Hello folks, and welcome back to the site. You all seated and securely fastened? You better be – this train’s not stopping once it starts, and today we’ll be traveling at the speed of SYMPHOGEAR. XV’s second episode served up an absurd buffet of animated action greatness, offering two separate battles that each measured up to Symphogear’s best, alongside an entire goddamn Tsubasa-Maria concert. It was actually even more impressive than the season’s premiere, and while I don’t expect that trend to continue across every episode… I mean, it might? This is Symphogear’s confirmed final season, a season that was greenlit alongside its predecessor, and thus likely benefits from particularly generous scheduling.
Either way, the show hasn’t wasted any time in introducing its latest villains, and given the last episode featured Kirika/Shirabe and Tsubasa/Maria facing off against the lieutenants, I’m guessing it’s time for Hibiki and Chris to fight their leader. The rhythm of a Symphogear season has gotten pretty familiar at this point (see what I did there), but familiarity isn’t necessarily a bad thing – Symphogear is intended to be action-packed comfort food, and knowing the refrain just makes it easier to sing along. Let’s raise our voices in chorus then, as we return to the dazzling Symphogear!
Episode 3
This episode is called “Penny Dreadful,” which is a fun name for a fun concept, though not much of a traditional Symphogear title. Though I suppose esoteric, inexplicable references are also a key component of the Symphogear nomenclature
“Our country got its start when our people declared independence from a world of divine mysteries.” Yeah, Britain’s head warlock kept talking shit, so eventually the pilgrims just up and left. Pretty sure I remember that from my American history classes
The Americans are attempting to reactivate the bracelet left with the architect’s body, because that’s just the sort of shit Americans get up to. Symphogear isn’t exactly the most politically nuanced production, but I appreciate its understanding that both America and Japan must be deeply wary of their jingoistic, imperial wing
The OP seems to give away that I was correct in my guess regarding this episode’s drama; the other pairs are contrasted against the enemies they fought, leaving Hibiki, Chris, and Miku against the leader
We check in at Miku and Hibiki’s apartment, where Miku is watching a report on the concert, and Hibiki is gaily chatting on the phone. The composition emphasizes the contrast between their perspectives – Miku is bunched up alone at the end of the dark couch, while Hibiki sits with her face turned away, lit by the window’s bright sunlight
Oh damn, Hibiki is actually talking to her parents. After their disastrous misuse in season three, I sorta figured the show would just never mention them again
This leads into Miku’s extremely pointed “maybe everyone has feelings they can’t share.” What are you not sharing with your wife, Miku!?
“It’s like her mind is refusing to wake up to a hellish reality.” Leave that sort of talk to Kirika, Chris. Though I suppose you were the team’s original edgelord
“We’ve got the items. Do you need us to sign for them?” Oh my god, our villains are treating this handoff like a UPS delivery. This show always delivers in the little moments
THE ALCA-NOISE ARE RIDING ALCA-SEGWAYS. WHAT IS THIS SHOW
And the fox girl just zooms along on her luggage. This show is a gem
Alright, time for Chris’ transformation!
Particularly impressive effects animation for hers – appropriately, the focus isn’t on her combat choreography, but on her web of weapons
Aaand she just bounced some bullets from her boobs into her revolver. Well, we know what we’re watching
“Anybody who’s in love with the sight of my red heels and wants a bullet in your brain, raise your hand.” Chris always gets such good lyrics
Man, this succubus girl’s powers are pretty darn creepy. Symphogear has for the most part moved away from body horror, but fragments remain, like this girl’s body-morphing powers or Dr. Ver’s whole deal
“Taste a bullet from the girl whose whole body is a weapon.” There’s a bit about bonds and friendship in there, but Chris’ principle lyrical passion remains “I am going to fuck you up”
Succubus girl’s eyes briefly shatter into multicolored fragments like stained glass windows. Already hyping their mid-season powerup?
“I guess if I don’t catch them off guard, it can’t do more than stun them.” Ah, it’s probably some sort of hypnotism power, as befitting her design theme
Chris’ song ends on a defiant “I’ll take everything you have,” calling back to her very first song
The enemies leave behind a suitcase of rare blood for transfusions
Our team immediately and rightly suspect that America is assisting the Bavarian Illuminati for some reason. America does have a long, long history of supplying weapons and equipment to monsters!
As usual, Symphogear immediately sets to work humanizing its antagonists, as they attempt to comfort each other in the wake of their failed blood retrieval. Symphogear seems to favor two types of villains: sympathetic enemies who are merely pursuing goals that run counter to the heroes, and magnificent bastards who plainly love evil, but are so charismatic you can’t really dislike them. Generally, each season features one Magnificent Bastard manipulating a bunch of sympathetic enemies, who over time come to understand the Symphogears are more honorable than their leader. Eventually, the Magnificent Bastard betrays his subordinates, prompting them to switch sides and sacrifice themselves for justice. It’s a pretty reliable system!
The destruction of a major American research facility diminishes the likelihood that America was behind the handoff. I still don’t trust them, though!
The alchemists stole back the bracelet
The moment Tsubasa recovers, her grandfather pops in to berate her for “allowing foreign enemies to attack our soil.”
“Songs cannot protect the world. I still have hope that the blood of the protectors is inside you.” Interesting. Tsubasa’s grandfather has consistently been framed as a one-man embodiment of the desire to return to a martial, isolationist Japan. So far those values have been framed in a purely political/thematic sense, but his words here seem to imply that there is some genuine supernatural power in their bloodline. Presumably then, Tsubasa’s story will culminate in her unlocking this power, but refusing to use it purely in defense of her homeland, and instead turn it into a force for all mankind. That seems like it’d be the most sensible thematic conclusion to this conflict – “Japan does indeed have a mighty spirit, but that spirit is far greater if used in conjunction with trusted friends (ie international allies)”
Ooh, I love this cut of her clinging her chest in the shadow of her grandfather’s giant sigil
Also some unusually impressive photography for this sequence with Shirabe and Kirika. Effective use of lens flair and soft focus, and complex shading on the characters, along with particularly soft, detailed character art
“Tell us who you are and what you want!” “There’s no time for that!” The first half of a Symphogear season tends to mandate a certain degree of fight-happy belligerence on the part of its villains, just to keep them from becoming friends with the Symphogears too quickly
Oh shit, we’re getting two transformations this episode. Very generous
And Shirabe’s is a figure skating routine! Perfect choice
Bless these weirdo banana Noise. The Noise might just be action fodder at this point, but at least they’re still weird as hell
“Your actions are illegal under some law whose name I can’t remember!” Kirika is good
The leader at last arrives, and appears to be some kind of cyborg. She’s got EMP rockets hiding in her shins!
Aw shit, it’s all coming together. The group collaborating with the Alchemists was Tsubasa’s grandfather, of course – he’ll do anything to maintain his “invincible Japan,” regardless of who he has to work with
And Done
Well, to put it in Symphogear terminology, I’d say fate sure kept firing across that episode. It turns out I was wrong about Vanessa finally taking the stage herself, but this episode certainly didn’t lack for fights – instead, we got reprise battles with each of her lieutenants, each squaring off against a different pair of Symphogears. And with two new transformations to show off, the episode certainly wasn’t skimping on animation! Additionally, we’re now starting to get an overall impression of this season’s narrative trajectory. I’m thrilled to see the show is directly engaging with the threat Tsubasa’s grandfather represents, and appears headed for a conclusion that celebrates friendship on both an individual and global level. Who says songs can’t save the world!?
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