Recap / The Vision Of Escaflowne E 8 The Day The Angel Flew

Tropes in this episode:

• Broken Pedestal: Millerna's faith in her Father is shattered by his turning a blind eye to Zaibach's impending invasion of Freid (thereby sacrificing his own grandson to protect Asturia). Allen's own loyalty and oath to his monarch (which had already taken a blow during Episodes 6-7) is further damaged upon learning this.
• Chekhov's Gun: Hitomi's pager, which Merele steals early in the episode, ends up providing a crucial distraction after they're captured.
• Distracted by the Sexy: How Millerna suckers the dungeon guard overseeing Allen.
• Failed a Spot Check: Hitomi and Merle don't realize a Zaibach grunt has snuck up behind them until it's too late.
• Foreshadowing: Hitomi notices that her pendant is similar in design to Escaflowne's Energist.
• Once More, with Clarity: Hitomi's recurring vision of the angel upon realizing it's Van.
• Properly Paranoid: King Aston detains Allen partly because he aided and abetted Van's flight from Palas, but also to prevent Allen from trying to stop and sabotage Zaibach's invasion of Freid.
• Wham Shot: Van has angelic wings, revealing he's the angel Hitomi has seen in her visions.
• Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Millerna's plan for freeing Allen.
• Victoria's Secret Compartment: How and where Merle stores all the stuff she stole from Hitomi's gym bag. Ironically, it ends up being important for triggering the previously mentioned Chekhov's Gun.