Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts
Infinite Stratos Season 1 Episode 12 – Quick Summary
In Infinite Stratos Season 1 episode 12, “Your Name Is,” with Ichika still out of commission, Houki, Charlotte, Cecilia, Laura, and Ren came up with a plan to face the Gospel without him. But despite fighting together very well, within a few minutes of the start of the engagement, Houki found herself on her back in a crater — a created when her IS unit, Akatsubaki, took too multiple critical hits and crashed. Cecilia fell shortly after Houki. Even Charlotte’s powerful shields were no match for the Gospel. Reduced to 40% of their fighting strength, what chance do they have now? And will Ichika ever regain consciousness?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Infinite Stratos Season 1 Episode 12
Houki is learning that she doesn’t need to pretend to be someone she’s not. Capture from the Blu Ray.
We’re at the end of the first season, and now I fully remember why I rated this as a 9 out of 10 on My Anime List. Yes, I know its average rating there is 6.64. But it’s too much bother for me to try thinking like other folks. I’m too busy trying to figure out how the hell I think.
It’s a chore, I can tell you that.
But the reason I like this show so much is that I like characters like Houki. The others, too, but I’ve known people like Houki, and she feels more authentic than you might expect. So when she dropped her defenses and spoke from her heart, it was endearing to see.
The Gospel had knocked her out of the sky. As she lost consciousness, she thought of how much she missed Ichika. At this point in the story, she thought he might never wake up again. Falling into despair was a real danger.
He brought her back to consciousness. When she saw he was not only okay but back in fighting condition, she actually wept with relief.
She said (09:36), “I’m… so glad… that you’re alright.”
She’s usually so cantankerous that seeing her express genuine relief, in other words, her honest feelings, made me like her even more.
Favorite Moment from Infinite Stratos Season 1 Episode 12
Her IS unit’s fourth-generation special ability surprised Houki. Capture from the Blu Ray.
Setup: Our Last Fun with Dub and Sub for This Series
In the previous section, I mentioned I had rated this season as a 9 out of 10. I rated season 2 as a 6. Even if I could find it on a legal streaming service, I don’t want to review it. I’m a happier person if I pretend this was the only season.
If you liked the second season, good for you! I’d even love to know what you liked about it. Maybe I’ll find an angle I can work with! I’m completely open to changing my mind about stuff like this.
Anyway, I only had a couple of dub versus sub observations that explain why I liked this dub better than this sub:
- Around 05:55, when Laura saw the Gospel changing modes:
- Dub: “Mein Gott! It shifted into secondary mode!”
- Sub: “Oh, no! Secondary shift!”
- Around 13:53, when Cecilia used Blue Tears to attract the Gospel’s attention to relief the pressure on her comrades:
- Dub: “I’m right over here, you monster!”
- Sub: “And here I am!”
Cecilia showed she’s good in a fight. Very good. Capture from the Blu Ray.
- Around 21:43, when Laura, Charlotte, Ren, and Cecilia discovered Ichika and Houki about to share a kiss; Ren just suggested they kill the two of them:
- Dub: “Well, maybe just a flesh wound!”
- Sub: Just maniacal laughter.
That last one might actually be a tie. Cecilia’s maniacal laugh was equal parts cute and terrifying.
Delivery: Yes, It’s Cliche, But…
Houki, Now More Than a Standard Tsundere
I fully admit this moment is a cliche. It might actually be a trope, but in the context of this show, I’m trying to be very honest and classify it as a cliche. But the moment still made me smile.
This happened after Houki had shown how relieved she felt about Ichika’s recovery. She had been fighting well beside the other women. Overall, she was experiencing her first shared combat, and though I’ve never experienced it, I think I understood what it meant to come under fire beside people you can trust to fight beside you. Houki sure picked up on that.
I really wish we could recreate that kind of thing under non-lethal conditions. But that’s out of scope for this post!
Anyway, Ichika had just greeted all of his comrades. They were ready to resume the attack against the Gospel. All of them except Houki flew off. She said (11:34), “Ah, Ichika!” Then she closed her eyes and thought, “I want to fight alongside you. I want to have your back.”
Akatsubaki and Its Fourth-Gen Special Ability
Akatsubaki chose that moment to show its fourth-generation special ability. She could act as an in-flight refueling platform for Ichika and the others!
Houki wasn’t only the IS equivalent of a KC-135; she retained her maneuverability and offensive capabilities. Fourth-gen units are impressive! Capture from the Blu Ray.
The animation evoked a feeling of religious epiphany. The music added an air of awe. Yeah, it’s cliche. Yes, it was a manufactured moment. But it fit so well into the scene, and it was such a natural progression for Houki, and it’s my favorite moment of the episode.
And for the record, instead of running from Cecila, Laura, Ren, and Charlotte at the end? Ichika should have invited them to land for a group chat. He should have shown some spine and setup the harem rules right there and then. Maybe he could have asked Charlotte to broker the deal! But no, he freaked out and ran.
Well, I guess all of the harem main characters (MCs) can’t be Arata Kasuga.
What did you think of their battle against the Gospel? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to share in the comments!
Infinite Stratos Season 1 Episode 12: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: [Rewatch] IS: Infinite Stratos – Episode 12 (Spoilers)
- AngryAnimeBitches Anime Blog: Infinite Stratos 11 + 12 [Final Impressions]
- Lost in Anime: Infinite Stratos – 12 (End)
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Infinite Stratos Season 1 Episode 1: All of My Classmates Are Female
- Infinite Stratos Season 1 Episode 2: Class Representative Match!
- Infinite Stratos Season 1 Episode 3: The Transfer Student is the Second Childhood Friend
- Infinite Stratos Season 1 Episode 4: Showdown! The Class League Match!
- Infinite Stratos Season 1 Episode 5: Boy Meets Boy
- Infinite Stratos Season 1 Episode 6: My Roommate is a Young, Blonde Nobleman
- Infinite Stratos Season 1 Episode 7: Blue Days, Red Switch
- Infinite Stratos Season 1 Episode 8: Discover My Mind
- Infinite Stratos Season 1 Episode 9: Ocean’s Eleven
- Infinite Stratos Season 1 Episode 10: Thin Red Line
- Infinite Stratos Season 1 Episode 11: Get Ready
- Infinite Stratos Season 1 Episode 12: Your Name Is
