Akko is your last chance for your dream." This show is finally succeeding in incorporating the emotional resonance that is so needs to emulate its messages. As Akko appears to be quickly ploughing through her discoveries for the seven words, she joins fellow characters on heartfelt adventures into rediscovery that help to redefine her character as someone who is determined, caring and ultimately resilient. Her patience and caution may still need a bit of work, but by the twenty-first episode of the show, she has finally learnt that hardest lessons of her life about gaining experience before action.
The first episode of this part seeks to cover the character of Constanze. Whilst she has a certain lovable quality, her true appreciation comes for her talent in construction. The episode successfully establishes the newly-founded relationship between Akko and Constanze, one where they understand each other to the hilt, but its story falters in some areas. The Wild Hunt is not very well fleshed out, meaning that it's difficult to understand how it works and what aim there is in dealing with ghosts. The fact that Akko and Constanze fight and clear up ghosts from a flying ship makes it all seem a bit ridiculous. Whilst Croix's machinations appear to be reaching new heights of malevolence, her interference at this point, doesn't have much impact. The true masterstroke of this part is Diana Cavendish's involvement, easily my favourite character. Her double-episode at the Cavendish mansion makes for a brilliant overarching story in which we not only get a chance to understand Diana's past a little bit better, but Akko and Andrew get a chance to work together, setting up what appears to be a perfectly understandable romantic relationship. Diana's past, as it would be expected, is actually quite sad. She has lost both her parents, and has effectively been the patriarch of the family since then, balancing her education with her position as head of the family and consistently dealing with her problematic aunt and cousins. The premise and reasons for Diana's return to home may be far-fetched, but the story that unfurls is one with great ambition. Plus, we get to see Diana's weakness, in that she is not completely infallible. It takes the joint efforts of Akko and Diana to thwart the meddlesome aunt. The fact that Diana decides to return to Luna Nova after establishing herself as the definite leader of the family makes Akko's resolve seem more meaningful, and that's important for the integrity of this show. The final episode of this part goes further into the lore of the show. Now with only two words left to unlock the Grand Triskelion, Akko appears to be on the verge of reaching her aim. The episode does well to further explain the relationship between Chariot and Croix, one in which we come to understand that Croix's resentment is founded in her jealousy for not acquiring the Shiny Rod. Deftly, this episode succeeds in gaining emotional resonance in that Professor Ursula (aka Shiny Chariot) attempts to protect Akko, her resolve based on the compliments that Akko has stated for her idol - Chariot herself. The moment they share at the end is incredibly poignant and one that could finally compel Ursula to reveal her true identity to the young student. Whatever Croix is planning, it appears to be taking shape. The opening involving Andrew and his friend certainly points to troubling times ahead. Indeed the show has managed to balance character development while also pulling in the final strings for the incoming ending. Hopefully we'll get more exposition concerning Chariot and Croix's earlier lives and what finally drove them from being friends to the current enemies that they are. I also notice that Akko appears to be spending less and less time with her closest friends, Lotte and Sucy, which could be catastrophic as she will need her friends to inject some caution into her life. Stanship Take Off! - 7.5/10 Cavendish - 8/10 Intellect and Sensibility - 8/10 Discipline - 8.5/10
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AuthorA very passionate Welsh nerd... Archives
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