天下制覇

A quarter of this episode is transformation sequences. Seriously. Not that Fate’s lacey undies are a bad thing.

Late Edit: Seriously… MPlayer… taking caps every 420 frames… randomly nets you two crotch shots and an ass shot. Go MPlayer.

Acey’s note: Even I liked this episode, and I’m not all that big a fan of Nanoha. The episode was pure catering to the fans, and when the fans want naked silhouettes, action, and robot beatdowns, that’s definitely not a bad thing at all.

This episode was awesome. Granted, the first half was mostly transformation sequences, but animation was excellent, art was excellent,  non-stop action, and we get to learn that Fate wears black, lacey underwear and is in definite need of… how to say… ‘support.’ Other than a couple asides to Caro’s past though, this episode was pretty much nonstop action, and it was wonderful.

All 6 Transformation Sequences

This episode opens with Caro having a flashback to her youth in a sort of tribal culture where her parents tell her about her power and she remembers that she’s afraid of it. She then has a vision of stigmata on her palms and gasps before snapping back to reality.

Back at Riot 6 HQ, things are getting worse with the Gadget having pretty much taking over the train. Nanoha and crew deploy straight from the copter, while Nanoha has some words of encouragement for Caro about the people watching them. On the ground, Fate transforms and we get out first magical girl transformation scene of the show, and let me tell you… Fate bounces, as well as wears some lacey underwear. Nanoha also transforms, but her underwear is a lot more functional, and she doesn’t bounce.

Rein gives the rest of the crew their final instructions and information on the train while Nanoha and Fate rendezvous in flight. A set of air things start trying to shoot them out of the sky, but Nanoha dodges and takes out a ton with an Axel Shooter. Fate also carves up a few with a generic scythe slash.

Subaru and Teana leap from the copter and they get their own transformation sequences as well, followed by Erio and Caro and their own transformations. Their underwear isn’t nearly as interesting as Fate’s, and Erio never goes to the exploding underwear level… thankfully. Anyway, the foursome immediately begins attacking. Subaru has a little trouble controlling her device, and it’s kind of silly to see her talking to her shoe. Teana also has her second gun, which she can apparently summon at will and she chats with her new Device as well.

Hayate finally makes it to Riot 6 HQ and takes over command of the operation. Erio and Caro are meanwhile fighting one of the advanced Gadget drones, which knocks Fried’s shots away without effort. Erio tries to attack, but the magic dampener stops his attack and nulls Caro as well. Erio starts struggling with it until it starts blasting lasers and slams him against the wall. Caro flashes back again to people discussing her in the S-T crew and her abilities… and Fate is shown taking responsibility for her.

Back in reality, Erio has been caught and tossed into the air by the drone and is out cold. He falls off the train while Caro starts emitting some kind of wave and she jumps after him. Nanoha is also nearby and tells HQ to not worry. She grabs his hand and her Device uses a Drive Ignition to enclose both in a bubble which slows their fall before she turns Fried into a giant dragon and the two fly on him back to the train.

The others look on at big Fried while the big drone pulls itself out of the train, only for Fried to try to flame it and fail because of its shield. Caro casts another spell on Strato as Erio leaps to attack. He slashes off the tendrils, Strado then loads a cartridge, and he spits it, and then slashes upward to finish it off.

The train has now been cleared of all drones and everybody is relieved while the suspected Relic-related device is secured by Subaru. Meanwhile, someone more sinister is looking on and collecting data on the heroes… and it fades out as he laughes to himself.