English Dub Review: Darling in the FranXX “Shooting Star Moratorium”

Squad 13 explores ruins from the past while on a relaxing beach vacation.

Overview (Spoilers Below):

After their successful mission last week, Hiro and 02 have become officially-recognized as partners. What’s more, the entire squad has been rewarded with a beach vacation – pretty awesome stuff for never set foot in the ocean before. Exploring the surrounding area leads them to a mysterious, overgrown city from the past, back when humans lived on the surface. Later that night, Ichigo and Hiro take a walk under the stars together and reminisce about their shared past. However, she still can’t quite manage to confess her true feelings to him.

Our Take:

Up until now, practically all we’ve seen our squad members do is battle, prepare for battle, or debrief from the battle. So it shouldn’t really be a surprise how freeing it feels to visit a pristine tropical beach for an entire episode. (The beach visit was an idea from Doctor Franxx, the original creator of the robots.)

It’s as relaxing for the Parasites as it is for us viewers. The crystal clear waters are quite alluring, and I was definitely envious. The break from routine allowed for Hiro and 02 to be properly welcomed into the squad. Hiro and the guys bonding were fun, and really highlighted how much of a mystery 02 still is – she prefers moonlit solo swimming to socializing with her fellow Parasites around the campfire. Hiro and Ichigo’s star-gazing walk along the beach was wonderfully-executed, with excellent direction and voice acting from the cast. If I had to nitpick, I would say that, although a beach episode allows for more connections to form within the cast, it also gives in to typical anime conventions, with bouncing boobs and leering gazes by the male Parasites.

Exploring the pre-Franxx world was interesting, even though we didn’t actually gain much knowledge from the Parasites’ long trek. Basically, it seems like their previous world was a lot like our modern-day one, with the same wooden architecture, tall stairways, and books about giving birth to babies. (Okay, that was kind of an odd detail to put in – is Kokoro going to be the first squad member to learn about what happens after kissing?)

Taking a break from battles and watching our cast pig out on kebabs around the campfire made for a unique episode that was both entertaining and enlightening. I feel like I know all the Parasites pretty well now (save for 02, of course), and I’m curious to know more about the forgotten world on the surface – and how Doctor Franxx, his mechs, and the mining are connected to its demise.