I'm torn on this episode. On the one hand I'm a huge fan of the finale, which appears to be emulating the warm and fuzzy triumph of Gunbusters Episode 5 before taking a sudden melancholy turn at the end. I also like that we finally get some answers about all of this magical sci fi stuff we've seen. But it features hands down my least favorite scene in the whole series. This episode is the last time we see Nicola for a significant period of time. We learn he is dying of a disease related to his Topless Power (calling to mind Coach's space sickness in the original). But while that series opted to martyr it's male lead, Nicola is revealed to be outright villainous. I found it surprising as his intentions are left fairly ambiguous until now.
Nicola is no great schemer (at least that's not what's important now) his fall from grace is much dirtier. He attempts to rape Nono, who now being treated as government property by the military is rescued by soldiers. I never particularly liked Nicola, and always suspected he was kind of a dick. But what's disappointing to me is the way the scene is handled. I liked Lal'C being concerned about Nono and trying to break down the door. But her reaction to what follows is a little disappointing for her character. I think deliberately so, and I don't condemn this choice but watching her feel sorry for herself after someone else is almost raped and then cop an attitude to the victim is not pleasant. Still I've always loved Golden Age Gainax's powerfully imperfect characters.
I guess the main thing that really bothered me then is how exploitative the scene is. Nono has in some ways functioned nearly from the beginning as an object of fantasy. The fact that now the military treats her like an object is telling but it's part of a larger trend we've seen. Those grunt pilots from the first episode who assaulted her while everyone including her boss in the bar watched. Casio and Nicola voyeuristically watching Nono throughout the show. Really just how most everyone treats her like garbage. I think the shot from the ED that encapsulates her character the best, is the one where she's reaching out for the departing space ship naked and crying. But despite all these examples this was too far for me. I think it's a mean spirited scene, that didn't need to happen or at least could have happened differently.
All of these qualms over a single scene were quieted for me I must admit, by the show stopping finale. We get to see Nono in full Buster form summoning the robot creatures the Topless have been fighting in order to stave off the new threat of the old kaiju themselves. What makes this fight stand out as with most of the great fights in both Buster animes, is the connection between the two people fighting in it. Lal'C fighting against all odds to break out of the military's detainment, and aid Nono in Dix'Neuf is emotionally stirring. And it shows serious development as Lal'C finally admits both to herself and the world that she does care about Nono.
As I said at the beginning though the excitement is undercut by the end. Lal'C and Nono are asked by the military to essentially do what Noriko and Amano did in the Gunbuster finale. It's believed this will mean suicide, but Lal'C is ready to go out in a blaze of glory. Nono however just sadly smiles and departs vanishing into space. I'm curious what this is leading to with our final episode. Is it going to be on Lal'C to save the Earth? Why did Nono leave and will she return? After what a ride this has been I'm sure it will be exciting to find out. |