I've almost stopped blogging Mai HiME, choosing to leave it in the good, capable hands of the fellow bloggers. Special mention to Garten/Mentar for the most insightful (and almost epic) reviews and Moyism for the massive attack of well-chosen screencaps (Fencedude comes a close 2nd). However for this awesome ep, I JUST HAD to give my 2 cents worth. As with many others, Ep 15 is currently my favourite ep of Mai HiME.

*Spoilers*

However, this should not be misconstrued as as anime perfection. Ep 15 had its fair share of cheese. Possibly some anime old-school fogey in SUNRISE still believes in mecha-launching elevators which may be dramatic for the 90s but just doesn't quite cut it anymore for the 21st century. Really, I groaned at the whole overdone sequence of launching the HiMEs. I particularly thought Mikoto's 'take-off' was the most ridiculous. They actually prepared sprinter starter block for her?!? Can't Natsuki give her a lift since they are going the same way? As for the naval battle front, they are about 30 years behind modern naval warfare. Battle fleets don't throw a few missiles at like one throw peanuts at the monkeys in the zoo anymore. The attack comes in blanketing, sheet-like waves. Honestly, I have tremendous faith in Kagutsuchi and Gakutenou, they really didn't have to make it so easy.

Ok, that was the bad. Now, the good. This ep left me practically breathless, since the pace was neckbreaking. From the initial explosive HiME/Child action (complete with some delicious Natuski moves) to Mai's selfless kamikaze, then reincarnation and finally Miyu/Alyssa's demise, I was constantly assailed by a wide barrage of intense emotions and unable to recover from any of their attacks as a result of the successive shocking, touching or simply breathtaking moments. The last time I felt like that was when I received my undergrad exam results. Needlessly to say, I was totally drained after the ep. Personally I felt the beauty of the ep was largely embedded in the poignant scene of Alyssa's death in Miyu's arms. Unlike Akane/Kazuya, Miyu and Alyssa's characters are more developed and their strong bonds, well established. I thought it to be the worst torment for anyone to be unable to release their sorrow through tears. Miyu apparently couldn't not ease her grief with a flood of saltwater and her amplified sorrow finally led to her eternal sleep with Alyssa. That had to be the most beautiful ice tomb I have seen in my life.

A great ep of emotional highs. But with the shocking revelations in this ep, SUNRISE has a great deal of explaining to do. With 9 to 11 eps remaining they had better have their answers well paced/well thought-out or Mai HiME fans may experience an unintended emotional high incurring actions not unlike the effect of Artemis on their studio.