LogFAQs > #924726328

Gunbuster Episode 5 cleared. This episode starts to deliver on the time dilation concepts introduced in episode 2 -- it begins with Noriko and Amano coming back to "graduate" 10 years behind the rest of their high school classmates. We get a brief glimpse of how the world and their relationship with other people has changed. Because of an emergency alert there is no choice but to send the Gunbuster back out into space. But this time there's a catch: 6 months of time will pass on earth while they're gone, and Coach might not even have six months to live.

This episode is all about the development and resolution of Amano, as the previous episode was more about Noriko. We'll see this dynamic pop up again later in TTGL. Noriko admires Amano as her "big sis," someone who she can look up to, rely on, and who would never falter. But in reality Amano is the one who lacks confidence and she needs Noriko to inspire her.

The action in this episode was even more hot blooded and awesome than the last episode, although in terms of raw emotional payoff I might still rate episode 4 higher. I like Noriko's arc more than Amano's, and they did a better job of conveying the hopeless situation in episode 4. I don't think anything could beat the amazing impact of Noriko choosing, on her own, to pilot the Gunbuster for the first time when all hope was lost and they were all going to die anyway.

Noriko's amazing VA kills it again with her battle screams and emotional delivery of her inspiring lines. It's a shame she doesn't seem to have any other similar roles because she is seriously iconic here.
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Reality seems very harsh
https://imgur.com/3a03avz