Gate Episode 11 [Dark Elves and Peace Talks]

So just like last episode, this episode was definitely on the more fun side. I actually enjoyed this episode far more than I thought I would. So now that they’re back beyond the gate, what wacky adventures will follow suit? Welp, I’ll tell you.

So the episode starts up with us finding out that right beyond the gate, the refugees kind of stayed after the battle of Alnus and created a bustling town there. Everyone was hard at word keeping it peaceful, and the princess was also doing her best to have meetings with people to convince them not to fight with the Japanese people. Basically there are two sets of people, the half of the senate that wants peace, and the assholes who want to fight them. Because…we know how well that went over last time.

So they brought over a Japanese person who starts to secretly meet with the people who are the members of the senate who want to fight, to offer their relatives they captured back during the battle as a sign of friendship. The first guy they talk to it seems to work on. So that’s good.

So meanwhile, back in town 3 of the japanese people (incduding Itami) go with Rory to have drinks in a Tavern. We find out from the girl soldier that the elf girl has been wandering around looking for her father despite the fact that…you know, he’s dead. The girl soldier thinks they should tell her, but Itami makes the good point of that if she tells her and she breaks mentally, she’d be unable to take care of her because she’ll have to leave at some point and it wouldn’t be fair to do that.

She and the other guy leave so it’s just Rory and Itami. Rory is getting tipsy when a dark elf shows up. She, obviously not knowing who Rory is, asks why a little girl is drinking. Okay, this is my favorite part of the episode, because at this point, Rory gets really annoyed and talks about how this girl ruined her plans for the evening, complete of short dream sequence of what her plan was.

Hearing that the elf wants one of the “Green People” Rory decides to pretend that Itami made her drink and that she actually IS a little girl so that Itami can escape as this elf didn’t know he was one of the green people because she didn’t know what the dark elf’s intentions were.

Later on however we find out that she wants to find the Green People to help her defeat the fire dragon from earlier.Then we get a swell flashback of that scene where the Fire dragon killed the elves. Instead..you know…this time, they’re dark elves.

As we see her going to find the Japanese SDF and coming up to their base, the episode ends.

This episode had a lot going for it. I really like scenes with Rory and Itami because I actually ship them and it’s fun to see characters do fun stuff when I actually like them together. I also like that stuff is going on in this episode and the plot is moving progressively forward with the pieces all moving together. I’m going to be here for another season with this show, so I don’t have to worry about them trying to wrap this up in 1-2 episodes, because honestly that would be impossible. Also, I do want to spend more time with these characters as I’m not ready to leave them yet.

I had no idea what to think of this show going in as it was my wild card, but i’m actually liking it far more than I thought I would, despite the blatant Xenophobia.

At this point though, I don’t know what they’re planning to do with the elf girl. Right now she kind of just meanders around looking for her father and she doesn’t talk much. I want to see her do more, but I don’t know what they’re planning on doing with her character.

Overall though, this is one of those shows that I look forward to every week. It keeps me interested, the characters are fun, and the story sucks you in. (Most of the time anyway) It’s nice to see a series that fuses nowadays with a magical world.

Episode 8/10 (would have been higher if Itami and Rory hooked up or kissed or something)

Ah well. A man can dream.

-Hideki