English Dub Review: NieR:Automata Ver1.1a “chil[D]hood’s end”

Overview

As A2 and 9S take a moment of reprieve, an inner-change happens within them both…

Our Take

This episode marked a significant shift for 9S, who seems to have fully embraced the opposite end of the moral compass, driven by a misunderstanding. The episode had its moments, like A2’s bonding with and protection of the Machine Village, contrasting sharply with 9S’s relentless campaign against all machines. Although the episode was slower, their role reversal was effectively told.

The rest of the episode provided a mix of emotional depth and light-hearted moments, such as A2’s amusing interactions with the machine lifeforms in Pascal’s village. Despite some comedic elements, the tragic undercurrent of 9S’s situation was apparent, with his descent into madness and his relentless quest for revenge, adding layers to their character development for better or worse…

Overall, this episode showcased the deepening rift between the two characters, highlighting the tragic evolution of 9S and the bittersweet growth of A2 delivering a poignant contrast between the two while also adding significant drama. Despite some tonal shifts, it wasn’t dull, and the post-credits comedy bit with the Pascal robot was nice…