[DreamSword]

Episode 9: The Ones Who Visited

Plot dump.

Yeah, that's pretty much this episode in a nutshell. Not that I didn't enjoy it, mind you, but yeah.

Turns out that the Usurpers are supporting the Alters, that the Venus terraforming project is for the sake of the Visitors, that Neans can apparently live without their Ids, and that Naomi was the first ever Nean.

And that last part, well, I felt that one was kinda obvious. Still, I think the biggest aspect of all of the exposition is the reveal that even the Visitors, those who first help design the Neans, also view the Neans as tools, and the whole social struggle them as simply an event that their enemies are taking advantage of, rather than any sort of big moral/social event.

Thing is, sure, I get that there are people who use big ideas of "social justice" for selfish or nefarious ends in real life; That commentary isn't lost on me. However, I also think it's the sort of thing where Metallic Rouge needs to really be careful going forward, else the intended message couldn't become very mean spirited very quickly. Having shades of gray is fine, but portraying those who want equal rights as inherently on the wrong side is another.

The show has been solid about walking that line so far, but with the Usurper twist, I dunno, it could get dicey in the future in not looked out for. Not to mention, I just kinda dig it alot more as a parasocial thing between Humans and Neans. Introducing a grander scale isn't inherently bad, but I do find it less interesting.

Not a bad episode, just a very straightforward one with not a whole lot going on to talk about.