Military technicians conduct scans of Layzner‘s body, while doctors scan Eiji’s body and conclude that Gradosians are very similar to humans. A doctor concludes that Grados must have a very similar environment to Earth. Eiji futilely pleads with the Americans to leave Layzner alone before something bad happens. Elsewhere, two men interrogate the students about the attack on Mars and their travels with Eiji. They suggest that Eiji is using them, but Arthur and Simone deny that. The men then ask about the level of Gradosian technology before letting them go. The students ask a man if Eiji is being tortured, and he answers that Eiji is under study because he’s different. Gilbert arrives to oversee things for the UN and speak at a press conference. Gilbert is asked about the Cosmic Culture Club and apologizes to the families of the students. The students are then brought in and get mobbed by the reporters, who get pushed away by soldiers. The reporters want to speak with Eiji, but officer Kabus declines and ends the conference. Gilbert tells the students that they’re free to go and that their families are on the way. Arthur asks where Elizabeth is, and Gilbert answers that she resigned from the UN. Everyone runs outside to ask Elizabeth what’s going on, and she explains that she’s going to stay with Clayton. Everyone says goodbye to Elizabeth, and Simone asks why she’s going with Clayton if their relationship is over. Elizabeth answers that they’re both tired of everything, but their feelings might change over time. She tells Simone that if she wants to stay with Eiji, she should be true to her feelings. She then gets into a jeep with Clayton and leaves. Later, Arthur says goodbye and feels bad about leaving Eiji behind. They all feel the same way, and Arthur slips Simone a note. He shouts out to Eiji that he’ll be back before leaving in a taxi. A limo then pulls up for Simone.
Simone speaks to the butler and tells him that she intends to stay longer. David asks her why she didn’t go, and she answers that she doesn’t want to leave yet. She walks away, and Anna comments that Simone likes Eiji. In his cell, Eiji vows to get through this humiliating situation. A military technician finds a mysterious spot in Layzner’s cockpit and wants to ask Eiji about it. The defense director tells Kabus that they need to hide this latest information in their report to the Soviets and the UN. Two men use laser torches in an attempt to cut into Layzner’s cockpit. Eiji has a bad feeling, and Layzner’s secret system activates and causes the SPT to move on its own. Layzner smashes out of the hangar, and the students notice that the base is on high alert. Anna speaks to her mother over the phone and abruptly hangs up when she notices the commotion. Tanks and helicopters open fire on Layzner, which defends itself with knuckle shots. Simone and the others run over and wonder if Eiji is piloting Layzner, which takes off and smashes into a control tower. Simone runs ahead and calls out to Eiji, unaware that Layzner is empty. A gunship opens fire overhead, but Layzner smashes its engines and causes it to crash into a hangar. Kabus brings Eiji his spacesuit and asks him to stop Layzner, and Eiji points out that he warned them of this. Outside, Eiji asks Kabus to stop the attack, and Layzner lands in front of Eiji. Layzner vents exhaust and goes back to normal. Anna is surprised that Simone expressed her feelings for Eiji so directly and feels jealous.
Events in this episode unfold in a way that is not at all surprising. The Americans are giddy at the prospect of being able to reverse engineer Layzner and have it as an advantage over the Soviets. They’re so narrow-minded that they can’t even see the Gradosian threat right in front of their eyes. Also, unsurprisingly, they treat Eiji like an animal for study and continue to humiliate him. Of course, when Layzner’s secret system activates and starts smashing things, that’s when they listen to him. We also see the rest of the cast going their own way, starting with Elizabeth and Arthur. A good amount of time is spent on Simone and her feelings for Eiji, but given Anna’s position as the narrator, we knew that she feels the same way. These developments, of course, are a temporary distraction from the looming invasion that no one takes seriously except for Eiji.
Layzner Info
Director:
Ryosuke Takahashi
Writer(s):
Ryosuke Takahashi
Fuyunori Gobu
Yasushi Hirano
Tsunehisa Ito
Hiroyuki Hoshiyama
Endo Miego
Mechanical Designer:
Kunio Okawara
Character Designer:
Moriyasu Taniguchi
Musical Composer:
Hiroki Inui
Format:
38 episodes; 3 compilation OVAs
Airdates:
Japan 10.03.1985 – 06.26.1986
Format:
38 episodes (TV); 3 episodes (OVA)
Video Release (OVA):
Japan 08.21.1986 – 10.21.1986
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