Angel Beats! 08

More like: SEELE got her, huh...

Chain Reaction

Like FlareKnight, I liked the sense of danger in this episode; the SSS members can't really die from their injuries but Ranade has become an existential threat. This was also immaculately balanced by how, as Hanners put it, "Who knew watching people die could be so funny?" Divine points out a serious flaw in the Sacrifice Take Down Ranade Clone plan though perhaps even Overdrive can't overcome a judo pin while Aroduc complains how the SSS members, post-Matsushita, did not seriously try to pin their targets down; I am inclined to give this a free pass like the way I do wrt normal physics in anime and tongue-in-cheek coming into full swing as the members died off (again).  Also enjoyed the Yui x Hinata moments; I'm still betting that she likes him and hope to see a confession somewhere down the line.

Kabitzin liked Yuri more and more in this episode due to her melee skills. But I also took my hat off to her for her calm and immediate acceptance of Hinata's reasoning of why Yuzuru must survive when a lesser character would have thrown a hissy jealousy fit though that might have popped up in her throat-slitting yandereness as observed by Kurogane. Very un-Haruhi in this respect. Though I also agree with Janette that Yuri should have brought Takeyama along for the hacking session instead of solo-ing it and with Josh that getting the clones re-absorbed could be part of Ranade's Evil Plan - imagine poor Kanade being constantly out-voted by the Ranade hordes!

There's some concern, expressed by Raph and psgels, as to whether the series can wrap up satisfactorily given that we're about two-thirds through. I'm not too concerned about it as the ideal ending would answer the Big Questions - How did we get here? What is the true nature of this place? What lies beyond? But I would not be dissatisfied if Yuzuru, Kanade and Yuri got more character development and this cour ends with a new dynamic, which replaces SSS vs Tenshi, being firmly established and which sets the scene for a second cour - Komidol wants two cour or bust.

Related posts:

1. Angel Beats! 07
2. Angel Beats! 11 Chain Reaction
3. Angel Beats! 05