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Lycoris Recoil Episode 11 – Quick Summary
In Lycoris Recoil episode 11, “Diamond cut diamond,” Chisato and Mika impatiently waited for Robota to tell them where they were going. So much so that Chisato almost put her foot through the dashboard! Where is Robota telling them to go? Meanwhile, Kurumi and Mizuki prepared to leave the country. Are they really going to go? Why is Kurumi researching a dilapidated building from her airplane seat? Finally, Takina grew increasingly anxious about Chisato’s safety. That anxiety grew after Chisato didn’t answer her phone. Will Takina stay with DA? Or will she strike out on her own?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Lycoris Recoil Episode 11
Takina’s goals are crystal clear. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Takina has come a long way since we first saw her pick up a machine gun. Back then, DA had been her life. When they’d kicked her out to cover for the debacle with the gun dealer, she’d been devastated.
That’s not the same Takina we saw in this episode.
Takina in this episode had been going along with DA only to get information about Shinji’s location so she could help Chisato. The information that Kurumi kept feeding Takina helped her realize that Chisato was going into harm’s way – at the old radio tower. She learned this in the middle of an operation. Takina had been following Fuki and her team as they moved into position in the new tower.
She told Fuki that she was leaving. Fuki told her this was her last chance – if she left now, she could never return to DA. Takina did not even hesitate.
“I can’t save Chisato here,” she said firmly (11:04). “That’s all there is to it.”
It’s nice to see Takina has her priorities in order.
Best in Show Moment for Lycoris Recoil Episode 11
Do these two look good together or what? Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Majima Makes a Good Villain
I still have no idea if Chisato is walking away from this series alive. I still hope she does. Very much, in fact. And my hopes for such an ending seemed to edge upwards because of my favorite moment.
I’ll give Majima credit. He understands social media, and he understands how to lie convincingly. He made sure to brutally murder a lot of the tower maintenance staff, then place cameras showing the Lycoris agents like Fuki among the corpses. The optics were all bad for Lycoris. Then, borrowing a trick I’ve seen the more nefarious “news” personalities use, he asked a simple question (14:29): “I wonder how many of them have been snuffed by Lycoris?”
If called on it, he could say he was just wondering. But those of us who understand reality know that any statement or question uttered with the intent to mislead is a lie. Morally-lacking individuals can hide behind technicalities, but the guilt remains.
Majima knows how to frame a lie. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
And so does the misperception they intended.
Be that as it may, my favorite moment actually had some technical challenges. Let me first tell you the moment, then we’ll talk about those issues.
Majima had closed the metal shutters all round the old radio tower’s observation deck. That limited how much Chisato’s eyesight could help her. It also favored Majima’s superpower, which was his hearing. In effect, he could navigate like a bat mapping its surroundings with sonar. The effect was a cool, exciting fight between the two.
Delivery: Takina Joins the Fray!
Chisato is no push-over, even when the odds are against her. But Majima was patient, which is bad news when it comes to villains. He had her almost on the ropes. He leapt towards her with the intent of landing a debilitating blow.
Something hit the shutters from the outside. Hard enough to dent them inwards. That something struck two more times, and on the third, the shutter split open. Takina came crashing onto the observation deck, debris falling all around her. After a brief skirmish, she ended up kneeling beside Chisato. Majima, out of ammo, faced off against them.
Takina’s here! And what an entrance (22:08)!
Chisato’s odds of survival just got a boost! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
That’s my favorite moment. I can tell because of my plotting brain’s. During this scene, even as my emotions soared in response to Takina’s arrival, my plotting brain kept saying things like, “Okay, how did she break through steel shutters? Why did it shatter like stone? What, did she cling to the outside and just pound away with her fists?”
The rest of my brain said, “Can’t listen. Watching cool scene.”
This just delivered an emotional beat so satisfying that my suspension of disbelief actively resisted being interrupted. That’s the power of character!
What did you think of Mizuki’s reaction to Kurumi pulling her off the flight? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Lycoris Recoil Episode 11: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Lycoris Recoil – Episode 11 discussion
- Chikorita157’s Anime Blog: Lycoris Recoil – Episode 11 – The Surprise Breakthrough
- RABUJOI: Lycoris Recoil – 11 – Dance in the Dark
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Lycoris Recoil Episode 1: Easy does it
- Lycoris Recoil Episode 2: The more the merrier
- Lycoris Recoil Episode 3: More haste, less speed
- Lycoris Recoil Episode 4: Nothing seek, nothing find
- Lycoris Recoil Episode 5: So far, so good
- Lycoris Recoil Episode 6: Opposites attract
- Lycoris Recoil Episode 7: Time will tell
- Lycoris Recoil Episode 8: Another day, another dollar
- Lycoris Recoil Episode 9: What’s done is done
- Lycoris Recoil Episode 10: Repay evil with evil
- Lycoris Recoil Episode 11: Diamond cut diamond
- Lycoris Recoil Episode 12: Nature versus nurture
- Lycoris Recoil Episode 13: Recoil of Lycoris
Majima has an artificial heart too. He might not need it any more.
I didn’t catch that! Do you remember when they mentioned it?
I thought he told Chisato. Am I going crazy?
I guess I was wrong.
I’m not convinced you’re wrong! Even though I try to watch these shows carefully, this show has casually introduced important points quickly in dialogue. So it’s entirely possibly I missed it!
But there is something odd going on with Majima, beyond his hearing. Or maybe I’m still misreading him.
It was all a staged event for a tourist attraction? I suppose people will believe anything to keep their world how they want it.
It’s a fairly dark comment on people in general, isn’t it? At first, I thought it felt a little hollow. Then I remembered what had happened the COVID Times.
Takina really did have a cool entrance this week, didn’t she? Yeah, it was a tad silly, but it fits the show’s mood.
I do think the show’s got a great setting, but I don’t think the plot makes the most of it. For example, the Lycoris being all teen girls feels, at that point, like an unreflected anime staple rather than a well thought-out element of setting. Also, it never struck me before Majima told the crowd to look out for the uniforms: why do undercover assassins wear recognisable uniforms. Wouldn’t individual casual clothing work better. Is that the schoolgirl image? If so, why not use a variety of different school uniforms from actual schools? What’s up with that?
At that point, I find it’s not the type of show that gets better the more you think about it. It’s fun and stylish anime, and I think that’s the best way to watch the show.
I think you’re right — the should would benefit from a better treatment of the Lycoris corps. During the OP, there’s a shot of the girls in Lycoris all walking the same direction, their steps just out of sync. And then there’s an explosion behind them. It suggested tragedy, like we saw in the subway tunnel. They think they’re doing the right thing, but they’re just cannon fodder. That’s sad stuff.
And I think they would benefit from a little variety in their uniforms!
It is fun, and it is stylish — and I’d add it’s got characterization that I’m really enjoying. Particularly between Chisato and Takina, but they’re not the only ones!
Great recap! It was a fantastic episode. I think Takina busting through the wall has gotta be everyone’s favourite moment 😍 Chisato taking down a building full of bad guys and making sure they don’t fall down the stairs was my second favourite. Looking forward to your next review!
Thanks!
And re: Chisato protecting the men she had just shot: that was fantastic! I loved how she kept up her cheerful monologue all the while. That’s good stuff!