Episode 1: Those with Shipping Routes
Review Of Arpeggio Of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – Episode 1: Traitor To Humanity, Traitor To The Fog
In Arpeggio of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – episode 1, “Those with Shipping Routes,” Gunzou Chihaya struggled to evade the shadow of his father while attending naval officer training, but the other students were reluctant to let him succeed. On a top secret visit to a captured Fleet of Fog submarine, Gunzou touched the side of the vessel, and its reaction to his touch alarmed his fellow students and instructors. Later, a new student named Iona asked to meet her later near the harbor. Is she playing a trick on him — one of many perpetuated by the other students because of his father’s uncertain past? Or is there something more going on here?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 2: Into the Storm
Review Of Arpeggio Of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – Episode 2: The Eye Of The Storm And Lurking In The Shadows
In Arpeggio of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – episode 2, “Into the Storm,” Gunzou Chihaya, Iona, and their crew face their toughest challenge yet: the powerful heavy cruiser controlled by the Mental Model Takao. The heavy cruiser is sitting in the eye of a typhoon, right between the I-401, her active decoys, and the course to their next port. Gunzou determines they have to sink their enemy here, so she won’t harm the port or the surrounding town. As he begins his attack, their enemy behaves unexpectedly. They’re far outside her sonar range, so his submarine should be safe, right? But Gunzou doesn’t like the feeling he gets as they surface.
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Episode 3: The Fortress Port of Yokosuka
Review Of Arpeggio Of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – Episode 3: A Forceful Invitation And A Double Threat
In Arpeggio of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – episode 3, “The Fortress Port of Yokosuka,” Gunzou Chihaya, Iona, and crew finally arrive in Yokosuka for re-supply. The navy welcomes them with open arms, but the army seems considerably more hostile. As Gunzou and Iona visit the cemetery commemorating the war dead, army troops surround them and “invite” them to dinner — after having extended a similar invitation to the rest of the crew. At dinner, Ryoukan Kita, a former admiral and now a member of the Diet, “requests” that they turn the I-401 over to the government. How will Gunzou and Iona react when more armed soldiers surround them? And should they be bickering among themselves as shells begin to pound the defensive walls across the water?
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Episode 4: Assault on Yokosuka
Review Of Arpeggio Of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – Episode 4: The Sunken City And The Splitting Sea
In Arpeggio of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – episode 4, “Assault on Yokosuka,” Haruna and Kirishima begin their relentless attack on the port fortress of Yokosuka. As the human ships quickly fell, Haruna recorded and categorized their crews’ last words. Apparently, she’s an aficionado of human language. Kirishima, on the other hand, is a fan of battle lust, and she throws herself unabashedly into the fight. Gunzou Chihaya, Iona, and crew use the sunken city of old Yokosuka as cover, but what good is cover when the two fast battle ships can part the sea and yank the I-401 to the surface? Their combined might suspended the submarine in midair. What can even Iona with her human crew do against such reckless power? Will they soon experience regret, that word that Haruna recently stored — and that Kirishima ridiculed?
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Episode 5: Not Human
Review Of Arpeggio Of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – Episode 5: The Rise Of HaruHaru And The Teddy Bear Of Doom
In Arpeggio of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – episode 5, “Not Human,” Gunzou Chihaya takes stock of the battle’s aftermath and decides he had to take Iona and the rest of the crew back to their hidden base at Iwoto. Meanwhile, young Makie Osakabe brought the unconscious Haruna back to her mansion. Makie quickly bonds with the Mental Model, who’s unsure how to proceed. Obviously, using her finite supply of nano-materials to restore Kirishima is near the top of the list, but their plans are interrupted by one of the maids who seems to know more than she should. Will the two Mental Models be able to hide their true identities? What’s drawing so incredibly much power in the basement? And why is Kirishima so amused at how Makie’s nickname for Haruna?
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Episode 6: Arpeggio of Blue Steel
Review Of Arpeggio Of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – Episode 6: Tragic Misunderstandings And A Cry For Help
In Arpeggio of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – episode 6, “Arpeggio of Blue Steel,” soldiers invade the mansion where Makie Osakabelives. Haruna tries to stop the soldiers, but when Makie sees the Mental Model in action, she recoils — but not for the reason Haruna and Kirishima assumed. Grief overwhelming her, Haruna sends Kirishima off with orders to protect Makie while Haruna tries to distract the soldiers. Her strength, though, has still not recovered, and the battle begins to go badly. Not only that, but what Makie confides in Kirishima changes the whole conflict. Will either Mental Model or the Design Child make it through the night alive?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 7: Iwoto
Review Of Arpeggio Of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – Episode 7: The Maiden Plugin And The Calm Before The Storm
In Arpeggio of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – episode 7, “Iwoto,” Gunzou Chihaya ordered Iona and the rest of the crew back to their secret base at Iwoto. They brought Haruna, Makie Osakabe, and Kirishima along for the ride. They are all surprised to find the heavy cruiser Takao waiting for them! What’re her intentions? Is it true that she and Hyuuga have some kind of plan to separate Gunzou from Iona? Meanwhile, Kongou showed that she could track Haruna and Kirishima, even to Gunzou’s previously hidden base. She intends to extract payment from Gunzou for his disruptions to her orderly fleets. What is she willing to do to achieve her quest? Or would it be more accurate to ask what she wouldn’t do?
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Episode 8: House of Dolls
Review Of Arpeggio Of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – Episode 8: Hyuuga Ascending And The Unholy Allure Of Dogma
In Arpeggio of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – episode 8, “House of Dolls,” Kongou and Maya blockade Gunzou Chihaya’s base at Iwoto. Gunzou pursues a novel strategy: he asks Hyuuga to invite Kongou and Maya to visit. He also asks Iona to greet them, which she does — along with Takao. Knowing the destructive capabilities of a Mental Model — especially one as powerful as Kongou — is Gunzou wise to let her come ashore? Can Iona take care of herself if the meeting goes sour? And is it possible that their fates will be decided by something as mundane as a bell pepper?
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Episode 9: Desperate Escape
Review Of Arpeggio Of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – Episode 9: Kongou On The Edge And Nearly Perfect Tactics
In Arpeggio of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – episode 9, “Desperate Escape,” Gunzou Chihaya and Iona attempt to run Kongou and Maya’s blockade. But they learn about something that shakes Iona to her core: the full extend of Kongou’s hatred. They also learn that hatred is driving Kongou to act irrationally — and dangerously! Even with the full support of Takao and Hyuuga, do they stand a chance of getting past Kongou — much less making it to America? And if they make it past Kongou, are they really in the clear?
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Episode 10: Devotion of Self
Review Of Arpeggio Of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – Episode 10: The Crushing Depth And The Measure Of Her Love
In Arpeggio of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – episode 10, “Devotion of Self,” the I-401 continues to sink after being attacked by her sister ships in the previous episode. The mounting pressure crushes more and more of the damaged ship. How long will Iona be able to maintain hull integrity — and the life of Gunzou Chihaya? Meanwhile, Takao, Hyuuga, and Haruna continue their fruitless search for Iona and Gunzou. How far is Takao willing to go to find Gunzou? What is Hyuuga willing to do to find Iona? And will their efforts even matter?
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Episode 11: Sisters
Review Of Arpeggio Of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – Episode 11: A Tragic Reunion And Kongou Unchained
In Arpeggio of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – episode 11, “Sisters,” the upgraded I-401 has to face off against a Fleet of Fog barricade and learns that yes, Takao’s sacrifice made Iona’s ship surpassingly powerful. Her sisters will put her capabilities to the test as the I-400 and I-402 continue to pursue — aggressively. How will Gunzou Chihaya approach this battle? Can he leverage the other Mental Models (the bodiless Takao, along with Hyuuga, Haruna, and Kirishima)? Can Iona get through to her sisters using the Concept Communication System? Or will the cool-headed efficiency of those sisters prevail? And how will Kongou react to her imprisonment?
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Episode 12: The Power to Open a Path
Review Of Arpeggio Of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – Episode 12: Running On Missiles And Fine Being Alone
In Arpeggio of Blue Steel – Ars Nova – episode 12, “The Power to Open a Path,” Kongou revealed her final form: A Death Star-like construct that was so huge it used nine cruisers to fire a single super gravity cannon blast. How is the I-401 going to fight that? As they discuss options, Iona expresses her desire to communicate directly with Kongou. Gunzou Chihaya confirms that yes, that means she has a free will — and the other Mental Models embrace the concept as the key to their freedom. But before they can do anything about that, they have to deal with Kongou, and she is utterly consumed by the idea of killing Iona, all of her friends — and more. What can a single ship, even a combined heavy cruiser/submarine, do against such reckless hate?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.