English Dub Review: Battle Game in 5 Seconds: “Iron Maiden”

Overview: Akira (Robbie Daymond) makes a deal with Rin (Kennady Ray) as he sets his plans into motion against The Red Team.
Our Take: Jumping from the past few moments before the battle to the present of it throughout, we’re greeted with Hajime’s comeuppance in the form of Yuri giving him a taste of his own medicine. Unfortunately, it definitely falls under the “hard to swallow” variety because the fight is a constant struggle between animation that varies from CG to more traditional 2D animation. It is incredibly jarring to watch due to neither is incredibly appealing to look at to begin with making their transitions from one another even worse. The computer-generated animation looks as robotic as one would fear and the hand drawn variety is stiff as a board lacking any scale and/or scope. It would have even been preferred had there one been on constant style, because although it would have been stale, at the very least, it would be consistent. 

What led to Yuri going toe-to-toe with the jolly, shark-toothed giant was the doubt she has in Akira in whether or not the trust he places in her is real or if it is simply a strategic move to get ahead and survive. With Akira being such a cerebral character, it is a valid concern that has even crossed my mind when he discusses how much he trusts Yuri. And even better, Yuri’s decision to leave Akira’s side has real consequences on him showing just how much he truly cares about her, and his friends on the Green Team and his struggle in coming to terms with that. 

One of Akira’s biggest appeals is how he combats his opponents in the ways in which he outsmarts them. This episode’s expert pacing helps contribute to this aspect in how it immediately shows the result of Akira’s rendezvous with Rin that details what his plan is, without going through the boring detail of spelling it out for you. It is also just as cunning as one would expect from him in how he and Rin lure both Madoka and Masakado using their standing and/or relationship with them to their advantage. The intelligently devised battles are just further emphasized by how Akira’s wits also extend to his quick thinking in the heat of battle yet again with Madoka against Masakado. 

The reveal of who the traitor in The Green Team is finally comes to light in much quicker and shocking fashion than initially thought. An incredibly well-executed twist by subverting expectations even more so by not going with the most centralized characters but extras instead that not many probably thought twice about. And in one last turn of events, Rin’s mysterious power is revealed in how she can turn her blood into different objects, but most notably blades. Not only does her battle against Renka show just how cold of an antagonist Rin is in how that she is only ever on her own side, but also how discerning she is in deducing the blue haired girl’s true jaw-dropping puppet nature and her master. It also makes Rin’s future confrontations with Akira and other characters even more exciting in building anticipation as he and the others try to discover the true nature of her abilities.