English Dub Review: NieR:Automata Ver1.1a “no [I] in team”

Overview

As the YoRHa soldiers and the Resistance unite to launch a large-scale operation on Earth to exterminate the invading machine lifeforms, a larger-than-expected number of machine lifeform units has been confirmed. Each area has requested assistance. This unit, in collaboration with 2B, the designated partner of this tactical support unit, will provide backup and support to the androids on the ground. Or so the two thought…

Our Take

This time around, 9S searches for 2B during the chaos of the virus situation, only for the two to resort to a desperate backup plan due to overwhelming odds. The rest of the episode is spent on an escalating sense of despair while adapting a game storyline called “Route C” which stayed surprisingly true to the game’s proceedings as it showed the intensity of the androids’ endless cycle of death and rebirth along with the revelation humanity’s true fate, adding to the somber atmosphere and highlighting how screwed up their existence is, and the emotional toll it takes on them despite being machines themselves.

What happens much later on works in terms of tension and suspense, with 2B and 9S struggling to survive while everything starts to fall apart around them. The animation and direction deliver in spades the psychological trauma of the situation. with the final moments being both harrowing and frantic with the realization that there is no backup, no command, no do-overs, and no way out for 2B and 9S. Also, the appearance mysterious lady at the end hints at even more challenges to come…

Overall, this episode is a high point in the series, combining strong action, emotional depth, and excellent pacing. The bleakness of the situation is palpable, and the psychological elements are handled masterfully. While there were some minor disappointments, such as the omission of certain dialogues. As the series progresses, the anticipation for what comes next only grows, especially with the intense twists and turns that lie ahead.