English Dub Review: NieR:Automata Ver1.1a “broken [W]ings”

Overview

The machine lifeforms have not only infected the YoRHa soldier units on the ground but also gone as far as to infect the Bunker with a viral attack, activating a self-destruct sequence.

With this, the 13th Orbital Satellite Base Bunker was consequently destroyed. 2B and 9S manage to avoid infection from the virus and escape the Bunker before it is destroyed. but are now given a new mission: Find any remaining surviving YoRHa Soldiers and start another descent-to-ground operation on Earth to fulfill the mission.


Our Take

As the climax of Route C delivers a devastating blow as the machine lifeforms, having not only infected YoRHa units on the ground but also breached the Bunker with a virus, initiate a self-destruct sequence. This catastrophic event causes the collapse of the 13th satellite orbital base, leaving 2B and 9S to escape the chaos.

As they return to the surface, their mission to find the remaining YoRHa units continues, but the weight of their losses becomes increasingly apparent. The episode is poignantly spent mostly on selling the emotional turmoil along with the shifting perspectives between 2B and 9S. A2’s timely arrival adds a layer of tragic depth to the unfolding events. But the raw intensity of 9S’s reaction was easily one of the highlights…

Overall, this episode stands out for its powerful execution and faithful adaptation of a pivotal moment from the games. The emotional weight of the characters’ struggles and the brutal reality of their situation are effectively captured, reinforcing the show’s dramatic depth. With the narrative now reaching a major shift in the status quo, what will happen next?