Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts
Land of the Lustrous Episode 10 Review – Quick Summary
In Land of the Lustrous episode 10, “Shiro,” Bort seemed very interested in Phosphophyllite (Phos)’s newfound abilities. So interested, in fact, that Bort asked Phos to train with them. There are only two problems with that. First, Phos was terrified of Bort, and that has gotten only a little better after Phos’ upgrades. The far bigger problem is that Bort already has a partner: Diamond. How will Diamond take the news? What will that do to Diamond’s already shaking self-confidence? That question comes into sharp relief when, on their first patrol together, Bort and Phos encounter a new kind of Lunarian. Will the gems’ relationships get in the way of their defense? Or be the key to their victory?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Land of the Lustrous Episode 10
Only Phos would ask if the hand had gotten stuck. Capture from the Amazon stream.
Bort and Phos stood in shocked silence as a brand new kind of Lunarian seemed to tear its way through the sky. An enormous, hairy hand with gigantic claws tore through the blue sky and reached for the ground. Then, for an instant, it froze.
One of the things I like about Phos is that Phos is Phos, regardless of the situation. Lost both arms? Has a smartass comeback. Lying shattered on the beach? Can’t find an answer for Cinnabar? Same. An irreverent statement is always seconds away.
Phos remained true to form when they looked at the enormous frozen hand and asked (10:56), “Do you think it’s… stuck?”
Best in Show Moment for Land of the Lustrous Episode 10
Diamond faced the creature alone. What would they decide to do? Capture from the Amazon stream.
Setup: Diamond’s Faltering Self Confidence
There were several scenes in this episode where I completely forgot I was watching animation. Just after Bort and Phos left on patrol, Euclase ran to Rutile and Jade and asked if they’d heard about Bort taking on Phos as a partner. Rutile was blasé about it. Euclase, though knew Diamond wouldn’t take it well and tried to explain. But just then, Diamond walked in.
I swear, the scene where Diamond walked across the screen as a terribly concerned Euclase watched (09:11) transcended the medium. I wasn’t watching anime — I was watching Euclase being concerned for their friend. The moment was so well-presented that it spoke directly to my imagination.
Disbelief had absolutely been suspended.
Euclase’s expression and voice actor (Mamiko Noto) and even the soundtrack elevated this scene to pure emotion. Capture from the Amazon stream.
But this is Land of the Lustrous. This amazing moment was simply a precursor to an even more amazing moment.
Diamond did not take the news of Bort teaming up with Phos well. Not well at all. To see how badly, consider what they said just after the scene I referenced above. Seeming to defend Bort, Diamond said (09:20), “Bort is never wrong and always, ALWAYS makes the right choice. Sometimes…” Diamond paused, tilted their head, and tried to smile their brightest. “I almost hate it.”
So while Bort and Phos went on patrol, Diamond picked flowers for the vases throughout the compound. Which left them a perfect targer for the creature Shiro.
Delivery: Diamond Relies on Diamond
Bort Ordered a Retreat
In a moment so momentous that it’d be my favorite in another series, Bort ordered a retreat. Let that sink in for a second. Bort, the strongest of the gems, the one who slays every Lunarian that gets close, ordered a retreat.
“We have no chance of winning,” they said (13:08).
“Well, listen to you!” Phos said in appreciation.
The creature followed them back to the compound and got past them — plunging further in, where it found Diamond. The thing was as fast as it was huge. Diamond barely had time to see it before it was on them. They ran.
The creature was enormous. Fast, too. It was all Bort and Phos could do to say ahead of it. Capture from the Amazon stream.
Diamond on the Run
Diamond’s smart. They found a room with shelving, and they were able to hide behind that as the creature searched. In that quiet lull, Diamond almost crumbled in on themselves. For an instant, their courage failed, and they gasped (19:03), “Somebody…”
Diamond was about to ask that Bort come save them. Diamond bowed her head, still hidden in the shelves. The memory of Bort walking out on patrol with Phos flashed into their mind.
Diamond wanted to prove their worth to Bort.
“No,” Diamond said quietly (19:03). “I’ve got to do this on my own!”
I watch fiction looking for moments like this. Since we first met Diamond, we’ve known of their complicated feelings for Bort. Now we see what form those feelings take when Diamond’s life is on the line.
I’d like to talk about how utterly reckless and badass Diamond was. But her decision not to flee to stand set the stage. Capture from the Amazon stream.
I want to talk about the battle. Like about how Diamond, with only her right leg still intact, attacked the behemoth with the stump of her right arm. How badass is that? But it was made possible because Diamond decided to stand on their own.
What did you think of the new type of Lunarian? What was our Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!
Land of the Lustrous Episode 10: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: [Spoilers] Houseki no Kuni – Episode 10 discussion
- A Piece of Anime: Land of the Lustrous Episode 10 Review
- Mori Mole’s Star Wars and other Geek Stuff: Land of the Lustrous Episode 10 — review and recap | A Doggy Lunarian Appears
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Land of the Lustrous Episode 1 Review: Phosphophyllite
- Land of the Lustrous Episode 2 Review: Diamond
- Land of the Lustrous Episode 3 Review: Metamorphose
- Land of the Lustrous Episode 4 Review: Soul – Flesh – Bone
- Land of the Lustrous Episode 5 Review: Return
- Land of the Lustrous Episode 6 Review: First Battle
- Land of the Lustrous Episode 7 Review: Hibernation
- Land of the Lustrous Episode 8 Review: Antarcticite
- Land of the Lustrous Episode 9 Review: Spring
- Land of the Lustrous Episode 10 Review: Shiro
- Land of the Lustrous Episode 11 Review: Secrets
- Land of the Lustrous Episode 12 Review: New Work
Oh, I have been waiting for next episode and it turns out just amazing. Diamond really had got guts…! Loved your blog!
This show is so good that it’s almost exhausting!
I agree with you — Diamond has an abundance of courage, that’s for sure!
I spoke of this in general terms in an earlier comment… After Diamond’s run back to compound. This is their second Crowning Moment Of Pure Awesome – they’re shattered, tossed aside… and still they charge back to the attack _wielding their own broken off leg_ as a club! (starts as 20:24 or so.)
Talk about sheer badassery! You’re right — using their own broken off leg as a club was amazing. So was using the sharp edge of their shattered arm as a blade!
Good stuff.