Anime Best in Show

Review: Astra Lost in Space Episode 11 – Best In Show

Quick Summary

In Astra Lost in Space episode 11, “Confession,” Charce Lecroix confirms what he said in the last episode: He’s the clone of the king. Moreover, he embraces the role because it gives his life purpose. Unfortunately, when the Human Genome Act passed, the king made the same decision that the other originals did — he decided his clone, Charce, had to die. Kanata Hoshijima’s having none of it. He refused to believe that Charce is really as cold-blooded as he portrays himself. Poor Aries Spring is beside herself with grief over his betrayal, but it only gets worse when he divulges the secret of her original. Can Kanata get his point through to Charce? The his other crew mates? And just who is Aries?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.​​

Best Moment in the Show

Aries has always been the show’s emotional heart. Seeing her breakdown like this took my breath away. Capture from the Hulu stream

Well. Where do I even start? 

This episode was beautiful. The series sowed the seeds of major plot developments all through the season, and a bunch of them came to fruition in this episode. Themes of camaraderie and family propelled this episode to levels of feel that I’ve not seen… Well, for awhile.

This episode gave Fruits Basket some major competition for emotionally powerful moments!

I could have chosen several of Kanata’s moments. He made me realize how much I missed some of James Kirk’s speeches in the original Star Trek, and for me, that’s one of those foundation archetypes that I just love. Props, by the way, to Kanata’s voice actor, Yoshimasa Hosoya, for an amazing performance. But I’m not going to chose any of those. Instead, I’m going to choose a moment to honor Aries, who is in many ways the heart of the show.

I was almost giddy when we met Emma, Seira’s handmaid (09:53). When we learned she not only raised Aries but actually gestated her (10:00), I thought, “Wow, Aries would be so happy to learn that!”

Charce confirmed it by telling Aries that her mother was (14:11), “One of Seira’s handmaids. Not your biological mother.” I think he thought he was delivering bad news. But remember: Aries had maintained, even after learning they were all clones, that her mother loved her.

Emma put everything on the line to give Aries a life. She completely justified her daughter’s faith in her.  And she was so happy when Aries gave her a Mother’s Day flower… Capture from the Hulu stream

Aries remembered how happy her mother had been at the gift of a mother’s day flower. She remembered her birthdays and the gift of some really pretty hair decorations. She had just heard the story of how Emma had risked her life to defy the king and save Aries, with Seira’s help. She had just listened to Charce described how Emma gave up everything to go into hiding for a very, very simple reason: She loved Aries. She wanted to give the little girl a life.

Aries broke into sobs (14:53). She had just seen her faith in her mom — biological or not — completely justified. Of all of the amazing moments in this episode, and there were many, this is the one I keep thinking about. 

What did you think of Kanata’s solution to the wormhole problem? What were your Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!

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2 thoughts on “Review: Astra Lost in Space Episode 11 – Best In Show

  1. I was right about Charce calling off the sphere because of Aries but wrong about the jealousy motive (I fell for his story). And of course they have to casually add the assassin faction who are powerful enough to get Aries onto the team? The story *never* resolves anything without throwing up new questions, does it?

    That was an awesome scene, with Aries remembering her mom. In light of what we know now, I wonder how much Aries mom knows. If she actually knew exactly what she was saying when she said, before the assembled parents, that they haven’t looked in space… I wonder if some faction contacted her? I wonder if Ulgar’s brother has made… arrangements before he died? This show is speculation paradise, and so far everything has panned out satisfactorily.

    I was rather impressed that they actually had Kanata lose an arm. Not something I expected, to be honest. And the shot of his arm drifting in space recalled the frozen tangerine from episode one.

    One more episode to go. I hear it’s an hour long (which means it’s 2 – 3 episodes worth of content).

    1. “I was right about Charce calling off the sphere because of Aries but wrong about the jealousy motive (I fell for his story).”

      Good call! The show’s great at throwing curve balls, so even getting part of the answer right is cool.

      “The story *never* resolves anything without throwing up new questions, does it?”

      That’s one of the things I love about it. Crafting a plot like this is even more difficult than a “normal” plot, so props to the writers!

      “In light of what we know now, I wonder how much Aries mom knows. ”

      I hadn’t even considered that! thinking back to her confrontation with the other parents, I don’t think she knew — but I don’t know that for sure.

      “I wonder if Ulgar’s brother has made… arrangements before he died? This show is speculation paradise, and so far everything has panned out satisfactorily.”

      Wouldn’t that be awesome? I’d love to see a way for the victims to strike back and regain some of their agency, even if its posthumously.

      “I was rather impressed that they actually had Kanata lose an arm. Not something I expected, to be honest.”

      Way more permanent than I expected! But I thought it was gutsy.

      “And the shot of his arm drifting in space recalled the frozen tangerine from episode one.”

      I immediately thought of the video game Dead Space! I think your answer’s probably more what the writers had in mind!

      “One more episode to go. I hear it’s an hour long (which means it’s 2 – 3 episodes worth of content).”

      I’m looking forward to it!

Please let me know what you think!

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