[DreamSword]

Episode 5: Vy and Michael

This one is actually kinda hard for me to talk about.

Not because it has any sort of sensitive info, or it's confusing, or anything like, but more just due to how incredibly straight-forward it is.

And don't get me wrong, that's not really a bad thing, but let's just say that when it comes to storytelling, the episode works just fine, but when it comes down to emotional impact, well, this one fell short for me.

So what's it about? Well first and foremost there's no I-Guy in it; This episode is all about Merchant and Trader, who we soon come to know as Vy(pronounced "Vee") and Michael. Their origin, their personalities, and why they kidnap other Reflected and keep them sheltered.

Michael was a gambler who lost his eyesight when a beam of light hit him during The Reflection, but in exchange, he gained the ability to only see other Reflected, as well as if they were showered by the light or swallowed by the smoke. In contrast, his lover Vy was turned into a giant monster who acts primarily on instinct. She listens to Michael's' commands, but harbors deep resentment.

And there's some decent thematic storytelling beats here; How both are hiding behind their owns shells after what happened to them, the way Eleanor manages to get through to them both, and how Vy eventually breaks out of her shell in order to motivate and protect the one she loves. It's just that, to me, it feels all a bit too rushed and isn't presented in the type of way in which to get me personally invested in it.

Like, for example, this is the primary song that plays throughout alot of the episode:

And it's an absolutely great song! However, it's what primarily does all the carrying when it comes to the emotion of the episode; Atleast for me. Nothing else really, from the visuals, to the acting, to the characters, really even comes close. Not that those things are bad mind you, but they just don't go all in like how this song does. And it's a shame, because this show has proven it's able to pull something like that off: Just look at I-Guy!

Still, for what it is, it's fine. In terms of plot, all that really happens is that the hiding spot for the Reflected that Michael has been kidnapping gets raided, resulting in all of them being kidnapped by the bad guys. Thus leaving only our usual group plus Michael and Vy left. We also get introduced to a new Reflected called Volt Vortex(pictured below). And all this after they'd finally found the girl that they were looking for, too. Still, the moment where Lisa gets rescued from the boy who Eleanor rescued last episode was a nice touch, atleast.

In the end, it's one of the weaker episodes, but I still enjoy it for what it is.

Oh! And I also decided to look up who did the character designs for the show, since I love them so much. Turns out they're done by Yoshihiko Umakoshi, who would later go on to be the primary character designer for My Hero Academia, and was also one of the character designers for Casshern Sins, one of my favorite anime of all time.