English Dub Review: 86 EIGHTY-SIX: “Here We Go”

Overview: Shinei (Billy Kametz), Raiden (Jonah Scott), Anju (Maureen Price), Kurena (Erica Mendez) and Theoto (Casey Mongillo) make their way to the border only for them to be intercepted by more legion forces. Also Lena (Suzie Yeung) makes her way to their home base and meets their former mechanic, Lev Aldrecht (Imari Williams). 

Our Take: If the effects of the harsh ravages of war have taught us anything about Spearhead and the 86 as a whole, it’s that many of them were deprived of the experiences that most are accustomed to and take for granted Kurena never learning about a crucial life experience, like that of attending elementary school only further serves to show how the severity of what was taken from them. That is why when Anju and the rest of the gang give her a small snippet of what it would entail, it is entirely sweet and wholesome with how overjoyed she is as a result. Of course, because of the group’s small amounts of schooling, or entire lack thereof, books are not necessarily a key commodity for them. The group using the textbooks found in the school acting as nothing more than paper to keep a fire, for their survival rather than learning is a sad reality that they are forced to come to terms with.

But the path to the promised land is paved by blood as Shinei makes the decision to sacrifice himself to save his friends but not without surprisingly seeing his brother one last time. Then of course, Raiden, Theoto, and Kurena and Anju couldn’t leave him high and dry and go out to try to save him. Overall, the scene leaves me a bit mixed in that Shin and Shourei’s touching final scene previously served as the perfect conclusion to their rocky relationship. The impending conflict was foreshadowed mind you and well too, especially with Shin’s early decision to pilot his Juggernaut across the border. It’s not that it takes away, it’s just redundant in the ideas it portrays. And it goes without saying but leaving their fate inconclusive leaves on a dramatic cliffhanger, building anticipation for the audience so of course that is also a decision that factored in. 

Later, Lena goes to their base and their way of living along with their Albian chief mechanic of the 86, Lev. His tragic story of his wife and daughter who were 86 not only serves as a grim and disheartening blueprint for the inner workings of his mind but yet again serves to show brutality that San Magnolia discriminately dishes out to those with a different hair color. Also her brief reactions to their home was neat, especially when she finally sees the pig princess drawing of her that they sketched and reference as her likeness. It’s also sweet that their final wish was for her to take care of the cat, one that, seemingly, goes by many names. It is almost as if another member of Spearhead survived and is with her. Not to mention Shin’s wish of wanting him along with Raiden, Theoto, Anju and Kurena to be remembered with flowers acts as a heartbreaking finish to their arc. But is it truly over for them? Probably not. Even with Shin being implied to be a legion member along with his brother now, it’s most assuredly not the case with the general rule of onscreen deaths being the most guaranteed rather than offscreen ones. But damn if it’s not convincing though, especially with Shin being “beheaded.”

Although going back to the repetitive nature of Shin’s final battle, we did at least get an endearing scene with Shourei acting as a younger Shinei’s knight in shining armor, calling back to their light in their childhood and perfectly concluding the season. Or at least it would be if not for the recap, that’ll hopefully at least be halfway meaningful in teasing the next arc.