LayznerReviews

Layzner Ep. 29: Reunion: A Mystery Invitation

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Summary

Le Cain is given a report stating that resistance bases have been identified in 13 sectors, with an additional 32 being scouted. If a simultaneous assault is carried out on all 45 sectors at once, the resistance will be annihilated. It’ll take about a week to identify the remaining bases, so Le Cain marks that as the X-Day for the attack. Rohan works on calculations and records them on a disc. In New York, Matthew finds a letter to Anna in Gaw’s mouth. Anna reads the letter, which notes that the three-year anniversary of Earth’s defeat is coming up. The writer wants to renew their friendship and instructs Anna to be at a specific pier. At Grados’ European headquarters, Arthur reports to his superior and is quickly dismissed before he can make a request. He looks at the letter he received and thinks that he won’t be able to meet his friends in America, but he’s suddenly given transfer orders to the continental command headquarters. Elsewhere, Simone dances with a Gradosian officer at a costume ball and discusses her travel plans. She later meets with a resistance spy to pass along information and mentions she was invited by a friend to America. The resistance spy is later confronted by the police and is shot at while trying to escape. The next day, Arthur greets Lt. Greon and is surprised to find Simone with him. On the shuttle flight, Arthur tells Simone that he’s been thinking about everyone for the last three years and wanting to see them. Rohan reports to Le Cain that the attack will take place tomorrow, and Le Cain offers mild praise for Earth wine. Simone and Arthur part ways at the airport, and Arthur travels to the Grados Tower, where he runs into Rohan. Arthur is surprised that Rohan had him transferred and asks if it was regarding the reunion, but Rohan doesn’t know anything about it. Rohan tells him it was careless to carry the letter and decides to keep it. In Europe, the resistance spy breaks under torture and reveals that Simone is passing information to them.

David arrives at the pier and meets with Anna, Matthew, Arthur and Simone. Gaw starts chasing Arthur around, and Simone slaps David in the face as payback for stealing her first kiss three years ago. Arthur falls into the water and has to take his clothes off to dry them. David and Simone tease Arthur about being a collaborator, but he says he’s had to do things he doesn’t like. Eiji arrives last, and everyone enjoys drinks and food around a fire. Eiji plays a tape from Elizabeth where she apologizes for not coming due to her work with the resistance. Simone cries because she’s glad Eiji is alive. Explosions in the distance indicate the start of the Gradosian assault, but David isn’t worried since they got news of it in advance. An officer accuses Rohan of leaking the information, and Rohan dares them to execute him on the spot. Le Cain draws his pistol and fires shots that graze Rohan’s cheek, but he’s completely unfazed. The news about Simone comes in, so Rohan offers to prove his loyalty by showing the reunion letter. A drunk Arthur thinks that it’s shameful for him to work for Grados. Anna wonders who sent the invitations, but Eiji doesn’t know. Eiji thinks it’s no coincidence that the meeting occurs on the same day as the Gradosian assault. David and Simone joke about Eiji and Anna being a couple. Simone mentions that Rohan is late, and David says no one would invite him since he’s a traitor. Arthur reveals that he told Rohan about the meeting and didn’t know he was such a person now. Just then, several Gradosian hovercraft surround the warehouse, and David spots Rohan on one of them. Eiji sets off explosives as everyone escapes into the sewer. Rohan grabs a gun and rushes into the warehouse, firing warning shots at everyone. Arthur isn’t able to escape, so Rohan angrily beats him in front of the military police.

Commentary

With the return of Arthur and Simone, we’ve finally caught up with most of the cast post-timeskip. Arthur is a collaborator in Europe, but it looks like he’s relegated to just low level clerical work as a secretary. Simone comes from a rich family, and they’re also collaborators, but she’s secretly working with the resistance. Le Cain launches a worldwide offensive against resistance bases, but they were all warned in advance by someone. Rohan is fingered as the suspect, but he quickly deflects suspicion by revealing the reunion of his friends. He then rushes in and makes sure to shoot around them (but not at them) and beat up Arthur for a big show. It’s not easy being a double agent. This episode is notable for not having any SPT combat, and it’s nice to see where everyone is now and reminiscing about better times. Of course, it’s only in a show like this where the hell they experienced on Mars counts as “better times” compared to the present.

Overall Rating
4/5

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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