Extraterrestrials are often used as plot devices in science fiction. Sometimes, the aliens are blended into the story in a smooth, convincing way, but other times, they seem like they were conveniently and hurriedly inserted into a narrative. In either case, the extraterrestrials usually serve an important purpose for the main plot. In fact, the plot couldn’t be explained without them at all. For example, the Tralfamadorians in Slaughterhouse-Five are solely responsible for showing the main character, Billy Pilgrim, the true nature of time.

In the original anime Metallic Rouge, as early as the second episode, two types of extraterrestrials were mentioned. These were the Visitors (AKA the X Noah) and the Usurpers (AKA the Junoids). Both played important parts in human history since appearing forty years ago. (The current year is 2128, FYI.) Despite being mentioned early on, the extraterrestrials were largely left out of the narrative until episode 9. Here, they reappeared to explain some missing pieces of the plot.

As we discover in episode 9, the Visitors were the ones who bestowed upon humanity the technology that allowed them to create Neans – semi-biotic androids with brains as complex as those of humans. This is a good example of aliens being used as a plot device. Rather than trying to spin a narrative in which humans create Neans by themselves, the writers of Metallic Rouge simply had the aliens do the dirty work. The Visitors are basically gods who provided “magic” technology and laid the groundwork for the story to happen.

If the topic of aliens as plot devices interests you, or you appreciate sci-fi in general, you might consider checking out Metallic Rouge. It’s nothing mind-blowing, but it’s entertaining, with a nice art-style and good music. Now then, without further ado, here are my notes and responses to Metallic Rouge episodes 8 and 9.

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Episode 8: Nowhere House

There is a lot to cover for episode 8, so buckle in for a long episode review. Rather than recap the all the events, I’ll just comment on different elements of the episode that stuck out to me. To start with, we learned something important about Rouge’s psychological development. According to her “father,” Dr. Jungheart, Rouge was extremely quick to develop physical strength and athletic/acrobatic abilities. Conversely, her mental growth was very slow for a proto-Nean.

This explains why Rouge is still childlike in many ways. She was created seventeen years ago, but her mental maturity is probably less than that of an average human of the same age. Some viewers – including myself – have complained that Rouge is too thoughtless and naïve. Some would even call her stupid. But now we have a believable explanation for why she is so childlike. I appreciate Rouge’s spacey nature, and I empathize as someone who was stunted in many ways during childhood. I still sometimes doubt that I’ve “caught up” to my age.

This episode contains a quick reference to the novella Animal Farm by George Orwell. In one of Dr. Jungheart’s memories, we see Gene reading a book to Rouge. You can’t make out the title, but based on what Gene reads aloud, it must be Animal Farm. It’s the part where the animals are choosing societal roles and the raven becomes the pastor.

I think the makers of Metallic Rouge referenced Animal Farm very intentionally for this episode. The book is about a bunch of farm animals who rebel against their human masters and start their own little society and government. In the end, their society fails. It’s no better than it was under the humans. The pigs simply became the new abusive overlords. Power-hungry individuals still rose to power and ruthlessly ruled over normal citizens.

How is this related to Metallic Rouge? Well, in this episode, Rouge comes to the conclusion that a violent revolution to free Neans would do more harm than good. I think the show is trying to argue that, if Neans were freed at this moment in history, they would essentially create an “Animal Farm.” A power-hungry oligarchy would form and perhaps be even worse than humans. That’s why Gene and Rouge chose order over chaotic freedom.

This is a good Segway into the heart of what I wanted to rant about in this episode: Rouge’s choice to fight the Immortal Nine. I do understand how one might try to use the reasoning of “order over chaos” until a more stable time. But who decides when the time is right? To me, this sounds like an excuse for the privileged to continue enslaving sentient beings. When you compare Neans to human slaves, the situation suddenly gets very icky, doesn’t it?

Now, some would make the argument that this is an equivocation fallacy. They reason that Neans were made by humans as a subservient species, so we can do whatever we want with them. However, I do not subscribe to the viewpoint that just because we created something means we own it. Parents do not own their children, for instance. Neans, in this universe, are androids capable of thinking and feeling to the same level as humans. Therefore, regardless of who or what made them, they deserve equal rights.

I clearly disagree with Rouge and with what appears to be the theme of this anime as a whole. (I suppose the show could still surprise me with a twist that Rouge and Gene were wrong.) Personally, I think equal rights for sentient humanoids is more important than maintaining order in society. After all, a society that allows this level of mistreatment of said humanoids is not worth protecting. Even if the Neans fell into the trap of “Animal Farm” in the end – or even if thousands die in a bloody revolutionary war – it is better to have tried to win freedom than to resign to slavery before ever trying.

That’s my actual stance, but it’s not like I’m going to get upset or stop watching Metallic Rouge because of this disagreement. I am still very interested in this story. I’ve watched and thoroughly enjoyed other series that bring up similar issues and fall on the side of fascist order over chaotic freedom. From The New World is the best example, as the humans there enslave the equally intelligent Queer-Rats. I should still be able to appreciate the series and what it might have to say.

(Note: Some might try to argue that Rouge is one of the enslaved Neans, and thus her opinion is more valid somehow. Even if she was a normal Nean, one pick-me from the oppressed side doesn’t speak for everyone on that side. More importantly, Rouge is not one of the enslaved people. She is in a very privileged position as a special Nean who is not bound by the Asimov Code. Her opinion might as well be coming from a human.)

Moving on, this episode was the first to officially introduce Cyan, the “little sister” of Rouge. She’s a proto-Nean of the same type as Rouge, and appears to have been made by Eva Kristella. Though Eva supposedly died in an accident seventeen years ago – after creating Rouge – I suspect she is still alive somewhere. As for Cyan, I don’t know why she’s so keen on killing Rouge. I look forward to learning more about this character and her motivations.

A few other important things happened – mostly Jill’s attack on the Alethia HQ. Rouge engages Jill and another proto-Nean (name unknown) in battle. Ash and Noid-262 tag along, intending to meet up with reinforcements from Ochrona. But those reinforcements, upon arrival, shoot at Noid for no reason. Afterward, they don’t even care about their mistake, because the victim was a Nean and not a human. Noid dies in pain after telling Ash that their time together was special and made him forget he was a Nean.

I haven’t said much at all about Noid in my previous episode reviews. That’s because he didn’t seem to be a terribly important character, nor a terribly interesting one to me personally. The same goes with Detective Ash. I don’t really give a crap about him. However, I did start to like Noid a bit more in the last couple of episodes. Regardless of how interested I am in his character, his death was still surprisingly sad. It just goes to show that this society that abuses Nean isn’t worth protecting. Rest in peace.

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Episode 9: The Ones Who Visited

The battle at Aletheia continues with Aes, Jill, and Grauphon (another one of the Immortal nine) fighting against Rouge, Gene, and Varock. Grauphon captures Gene, demanding Rouge’s life in exchange for her brother’s. Jill rips out Varock’s Id core, but he is able to survive in his human form. Then Jill and her team escape on a ship, taking Gene with them. Rouge tries to follow, but Cyan interferes and starts fighting her. Thanks to Naomi’s help, however, Cyan gets shut down from her fighting form and captured.

With the battle over, Naomi takes Rouge on to a mysterious ship outside the planet. It’s a spacecraft belonging to the Visitors, the benign alien race that made contact with Earth forty years ago. Only a select few ever get the chance to speak with the Visitors. Some humans, like Ash, think of the Visitors as gods, because in a sense, they came from a “higher realm,” and they are capable of technology that creates sentient artificial life. It was the Visitors who made the first Neans and gave humans the technology.

On the way to their audience with the Visitors, Naomi reveals her true identity to Rouge. She is actually a proto-Nean created by the Visitors to communicate with Earthlings. As the earliest created Nean, Naomi’s original name was simply “First.” I didn’t see this coming, to be honest. I always thought Naomi was a human. But this does track based on hints we’ve seen here and there, such as Naomi’s high rank within Aletheia and her knowledge of alien war machines.

During the meeting with the Visitors, Rouge learned a lot and discovered what she wanted to do from there. I’ll explain quickly. The Visitors lost their home planet, so they contacted the humans to make a deal. In return for the technology of Neans, the humans would surrender Venus to the Visitors for their new home. Meanwhile, the Usurpers (the enemy aliens) are waiting for a chance to restart their war. If Neans were to rebel, the Usurpers could take advantage of the chaos. Thus, they are backing the Neans – but for their own selfish reasons.

The Visitors, also known as the X Noah species, are highly logical, but also ethical in their own way. They don’t believe in violence or forcing their will on others – at least, that’s how they treat humans. But when it comes to Neans, who are arguably their own creations, the Visitors turn to cold logic. They consider it acceptable to use Neans as tools and slaves.

Seeing that humans, Visitors and Usurpers are all trying to use Neans for their own ends, Rouge is frustrated. She’s appalled by the heartless logic of the aliens. She decides to go to Venus, where the Usurpers are apparently making their move. Even though the Visitors assert that it’s most logical for Rouge to stay safe in their ship, she insists on leaving for Venus. I was actually happy to see Rouge react this way. She’s come a long way from blind obedience to being able to assert her free will.

As the Usurpers start attacking Venus and Jupiter, Naomi and Rouge head toward the action to save Gene and stop the war. But before the end of the episode, there’s one other scene that I appreciated a lot. It shows Rouge and Naomi reconciling with each other. Rouge was still angry at Naomi for betraying her. Naomi explained that if she hadn’t arrested Rouge at that time, she would have been seized and dismantled by another branch of Aletheia or Ochrona.

Even after that explanation, Rouge didn’t feel better until she punched Naomi once. Then she offered Naomi a hand to stand back up. Naomi smiled and took her friend’s hand, realizing that Rouge needs her. The two Neans are now friends again. The duo is finally back together!

~Thanks for reading~

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PATREON