English Dub Review: Darling in the FranXX “Your Thorn, My Badge”

02 joins the squad as they prepare for an upcoming battle.

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Now that Hiro has proved himself riding with 02, the other Parasites welcome him to the team. It’s hard for 02 to adjust to all the rules of their living quarters, but Ichigo does her best to make her feel at home. However, a new battle is on the horizon. It will be Hiro’s third time riding with 02, and she doesn’t seem to care about holding back.

Our Take:

Okay, that opening scene with the Parasites struggling to understand the concept of ‘kissing’ was pretty fun. As long as you let yourself get sucked into the universe of the show, it’s a thrilling ride. I’m glad we got to have an episode dealing with the Parasites interpersonal struggles rather than another Franxx battle. 02 joining the team is putting stress on everyone, but nobody more so than Hiro. He appears to be suffering greatly from their partnership, but he doesn’t allow the pain to show on the outside. The only person who knows about it is Goro.

Goro and Hiro’s relationship is put to the test this time around. I think everyone loves Goro’s character, so it’s nice to see him taking a more prominent role in this episode. He clearly cares about Hiro’s wellbeing and knows that stopping his friend from riding with 02 again is probably the safest course of action. But it would be against Hiro’s wishes if he tried to. For now, Goro seems to be letting Hiro have his way, but he might have to learn that sometimes people can’t see what’s best for them. If Ichigo’s confrontation with 02 is any indicator, she couldn’t care less about her partner’s health. 02 has had countless partners die on her, so is it any wonder that she isn’t getting too emotionally-attached to Hiro?

On another note, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that the civilization the kids have grown up in is basically a cult. They pray to ‘Papa’ before every meal and are sheltered from the other Parasite squads. Apparently, they’re the only group to use actual names instead of their assigned numbers. For all of 02’s failings, at least she seems to see through all the trappings of ‘Papa’ and the other elders.

The dub was very good this episode. One of my favorite exchanges was between 02 and Ichigo. When instructed to follow the rules, 02 tells Ichigo: “You’re pretty bossy, aren’t you?” Ichigo retorts: “Thanks for the compliment.” Major props to Ichigo’s VA, who had to deliver some emotionally-charged lines. Even her breakdown scene was great! It’s tough for many actors to sound believable while crying, but she pulled it off.

Taking the time to explore how everyone is being affected by 02 and Hiro’s partnership continues to pay off in Your Thorn, My Badge. The stakes are high, and so are the tensions between the Parasites. Even the normally-reliable bond between Ichigo and Goro is getting tested. I can’t wait to see how things turn out in the next episode!