Nah, that much is obvious. While Shin went full slasher mode, everyone else except Raiden had a grin on their face as they charged into battle despite this being the biggest defensive battle yet.
No surprise that Theo and Kurena have the most hangups after Shin, during their time cosplaying as civilians he and Kurena were the most aimless with the only thing he could really bring himself to do is sketch like always while she only went shopping.
I absolutely cannot help but adore handsome 2D boys
Props to Shin for taking the initiative, albeit very extremely, to get his unit ready before the attack came.
It's interesting that Lena's uncle was pretty much ready to let the country burn as a result of its own decadence the minute he saw what was happening.
And as of this moment a teenager is now the most powerful person in San Magnolia.
Actually, someone pointed out that he was wearing battle hardened boots, not to mention carrying his gun on him. Despite his caustic words, he was always ready to go down fighting, he just wanted to see Lena's resolve
I absolutely cannot help but adore handsome 2D boys
True, but if she wasn't up for it, there wasn't much he could do. Everything he said about the 86 is still true. Nothing but their immediate self-preservation and the goodwill Lena has built up is going to keep them listening to anybody from District 1 at this point.
I think Lena to the very least has a group who are willing to protect her with her current unit. Which is more protection than Anju probably had when they carved into her back.
On an unrelated note Shirabii drew Halloween art for the boys
Edit: I was initially planning to read the light novels for 86 and compare to the anime adaptation, but just like with pretty boy detective club what little I have read doesn't have enough meaningful differences to justify the time I spend on it in comparison to stuff like bookworm since the anime actually adds a lot of information and I can read a quick summary on the few differences. I think I'll just wait for the cour to finish then continue from volume 4.
Edited by Mami on Oct 31st 2021 at 5:13:33 PM
I absolutely cannot help but adore handsome 2D boys
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
For what it's worth, (and it's been a while since I've read the second and third volumes) from what I can recall the anime has done a fair amount of Adaptation Expansion with what they've covered so far. Which, of course, implies that the rest is going to be a Compressed Adaptation if they're trying to end with the end of the third volume. I don't know how much more they're going to change, but I doubt that it's going to be nearly as one-for-one as the first cour.
Okay so can we talk about how goddamn amazing the direction is in this show? from the episode title itself "I Won't Forget", which is a direct reply to episode 7 of Part 1, "You Won't Forget Me, Right?" Shin is visibly stressed hearing about San Magnolia falling to the Legion, clearly thinking about Lena.
Then there's the part where Lena's uncle was trying to convince Lena to flee, they did a close up shot of his worn out boots, probably the same boots he used when he was on the frontlines. The old guy always intended to fight. It's funny how that low-key shot of footwear stuck out to me in one of the best 86 episodes yet. Obviously San Magnolia is going down, but Bloody Regina, her team and the Processors might be able to survive by the skin of their teeth. How cool is it that Lena takes over ALL the Processor combat units? She's the goddamn general. Holy hell am I excited to witness their last stand. It's going to involve a railgun and those are always cool.
On the Federacy of Giad's side, the Nordlicht squadron shows why they're the Legion-squashing pros. The combat sequences were flat out incredible. 13 minutes of pure metal carnage. Shin dodging a shot by lowering his mech, then sliding beneath a giant Legion to cut it up from below— magnificent. Also liked how we can see them specializing into specific combat roles. I'm partial to Anju's crowd suppression "burn everything" specs.
It's a bit worrying that Shin is cracking. He even failed to realize he got wounded. Someone needs to rein in his suicidal aggressiveness.
Edited by fillerdude on Oct 31st 2021 at 9:33:05 AM
Shin unfortunately has nothing to live for right now so his sense of self restraint has gone from barely existing to seriously not existing. He loves his friends but they look up to him and thus can't become his reason to not go insane, he needs a concrete goal to stop him from going sicko mode every battle. So Lena, you need to survive and slap another Nouzen man!!
Though yeah the direction in this anime is amazing, I love how almost every shot has its meaning
Edited by Mami on Oct 31st 2021 at 6:40:01 PM
I absolutely cannot help but adore handsome 2D boys
Not to mention that Shin's friends have their own issues to work out. Like hell we can expect Kurena to be the voice of reason when she's a little cuckoo herself.
I don't doubt Lena is going to survive. The question I guess is how battered she'll be before reuniting with Shin.
Actually, now that I think about it, are the light novels still ongoing?
![[down]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_down.png "[down]"){kind=icon}
Alright, nice. I hope all the novels get adapted at this level of quality.
Edited by fillerdude on Nov 1st 2021 at 9:30:40 AM
Yes, volume 9 I think will be out late February and the English translations are 7 volumes in
I absolutely cannot help but adore handsome 2D boys
In today's episode of "Shin needs therapy and his discord girlfriend back"!
1. bye bye San Mangolia. Honestly they had it coming but lots of innocents died in that attack so I can't even be happy, it's just unfortunate that they were kept in ignorance, truly peak "fucking around and finding out
2. Ah, that explains the letter. REALLY not what he needs when going into an intense battle, and I'm pretty sure it's Marcel's fault too.
3. It's honestly kind of awkward how the Giad always seems to have to assert "we're different from San Mangolia", because it still ends up making them feel like outsiders. Their platitudes also amount to shit when in the end they still selected them for the suicide mission after so long of "Well, you're just kids". Yeah they keep running back into battle (and of course people are going to treat them like outsiders when they continue to treat themselves like it too) as well as this being a do or die affair but it still feels abhorrent
3. It's the little things that really sell it. Shin always dismissing people when they mention Lena, the way he touched the republic on the map only for his eyes to widen slightly and then lower in despair when they said "forget about the republic", how he couldn't help but look at his hand when he pulled away. Yes, Yeeeeeesssss!!!!
4. On both those notes, it's nice that Wenzel is sticking with her beliefs and is fighting for them. But it also highlighted how Shin still thinks of Lena subconsciously and how he can't let go of all his friends that died. Her saying that she'd never forget him really meant a lot to him considering he has to live carrying other people's wishes so it's probably a double gut punch that she seems to have died (as far as he knows) I was never really sold on Shin X Lena when they were together honestly, because Lena's Moe Moe anime girl moments always felt off to me when she didn't know him well. But this, this wistfulness is my fucking jam!!!
4. Also this is the, like, second time Shin has actually been honest with his feelings. When he cried after killing Rei was the first, him getting angry and demanding he be let back into battle was the second.
5. That last shot of the destroyed San Mangolia over the ed was spine chilling. That last shot that said special commentary even more so!! DAMMIT PRODUCTION ISSUES (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻.
But yeah, great episode as always! Very light light novel spoilers but I know Lena's gonna be fine since she's on the cover of the rest of the novels but I kind of wish she'd actually gotten like a scar or something following the attack. I think it would have really sold the bloody Reina thing and given her and Shin something to match lol
Edit: I just saw someone call 86 "If Levi from AOT had his own show" and honestly that tracks. I will say that I was pretty endeared to Levi from the word go but it took a while for me to warm up to Shin.
Edited by Mami on Nov 6th 2021 at 11:08:36 AM
I absolutely cannot help but adore handsome 2D boys
No production issues this recap was planned.
On your first point, it gets worse. The assault on Magnolia gave the Legion the one resource they don't have access to in abundance. Human Brains. To the point where they can start experimenting on how to improve the uploading process.
Edit for missed arrow.
Edited by KnightofLsama on Nov 6th 2021 at 7:40:48 AM
And thus the Republic stupids itself out of existence. Probably could've done something with their impressive weapons, but they decided to trip themselves and be evil because racism or nationalism or something. That's a lesson I can appreciate.
My thoughts on episode 6:
Damn, right from the beginning we're thrust into the destruction of San Magnolia, set to a wicked orchestral piece. Whew, that sure sets the tone.
Guess the Legion use the railgun first. That's a scary-ass weapon. And of course some high-ranking official is proposing to use the 86 as part of a suicidal charge to destroy that weapon. In the end they're still treated as weapons, but know what? It's actually a good sign that Theo shows he is a bit bummed that they're still being treated as disposable. And there's people who are firmly on their side.
Oh my god Raiden and Anju actually realize that Shin was attracted to Lena. I mean, it's hard to miss, but still.
Ugh, I knew that stupid letter was bad news. An understandable grievance, but it's not doing wonders for Shin's psyche. Lena save him! After saving yourself of course. Please be okay.
Holy shit they're Spearhead again. Time to bring back the creed: FUCKING GLORY TO THE SPEARHEAD SQUADRON! I love how the Wenzel's argument with the commander was drowned out by Shin reminiscing. That scene with his comrades turning into dog tags... then that imaginary conversation with Lena was beautiful, and the way that sequence ended with the raindrop falling down the reflection of Shin's face... wow, 86, keep blowing my mind.
Damn, Shin actually got heated there. I like how he says he doesn't want to be like the Republic. And Raiden and the rest share the same thoughts.
... WHAT DO YOU MEAN SPECIAL VISUAL COMMENTARY EPISODE
That's what's great about the portrayal of Giad— they show you don't have to be a cartoonish, obstinate racist to be, well, racist assholes. And yeah, LOVING those subtle signs of Shin thinking about Lena. I'll add to your gushing, I loved the closeup on Shin's ear, hinting he wants to talk to Lena again.
Oh dang, I didn't even think of that.
Edited by fillerdude on Nov 7th 2021 at 4:44:32 AM
It's less being racist assholes, so much as Shin and the other 86 have kind of gone out of the way to alienate the others, and despite being give multiple opportunities to refuse their mission went along with it anyway.
Also Giad wants the mission to succeed and view the monstrously strong 86 as ones who have the best chance at destroying the Morpho.
Forever not amused.
The "everyone leaves me behind" scene was my favorite from this episode (besides the first minute of Lena in San Magnolia and the post-credits scene).
I don't know if my earlier prediction/desire I expressed from the first page is still going to happen.
Not hard to alienate the others when those others have a predisposition to treat you like an alien. And yeah, they accept the missions, but frankly that’s just a government exploiting the twisted mindsets of child soldiers.
And mind you, Giad chose the 86 not only because they’re the best they’ve got, they’re also the ones “no one will miss”.
That was such a vivid scene.
Edited by fillerdude on Nov 7th 2021 at 9:15:28 AM
The biggest issue is that Giad is not giving these child soldiers therapy. They basically left them to their own devices and figured that it would be fine until they demanded to be let back to the fighting.
Regardless I do think that the group makes it easy since they dig their own heels, I just also find Giad hypocrites after the constantly assert how much kinder they are.
I absolutely cannot help but adore handsome 2D boys
Well their mentality harmed them in that regard as well. They prefer being hated to being pitied.
And in the diner scene in pervious episodes the tables around them had people, now the other soldiers at the base don't even want to be within one table of them. Viewing them as monsters after they displayed how crazy they are in the battle against the Legion in the previous episode.
Edited by Envyus on Nov 7th 2021 at 10:46:56 AM
This so very much. They should have sent them off to therapy instead of letting them wander around. I suppose that they wouldn't have viewed therapy kindly, but even a start might have worked wonders. That's on Ernst though, not the military leaders.
To be fair to Giad, they are kinder than San Magnolia for the most part, even if that isn’t a high bar to clear. But they’re not “nothing like the Republic”. Some of them are just as ugly too.
I don’t get it, is your point that this somehow makes the Giad soldiers less jerkass?
A day late, but I got to this latest episode and wooooooow, those first few minutes blew me away. Like, wow, Lena and the 86 are clearly giving it their all but this is clearly a doomed fight.
Like, man, it's so frustrating. Lena's been given unlimited power and she's so capable, and we can even see her staff are just as motivated as her, and the Processors are fighting so brilliantly.
But the Legion are already in the capital. They're breaching the river as we watch. Lena's command post is literally on the front lines by virtue of the battlefield constantly falling back towards her.
It's like being a world renowned doctor only to be given a mortally wounded patient to work on. If there's anyone who coudld save this person it's you, but circumstances you were given just make it impossible.
86 Anime Delays Episode 18 by 1 week due to Production Issues
The commentary episode may have been planned by the episode after it is getting delayed.
Slight novel spoilers but I would argue that Reiden and Anju are probably slowly getting better but even for them its an uphill battle but Theo's just a mess under all that snark and Kureha is an emotional timebomb.
Edit: Yay, pagetopper
Edited by KnightofLsama on Oct 31st 2021 at 12:55:01 PM