I must say, I really like that Aquarion MoE is weird in a totally fearless way. Some of that is having a writer in Murai Sadayuki (and it applies to series creator Kawamori Shouji in spades too) who’s been around a long time and doesn’t give  a flip. He’s going to write what he wants and that’s that. Fearlessness is a vital component for mecha anime, because this is a genre so wedded to tropes. But it can be a double-edged sword – “double-edginess” for its own sake to the point of showing off. That’s not what I’m vibing here, though. I’m also really digging the music.

I am aware that the protagonist’s distinguishing feature is a lack of fear, so perhaps that’s fitting. But the spotlight is being shared around quite effectively. I’m finding the interactions of the kids really fun to observe. Having taught middle schoolers I find it to be very authentic, especially the boys – their mannerisms and hangups ring true. This school has “seven mysteries”, just like a normal one – except no one can agree on what the seventh is. And Sayo’s ghost seems to be wandering the campus – Sakko sees her, and he’s not the only one.

But the main buzz is about a tenkousei on the way in, unusual this late in the year. Again though, there’s disagreement on whether it’s a first-year girl or a third-year guy. Sayo’s ghost keeps showing up, and the Elements fab four are in the process of chasing her when another mythical beast clocks in. This time around DEAVA orders Sakko, Momohime, and Toshi (Rimiya gets the day off – is a four-way gattai not possible?). Not only that, but Toshi is the head – as apparently the nature of the Aquarion depends on which Element is in that role. Toshi’s segment (“Tir”) is good at close-quarters combat, but still can’t prevent another stake from being driven into the ground.

I wouldn’t swear this is the first time we’ve heard discussion of civilian casualties, but it’s the first one I remember. Momohime does her best to buck up Toshi’s spirits (he really does seem to be in love with her) but SEELE or whatever the international cabal is called is none too happy with current developments. They’re behind the arrival of the tenkousei – though which one is unclear – and there’s talk of the “Hakobune” being established soon, whatever the heck that means.

As for that transfer student, the reason for confusion is soon clear enough – there are two of them. As is the reason Sayo’s ghost keeps appearing (and Monkey-sensei’s gobbledygook explanation has nothing to do with it) – it’s her younger sister, Hana. She looks just like Sayo and is all smiles, but it’s immediately clear something is off with her. All the more so when she undergoes a complete makeover into a full-on pink-haired gyaru with cleavage (which really stands out with these character designs).

And the most so when she tries to stab Momohime with a pencil and cheerfully announces she’s going to kill her. Fortunately she’s stopped by the other tenkousei, the one who showed up last week but whom I mistakenly referred to as “she”. It’s a boy, his name is San, and he’s played by Hiroki Nanami fresh off her Oscar-winning triumph as Senya in Sengoku Youko. It’s not all making sense by any means, but this is mecha anime – it’s not supposed to. As long as it continues to engage that’s fine by me.