Senki Zesshou Symphogear – 10

The Noise don’t stand a chance.

I had to write this entire post twice today, so I’m a little on edge right now. It’s a bit shorter, but the important details are still there. I guess I learned my lesson on saving drafts. -_- On a brighter note … ! This week of Symphogear was definitely awesome!

Outside of Fine’s lab American soldiers prepare to infiltrate while inside Ryoko is at a large computer reading some strange data as surveillance videos of Hibiki play on the side. If it wasn’t clear before, Ryoko’s grin says enough about where she stands. The Americans crash through the windows and door, immediately firing their weapons. Ryoko is shot and falls to the ground before she can escape. In classic Symphogear style they exchange words through a hilariously bad engrish. The American captain tells Ryoko that all of the data is now theirs, even though it was thanks to her that the data was compiled. The American kicks Ryoko over, but she suddenly heals her wound, insults the American soldiers, and kills them. (Classy, Ryoko.)

Never trust lusty scientists.

At Lydian Miku and Hibiki are both excused from their classes and while walking down the hall Hibiki hums the school’s song. They stop to take in the view of the school and Hibiki mentions that Lydian is the only place she feels truly safe. Back at Fine’s/Ryoko’s lab Chris arrives and sees the dead American soldiers thrown around the room. Soon after Genjurou enters with agents. She pleads her innocence, but they already know she didn’t do it. Chris once again claims she hates adults, but Genjurou stands his ground and tells her she shouldn’t hate adults (aka her parents) because they chased their dreams for her own safety and spread their music for other’s happiness. He tells her one day she’ll become a grown up and will be able to look at her dream of ending war in a new way. Genjurou then embraces her in a warm hug.

They look like they’re about to have a final showdown.

Before leaving he gives Chris a communicator that works for the whole team, even though she has her doubts about working with her former enemies. Before he drives off Chris also mentions that Fine was researching something known as Kadingir. Now back at HQ, Genjurou contacts Hibiki and Tsubasa and tells them he can’t get a hold of Ryoko. She soon calls in with an excuse to hide the fact that she’s still bleeding out from her wound and can’t make it. She informs them that Kadingir has to do with a divine existence, “a heavenly tower”.

Suddenly four large Noise are detected flying towards the Tokyo Radio Tower. Tsubasa heads to the scene on her motorcycle while Hibiki takes a helicopter sent by the second division. Before leaving however she tells Miku to go back to Lydian and help bring the students to the safety bunker if something happens. Meanwhile Ogawa somewhat suspiciously jumps in a car and heads off to an unknown location.

Hibiki hops off the helicopter and transforms midair, as she falls she punches a hole straight through one of the large Noise and destroys it. The others begin dropping small Noise into the city, however Tsubasa takes many of them out with Blue Flash. Hibiki and Tsubasa now realize it’s hopeless trying to fight the flying Noise, both large and small when suddenly their savior appears, it’s Chris! Tsubasa eventually gets into a bit of a fight with Chris who can’t accept that they’re working together, however Hibiki arrives and mends their relationship. They join hands to fight together.

I’d hate to be Noise right now.

Nevermind, I wouldn’t mind going out this way.

To take care of the large flying Noise Chris concocts a plan to gather energy in her Gear while suppressing it’s release so that she can let it all out at once and destroy anything in her path. She initiates a brand new song and eventually gather enough energy to increase her long range arsenal to that of a one woman army. Her missiles easily beat the Noise and the city is saved. Hibiki soon gets a call from Miku alerting her of the presence of Noise at Lydian.

THIS ONE’S FOR YOU READERS. (heh)

Ahhh! SZS is all over the place plot wise, but I’m pretty much used to that by now! What I loved this week was that it brought great action, great music, and more Chris. This week pretty much wrapped up her part of the story I’d say, with Genjurou finally giving her the peace of mind she needed when it came to her past. I’ve never really recognized Ayahi Takagaki’s voice before (though I do remember her from Occult Academy), but she has a very quirky singing voice not like anything I’ve really heard before. For me her voice stands out the most from the others in the show, in a good way. Thankfully she’s not going anywhere anytime soon now that she’s apart of the second division armed gear team and she really rounds out the group nicely. Tsubasa has a natural leadership quality to her personality since she’s level headed and strong, Hibiki is the cheerleader and can stand on her own on the frontlines, and Chris handles all the long range combat.

So the reveal … reveal? Reveal … maybe? I’m not sure if I’d call it that since it seemed pretty obvious, but Ryoko being officially (unless we’re being trolled here) shown as “Finne” was pretty anti-climatic in my opinion. I mean, they weren’t very subtle leading up to this point, unless they weren’t trying to be. We still haven’t really been given much background behind her motives, but I’m expecting something crazy and over the top, especially when she faces off against the group in her own armed gear revealed a couple episodes back.

I’m more curious then ever after this week’s conclusion now that the Noise are attacking Lydian. There are a few minor characters running around Lydian so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some deaths, but ultimately I’m most curious about whether this will be the backdrop for the conclusion of the series that leads Hibiki into activating her swan song.

Ah now that I brought her up, Hibiki was great this episode bringing Tsubasa and Chris together. I remember originally feeling as if her character was stubborn and one-sided, but she’s really grown over the course of the series, admitting to her own flaws and growing stronger because of them. That’s why it pains me to know that she’s destined for death! I’m still questioning the reason for the producers to reveal her death right from the start. Honestly it kind of takes away from the emotional side since we’re expecting it. It felt like they used it as a way of shocking the audience, grabbing some attention in the process rather than using it as viable plot device like say … a certain blonde haired magical girl?

Also … dat engrish.

About Hawthorne

I enjoy watching anime, when I'm not burning toast or sleeping through college.