OP Sequence:
Made in Abyss’ uniquely absorbing ride accelerates to full speed, with an episode that has us fully in adventurer mode. Of the new group from the (presumably) past there’s no sign – apart from the OP. The focus is solely on the main trio as the dangers of the Golden City begin to assert themselves. The dynamic of this little pod is always interesting. I know if it were me going to one nerve-wracking place after another where things can kill you in horrendous fashion, I’d be a lot more Reg than Riko. She annoys me, but her dull-witted determination to push forward with a smile is indispensable to keeping this group functional.
One of Tsukushi’s fetishes that he didn’t get to indulge much in the premiere (just Wazukyan eating live bugs) is disgusting food, but it’s in full force here. Eggs which keep twitching around even after their boiled and tempura’d isn’t enough to dissuade Riko, though it’s poor Reg who has to be the guinea pig. The Japanese are better at eating stuff that’s still moving than most (I love sushi but I do draw the line at that), and there are no gastric issues with this feast. Afterwards Riko reminisces about Nat and the gang up top (it’s nice for them to get a mention at least, though almost never an appearance) and Nanachi suggests sending them a mail balloon, which her inspirational speech sadly does nothing to speed safely on its way.
From this point on it’s art director Masuyama Osamu and monster maven Yoshinari Kou’s time to show off. The Sixth Level is no less jaw-droppingly beautiful and the creatures no less wondrous strange than what’s come before. The dragons the trio avoids thanks to Lyza’s notes, but they get a little too close to the geothermal vents and have to beat a hasty retreat. Worse, while they’re camping for the night something avoids Reg’s arm trap (LOL), sneaks into camp, and steals a bunch of Riko and Nanachi’s hair – and Prushka.
There’s clearly an intelligence behind this – Nanachi’s sketch (from the balloon) is left behind with a strange and vaguely threatening symbol on it. And a message – a very disgusting message – is left for the trio to find as they chase after Prushka. Fortunately Reg’s nose (I guess he is sort of like a dog) is infallible and leads them to a strange tower bedecked with human body parts and haunted by strange voices. This is where Prushka is, though, so there’s no choice but to follow…
What to make of the strange creatures they find inside – and the one, Majikaja (Gotou Hiroki) who can speak human language? Well, the voice-over narration tells us that this is “the place from which no one can return and retain their human form”. Majikaja says “you’re cave raiders, too”. As it happens, we do know some cave raiders who came to this place along the very same route Reg, Riko, and Nanachi have taken. And they were human as far as we know. It’s not safe to make any assumptions, but at the very least our thoughts are intentionally being led in a certain direction.
Them there’s the matter of Prushka. When Majikaja says “you were the ones who brought it to us” I’m guessing Prushka is what he’s referring to. And then “one who is good at it is doing the stone”. Again it’s not a safe assumption yet but seemingly Prushka is what this refers to, which almost certainly isn’t going to make Riko happy. One way or the other I suspect we’ll know a lot more after next week’s episode.
ED: “Endless Embrace” by MYTH&ROID
