Accel
World Episode 15: Haruyuki rebuffs Nomi’s threat and challenges him
to a duel, only to lose in an unexpected way. (Source:
Hulu)
Spoiler
alert:
Spoilers for Accel World's fifteenth episode beyond this point. Read
on with caution!
Jesus,
I hate Nomi. I really truly hate Nomi. He is a cretin and a terror of
the worst kind. Having said that, you know who else I'm beginning to
despise? Haruyuki. Sorry, Haru, your personality is wearing thin
after ten plus episodes with nothing to show for it. Having said
that, it was a solid episode that shows promise for a story arc that
so far has been nothing but underhanded bullying tactics.
Read the rest of my review after the jump!
In
this episode, we see how terrifying Nomi's abilities are and how he's
been able to bully so many people: he can steal
people's techniques and special attacks and make them his own,
leaving the other Brain Burst user lacking. Naturally, he takes
Haruyuki's most special ability, the one that gives him wings,
leaving him unable to fly.
Nomi knows exactly what Haru's weakness is
and he exploits it so perfectly that he is able to make Haru his
personal servant, someone to feed him BB points until the day he
graduates - which isn't any day soon.
Of
all the things to do to Haru at this point in the series, taking away
his wings is the worst thing a person can do. They define him as a
Brain Burst user and they give him a strong advantage over other
players, but they were also a gift from his precious Kuroyukihime - a
gift that has been torn away from him, viciously, leaving him
grounded and alone.
They've literally become a part of him and now
that's something Nomi has, not Haru. And it's clearly killing him to
be without it.
Having
said that, being a dick to Taku was too much. Taku was clearly
concerned about the well-being of both Chiyu and Haru, and Haru pulls
out that "you must be interested in Kuroyukihime" bullshit?
Ugh, so frustrating. This was the part of the episode where I started
despising Haruyuki's woe-is-me nonsense; it's like Kuroyukihime and
his friends taught him nothing
about getting back up and dusting yourself off after a major fall.
And I may have internally cheered a bit seeing Taku punch Haru right
in the face like a boss. Forgive me for doubting you, Taku; you
clearly can be dedicated and righteous when the time is appropriate. Keep it up, please? Maybe I'll actually start liking you! Okay, let's not ask for miracles.
Let's
not even talk about Haruyuki's sad sack walk around town,
contemplating a permanent retirement from Brain Burst just because
Nomi kicked sand in his face and stole his lunch money. What happened
to all of his previous character development? What happened to
defending Chiyu and becoming a strong person Kuroyukihime could be
proud of? Jesus, show, get it together!
And
this is where I say: thank god for Ash Roller. You know, the
loud-mouthed biker Brain Burst user from the earliest episodes? It's
looking like he's gonna become Haruyuki's new bro in burst linking,
which will hopefully end for the better. Something about his loud
brash behavior is so refreshing with every other character is crying
and moping, y'know?
Plus his dorky English phrases and giddy
excitement over his new additions to his avatar are adorable.
Suddenly, the clip of them riding together on Ash's bike in the
opening sequence makes sense! Linker bros forever!
Ash
Roller isn't in this episode for laughs, however. After Haruyuki
humiliates himself after failing to beat Ash without wings, Ash
realizes what has happened to Haru has severely damaged his abilities
as a Brain Burster. Ergo, he takes Silver Crow on a inspirational
ride through the Unlimited Field to try and bring back some of his
spark. After all, if anyone knows what Haru is going through, it's
the guy whose had his greatest weapon - his tricked-out bike -
disabled during a battle, leaving him unable to use it at all, just
as Haru has lost use of his precious wings.
At
the very end of the episode, we meet Icarus aka Sky Raker, Ash
Roller's guardian, who is a beautiful avatar with a wheelchair and a
sweet fancy hat. She looks like a cyber Victorian robot. Her role
seems to be to motivate Haruyuki to fight back against Dust Taker's
killer technique, although how
is up in the air at the point.
Considering her avatar is disabled and
that Accel World has the delicate sensibilities of an episode of
Glee (i.e. none), that will probably factor in, although I can only hope they
won't exploit her condition as some kind of ill-intentioned
motivating force for Haru's lack of wings. Which, um, no wings is not
the same as lack of mobility but okay, Accel World.
You
would think the best route would be to lessen Haru's reliance on his
precious silver wings like Kuro wanted, but that doesn't look like
it's gonna happen. Honestly, if you have one great ability, there's
no use over-using it to the point that your opponents can exploit it
and turn it against you – like Nomi has clearly done. Yes, being
able to fly makes Silver Crow a special snowflake, but that shouldn't
be the only thing he's good at! I still have high hopes for the next
episode, despite everything else. Don't let me down, show.
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