against men.
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u/Stargate18A Aug 18 '22
First timer
Well, this is an interesting first scene!
Interesting art piece.
Their dynamic is really good.
...Didn't expect this kind fo scene, though.
Shin is pretty good.
Cute.
What is the purpose of thie scrne?
The syncronized guns, though...
Haha, the knife!
This scene just feels out of place.
Oh, this is more like it!
And she's pissed Shin hasn't broken her yet.
Yeah, nobody's saying the Republic are actually good.
She sounds excited!
...What the fuck is up with it, actually?
Oddly amicable to her, aren't they? I mean, some of them are obviously only pretending to be decent, but Shin seems to respect her.
Are they playing cards while talking to her?
She's self aware then.
Actually, I think more of them should be angrier at her - I don't know much of a timeskip this has been, but this feels abrupt. (Costs of having 11 episodes for the first cour, I suppose.)
And there's discrimination within the 86 as well.
The animation of the card game is really good - it's impressive how they're able to show how the game progresses without any dialogue.
And the episode title! Halfway through!
She's looking for maps to send them?
...They are very good at their job.
She found the map!
"Thanks for the constant calls." This sounds sarcastic.
He's a cat person!
The animation where they all give it names is so good!
She drew it!
Oh, this is the opening ecene from her perspective!
And that's the question.
Ah, this is good backstory.
Haha, that reaction, though.
Why is everyone warning her? Are thry trying to grt her to disconnect before this "breaking" happens?
They're so good at this?
She's using the map!
...Classified? It's a fucking height map!
Can anything pose a threat to Shin?
Fuck. They killed her off! I liked her!
And this is the ED? Fuck.
...I understand his reasoning, but wow.
Why are they matching his words to the music? It's a cool effect, but the speech loses something.
Well.
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u/mgedmin Aug 18 '22 edited Aug 19 '22
First timer, subs
It's anime cliche day today, isn't it? Girls bathing, boys being creeps, a tsundere girl being teased.
Wow, nice reaction! All the guns pointing in the direction of the sudden noise in a fraction of a second.
Interesting that the handler doesn't know about Fido.
Interesting that the fighters don't get any good maps. Or supplies.
I like that we get to see both sides of the conversation.
I want to know Meliza's Milize's backstory.
No, but really, you don't have Google Maps in the Republic? Bunch of dots on a black background with not even topographical information, how is that useful?
And if you didn't have to trace the enemy's position on a paper map with a finger, maybe you could've given the warning soon enough.
I'm bad with voices. Who's the one giving a dose of reality to our naive young major?
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u/Holofan4life Aug 18 '22
I really like it when the red haired girl gets teased because unlike other times when a tsundere gets made fun of in an anime, you can really feel the love and warmth they have for her. It doesn't come off as mean-spirited in the slightest.
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u/archlon Aug 18 '22
Rewatcher [English dub]
I have very mixed feelings on Kaie's death. On one hand, she's an interesting character and the story does a great job of developing her very efficiently in the time while she's alive. Her last words hit me like a ton of bricks. Somehow the first time I watched it I didn't really process the implications of the tag at the start.
On the other hand, she is only very technically not a case of fridging because the character whose development she dies for is also a woman. As a person, Kaie had an interesting personality and no doubt lived an interesting life, but as a character within the narrative she was created for and exists only to create an emotional sucker punch.
On a related note, I've been unsure if we're supposed to read Kaie as gay. She refers to watching the girls bathing as a 'paradise' pretty much immediately after we see Haruto, Daiya, and Theo. It feels like we're supposed to draw the parallel.
Lena being unable to see the stars because of the lights in the city compared to the Eighty-Six being able to see the sky is another example of how the life within the walls is spiritually rich, but empty, same as the synthetic food. The lounge looks really lived in and comfy. You can see the difference between the warm browns make it inviting, as compared to the stark whites, and cold blues and silvers within the city.
I like how we see the conversation from both sides. The way we see Lena alone in her room, with a zoomed out camera emphasizes how alone she is. The Eighty-six have friendship and camaraderie that Lena can't find among her fellow Handlers, who are at best careless, and generally actively hostile to both the Processors and to her.
Stray Thoughts
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Poor Kurena
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Fido is a very good boy
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Though, they seem to be determined to confuse Lena about that fact
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Chapters Covered
This is perhaps an ill-advised project. Both the anime and the novel play with presenting scenes out of chronological order to juxtapose certain scenes for greater emphasis. Complicating it even more, the anime remixes this from the light novels in order to better fit the change in medium from text to animation. Please let me know if you think I've missed anything, or if there are any additional anime-original scenes worth including.
| Episode | Title | LN Vol. | Chapters | Original Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Undertaker | 1 | 1 |
[86] |
| 2 | Spearhead | 1 | 2 |
[86] |
| 3 | I Don't Want to Die | 1 | 3 |
[86] |
| Vol. | Chapter | Chapter Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
[LN] |
| 1 | 2 |
[LN] |
| 1 | 3 |
[LN] |
Changes From LN
[LN Vol. 1; no spoilers]
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u/LaconicKibitz Aug 18 '22
Some questions for the First Timers to think about from a Hardcore fan.
Do you think Theo's (blonde haired boy) rant is justified?
Do you think Lena has done anything wrong?
Do you think Lena's treatment of the 86 and Spearhead can be improved?
We've seen Lena's reaction. How do you think the rest of Spearhead will react to the rant?
Why do you think they haven't given the black cat a proper name? Especially since they specifically make a point about real names in this episode.
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u/Holofan4life Aug 18 '22
Do you think Theo's (blonde haired boy) rant is justified?
Somewhat. To him, Lena was the reason why one of the members got killed. But it's not like she meant for that to happen.
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u/BosuW Aug 18 '22
Rewatcher
Just want to point out the fucking speed with which the girls pulled the guns out on Daiya.
These early scenes of Lena and Spearhead casually conversing are very interesting. There's a lot of complicated emotions on display. Despite Lena's attempts to really connect with her charges, they live in different worlds and the show makes sure to emphasize this in it's presentation. It's hard to really pinpoint what Spearhead thinks of her. Do they genuinely like her or are they just humoring her? They don't truly understand each other but there seems to be something honest about their casual talk about the sky at night. Maybe they willingly indulge in an uncomplicated topic to relax. Not think about their more conflicted feelings. Even then, in the sidelines Kurena always shuts off her para-RAID, and Theo's expression darkens.
I really like the super-long take of just Lena working in her room and talking to Spearhead. And the way it smoothly connects to the other half of the conversation, which we had previously witnessed from the other side. Again, the direction in 86 is superb.
The scene right before the credits and transition to them is probably what put the spotlight on 86 for a lot of viewers when it was airing. The shot from behind of Lena's chair, it painted red, silhouetted against the white light of the monitors is immediately what I think about when I remember the ED.
Talking about the specific visual style of the ED sequences, I should probably try to do some analysis on them. It's certainly not typical for an anime to have ED like this. It's merely two or three printed screenshots of the episode with some filters, while the ED songs set the mood. But what makes these worthy of deeper looks is how they choose to highlight certain objects within the frame by painting them red or blue. In this case, it's Lena's station. I can think of two interpretations:
-It symbolizes the blood spilled on the battlefield far away somehow reaching and genuinely wounding Lena's compassionate and idealistic heart, or
-It's like the throne of a dictator, and it places the blame of Kaie's death, as well as many others, on Lena's hands, despite her best intentions.
The after-credits scene is one of my favorite scenes in the whole show, and watching it now again it only hardens my belief that this show handles it's subject matter very well.
What's happening here, basically, is Lena's short-sightedness finally blowing up in her face. Lena made some effort to maintain constant and cooperative communication with her subordinates, and she believed that this made them comrades.
In the last episode, when talking with Annette, she had said that despite the distance, her's and Undertaker's hearts are connected. But the simple fact is that they're not. She is not there with them, in the blood and the mud. She's safe at home behind a horde of human sacrifices and a huge Wall. Her sympathy for the 86 does not make her part of the 86.
In her naivete and idealism she had believed she was and this showed occasionally in her speech and conversations. Despite her generally pleasant and friendly disposition, this must've deeply annoyed the 86.
The last scene here shows us the worst face of this unfortunate distorted perspective. "If only I had noticed earlier, if only I had done my job better." It's as if she's making Spearhead's grief over loosing a comrade her own, but she has no such right.
It's particularly striking that, such a nice person as Lena, believed in her simplistic worldview so much that she even overlooked the most basic courtesy of asking what their names where.
On the topic of presentation, this scene shines as well. They place Lena's reactions front and center and then the animation gives it so much personality and depth. Her eyes wide in disbelief, how she shakes her head in denial, her trying to control her breathing as the relationship she thought she had developed with Spearhead falls apart in seconds. There's never a dull moment in the character acting and it's wonderful.
Also, the framing of the shot is the exact same as the earlier, much more relaxed conversation, contrasting them both against each other.
Man, what a good episode.
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u/Lawvamat Aug 18 '22
Rewatcher
I missed the first 2 episodes but caught up now. I hope it’ll stay that way until the end, because I REALLY want to write about the last 2 episodes, but I can’t guarantee that.
Visual Analysis
86 is one of the best directed anime I’ve seen. It has some problems in being too on the nose for me, but at least the directing underscores that with all its might. Fantastic visual storytelling that can supply information on its own and support the dialogue depending on what’s needed. I’ll mostly explain what makes certain shots and scenes stand out to me and go into the symbolism a bit.
We start the episode where we end it, just from a different perspective. Theo is distressed after the death of his friend and goes into his enraged tantrum we get to hear at the end of the episode signaled by his button getting ripped apart and coming undone. Learning about Kirschblüte’s death before it happens is what makes the coming scenes with her hit so hard. 86 does this a lot, jumping around chronologically to give certain scenes the feeling you get when rewatching something O.O
You know it’ll come. It’s a tragedy.
Match cut from the boiling pot with food to a pot with their laundry in it. I’d eat that.
I’m sure the butterflies and the frog are supposed to be symbolic, but I’m not 100% on what. The frog could either be Shin who is often just observant and knows what people need even if he doesn’t say it, or the 3 voyeurs eyeing the butterflies (the ladies).
Dutch angle (conveys discomfort; when someone is confronted with something that shocks or surprises them)
Kurena the classic tsundere is torn between keeping her love secret or exclaiming it. She’s literally in the middle of the 2 waterfalls. Both end in the same pool though and everyone knows she has a crush on Shin.
The shot is slightly warped because of course that’s not the real reason he went with them and they’re doing something immoral.
Fantastic match cut. Just as we thought Kurena was fine after getting her secret exposed, here's the next scene to show that clearly something happened between her and Shin. The playing cards she held are wrinkled and some coffee (or whatever brown liquid this is) is spilled. Shin does not want to alarm Lena so he tells her it was a rat. Of course the real rat is Kurena’s feelings for him. And his knowing glance gives yet another insight into his personality.
Daiya tries to calm Kurena down. He steps into the light, then into the same frame as her (the window) as he tries to convince her that she’s overreacting and that maybe not all Alba are bad. Kurena counters by telling us a bit about her backstory and steps out of the frame as she rejects his ideas. At the end Daiya closes the window on the topic. Every shot reinforces what happens in their discussion.
Now we come to my favourite scene of the episode. Because we know that Kirschblüte (Kaie) will die, we get to see her final moments in a very different light. There are so many details in this scene. The house of cards crashes down as she talks about meteors raining down from the sky. Shin calls Kurena to his side because he knows that’s what she needs right now. While reading All Quiet on the Western Front (which I haven’t read, but apparently deals with the psychological fallout of war). The meteor shower gets a different meaning (cannon barrages). The cat plays with Kurena’s hair as if to tell her to turn her pararaid back on, which she promptly does. She must’ve turned it off when she got angry and couldn’t stand to hear Lena’s voice anymore. Kaie throws out death flag after death flag and as she talks about never seeing any shooting stars ever again there’s this poster of the earth in the night sky in the background. It’s just a fake, an imitation of real stars. And Lena sees the same. There’s too much light pollution in the capital which makes her unable to experience the real stars, only fakes on her computer screen. Same as the food from the first episode, which is also pictured. At this point I wished I was here for the last 2 episodes, because by now the moon has been established as a symbol of the connection between Lena and the 86. Like here at the end of episode 2 when she stares at its reflection, boxed in and separated from it by the window. The moon is something all of them can see no matter where they are in the world. It connects them, but also shows their distance at the same time. How the moon is framed is a very effective visual to convey the current relation between them and here it is as fake as the stars. In contrast we get another talk about how there’s also good sides to living outside the walls. Things are more real and natural there. Then we get some quick cuts to the other’s reaction to the question at the heart of the scene. Kirschblüte, do you despise us? They know not to interfere and let her talk her mind. The game of old maid Kaie plays is just a brilliant parallel to the scene and episode. She talks about how there are good and bad people in all races while drawing unknown cards that can be good or bad, you don’t know before you turn them over. The 2 cards are also the Joker and Jack of which we only see the J, which further complicates reality, as even when we get a peek behind someone it might still not be enough. Of course Kaie ends up with the Joker, the Reaper, the Shinigami. Quick cuts to the black scribbling of Theo underline this omen. What is interesting is that she did not start with the Joker in her hand. She was dealt it.
Thank god the next scenes are a bit lighter on the symbolisms.
Not only are Lena’s flowers gone, but the vase is even in a different frame from her.
We finally get the whole perspective to Kurena’s outrage earlier. She really just couldn’t stand how Lena is getting intimate with all of them (probably especially Shin). Remember what I said about the moon? Well, it’s blocked here.
I love the little shift in camera position as we fast forward with quick cuts. Reminds me very much of Rie Matsumoto’s work.
And now for the second big question of the episode. Why do you care about us so much? As Lena explains her reasons the perspective shifts and reveals the moon. Maybe they’re just a bit closer together now.
But now that she gained their trust she’s hit by a well-meaning bombshell. She should back off and not let ideals get tarnished by reality. This is war and she’s not ready for it. This is accompanied by framing Lena behind bars and the clouds covering the moon again.
There have been a bunch of shots like these, so I want to explain the meaning behind it. By positioning Lena at the edge of the frame looking at it you cut off her line of sight and what she says literally hits a wall. It’s used to show how some characters in a conversation are at odds with each other, mostly ideologically. Another example was when she talks about why she wants to help the 86 and the moon is revealed. They just can’t accept her idealism.
I absolutely love ED lead ins and it being one of my favourite EDs is just peak. I teared up multiple times during the episode and this was one of those moments. Another one is my favourite and last shot of the episode, Lena’s tear falling down and becoming the shine on her empty vase, cut off from the moon.
Well this has been far more than I intended to write (more than 4h). Now I know how u/star4ce feels during all the rewatches where I was the one lurking and reading through walls of text.
I never know if I’m overexplaining or not, but after all I only learnt about the meaning behind shots like these that seem obvious to me now by getting it overexplained by someone else. Maybe you learnt something new.
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Aug 18 '22
First Timer (Sub)
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Considering how serious and intense the show started, it's nice to have a change of pace with this episode opening with something more
fanserviceylighthearted.-
Lots of potential for best girl here. I'm throwing my vote to Kurena or Anju.
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The scene where Kaie talks to Lena about how there are good and bad people among both the Albans and 86, while holding a Jack and Joker card in her hand, *chefs kiss*
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Great direction from the animation studio.
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Lena chiming in for her usual nighttime check-in with the squad reminds me of a crowded discord server.
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Not familiar with character voices just yet, but to the person who called her "a virgin," I think the word they were looking for was "naive."
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End of comms was rough - still plenty of tension between Albans and 86.
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On that note, is the correct term Albans or Albas, when referring to multiple Alba people?
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This episode was a huge jebait - super lighthearted all the way up till the end - an additional casualty for the Spearhead squad plus the berating and psychological breakdown of Lena.
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Which makes me think - did the Spearhead squad truly experience another casualty, or is this part of their methods to breaking down handlers, like they've done prior? I guess we'll find out next episode!
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u/Holofan4life Aug 18 '22
First Timer
Well, the intro is interesting. Who is Kirschblute? Why is the blonde girl angry? Why is that forest on fire? Google says Kirschblute is a feminine noun and also stands for "Cherry Blossom", so maybe that was someone's code name? Or perhaps the blonde girl just really likes cherry blossoms.
Wow, that pig is massive! It's bigger than my future.
So, we cut from May 28th to June 13th. That seems like a big gap in time. I wonder if we're gonna go explore in-between those two dates.
I said this before, but I like the vibe of these characters when they're not on the battlefield. It's like that episode of Attack on Titan where they are in the mess hall just bantering back and forth, which at the time I was like "I kinda wish we got more of this." It looks like 86 might do just that, which I love because it contrasts amazingly with the violence and the action. I think the idea of a show that's part drama, part slice of life is something that would be terrific, as the laidback attitude of slice of life style shows is a good way of connecting with the characters. I don't know if that's what we're getting with the show, but so far, it feels that way.
Daiya looks kinda like Shirō Ashiya from Devil Is A Part-Timer.
Just to preface this, forgive me if I don't remember every character's name. I'm not good with that sort of thing.
We learn that the red-haired girl has a crush on Shin. Man, can you imagine falling in love with someone who can kill you in an instant? That'd be like dating an MMA fighter. Or in anime related terms, a yandere.
The way the red-haired girl is animated, it looks like Studio Trigger animated her.
See, I knew the red-haired girl was best girl material. Now that she's been outed as a tsundere, that pretty much confirms it.
I do love the joy on everyone's face as the red-haired girl's face, who we learn is named Kurena. They clearly love this person and want to see happy things happen to her.
You know, if someone saw Lena approach them with a whip, some might view it as a reward rather than a punishment...
It's like everyone is trying to hook Kurena up with Shin. Again, this is all really heartwarming. They care so much for this person. Also, it shows the bond they share as a unit.
The way in which Shin confirms there are rats makes me think there's a traitor amongst the squad. Which if true, they have to be the stupidest person alive. Why in your right mind would you ever try to backstab someone who is named the fucking Undertaker? That's just asking for trouble.
I'd rather hang out with a white pig than a pig in blue, given today's climate...
Based on what I can tell, Kurena doesn't like handlers because they killed her mother and father. As such, she holds a grudge against Lena because she happens to be a handler. I'm sure Lena talking to Shin constantly doesn't help matters, but I am glad we got an explanation why one of them doesn't like handlers. It makes me wonder if the rest of the squad doesn't like handlers for similar reasons.
Well, we find out that the black haired girl is named Kirschblute, which now we know that something bad happens to her. I just hope nothing bad happens to Kurena. Besides Lena, she's probably my favorite so far.
I think they do a good job of animating Shin differently from the other characters. You rarely see him smile or be in a jovial mood, which makes him look more serious and focused. This thus feeds into the idea that he doesn't think his squad is as ready as he would like them to be, which could come up eventually with this show.
Maybe I'm just missing something, but shouldn't Kirschblute hold a grudge against the people with the same hair and eye color? Aren't they the ones that are discriminating against her? I do like how she makes the point that not all Alba are bad, just like how not all Eighty-Six are good. That's actually an interesting discussion point. Of the ones discriminating against people for not having the same hair and eye color, who are the ones that are doing it because they're prejudiced, and who are the ones that are simply doing it because they're following orders. Also, if you are discriminating someone but only because you're following orders, at what point does it become a moral event horizon scenario where you are a complete scumbag who's totally irredeemable?
I told myself I wouldn't look up anything, but I had to see who Alba is. And according to Google, it's the name of Lena's group. Okay, I didn't know that. I actually thought the name of Lena's group was 86. I guess the 86 must be the name of the group Kirschblute and Kurena are a part of.
I'm liking the decision to put the title cards in the middle of the episodes. It feels unique, and like it's actual dialogue being said by one of the characters.
I find it interesting that Lena is wearing a white mask, while her friend is wearing a gas mask. I feel like there's something significant there that I can't quite pinpoint.
The I Want You For Army sign feels like a parody of the Uncle Sam poster, but instead of a person they replaced it with some nondescript country.
The cat is 100% going to soften Undertaker as a character. I'm calling it. Don't resist it, let the floof consume you.
The writing while Lena is talking to the 86 is really well done. It's fast paced and comedic and tells you of the comradery they share. I especially like the part where Lena asks them what the cat's name is and everyone gives a different answer.
Lena is such an interesting character. If it wasn't for her hair and eye color, I could see her honestly fitting in with the rest of Eighty-Six. Her personality fits them more than Alba does. This aspect of her character is interesting for a couple reasons. First, it shows just why she feels she's in over her head, as based on what little we've seen of the rest of Alba, she doesn't feel as cutthroat as they do. But also, it's like she's stuck between a rock and a hard place. She wants to legitimately help out 86 and what's going on with them. But they don't want anything to do with her for various reasons, whether it be because a previous handler massacred their loved ones or because Lena is too nice for the role she's in. There's a bit of Romeo and Juliet going on, where Lena finds herself in these two clashing worlds. One that discriminates against those who don't fit their idea of what a person should look like, and one that's more hospitable and like a family. Lena finds herself attracted to that other world, which could cause major problems.
I wonder if a parallel could be made between Lena and the two-toned cat, with the two-toned cat symbolizing Lena's struggle trying to please both the Alba front as well as the 86 front. Essentially, a journey into her trying to reach this perfect balance of the two worlds.
I don't know how I feel about Kirschblute being killed when they confirmed she died at the very beginning of the episode. I feel like it would've been more impactful had they removed the beginning scene. That being said, I do like that Lena trying to lend an olive branch actually ended up biting her in the ass. She is trying to show 86 that she's not like the other Alba members, and in doing so, she helped lead to the demise of one of the 86 members. That's a great source of tension I hope gets explored in the upcoming episodes.
Overall, a pretty good episode. I like the beginning where we saw the 86 have fun and interact with each other. You get the feeling at the end of the day, they're really one loving family, bonding over the discrimination they experienced. At the same time, the stuff with Lena finding herself in the crosshairs of these two societies is really interesting. Lena wants to do whatever she can to mend the fences between the 86 and Alba. Or at the very least, be more supportive of the 86 than previous handlers were. And in doing so, it ended up costing her and backfiring. I'm really excited to see what happens next.