What’s the show? Darling in the FranXX, Episode 21.
Ah, doing episodic reviews of this show now are we? As much as it pains me to admit it, I just can’t stop thinking about this show! Specifically how I’ve seemingly 180’d on the whole damn series–like this never happens–I’m notoriously stubborn and for a show I initially disliked to be now among my most anticipated each week is nothing short of sorcery! Sorcery I tell you!
It’s something all right… so what happens this episode? Well as you may recall aliens exist–also they want to blow up the world, also this is still very much a love story above all else, come fight me if you disagree!
Settle down there big fella, let’s start with the ‘aliens wanting to blow up the world’-thing and go from there. The Klaxo-sapiens were an ancient but highly advanced civilization that lived some 60 million years ago (take that, creationists!) one day while minding their own business some alien jerks who’d evolved beyond physical bodies “invited” them to join their ascended order. The Klaxo’s declined and war broke out, it lasted a long time ’til what remained of the race either assimilated into magma energy or evolved into battle creatures.
Sure… and then? Present day–Last remaining Klaxo-sapien (the Princess) is dying, strangled by the bad aliens’ failsafe on the ancient mega weapon Star Entity. Meanwhile, Hiro and Zero Two still exist–don’t forget about them! This is a coming of age drama/romance after all… all this silly alien robot stuff is just the garnish.
Are you being sarcastic? Quite the contrary actually. With the help of the rest of Plantation 13’s rambunctious robots and their BFF pilots, Zero Two makes it to Hiro’s side amidst the corrupted interior of Strelitzia. But she’s too late! Hiro is dead! Or is he?
Is he?! Of course not, through the power of love (and the Klaxosaur princess giving up the rest of her life force) Hiro is awakened! The alien’s evil fail safe–and world ending capabilities–are neutralized! Strelitzia evolves into the uber powerful Strelitzia Apath which blows the alien fleet out of the sky and sends the remnants of Papa scurrying off like some Saturday morning cartoon villain–swearing vengeance upon their inevitable return!
This… this really doesn’t read like a positive review at all. It sounds like you’re making fun of the show. Listen, I’m not going to sit here and pretend this wasn’t an exceptionally goofy, over-the-top, melodramatic and conveniently concluded episode of an anime. But you know what it was? It was ~exactly~ the kind of wacky, gorgeous, emotion driven, character filled nonsense that I’ve come to expect from this series–except against the most ludicrous of backdrops thus far. And judging it by that criteria, I have nothing else to say.
Previous Darling in the FranXX Reviews:
Episode 1-15 Review
Episode 16-20 Review
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Anime QandA 
I know what you mean when you say that you keep changing your mind about the show, I’m surprised I didn’t dropped yet since I actually really care about what is happening since the whole zZEro-Two vs Ichigo drama, and now I can’t wait to see how that show will end.
I’m still convinced the writer write the story as in go and don’t know themselve where they are going with that. They remind me of myself when i write fanfic…
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Yeah it’s got that fan-fic vibe doesn’t it? Either way I’m in it ‘til the end!
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I stick with it until the end too, I mean since I would have normally dropped it a long time ago, there is no point if dropping it now, plus I’m curious to see how it will end
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I feel like this episode was more or less a reminder of what DarliFra could have been. There has been so much missed potential throughout the entire series. It’s as if in trying to be both a teen drama and sci-fi action thriller, FranXX has ended up less effective at being either. The second half of the series has been notably better put together than the first, but STILL, the two different themes felt more like they were competing against each other rather than blending together. Only now have they really synced up in a way that they feel complimentary to one another. Even if these last few episodes fire on all cylinders like the series has shown it can occasionally do, it may be too late to save the series a whole for me.
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That’s understandable, but I’m happy with how it’s ended up and I’m not even sure why! lol
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