Short Synopsis: Obligatory “I’m not going to cooperate with you”-episode.
Highlights: This was an obvious building-up episode, so nothing much stood out.
Overall Enjoyment Value: 7,5/10
Well, it had to happen sometimes. You can see this type of episode in many different series, where the main character, as stubborn as he is, yells at everyone in his new environment and wants to go home. It’s not the most exciting episode, but it is essential for proper build-up and character-building, which is why it’s used so often.
This episode did make use of its 20 minutes by giving a proper introduction to the crew of the postal service ship. It still remains a mystery why Nakiami is on board, or why they involve themselves with these huge battles, but at least the most important crewmembers were fleshed out. Meanwhile, at the camp of the antagonists, the major villain (or at least someone who looks like one) turns out to be some kind of war hero, who survived a huge war, 17 years ago. Their role in this story still seems a mystery, though.
What intrigues me is the high amount of attention to Akiyuki’s friends, who he left behind. If Akiyuki really is going to work for a postal ship, then that means that he’s not going to see them again, and yet they’re really well-fleshed out characters. What could the creators have in mind for them? Don’t tell me that that girl is going to follow the airship when she receives the letter that’s about to be sent to Akiyuki’s parents?
“If Akiyuki really is going to work for a postal ship, then that means that he’s not going to see them again”
To the contrary, when I realize this I thought they will definitely meet again for sure.
If the subs got the translation right, it seems that Haru may now be the person protecting Akiyuki’s spirit/soul.
Also, it seems like the bad guys are going to be foisting a controlled or insane Xam onto the island.
I suspect there will be plenty of reasons for the postal ship crew to be heading back, as well as for Akuyuki’s friends and family to be searching for him.
I think Kakisu (the soldier who sruvived the war) will turn out to be more of an ally to Akiyuki or whoever the protagonists are (nothing’s really been established either way with the good guys or the bad guys, but things have been implied). I think this even more after seeing the episode; his reaction to seeing Akyuki’s name suggests deeper ties with the family.
I’m willing to bet they will eventually return to Sentan island, or Akiyuki’s family and friends well get mixed up with Potential-Antagonist guy and stuff happens.
The Commander really reminds me of Lt. Dominic from Eureka 7. I also agree that I’m sure he’ll start off as an antagonist but eventually turn around and help Akiyuki and the heroes fight the real bad guys, whoever they might be, much like Dominic did in E7. He certainly doesn’t seem like a bad guy at first glance and even appeared humble when it was mentioned that he was a great war hero from 17 years ago by saying he didn’t do anything special except for surviving said war.
I’m kinda glad to see they gave the Commander a proper military style hair-cut for once. Too many times in anime people that are supposed to be in the military still have long or outrageous out-of-regs hair that just wouldn’t fly in any of today’s professional military (speaking as a military guy myself). Don’t anime military have any standards at all? 😛 And the Commander here seems to be the appropriate age for his rank (O-5) too; another anime trope is having characters being way too young for their supposed rank (Full Metal Alchemist is guilty of this; Edward was the equivalent of a major, an O-4, and he was what, 15 years old? and Roy Mustang was a LtCol, also an O-5, and looked way too young too).
As for Haru, anyone else notice that the short-hair female (I’m guessing) at the very start of the OP (the one with the letter and licking it before flipping it away) looks a bit like Haru, only with her hair cut? My guess is Haru does in fact go in search of Akiyuki after receiving his letter.
The afore mentioned Xam’d who arrived before Akiyuki did will most likely end up as the main villain. I’m thinking that Nakiami may have had feelings for this Xam’d before he went berserk, or at least some sort of guilt or emotional attachment. The unknown male with the backpack in the ED is probably this evil Xam’d, and also the one trapped in crystal in the Commander’s possession and being hauled up the chains. Just my theories.
If you look on the band at the left hand of girl who throws a letter in beginning of OP., it’s looks similar to Commander Kakisu band. So if it will be Haru – then it means that she could became military person. Also it looks like Kakisu knows Akiyuki father.
kdp:
I don’t think it’s Haru protecting Akiyuki’s soul the subs were alluding to, but rather Akiyuki absorbing the spirit of the Humanforms.