Things were left up in the air at the end of last episode. Will they make it down the mountain safely?
What They Say:
Episode 9: “Thank You”
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
It’s a bit delayed, but this episode serves a very important purpose in terms of bringing the characters together. This is the real bonding moment for K4, as the teamwork and shared concern for the success of their mission brings them all onto the same page.
The roller coaster ride continues from last time as K4 navigates the dangerous curves of the downward track. They need to reduce their speed, however, or it’s possible they will derail. Haruka comes up with a plan to connect to the Abt System rail in order to reduce their speed and avoid tipping over on the wide turns in the tunnels. It’s a well calculated risk—but relies on the Abt gears on the rail car to hold out. This section of the episode, which is lighter on dialogue shows the best use of few words and lots of pictures. The soundscape is also well thought out, though I would love to be able to hear this in a proper 5.1 or more mix where the sounds of the rain, the winds, the car’s wheels along the rails, all of this could be given real directionality and create a truly immersive experience.
The production team has done a very good job of giving this whole extended sequence a real sense of danger and adventure. The excitement level is boosted at the right moments, with the appropriate lulls in the tension placed in between in order to ramp everything up a level again later.
They make it through all the tunnels. We’re given the “trouble ahead” flag when the characters say that it should not be as difficult from here on out. Of course, that just tells us, the audience, that it won’t be smooth sailing: first the Abt gears and then the dynamic breaking system fail. The regular brakes appear to be overheating, reducing their effectiveness. There’s just a couple major curves left. Naoto needs Sho to pull on the brake lever as they get to the station, since he’s stronger and the brake level needs a good pull. So, Naoto and Aoi have to lean out of the car to keep it balanced on the curves. This is an occasion for Aoi to get a touch closer to Naoto, or at least the original author or the anime staff are making it clearer which “team” they might be rooting for.
They make it to Yokokawa Station, though they have to jump off the train as the brakes fail (partially through Sho’s fault as he pulls on the lever too hard, breaking it). We leave reality and enter cartoon land for a moment as well when Sho then uses “the Flintstones Method” of braking, which also fails. In the end, however, they safely get the organ container to the next link in the chain that will go on to save someone’s life. We now also learn why Haruka was so adamant about helping, as she says that she lost someone in the past in a similar situation. It’s now, however, as the members of K4 gather together again, that we have the most important moment. Naoto gives a speech about his dream of one day becoming a train engineer, but for the present, he is a member of K4 with all of them. For now, he is in security with them and will see things through together as a team. This is their defining moment as a team.
As nothing more than a coda to the action and tension of the episode, we revisit a minor matter and the romantic silliness. As it was the disastrous simulation that really started this entire train of events, we see the end result of their retake of the driving exam. Instructor Narita gives them a barely passing mark and snidely remarks (but entirely with good humor, not in a malicious or nasty way) that he doesn’t care whether they kissed or fought in order to make up. This leads into the post exam celebration, which apparently will be going to a concert Noa is holding. Mari joins them as they walk through the town and her dialogue makes it clear that she’s a member of the love polygon competition for train boy.
That may not matter, however. The end scene shows Aoi looking at a shop window at a rather “girly” outfit. The one she bought just to impress Naoto got ruined during their adventure. Naoto asks her if she intends to buy a new one and she says that she would rather get something more functional, one that she can move more easily in. It’s here, though, where Naoto tells her that he thought she looked good in the previous outfit. Cue the tsundere.
Good on its own, I think this episode and the previous one will work even better when watched together, without a week in between to break the buildup of tension and drama. Roller coaster rides are thrilling for a reason: their unpredictability. Even if the success of this ride was predictable from the start, the production staff still did a good job of throwing surprises at us, with unexpected twists being added to the more predictable ones. A very satisfying thrill ride.
In Summary:
K4 continue their perilous descent down the mountain to reach Yokokawa Station, so that the donor organ they are carrying can be picked up by the next link in the delivery chain. This is in many senses a literal roller coaster ride, with sharp turns and twists that would probably not be good to experience on a full stomach in real life (watching it, you’ll be fine). There are some predictable events, but also a few unexpected ones. Most importantly, the sequence is well planned and well timed. The jolts of adrenaline and calming lulls are paced just right. This is fun and exciting stuff.
Episode Grade: A-
Streamed by: Crunchyroll
Review Equipment:
Apple iMac with 4GB RAM, Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard
