The following contains spoilers for Episode 5 of Lycoris Recoil, “So far, so good” now streaming onCrunchyroll.
Once again, we return toLycoris Recoil, with a much more action-packed episode, with more hints about the Alan Institute, what they’re capable of, and Chisato’s mysterious condition. We also get a peak at Mika’s past, and get to see a riveting showdown with an infamous assassin.
The anime takes place in a world where orphan girls are taught to be Lycorises, a form of violence control. There is political intrigue, crime, and secrets hidden behind the adorable anime girls that star in this series. The series drops little snippets of exposition through news or background conversation, encouraging viewers to put together the puzzle pieces themselves. The audience is introduced to aquirky cast of characters, a mysterious organization, and a quaint coffee shop hiding its real business behind the front end. The anime is flooded with conspiracy, action, and heartwarming moments.
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One Month Later
The anime opens with Kurumi watching a news report in LycoReco. The report mentions that a month has passed since the metro train incident from the previous episode. Inoue mentions feeling bad for the president, who is still receivingnegative comments regarding the event. After the theme song, we return to LycoReco, where Chisato is reading off the details of their next job. Chisato reads that the next venture involves an older client whose wife and child was previously murdered, and subsequently hid in the United States as a result.
Now diagnosed with a terminal illness, the client wants to be taken on a tour of Japan, with protection from the infamous Lycoris group. The client hasn’t revealed in the paperwork why he was targeted, however, Mizuki reveals he was an executive at a large company before he fled.
The next day, the man arrives in a mechanized wheelchair with bodyguards. He waves them away and asks Chisato if she finds it strange he’s kept alive by technology.Chisato says she doesn’t mindand reveals she is too kept alive by technology, and specifically a completely artificial heart. Just as Inoue asks her about that, she is interrupted by Kurumi, who has uploaded the itinerary for the tour. The group promptly leaves for their Japan sightseeing tour before Inoue can get her answer.
Sightseeing In Japan
The scene changes to the group on a boat, where Chisato is acting as a tour guide. The group continues on to different locations, with Chisato proving to be very knowledgeable of the history and significance of each place they go to. While this is going on, the scene changes to the now damaged train station, having been wreckedduring the events of the previous episode. Two police officers are inspecting inside the wreckage, and find one chunk of rubble with a bullet lodged in it.
The experienced cop reveals to the newer recruit that most accidents in the city are actually coverups of terrorist attacks, after the attack on the Radio Tower. The experienced cop also reveals thatneither he nor the city knows who is taking care of the terrorists, just that there are clues left behind of some mysterious help. We, as the audience, know this to be the Lycorises. Just as the two cops begin to squabble, a group of men behind shouting at them from the shadows, and the cops flee before they can be hurt.
As the two cops run to their car, they are stopped by Chisato, who is still out sightseeing with the rest of the group. After a quick exchange between the two, the point of view returns to the LycoReco group and their elderly client, who is now traveling through a festival. While the group is enjoying the festival, Kurumi and Mika are having a conversation about Chisato’s heart back at the cafe.
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Chisato’s Heart
It is revealed through their conversation that the artificial heart is not from the DA. Kurumi asks if it’s from ‘them’ beforezooming in on Chisato’s owl necklace, which we now know as a symbol of the Alan Institute. Once again, the scene returns to the peaceful sightseeing mission. The elderly patron, who we know as Mr. Matsuhita, mentions knowing who is in charge of building the new city Enkuboku. The elderly patron then says he will go inside the ship to rest for a bit.
Chisato takes this opportunity to take a break with Inoue, and the girls drink cola on a bench on the ship’s deck. After small talk, Inoue presses once more about Chisato’s artificial heart. Chisato confirms that what Inoue heard about her heart is true, and mentions that her heart doesn’t beat either.While the girls joke around, a man begins to follow the direction of the ship on a nearby road by motorcycle.
Silent Jin The Assassin
Back at LycoReco, Kurumi has already identified the man on the motorcycle as an assassin named Silent Jin. Mika mentions that he had worked with Silent Jin in the past with underground jobs at a security firm before he became a trainer for Lycorises. Chisato hears this through her earpiece, and Mizuki is already following him via car. Silent Jin, however,notices the drone following himand quickly shoots it down, impairing Mizuki and those back at LycoReco from keeping the touring group notified.
Chisato is informed of the new plan immediately. Meanwhile, Mizuki is found by Silent Jin,who restrains her and destroys her communication device. Inoue hears of the current peril and immediately leaves the touring group. Back to Mizuki, she repeatedly tries to hit Silent Jin and manages to land a transmitter on him. Silent Jin is next seen behind Inoue with no sign of Mizuki, and takes aim at Inoue. A bystander finds Mizuki locked in a closet.
While Chisato is being briefed on current events, the elderly client leaves while her back is turned. Meanwhile, Inoue and Silent Jin have a showdown on the roof of the building. Chisato ends up finding Mr. Mastuhita,who immediately asks her if Jin is nearby. Mr. Matsuhita reveals that it was Silent Jin who killed his family, and is sure that Silent Jin is after him too. Mr. Matsuhita reveals that he knows where the necklace Chisato has comes from. Just as Silent Jin is about to shoot Mr. Mastsuhita, Inoue shoots Silent Jin in the arm, knocking his aim just out of trajectory to hit Mr. Matsuhita.
Mizuki finally catches up with Chisato, who leaves Mr. Matsuhita in Mizuki’s care so she can take care of Silent Jin. The showdown between Silent Jin and Inoue continues until Chisato shows up and starts to shoot at Silent Jin until she knocks him out. Mr. Matsuhita rolls up to the girls and commands Chisato to kill him, however Chisato refuses, saying that her necklace was given to her by someone who helps people, and therefore has made a promise to do the same. Just as she says this, Mr. Matsuhita dies in his wheelchair, on the roof of the building.
Then, the real identity of Mr. Matsuhita is revealed; an elderly drug addict who disappeared from hospital care a few weeks prior. A third party was the one talking to the group over a connection, which was previously assumed to be Mr. Matsuhita speaking through a voice device similar to Steven Hawking’s. There is a quick flash to someone with an Alan Institute pin,insinuating it was someone from there. The episode ends with the reveal that Lycorises are being taken out one by one, and then a quick flash to small talk at LycoReco.
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