Forum - View topic

EP. REVIEW: 86

Moving on from that, some more nice symbolism from this episode I noticed:

-At 9:32, as Lena is walking away from Annette's house. The fence of the house next to Annette's (the one that had the 86 family) is the only one shown on the entire street that isn't white.

-At 12:41, the whole scene where the street and cars are reflected in Lena's window as she's telling Shin to run away. I believe this is symbolic of the Republic and the 86. The two white (or silver maybe) cars that pass by represent the Republic citizen's, moving freely but ultimately trapped within the walls. (Represented by the crosswalk) The stationary Black car represents the 86 (and probably Shin in particular) trapped outside of the wall with it to their backs and the unknown of the Legion territories to their front but ultimately choosing to move forward of their own will.

On other points, even on a rewatch I cannot see the uncle as being portrayed as evil. As in previous scenes with him, he chooses his words very carefully. Nothing he says indicates that he personally holds anything against 86s; he's just resigned to being part of a country "full of fools and villains" and on the despair side of the hope/despair coin he describes. (I also thought the comment about "the execution of Saint Magnolia" was an interesting one in terms of framing how the foundation of the country is corrupt.)

Although Annette's expression was a big exaggerated, I had more the impression of someone lashing out in frustration rather than being evil. She hates that Lena still has hope because Lena doesn't know the full scope of the heart of darkness within the country.

I think the author was going for the opposite effect, actually.

The anime did Annette a disservice this episode. In the novels, we can see her monologue while she's berating Lena, and even she thinks that what she doing is shitty as hell.

I completely disagree with this and what follows in your argument, and I'm basing this on anime content alone.

Go back and look at everything that Jerome has said in this series. Assuming that the translations are reasonably accurate, he's never once said that anything concerning the 86s was his decision.

That he's following the instructions of a higher authority and/or answering to a higher will has always been implicit in his words and actions. He's being the dutiful soldier and carrying out policy rather than making it.

A foil isn't needed to convey this because the whole point of his character is to be an example of someone who's concluded that he can't fight the system; the "villains and fools" comment this episode conveys that impression more strongly than anything previous. At the very least, he doesn't regard any of this as wise, but he also doesn't think he can do anything about it.

I can partly agree with this. I still thought the anime version did a better job of conveying that Annette has guilt and deep regrets than what some are giving it credit for, though.

Sure, but there's a power and clarity to a monologue that's just hard to beat. Very few people seem to have picked up on Annette's self-loathing on other places this show is discussed.

I also don't understand how someone wouldn't perceive Annette's self-loathing from the last episode. It's clear as day, even with some poor choices of facial expressions.

I think you're expecting a lot of completely unnecessary hand-holding here. Jerome obviously communicates the point for some viewers. Having a villain to serve as a foil would actually detract from the point. They aren't following the orders of some mustache-twirling villain. They aren't outside the system, they are completely part of the system they criticize. But being part of the system is normal. It's the basic expectation of society. It's part of why the Nazis were so "successful" in their efforts to control society. The people committing the evil aren't some morality-lacking deviants, they're completely normal people like you or me. That's very much part of the thematic core of the show, I don't know why they would want to detract from that by giving them a "more evil" foil.

I also don't understand how someone wouldn't perceive Annette's self-loathing from the last episode. It's clear as day, even with some poor choices of facial expressions.

This is basically my point. There's no moustache twirling villain here to detract from Jerome's own crimes of apathy and sloth. He criticizes the citizens, but he's no different than they are.

Those facial expressions seemed to have fooled some folk through.

If anything, Jerome's rank means he has less ability to act compared to Lena, not more. As a general, he may have the power to make things happen, but that also means that his actions are under much greater scrutiny. Some of the little stuff that Lena has done - provide maps, bribe an officer to send the 86s fireworks - would barely make a ripple for a Handler even if she was found out, but if those moves came with the weight of a General's orders then they would cause waves that he would have a difficult time staying afloat in.

However, he is different from the citizens, because he at least recognizes that it's wrong.

I found the inclusion of big brother's perspective completely unnecessary and even distracting (and the arms were downright goofy). He didn't need to be given a point of view to still carry the same emotional weight for the rest of the cast.

I kind of wished they'd spoiler[included the scene where Lena visits the spearhead squadron's base - I don't know if it was cut for time, but I hope they include it next week.]