Darling in the Franxx decided to choose this week for the flashback episode, where we learn…a lot. We as the viewer are actually overwhelmed with too much information and lore that could have easily stretched over into two or three episodes (like the Hiro and Zero Two meeting ones). We learn this week that the adults/APE are a bunch of mad scientists who recruited a young Dr. Franxx because of his research into cloning. APE were already drilling the planet for Magma, which supplies energy (a ‘save the planet’ message there), and ended up waking the subterranean Klaxx race doing it. This battle between the humans and the Klaxx ended up driving all the adults (Dr. Franxx included) crazy, and hence the Franxx mechas were created, with specially-bred children to pilot them…
*takes a sip of water*
…it also comes out that this Magma energy directly affects emotions, sealing them as they became ‘immortal’. Oh, and Zero Two is actually a clone of the Klaxosaur princess (unsurprisingly). As all of this information (or most of it) is finally given to our plucky squad, they confront Papa finally and tell him they want freedom. Right now though, and considering the directions this show has gone on, I would not even batter an eyelid if any of these kids ended up dying by the final episode.
The Evangelion parallels here have just turned totally wild. In its second cour, it’s like every week that Darling in the Franxx is on, episodes can’t get any stranger, and so as we saw Mitsuru and Kokoro ‘marrying’ last week only to have their memories wiped, this week’s episode is like “Hold my beer”.
No new episode of Darlfra next week, according to their official Twitter account, and I personally think they’re being really weird by carrying on with these ‘special episodes’. The behind-the-scenes episode wasn’t needed, and whatever they do plan to do next week will be just as unnecessary.
Could the same be said about Uma Musume Pretty Derby? Team Spica have all been sent home, after Trainer-san sees them all overworking themselves; Special Week has especially been ordered to do no running while she’s back in Hokkaido. As I keep saying every week like a broken record, Uma Musume Pretty Derby no longer cares, but we’re not meant to take any of this adaptation of a mobage seriously anyway.
Special Week and Silence Suzuka are finally beginning to see each other as rivals, and so this will (hopefully) mean that the real talent that is inside them is unleashed. With Suzuka training for her comeback race (hard to believe that, in the show, a year has gone by since she had her accident…) and Special Week getting herself hyped for the Japan Cup, the show is coming to its end phase. But I still keep forgetting that this show started early. We’re in episode 10 now, meaning this’ll either end early or have more episodes than usual.
Still can’t quite get over how these horse girls are happy eating meat though; we even see some ikura in this episode…
Speaking of ikura, Hinamatsuri has dragged on a little, and so I’m glad that some new faces has arrived (although we could watch Anzu and Hitomi forever).
Kei Ikaruga arrives like the Terminator to bring Hina back, only to find herself to have a reason to remain as well. Later on, another one of Hina’s classmates, Mami, witnesses her using her powers at school, so Hina ends up teasing her by convincing her that she has latent psychic powers herself. It is good to see Hina ‘growing up’ a little this week; she is not as selfish and oblivious as she was when she arrived in town. Also great to see Anzu settled in wonderfully…as always. This show could easily pass as the Anzu and Hitomi show, and I really wouldn’t mind.
I have now learned that this adaptation of Hinamatsuri actually skips a lot of what happens in the manga. For example, in the OP and ED, Utako features…now she doesn’t. There is apparently a reason for why she’s not as present in the later volumes of the manga, but it seems like the anime has skipped this part entirely, unless a future episode will explain all. The manga, however, will be another one that remained under-the-radar until a great adaptation like this ends and copies of its translated manga will fly.
This eighth episode of Princess Principal is the episode that explains the relationship between Ange and Charlotte. It explains that, before Albion split into two, Charlotte was a pickpocket and Ange was the real princess. As they looked almost alike, they liked to switch roles, but when the revolution came, Ange was stuck living the down-and-out life and Charlotte had to learn to live the life of a princess so to not raise any suspicions. Not sure who I feel sorry for the most, though…
…because even after 8 episodes, and even with this tragic flashback story, I have still been unable to warm to either of them. The fact that their roles were switched in childhood means nothing to me; there’s just something about these two that irritate me, and it’s something I can’t put my finger on. It’s almost like they don’t have the warming personalities that Dorothy, Beatrice and Chise have. These two are the main characters, but it’s not like they’re dull or boring or anything. 4 more episodes to go, and I am aware that the Princess Principal story gets bigger towards the final episodes, so I’ll be more patient.
Still wonderful to see more English landmarks and buildings in this show; I’ve been to the building that Charlotte plays the piano to an audience in (The Royal Albert Hall in London), and while it isn’t really that big inside, the architecture is pretty accurate.
In the meantime, I know that I’m enjoying my Spring out-of-season show immensely, I have decided not to do the Twitter poll I always do to pick my show for summer, as there is one classic show that will be celebrating its 20th anniversary next season that I am very eager to do.
Serial Experiments Lain was released in the summer season of 1998 and quickly became a cult classic, with massive Hollywood movies like The Matrix and Transcendence finding influences from the show. And yet, despite owning this on import DVD, I have still not found the time to watch it…so now I’ll be choosing this opportunity, as its anniversary comes, to finally see it.
This column will be on-hold for a while, until I get myself settled into my new home. When I return I’ll do one big catch-up post. In the meantime, how have your shows been to you? Have they entertained you, or have they made you want to tear your hair out? Feel free to air your opinions in the comments below…