That’s one packed episode. The Void they need to defeat got really close to devouring the last Soul Future. Thankfully, Natsuko set aside her ego and played a supporting role this time. Justice stopped moping around and decided to do something to help, and so the truth on why he left the Nine Soldiers is out.
The chemistry between Luke and Natusko implies the former is based on her high-school crush, as the preview of the next episode seemed to imply. Additionally, it seems we’ll get substantial “real-life” scenes next week.
Also, this is the first time we see Unio not being horny for once.
Speculation
After reading some other discussions, I think I see where the whole show is going. Next episode is titled “First Love”. It connects to the movie she’s directing.
The fantasy setting is not really an isekai (or is it?), but she’s sort of in a limbo/coma/delirium because of the food poisoning. Think Uncle from Another World. What she went through in the fantasy world would serve as the X-factor she needs to finish the movie.
About the topic of “first love”, I originally thought it would be about Luke’s character and what his expy in the First Love movie would be like. Someone else brought up that art of animation is her first love. Now, I think it would be both.
@rikka@ani.social
I really like the flow of this show. Natsuko became a great support, Luke got his time as a hero and the teamwork is just great.
Done!
After a bit of a nose-dive over the last couple of episodes, this appears to be leveling out.
Ridiculous though it is, it looks like the solution to Memmeln’s issues is going to stick in-universe, since we’re already seeing the results that were the obvious actual point - she’s eased up and become more communicative and upbeat just in general. And we’re quickly moving on through the redemption of Justice. And I suspect that’s going to be a central theme, along with Natsuko’s self-discovery.
I think it really needs to clarify a bit though. It seems to be sort of drifting in multiple directions at once, and it needs to bring some things into focus - especially Natsuko’s obvious deep faults that she hasn’t even really begin to address, what it is that she hopes to accomplish in this world and what everyone wants in the long run.
I still see a lot of potential here, but the opportunities to fulfill it are slipping away.
