English Dub Review: 86 EIGHTY-SIX: “Goodbye”

Overview: Shin (Billy Kametz), Raiden (Jonah Scott), Anju (Maureen Price), Kurena (Erica Mendez) and Theoto (Casey Mongillo) engage in all out combat with the legion absorbed Sheppard, Shourei (Robbie Daymond) for one final battle and also say goodbye to their trusted Handler, Lena (Suzie Yeung). 

Our Take: The huge climactic battle that was teased previously between Shinei and Shourei most assuredly lives up to the glorious anticipation it had established. 

It truly delivers on multiple fronts with it utilizing it’s CG mechs well within the final showdown between the brothers. Computer generated visuals more often than not aren’t as visually appealing compared to traditional hand drawn animation and I can’t say there is an exception to that rule here. However, one element that proves to be incredibly beneficial in its case is how, generally, characters and objects move in a mechanical, more robotic manner. Henceforth, it makes it the perfect choice to portray the maneuverability of how hulking metal beasts would operate in the ending battle between the legion and the 86. 

Beyond the visual aspect, storywise it plays out exactly as one would have hoped in that it gives a satisfying conclusion to Shin and Shourei’s internal and external conflict. Thematically, their final goodbye to one another works so well because of each’s final sentiments that is unique to their own respective grief in Shinei paying back his brother in hopes of forgiveness and Shourei being guilt-ridden for leading Shin to believe that the pain and suffering of their parents was his doing. The distressing breakdown that Shin finally brings himself to is one of immense sorrow and Billy Kametz makes the soul weep with his painful and tearful display. 

While this episode does an excellent job of concluding the sibling conflict, it also incorporates Lena into the conflict well with her saving the day with a well timed missile strike. But the strength of it comes from not what she does, but how she does it, and along with it a shocking reveal. To see Lena’s anger and rage for the republic as a whole finally bubble up to the surface and manifest in razor sharp emotional manipulation of Henrietta in launching a missile strike is one of her best moments this season. And that’s saying something considering her impressive record. Suzie Yeung gives one hell of an empowering performance with Lena’s grit and selflessness radiating. With all the horrific atrocities that San Magnolia has placed upon Spearhead and the 86 as a whole, this was the heartwarming win that was needed. But it’s oh so well deserved when it is aimed at Henrietta, who is revealed to have abandoned none other than Shinei himself. This most certainly puts their friendship in a precarious position, even more so than before. I really want to see the moral complexities within them both develop and lead to even more rousing discussions but will hopefully also bring them together as well. 

Acting as a triple threat, “Goodbye” also acts as a last hurrah one for Spearhead and their trusted Handler, Lena. It was every bit as heart wrenching as Lena showed the 86 through her lens all the amazing sights of the San Magnolia, making up for the sad reality of them never actually getting to be there in person to experience it for themselves, until they finally left past the border beyond communication leaving Lena emotionally worse for wear

86 adds yet another gold star to it’s vast collection of them with an end to the Spearhead’s war that is driven by exciting legion battles and excellent character performances from Billy Kametz and Suzie Yeung, as they bring one’s grief and strength to the forefront in the most natural and human way possible in that of Shin and Lena. Not to mention it also closes parts of their story with masterful writing and storytelling befitting of the heartfelt development that has been cultivated up to this point.