hontou ni Stripey Insists Sisters Cry Oniichan Now

Railgun 06

Summary:

Kuroko briefs Mikoto about a recent spate of explosions caused by the Synchrotron ability but the only registered ability user has an alibi. Although she manages to anticipate Kuroko's 'Leave It to Judgment' speech, Mikoto still gets thoroughly nagged - the third condition is best - and complains about it to Kazari at a cafe who tells her about recent cases where the aluminum bombs were hidden in toys or childrens' bags. Kuroko drags Kazari away for patrol, leaving the latter's Judgment armband behind. Trying to return it, Mikoto runs into Mii and pretends to be a Judgment member. But Judgment duties turn out to be less than glamorous and is even told off for zapping a litterbug.

Mikoto is even more discouraged after realizing her map-reading skills are poor, breaking a toy helicopter and insensitively interfering in a couple's courtship but receives encouragement and a crepe from Mii and is fired up by the search for a loli bag which she thinks contains a bomb. She is repeatedly foiled by bugs and encounters Bitter Earphones Guy getting beaten up. After being teased about her short pants in the playground, she finds the dog with the loli bag and successfully retrieves it. Despite being mortified about getting found out by Kuroko, she is gratified by an Arigatou Oneechan. Her appreciative comment about seeing Kuroko in a new light sets her roommate off on another insane lesbian spree and is saved by a very annoyed Dorm Supervisor. After the credits, a Graviton bomb at a Green Mart conbini badly injures a Judgment member.

Reaction:

This episode was a nice showcase of the rather wide scope of Judgment duties. It also sets out nicely one of those tropes where the heroine is a civilian but is able to access official information and networks due to having a close friend who is in a position of authority (I haven't watched any non-anime TV for yeeears so I can't name any shows off the top of my head but I have the impression it's a well worn setup).

It was also nice how Kazari explained to Ruiko how the other Judgment branches were also chipping in because of how most of Academy City's students are away from family and, thus, value the markers and items that symbolize those ties more consciously. And also sets up Ruiko's own role later on with the focus-in on her omamori charm.

If there's one complaint I have about the anime, it's how they've dropped Mikoto's electric ahoge which gave me much joy and happiness in the manga. Boo boo!

P.S. Konori Mii-senpai is oh so lovely as always. So glad that she got switched with the Judgment girl after the credits and got so much more screentime as a result! (TJ is a fan too. )

What Others Are Saying:

• FlareKnight's comment about how "rules and proper code of conduct just isn’t the kind of thing [Mikoto] is good with." got me thinking about her future career options. With her abilities, the first thing I thought of was the Navy but, even as she matures emotionally, I still a strong independent streak in her so regular uniformed service might be too restrictive for her.
• Hanner's sole screencap got me thinking how friendships can showcased through quarrels; last week it was Kuroko vs Kazari and this week it's Mikoto vs Kuroko (again).
• Omni criticizes the episode for feeling "inconsequential" - certainly manga purity can't be brought to the defence of the anime adaptation here as the post ED events took place right at the beginning of the relevant chapter of the manga. It was ok for me since this fed into the longer buildup that the anime seems to be taking in contrast to the manga, particularly working on characterization and chara dynamics first and foremost (always a plus for me) before plunging into the thick of it.

Related posts:

1. Railgun 01
2. Railgun 02
3. Railgun 05