LayznerReviews

Layzner Ep. 33: Challenge of the Death Demon Squad

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Summary

Manjero examines the data recorded from the recent battle between Daljan and Layzner. Despite having a speed advantage, Daljan loses out once Layzner activates V-MAX. Getey and Bohn think Gosterro just screwed up, and Manjero reminds them that Le Cain’s orders were to come up with a plan to defeat Layzner. Getey calls Manjero a midget, and in response Manjero jumps on his back and sticks a knife against his neck. Bohn pulls a gun on Manjero and reminds him that they have a mission. Manjero slices Getey’s face and says he’ll let him live until the end of the mission. Elsewhere, Gosterro forces a clock maker to repair his arm. Le Cain summons Roanne and orders him to create a list of all nuclear fallout shelters within a 1,000 km radius. As Roanne leaves, he hears Le Cain request satellite data. At the underground base, resistance fighters prepare to relocate. Manjero delivers his report to Le Cain and asks for additional weapons, which is approved. The report states that the best way to counter V-MAX is to force Layzner to fight in a confined space. Le Cain has some intel on where Layzner is and orders the Death Demon Squad to go on standby. Gilbert tells Elizabeth that he’s moving on to the new underground base. Le Cain has his men create an overlay on a map using satellite data. With his arm repaired, Gosterro kills the clock maker and leaves. Roanne brings his list of nuclear fallout shelters, which when added to the map narrows the rebel base to one location. The Gashlan, El Darr and Dankova launch, followed by multiple squads in hovercraft. Gosterro stops one of the hovercraft and kills all the men on it. The Death Demon Squad crashes through to the underground factory, so Eiji hops into Layzner while David takes care of transporting the incomplete Dolls. Bohn uses a flamethrower to torch the factory, but Eiji protects Elizabeth and Simone with a large metal sheet. He then fires calf missiles to block the path behind him.

Getey deploys floating mines, which destroy Eiji’s rifle. Manjero forces Eiji out by firing a few shots, and while trying to dodge the flamethrower, Eiji is hit by mines and realizes he can’t use V-MAX in such a tight space. Eiji tries to maneuver around and punch Getey, but he’s instead tackled by Bohn and crashes into a wall. Eiji keeps crashing into the wall while avoiding their fire and being taunted by them. Le Cain is informed of the current status and thinks that Eiji will end up only losing his life. Eiji trips up Manjero and tries to dodge Getey’s snake drills while having his legs held down by Bohn. Getey accidentally hits one of the mines, and Eiji briefly breaks free to fight Manjero. Eiji punches Bohn, and all three members of the Death Demon Squad laugh at him. Gosterro breaks through the blockade and is immolated when his hovercraft is destroyed. However, Gosterro is able to kill a soldier and grab a bazooka after extinguishing the flames. Manjero jumps onto Layzner’s back and tries to drill into it. Getey then attempts to punch Layzner, but Eiji shifts so that Manjero is hit instead. Bohn attacks again with his snake drills while Gosterro sneaks around and fires his bazooka. However, the rounds end up hitting Getey and damaging the Gashlan. Getey fires one of his cannons, which hits Eiji and Manjero. No one else sees Gosterro sneaking around, so Eiji jumps and pushes Manjero into the mines. Gosterro fires another round at Getey, which causes him to give chase and break formation. After suffering more damage, Manjero is forced to get off Eiji. While Bohn attacks Eiji, Gosterro fires at Getey again and takes out his joints. Bohn attacks with his snake drills again and accidentally hits Getey, causing more damage to the Gashlan. The Dankova then steps on Gosterro, killing him. Getey ejects from the cockpit and is grabbed by Bohn. Manjero, Bohn and Eiji fly out of the factory just before the Dankova explodes. Roanne reports the news to Le Cain, but he doesn’t take it well.

Commentary

After spending all their time hiding behind masks, we finally see the faces of the rest of the Death Demon Squad. With the exception of Manjero, they’re all hideous and should keep the masks on. Manjero devises a clever plan to prevent Eiji from using V-MAX by forcing him to confine in a tight space. However, carrying out such a plan requires coordination and teamwork that the Death Demons are clearly incapable of. You add Gosterro to the mix and you end up with a very chaotic fight where the Death Demons inflict more damage upon themselves than Eiji does. Gosterro finally meets his end and joins the rare club of people who die from being stepped on by a robot. I’m glad that he’s out of the way, as his rabid insanity was slowing down the story whenever he appeared. This episode definitely puts the resistance on shakier footing since they’re forced to abandon their base before the Dolls are complete. However, Le Cain takes no enjoyment from that simply because Eiji managed to escape.

Overall Rating
3.5/5

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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