Aquarion EVOL – 05: Ferry to the Danger Zone

They should build a statue of them in this pose where Berlin once stood. As for the school motto I'd go with "Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way."

Well this week gives us no mecha action but considering how they have been breaking the mecha action budget for the past few episodes I can live with it as there hasn’t yet been a dramatic drop in quality like there was in Macross Frontier. The show as a whole looks as pristine as ever and we finally got to see what was so “Hong Kong” about the setting since gondolas are not all that common in Hong Kong. Still some things never change like those big huge green ferries and the double decker buses, but at least they seem to have a better handle on motor traffic. The only mildly serious part of this episode would probably a short glimpse of Abductors since somehow, some way Alicia who starred in Skies of Aquarion (the movie that was Aquarion in your Aquarion) is beloved by Abductors like Jin. I noticed that there seems to be a general lack of women going about their business in Altea and with the exception of that ad for some idol group and Alicia there are no confirmed women among the Abductor forces.

I wonder if Kagura going on about a woman of his own is a sign that there is a huge gender disparity at work on Altea and that they are primarily kidnapping women off of Earth to prevent extinction. Donar lost his co-pilots, both female, and in the first episode they were grabbing mostly women and targeting Mikono while ignoring Amata. They don’t seem to be feeding a tree of life this time around and are targeting women for the most part while any guys they take are simply too close when the spider bots take them. If this is the case I hope they treat their women well, because only one of two outcomes is likely if there are fewer women than men. Either the women have more power and can decide who they couple with or the women are prizes to be fought over by the numerous males. From the look of things it seems as if the women are isolated and the average Altean drone is left to fawn over recordings of Alicia.

I could not help but feel bad for Donar, the price he paid for his mighty fists was steep to say the least. At least he didn’t let it break him and he did stick it out to teach the next generation of pilots and is really out to save Amata from his cruel fate. I hope he finds peace by series end and hopefully a good ton of retribution against that foul bird man who took the love of his life away from him. I can’t help but wonder though what was his relationship with the other girl… maybe we will find out maybe not, but please let those Abductors pay for the loss of his love twenty times over. I hold out hope that Donar will pilot once again and reap a fear some toll on the enemy like Norris Packard vs. 8th Team. May his foes BE AFRAID when that day comes.

Other than that it was all ship teasing this week and I must admit it was rather fun. It looks like Mix is pretty much not going to get her yuri harem as she seems to be the only one who has a distaste for boys. She seems smart enough and thankfully she can boss around Andy who is not nearly as smart as she is and Yunoha is well…Yunoha. Andy better thank the algorithm that got him paired with Mix. In his triangle if it can be called that he’s the only guy and there is already the clear choice, Mix. On the one hand I wish Andy well and since a yuri harem seems out of the question I hope he can pull off a Patrick and get Mix to notice him. Of course I do hope that Andy is going to give up most of his lecherous ways and start studying the Patrick Playbook and boldly declare that he is going to protect Mix. After all Andy isn’t the biggest pervert in the school, that would be Amata. I just hope Andy remembers that Patrick only won the Best Girl by being loyal and devoted. Andy would do well remind himself of this daily lest his attentions begin to wander and he then ends up FOREVER ALONE.

The other triangles are not as fun for the side characters I don’t give two hoots about which girl Malloy ends up with and as for Ms. Colts fan and Red Shoulder-kun I wish them well. Then there is Sazanka who is really Ranka and while Alto-hime and Sheryl are beyond time I hope Sanzaka can derive some happiness from her Hosaka/Kanako-class imagination. I understand Kawamori likes to dole out fanservice to all sides of the gender divide so I am just going to live with it. Hopefully for the fan girls who are still watching the Sanzaka fantasy will not disappoint and match the kind of fun I had with Hosaka Fantasy and Kanako Fantasy. Maybe Sanzaka will conjure up a cosplay party of her very own.  If nothing else Sanzaka can make millions selling Shrade/Cayenne slash fiction. I was also amused at the set up Crea put up to keep track of all the triangles in real time, because even if there are no fights to be had there is always a reason to use the tactical display as much as possible and Satelight does do a great job with it.

As for the main pair I think it was almost all Zessica being AWESOME. I do have a sense of foreboding with her attempts to claim Amata but for now I will enjoy Zessica trolling Mikono. I am glad that Amata seems to be less of a coward these days and Mikono has turned down her “I am useless” attitude. Leave it to Zessica to keep things moving and keep Mikono honest, from making Amata fly to stating outright that Amata was her type, Zessica was radiant through and through. I just wonder though if Mikono and Zessica will get along or if this shipping war is going to get ugly in series. I can’t help but wonder if it is possible for there to be a genuine shipping war since Aquarion EVOL isn’t as beloved a franchise as Macross. Still if there is one I am firmly behind Zessica even if she is seemingly doomed because Amata and Mikono have more in common and aren’t nearly as awesome as Zessica is. I can’t wait for next week though since Kagura nearly sank MikonoxAmata with one of the most unique pickup lines I have heard in a long time. While I don’t expect Amata to put up much of a fight I want to see if Zessica can go toe to toe with Kagura in a fist fight.

Also if that globe they have at Neo-Deva is correct then just about every continent got messed up and possibly moved. Still I am glad that the setting will be in Neo-Hong Kong and maybe we will get to see the School of the Undefeated of the East. Lastly the ED seems to get more beautiful every time I see and hear it. I am so proud to have done my due diligence in filling Kawamori’s coffers to fund this. If all goes well I cannot wait to see what strides Satelight will have made by the time the 30th anniversary of Macross rolls around.

I take it that they are EVIL Ryūgū Komachi? Are they lady?

Well I suppose that is one way to resurrect your career. After all it kind of worked for Kaifun...

So the bad guys are all ronrey otaku?

So this IS Neo-Hong Kong praise be, even if Amata fails Master Asia will save us all.

Yep now this looks more like the Secret Pirate Island/Bastion of Capitalism that I know and am very fond of.

Careful what you wish for...

Because you might just get it.

I guess the power of love is no joke.

I really hope she gets a BEST END it's unfair Zessica is the best girl in whole show.

I guess Ms. Colts fan just met Mr. Colts fan, have fun at the draft you two.

Damn does this mean that Shu Shu isn't an alien pet of DOOM. Ugh guess it won't be the instrument of Mikono's destruction.

I approve of their excessive use of tactical grids.

Poor Donar...living the dream one minute...

Then the fucking enemy of love, Mr. FOREVER ALONE himself shows up...

Then she goes who knows where...

...and the worst part is you only got as far as holding hands you didn't even get to kiss the girl. If feel for you man, I really do.

This easy ZEAL for nothing equates to doom and death quite like a Righteous Holy War where Zeus himself descends from the heavens to smite non-believers.

Add in anger and you got the Dark Side of the Force, though I confess I would like to be able to shoot lightning out of my hands and choke people while telling them that they have FAILED ME FOR THE LAST TIME or that I FIND THEIR LACK OF FAITH DISTURBING.

Now that one is curious thing, it makes one man weep and another man sing. Changes a hawk to a little white dove... more than a felling that's power of love.

They should try selling the design Neo-Saudi Arabia...

Now that we know things are going to get ugly I hope Zessica gets a dog to maul Shu Shu.

Tsun tsun Mix isn't bad maybe there is hope for Andy yet.

Though it has to be said he's going to have to do his best Patrick impression to get anywhere.

Who knows maybe Mix is Jordan-class hyper competitive and will try and beat out that disgusting Amata.

Thing is we needed to reach out to a broader audience so...

Here's your BL ladies. Enjoy.

So it seems pretty clear that Sazanka is Ranka reincarnated and while she is done hime chasing she can now start her new life as a BL mangaka.

I wonder if choosing the purple haired girl results in berserk mode.

Amata is LECHEROUS.

I see that Mikono is getting rather confident...

I am glad that there will be no misunderstandings in this triangle.

Considering that Zessica is Zessica this is a small feat.

Well that is not true...

Couldn't have said it better myself, so witty that Zessica.

Well at least he's not sniffing their butts and pissing on poles.

Because Zessica knows that love favors the bold.

If only a Zessica victory would be this easy...

You didn't get this one but hey I like that you are mad and want to WIN.

Well with Kawamori there is no easy answer... someone is cry knowing that they've lost you, someone is going to thank the stars above...

Girls always fall for that destiny line...

I hope they really play up a Top Gun aspect because every time I think of Danger Zone I think of F-14s.

Shu Shu you suck can't even bite Kagura in the face...

I am not sure if this pick up line is just dumb or brilliant.

Oh I see how it is Mikono... it's okay if you go gaga for Kagura but if Zeus forbid if Amata so much as looks at Zessica...

As ever it is going to be the most tempting fruit...