Girls' Frontline: The Message 02

As much as I've tried to back away from this anime, seeing its low MAL rating didn’t help either. I'm compelled to finish up what I’ve started and see it through to the end. In all sick honestly, it is one of my favorite anime and an example of what could have been. I’ll never say it's excellent, but it has enough to pique my interest. As I've stated before, I’m a sucker for a beautiful voice, and getting to hear more of Yuko Otsubo is enough to keep me around; so, as they say in show business, “the show must go on!”

Episode 7 opens with the usual recap, and all I can ask is, will the “Anti-Rain Squad finally be reunited with Big Sis M-16? As there are five episodes left, I think you know the answer, but before we get there, we’ve got to roll through a bit of exposition, politics, and my new waifu.

As I’ve stated previously, Girls’ Frontline is pretty formulaic, so it opens to, you guessed it, another fight scene. Just kidding, it seems Hideyuki Kurata, who handled the screen composition, was finally able to be a little more creative this time, so viewers are treated to a bit of dinner theater minus the dinner.

An unknown Sangvis Ringleader whose voice we heard in the previous episode pays homage to her fallen comrades. Several Sangivis Ringleaders are named, including Scarecrow, Executioner, and Hunter; the latter two were defeated by M4A1 and AR-15. As this new Ringleader stands atop a stage as if addressing the audience, she has left a red rose in each seat dedicated to her fallen sisters. It's safe to say that this new Ringleader probably has a bit of a chip on her shoulder, and Mama is out for revenge.

The second act begins with the Griffin T-Dolls doing what they do best, killing Jaegers and blowing stuff up under the watchful eye of Gentiane and Kalina. The Griffen duo are greeted to the banter of our aforementioned Sangvis Doll, who beckons them to come forth into her trap. A bit pompous in her act, Gentiane can only respond by calling her a “bitch.” We change pace from our previous storylines as we hear the characters say naughty bits and get some girl-on-girl play. Well more girl-on-girl play if you consider that it's primarily females fighting each other.

To her credit, Gentiane keeps her cool but can do nothing more but go for the cheese and spring the trap. The T-Dolls, divided into three units, go for the kill but obviously find themselves ambushed. Where’s Admiral Akbar? In this round of human commander versus Sangvis Commander, it's Sagvis 1, Humans 0.

Gentiane is forced to retreat, but you know things will turn around when the upbeat music starts playing. She rolls out her game plan using the Obi-Wan defense. The same defense that defeated the Union at Fredricksburg, the Rebs at Gettysburg, and Anakin at Mustafar. With her goals in place, she’s ready to strike the fatal blow.

Thanks to the Special Team, who I can only assume is Squad 404 from episode 6, the Sangvis Leader’s location is discovered. Gentiane is given new instructions to take down the Ringleader and set the stage. So I guess the score is now tied.

M4A1 continues her character growth as the series goes on, and while it could be said AR-15 has not received any development, AR-15 has stepped in for the absent M-16 providing Oneesan role M4A1 seems to need. It's nice to see the other T-Dolls take point on this one with Ingram, M14, and FN49 getting screen time. We also get to see PPSh-41 and Skorpion, who act as fill-ins for M-16 and M4 SOPMOD II; the latter has been placed with another unit.

Act Three opens where it all started, in the theatre. There’s a slight letdown here as the viewer is already aware that, unlike in previous episodes, no member of the AR-Team is held by Sangvis. Nevertheless, we are introduced to the newest Sangvis model, Model SP914, Intruder, Commander over Scarecrow, Executioner, and Hunter.

She’s a bit of a talker, and like her sisters, she has a flair for the dramatic. She is perhaps the most human having an affinity for the arts, namely theater and classical music. Under the lights of the stage, her skin has a light tan appearance, and she is given a more earthy appearance. It was implied in the series that there was not the same comradery among Sangvis Command units as there is among the T-Dolls, but her desire to place roses is a theatre reference thanking the artist for their performance.

She was a letdown for all her hype, her ability to make records start independently, and that mini-gun on her back. She is a typical villain and fails to kill her enemies when she has the chance. Dammit, she didn’t even bring the house down!! Despite this, it's evident from her voice acting that Yuko Otsubo had fun with this role, as did Yukari Tamura, the voice of SOPII. To her credit, Intruder is a true Diva, and her dying lines hold cryptic meaning.

I enjoyed this episode; it possessed humor, action, and warmth. The voice acting was good, and while it was the return of M16, Intruder stole the show. That small plus helps viewers overlook the pacing and the failure to build tension. Episode 8, here I come!