Overview: Shin (Aleks Le) confronts his deepest and darkest fears as he is reunited with a beloved comrade.
Our Take: Shin’s final moments putting Kiriya to rest allow these two kindred spirits to connect with one another. It allows us to delve deeper into Shinei’s trauma that has accumulated with each cherished friend that he has lost along with his brother and having nobody left to come back to. It is yet another brutal scar in the horrific aftermath that PTSD leaves behind in its wake and for Shun. Even more heartbreaking is seeing the turmoil represented when Shun wakes up from his unconscious nightmare of being unable to reach out to his dead brothers and sisters through their metal callsigns.
The long-awaited reunion that everyone has been holding their breath for has come so we can all have a sigh of relief that Lena and Shin have, at long last, met face-to-face. All of this is unbeknownst to Lena with Shin remaining in his cockpit. It is an utterly beautiful character moment for both in that Lena is still inspired by the 86’s act of kindness in warning her of legion forces, despite all the abuse they have been subjected to, giving her the will to fight and reinforcing her belief in not turning a blind eye to senseless slaughter. For Shinei, it’s amazing to see his renewed sense of hope, coming full circle when he had lost faith in his will to fight. The amazing bond is accented with Sawano Hiroyuki and mizuki’s serene yet heartbreaking rendition of “Avid” and gorgeously vivid multicolored flares. Also there is a brilliant use of the red flower motif that turns the original death symbolism on its head with Lena being Shin’s salvation instead. The Giad military comes to the rescue and besieges the shambles of San Magnolia’s fallen empire in what will be interesting to see the divide and/or understanding between the rival nations and their very different ideologies that they realized for their citizens. Kiriya’s final heroic act in saving Frederica is a sweet final moment of redemption for the shell of the admirable person he once was with the princess he was sworn to protect. Thankfully, the remaining members of Nordlicht squad, Grenthe and Ernst survived as well for an endearing and relieving reunion over the comms.
As Lena leaves with Giad soldiers, Shinei’s new goal in meeting her outside of the battlefield, under more joyous circumstances and being there for her, makes his decision to conceal his identity just a bit longer all the more impactful. It is a heartfelt way of showing how hopeful Shin is for the future, a stark departure from his original jaded mindset. When Shin regroups with the Nordlicht squad along with Grethe, the commander plays the intimate recording between him and Lena for the team. It is one of their more lighthearted interactions that is refreshingly enjoyable in Grethe and the gang all teasing Shin about his shock and awe in seeing her alive as well as his closeness with her in wanting her never to forget them. With Shin and the rest of Nordlicht squad all having a newfound respect for her strength and bravery as well as celebratory in simply being alive, it is a strong finish with an uplifting energy heading into the finale that is much earned after all the carnage and bloodshed.