This such a cute little show, but it’s a shame that it’s so slow. It helps that each little mini-story within each episode is connected to the others, however I find that the lack of an overall plot makes Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou rather difficult to write about.
This week’s episode was comprised of three short “stories” if you will. The first centers around Chito and Yuuri being trapped in a blizzard. They seek shelter inside an abandoned building, revealed to be an old power plant. They notice hot water running through a pipe (because it’s melting the snow falling down on it), and Yuuri shoots a hole in it with her gun. The girls use their vehicle to tow over a pipe, which they will with water and have a hot bath in.
Later on the girls make a fire and Chito repeatedly tells Yuuri to do the menial tasks, like feeding the fire, while she chronicles their journey in her journal. Chito talks about the importance of books but Yuuri isn’t listening, and when Chito asks the blonde to again feed the fire, Yuuri (who is not fully paying attention) accidently throws one of Chito’s books in the fire. Chito digs the book out of the flames but it’s too late; the book is near totally destroyed. Chito is pretty pissed and she decides to just go to bed. While Chito is sleeping/ignoring her comrade, Yuuri decides to attempt to write something in Chito’s journal.
In the morning the girls suit up and board their Kettenkrad. It has snowed so much since their arrival that they have to break their way through the snow. They are up on a higher level of the city now, and they’re able to see more of the big blue, open sky when the weather is good. Chito says she’s no longer mad at Yuuri for burning her book because as long as she still has her journals, everything is ok. She also notices Yuuri’s drawing in her journal, but doesn’t hesitate to point out that Yuuri made a typo. That’s just the kind of relationship they have.
The girls make their way to the edge of the city level they’re on, where there are several large drainage pipes. Water from melted snow comes gushing out of the pipes and it looks like it just falls over the city edge…? Regardless the girls decide to take the opportunity to do some laundry. They use a metal staircase to head down to a shallow area away from the pipes, and the water is freezing cold. While they’re washing some clothes they find the body of a fish, and it looks somewhat fresh. Chito recognizes it as a fish, but says she didn’t think any were left. The girls cook and eat the fish.
My thoughts: As I said before, I like the show but it’s hard to write about. I have a lot of questions about the premise the show is built on, but there aren’t any answers yet.
I’ll give this series one more week, and if I don’t totally love the next episode or find it redeeming, then I’ll likely drop this show.