English Dub Review: Gleipnir “I Wish I Was Someone Else”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Shuichi is unconscious after Elena rips his head off and Clair tries to avenge him but Elena quickly retaliates but realizes it’s Clair and they have a talk in which Elena gives her another coin before she receives a phone call and leaves. Clair is ready to make good on the promise with Shuichi, but she’s stopped by Shuichi and together they go to the old motel that Elena told Clair and meet an alien who helps them get Shuichi’s head back on. The alien then explains his goal of collecting his friends who are now the gold coins, and he’s willing to offer power to the humans in the form of the special drinks bought with the coins.

The next day at school his classmates notice that Shuichi is different, more mature somehow and on the rooftop, one of his classmates returns his notes and he asks them a question. Later at home Shuichi contemplates his situation and how it must be a part of a bigger event that will happen soon. Then Clair and Shuichi head off to search for more of the gold coins.

Our Take:

The episode explains the origin of the gold coins and the path for Shuichi and Clair going forward. The alien’s friends as the gold coins were a surprise, but it makes sense since they get traded in for special drinks that give humans the ability to transform themselves. The animation and voice acting were great. I especially enjoyed Elena and Clair’s conversation. There’s also the scar mark on Shuichi’s neck once he returns to his human form and that was a nice detail.

Elena and Clair’s conversation really sheds some light on their parents and how they weren’t the best parents in between their mother’s affair to their father’s corruption along with Clair swearing that she’ll kill them one day. There’s also Elena’s comment about herself on being the weaker of the two sisters, and how she can finally protect herself now that she’s gained power. Also in a sisterly act upon hearing that Clair lost her coin Elena gives her another one. After finding out the truth Clair still decides to go through with the promise she made with Shuichi until his voice stops her.

Now Shuichi being alive in his state is amazing and shows the capabilities of his form. Then when the alien reveals that his mascot form is his desired form Shuichi is in belief. However, it definitely makes sense that he’d want to fill the emptiness inside of him as his desire. Then there’s the will to live and how Clair found it with him, it was a nice heart-warming moment. Admittedly I thought she was going to blackmail him, but this episode has them on equal terms like partners. Additionally, there’s also the noticeable change in Shuichi at school and how he’s different from Clair and his classmate in his way of thinking towards others. The world ending question he asked was good at showing this side of Shuichi.

The alien is an amusing character as it’s entertained by comics while being stuck on this planet. The alien’s goal to reunite with his friends is a simple one which makes his previous words on humans being good gives him more of a naive personality than most of the cast. On the other hand, the alien shows to have a high intellect when discussing the mystery drinks and the transformations. There’s also his sketchy offer on getting a hundred coins and granting any desire from it.

Overall the episode was good with Elena and Clair’s conversation, the alien and the gold coins origins, and Shuichi in the middle of it. The search for the other gold coins begins, so there’s bound to be other characters in search of the coins that’ll give power at the cost of their normal lives.