When I first read about this series I thought we would be getting the actual USA and USSR, not fantasy versions. Although this setting also has vampires so I guess that already sets a precedent for a being a little more fantastical take on the Space Race
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The Opening is fittingly operatic and atmospheric for a Vampire Romance/Space story, showing off the main cast, Irina's attempts with Lev to become fit for space, and the pair together
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Malty is so cute! Shame what happened to him though
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So Lev has good rankings but for some reason is basically a reserve with no chance of becoming a Cosmonaut? He seems dedicated and passionate about it, so what happened
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I guess it makes sense that if you want to put someone into space without wasting your actual resources, you'd grab a nominally immortal monster who you can send up there with plausible deniability while posing her as a Cosmonaut on paper. Irina seems to have some fascination with the Space Program to go along with why she's putting up with this to some extent
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There's something to be said for how fitting it is that Megumi Hayashibara, one of the most prolific and legendary female seiyuu whose voice is barely showing its age after all these years, playing a beautiful, immortal, vampire girl in Irina. And she is beautiful! Lev already seems enraptured in her
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I wonder if the reason Irina distrusts humans so much is because of whatever happened to the rest of the vampires? The intro showed her alone in a desolate, snow-covered, village. I assume Lev's earnestness, kindness, and honestly, will make him the first human she trusts again, and quite possibly falls in love with
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Anya is her health manager and seems pretty cute, and I guess maybe both Lev and Anya will be first two humans she learns to trust and rely on versus the government
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So vampires don't die by the sun, it just weakens them and can give them heatstroke, and crosses do nothing to them (although Lev trying to protect her when he thought it was bothering her was hilarious). So is a stake effective on her as much as it is anyone else? And what about blood? She doesn't seem to have an insatiable craving for it, but she still has those fangs, so there's got to be something she needs blood for
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Look at that focus on Irina's mouth and tongue
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I would say she's definitely good with the cold when she can just stand around in her cold cell without pants on, showing off those luscious legs
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Even Kikuo Inoue is in this
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The Ending is pretty nice and serene, with Lev and Irin riding with each other and Irina either staring at him or at space (or both!)
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Next week: Irina in sports clothes and a swimsuit
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