86: Eighty Six “Even So” Review
86: Eighty Six “Even So” is the sixteenth episode of the 86 anime. Following on from the set up in episode 15. The Legion’s large scale attack begins. Frederica uses her abilities to see where Kiriya is but sees more than she bargained for. And Lena fronts a full scale attack near the borders of San Magnolia.
Plot
The episode begins with Shin, Raiden, Anju, Kurena and Theo mounting an attack to drive away the Legion in their area. Against orders of course. The attack is huge, so much so that even Shin is nervous. During the offensive Frederica uses her ability to see through the eyes of Kiriya. She sees how much damage has been done in other areas but also how much Shin is starting to slip into the madness that she saw possess her friend. At the end of the episode there is a small mini clip showing her pass this information on to the others before looking again for Kiriya and the episode ending in a cliff-hanger.
Whilst all this is going on, Lena sees the attack on the borders and goes to get everyone mobilized. Apparently she had already trained them all for this and planned for it. Before she can she’s stopped by Karlstahl who tries to tell her not to let the 86 anywhere near the inner areas of San Magnolia as even if they survive the 86 will turn on them anyway for all they’ve done. Lena sticks by her convictions and says if she’s gonna die anyway she may as well die fighting. Whilst Karlstahl does give her a hard time about her having childish dreams and wanting reality to crush them, he defends her and allows her to do as she wants.
Review
This was by far the best episode but also the one with the most hype surrounding what follows. Lena has shown she’s no wallflower and has learned but still fights, she saw this attack coming though so she’s clearly no fool anymore. Shin is delving deeper and deeper into madness but seems perfectly fine by that. Whilst Frederica is desperate to save him.
Whilst the actions scenes were absolute perfection, one person’s actions flowing seamlessly to another’s, showing how well team Spearhead still fight together. The underlying danger here is never under or overstated. It’s shown to be as dangerous as it is. Whilst the people in San Magnolia live ignorant to it all. A stark warning has been mentioned more than once in this episode: San Magnolia will pay for the sins of the past. Either on the battlefield or off, it’s obvious their time to be blissfully ignorant is up.
Overall the best in the second season. Maybe the entire show. I can’t wait to see episode 17.
