Things continue to be perversely weird on Aquarion, and that’s OK by me. It’s not trying too hard to make conventional sense, which is an agreeable quality in a mecha series. I do get why it seems to be largely whiffing with English audiences – it looks different, it’s talky, it doesn’t push any of the buttons Western fans have come to expect will be pushed. But there’s the essence of something old-school here despite the look that comes off as very authentic (which is hardly surprising given the staff).

Hana and Sun (as everybody is calling the new guy) remain the big plot drivers this week. Sun remains largely a mystery, but Hana gets explained pretty thoroughly. Her missing emotion is hate, so she tries to kill whatever it is she loves the most. I’m not sure that makes sense, but it is interesting. For most of her life that person was Sayo (who she put in the hospital five times trying to off). Now that she’s gone, Momohime gladly steps up to fill the target role, which understandably has the boys a bit disquieted.

Mind you, they’re also disquieted about Sun, who seems to be Momohime’s new love interest. He has her “tame as a kitten”, in Sakko’s words. Sun is full of knowledge it seems – Enoshima is an egg nursery, and the mythical beasts are the bait to lure them into hatching. He even talks about the “Egg Council”, which is apparently a real thing as the “teachers” reference it later. And all the kids are being bred for the specific purpose of becoming hatchlings (presumably for the last 12,000 years).

Sun also asks the boys to think about their reason for fighting, and Sakko’s answer seems to be an essential  element of the entire premise. Unsurprisingly he feels more whole when he’s combined with the others in Aquarion form, and presumably that’s true for all of them as they get a taste of their missing emotion from the others. Which is presumably the whole point (and that hug between Sun and Sakko may be the funniest moment of the series). That would be true of Hana too, who says she “gets it” that killing someone you love is a bad idea but can’t translate that intellectual understanding into applied behavior. Perhaps being part of Aquarion (as she’s being pressured to do) would give her enough completeness to tame the desire to kill Momohime (and “almost” Sakko too).

When the next attack – and stake – comes, Momohime has just passed out and Rimiya stays behind to look after her. That leaves the new girl drafted into immediate service, though Toshi is once again the head. But Hana – already psychically connected with Momohime – wigs out and blows the gattai apart. Eventually Sakko is able to break through (though not before the all-important third stake is driven, seemingly), and another gattai happens. This time it’s “Aquarion Sigel”, everyone feels hot (this is Hana’s contribution), and “Sun Attack Love Hug” is unleashed on an unsuspecting world (and mythical beast, notably the first one we’ve heard speak).