English Dub Review: Steins;Gate 0 “Solitude of the Astigmatism –Entangled Sheep-“

Do hairdressers dream of entangled sheep?

OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)

As the news covers a mass of animal corpses in America, Okabe tries to reassure himself that Moeka isn’t the same person as in the other timeline. Daru lets her know everything they do about Kagari so she can begin the search, though Suzuha questions whether Okabe knew her, which he avoids answering. Amadeus-Kurisu begins wondering why Okabe won’t call her, though Maho knows it’s her own fault before heading off to see him herself.

Moeka comes back shortly with results, namely that another group seems to also be looking for her, making it even more likely she’s alive. Incidentally, as Maho walks the streets, she starts feeling like someone is following her, eventually getting sight of a tall woman and calling Okabe for help. When he sprints over fearful for her life, he happens upon the woman squeezing her, and finds out she’s Professor Judie Reyes, who’s here for AI business, but it becomes apparent she wasn’t the one initially stalking her. Once the craziness dies down, Maho informs Okabe of Kurisu feeling neglected, but lets him know he’s not obligated, and even encourages him to quit, but he still feels he needs more time with her.

Mayuri plans a New Years’ party as Okabe reminisces about how he repeated the same three weeks over and ove, but remembers to call Rukako about whatever she was calling him about before, though she actually shows up right in front of him, along with a red-haired girl who Suzuha recognizes as Kagari.

OUR TAKE

Well, well, well, the thick plottens. We’ve finally met Kagari (even though the show takes its sweet time confirming this despite it being obvious by the hair color), as well hints at another organization being after her. What any of this could mean for the timeline or how she managed to escape all of the events of the last series is anyone’s guess, but the mystery aspect of this series is one of its strengths, so we can let that go for now. I imagine this was a bit more mysterious in the game it’s based on, but I wouldn’t know. And as said, it was clear from the hair color that she was Kagari based on the flashbacks, and it does point to her at least being related to Kurisu, but I’ve learned not to make assumptions by this point.

What I’m split about is the whole “he’s not my boyfriend” schtick happening with Maho and Okabe. If you watch enough anime, you’ll have seen this act a ton by now, so whatever the author thought this would add besides yet another girl attracted to Okabe is hard for me to grasp. I don’t see any likelihood of him actually going for her, but at least this benefits her character in that they both have a connection to the formerly alive Kurisu that they are both trying to work out. So, even if this cute midget has to take the participation trophy in the race for Okabe’s heart, at least it’s nice to know that her inclusion has its own development based rationale for being here. Very many anime or manga tend to forget to do this and it ends up harming casts more often than helping. Likewise with Amadeus-Kurisu, who is very much both Kurisu and not, and whose journey of self awareness and realization is as interesting to follow on its own as it is cute to watch her flirt with Okabe AND root for Maho.

But yeah, all in all, pretty relatively mellow for Steins;Gate up until the end, which will open up a ton more cracks to dive into, especially with this new future character to poke and prod…despite the fact that she has amnesia, which is kinda dumb, but I’m sure they’ll rip that band aid off sooner rather than later. Next time marks the end of the first quarter, and the beginning of an in-story new year! I’m sure nothing bad could happen to possibly screw that up.