Lag Seeing, Niche, Gauche Suede, Roda, Zazie, Connor Kluff, Largo Lloyd, Aria Link, Sylvette Suede
Gauche or Noir?
「おかえりなさい」 (Okaerinasai)
“Welcome Home”
This was mostly a heartwarming follow-up to the long-awaited reunion last time; however, the unsettling feeling that Gauche may still be Noir that I got from the preview last time prevented me getting too absorbed into the emotional outpouring from Lag and Sylvette.
A heartfelt reunion that I’ve been waiting to see since the first season.
「瞬きの日」 (Matataki no Hi)
“Day of Flicker”
The truth behind the Day of Flicker is revealed and Gauche reawakens with his original memories intact? How could I possible let this episode go by without saying a few words about it? We have new opening and ending themes to boot, with Suga Shikao back for the former. For the ending we have a catchy song by Yamazaru, alongside a really cute sequence that busts it old school SNES Mode 7 style. Taking that all into consideration, I’m quickly reminded why I like this series so much.
All it took was one sloppy fight together for these two to work out all the kinks as partners.
「紅緋色の旋律」 (Benihi-iro no Senritsu)
“Deep Crimson Melody”
After all that talk about wanting to see Aria back in active service, my visions of a cool beauty taking out Gaichuu with ease were quickly shattered when she turned out to be a complete klutz. I would’ve never known given how strict and diligent she is back at the Bee Hive, so this other side of her was like a completely different character.
Note: The Tegami Bachi REVERSE broadcast is on break next week. Episode 14 airs on January 8th.
Lag is the light in the darkness to rid Noir from Gauche’s body!
「光、闇を照らす」 (Hikari, Yami wo Terasu)
“Light, Illuminate the Darkness”
With a lot of the immediate loose ends tied up in this episode, this could have very well been a precursor to a finale next time. Had I not known better, I’d be inclined to believe that the producers planned for a possible one-cour sequel just to be on the safe side.
Here’s the obligatory butt shot this week. It’s just too bad it’s Lag’s.
「カベルネの襲来」 (Kaberune no Shuurai)
“Cabernet’s Attack”
It wasn’t quite enough to invoke any real emotional response, but the human sacrifices in this episode worked towards one of those moments when Sunny fell victim along with the rest of the monastery nuns. The only thing overshadowing that was another run-in with Gauche, whom Lag was able to hit with his shindan and convey some of the memories they share.
Little Lag Riding Hood and the Big Bad Roda. Yikes.
「ベリタブリィー修道院」 (Beritaburii Shuudouin)
“Veritably Monastery”
Even with Niche momentarily out of the picture, Lag continues to stumble upon some big things on his own. This time it’s a Reverse hideout, where Connor just so happens to be smitten by a girl at the monastery selling cookies. I can’t really blame him though, seeing as the girl is none other than Roda. It’s just too bad she’s a Bee’s sworn enemy and one that even eclipses Gaichuu.
It won’t cause her to explode like a Gaichuu, but Lag’s Akabari is effective in its own way.
「ひとりぼっちの200年」 (Hitoribocchi no 200 Nen)
“200 Years of Solitude”
Just like the preview hinted at last time, we have a full-out fight between Niche and her sister after the latter decides to kill Lag along with the foolish townsfolk. With the sheer amount of action involved, it was an episode very unlike the usual ones. What I really enjoyed was how it touched upon Lag and Niche’s past and finally made the memories of the main characters the focus for a change, plus there was Lag stepping in to save Niche as well. For those reasons, this arc covering Niche’s past have quickly become some of my favorite episodes to date.
Niche’s twin sister doesn’t believe in clothes, let alone underwear.
「ブルー・ノーツ・ブルーズ」 (Buruu Nootsu Buruuzu)
“Blue Notes Blues”
One two-cour season and eight episodes later, we finally learn a bit more about Niche’s past as the Child of Maka. Up until now, there hasn’t been a whole lot about where Lag’s faithful dingo came from, so when the preview last time indicated that she would be reunited with the legendary creature and another gold hair, blue eyes, woman with claws for hands, I was expecting big things this week.
The nameless girl soon receives the name Roda from Gauche, indicating that the latter hasn’t lost all his memories just yet.
「Film noir」
The search for Gauche is underway and Lag is sent up north to the town of Blue Notes Blue to look for him. However, upon stumbling on some clues, he uses his Akabari to find out more on how Gauche ended up with Reverse, while Zazie has the unfortunate pleasure of running into the man himself.
Lag’s been noticing exactly how cute Sylvette is already, but just give her a few more years and she’ll be totally irresistible.
「少女人形」 (Shoujo Ningyo)
“Doll”
For a seemingly episodic showing, this Sylvette-centered one quickly proved to be much more relevant to the overall plot than it initially appeared. Starting with a doll that looked very similar to Sylvette herself, the unexpected adventures on Lag’s day off work had him working as her dingo and crossing paths with a random, cross-dressing thief named Autobahn, who will be as quickly forgotten as he was introduced.