English Dub Review: 86 EIGHTY-SIX: “Thank You”

Overview: After cutting communications with Lena (Suzie Yeung) and journeying out on their own for a while, Shin (Billy Kametz), Raiden (Jonah Scott), Anju (Maureen Price), Theoto (Casey Mongillo), and Kurena (Erica Mendez) take a brief reprieve after their long struggle to escape from legion forces. 

Our Take: If the previous episodes have been tonally akin to that of being waterboarded to gasoline, then this one is without a doubt a cool refreshing drink of water and breath of fresh air. 

This episode more than anything feels like a “thank you” to surviving members of the 86 as well as the fans that have endured right along with them. It would be a complete understatement to say that Spearhead has been through Hell and back. So call me a romanticist (along with my kindred spirit Raiden) but there is a beauty in watching the gang who have been through the ringer, be truly free and enjoy the serenity of nature. Especially Shin and the newfound weight that has been lifted off of his soldiers, seeing an uplifting, joyous side to his more-often-than-not melancholy spirit. That beauty is also very much in large part thanks to the phenomenally detailed and vivid scenic art. Whether it’s a tattered red leaf twirled within Kurena’s fingers or lush blue flower fields, there is no shortage of gorgeous animation cels that you’ll try to hunt down and frame in your room. Not to mention, those warm sentiments also extend to being able to see the crew let their hair down, slow down a few paces and take pleasure in the little things. One of those includes being able to take a nice warm bath. 

Even with their battle concluded, this episode takes no breaks in how it pushes more narrative and lore. The crew stops by a new Giadian town, that also happened to be the birthplace of Shin, to look for the means to have a hot soak. Aesthetically speaking, it’s incredibly different and fascinating to see the color and architectural juxtaposition of San Magnolia’s shining white utopia and modern amenities versus that of Giadian’s brick and brownstone and seemingly colonial-esque apparel, with the day lighting also playing a role in the tone of each as well.

Of course, because they are not completely out of the woods yet, the cold reminder of their pain is never far from sight with Shin having to put down a random member of the 86 that had been assimilated by the legion. Ironically, this does act as the proper closing for this feel good entry. This is due to how this acts as a strong and harsh catalyst for them to push ahead on their unknown journey making it a superb culmination. But they couldn’t just leave it at that though. 86 had to deliver yet another gut punch in that of the sad unfortunate passing of Fido, everyone’s favorite trusty robotic companion. Rather than go into how the steely boy (or girl?) met its demise, instead the episode seeks to show the metal buddy’s journey since he was found by a young Shin and from there detailing all the hopes, hardships and good times alike of him and all of the 86 along the way past and present. It is a heartbreaking montage that chronicles it’s attachment to Shinei and the rest of the group. However, it also cements the robot’s heartfelt importance on the group as a whole as well as the heart wrenching loss as Shin bears witness to Fido’s final moments. But just as it stirs up so many emotions, it also creates a lot of questions as to just how Fido’s grim fate occurs moving into the penultimate episode of the series.