Hello and welcome to all readers. Originally, I intended to write about the last two episodes of Metallic Rouge in a single blog post. However, now that I’m in less of a hurry, I can afford to spread out my posts a bit more. This article, therefore, only covers Metallic Rouge episode 12. You can expect my review of the finale, episode 13, tomorrow or the next day. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my notes and recap of events for this installment.

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Episode 12: Mask Graveyard

Episode 12 felt messy and chaotic, but it entertained me nevertheless. To start things off, let’s look at the opening scenes of this episode. First, Opera reports to the Usurpers (AKA the Junoids), informing them that all is going according to plan. At the same time, Puppeteer is monologuing to an unresponsive Cyan, on whom he placed a creepy mask. I think the mask will allow him to control her better. He is probably planning to make her fight Rouge and the others, but we don’t know yet.

Meanwhile, Rouge and Naomi are quickly able to see through Giallon’s humorously bad impression of Gene. They expect a fight, but Giallon offers to lead them to Gene. His reasoning is that Jill has no sense of humor and is not providing an entertaining enough performance. Giallon wishes to shake things up and give the finger to Jill by helping her enemies. This is very much in keeping with what we know of the chaotic neutral character.

While that’s happening, Grauphon begins attacking Noir (Eden). Though Eden implores him to stop, Grauphon refuses to back down. To him, this is a duel to the death, to prove his profound love for Jill. I can only assume Grauphon was supposed to be mentally unstable, because he ultimately self-destructed when it wasn’t necessary. The explosion he caused only wounded Noir lightly, but as for Grauphon, he wouldn’t survive long. As he dies, Grauphon asks Eden to please put a stop to Jill’s violence.

This death was supposed to be sad and meaningful, but we had so little time with Grauphon that I don’t care. This is a problem with Metallic Rouge as a whole: the lack of significant character development for the supporting cast. In addition, Grauphon’s readiness to die just seems like a plot device to narrow down the allies of Jill. Grauphon’s death was neither well-written in concept nor well-executed.

Before I forget to mention it, Aes and Alice decided to betray Jill and help Gene. Aes was deeply saddened by the prospect of Grauphon’s death and sick of the violence. Alice told him to believe in himself, so he gave it a try. Eventually, Aes and Gene met up with Detective Ash, who tells them the identity of Puppeteer. But that’s a little later. Let’s rewind and check back in with Rouge and Naomi.

Jill suddenly attacks, stabbing Giallon with her scepter and throwing his body off a high overhang. The domineering Nean then asks Rouge to surrender her Id and die for the cause of releasing Code Eve. Rouge refuses and jumps into action, fighting heatedly with Jill. While they spar, the two female Neans are both proud of their own choices and free will. But unfortunately, for once, Rouge loses the battle. Jill stabs through her chest and grabs her id core. As Rouge collapses, Naomi abruptly runs away.

This section of the episode was the most important and interesting to me personally. It concludes the character arc of Naomi and establishes her bond with Rouge. Though she’s not bound by Asimov’s Laws, Naomi is an artificial lifeform who was made with specific tasks in mind. She was “programmed” to make logical decisions that would benefit the Visitors and stop the wars plotted by the Junoids. In the event that Rouge fails, Naomi’s instructions are to set off the mini black hole reactor and essentially destroy all of Venus.

I’m not at all convinced that wiping out Venus is “logical,” but think of it this way: Naomi’s “logic” demands that she listen to her programming and obey her orders. Leaving Rouge without a word, Naomi ran to the control room of the power plant. Strangely enough, Giallon helped her get there. He survived Jill’s attack and directed Naomi where she needed to go.

I think this was an important encounter because Giallon and Naomi are diametrically opposed: one is a complete hedonist, and the other still views herself as a machine with no humanity. Giallon’s presence and words were critical in swaying Naomi toward her final decision. Just as she is about to destroy the plant, she pauses. Unable to stop thinking about Rouge, Naomi finally gives in to her human heart, running back the way she came.

When she finds Rouge, Naomi apologizes repeatedly. Rouge is still alive, but barely. She doesn’t ask where Naomi went, but she does acknowledge the fact that she came back even though it wasn’t “logical” to do so. Naomi wonders aloud if she is broken, but Rouge tells her this is just how friendship works.

To solve the situation, Naomi extracts her own Id core and puts it into Rouge. It’s a temporary measure that will allow Rouge to assume her battle form and fight Jill once again. In the meantime, Naomi is confident that she can survive at least few hours without her core.

This conclusion to Naomi’s character arc was very satisfying to me. I can think of ways in which it could have been done even better, but this will suffice. I love the bond between Rouge and Naomi. It’s truly the heart of this anime.

In the last few minutes of the episode, Ash and Aes meet up with Rouge and Naomi, who are facing off again with Jill. Ash reveals the identity of Puppeteer, and Rouge gapes at her father as he removes his mask. Meanwhile, Gene and Eden went elsewhere and opened some kind of control module to see if they can stop Code Eve from being released. To be continued.

~Thanks for reading~

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