Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts
NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Episode 6 – Quick Summary
In NieR:Automata Ver 1.1a Episode 6, “[L]one wolf,” Lily, 2B, and 9S embarked on a mission to improve their anti-machine lifeform sensors. One of the sensors developed a glitch. While 9S attempted to repair it, Lily decided to disclose her past to 2B – a past in which someone who looked very much like 2B played a part. Why is Lily so conflicted about 2B? What does she remember from her past? And can 9S keep his sensor network running for more than five minutes?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Episode 6
I give Lily points for courtesy. Not many, but some. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
This week’s favorite quote is a team effort. Though I have to say that 9S contributed more than his fair share, just by being 9S.
Lily, 2B, and 9S positioned canisters at regular intervals. Lily regarded them dubiously. It was clear she had no confidence they would work.
Noticing her expression, 9S said (02:38), “Perhaps you’re wondering if we can detect machine lifeforms with a device like this?”
He sounded like an excited kid who wanted a chance to explain his latest project.
Lily turned to 2B and said, “How should I answer that?”
“As you please,” 2B said. Her honesty impressed me.
“I am wondering,” she said, much to 9S’s dismay.
I think 9S has some work to do on his personal branding. Obviously, his audience doesn’t have a lot of confidence in his work!
Favorite Moment from NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Episode 6
Without help from the resistance soldiers, No. 2 and her people could not have saved Lily. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: A Complex, Layered Narrative
It’s interesting to me that Merlin and I were just talking about machine lifeforms and growth in the comments for episode 5. And now, in this episode, it appears that Lily grew from a adolescent version of an android to her adult-sized version now. At least, that’s how it looked to me.
What do you think? Did Lily really grow, or is she the same size now?
That ED… that was tough to watch. It bothers me that so many androids and YoRHa soldiers sacrificed themselves – for a mission that Command abandoned while they were in the field. That’s got to be a plot point. There’s no way the theme of abandonment is an accident. I just have no idea where the show’s going with it. But the show’s earned my trust enough that I’m looking forward to learning!
Working together and teamwork were themes in my favorite posts from 2023 Week 9. It’s been on my mind a lot lately. I remember times in my career when I could depend on the people around me. I remember times when I could not. I’m a loner, so you wouldn’t think it would matter. But it does. Even without interaction, if I’m confident my team would help if I needed it, or would ask me for help if they needed it, it gives me a sense of peace. If that’s not there?
Building trust is difficult even under the best conditions. In wartime? It’s even harder. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
That experience helped me understand the word loathsome.
There was a moment in this episode when everyone came together. It happened organically because of a great need. Maybe the weight of the world has taken more out of me this week than I realized, but the moment brought honest-to-god tears to my eyes.
In Lily’s past, she had gone silent. No one noticed, but a red flash came from her eyes. By the time anyone saw, a virus had seized almost complete control of her.
Delivery: The Importance of a Shared Goal
Her company’s leader pointed her assault rifle at Lily. The entire company followed her example. The prototype for 2B stepped between Lily and the rest (10:52). That’s when the captain told No. 2 that there was no cure.
No. 2 told No. 4 and 16 to hold Lily down while No. 21 tried to cure her. The resistance androids had never succeeded saving one of their own from the logic virus. They had always killed those affected before they could kill the rest. The captain even fired at Lily. But No. 2’s sword deflated the bullet.
“You guys are family, aren’t you?” No. 2 said (11:40). On a side note, it was odd hearing No. 2’s voice, because it was so much higher than 2B’s.
No. 2 intervened to keep Lily alive long enough to try the anti-virus program. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
So the resistance watched, shocked into indecision, as the YoRHa soldiers struggled to keep Lily under control. No. 21 tried to install the anti-virus software, but it was difficult with Lily struggling so hard. Lily kicked No. 21 away, and the last vestiges of Lily’s personality spoke. She lamented that she was always a burden and that everyone had to protect her. She cried that she wanted to save everyone, just like they did.
As No. 21 returned to Lily’s side and tried again, the resistance soldiers dropped their weapons and came forward to help. Their combined effort held Lily to the ground (12:50) and gave No. 21 the space she needed to purge the virus from Lily’s system.
Moments like that remind me of what can be. Not only in fiction, but in reality. Sometimes the day-to-day battles drive out ideals. I’m not saying I forget morality; but exhaustion sets in, and habits fossilize. It’s good to have moments like this as a reminder. Sometimes that’s all I need to re-engage.
What did you think of the battle at the end? What were your favorite moments this episode? Feel free to share in the comments!
NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Episode 6: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: NieR:Automata Ver1.1a – Episode 6 discussion
- RABUJOI: NieR: Automata Ver 1.1a – 06 – Do Androids Dream of Electric Lambs to the Slaughter?
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Episode 1: or not to [B]e
- NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Episode 2: city e[S]cape
- NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Episode 3: break ti[M]e
- NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Episode 4: a mountain too [H]igh
- NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Episode 5: mave[R]ick
- NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Episode 6: [L]one wolf
- NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Episode 7: [Q]uestionable actions
- NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Episode 8: aji wo [K]utta ?
- NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Episode 9: hun[G]ry for knowledge
- NieR:Automata Ver1.1.a Episode 10: over[Z]ealous
- NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Episode 11: head[Y] battle
- NieR:Automata Ver1.1a Episode 12: flowers for m[A]chines
I also did not know Lily and the other Resistance members weren’t human…or are some of them human?
That said, my emotional investment wasn’t affected by this revelation (our protagonists are androids after all) and this episode was a nice way to give dimension and texture to Lily’s group. It wasn’t a groundbreaking story but it was nicely executed.
I mentioned this to Merlin — if I’ve read the Reddit threads right, I don’t think we’ve met any humans yet. I’m beginning to wonder, in fact, if there are any humans left. The Council of Humanity is over-the-top cryptic. Even Command White seems to be angry with that Council.
I agree — it was nicely executed. I think it’s main purpose was to set a context for the next episodes. I guess we’ll see!
To be fair, I was generally not considering the android machines which seem to just pop up and grow themselves. 😉
On which note, I would say that Adam and his companion are imitating human form and the human process of learning, complete with questions and answers.
By and large, however, this episode left me very confused. Like… what? Not did it go in a vastly different direction than I expected – I rather thought we’d still be in the village, just in time to see it fall apart – but… were we supposed to know that Lily isn’t human? I mean, at first I was confused that a “logic virus” infected a human, but then it turns out that she isn’t one? (also in fairness, that alters the equation I was working with before, if she is an android and grew and such)
ADD moment: does that virus play a part in why the androids cover their eyes?
The battle, knowing that it was a tragedy, felt pretty by the numbers. They could even calmly stand around deciding who stayed outside. Naturally, the two girls who competed with each other were willing to die side-by-side. Though, again, more confusion, if the androids are so physically superior to humans, then how was that human girl keeping up in every competition they had?
Yorha obviously didn’t send any more reinforcements, but it was an interesting moment when we saw an android struggling with the cold calculus of war. Did that head android woman (I forget her name/designation) seem to feel a bit torn?
And then there’s the end of the story. They got in, they managed to deactivate the machines, but what actually happened down there? Lily remembered her friend saying something about engraving it in her memory, but she’s forgotten it, and it seems like something pretty important went on down there. Why were they even pushing Lily into the elevator to leave anyway?
I’d say they’ve let us know that 2B’s predecessor is still out there somewhere, and still engaging in violence with machines. Though… was it just me, or did the machines she was striking down seem a bit like the ones in that robot village they just showed us last episode?
Oh, one more thing… did anyone else notice that the virus turned their eyes glowing red, like the machines?
I noticed the red — but I didn’t make the connection to the machine lifeforms. I’ll have to think about that! I wonder if it’s just a common color to denote madness/danger, or if it’s a hint.
If I read the Reddit threads correctly, we haven’t met any humans yet. Lily and the resistance are androids; and we know 2B and 9S are, too. At least, I think it’s proper to call YoRHa soldiers androids. I’m really not sure.
“ADD moment: does that virus play a part in why the androids cover their eyes?”
That’s a darned good question. They’ve said the masks are actually visors; but I’m not sure I buy that.
I agree — the battle was by the numbers, meaning they relied heavily on tropes to establish connections to the viewer. Apparently, they wanted to get his material out there, but they didn’t have a ton of time to do it. For me at least, it worked. Seeing the dead in the ED hit me pretty hard.
“Why were they even pushing Lily into the elevator to leave anyway?”
They seemed very protective of her, didn’t they? I mean, more protective than they were of anyone else. Is Lily different? I don’t know. I don’t know if that’s significant, or the result of not having enough time to build something more complex.
“Though… was it just me, or did the machines she was striking down seem a bit like the ones in that robot village they just showed us last episode?”
Well, if you’ve seen episode 7, you know the answer to that question!
EHHHHH?!?!?! No humans yet at all?! O_O My mind cannot pick a place to *begin* for questions to ask about that! (so, we shall address later sometime)
What I more meant was why they were having to push Lily into the elevator at all. IE, what the heck happened down there that left Lily’s leader staying behind to die?
Yes, I have seen the episode, and I know the answer. Further questions on that score will be addressed later. 😉
That’s a good question. I was under the impression that she was the youngster on the team, so they all felt overly protective. But I’m not sure that’s the real answer. I hope we get more info about that!