[FairyKing]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

This episode is spectacular!

Ditto all of that, this was possibly my favorite episode yet. A couple other things I want to point out:

- That opening fight between Shining Assault Hopper and Thouser ended in a draw, which I love. I know we're all sick of Aruto getting smacked around by Gai, and I think this fight shows that when he goes all-out and isn't distracted by trying to protect someone else, he can stand up to Thouser.

- Yua's doubts about what she's doing for Gai seem to be getting stronger, and TBH that can't happen fast enough. She's been pushed to the background pretty hard lately, I really hope she gets a redemption arc and goes back to fighting the good fight soon.

- Horobi freaking out when he learned that humans were using the Ark was downright unsettling. Which is appropriate, given that he's fought so hard to destroy humans this whole time, learning he was just a tool for one must be quite a shock. I'd almost feel sorry for him, if it wasn't for the whole "he's a mass murderer" thing.

- Speaking of mass murder, I appreciated how when Gai was launching into his philosophy lecture about humanity's violent nature or whatever, Aruto wasn't having any of it. Such a satisfying "shut up!"
I mean, it's also good that Gai actually has an at least semi-logical motivation, and that Aruto can't just rage his way through his problems, but it was refreshing to see the evil monologue not lead to "yeah maybe the villain has a point" for a change.

- So many cool effects around MetalCluster Hopper. The screaming voices in Aruto's mind are super creepy and really hammer home how painful this must be for him. Another really nice touch was how when it created those spiky metal constructs, patches of the external armor disappeared, which really sells the idea that the armor is formed from the same metal locusts as the constructs. As a bonus, sometimes enough armor came away to reveal Aruto trapped helplessly inside the suit. As much as I loved Build Hazard, MetalCluster is shaping up to be an even better berseker form.

- It was so, so satisfying to see Gai finally be on the receiving end of a beatdown (do I hate Gai too much?). He even used TWO finishers, one using the "apex of Zero-One's technology" he stole earlier, but the Dynamiting Lion attack didn't even break through Zero-One's shields and the Shine System defense barely lasted a second.

- Izu trying to cheer Aruto up by making him tell a joke was adorable but also really sad. Both of them are trying so hard to stay hopeful while everything falls apart around them.