Tsuki to Laika to Nosferatu – 03

「夜間飛行」 (Yakan Hikou)
“Night Flight”

You know, out of all the shows this season I never expected Tsuki to Laika to become one of my favourites – but damn if it’s not becoming just such a favourite. There’s nothing remarkably special at work, no real material or plot to help it immediately leap beyond the competition, and yet it’s doing exactly what I hoped it would: entertain.

As gleaned from the very beginning and subtly hinted towards last week, romance (or at least camaraderie) will be a big part of Tsuki to Laika’s future. This episode firmly reinforced that point, both in showing how Lev is very much an awkward middleman in a game with significant historical implications and how the tool to achieve it in Irina may in fact be more human than her controllers may desire. From a purely scientific background you can understand the warnings on the part of the researchers, anytime you’re doing such work you must be able to sequester your emotions or potentially squander both lives and your own work for no appreciable gain. And that’s precisely why Lev is certain to eventually break that rule. He’s firmly engrossed in helping Irina, he’s doing what he can to make the experience effective – and he’s already asking questions which will lead to their relationship growing increasingly intimate. It’s simply a matter of time before partnership crosses over into friendship.

Part of the inevitability of forbidden attachment growing out of this pairing is how likely it is Irina will face some serious hardship before too long. Besides the array of various mechanical faults and operational accidents which could take her life, there’s everything from conniving officials to political struggles guaranteed to target her at some point for the sake of public perception. Cannot have a tainted subject be the first to achieve a historical milestone after all, that sets bad precedent, particularly if your international opponents discover the fact. Irina is bound to get caught up in a plot at some point, a certainty made worse considering her reasons for being the test subject in the first place likely ensure she’ll carry on regardless. Add on top Lev’s own opinions and now-confirmed hot temper and you’re looking at serious issues when things finally hit the fan.

It just remains to be seen what will force cute vampires and uncertain handlers to decide what they really want.

Preview