World Trigger Episode 25 (Invasion ontop of Invasion)

So, from last we left off….

I have some issues with this. I get it, that she’s still young and untrained, and very nervous and meek..but I just hate this trope of the person who could run but is too scared too. I suppose is because I’ve never experienced such a sensation like paralyzing fear..but all that’s going on in my head is “run you silly little girl.” However, Izuho gets a chance to show her moment of awesome (as well as justify her existence as a side character), so I guess its all good. I like her quite a bit, I enjoy he expressions and design alot.

Its nice that she’s brave and goes to help her friend, even as it doesn’t do much to the Rabit. However, she does snap Chika out of her terror and reminds her “oh wait…I’m a soldier who joined Border to fight.” And fight she does. While she lacks skills and experience, she still makes up for it in raw trion and power…which is actually a bad thing. Now that she’s shown what she can do, the enemy are like “well…hello there” so now she’s going to be majorly targeted by them. Still, its nice for her to show what she can do.

For alot of this episode, we learn and see more as the fights go on. We learn what the deal is with the enemy Neighbor’s horns, that they’ve worked in implanting Trion receptors into their bodies to increase their trion and power, which makes them extremely powerful. I like we’re seeing some real alien-ness to our aliens, and something that would make things more of a threat to our heroes.  Speaking of which…..

The World Trigger gods have heard your prayers, Hideki. Konami has returned and in major style, as she’s really getting to shine against these bad guys. One thing that has been fun is how each group adapts and clashes with each other, sometimes with Border achieving the upper hand, sometimes he Neighbors, both pulling out different tricks and strategies. Its actually compelling to watch and I wanna see how the two forces continue to clash, especially since now the humanoid enemy neighbors are attacking, and get to show off their far more unique powers.

The series does a good job pacing wise here, where it gives enough to entertain, but leaves enough to make us want more. While I can’t say I find Osamu and Duckface to be extremely compelling, the battle going on is really fun to watch because..alot of it is strategy, and tactics, and using your brain to fight. That’s pretty rare, last I can recall, early Naruto was like that before it became about the super god moves and magic ninja bullshit. Overall, I find it nice how we can learn how these powers are  built up, and how things go. Its baby’s first shonen..but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. It may not be emotionally compelling (and that can be a big deal), but its still fun to watch.