English Dub Review: 86 EIGHTY-SIX: “I Don’t Want to Die”

Overview: Lena (Suzie Yeung) continues to build on her relationship with the unit of Spearhead as she gets to know them more and their adventures. However, things only stay merry for so long as the clear differences between that of the 86 and the Republic of San Magnolia remain prominent and begin to rear their ugly head once again. 

Our Take: Just a couple of episodes in, the show has already established the dreary bloodshed of war and systematic discrimination as a permanent aspect of the 86 that can’t be washed out. It is because of this that a fun lake scene is just what the doctor ordered as it is a well-deserved and welcome one with the boys of the unit going on a peeping parade as they spy on the girls as they splash around in water. It’s inherently anime but works so well because of its lightheartedness acting as a nice contrast to 86’s usually despairing tone not to mention the strength of the cast’s chemistry as well.

The frivolous and joyous moments shared amongst the team are fleeting of course because at the end of the day and as mentioned earlier no matter how hard you scrub, the blood is embedded and the same goes for the crew of Spearhead as well. Just as the citizens of San Magnolia despise the 86 and treat them as lambs to the slaughter, expectedly the latter shares no warm sentiments, showing the prominent societal divide that is present on both sides. And the word divide really only scratches the surface as we’re given into the true nature of how most of the 86 feel with cold-blooded hatred. But one that is understandably so, as one of their own falls in battle bringing the turmoil to the surface once again. It is an incredibly powerful scene with Lena being overwhelmed with a nervous breakdown as she is bombarded by one of the processors, Theoto as he curses her with an intense disdain for her, the race she belongs to and her entire way of life. Casey Mongillo knocks Theoto’s speech out of the park as you can hear every ounce of pain, anguish and hate in his voice. It is also yet another powerful display of the conflict between both sides of the world with focus on the 86’s perspective this time around. It is portrayed in a way that is blunt, brutally real and doesn’t mince words in the slightest as it shows how it continues to weigh on Spearhead. An utterly poignant ending that doesn’t leave you with much in the way of the words because you’re still trying to find them. Also, not to mention some really great editing too with the opening scene teasing the grim ending effectively and setting the stage for the rest of the episode well. 

“I Don’t Want to Die” delivers a jaw dropping episode as 86 continues to properly cultivate the hatred between the 86 and the Republic in every way that is both heartbreaking and radiant alike.