Another great episode! Graphite was a dupe and died like an idiot as he's been telegraphing since showing his handsome mug episodes ago.

I loved the riverbank fight between Brave, Snipe and Graphite - nice use of effects; Snipe's flying was well executed - not realistic, but very "video-gamey".

There's definitely something artificial about the director. No way is he real, his demeanor is way too messed up - which might indicate both Hiro's coldness toward him and overall sense of isolation.

Again, I'm thinking Pallad is the true big bad, he seems to be more in tune with whatever bigger picture is play than even Dan.

I was thinking this, too. Well, hoping - we could use some more actual villains.

There's always those two empty character slots.

Not saying that's what they're for, or that it's even likely, but they have a way to do that. They aren't in a corner.

I'm with you on the effects, I feel like the direction they've gone with them is "We can't make them look real, so let's make them look deliberately fake." Which I like, and have liked since the beginning. I bet you this'll be one of those Wind Waker situations where it still looks good years after the fact.

That would be my hope as well, but the actor already got his flowers. So it looks like he definitely isn't going to be sticking around.

Wait really?! I'm sad to hear that.

Oh man what a bummer. That's what I get for trying to speculate for once. :lol

This honestly seems like kind of an anticlimactic death for a character who was deeply tied into the backstory of no less than two of the main characters. I feel like they could've easily kept him around longer. Oh well, I guess.

I definitely agree. Or at least they could have like, tried to make the story in which he is defeated more about him? This was his last episode but he pretty much just showed up for a short scene early on to say his usual lines and then gets summoned to die. If they really wanted to get him out of the show this early at least make it a more notable exit, you know?

This is probably my only real disappointment with Ex-Aid so far. I honestly really like Graphite's actor. Wish they'd given the character a little more. :/

But eh, hopefully Graphite will still have some repercussions for the rest of the show even if he himself isn't around for it.

Yeah, it would have been nice to see more of what Graphite's deal was before he was gone. It doesn't bother me personally too much, but I can see why others might dislike it more. I'm hoping that Graphite will continue to have some kind of continuing effect on the show, like maybe Hiro losing direction with Graphite now gone.

Well, technically Saionji came back after he received his flowers. The flowers don't necessarily mean that the character is gone for good; just that their currently scheduled appearances are over.

I will say though Graphite did go out on a better note than Saionji did, at least Graphite went down fighting.