The main reason why I wasn’t too happy with Rio during the past number of episodes is the lack of attention she got. I mean, from out of nowhere she suddenly turned out to be a princess and started angsting. It sounded so cliched. However now that she got an episode properly dedicated to it, my opinion of her turned to the complete opposite. This was an excellent episode that did several things at once, and surprisingly succeeded in all of them.
With this episode I very much understood why Rio was feeling down for the past number of episodes, since she has basically been running away from her duties as royalty (taking that owl along with her, for some reason). My guess is that she didn’t want to be forced into everything, especially because of Iliya’s death.
I as also surprised at how such a major plot-related episode also stuffed in the story of that old woman in it, and made it surprisingly good as well. It wold also have been perfectly fine to include that story a bit earlier, but this way it had an interesting effect on Rio. With the small character-development from Rio and Kanata, it turned out quite heart-warming.
Now, with only three episodes left, the climax has finally begun, though not exactly in the way that I expected, now that Rio is gone. I really wonder whether the final three episodes are going to her, over Kanata who’s supposed to be the main character. To be honest, I’d much rather that the focus would stay on Kanata and the town that we’ve been in. It’s too late at this point to suddenly introduce politics.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
THANK GOD…IF they mentioned that the girl ILYA saved was Kanaya, then I would have given this episode a thumbs down . it just happens that I hate coincidences which happens in an anime FREQUENTLY. so i really thought that they would mention it that way…
the 2nd half of the episode was amazing…!!!! the first half was an OK, which is not good coz its an OK, but the 2nd half KILLED IT (in a good way)…
Hmm..This ep get some of intrigue direction. About old lady..beside It built character development for Rio nicely. It’s make you suspect that..at last the old lady is Rio’s mother right? That the thing that you can think.
I like the last scene between Kanata and Rio very much. It’s made me teary.Oh…OST is awesome too.
For me I think the last three eps will be going on both side(Rio and Kanata) and going in their own way But It wiil be connected with some of event for sure(like war).
I think they can proof that by ep6 direction style. That ep has seperated event happened in the same time. But can connected smoothly.
Oh..I’m very looking forward to next ep.
What I like about this series is the characterization of the 5 girls and how they subsequently remain completely “in-character” in everything they say and do. The story then seems to naturally unfold as a result of their interaction.
(Hope that makes sense..)
the ost that came out at the part when rio was talking to kanata totally blew me away and on another note, this episode was good better than last weeks. finally an anime who makes characters that are stereotypical but with character…if you know what i mean
I wonder if it was always that mans intention to get her pregnant to take the baby since his wife could not have one. Went in the middle of nowhere and hooked some girl he knew could never find him when he took her child.
With so few episodes left, I think the finale may not be all that epic. =/