Eighty Six

Craftsmanship requires time. Let them have it.

EDIT: Context: episode 18 getting delayed

Edited by fillerdude on Nov 8th 2021 at 3:13:00 AM

Something I forgot to mention in my last post, but there's something darkly hilarious and frustrating in that scene of the battle for San Magnolia. For a moment we see some graffiti that some twit had spray painted onto a building during what I assume was the time between the Legion breaking through the front lines and them storming the capital.

What is this random Alba citizen of the Republic writes in this moment of existential crisis?

An anti-86 slogan.

In a different series, I feel San Magnolia would not have been invaded and destroyed as badly as it was while Lena would somehow convince a majority of Alba (or those in power at least) to be less prejudiced.

What actually happened is more interesting though.

I can easily see that random Alba asshole blaming the 86 for failing to protect San Magnolia. Because it’s never their fault, y’know.

If the people could be swayed that easily Lena would have never faced the issues she had haha.

Sterok's comment last page about how the Republic stupids itself out of existence. is just so appropriate. I'm not sure if the maliciousness or incompetence was greater, but it probably doesn't matter.

Frederica being left behind makes sense, but I feel so bad for her. Her first big brother figure went insane and died in a way that she feels responsible for and now her second one is going to go "clean up her mess" with his chances of survival amazingly low and she's not even allowed to participate. It's a kick to her pride, and with everyone on the war front distracting herself will be hard

Grethe is great. Part of her stubbornness to help them is due to her own trauma but her feelings are genuine and I love this running gag of her constantly making machines that make people question her sanity lol

So, uh, remember that moment in the first episode of this cour where Ernst said that "a country that doesn't protect children deserves to die"? I don't think he was joking...it seems like his ideals are at their core good but he's also incredibly frightening exactly because of it. Still I enjoy his presence, he's not the most tactful person but his heart is mostly in the right place.

not much to say on the Spearhead kids today, they seem to be realizing what it means to die for more than just your pride but the fight with Morpho is still two weeks away thanks to production issues so it remains to be seen how they'll fare. I highly doubt that it'll be easy as disabling Kiriya's canon

Also next week's episode is delayed to Dec. 4th.

My one concern is will they still be able to finish airing this part of 86 in the Fall 2021 Season.

There is also an intended scheduled break on Dec. 11th because of Japan Day.

I’d rather the episodes get delayed than the animators crunch.

The strike on Morpho is gonna be crazy.

So I didn’t realize there actually was a new episode out, and I figured I might as well double post.

I’m glad Frederica is staying behind. She should have stayed behind from the start! That said, oof, Shin really tore into her.

Grethe is amazing. So is their foster dad. They’re not backing down on convincing the 86 kids that they’ll find a purpose in life that isn’t dying on the battlefield. Ernst in particular was so cool this episode that if one of the Spearheads does die (I don’t think they will) I’ll have solace in the fact that Ernst will exact retribution, somehow.

I am fanboying hard over the low-altitude carrier. Grethe is master of the crazy machines.

Two weeks til the fateful confrontation. It’s going to be rough, but honestly? I think Shin and the rest will pull through.

It's not just low-altitude. It is specifically identified as a ground effect vehicle

Ooh dang it’s a fancy schmancy ekranoplan.

Ekranoplan's are ground effect vehicles by definiton. Calling that "low-altitude" though is underselling just how long with positively British levels of understatement. There are trees taller than that thing's flight ceiling.

^^ It's a blended wing GEV. Basically B-2 as a GEV, except with An-200 cargo capacity. Thing's huge yo.

Also, ugh, I confuse which week's episode was supposed to be delayed...thought it's last week that got delayed here, not this week delay into next...ugh. Time to catch up.

Edited by onyhow on Nov 27th 2021 at 7:23:35 AM

It’s a recap this week, next week we should get the next episode.

Episode 8: "Don't underestimate me, kid". You rock, Grethe. Managed to freak out Theo and Kurena more with that airdrop stint. Also managed to freak me out when she yelped, but thankfully she made it.

Looks like the delay was worth it. The mech battles are fan-freaking-tastic. Holy shit, the Legion used Shin's telepathy against him. Lured him to a decoy so the real Morpho can shoot at them point blank. Would have annihilated Nordlicht Squadron if Frederica hadn't managed to warn Shin. Really smart to have a spare Morpho shell prepared, those Shepherds don't screw around.

I must clap til my hands bleed for Ernst. "You chose me to become President, now you must live with the consequences." The balls on this guy. I also love that he shut down the officer's proposal with logic before he talked about upholding his ideals. Would be harder to take him seriously if all he did was stand on the soapbox.

Nice to know Shin is The Dreaded amongst the Legion. He even has an epithet! Still weird to see the Legion talking to each other, like they're actual human soldiers. Heck, Morpho makes the crucial mistake of not checking for a corpse. That said I do enjoy how "human" they are. Also, the design of the Morpho is badass! Loving the pincer-like look of the railgun.

Dammit, we kinda already knew the non-86 members of the Nordlicht Squadron are nice guys considering they stuck with them, but it still hurts seeing them march to their doom so they can hold off the Legion. I think it's nice that some of them survived that hellhole, shows that while they're not as good as the Spearheads, they're not mere cannon fodder either. A bit sad that the old guy with a scar seems to have been one of the casualties. Also really liked that scene where Shin's hand tensed up. He's really been showing more emotion.

I'm also annoyed that Frederica stowed away in Fido, but know what? I love that she's positioned herself as a "hostage" to ensure Shin and the others will try to come home alive. Also she's scared out of her wits. Which Shin helps with by giving her the Reaper gun (I'm calling it that) just in case she needs to shoot herself. Keeping it real, Shin.

Next episode: Together Unto Death. Well, that's not ominous. Also, apparently no episode next week, but again, I'm glad to wait.

EDIT: Also have to praise the sound design, it was downright superb.

Edited by fillerdude on Dec 5th 2021 at 5:24:02 AM

In Frederica's defense, if she hadn't done that, they would 100% have died. She was able to pick out Kiri's trick before Shin was able to. Also I'm relieved because I realized that without her as an intermediary, the Kiri Vs Shin conflict falls apart for me. He just doesn't have the same emotional investment as Rei.

Seconding the sound design being amazing though!

Nordlicht was lucky Frederica was there, but it doesn’t change the fact that she should not have been there at all. Actually kind of glad Shin gave her the gun (even the other 86 were perturbed). If Frederica wants to plunge into the flames, she better be prepared to get burned. Not that I think any of them will die.

Of course, Frederica being there does lend the fight against Kiri more weight, so that’s good. Also interesting to note that the dullahan is apparently the crest of arms of the Nouzen family.

Edited by fillerdude on Dec 5th 2021 at 6:17:24 AM

'86' Sci-Fi War Franchise Gets 1st Spinoff Novel Next Spring

Huh, it's by a different writer. Wonder who it'll be focusing on

Maybe it’ll be about Fido haha.

According to the synopsis, "The novel will take place in the Federal Republic of Giad, and will feature new characters, weapons, and battlefields". So it's Hero of Another Story about soldiers from the other Giad frontlines.

Episode 9 is out.

Raiden is a bro. Someone needed to tell Shin off for his suicidal craziness in the last fight. Gotta shake off those demons one at a time. In this episode we also learn that Shin thinks he's dead inside. He thinks he doesn't want anything. But of course we (and Frederica and the rest) know that's wrong, because Lena exists. That's the future he needs to pursue. The direction for that scene also wowed me. [[spoiler: When the camera was on Raiden, you can see the train track behind him extending to the horizon. When it was on Shin, there was something blocking the tracks.

Speaking of great cinematography, Anju talking about her family problems with the camera focused on her back was subtle, elegant. The little twitch on Shin's mouth while they were looking at the sea. And when Shin was talking about being left behind, there's four pieces of rubble that look suspiciously like those pieces of metal the Reaper carves the names of the fallen onto. Amazing work. And the close up on the butterfly being eaten by ants? HMMM WHATEVER COULD THAT MEAN

There are also some really good shots of the scenery in this episode. I always love seeing nature take over abandoned cities. What was the trope for that again?

Oh my god Kurena got roasted be Frederica. Imagine being told that you have a childish crush by a literal child. "He doesn't see you as a woman at all" wahaha. In any case, sorry Kurena, the Major is just too hard to beat.

The cool old guy in the Nordlicht squadron is still alive! Good news.

Fuck why are they setting up these death flags, don't you dare die on me Spearhead!

Oof that shot of Pale Rider prepping up while a swarm of butterflies are flying by was beautiful. And then he learns that Spearhead is after him... eep.

My sincere hope is that, even if there's production woes, that the studio continues to adapt the series after this season is over. Even if they need to take a year off to do it.

Right now the series is running into scheduling problems as a result of delays since they're conflicting with the usual Japanese New Years programming. Probably won't get the last few episodes until the new year. Next week should still be on track I think.

Doublepost, final two episodes delayed to March 2022 due to scheduling conflicts. I knew running into the Winter 2022 season would be rough...but man I didn't see it being this bad.