Darling in the FranXX Episode 5 Discussion

firemagnet said:
Someone else already caught it here, but it's worth noting that in the promotional images Hiro has a horn like Zero-Two does:

https://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=1701524#msg54035352



Look at the very left of the image. That's not part of Hiro's hair.

AdrianRubinsky said:


There are 2 references, the possible horn on Hiro and the 002 shadow. I thought it was a reference that maybe I'm watching this series in the antagonists POV. I'm more inclined to think it is just a misleading tip from the director but who knows... the real enemy might be Hiro and 002, destroying what is left of humanity.

Ther-Sha said:
Here's my theory after this episode:

Pilots never become adults because yellow blood cells gonna burst up at somepoint and they turn into klaxosaur.

(possible causes: there's a limit for pilotin franxx but they milkin those childs and they hit critical point)

By the way some of them can control yellow cells and overcome it.

Also Zero Two drain her stamens yellow cells. That's why they fucked up pretty quickly.

In this episode Hiro show different sign than other stamens who's pilotin with zero two. And they suprised about it.

That's why she chose Hiro. She wants to make him like herself.

D1UTURNUS said:


So 02 is devilman after all

gabrielavilleta said:
Wow, this episode was way better than I ever thought possible. The animation, cinematography, dialogue, and character development/interactions were amazing. If all DITF episodes could be directed like this one, I would be the happiest girl in the world.

But this episode was also a very tough pill to swallow due to some....surprising revelations that I was not expecting. Goro and Ichigo get some needed screen time, but the real essence of this episode, to me at least, seemed to be about 02′s possible dual nature and how Hiro is finally feeling the effects of his decision from ep 1.

Starting with Hiro, I’m happy that he’s come a long way; he’s now a part of the group, he’s being respected again, and feels that he found his purpose. Sticking to his decisions, even though it will kill him down the road, is really admirable and make me like him even more. But in this episode I felt that he was being “dragged along” by 02. Not even once did he question himself “what the heck is this blue blob?”, “why does it hurt so much?”, “does 02 know about this?”. He doesn’t even seem startled at 02′s lack of empathy towards her allies, or to her twisted way of seeing his suffering as “beautiful.” I would’ve liked a little more perspective as to what was going on in his head. But that didn’t make the episode less enjoyable. Through his gestures alone one could see both his pain and resolution.

Now, to 002: where to even begin? She is clearly the talk of the town, because here we get to see the other side of her. Or is it her true self? Is the 02 we see at the forrest talking about Hiro’s death as inconsequential the true persona, or is it a defense mechanism (as some have suggested)? I completely understand her seeing the death of other pilots as no big deal; her upbringing, reputation, and isolation must’ve been torturous enough to make her lack any sense of sadness or remorse. Who knows how many partners she has had, so I agree with that 100%.

BUT I cannot agree that her words towards Hiro possibly dying are merely a “defense mechanism” or her way to “infuriate ichigo”. First, Ichigo is way, way below 02(to the latter’s eyes); i don’t think 02 would’ve spent an ounce of energy trying to rile someone as inferior and “weak” as Ichigo. 02 could’ve gotten under her skin a long time ago if she wanted. Second, and this is where I struggle the most, if Hiro is such an important essence in 02′s life (he doesn’t fear her, he doesn’t see her as a monster, he can actually manage riding with her), wouldn’t she want to protect him and/or see him as an equal, as opposed to a possession? She hasn’t called Hiro by his name once in the entire series so far, and in ep. 5 it’s clear that 02 thinks that he BELONGS to her, he is HER darling, and she is his partner, and she alone. I love how Ichigo counteracts this with “Hiro doesnt belong to anyone.” So I think it’s clear by the end that the staff wants us to doubt 02′s intentions with Hiro. They want us to question wether those moments where 02 showered Hiro with attention were genuine or fake. Was she just luring him into her, like the butterfly was lured into the spiders web?

Some people argue that 02 does indeed care for Hiro, but because of her upbringing doesn’t want to get too close and be disillusioned, so she sees him as someone who still has to prove his worth. The way i see it, if someone like 02, someone with a painful past that simply longs for a life with a partner, were to finally meet a person who sees her for what she is, wouldn’t she want to truly care for him, protect him, even if he’s not as strong as she thought? Wouldn’t she want to nourish that relationship specifically because of her past? To finally love and be loved? Instead we have someone who is possessive, selfish, and somewhat twisted at the end of ep 5 (again, she sees his suffering as beautiful). Which begs the question, is there a duality that 02 is secretly fighting with? It’s no coincidence that we see her as joyful, caring, and even a bit childish/innocent in the first half of the episode but then cold, harsh, and pragmatic in the last portion. Maybe she’s really trying to get close to Hiro but her old mentality is still preventing her from truly connecting with him.

On the other hand, Hiro’s view of 02 could be interpreted as being just as practical: she allows him to pilot (fly), she has been the only person who is compatible with him, and she has qualities that he likes (being strong, decisive, etc). He does seem to enjoy being with her, but I don’t get the feeling that he feels alive because he finally has a partner; he feels alive because he can finally pilot again, regardless of who it’s with. So I will go on the boat of people who think that Hiro and 02′s relationship is, at its core, a toxic relationship. The way he looks pained at the spider who is about to eat its prey is proof that he knows whats to come. He knows he will be changed in some way or another. But he still wants to pilot. SO lets see what happens in episode 6.

YukiJudai_100 said:
LMAO. this show jus doesn't stop with the sexual innuendos 😂



this shot genuinely gave me the creeps


can't wait to see the look on everyone's faces when hiro doesn't die. im willing to bet a dollar on paypal hiro ain't dying after the third time. it's way too early in the series for him to be dead. if he dies it'll probably be in the last episode. nothing but good things in the series so far 👍

jal90 said:
The series has been growing since episode 3 and this was a very good episode in character interaction and implication, with some finely animated sequences. It took a while but I think this can be good, particularly on the part of Zero Two which was the most promising of the show already to me. Hiro is still a problematic case, I certainly see a much better treatment in this episode but so far in this side of the story the series has felt sort of lacking. Not that the character is bad but he's missed some essential focus and emotional moments haven't had the intended effect to me, that speech in episode 4 in special.

Whatever. A strong episode, I liked everything and it definitely, finally looks promising and worth following through the end.

jal90 said:
The series has been growing since episode 3 and this was a very good episode in character interaction and implication, with some finely animated sequences. It took a while but I think this can be good, particularly on the part of Zero Two which was the most promising of the show already to me. Hiro is still a problematic case, I certainly see a much better treatment in this episode but so far in this side of the story the series has felt sort of lacking. Not that the character is bad but he's missed some essential focus and emotional moments haven't had the intended effect to me, that speech in episode 4 in special.

Whatever. A strong episode, I liked everything and it definitely, finally looks promising and worth following through the end.

Hibaena said:

I believe all the parasites represent human emotions like:
Ichigo= Jealousness
Goro= Worrysomw
Zero Two= Lust or love
Mitsuru= Ego
Zorome= Pride
Hiro= Humbleness
Miku= ?
Kokoro=Love
Futishi= Hunger
Ikuno= Shyness

CodeKeima said:

Exactly nothing more to say about that.

Sadly the same people you talk about even misunderstand the last scenes where Zero Two breaks out in laughter. These guys keep saying that she laughed because she finds it hilarious that Hiro still wants to be at her side, stops to care about him and thinks of him as a coward in that moment. Sad, these people should just stop watching the show.

gabrielavilleta said:




I thought the same. When the episode ended I felt that something was missing, and then I realized that we barely get any perspective of Hiro regarding this obviously painful growth. We see his pain with the spider/butterfly scene, but even then it was just his gestures with no verbal or mental input.

I get that he's made up his mind(i love that aspect of him), but I think the episode would've had a lot more impact with him actually questioning what the heck is growing on his chest, maybe him questioning his decision for a slight moment, etc. Hell, just him wondering how she could find something that pains him as beautiful. I was actually hoping for a scene where 02 visits a sick Hiro and has an intimate moment with him. That also wouldve helped a lot to strengthen the mood.

I think they wanted to portray Hiro and 02's "budding" relationship through an external (Goro and Ichigo's) perspective, which would explain why there was so little internal monologue from the love birds. Actually, after a little overanalyzing the episode, I think the whole episode is an analogy to a toxic, or somewhat unhealthy, relationship.things that support my view on this:
1) 02 is one way with Hiro (sweet), but another when not around him (cold, doesn't value his life)
2) 02 emphasizes her possession over Hiro over the entire episode
3) 02 makes Hiro believe that she, and only she, is his partner
4) Nobody sees the red flags except the close friends (goro and ichigo)
5) Hiro feels alive/happy, despite the relationship literally changing him (like when someone is infatuated with a person despite the clear signs that its not a healthy partnership)
6) Hiro doesn't question 02's twisted view of beautiful pain.

When you take all of those out of context, its exactly what one would find in a toxic relationship where one is manipulative, and the other is too infatuated/caught up in the moment to question things. Hiro actually acknowledges what awaits him, with the way he sympathizes with the trapped butterfly, but he still just goes along with everything, which made him feel somewhat one dimensional in this episode. Hopefully we get some intense moments between the two next saturday. What do you think

(I think that 02 does indeed like being around Hiro and enjoys his company, but doesnt really care about his well being as much as we thought. So i get the feeling that she took advantage of Hiros vulnerable, i have nothing to loose mentality, to get him to come along. Clearly she needs him to escape. Jesus this series has so much going on and its only 5 episodes in)

fedos said:
This was painful to watch. Ichigo tries to pull rank and in this moment of physical contact realized just how little power she has here. Ends up pleading with her head lowered.

araneathedragoon said:


She never thought Zero Two as a member of the team. Even now she doesn't care for her, so she can't command her or has no right. Only link between them is Hiro. Will she start to understand her one day? We will see, otherwise a painful road is waiting her.

AdrianRubinsky said:
Yes Hiro... good... very good... join the dark side accept the kyoryu blood. Your transformation is almost complete.

Angel942 said:
You have noticed that 02 changes tone of voice with hiro his tone is sweet, and she look his eyes.
In this episode while talking to the boy from the other city, she look into the void and the same with ichigo, and his tone was hard.
According to me, with 02 you have to look at non-verbal language!

Kirigaro92 said:
Hope that this doesn't end like guilty crown, my heart won't take it again...

firemagnet said:
Someone else already caught it here, but it's worth noting that in the promotional images Hiro has a horn like Zero-Two does:

https://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=1701524#msg54035352



Look at the very left of the image. That's not part of Hiro's hair.

Angel942 said:
I saw this ep for 2 time, but I not understand why 02 laught...

Tomlora said:


Sorry, but it's his hair :P
Look the end of the opening.
His hair moves with "the wind"



Probably because she knows what will happen, and she's happy because he's not afraid of death, and he's ready to ride, even if he has to die.
If her goal is to find a darling, and she's sure it's Hiro, then she knows Hiro will not back down.
I think it's joy, stress, and relief.

Sorry if my english is bad, i try to improve it ! :p