Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts
takt op.Destiny Episode 2 Review – Quick Summary
In takt op.Destiny Episode 2, “Music -Reincarnation-,” the show takes a step backward in time. Humanity, under the command of Grand Maestro Sagan, has reached detente with the D2. Takt Asahina, having seen his father perish at the hands of the D2, now lives with Anna Schneider and her sister Cosette. He struggles to perfect his musical skills. Anna and Cosette have their own struggle: Keeping the garage where he practices his piano clean and bug free. When Sagan’s Symphonica brings a party to their city, Cosette is bent on getting Takt to play. Will he perform for the crowd? Why is Sagan personally visiting? And why did the D2 agree to a cessation of hostilities?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from takt op.Destiny Episode 2
Costte couldn’t help pointing at the little insect party going on in the corner. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
The D2s murdered Takt’s father right in front of his eyes. That left an indelible mark on the young man. His father, a talented musician, had inspired Takt. His death crystallized Takt’s vision for his own future. Come what may, Takt was going to perfect his ability to play the grand piano.
Unfortunately, that single-mindedness excluded basic things like bathing or cleaning up after himself. He parked himself in the garage and refused to do anything except play the piano.
Cosette would come in at least weekly to clean up the room and disrupt the insects that had setup home in his discarded food containers. When she complained, he told her that this was his “ultimate space where I can give my all without a lot of distractions.”
Cosette, not being the sort who’s easily intimidated, snapped back (02:19), “The term you’re looking for is ‘lazy pack rat.’”
She had no trouble speaking her mind! That made what happened later all the harder to bear.
Best in Show Moment for takt op.Destiny Episode 2
A beautiful moment, presented with a visual vocabulary. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Step one: Get You to Fall in Love with the Character
Compared to the frenetic (and visually beautiful) action from the previous episode, this episode was slow. And yet, it brought with it an emotional railroad spike — a spike that was carefully, lovingly prepared.
We got to see scenes of Takt obsessively playing his grand piano, partly in memory of his father, partly as an act of defiance. Cosette would come into the garage, where Takt had setup the piano, to clean. But she did more than just clean. She harangued him, not in a mean or petty way, but as an attempt to break him out of his shell. She even turned the vacuum cleaner on his shirt as an overt declaration that he should bathe more often!
Well, if Takt isn’t going to bathe regularly, Cosette has to so something! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Over dinner, they’d bicker until Anna put an end to it with a mostly subtle threat. Even then, Cosette made a show of stealing Takt’s piece of pie.
This part of the episode came to an end when Takt accidentally discovered Cosette playing the piano. He had had no idea she could play. While not at his level, she clearly showed talent. When he asked her about it, she gave him this charming mischievous grin. She expected him to be angry. Instead, he began talking to her, slowly, ever so slowly opening up. Just a little.
Their exuberant paired performance at the Symphonica Party didn’t just melt the hearts of the spectators. I had the same reaction. Their chemistry could not have been more natural and warm. They practically glowed in each other’s company.
Delivery: Step Two: Stab You in the Heart
Then came the railroad spike.
Overhanging all of this charm was the knowledge that in the first episode, there was no more Cosette. There was only the Musicart. As the clock began to run out on the episode, I realized that it had to happen soon.
Remember how the first episode has so much visual action? I think they put that episode first because it established a visual vocabulary. If you ask me to define it precisely, in English, I can’t. To me, that’s a wonderful sign. Use English for concepts best communicated in English. Use a visual language for those ideas for which there are not yet words. That’s what this episode did.
As Takt and Cosette took their bow, the D2s struck. Cosette had been mortally wounded. When Takt regained consciousness, he found his right arm in tatters and the barely alive Cosette lying across him. With her last words, she spoke of how much she loved to hear him play.
Unable to bear her passing, he demanded that she open her eyes. Then her pendant glowed. Her body levitated as a thorny vine wrapped Takt’s devastated arm. When he looked back at Cosette, another being hung in the air between them. This being of undulating, golden light came close to him, and for an instant, they looked at each other.
When Takt looked back to Cosette, a being of light hung between them. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
That’s the moment. That’s my favorite moment from the episode. It didn’t have any words; my attempt to describe it falls short. But the animated moment, using the language established in the first episode, blew me away. What came next was important to the narrative: The being consumed Takt’s arm, then inhabited and reanimated Cosette. But that moment when they came face to face is going to stick with me.
What did you think of Sagan’s role? What were your favorite moments? Let me know in the comments!
takt op.Destiny Episode 2: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: takt op.Destiny – Episode 2 discussion
- RABUJOI: Takt Op. Destiny – 02 – Cancrizans
- It’s Your Fault That I’m Not Popular: TAKT OP.DESTINY EPISODE 2 — MUSIC -REINCARNATION-
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- takt op.Destiny Episode 1: Conduct -Creed-
- takt op.Destiny Episode 2: Music -Reincarnation-
- takt op.Destiny Episode 3: Awakening -Journey-
- takt op.Destiny Episode 4: Let the Performance Begin -Showtime-
- takt op.Destiny Episode 5: Equitation -Valkyrie-
- takt op.Destiny Episode 6: Sunrise -Rooster-
- takt op.Destiny Episode 7: Truth -Noise-
- takt op.Destiny Episode 8: Destiny -Cosette-
- takt op.Destiny Episode 9: Family -Eroica-
- takt op.Destiny Episode 10: Master and Pupil -Lenny-
- takt op.Destiny Episode 11: Preparing for Battle -Orpheus-
- takt op.Destiny Episode 12: Takt -Hope-
Looks like one to bookmark. Glowy beings and thorny vines + romance and tragedy. What more could you ask for?
It really does quite a lot going on for only two episodes — and it didn’t feel rushed or crowded at all! It’s probably my favorite so far this season.
For sure Sagan is in on it. It’s either a power trip or he’s directly involved with the D2.
I’m pretty sure Cossette’s necklace started to glow just before the attack, like some sort of warning. I wonder if the D2 chased the orange crystals inhabitants to Earth.
I read your insight about Cosette’s pendant being made of the first wave of stones:
https://otakuauthor.com/takt-op-destiny-episode-2-music-reincarnation/
There’s some relationship between the D2/black stones and the first wave of amber stones, isn’t there? Ancient enemies? More coolness to think about!
Absolutely. That’s what I’m thinking. We’re nowhere near the full picture yet and it’s already getting interesting even beyond the stunning animation.
Right now, Sagan seems pretty suspicious to me for his timing. I share the same favourite moment as you with Cossette’s necklace being activated.
On another note, I’m loving the opening and ending theme songs for this series, especially with how Mika Nakashima is pulling out more songs. It’s great to hear her.
I think you and Lynn Sheridan are right! One thing that makes me pause: When Sagan heard Takt and Cosette playing, his expression suggested that he really enjoyed it. Maybe Schindler’s the real villain? Maybe Sagan’s smile was a red herring?
It’s kinda cool the show’s so clearly ambiguous about this!