CROSS ANGE Rondo of Angel and Dragon

Episode 11

Whatever other criticisms might be fairly leveled against Cross Ange, one area where it has never been found wanting is in it mecha animation. That's particularly important in this episode, as for the first time the series features mecha-on-mecha battles. But while that is doubtless something that some viewers have been aching for, it is actually far from being one of the episode's most important developments. In fact, episode 11 packs more interesting revelations and crucial plot development than any episode in the series to date.

The episode doesn't waste any time in getting to them, either, as the first couple come before the opener. Julio being in bed with the leader of his bodyguards is not a big deal, but her having wings and talking about opening singularities is, and it's probably not good for Sylvia that she discovers this. (And sorry, Sylvia, but you have burned that bridge for asking for help.) That alone opens up all kind of new questions about what is really going on with the dragons, and more are added when Arzenal is attacked directly for the first time – and this time instead of a giant dragon showing up to complement the smaller dragons, a trio of mecha (with designs very similar to the mecha forms of the Para-mail!) do. The lead unit, with the use of a song, turns golden and unleashes an utterly devastating energy blast, one which wipes out many of the Para-mails and a good chunk of Arzenal's facilities. Hilda and Ange, who have been festering, unbathed, in their cell for a week, get free and eventually join their squad (which had been in reserve due to being short on pilots in action), though not before Salia attempts and fails to master Vilkiss herself. When Ange reclaims Vilkiss through some pretty ridiculous aerial acrobatics (and ejects Salia from it, leading to more ridiculous acrobatics), she confronts the lead attacker, manages to pick on the attacker's song, and pull the same stunt herself, unleashing Vilkiss's true power for the first time back at the attackers. But what do the very human-looking opposing female pilot and the resulting montage of her and Ange together mean?

With this episode the series fills in most of the gaps in what has been shown in the opener and closer but not previously revealed. It also implies that the singing mentioned in the series' title, which was reintroduced last episode, will have major combat applications going forward. What the newcomer brunette means by “fake citizen” and “Star Song” raises big new questions about what the heck is truly going on in this setting above the level that we have seen so far, and the odd montage of images which appear when they speak to each other opens up speculation about what those images mean; are the series' producers indicating that Ange and the newcomer are connected through various reincarnations across time (or various incarnations across dimensions)? They are clearly shown to have been adversaries at some points but lovers at others. If there was any doubt that the series would find sufficient material to drive the plot of its second season, this should shatter it, as entirely too much is revealed here for one or two more episodes to even come close to resolving.

Almost an afterthought is Salia's reflections on her history with Vilkiss, which is used to justify her defying orders and trying to go out in Vilkiss, only to discover that it will not work properly with her any more than it did with Jill (aka Alektra). Even though that fleshes out the background a bit more, it is still the weakest-executed aspect of the episode. More appreciable is the relaxed banter between Hilda and Ange and the running joke about their unwashed status, and of course the episode has no shortage of fan service. (And sorry, Hilda, but you aren't fooling anyone. Despite your claims to have gone along with the whole lesbian sex thing as a means to an end, we all saw how you reacted when Ange was briefly pressed against your back at one point.) The songs also make a nice enhancement to the action.

Ange and Hilda finally cutting all of their ties last episode seemed to signal a transition point in the series, and clearly this is the big push into its new stage. The episode has its flaws, but it gives the story a strong push forward.

Rating: B-

CROSS ANGE Rondo of Angel and Dragon is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.