English Dub Review: Metallic Rouge “Carnival Dances with Lost Memories”

Overview

After her fight with Afdel, Rouge finds herself lost within her own memories. Meanwhile Naomi tries to track her partner in crime down, and ends up infiltrating the flying circus that ominously hangs over the city…

Last week I joked about my viewing experience falling into the pattern of even episodes good, odd episodes bad. Did this week’s episode break the cycle? Well… Somewhat. We took one step forward and one step back.

Rouge losing herself in the labyrinth that is her own head should be engaging on paper. There’s not a lot we know about her and choosing to present her past in such an abstracted way should make for some interesting imagery as well. Unfortunately, the show’s clinical tone gets in the way of things. The constant cuts back and forth across the timeline are supposed to be disorienting, but the execution still feels flat, holding back from truly messing with the viewer’s head. I’m a little disappointed if THE mindfuck episode doesn’t leave me questioning my own reality for a bit. 

We do get bits and pieces of essential info: Who Rouge’s “big brother” is, her motivation(?) for hunting down the Immortal Nine, what the Immortal Nine are… But for every question there’s more answers, and new concepts introduced in an already bloated script. Go ahead and add “Code Eve” to the endless amounts of concepts the show throws at you every week!

Once again the episode separates both halves from Rouge and Naomi’s perspective, and of course they reunite once more by the end of it. I still wonder what’s the point of keeping them separated for so long. We need to see more of their relationship in order for any of this drama to truly stick. I’m not fully enamored by their relationship, but they’re still entertaining when they’re together. We’re approaching the halfway point now and aside from their banter from episode 2– it’s hard to get a proper grasp of their relationship. Hopefully the back half can truly go in and focus on that in the future. Their relationship is the true emotional core of the show.

Very quick shoutout to this week’s fight scene between Naomi and Random Clown Goth Girl. The mecha fights are supposed to be the main attraction, but their brief face off stole the show for me. Especially Goth Girl’s mesmerizing motion as she dodges Naomi’s bullets. The build-up to the circus absolutely did not need to take that long, but the fight almost made up for it.

Did this episode fully break the cycle? I want to say yes, even with my reservations. Naomi and Rouge are back together once again (and for good this time!) and as underwhelming as the mindfuck in the first half was, it was still something different. At this point though, I need the show to settle down and focus on heading straight towards its destination, wherever that may be. If they do decide to make a couple of detours though, just make sure our main duo stick together for the entire ride.