 |
| Riko, you (and your hair) will be missed greatly |
Is it just me or is Hidan no Aria actually really interesting to watch? When deciding to watch this, I expected it to be typical "Rie tsundere and weak male protagonist defeat the antagonist(s) with ease and eventually fall in love with each other". However, these last few episodes really kept me on the edge of my seat. I totally did not expect Aria to get shot and Riko's escape. Unfortunately, this episode marks the end of, what I think was a great arc. I'll miss Riko's hyperactive behaviour but hopefully, she'll show up in the future. As I personally don't like Shirayuki, I hope her arc (which I think is next) ends quickly. I just can't stand yanderes, especially when their eyes look like they are going to kill. Without further ado, here is the episode summary:
Judging from the ending of the last episode, it looked like Kinji would become yet another useless male protagonist because he just stands there and screams after Aria was shot. Fortunately, my guess proved to be wrong because he quickly tries to get Aria's unconscious body to a safe place so he can treat her wounds. Riko, thinking that there was no way for the two of them to hide in such a small plane, temporarily lets them out of her sight while she basks in the moment that her great-grandfather never got to feel. Back at Aria's compartment, Kinji closely analyzes Aria's condition and realizes that it's really bad. I know that I'm not the only one that noticed this but Aria's bullet hole is longer there. Bad continuity from J.C. Staff. Anyways, Kinji takes out a syringe with some strange liquid inside. After hesitating a bit, he unbuttons her shirt and injects the liquid into Aria's chest area. A short while later, she regains consciousness and thinks that Kinji had been trying to look at her chest. A typical misunderstanding with a typical tsundere reaction. However, after the mention of Riko's name, Aria's thoughts are quickly shifted. She hurriedly grabs her pistols and heads for the door. But before she could rush outside, Kinji stops her, trying to tell her that it's too dangerous. Unfortunately, the side effect of the drug (that liquid in the syringe) makes the recipient unable to rationalize properly. After listening to her whining for a while, Kinji has no choice but to make her shut up. And the method he chose to help him do that? It was none other than a kiss. On top of leaving her speechless, his Hysteria Mode activates. With Hysteria Mode active, the real battle starts.
Meanwhile, back at the Butei school, the members of the Assault division have just received word that Aria's flight has been hijacked. They also find out that there was another Butei on board with her. Even though they are not sure that it is Kinji, that is their first guess. Back on the plane, Riko finally decides to begin her pursuit once again and enters Aria's compartment. There, she only sees Kinji and applauds him hiding Aria given the current situation. Seeing a figure under the sheets of the bed and thinking that it's Aria, Riko points her gun there. However, Kinji quickly pulls off the sheet and, instead of Aria, something looks like a fire extinguisher but contains oxygen is revealed instead. After he throws it at her and misses, Riko attempts to shoot him. Thanks to Hysteria Mode, Kinji is able to see the bullet and is easily able to split it in two using his dagger. After seeing that amazing spectacle, Riko's eyes widen, making her look more insane than ever. Then, she shoots at the cabinet behind her, believing that Aria is hiding there. Unfortunately for her, she was wrong. After the shots were fired, Aria appears out of something that looks like an air vent and disarms Riko by shooting at Riko's pistols. Then, while Riko is still fazed by her incorrect guess, she cuts off some of Riko's hair with two swords. Finally, Kinji and Aria both tell Riko that she will be arrested for attempted murder. Expectedly, Riko does not admit defeat and causes the plane to start falling by using her creepy, glowing, red hair. She also escapes from the two Butei's grasps as they start to recover their balance after the plane starts falling. With their chances of catching Riko slipping away and the lives of the passengers at risk, Kinji decides to chase after Riko while Aria pilots the plane.
When Kinji finally finds Riko, he is devastated to see that she had planted bombs all around her which she was planning to use for escape. She reveals to him that she was in control of the plane all along using something in her hair. Before executing her escape plan, she offers Kinji the chance to join the EU. Instead of answering her, he responds by asking her what the EU is. Though she doesn't give a direct answer, she taunts him by telling him that he will find his brother there. Seeing as that had angered him, she tells him that he is welcome anytime. Before detonating the bombs to make her escape, she tells him that he will be getting a present from the EU. Upon detonation, Riko uses the opening created by the bombs to escape, using her uniform as a parachute (no way that would work in reality but I'll let that slide since this is anime). After see disappears into the clouds, Kinji figures out what the "present" from the EU was: missiles. Two of the four engines on the plane are hit by the "presents". As Kinji returns to the front of the plane where Aria is, he tells her about Riko's escape and the presents from the EU. Then, by using a radio device on the plane, Kinji communicates with some Japanese Air Self-Defense HQ (I'll say that it's the Japanese government to make it easier). After briefing the man on the other end about the situation, he is told to wait for the next order. Next, Kinji uses a satellite telephone that he got from another passenger to contact the Assault division of the Butei school. After telling Mutou (one of his friends) about the situation, he is horrified to find out that, since fuel is leaking out of the plane at an alarming rate, the plane will only be able to fly for ten more minutes at best. Unfortunately, their conversation is cut short by the Japanese government who severs the connection. After successfully tapping into the Japanese government's conversation, Nakasorachi, the girl tasked with hacking into the government conversations and obtain important information, reveals to everyone at the Assault division that the Japanese government have decided to force the flight Aria and Kinji are on to make an emergency landing in the sea, fearing a failed landing in regular airports.
Back on the plane, the government order Kinji and Aria to follow their planes that will guide them to the correct area to area in the Pacific Ocean where they are supposed to land. Aria decides to follow their orders but Kinji knew that something was wrong because there is no such thing as an emergency landing in the ocean. At that moment, courtesy of Nakasorachi's skills, Mutou is able to join the supposedly "private" conversation. He quickly tells Kinji and Aria that the Japanese government had already given up on their flight because they see the risk of a failed landing as more important than human lives. On top of that, Mutou also reveals that the government would shoot them down if they didn't obey orders. With their lives on the line, Kinji decides to take a risk and land the plane on an empty strip of land near Academy Island. However, because of the dark and stormy weather, it will be difficult to see Empty Island. Despite these dangers, Kinji decides to land there because he has no other choice. He leaves it up to Mutou to solve the problem about the lights, putting a lot of pressure on the Assault Butei. After some encouraging words from Aria, Kinji notices that lights were starting to appear, creating an outline of Empty Island. Shortly after, Mutou cheers him on and tells him that he must land safely or everyone would cry.
The next day, the plane is seen at the edge of the island meaning that the landing was an extremely lucky one. While he was taking a breather out on the balcony of his dorm, Kinji is approached by Aria who came to tell him that she finally realized she needed a partner. Although it was obvious that she preferred to have Kinji as her partner, she didn't want to ask him so directly because she knew he hated being a Butei. However, he apologizes to her after she asks because he simply can't stand the fact of being a Butei. A short while later, after packing up her things and leaving Kinji's dorm, Aria bursts into tears, realizing that there will never be a partner in the world like Kinji. Back in the dorm, Kinji tries convincing himself that everything will be fine once he quits being a Butei. However, at the sight of the leopard-lion from Episode 4, he remembers Aria's smiling face and rushes to where the helicopter that was taking her back to London was. Unfortunately, the helicopter had already taken off and it seemed like this will be the start of some depressing times for both Aria and Kinji. Surprisingly, after hearing that he will become her partner, Aria jumps out of the plane, landing safely on the already injured Kinji. Just as the two settle back down in the dorm, a fuming Shirayuki bangs on the door, demanding to know why Kinji didn't reply to any of her 200 texts. Unable to ignore her suspicions about him living with a girl any longer, she obliterates the door and, upon seeing Aria, tries to kill her with a sword. This marks the beginning of a violent love triangle with Kinji being the victim. And that marks the end of the Riko arc. A lovely arc if I must say so myself. Shirayuki arc is next? Hopefully it's only a few episodes. I don't want to have to see that clingy, yandere girl for long. Looking forward to more good episodes like the last few in the future.
0 comments:
Post a Comment