English Dub Review: 86 Eighty-Six: “Spearhead”

Overview: 86 Eighty-Six has our youngest major, Vladilena (Suzie Yeung), school some students on the real history of the world much to the distaste of those around her as she becomes ever closer to head of the Spearhead unit, Shieni (Billy Kametz), and his team.  

Our Take: The political drama has gone out it’s way to make it clear how the society of San Magnolia feels about those without silver hair and blue eyes. It is that notion that makes the classroom scene with Lena one of the best. While being instructed on the ways of the world, Lena, in a class sitting, voices her intense disdain with what is being taught in regards to how the 86 are treated. This works so well on multiple levels. First, is how we get to see just how ingrained these deplorable values are across every generation with both the aged instructor and the youth detesting. Then, in how deeply embedded values to the contrary are for Lena. With her society’s overwhelming difference of opinion, it makes Lena’s eventual backstory and catalyst for reasoning all the more intriguing. And lastly, it is just a really clever way of showing the history of the divide between the 86 and the rest of the nation with the classroom setting being a smart way of getting that lore across without feeling like it’s beating you over the head with exposition in a forceful way. 

86 has also made it known how Shieni and Spearhead have been treated by other past handlers up until this point. And that Lena actually cares about him and his crew is a new feeling for him that, with how attentively she looks at their past reports and, much to Shieni’s surprise, demands more detailed writings. It’s the great character expressions and distinguishing acting from Billy Kametz and Suzie Yeung that really hold this scene up and. Not to mention, the second episode does an excellent job teasing a romance from both leads with intelligent subtle scenes and/or writing about Lena’s heart rate and Shieni’s answer on what to look forward to when he leaves the unit. This final scene leaves with great anticipation to see their relationship develop further, especially with their differing social standing and how that will more than likely affect it moving forward. 

“Spearhead” offers a sharp sophomore entry with ingenious storytelling and writing with equally exceptional character acting and visual expressions, building a hardened world supplemented with a beautiful budding romance.