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「離ればなれの訓練」 (Hanarebanare no Kunren)
“Training Separately”
Well, I might be right, but I sure don’t feel happy being right. Although easy to guess things wouldn’t go swimmingly for Irina as her date with space approaches, it’s something else seeing the potential results in action and knowing no matter what nothing will change when it comes to shooting her into the stars. Lev may not fully realize it yet, but he’s about to be forced into making a decision.
Much as Tsuki to Laika is fantasized fiction, it’s doing quite a good job of showing both how dangerous the Space Race was and how far the USSR in particular was willing to go for victory. Spacecraft failing their missions? Test animals/pilots dying from deliberate actions on the part of ground control? Putting the lives (often literal ones) of all involved on the line to ensure you eke out the most effort possible? All minor consequences for a political rulership reliant on smoke, mirrors, and fear to retain control. It’s easy to see the charade going on here, as besides fear and concern desperately being kept quiet in the face of overwhelming opposition you also have some who want out before being faced with the consequences. Everyone knows what’s coming, yet they all remain because the first one off the train will garner all the blame – and because there’s no guarantee the train rocket will actually crash.
And that then leads into what Lev and Irina will do next. While I’m somewhat surprised to get crushing coming up this fast between the two (I’d expect a couple more episodes of blissful ignorance personally), it certainly fits considering how ready Irina is (more or less) to now do the mission and how Lev is very quickly learning that Irina will very likely die. All his effort, all his training, it might save her should she successfully descend back to Earth, but there’s nothing saying she won’t disappear after that point; the girl, regardless of differences, is effectively human, and the longer everyone remains involved with her and grows closer the more likely such attachment will conflict with duty. Lev isn’t far off from that point already after all, all he needs is a small push and he’ll be openly doing what he can to make sure Irina stays safe.
What that push will be is anyone’s guess, but rest assured the moment for it is rapidly approaching.
Preview
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There is old Soviet-era urban legend that Gagarin was not the first man into space, but first that has come back alive…
Grisly Soviet reality bares its fangs here and there, as everyone from Alt-Korolev to general commanding crew training to every kosmonaut candidate knows what rewards are for failure (firing squad or at best decades in Gulag).
Irina has even worse as she will probably be rewarded such for success, just to keep her space ride secret forever, leaving historical limelight to human kosmonaut that will follow.
Five episodes in and I am getting really worried for Irina’s safety. I understand that Lev is doing his best to improve Irina’s chances of survival but these tests are becoming increasingly dangerous.
Ironically the tests themselves are fine (outside of certain scientists wanting to push limits), Lev is being harsh but doing what he can to ensure Irina has the skills needed to get herself out of trouble. The real danger is the actual mission because the tools and equipment for that is wholly untested by the two.
I like how chill the lady general was during the inspection. Even gave straight answers when asked. Wished more were like that.
I find some of those higher ups totally baffling. They want to put explosives in the cockpit? Wasn’t one of the reasons they chose a Nosferatu was so that they could actually get some feedback? At least wait till she can actually show that it’s possible to leave the cockpit during descent.
Lastly, RIP to those four dogs.
Nawh the explosives make sense if you remember the mentioned concern of capsule landing in foreign land; they’re to be used only if it looks like Irina will land outside of Zirnitra. It’s a case of technological secrecy being more important than data.
Just started watching this and I am finding it a fascinating show.
This episode gives me feelings of Catch-22, but without the humour.