[DreamSword]

Episode 16: Takuto's Mark

Takuto and Mizuno have more in common than things first appeared.

Both were abandoned by their parents at a young age, and both struggled to regulate their emotions for a long while afterward, until a guiding hand inspired them.

But wait, it was Marino who was affected most by her mother's' disappearance, wasn't it? And not Mizuno, who remained optimistic? Well see, the thing about is, Marino technically doesn't exist.

Yeah, as it turns out, Marino is actually a piece of Mizuno's' psyche that got split off from her due to the trauma of her mother's' departure. It's why Marino is dedicated to keeping Mizuno stress free, and it also means that, technically, both girls are the West Maiden.

So what's up with Takuto then? The guy has been almost nothing but cheery this entire show, right? Sure, but this is where alot of that subtle foreshadowing from earlier on in the show starts to come into frame. Head mentioned how Takuto was searching for his dad way back in episode 1, and Takuto is often seen staring at the painting of a young looking girl at Sugata's' mansion.

It's all but outright stated that Takuto has been putting on a strong face for those around him, but even despite his own self doubts, he keeps going as a means of carrying on the legacy and dreams of a dear friend of his. Heck, he even took the kid's' catch phrase. And despite being initially shaken by the new power that the Glittering Crux have gained via breaking the Western Seal, these feelings are what allow Takuto to upgrade Tauburn to a new form, and win the day.

I was originally going to highlight "Galactic Pretty Boy" here, as it's a triumphant theme that typically plays with emotionally high moments, and is infact used wonderfully in this episode. But alas, it seems that no one has uploaded it. So instead I highlight Head's' theme, which has notably been playing with the various scenes where he talks with Sugata. And let's just say that those scenes, combined with that fact that Head is a GPB himself, well, keen viewers might be queuing in on something right about now.

Overall, this was a very emotionally powerful and satisfying episode that ends the current arc and gets us ready for the next one, and I really have no complaints about it.