The walls are closing in and the pressure is starting to get to Shu.
What They Say:
Shu is conflicted about the Void ranking system, the student body is creaking under the tension, and vaccine stores are running low. At this rate, something–or someone–is going to snap.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
The direction for the second half of Guilty Crown has certainly been interesting and seeing Shu get roped into being the one in charge is kind of amusing since it’s not something that really seems like his personality. Of course, being chosen to be in charge of things in a situation like this is a double edged sword since it’s a vote of confidence but also one with a whole lot of strain and tension to deal with. And with the kids trying to eke out an existence in the slowly shrinking quarantine area, it’s getting harder and harder as supplies dwindle and medicine and other necessities are in short order as well.
While the students grapple with this, there’s an additional can of worms opened up by Yahiro about what to do with those who have the Void ability. Testing for that has gone on and it’s a decent little subset of students that now has those abilities and there’s conflict about how to deal with it and with the vaccine for dealing with the virus. Shu’s grappling with this is decent since we do get the whole aspect where he’s just plainly aware that he was never really meant to be a leader and just wants to do what’s right, but also wants people to like him. It’s a natural internal conflict but it’s arising during a situation where everyone inside is being targeted to different degrees and the GHQ has absolutely no problem with killing anyone inside in order to finish out the situation. We saw that plainly when the wall first contracted in the previous episode and they’re doing things even more personally this time around with one on one attacks within the zone.
There’s some pretty good action in here because of this and it’s more emotionally weighted down in a good way because of those involved. Whereas earlier episodes focused on Shu along with the Funeral Parlor folks who were in it for the long hault, we’re now getting regular students who have been caught up in things and they have connections and intensities that gives it a very different flow. And similar to how the end of the first half of the series ran and a bit after, it’s a very strong piece for creating emotional moments that resonate well with the kids trying to do their best to survive, even if it does mean sacrificing themselves in order to do it. It’s an all for one scenario in the hope that the one can make things better for the all as time goes on.
In Summary:
Guilty Crown has certainly taken an interesting turn in the last couple of episodes and this one continues to work it rather well. Shu’s unexpected rise to power in the previous episode has him trying to cope with things that he normally isn’t capable of dealing with and it’s proving to be a strain, though he wants to do right by everyone and ensure they all get out of there. But as can be expected, events go deadly when the latest round of clearing happens and it becomes even more personal and emotional for him. Character like Shu often have to deal with being thrust into these situations and seeing how he cracks, and tries to do right with emotion driving him, is thoroughly engaging to watch. The production continues to have a great look about it and knows how to set the mood for key scenes and that only serves to help make this a very solid and emotional episode.
Grade: B+
Readers Rating: [ratings]
Streamed By: FUNimation
Review Equipment:
Sony KDS-R70XBR2 70″ LCoS 1080P HDTV, Dell 10.1 Netbook via HDMI set to 1080p, Onkyo TX-SR605 Receiver and Panasonic SB-TP20S Multi-Channel Speaker System With 100-Watt Subwoofer.
