天下制覇

The balloons on their chest also deflect violence against them I guess.

Impressions:

Eh. I want to like this and AIC really did a lot of things very well with this, especially the action, but I always get a bad feeling in my mouth when shows start throwing melodrama around and then at the end of it, the status quo is completely restored without anything actually going anywhere. Although, in this case, since the whole thing lasted all of an episode and a half, maybe it’s better to say that the status quo is maintained. The only ‘change’, if you can even call it that, is that Astraea yanked off her chain and decided to not take orders from Eyeless Evil Overlord… which she hasn’t done since like… episode 1 of this season anyway, so it’s something of a hollow attempt at development. I’m also a little annoyed that Ikaros is apparently also dumb as a brick Delta and goes from "Wait a minute, two Tomokis? This is bonkers," to "I MUST DESTROY MYSELF FOR MY MASTER." That was pushing the limits of believability in a show where midgets grope sentient homuncuangelbots.

AIC did do a very good job with the action though. I kind of wish that the needless explaination about Astraea’s weaponry had shut up through it, but showing and telling is certainly better than just the latter. Now I know the name of her sword and shield. And that they’re strong. Uh. Alrighty then! The music was also a tad repetitive and oddly chosen in parts. Tomoki’s harpsichord track was definitely pushing it. I really don’t mean to came off as negative as this probably sounds, but Chaos and this tiny little arc just feels like it was never fully developed or realized. I expected quite a bit more than it being basically introduced and wrapped up in 30 minutes, especially with nothing really changing except maybe Astraea will be trying to kill Tomoki for being Tomoki instead of because it’s an order. After foreshadowing her for nearly a month, I just expected her to actually have a little more impact on the little plot that this show has than… well… next to none.