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Lycoris Recoil Episode 5 Review – Quick Summary
In Lycoris Recoil episode 5, “So far, so good,” Chisato, Takina, and the rest of LycroReco got a job: protecting a disabled, wealthy businessman while taking him on final tour of Tokyo. The man said he had been hiding in the USA because someone had murdered his family years ago. He assumed the assassins were still after him. Chisato seemed more excited than usual. As the day wore on, Kurumi identified an assassin on their tail. And then her drone went dark. Are Chisato and Takina enough to keep the old man safe? Who killed the man’s family all those years ago? And why did Takina try to touch one of Chisato’s boobs in public?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Lycoris Recoil Episode 5
‘In public,’ eh? Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Chisato casually said she could certainly understand how Matsushita could be kept alive with machines because her heart was a machine. I actually had to replay that to make sure I had understood it. Takina seemed completely freaked out, so I was glad it wasn’t just me.
The question apparently ate at Takina, because there came a point during the tour that she just had to know. Mr. Matsushita had wheeled himself inside the site-seeing boat’s cabin to get out of the heat. Takina handed Chisato a completely not Coca-Cola brand soft drink, then sat down beside her. Suddenly, Takina reached over and tried to place her hand on Chisato’s left breast.
“I just wanted to confirm,” she said.
“That’s fine,” Chisato shot back (11:04). “But don’t touch my boobs in public!”
Even as I laughed, I noticed the “in public” clause. That made my favorite scene (below) even more emotionally satisfying!
Best in Show Moment for Lycoris Recoil Episode 5
Chisato didn’t know what to think at first. But she didn’t push Takina away! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Using Thematic Ambiguity to Increase Immersion
Remember when Chisato and Takina were with Matsushita on the boat? When Chisato talked happily about how nice it was to “move around various places downtown by water bus without worrying about traffic?” As she spoke, the camera pulled back to show a large bridge with many lanes spanning the river – and without a single vehicle on it. Was it just me, or was the show trying to tell me something?
And RIP poor anonymous Lycoris operative at the end! Talk about brutal! The sheer number of Lycoris agents who died in the previous episode made the point clearly that Mashima was a brutal monster. The intensely personal nature of the murder at the end of this episode made the same point in a slightly different way.
But wait, you might reasonably object. That Lycoris agent was going to shoot the terrorist in the back! Yes, she was. She was playing for keeps, and the game turned on her. Does that make her death any less brutal or horrible? No. But it’s a question this series is playing with.
There’re layers of intentional ambiguity here – but I’m calling this murder. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Are individual Lycoris agents brutal murderers? If Takina is any indication, they certainly do not see themselves that way. From their perspective, they see themselves as agents of public good. The people we’ve seen them kill so far have been planting bombs or attempting to murder trains full of people. We have yet to see a Lycoris agent put bullets into anyone who wasn’t clearly trying to do something lethal to other humans.
Is the Lycoris organization under the rule of law? Determining what kind of violence is sanctioned and which is not is part of any government. Is Lycoris under a government’s control? How do they get their assignments? Is there any kind of judicial oversight involved? Or only executive power? Do those distinctions make sense in this world?
Delivery: Chisato and Takina’s Growing Intimacy
The show’s intentionally leaving those questions up in the air. The story is playing out within that ambiguity. So I don’t know if Mashima’s justification of exposing Lycoris makes any sense at all. I know that he ordered his terrorists to pump lead into a train he thought filled with innocent people. That’s a heinous act. And I can forgive a Lycoris agent for putting multiple shots into someone obviously trying to plant a bomb.
There is one thing I do know: I like Chisato. I like Takina. I would love to buy Mizuki a drink! In other words, I’m pulling for the main characters to succeed in a world that’s as violent and secretive as our world.
This is Takina about to indulge her inquiring mind. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Which brings me to my favorite moment in this episode. Remember how I thought it was interesting how Chisato added “in public” to her objection to Takina touching her boobs? At the end of the episode, when Chisato and Takina were alone in LyroReco, Takina suddenly leaned over and placed her ear on Chisato’s chest.
Chisato made a half-hearted complaint to which Takina answered (22:22), “There’s nobody else here.” Chisato hesitated, then relaxed into the moment. They remained that way for several seconds. Takina finally agreed there really was no heartbeat.
“Yeah. Cool, right?” Chisato asked.
The last shot was of them lying that way, just being with each other, before we cut to the ED.
We’ve had a lot of dark stuff happening all around these two. I have a feeling it’s going to catch up to them, so I’m glad they had some time in this episode to just enjoy each other’s company.
What did you think of Chisato disabling the assassin? What were your favorite moments in the episode? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Lycoris Recoil Episode 5: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Lycoris Recoil – Episode 5 discussion
- Chikorita157’s Anime Blog: Lycoris Recoil – Episode 5 – Harmless Sightseeing, or is it?
- RABUJOI: Lycoris Recoil – 05 – Heart of Steel
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
