[DreamSword]

Episode 14: Ayngott's Eyes

How fitting that this is the episode I watch on the same day I'll later be going to see Venom 3.

I think this episode also serves to kinda showcase what I meant when I compared Star Driver to Power Rangers back when this rewatch started.

It really is in the overall structure of this one. Most of the episode is school life stuff. With Mizuno and Takuto being cast in an upcoming school play wherein they share a kiss scene, and that suddenly becoming the talk of the entire town.

It's to the point that the far more serious matter of the repair of Ayngott, Marino's' Cybody, almost feels like an afterthought. But yet it's the climax of the episode and what more directly connects to the show's' overarching plotline. Both in terms of progressing it and deepening a mystery with Marino.

Power Rangers has often done the same sort of thing with its plot structure so as to always be able to fit in its staples such as the Megazord action(something I've noticed alot of "fans" have either forgotten or not picked up on). Yeah, you'll never see content as racy in Rangers, but Star Driver still embodies the core of the whole "school life meets superheroics" ordeal that made the PR franchise what it is.

This episode is also what brings in the second opening sequence for the show, "Shining Star" by 9nine. And I'll be honest, I almost entirely forgot about this OP, and having now seen it again, I entirely get why: It is very stock anime. Both in terms of song and animation. Other than the visuals containing a pretty key spoiler, almost nothing about either especially stands out; especially not in comparison to what came before it. Neither are bad, but they're definitely a major downgrade from before.

Overall, this episode was a nice way to kick off our second half. The mystery with Marino is very interesting, and the episode in turn showcases that this show has the ability to deliver on its plot threads in a very cool way, and thus, the introduction of even more of them is not unwelcome.