CROSS ANGE Rondo of Angel and Dragon

Episode 6

The opener for Cross Ange has always intimated that Angelise's personal maid from the first episode, Momoka, would eventually become a regular cast member, and this episode shows how: she sneaks onto a transport headed for Arzenal in order to find and be with her beloved former princess once again. Once there, suggestions are thrown about that she may never leave alive (or may be imprisoned or quietly executed if she does leave) because the whole business with Norma being trained to fight Dragons is that big of a secret, so Ange, despite not being particularly happy to see her, eventually finally proscribes to the Arzenal philosophy that “money can buy anything” and decides to buy Momoka to keep her there – and thus, presumably ensure her safety.

The end of last episode raised concerns that Ange might be softened a bit too quickly from her encounter with Tusk after having been toughened up, but her interactions here are reassuring. She has every right to be bitter about being deceived by everyone (including Momoka) about her Norma status and so doesn't let her former maid off easily. Her rejections of Momoka's attempts to treat her once again like a princess (and one does have to wonder where Momoka got all of those luxuries to spruce up Ange's wardrobe, room, and dinner) also seem to indicate that Ange has now finally moved past desperately holding on to being a princess and accepted that she is now a warrior. That she could be concerned about such treatment from Momoka only drawing further ire from her fellow Para-Mail pilots is also a possibility, though a less likely one; this episode indicates that a firm line has been drawn between the faction which despises Ange and the one which accepts her, and not only is Momoka's presence and behavior unlikely to change that dynamic but also the way Ange was portrayed in episode 4 suggests that she wouldn't care anyway. Momoka officially belonging to Ange also seems unlikely to stir up particular trouble in an environment which tolerated Zola's behavior.As a result, Momoka's presence seems unlikely to shake up the personality dynamics which have already been formed, though seeing how she interacts with the others still could prove interesting.

Momoka does, of course, also offer another dimension for fan service opportunities. That she is busty herself comes through more clearly in this episode than it did in her appearances in episode 1, and the producers waste little time in getting her into the fan service swing of things; in fact, one scene involving her and Ange in the bath will probably feature full nudity in the uncensored release. (And of course there is the whole maid fetish thing, too.) Nothing in this episode specifically gives off a strong yuri vibe in Momoka's adoration of Angelise, as Momoka's attachment seems much more one of loyalty and admiration and Ange has made it clear on a couple of occasions that she is straight, but imagining Ange as the husband and Momoka as the devoted wife in such a pairing is not much of a stretch.

The one curious possibility that this episode brings up is whether or not having a second person on the island who is capable of using the Light of Mana will shake up anything. Regardless, the character dynamics and storytelling are settling in pleasingly well at this point. This may never be a great series, but right now it doesn't look shoddy, either.

Rating: B

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