Active Raid – 11
*cue dramatic explosion behind them*
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I watched this episode with a blinding headache, because this is the kind of show I feel like I can watch without paying much heed to. So of course, this episode turned out to actually be kind of decent, but I was in too much pain to enjoy it. I’m sure I’d be even more impressed if my head hadn’t felt like it was about to implode. |
The structure of Active Raid up until now has been very rigid, focusing squarely on one character per episode until the entire Unit 8 crew was properly introduced. This became a bit of a tiresome approach, as the individual episodes characters got often did very little to successfully flesh them out. As such, I still feel like I don’t know any of the members of Unit 8 any better – and if I do, I don’t like them very much anyways. However, while each episode failed to deliver on the character-of-the-week scheme, I think it did a better job at setting up this main plot with Mythos. I can now see a lot of side stories tying together quite nicely in this penultimate episode leading up to the finale.
It’s the little things that went well this episode, but I really appreciate thoughtful touches. For example, the sleep ray we saw previously in the giant robot episode was repurposed to fight against the USDF without lethally wounding them. Bird’s seemingly random question to Hinata about translating sentences into Latin ended up being a password, which actually links back even further to when Bird first started using her as a pawn by controlling her laptop. Finally, Liko, who has been here since the beginning, is now part of Mythos’s major hacking crime. It’s really clever to have a seemingly innocent computer program that’s been present for the entire show end up being a malicious virus used to remotely control a bunch of computers.
There were so many little things that came to fruition this episode in a very satisfying way. The episodes prior were such a chore to watch, but now it’s starting to pay off in this finale. I’m not entirely sure if this makes up for the rest of the show being so mediocre, but I certainly can say I’m impressed with this episode in particular since it looks like the directors actually did put some effort into planning this show. Liko popping up now as a “final boss” of sorts was the most impressive, because it was being hinted at for such a long time but it still felt surprising when it actually happened. I especially got a kick out of the ED song and next episode preview changing to fit her new role. I’m a complete sucker for when they change the OP or ED to go with a major plot twist, such as in JoJo or ERASED.
So now all the old, uncool people who didn’t download Liko can save the day
Based on Liko’s appearance, Unit 8 didn’t succeed in stopping Mythos in time. It was fun, however, to see the whole team get together and work on a big mission. This is precisely why I wasn’t fazed by their break-up last week, because I knew it would be as temporary as a house of cards on a windy day. They got together again literally the next episode. So much for building that tension.
All in all, this was a solid episode of Active Raid. The interplay between Bird and Mythos is very interesting, leaving me to wonder who the real mastermind is here. I’m also starting to wonder if Liko is related to Emily in any way, as she appears to be an older version of the holographic loli that always followed Mythos around (and by similar appearance, I mean they both have pink hair in weird styles and that’s about it). With all these unknowns, the finale should be quite a wild ride.
*uses the sleepray on myself to get through exam season*
About Overcooled
A neuroscience graduate, black belt, and all-around nerd. You'll either find me in my lab or curled up in my rilakkuma kigurumi watching anime.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Suddenly, an Andromedon appears with 2 Archons. Followed by an Avatar, a Gatekeeper and a Sectopod!
😛
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Say what, now?
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Now all we need is a clearer insight into Mythos’s backstory and what happened then that drove him on his current path, which will really wrap
up S1.
Liko’s images on the anime’s website have been updated into the new apple form.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Since next episode is the last for the first season, Mythos’ backstory is more or less guaranteed as his motivation needs to be elaborated.
What a horrible trade! I’d pick Liko over some fruit any day.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
CHANGING HER TO AN APPLE ON THE WEBSITE IS AMAZING.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
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POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Hmmm… That’s not something I’d encourage. Trying to pay attention to anything, especially in something you already have a low interest, in that state is bound to intensify a migraine.
Being disconnected from all forms of the net throughout really demonstrates how unhealthily dependent modern day people are on technology. Daily lives and routines drastically distorted in a matter of hours. Frighteningly thought provoking. Should anything like this happen in the real world, you can bet there’d be trouble. That aside, the enemies really upped the ante fooling agencies into attacking one another.
Mythos mentioned being exiled by the “Japan Style”. So whatever he has planned involves some kind of retribution while apparently Bird sees this all as one big game.
11000 comment mark reached!!! Another milestone achieved! Though I’ve noticed for some time my commenting output decreased dramatically. Oh, well.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Mythos mentioned being exiled by the “Japan Style”.
Funasaka mentioning the Style too makes me think the Style refers to Japanese government bureaucracy; ie. the bureaucracy failed to get justice for Mythos in whatever the cult did to him back then, so now he wants revenge against the government.
Ironically, his allies never seemed to be on the same idealistic page as him. Bird joined for fun and killing boredom, Dog for profit and power.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Probably a bad idea, but I managed to focus! Gotta get my work done.
The internet just makes things so convenient, it’s no wonder we rely on it for so much. Without it, there would be no Metanorn! No I wonder exactly what Mythos is going to do with the computers he’s taken over. I know he wants to rule Japan but…how?
Congratulations on the landmark! You’re still the most prolific commentor so no need to worry about comment output haha
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So does the ending of this episode and the ED mean that Liko is a virus created by Apple to take over computers running Microsoft and Apple has won?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I sense incoming conspiracy theories! 😛
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
The final villain was Steve Jobs all along
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
Spammy got me again!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
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