Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts
Land of the Lustrous Episode 2 Review – Quick Summary
In Land of the Lustrous episode 2, “Diamond,” Phosphophyllite (Phos) had gone past worrying about writing the encyclopedia. Now, they worried about the promise they had made to Cinnabar. Jade, sick of Phos’ pestering, suggested they find Diamond and Bort, who were on patrol. Phos found Diamond and asked for help, and being tender-hearted, Diamond did their best. But a Lunarian attack interrupted them. Can Diamond hold their own against the attack? Where’s Bort? And what’s the terrible, high-pitched noise that Phos hears every time Diamond deflects an attack?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Land of the Lustrous Episode 2
I suspect Rutile could have found a better phrase than “bottom rung.” I mean, ow! Capture from the Amazon Prime stream.
Rutile smacked Jade with a hammer. Literally. All in the name of science, of course! Rutile was testing Jade’s durability. After much complaining, Jade consented to more tests. They looked really painful — kinda like using a spoon to tap your teeth to see how strong they were!
After hammering away for a few minutes, Rutile stood. Phos, trying to be brave, put their arm out for their turn.
“Oh, you’re fine,” Rutile said (05:54). “I already know you’re the bottom rung.”
Gotta admit I felt a little sorry for Phos right then!
Best in Show Moment for Land of the Lustrous Episode 2
Phos wants to be better? Completely understandable. But Diamond wanting to be better? What’s better than Diamond? Capture from the Amazon Prime stream.
Setup: Phos Seeks out Diamond’s Help
Phos thought they had problems before! In the previous episode, Kongou had given Phos the task of writing their encyclopedia. Phos had driven themselves crazy trying to come up with ideas. In a desperate attempt to find something to write about, Phos had sought out Cinnabar. After Cinnabar had saved Phos’ life, Phos wanted to return the favor and promised to find something that only Cinnabar could do other than the night watch. So Cinnabar would not need to be alone anymore.
Of course, Phos had no idea how to deliver. It wasn’t for lack of trying! Phos just had no idea how to even generate ideas. From Phos’ perspective, they were a complete failure. Not only was Phos the weakest of their kind. They couldn’t do the one job Kongou had given them, much less help Cinnabar.
Phos looked on a world where everyone else seemed to have it all: Jade was the second hardest of the gems and seemed to always be in control. Rutile was the doctor they all relied on. Kongou was their teacher and leader. And Diamond? Diamond was stunningly beautiful and was tied with Bort as the hardest of all of them.
Phos desperately wanted to help Cinnabar. But they were out of ideas… Capture from the Amazon Prime stream.
Phos didn’t at all expect what they learned in the next scene.
Phos was surprised to find Diamond alone. Patrols were supposed to be in pairs! Phos didn’t have much time to ask for advice, though, because the Lunarians attacked. Diamond was really fired up. They stood fearlessly before the Lunarians and prepared to repel the invasion.
Delivery: Even Diamond Has Longings
Diamond Wants to Prove Themself
Diamond’s tactics were new and of their own creation, and at first, they seemed to work. However, it became clear that the tactics weren’t as effective as hoped. As the Lunarians prepared to take advantage of Diamond’s weakness, Diamond threw Phos aside, urging the green gem to get clear. Then, Diamond calmly waited for the end.
Bort arrived in the last instant and drove the enemy back. Bort, the same hardness as Diamond, was also much less brittle. Diamond’s expression looking at Bort was almost rapturous. It was clear there was devotion and appreciation there. Yet, Diamond said something that took Phos by surprise.
Diamond was ecstatic that Bort had saved them. Again. Capture from the Amazon Prime stream.
After calling Bort “the hardest and most perfect among us” (12:32), Diamond said in a longing voice, “I am truly the one who wishes to change. I wish I could be strong like that.”
Diamond’s Admission Shocked Phos
Phos, weakest of the gems, was dumbfounded. They tried to cheer up Diamond, saying they preferred Diamond’s kindness.
“A weak diamond is really no diamond at all” (12:56). Diamond’s longing expression, their attempt to smile through their pain, was heart-breaking, especially when viewed from Phos’ perspective.
One of the things that I adore about this show is how gently it draws us into each of the characters. The show could have focused on Phos and been interesting. I mean, it’s obvious the weakest gem would want to be more! Showing that even Diamond felt inadequate makes very clear the idea that the longing is universal. It doesn’t matter where you are on the scale of achievement. You can still want to be better. And of course, there are consequences to that desire.
Diamond didn’t just want to be protected. Diamond wanted to protect. Capture from the Amazon Prime stream.
Did you notice that the clouds in the sky actually move? I accidentally found that out when grabbing a screen capture around 07:20. The art in the show is breathtaking!
What did you think of Bort lecturing Diamond? What was your Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!
Land of the Lustrous Episode 2: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: [Spoilers] Houseki no Kuni – Episode 2 Discussion
- Wrong Every Time: Land of the Lustrous – Episode 2
- 100 Word Anime: Land of the Lustrous Episodes 2 + 3: It’s Like Someone Broke My Pet Rock
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
I haven’t seen this series. Are there Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Pearl or Topaz around?
My daughter might like this. She is a graduate gemologist and qualified by GIA to grade precious stones.
Kinda. In the reg color range, we have Cinnabar, Morganite, and Padparadscha (Corundum). No explicit sapphire, but there’s a blue gem named Benitoite. No exact emerald, though Phos is green; so is Jade. There’s no pearls (organically created), but there are Sphene and Zircon who have a topaz-like scheme.
Anilist has the whole list:
https://anilist.co/anime/98707/Land-of-the-Lustrous/characters
Your daughter has a very cool job! Sounds like it needs a lot of skill to tell the differences between the grades. Someone tried to show me before, and I couldn’t see the subtle differences at all.
Actually, not her job any more. GIA was a horrible employer and she didn’t like working retail jewelry. Now she is an EMT.
You should watch “Talentless Nana.” I think you’ll like it.
You’re second person in as many days to suggest that show! Zeke Changuris (Twitter @zekechanguris) recommended it.
I just finished the second episode. I don’t want to spoil anything here, but here’s my reaction to the last 5 minutes of episodes 1 and 2:
======80
Now, if they keep that pattern, it would wear out, so I think this is an occasion where the 3 episode rule is going to be important.
What do you think of it?
I think it’s GREAT. I checked out the manga before hand and got up to about chapter 20 before the anime came out. And up to that point? GREAT! I think you’ll appreciate the intelligence that goes into the series.
Cool — thanks for sharing your perspective! I’m really curious to see where they go in the third episode!