There's some truth to what
Dahak86 wrote.
As much as I've largely enjoyed Shana III, I did miss some of the unpredictable "chaotic" action scenes and confrontations of the two previous Shana seasons. Almost everything in Shana III has been very well-executed, but the overall narrative has progressed in a fairly straightforward manner since around the time Shana escaped from Bal Masque quite a few episodes ago.
So this episode was the perfect time to bring in a welcomed, unpredictable "X Factor" in powerful highly independent agents in Pheles and Johan. That did a lot to spice up the Shana & Wilhelmina vs. Yuji & Sydonay fight, as great as the first few minutes of it was anyway (truly
glorious visuals on JC Staff's part there with Shana's raging at Yuji).
With this in mind, the conversation between Yuji and Johan was very interesting
"I'm going to blow away this moment you guys had."-
Johan Ha ha ha ha!!!
I have to admit I loved how Yuji kind of "got told" and upstaged by the showboating romantic Johan there, lol.
It was also particularly nice to see Shana briefly put aside the entire broader fight out of concern over Yuji losing his Reigi Maigo. Having characters conflicted over multiple and somewhat contradictory goals is something that this anime series has done very well, and I think it adds a certain dynamism and realism to everything.
I also liked how several important secondary characters (including Pheles and Johan) truly shined in this episode.
This episode struck me as Kazumi Yoshida's finest hour. I have to also give JC Staff credit for the way they drew and animated her in some scenes. Kazumi had a real aura and mystique about her in this episode, not to mention some added hotness, to put it bluntly. With the way Kazumi was presented in this episode, I'm starting to think that
Kristen had the right idea all along!
And
wow... my boy Dantalion, do you ever come prepared! You should be making mechs for the entire Principality of Zeon with
that sort of talent, and what an incredible refitting of the big tower. Dantalion is starting to seem like a match for Sonic the Hedgehog's Dr. Eggman.
Also have to love the "Shining Fist" nickname. Looks like Dantalion and
Steins;Gate's Okabe Rintaro also have naming schemes in common, not simply the whole "mad scientist" motif.
And yeah, the whole minivan crashes the big fight and makes off with the two lovers and Kazumi's magically floating body was so wondrously lolzy.
Good to see that the Shana anime hasn't lost its hilariously zany spirit even amidst all the epic drama and warfare.
So,
10/10 for this episode! I did find it a bit hard to follow in some places, but it's standout strengths more than made up for it.
In fact, if there's
any Shana episode that really showcases all of the various strengths that makes this series as great as it is, it's this one. It somehow managed to bring them altogether.
Really looking forward to the next episode!