Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts
Metallic Rouge Episode 2 – Quick Summary
In Metallic Rouge Episode 2, “Wander in the Labyrinth,” Naomi and Rouge boarded a Martian tourist bus to get to their next assignment. As Naomi excitedly told two children about the mammoth hulk of a wrecked Vostok-class spaceship on the surface, a mysterious man and a camera-happy reporter listened with interest. What’s their angle? Why is Naomi so excited about the old war? And will Rouge’s trusting nature get her in trouble with the reporter?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Metallic Rouge Episode 2
Naomi tried to guess the mysterious man’s occupation. Not sure she got it right. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
I think I’m getting a handle on Naomi’s sense of humor. I’m calling it courteous snark. I have to say: I like it! It’s witty, it’s insightful, and it’s very pleasant on the ears.
It also relies a lot on the situation, which is something else I appreciate. I think there’s too little situational humor in stories, and it’s a shame. I think it’s a good idea to reward observant viewers!
My favorite quote is a good example of Naomi’s sense of humor. She could perceive the jobs or vocations of almost everyone on the bus at a glance. But there was one guy she couldn’t figure out. So, she did what any subtle, careful spy would do. She went up to him and asked.
He didn’t want to talk. In fact, he looked at her as if he really didn’t know how to interpret her. She guessed all sorts of things, from assassin to CEO. She finally flat out asked him. He said she could say he worked with bodies.
In an excited voice, she asked (09:14), “You’re a masseur?”
Seriously. I love humor like that. It makes my days brighter.
Favorite Moment from Metallic Rouge Episode 2
Is Naomi Rogue’s handler? Trainer? Babysitter? Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: The Dub’s Solid – and so’s the Sub!
Thank heavens I read the Reddit thread about this episode (see below). User goldstar94 said in a post, “I guess most people are watching sub, and I also enjoyed ep 1 in sub but shout out to the dub – in particular Naomi’s VA is hugely charismatic in the role and really got to show it this week.”
Well, I usually prefer the sub. It’s nothing ideological. I explained why here. But on the advice of goldstar94, I tried the dub. And – wow – the voice actor, Cassie Ewulu, knocked it out of the park! No disrespect to the Japanese voice actor, because Tomoyo Kurosawa is also doing a great job. But I’m considering watching the dub first now.
Naomi’s English and Japanese voice actors bring the character alive. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Last week, I talked about how I struggled to decide how to approach this show. Or if I should approach it at all. After having watched the second episode, I can say that I’m glad I picked it up. I love the chemistry between Naomi and Rouge. I like the dialogue’s intelligence and wit. Also, I’m thoroughly enjoying how they play with tried and true science fiction tropes. I mean, come on: a crashed and battered battleship? That’s just cool stuff.
And to top it all off? We got to see a badass grandma in this episode. My life is now complete.
My favorite moment gave us a little (though not much!) insight into how Namoi and Rouge work together. It was a prelude to showing us that Rogue doesn’t need to go full combat-assualt-armor-mode to kick add. She’s quite capable of doing it in shorts.
Delivery: Naomi and Rogue’s Enjoyable Banter
Three armored vehicles carrying Suns of Areas mercenaries came at them. Those same mercenaries broadcast a demand that they turn over Rouge. If they did, everyone else could leave.
Two things struck me as interesting. First, that they didn’t also demand Naomi. Second, that there was actually one person stupid enough to believe that the mercenaries would let them go. I guess there’s one in every crowd. The old lady tried to set him straight, saying (10:35), ““We’re witnesses. They won’t let us leave here unharmed.” She knew the score!
Naomi and Rouge knew what was coming. They slipped into a compartment where they began discussing their response to this threat. Well, less discussion what they’d do than how long Naomi would give Rouge to do it.
Grandma knew just how much faith they could put into the mercenary’s promise. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
“Three minutes,” Rouge said, opening the negotiations (11:09).
“Three seconds,” Naomi countered. That sounded kinda low to me.
“Two minutes.”
“Ninety seconds.”
“Understood,” Rouge said in apparent disappointment.
“Thank ya.”
I like their dynamic. I’m looking forward to learning more about who they are to each other. But for now, their little interludes with their little courtesies are just a blast to watch.
What did you think of the history lesson we got in this episode? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Metallic Rouge Episode 2: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Metallic Rouge – Episode 2 discussion
- ARUM JOURNAL: Metallic Rouge Episode 2 Review – On The Way To Wellstown
- Xenodude’s Scribbles: Metallic Rouge – Ep. 2
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Metallic Rouge Episode 1: Crimson Is the Sound of Dawn
- Metallic Rouge Episode 2: Wander in the Labyrinth
- Metallic Rouge Episode 3: Marginal City
- Metallic Rouge Episode 4: Freedom and Phantoms
- Metallic Rouge Episode 5: Carnival Dances with Lost Memories
- Metallic Rouge Episode 6: Guest with No Name
- Metallic Rouge Episode 7: Appropriate Gear
- Metallic Rouge Episode 8: Nowhere House
- Metallic Rouge Episode 9: The Ones Who Visited
- Metallic Rouge Episode 10: Family Portrait
- Metallic Rouge Episode 11: Target Planet
- Metallic Rouge Episode 12: Mask Graveyard
- Metallic Rouge Episode 13: Code Eve
We got a lot more of Rouge’s personality shown in this episode, and I liked it! She and Naomi are obviously a good team.
Interesting details: the man of mysterious occupation happened to have some nectar on hand for the nean; Rouge has a “brother;” people are after Rouge, and while my first guess would be it’s that crazy guy from the first episode, he strikes me as more of a hands-on type instead of a “send minions” type.
It’s going to be interesting to see if you’re right.
I can recognize that there are a lot of clues, but I haven’t been able to put much together yet. I’ll be interested to see what you think of the 3rd episode — Naomi kinda ticked me off!