86: Eighty Six “I Don’t Want To Die” Review
86: Eighty Six “I Don’t Want To Die” is the third episode of 86 the anime. Contrary to what happened in episode 2 this episode has almost zero action. Instead works as a way to introduce the audience to all of the members of 86.
Plot
Begging this episode we hear Kirschblute die right at the beginning. Which immediately cuts to the rest of 86 chilling out and having fun. The boys, Haruto, Daiya and Theo are cooking when they decide to peep on the girls who are bathing. The girls are having a chat and teasing Kurena about her liking Undertaker. She keeps denying it but it’s pretty clear she’s a fan at least.
The girls find the boys and chase them away as they can’t explain what they were doing there. Whilst we join Lena looking in the underground stores for a map. She wants it to help 86 out as having more intel would help them. The group all sit around as Lena connects and has a chat with all of them. This annoys Kurena who storms out and claims how much she hates Lena. Not because she’s chatting with Undertaker again but because she’s a white pig and hates them all as much as they hate her.
Later Lena is using the new map to help them during battle. Making important decisions about terrain they can’t see. She’s praised but it quickly goes wrong as she notices Kirschblute making her way towards swampland. She warns her not to go that way but too late as Kirschblute is killed in action. Lena apologises for the death of Kirschblute but Theo is having none of it. He rips Lena a new one, screaming that she acts all high and mighty but she still sends them to fight. She never even asked their names.
Review
This is probably one of my favourite episodes of 86 so far. The anime does such a good job of showing Lena’s flaws. Her being too starry-eyed and acting out like she did last episode didn’t do anything for 86 and she knows it. Hopefully, now that it’s been laid out for her she can get over herself and make some real change. Whilst 86 won’t trust her for at all for a long time. The pain of being helpless and having to fight everyday whilst others, who hate you, get to live comfortable happy lives. It makes for uncomfortable viewing. And that’s good.
Lena needed to learn her lesson and I’m hoping this will be it. The contrast of Lena’s dreary lonely life with 86’s full and rowdy life was perfectly shown during their chat. The music is perfect. As Theo rips into Lena a single solitary piano plays and suddenly we know she’s starting to feel their anger and pain.
