Lycoris Recoil Episode 10: Not The Dark Knight

This episode gave me certain movie vibes.

The first half of the episode was split in two parts. The first was Chisato catching Mizuki and Kurumi researching how they could help with the heart crisis. She announced Lycoris Recoil would be closing its doors and wished the two the best in their future endeavors just like Takina. They did their best to pretend they’re okay with her decision but as the taxi drove away they put all their hopes on Takina. I highly doubt this will be the last we see of them.

Takina meanwhile acted like a good soldier during HQ briefings on their mission to assault Not Joker’s hideout.When she found an opening she interrogated the captured goon who spilled the beans on the arms deal. It’s a classic “skilled short person makes the big mean brute look like a chump” scene. She got him to reveal Alancorp played a large role in the arms deal. Takina knew who the real target was.

By the way about the scenes between NJ and Alan Luthor and the DA Chief, it’s not just for fun I compare Majima, Mr Yoshi and the Chief to The Joker, Lex Luthor and Amanda Waller. The main plot about everyone having their own sense of right and wrong, morally correct and justified gives me so much The Dark Knight vibes. I know other shows or movies brought up these debates but that’s the movie I go to whenever heroes and villains debate on which side’s morals are correct, be they lawful good or chaotic “good”.

During NJ’s and Not Amanda’s debate about justice (It was the classic “distract the enemy while navigators try to track their location” trick that failed because the DA suck) Takina stepped up as soon as he said “Don’t tell you’re gonna get Blondie to bail your asses out again”. She’s like “I don’t care about you. Give me Luthor!” and he’s like “Nah. You’re boring”.

As we saw last episode Chisato put up a strong happy front but inside she’s full of pain and sadness. After closing up shop longtime customers one after another begged them not to go. Chisato was sad her homies and sweetie were gone but happy LycoReco was loved by so many. Before they left Master Mika had a special gift for Chisato seen in the next screen grab. It’s a present he saved for her first step to adulthood but given the circumstances now was as good a time as any. She was grateful to him for teaching her the ways of the warrior, LycoReco, the friends she made and meeting her soul mate. However, when she brought up Luthor the master choked. The time had come to tell her the truth.

Short recap. Mika had Luthor implant a super heart into Chisato to expand her lifespan a little longer. The catch was Mika had to promise to turn her into the ultimate killing machine. As we know that didn’t happen. He wondered if he did the right thing keeping it a secret for so long. When he came to love her like a daughter he knew it’s wrong to keep the truth hidden but he saw her love for Papa Luthor was what gave her strength and he didn’t stop her from becoming stronger because of it. Though Chisato was a bit upset she didn’t hold it against either of them. Were she told the truth sooner she may not have become the Femme Vash we know and love. She was given the freedom to make her own destiny. She still loved her dads. Master Mika was proud to be one of her fathers.

Back to the plot. Majima took a page from his idol Heath Ledger’s playbook and basically acted like the Easter Bunny of Doom placing guns across the city encouraging the people to “break down the walls of false peace covering Japan” and do with their lives as they saw fit. Chaotic “good”.

As Chisato and Master Maki turned on the news she got calls from both Not Amanda and Hacker Boy. The Chief wanted Chisato to take down NJ while HB was like “Don’t do it or Mr Yoshi is toast”. Chisato chose to go rescue Mr Yoshi to hear the truth from him. She and Master Mika counted on Takina and Fuki (and what’s her name) to handle NJ.

Great stuff as always. Action packed episode next time for sure.