English Dub Review: Irina: The Vampire Cosmonaut: “A Maiden’s Prayer”

Overview: Lev (Stephen Fu), Anya (Jad Saxton) and other UZR officials celebrate Irina’s (Tia Ballard) incredible achievement. 

Our Take: Irina being celebrated for her achievement in space flight by UZR military officials feels incredibly gratifying, especially with her cruel treatment up to this point. Irina scoffing at the shoddy technological aspects of the ship makes it even more satisfying and a nice icing of the cake of her achievement. Even her conflict with Rosa has evolved and shown to become softer, with Irina now having a friendly rivalry with the cosmonaut candidate. 

Speaking of cosmonaut candidates, another has been added to the lineup in that Lev, who was promoted after his help in training with Irina. This causes Lev to go back to living with the other candidates, leaving Irina in Anya’s hands. However, subtly is shown how much discomfort he finds in not being with Irina anymore showing his budding feelings we have all seen grow up to this point. Anya and Irina’s New Year’s Day plans get some much needed time with the girls. It’s nice to see Anya show the more jovial, cultural side of the UZR, not to mention a much deserved reward for all her hard work. This makes for an adorable friendship that is wholesome in their playful energy they both bring out of each other. 

While Lev left it all on the court in his test to be one of the final three cosmonauts to venture into space, Irina is hinted to not have shown all her cards. Her precious moments when she was first rescued by Lev after her crash landing hint that she’s concealing her romantic feelings for him. One that is interrupted before she can make herself clear. It is a moment that is made true by their great building of trust and dynamic chemistry that will feel truly earned when she finally reveals it. That is, if Zirnitra doesn’t have other plans for her with her execution being delayed indefinitely and her fate continuing to hang in the balance, making the series’ last few episodes even more intense.