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Lycoris Recoil Episode 12 – Quick Summary
In Lycoris Recoil episode 12, “Nature versus nurture,” Chisato and Takina faced off against Majima. The two crouched in the cone of light Takina had created by crashing through the steel shutters. In the light, they had the advantage. But Majima was only a step away from the dark, where his hearing gave him the edge. Even with Takina’s help, can Chisato apprehend Majima? And what about the other Lycoris? What is Majima’s plan doing to them?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Lycoris Recoil Episode 12
I admired the sincerity in her voice. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
You know this site is all about celebrating moments in anime. As a creator, I’m constantly trying to create such moments in my fiction. As a consumer, I’m constantly on the lookout for those moments. I want to see something that makes me literally sit up and take notice. I want to see a moment that so nails a character that in that instant, the character transcends fiction to become a real person.
Isn’t that what stories are about? Isn’t that why we read them?
My favorite quote is an example of one such moment. And it belonged to Takina. And please let me say that Shion Wakayama, Takina’s voice actor, turned in a superb performance.
Shinji pushed Takina too far. He had embedded Chisato’s new heart in his own chest. The attempt to force Chisato to kill had failed. But only for Chisato. Takina rushed forward, pointed her sidearm at Shinji’s head, and fired.
Chisato barely had time to push Takina’s arm so the shot went high.
As Shinji taunted her, and as Chisato had to use every ounce of strength to hold her back, Takina clawed at Shinji and said (07:13), “I will pull that heart right out!”
As she said that, all of her affection for Chisato and all of her skill and experience and temperament came into focus. She felt utterly real, and I sympathized with her completely. That’s about as much as I can expect from any work of fiction!
Best in Show Moment for Lycoris Recoil Episode 12
A simple shot. But oh so effective, especially when combined with voice acting talent! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: A Battle of Wills
Shinji gets points for dedication to an idea. I think he’s insane. But he’s certainly willing to put his all into his goals. The way he orchestrated the scenario and put emotional pressure on Chisato was masterful. Even if I detested him for it.
She sees him as her father, for God’s sake. How could he do that to his daughter?
But I don’t want to talk about him. My favorite moment belongs to Chisato. Shinji might demonstrate dedication to an idea. But Chisato’s own dedication is no less strong. My favorite moment is an example of what I mean.
I want to recognize the sublime work that Chika Anzai, Chisato’s voice actor, put into this episode. The raw tone in her voice as she streamed her agony at the choice Shinji forced onto her made that moment as real as Takina’s quote, above. And her tone in this moment was so genuine and so real that for the second time in this single episode, I saw a character as a real person. This time, it was Chisato’s turn.
I felt Chisato’s pain when she pulled the trigger. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
To put that into context: I usually go seasons and dozens of series between such moments.
To adequately set the scene, I’d have to describe the entire fight. I won’t do that to you! I’ll just say that it’s very well choreographed. Every move seemed to authentically express the characters. It so well embodied the themes that I only realized it after the fact. But the important bits are that Chisato had shot Shinji through his right lung. She had just returned his owl pendant when she sensed Himegama behind her. So, she shot her with one of the non-lethal rounds she had just put into her gun.
Takina also re-entered the scene. Bloodied but apparently victorious against Himegama, she had gone far past rage. It took Chisato only a second to realize what was about to happen. She shoved Himegama away, saying, “Go!”
Delivery: Chisato’s Pyrrhic Victory
Takina was almost too fast for her. She scooped up a pistol and opened fire on Himegama as she tried to help Shinji get clear. Her shots went wild; she had fired while on the run and distracted by her fury.
Chisato threw herself at Takina. Chisato’s strong. Very, very strong. She held back even the enraged Takina. But she couldn’t stop Takina from emptying her clip. All her shots still missed. In a ragged voice, she begged Chisato to let her go. “The heart is getting away!”
By this point, Takina had left reason far behind. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Her frustrated screams almost drowned out what Chisato said to her. Almost. But Chisato’s tone was no longer calm. It had a desperate edge. She was trying to console her friend; she was trying to keep Shinji alive; she was trying to stay true to her own convictions; she was trying to hold back the knowledge of her own mortality. Chisato said (10:14), “Even if I stay alive by killing Mr. Yoshi, that wouldn’t be me anymore!”
Takina collapsed to her knees. Placing her hands on Takina’s shoulders, Chisato said, “It’s impossible for me to live in Mr. Yoshi’s place.”
Takina, her head bowed, said, “I don’t want that. I don’t want you to die.”
And for the third time in this episode, Chisato and Takina became real to me. I felt Chisato’s dedication and pain. I felt Takina’s determination and pain. For an instant, my hopes and my thoughts for the story vanished into a moment of pure empathy.
Good heavens, but I’m happy I picked this show to review!
What did you think of Kusunoki’s thwarted attempt to save her Lycoris agents? What were yor favorite moments? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Lycoris Recoil Episode 12: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Lycoris Recoil – Episode 12 discussion
- Chikorita157’s Anime Blog: Lycoris Recoil – Episode 12 – Yoshi’s True Nature, Exposed and Kurumi Saves the Day
- RABUJOI: Lycoris Recoil – 12 – Spider Lily Shuffle
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
