Allison & Lillia – 19

「冬のイクストーヴァ」 (Fuyu no Ikusutoova)
“Winter Ikstova”

Episode at a Glance:
Despite going to Ikstova every year, Allison is excited about Treize’s invitation this time, as he’s promised to tell her more about himself. While Allison realizes what this means, Lillia is more concerned about finding out more of Treize’s weaknesses, which makes her realize that her daughter is just as clueless as Wil was. While Lillia isn’t happy about the long bus ride she has to take, Treize is preparing a home cooked meal for her and enduring Jan and Ema’s concerns about getting his feelings across. Meanwhile, Axe reports a strange investigation record to Travas, which shows an anonymous bank account intermittently purchasing large sums of color film. Suspicious as to why someone would have to do so with an anonymous account, Axe suspects that this film company may be using these expensive goods for spying purposes. Hearing this, Travas figures that they need to look into this.

On their trip to Ikstova, Allison and Lillia’s bus is forced to stop due an avalanche blocking the road, so the two of them and some willing passengers decide to try and shovel the snow out of the away until help arrives. Their efforts prove tiresome and needless though, because a bulldozer later comes by and clears the path. Back in Ikstova, Treize is getting nervous about exactly Lillia’s arrival, which turns out to be a brief one for now as the two of them are exhausted from earlier. Back at the Secret Intelligence Bureau, Travas is informed about a film company, Lourie Production, headed by the young Elisha Lourie, which is behind the purchases on the anonymous account. While they seem legitimate, the bureau came across a scribbled note claiming that, “the last eighteen years were long, but the nineteenth will be difference because we’ll get rid of what shouldn’t exist.” Figuring that it’s a revenge note, Axe also reminds Travas that eighteen years ago was when the mural was discovered, so he tells the others that they’re heading to Ikstova to investigate.

Back in Ikstova, Lillia has fallen asleep in bed, so Allison discusses with Treize how Benedict and Fiona are holding a new years party and how their guests this year are a film crew interested in filming the city. Allison wonders if Treize is planning to take Lillia to this party, but he tells her that he’s planning to do this in his own way and talk to her directly when they’re alone. Hearing this, Allison decides to give the two of them some time alone and Lillia wakes up shortly after with an appetite. During this time, Elisha makes her way to the party with her crew，feeling that the time has finally arrived. There, they’re greeted by Benedict and Fiona, while Lillia enjoys a home cooked meal with Treize. Realizing that Lillia’s really enjoying her food, Treize is unable to find an opportunity to talk to her properly and this continues through the night. At midnight though, the city sets off fireworks in celebration of the new year, during which Elisha and her crew draw guns and hold everyone at the party hostage.

Next Episode:
「悪夢の初夢」 (Akumu no Hatsuyume)
“The Nightmarish First Dream of the Year”

Impressions:
So the new arc begins with Allison and Travas in full swing. As we’re getting close to the end of the series, everything will have to be revealed sooner or later to Lillia, and it appears this arc will focus on Treize’s royal heritage and his feelings towards our clueless heroine. With that said, I’m not quite certain where Lourie Production’s intentions are, nor what what they wish to get rid of, but given how they’re supposedly addressing what happened eighteen years ago, it could be the peace between Roxche and Sou Beil, Fiona reclaiming the Ikstova throne as Francesca, or even the death of Owen Nicht. Seeing as Elisha mentioned that the antique watch that she’s wearing is a momento of her father who passed away when she was really young, I have a remote suspicion that either Benedict of Fiona inadvertently killed him.

While it wouldn’t be too farfetched to assume that she’s the daughter of Owen Nicht, who lost both his life and position in Ikstova following the reinstatement of Fiona, I think I’m getting too far ahead of myself at this point. There are definitely lots of other possibilities though, but in all likelihood it will involve the events in Ikstova during the Allison and Wil arc since Elisha’s crew is here now. With that said, I really like how they’re pulling in the history from the first half of the series for the conspiracy in this arc, as it allows me to think back on what happened and make guesses right from the get go. The next episode should give us more clues though, so I’m quite looking forward to it because of that. Finally, I should mention that Elisha Lourie is played by one of my favorite seiyuus, Tanaka Rie, who’s probably best known for her roles (and cosplays) as Lacus Clyne in Gundam SEED or as Suigintou in Rozen Maiden.

Cast:
– Lillia (リリア) / Mizuki Nana (水樹 奈々)
– Trieze (トレイズ) / Yoshino Hiroyuki (吉野 裕行)
– Allison (アリソン) / Kuwashima Houko (桑島 法子)
– Travas (トラヴァス) / Morikawa Toshiyuki (森川 智之)
– Benedict (ベネディクト) / Yamadera Kouichi (山寺 宏一)
– Fiona (フィオナ) / Noto Mamiko (能登 麻美子)
– Axe (アックス) / Toyoguchi Megumi (豊口 めぐみ)
– Ozette (オゼット) / Hoshino Mitsuaki (星野 充昭)
– Izuma (イズマ) / Nishi Rintarou (西 凜太朗)
– Lourie (ラウリー) / Tanaka Rie (田中 理恵)
– Elver (エルバー) / Aomori Shin (青森 伸)
– Ema (エマ) / Satou Ai (さとう あい)
– Jan (ジャン) / Konno Jun (金野 潤)