Xam’d Episode 16 - Nazuna’s Dream, Snowy Secrets
There are some choice shots of Prois in this episode and the preview. It’s almost amusing but she’s such a side dressing to the show at this point. But of what secrets does she have to tell?
One thing that is heavily featured this episode is snow. Nakiami and Yungo are deep into the northern continent, crossing snow-covered mountains and buying way deeper towards Tessik territory.
Money shots, I tell ya. So pretty on HD.
She’s got the blues.
The man on the right is this Tessik guy who’s helping out a couple of his kind. Not sure if he’s just one-shot or if he’ll get more time.
Victims of war. Bunch of Northern troops making their way home.
More victims of war: a couple war-displaced refugees marveling at the power of life. Kids get along.
Victim of renegade son. Speaking of what’s happening over at Sentan Island–we got ourselves a live one.
This was the guy, Azami, who was in that other duck-mask-suit thing collecting souls. He also did some neat magic tricks which allowed him to talk to Haru, after getting the tip from Nazuna telepathically.
Who’s Nazuna? She’s Nazuna.
It seems Dr. Ryuuzou has accomplished something with his treatments? But why does she know about Haru? And “her Xam’d”? It is a mystery!
Meanwhile, not much happened over by Ishu’s crew. A few insightful conversations aside, anyways.
I know, right, Akushiba?
All in all this is a very emotive episode. Lots of emotion expressed through faces. I’m not sure if it’s really just a build-up episode here although they will kick off stuff next episode as Nakiami reaches the Tessik village.
Snow Angel? Titanic? Christ the Redeemer??
Midori looks so pretty in that getup. It’s such a tragedy. Because you know they’re going to turn her totally into the next Xam’d experiment. And that’s not all–it looks like her sister will get sexually harassed too next episode. D:
…yeah. Exactly.
Last but not least we have Akiyuki’s part of the story. Not much happened–he got sold to some crazy and rich old lady with her gadget-check-winner wheels.
That is a nice house. Dude, you know how hard it is to get trees to look like that? Planted so close to the building? It even has a freaking MOAT. I guess she could use a slave for reals.
The whole floating eye thing is so Studio Ghibli. But her automatic wheelchair is not.
To recap, most of this episode focused on Nakiami’s journey and the interaction between her and Yungo. But I think that’s just setting up their relationship as it will get taxed once Nakiami hits the floor running next episode regarding that whole Tessik backstory with her.
There are some more hints dropped, mostly from the kidnapped boy who talks about “the Quickening” or some kind of gathering of Xam’d, and some great tragedy that many souls will be lost to the darkness. You know, the usual Tessik nonsense.
The charge to Haru from Azami is to bring her Xam’d there. I guess that’s already setting up the next angle between the two ladies with ownership claims over Akiyuki. Or three if you count Nakiami, right?
Damn, Haru D:
Still seems like a set-up episode but a useful one anyway. And those snowy shots look beautiful.
Thanks for the quick recaps btw.
>Midori looks so pretty in that getup.
What a cute helmet!
Xam’d has had a large change in the story’s setting, now. But it really works, everything now is very interesting.
The setting keeps on changing with this show. It’s like someone’s always running or going somewhere.
Moving and running is definitely a theme that you can find throughout the series.
Schneider: yeah, totally. She’d make a cutie in a game like Jet Set Radio :o