A DFC is fine too?

Not much action in this episode, but on the other hand we do get to see some decent character development all around, so all is well. We’re also given a glimpse as to where the plot is heading, the scene at the end, with team Vita, hints that it’ll be another “evil forces grow beyond control” sort of deal. The Lost Logia have also been brought up again, so I’d expect that’ll be the basis for the main conflict again.

Episode Rating: 8.5/10

As Subaru and Tia’s exam comes to a close, Fate notices that Nanoha seems to know Subaru. Hayate reminds Fate of the airport fire incident and how it was Nanoha that saved Subaru, and incidentally Fate that saved her sister. Aww, isn’t that cute, Feito-chan is jealous ^^

Another flashback scene fills in the rest of what happened on that day. The smuggling of a dangerous artifact was the cause of the fire which caught the Space/Time Administration Bureau by surprise. Fate, Nanoha and Hayate happened to be available for emergency backup and were responsible for most of the civilian rescues. Among them, Major Genya Nakajima’s daughters, Subaru and Ginga, saved by Nanoha and Fate, respectively.

Pantsu.

After the ordeal, Hayate talks to Nanoha and Fate about starting her own all purpose squad for disaster relief, crime investigation and Lost Logia investigation. Not about to let their childhood friend take off on her own, they happily agree.

And so, four years later the unit is finally starting up, with Tia and Subaru being the first recruits. However, having failed their exam due to recklessness and endangerment of their partner, they’ll have to take a remedial course and redo the exam.

Elsewhere, two other candidates are arriving, Elio Mondial and Kyaro Ru Rushie. Selected, with high hopes, by Fate, although young, they apparently have high latent magical power.

The episode ends off with the former Velka Knights Vita, Shamal and Zafira fighting off rather advanced sentient robots, noting that they’re increasing in number and intelligence.

Thoughts

Decent episode, not nearly as much laser beam action as the first episode, but plot has to begin somewhere! I never really understood why the Nanoha series has such a huge fanbase, hell I don’t even know why I like it, but I’m pretty sure it’s not because of deep and intricate plots. So as long as the writers throw something semi comprehensible together, we’ll be fine.

Where the show has always stood out, in my opinion, is its characters, simplistic yet lovable. However, although it’s still really early in the series, I can’t say I’m taking a liking to the new characters…

I initially liked Tia (I’m going with Tia, makes more sense phonetically than Tea) but the second episode has proven her tsundere characteristics to be far too generic. At this point, you could take any stereotypical tsundere, give her a gun and magic power, and you’d have Tia. Hopefully she’ll develop a personality of her own throughout the remainder of the series.

Subaru also comes off as another generic character. She’s a little more entertaining than Tia because of her constant teasing and laid back attitude, so with some more screentime and insight into her background she could turn out to be really interesting…or just an angst fest, after all, she has broken into tears twice already.

Elio and Rushie, on the other hand, look far more interesting, I guess the writers have loli bias XD I’m already starting to like Rushie, mostly because she has a kick ass name. And pink hair, second only to blue in awesomeness…green a distant third.

However, the most awesome thing by far in this episode was…

SIGNUM! I have an unhealthy amount of fanboyism for Signum, actually, for katana wielding bishoujo in general. But Signum stands atop them all, for reasons stated in the previous paragraph. I hope she gets some quality screentime and isn’t relegated to administrative duties. Actually, that goes for all returning characters. Sure I want to see what the noobs can do, but not if it means sacrificing NanohaXFeito action.

Complimentary Vita love for Soda

Also, sorry for the lateness and rushing of posts of late, I’m in the midst of finals, so I’m trying to balance anime and studying. Anime tends to win XD But that leaves me in a bit of a bind for time in terms of studying and even less time for blogging. I’ll be finished in about a week, so things will pick up from there =D.

~ Shirukii ~