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Lycoris Recoil Episode 9 – Quick Summary
In Lycoris Recoil episode 9, “What’s done is done,” Takina sprinted all the way to the hospital where Chisato had undergone her ill-fated physical. But she arrived too late. Himegama had already finished the procedure. Can Takina apprehend her for questioning? What had she done to Chisato? Is Chisato even alive? And how will Mika react to all of this?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Lycoris Recoil Episode 9
Mizuki wasn’t happy that Mika knew she had eavesdropped, too. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
It’s a sign of how upset Mika feels that he let his guard down. Otherwise, he would never have allowed Takina and Mizuki to overhear the story of how Chisato got her artificial heart and how she adopted her non-lethal mission. But honestly, I can’t blame him. Come to think of it, it might have been best for him to just call them all together and tell them. But kudos to Kurumi for creating the conditions that helped Mika open up.
My favorite quote is what happened when Takina felt like she’d heard enough. She burst into the room and said they should go after Majima. After all, he could likely help them get to Shinji. Mika, shocked, asked the obvious question: was she listening?
Dude, she’s standing right there! Of course she was listening! But again, he’s still rattled over what had happened to Chisato.
Takina’s a literal type, so she answered his obvious question in the affirmative. She also added, “Mizuki, too.”
Seeming scared about offending Mika, Mizuki said (16:37), “You didn’t have to spill the beans about me!”
Well, at least they all know now!
Best in Show Moment for Lycoris Recoil Episode 9
Takina and Chisato both earned this smile. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Interlude: Shinji Is a Terrible Parent
“She’s our daughter already, isn’t she?” Shinji asked Mika (12:59).
As a dad myself, in particular as the dad of a daughter, I know that one of my core responsibilities is to support my daughter’s calling. However she defines it. I don’t get to shove my interpretation of who she is down her throat. Shinji isn’t just a terrible father. He’s an arrogant, reprehensible human being with a god complex.
Which, I have to admit, makes him a pretty good villain.
But enough talking about him. I might just have witnessed the biggest red flag I’ve ever seen. This episode could have been the last episode of a romantic series, or even a RomCom. Which means, since it’s only episode 9, that something dreadful is going to happen to our happy couple.
This would have made a perfect final episode for a romance series. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
I’m going to pretend for a moment that this is the 12th episode, if you don’t mind, so I can celebrate the moment without dread.
Takina did not take the news of Chisato’s impending death very well. She felt devastated. She’s a Lycoris, and that means she has had extensive combat training. Her solution to most problems involved bullets. But this situation is not one she could solve with a gun.
Setup: Takina Has Grown
But Takina is nothing if not resilient. She thought and she pondered until she came up with an idea. She burst into LycoReco wearing the dress Chisato had picked out for her. A summer dress, I might add, though it was winter outside. Saying she needed to talk to Chisato, she sat down at a table and slapped down a hand-made brochure. Its title was “Guidebook for Fun Day-Off Program Created by Takina Inoue.”
How about that? It combined the best of the new Takina (the idea of having fun) with the old Takina (the need to sign the title with her full name).
Chisato immediately warmed up to Takina’s idea. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Chisato, of course, felt elated. And so their date started. Takina had it all planned out – down to the minute. Her reminders kept sounding on her phone. When they did, she would take them off to the next destination. Even if Chisato was still finishing her meal! It was such a Takina thing to do that it was just adorable. One reminder took them to the aquarium where they had gone before. But it was closed.
Takina felt bad. She had wanted to relive those moments with Chisato. Chisato, though, didn’t let it get her down (of course!). So Takina took them to their last stop: a park. It was cold outside, so Chisato gave Takina her scarf – because of Takina’s timer, they had left the clothing store before they could buy a coat. And as 9:00 rolled around, Takina had to again express disappointment. The weather forecast had called for snow at 98:00 sharp, and she had wanted to watch the snowfall with Chisato.
“I thought it was the perfect schedule,” Takina said, downcast (20:11). They spoke of the possibility of Takina returning to DA and of the irrationality of the world. Chisato saw that her friend still felt bad, so she spoke up.
Delivery: Takina Did Better Than She Thought
“Your plan was a huge success today,” she said (21:10). “I had tons of fun today.”
To reassure the disbelieving Takina, Chisato offered her a fist-bump. Finally smiling, Takina reciprocated. Then Takina had to rush off to accept DA’s offer for her to return. She ran down the stairs to exit the park while Chisato remained on the hill top. Before Takina had gone fifty meters, it began to snow. Elated, she turned to see Chisato standing atop the stairs, smiling down at her (21:56).
That moment was beautiful. It was everything a romantic moment should be: well-earned, warm, and intimate. That’s why it’s my favorite moment.
I hope the narrative finds a way to keep Takina together with Chisato. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
And now I have to face that moment in context. There’s no way that warmth will stand, given that this is only episode 9. I could joke and say that if they’re not together at the end, I’ll riot. But in all seriousness, this series has all the makings of a powerful tragedy. And that both elates and depresses me. It elates me because of the quality and precision of its execution. It depresses me because they’re a great couple and I really want to see them together.
But that’s exactly what a good tragedy should do, isn’t it?
What did you think of Majima’s move at the end of the episode (post credits)? What were your favorite moments in this episode? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Lycoris Recoil Episode 9: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Lycoris Recoil – Episode 9 discussion
- Chikorita157’s Anime Blog: Lycoris Recoil – Episode 9 – The Harsh Truth About Chisato
- RABUJOI: Lycoris Recoil – 09 – God Is Whimsical
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
I’m an episode behind but wow, this series escalated quickly. I don’t know how to feel about it tbh. I still am rooting for Takina+Chisato to get together by the end, but I think my poor gay heart will be crushed yet again…
They are such a good couple! Their personalities compliment each other and they bring out the best in each other.
I’m afraid we’re going to get a major tragic ending. They’re prepared us for it, so I won’t complain. But I really hope they pull off some kind of plausible way for them to end up together.
The tone of the anime keeps going from lighthearted to foreboding 😢
It does! It makes those changes so gracefully that I’m impressed! I’ve seen some shows try to pull that off and come across as inconsistent. In this show, the lights and dark moments seem to compliment each other.
Hmm, this seems like a very interesting episode. I don’t actually watch this series, but this episode sounds really good regardless.
Oh, and you Won TCrow! Check out my blog post for today for details on you award!
I saw that — thanks! Some of your questions are really making me think!
This looks like an opportunity for blackmail rather than a murder plot. Damage the artificial heart so that she’ll die soon – but wait! I bet that for the right deal, Alan can fix it. It is even possible that the people around Chisato are the real targets because Chisato might not be one who can be intimidated by death.
I like that idea. Especially since it means there’s hope for Chisato! Except, oh wait, Majima might just have stolen the replacement heart.
I swear, this show feels like a better executed The Detective is Already Dead!
I was thinking this even before I knew about her heart. Character is very similar.
Majima dies and gives his heart to her.