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Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 5 Review – Quick Summary
In Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 5, “Light and Darkness as One ~Churrasco of Indecision and Resolve~”, Pecorine stood before the being who had stolen everything from her: Her title, the love of her parents, even the very memory of her existence. What more can the creature want? Quite a lot, as it turns out. Meanwhile, without Pecorine’s support, Karyl, Kokkoro, Yuuki, and the rest fight to hold back the golem and its shadow horde. But without Pecorine, the tip of their spear, they are fighting a losing battle. With Pecorine’s nemesis tightening her grip, and with the horde closing in on the town, what can any of them do to survive – much less protect the people they love?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 5
The story we’ve been seeing is just a part of a wider epic. I love the glimpses we’re getting of it! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Son. Of. A. Bitch. I’m sorry if you don’t adore this show, because what I’m about to say won’t make any sense, but this show is precisely and exactly in my strike zone. Everything about it clicked. There were so many quotes and moments that I couldn’t do them justice unless I just published the script and annotated it.
My favorite quote in this episode, an episode that left me an emotional basket case, was this. Yuuki, desperate to save Kiiri from discorporating, put forth all his power. The magical circles above him convulsed erratically. Yuuki suddenly saw a scene that appeared other-worldly. He saw a girl in a school uniform, holding a cat named Kiiri. Yuuki was in such a state, and his powers in such flux, that he was coming unfocused.
The situation was so bad that Ames had to pull his consciousness out of that universe to warn him. Who’s Ames? No idea. We’ve seen her briefly before, and she seems to be involved with Yuuki before he went into this world.
That alone is so cool I can’t stand it. But what she said next was tragic and desperate and hopeful all at the same time.
“Sorry. I can’t let you see this memory yet,” she said (03:00). “The battle is still ongoing.”
What battle? Why is her outfit so wrecked, down to the crumpled pedals of the flower in her hair? Just who the hell is Yuuki?
I’m having so much fun with this series that I feel like Marin trying on Shizuku-tan’s dress for the first time. With considerably less bouncing. I have to maintain some sense of decorum, after all!
Best in Show Moment for Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 5
This is real; this is what Karyl needs. She’ll never get it from Kaiser Insight. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: The Special Vision of Science Fiction and Fantasy
Thank goodness I chose this series to debut an experimental favorite 3 moments format this season. That means I get to talk about it more!
The previous episode impressed me mightily, across all aspects of the genre: story, character, animation, theme, you name it. In terms of what I look for in fiction, they nailed it. Not even kidding.
And then they hit me in the face with this episode.
Seeing Yuuki almost come apart trying to save Kiiri; seeing Ames speak to him again; watching in horror as past-Yuuki collapsed, in what we now suspect was a previous iteration of this world, as he tried in vain to protect Pecorine-in-the-parallel-past; seeing the role Labyrista played in resetting that world and allowing Yuuki to try again. Damn.
I hope we get to see more of this story. Or maybe not. I’m willing to trust the writers, given their track record! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
This is why I love science fiction in fantasy. This is the kind of emotional impact this genre can have if it’s expertly executed.
No sarcasm: What a great time to be alive.
My favorite moment in this episode does what this show does so well: Mix heart with tragedy. That moment belongs to Karyl and Pecorine.
Delivery: In Any World, Love is Important
She knew. As soon as Karyl saw Pecorine teleported away, she knew who was behind it: Kaiser Insight. It made Karyl weak and sick with fear. Yet, she still tried to push herself to fight the golem and the seemingly endless shadow horde.
Then Kaiser released Pecorine, apparently because Pecorine had not yet despaired entirely. Just what Kaiser has against Pecorine, or what power she derives from despair, I don’t know. Whatever it is, Kaiser’s dead-set on getting it. That bodes badly for Pecorine.
Now, though, Kaiser sent Pecorine back to the battle. With Yuuki sending her one of his magical power-ups, she hit the golem with a Princess Strike that rivaled all previous Princess Strikes. She hit the golem so hard she broke a sizable portion of the planet’s crust. She hit so hard that it took her friends a while to even find her. When they did, she actually looked surprised to be alive.
Given how hard she hit, I don’t blame her!
I can’t blame her for looking surprised! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Karyl, being the reference implementation of tsundere, did not want Pecorine to see how happy she felt at the sight of her friend being alive. So she turned away, only for the ground itself to betray her. The edge she stood on crumbled, and she fell backwards, right into Pecorine’s arms.
They looked at each other for a moment. Then Pecorine put both arms around her friend.
“I’m back,” Pecorine said (22:47).
“Dummy,” Karyl said. Then she added, “Welcome back.”
I don’t know much, but I know this. Ain’t no way Kaiser would ever hug Karyl like that.
What did you think of, well, pretty much anything in this episode? What were your favorite moments? Please feel free to let me know in the comments!
Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 5: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Princess Connect! Re:Dive Season 2 – Episode 5 discussion
- Anime Evo: Princess Connect! Re:Dive S2 – 05
- RABUJOI: Princess Connect! Re:Dive – S2 05 – The Princess Is in THIS Castle
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 1: A Walk on the Gourmet Side ~Curiosity Is the Best Bouquet Garni~
- Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 2: A Moody Cat’s Hesitation: Antipasto in the Moonlight
- Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 3: Tea Party in the Mysterious Forest: Afternoon Carries the Scent of Danger
- Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 4: The Budding Detective ~Mirror Glaze on the Mind~
- Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 5: Light and Darkness as One ~Churrasco of Indecision and Resolve~
- Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 6: Code Name: Monika ~Bouillabaisse Is Best Enjoyed Hot~
- Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 7: The Prankster Pixie ~Cuore in the Mist~
- Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 8: A Letter to Join Feelings ~Arancini on the Green Hill~
- Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 9: Converging Hearts, Passing Souls: Crepes the Flavor of a Promise
- Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 10: Landosol at Sundown
- Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 11: Those Who Fight Back
- Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2 Episode 12: Connecting the Pieces with You Once More
In terms of the “battle is still ongoing” I think she was just referencing Yuuki literally fighting shadows before he had that memory flash. A fight is not the time to start remembering things.
What a masterful episode though. Little moments just hit as hard as the big ones. Like Kasumi dedicating herself to find out the cause of Kiiri’s apparent (to her) death. Filling the role of detective so not to be weighed down by loss.
And yeah Yuuki’s own sacrifice was impactful. The pain and grief from Pecorine and Kokkoro was palpable. Even though Yuuki said nothing you could see the pain he was dealing with both in body and in what he would have to sacrifice.
The thing I liked about the ongoing battle quote is that it evoked a whole world of possibility. You’re right — I think it absolutely includes what he’s doing now. But to me, it suggested he and she were both in a long-term conflict!
Though I can’t argue with your point that recalling confusing memories in the middle of combat is terrible idea!
And man, that shot of Pecorine, Kokkoro, and the others trying to save Yuuki was just wrenching. It would not have been anywhere near as effective if the show hadn’t gotten me to care so much about these characters.
This episode could have been the climactic finish to a season. What have they got in store for us for the rest of this season? I can’t wait to find out!
It really did feel climatic. In a show that didn’t have this one’s track record, I’d be worried. Instead, like you said: I can’t wait to find out!