English Dub Review: In/Spectre “Preparing to Conquer the Steel Lady”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Detective Terada is just minding his own business when he’s confronted and killed by Steel Lady Nanase. Needless to say, this event causes the rumors about Steel Lady Nanase to get blown even more out of proportion. So much so, in fact, that Kuro and Kotoko decide there may be a single malevolent person behind it – and it might be his cousin called Rika?

Our Take:

Well, Steel Lady Nanase has finally done it – she’s killed someone dead. In yet another episode in this arc, there’s a bit more progress. The detective’s death exacerbates the rumors about the Steel Lady that were already running wild online, and now Kotoko has to craft even more logical fiction in order to try and combat her. It’s yet another continuation of the past few episodes without really adding much new stuff. We get a bit about Kuro’s cousin Rika near the end, but honestly, that’s about all this new episode has to offer. I was pretty excited about this show after the first few episodes, but now? I think it’s wearing out its welcome.

Seriously, the main portions of this episode yet again take place in an apartment with Saki, Kotoko, and Kuro sitting around and discussing the same old topics involving but not limited to: Internet rumors, logical fiction, and Kuro’s cousin, Rika. Okay, so that last one hasn’t happened before. Or rather, it has in that we’ve known about Kuro’s bedridden cousin since the premiere, but this is the first time we get a bit more info on her such as her name, physical description, and the fact that she might be Kuro’s evil counterpart? It’s kind of an interesting twist, but I wish it had taken the show less time to get around to this reveal. Heck, it’s not even really revealed yet. They mention her name in connection with the person who started or is keeping the rumors going, but we still don’t know why.

I wish that we spent a little less time on repeating the same plot points over and over again and more time spending time with the characters themselves and their quirky interpersonal relationships. When Kotoko collapses due to lack of sleep, it’s a good chance for Kuro and Saki to reconnect. It’s been years since they’ve talked, and they were together for years before Kotoko came into the picture. I mean, they were engaged! But instead of making time to give the two of them some interesting screentime, we get a Rika namedrop and then the episode ends.

The dub keeps on keepin’ on. The main cast is still solid on their performances, and it’s especially fun to hear Kotoko complaining about how she thinks Kuro has imagined “manhandling those magnificent balls of fat” when talking about Steel Lady Nanase. This whole situation is really starting to get to Saki, who questions: “Has the truth always been so paper thin you can rip it apart?”

I’m glad that the show seems to be planning an epic conclusion with Steel Lady Nanase, but I wish it had picked up its feet a little more getting there. The last few episodes in particular just felt so similar, like they could’ve been combined into a single episode and streamlined. I’m not saying they were all bad, but less is more, especially in this case, and I think In/Spectre would be a much stronger show had it been inspected for bloated, repetitive episodes.