CROSS ANGE Rondo of Angel and Dragon

Episode 4

Although Ange has come to accept her role as a Para-Mail pilot, she makes no effort to get along with the other Norma, much less socialize. That only further provokes some pilots who already had a grudge against her over the deaths of Zola and the rookies. Their attempts to harass Ange meet with only limited success, as Ange is no fool, and their behavior is tolerated by new captain Salia (who is intent on being a proper leader) only to a point. Hilda, though, has other ideas. She aims to take over for Zola in every respect, including claiming her former harem, and is willing to resort to extreme measures to get some payback for Zola. That leads to some ugly consequences for Ange on her next mission, though before then she learns about how much one can customize her Para-Mail using money earned from missions and that the money could be used to buy her way back into the good graces of her fellow pilots if she were so inclined. When you're spouting lines like, “Why should I care if an insect sees me naked?” in response to harsh pranks by the other pilots, though, bothering to do either is something clearly beneath her – for now.

The first three episodes of Cross Ange very determinedly showed Ange as a difficult-to-like character, even with her somewhat getting her act together at the end of episode 3. She still hasn't progressed fully into the likable stage here, as she has merely gone from being whiny and arrogant to cold and arrogant. However, the way she maintains what dignity she can in the face of the harassment is commendable, as is the way that she occasionally even can turn the tables on her harassers. Besides, having her transform her attitude too fast would smell fishy; characters as prideful and embittered as her are not the type who are easily going to accept the olive branches being offered by Salia or Salia's lollipop-sucking roommate, the latter of which just seems to find Ange interesting to watch. No, keeping this on a slower, more measured character development track is definitely the right call. Seeing Hilda trying to take over Zola's place as the new queen and Salia trying to grow into her new role also provides additional character development opportunities, and Salia seeming to give Ange some consideration because Ange is piloting a machine who once belonged to someone dear to her, rather than being bitchy over it, was an unexpected touch.

The fan service certainly did not get neglected in all of the effort focused on character development, either. Hilda asserting herself over her former harem mates provides some choice shots of near-nudity, and Ange wearing her maliciously cut-up uniform is depicted with an eye to being sexy. Hopes that we might finally have an episode that would stay away from edgy sensationalism do not get dashed until the very final scene, though the teasers shown in the Next Episode preview suggest that nothing untoward is going to come of that circumstance. Episode 4 also firms up an observation that had been suggested but less clearly apparent in the previous three episodes: that flat-chested Norma are invariably tracked into being support technicians (the uniforms they wear are not shown being loose-fitting enough to hide much) and more substantial curves are apparently required to be a pilot. Since the fan service to date has been exclusively limited to the pilots, this series is looking to be a bit of a throwback title on that front.

While some minor writing and directing flaws are still apparent in the way that certain scenes are framed, the series is at least trying to seriously develop its characters and story, while still providing a healthy dose of the fan service at its core, and not doing a horrible job at it.

Rating: C+

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