Girls’ Frontline: Silence 02

Girls’ Frontline is batting on all cylinders for episode five but is it enough to keep viewers interested? Episode five is titled Silence 02 and is part two of the two-part series of the same name. It picks up where Silence 01 left off to rescue AR-15. AR-15 helped SOPII escape at the expense of her freedom, with AR-15 falling into the hands of the latest Sangvis Model dubbed “Hunter.”

A few events occurred leading up to episode five, the first being the acquisition of M4, who since the end of Episode 1 has been on the run in an attempt to return to friendly lines. She managed to survive not just by her wits but also with the help of Griffin.

Her triumphant return to Griffin HQ occurred in episode 3 but not without a duel with Executioner, a highly aggressive yet intelligent Sangvis model. This fight highlighted the resourcefulness of the 16 Lab-designed T-Dolls and showed the combat intelligence of M4.

The battle, unfortunately, left her wounded, and with downtime, in the infirmary (Episode 4), M4 opened a comm channel with the hopes of reaching her sisters. Her comm was being monitored and exposed SOPII and AR-15’s positions as the duo were together. It also revealed the Griffin HQ location, resulting in a subsequent assault on the Forward Command HQ. This action was an attempt to capture M4.

M4 and many of the T-Dolls were away on a mission to rescue AR-15 and SOPII. Unfortunately, only SOPII would be saved; AR-15 was captured and held hostage by Hunter in another attempt to draw out M4.

The tension continues between M4 and Gentiane, the Commander at Griffin HQ. This is partly due to the independent nature of the AR Team, who, unlike their T-Doll counterparts, can act independently.

It is also expected of the insistent SOPII who is upset that AR-15 sacrificed herself in exchange for SOPII’s freedom. Though M4 is under the command of Gentiane, SOPII will press her in Silence 02 to go off-mission if it means saving their sister.

While differences of opinion exist, it furthers the working relationship between M4 and Gentiane. It also reinforces the lesson that AR Team is not in this fight by themselves; they have allies. As the series progresses, perhaps it will teach M4 and SOPII to value the T-Dolls the way Gentiane does and not recklessly engage in combat.

It is a difficult task as while it is not implicitly stated in the anime, the Girls’ Frontline gaming story highlights that M4 is the most unreliable of the Dolls but is hyper-intelligent. She is often considered the only one who can win at impossible odds. Though the anime does not outright state this, it is depicted nonetheless.

One of the T-Dolls implied that M4 could be reckless even to the point of abandoning her comrades. The other T-Dolls quickly bully her accusation by thanking M4 for coming to their aid.

One of the positives of Silence 02 is that Gentiane has matured into her role as commander. Asahi Studios gave her character a refined design, so it is rewarding to see her more as a competent Commander and less a protective mother.

Silence 02 emphasized many of her positives highlighted in Silence 01. She is courageous, believes in keeping her word, and, like M4, is prone to go off-mission if necessary. Unlike Dolls, humans are prone to say one thing and do something opposite. A trait that though M4 is an elite Doll, she did not quite grasp.

Thus far, Girls’ Frontline sticks to its script and doesn’t deviate from the usual series flow. Albeit with better pacing. After the rescue of SOPII, attempts to rescue AR-15 were put on hold. Due in part to the attack on the forward command base.

However, new information has been presented showing a Sangvis base used for producing additional reinforcements. There is also the possibility that AR-15 is present along with a subsequent rescue. The news of AR-15 possible rescue pulls SOPII out of her pouty state, Thank God!! SOPII’s kid-like behavior gets a bit excessive at times producing one of the least developed characters in the series.

Upon Helian's approval, a recon mission of the Sangvis base is approved. It is a mission that will involve two additional commanders and their T-Doll units acting under the command of Gentiane. Behold the Fans Service Demon Boys!!

While on recon, M4 struggles with old behavior and is reminded by Gentiane of the mission's nature. This is a possible plot hole, or M4 is slow on the uptake because it was made clear before the briefing that surveillance of the base wasn’t the only reason they were going to the Sangvis base. Nevertheless, despite M4’s memory loss that’s either the result of damage to her head, poor writing, SOPII, or all three, the power of unexplained event exposition remains undefeated.

Let the record state that viewers have wanted to see more of AR-15, the cold but level-headed member of the AR Team. AR-15 used herself as a decoy to allow SOPII to escape. The result was her capture by the Hunter. The Hunter, unlike earlier models, did not possess heavy armaments like Scarecrow or Executioner, but she did share superior cognitive abilities and speed, a trait shared with the latter.

Unfortunately, like the other high-end Sangvis Dolls we’ve been introduced to, Hunter shares a penchant for arrogance and short-sightedness. To her credit and the creators' credit, she makes an entrance in style by infiltrating M4’s open comm channel offering AR-15 in exchange for M4’s life.

Assuming AR-15 to be her prey and weaker than she, Hunter leaves her tied and unguarded ala every villain before her. An unexplained derailed train and the breakdown of Jaegers resulting in them shooting one another would add to the mix opening the door for Griffin to begin their assault on the Sangvis installation.

It's unfortunate that these episodes are rushed. It would have been interesting to see Hunter's psychological torture inflicted upon AR-15. It would have made the rouse more delicious when the Hunter became the hunted.

To see AR-15 act in such a cold and rewarding fashion eclipsed M4’s defeat of “Executioner.” AR-15’s nature was similar to Karasu from Yu Yu Hakusho. Simply beautiful!!

Despite a few bumps, Silence 02 is the way. Girls’ Frontline should progress. This episode has been delightful, with less time spent on Gentiane and more focus on the Dolls. Other notable improvements were tweaks to the animation, a better OST that compliments the mood, and voice acting have also helped.

The use of specific colors during the animation process has also aided in capturing the viewers' attention on a subconscious level—all pluses but pluses that may have come too late in viewership.