Heion Sedai no Idaten-tachi – 09

「陰」 (Kage)
“Shadows”

The end of the midgame for Heion Sedai no Idaten-tachi, The midgame of a cour for me usually signifiess the tie-off loose ends previously established in the first part of the show. If we divide Heion into acts. I would say we’re probably at the end of ACT II and entering into the third and final act. For a show like Heion changing acts means around every third episode. That’s why this production suffered from the fast-forward exposition dumps. Liked by some hated by others. This second act for Idaten meant full-out war, and now its third act lies in wait, maybe a little bit too literal by Miku’s plan. The years have passed, and things are starting to settle down. Yet she lies in wait, ready to pounce when the right time comes. That golden opportunity so she can give back what the Idaten made her pay in kind.

Honestly, her design was really well planned, I’m sure this is the only option she saw viable this time around. While Raki and that other dude decide to check in at a hotel, money isn’t a problem as Raki can do the same thing Brandy did with her hair. So she’s able to steal money quietly. But of course, Prontea show’s up with some room service and an underground chase scene ensues, they manage to get away but Ysley beats himself up over it, he should have planned better and prepared for an underground run away. Honestly, he slept a little bit on that one.

This episode ping-ponged between stories, playing catch up, who’s who and who’s where, while at the same advancing the story. Even if the Idaten didn’t manage to catch Raki and her assailant. On the other hand, the Idaten base at the rebuilding of the Zobul empire the Idaten find themselves in mountains of paperwork. This episode was a little bit more political than I would have liked, but at the same time, it’s sort of the next logical progression in the story. Things took a little bit to get going is what I’m saying, but that scene with Miku deciding to kill this poor hikikomori, and then Merku using her face as a mask, sent chills down my spine. I was hoping they were going to have mercy on this poor soul blogging her days away. She was a victim of Miku’s genius. It’s just a little bit soulless from Miku, but on the other hand, you can’t really expect empathy from a demon.

Oh and then this homeless man calls Takeshita what happens next is two cops come for him and take him to the station for questioning. Something weird is going on here, and I think it has something to do with Kuraishi being able to control the police because we’ll let’s just say there’s a new Yakuza boss in town. Piscalat describes him as similar to Ysley, calm composed, and extremely intelligent. I’m sure this rich demon kid is going to have at least one slip up and give Ysley the opportunity to strike. If staying low is his price, he certainly chooses to put the biggest red arrow on his face. Kuraishi is bound to attract attention one way or the other. He’s in control of the underground now.

Then a few years later Buzz and Meliano are on a stranded island, fighting a Lovecraftian monster, these are the two lovebirds that were shown sexing offscreen for a second or two. They call the monster their son. Buzz attacks the thing, but Meliano stops him. It’s a surreal scene, as, in the end, the big red blob eats a whale, like for what purpose? This whole episode was surreal honestly but in the best way possible. As for the pacing itself, I like how they maintain a healthy dose of politics on the side, but the action and violence are kept the way they are. Which were at the core of Heion for me from the start. This keeps being a little gem of a show, that keeps surprising me week by week.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this, I hope you’re doing well, stay safe out there, and make sure to come back next week for another episode of Heion Sedai no Idaten-tachi.