[GoldenXtreme]

I've been pretty vocal about Zeztz simply not being a show that works for me so far, but credit where credit is due: I liked this episode in a way that I haven't liked this show since its very beginning. Preemptive apologies if I can't articulate my thoughts well, I am sick as hell today.

I think this episode just had a really good confluence elements. Like right from the beginning it gives the viewers a frankly abnormal amount of clarity on the situation, in a show that often chooses to leave things unexplained. The severity of the situation is immediately established, as Baku actually tries to fix his Driver with the Recovery Capsem, which demonstrates how the without the Driver the Capsems have lost so much power as to be nearly useless. Meanwhile on Nem's side we get to see her seriousness about protecting her fans, which was nice, though I would still like to see her character get more agency in the future. We then get a few bits of levity to lighten up the seriousness of the situation, with Baku frantically fumbling with English until he gives up and says his mission in Japanese, plus Fujimi trying to do a Zero-One finisher on the Nightmare. The fight against the nightmare is good, with the supporting cast desperately trying to help Baku and Baku desperately trying to protect them and fight the Nightmare himself with the severely weakened Capsem, which made for a really tense scene. It's been a very long time since we last got to see Baku do some real world action, and I think it always shows off what a genuinely good guy he is in a way that doesn't come across in his dreams, as someone who wants to help people, even if he doesn't have the strength to do so. We also get some interesting developments from The Lady's side, with he resolving to embrace her own Nightmare to try and protect her daughter.

The dying dream sequence is certainly the real highlight of the episode though, it was really beautifully evocative. From the resolve to never give up, new dreams can always be born. It was really well done, from the way the lighting faded as the despair deepened then brightened again like a new dawn as Baku's efforts slowly changed his situation for the better. The rainbow of hundreds of Capsems on the floor, the way his friends in his subconscious stay out of his eyeshot until he truly has the power needed to see them again in real life. The fact he became a bearded, long haired man after working for 20 years is... honestly a touch comedic but worked. Great stuff.

Definitely the highlight of this show so far for me. I think it honestly would have landed better if I had actually enjoyed the lead-up so far, and of course I don't think the show itself has been salvaged, but it was nice to see an episode made me get what Zeztz is trying to accomplish AND I didn't feel annoyed at what it was trying to do.