A whole episode of clean-up off the battlefield and not one but two of those classic 86 “credits roll partway through the episode” fakeouts sees the show off, and oddly enough it is just right.
Though, I suppose it shouldn’t be considered odd at this point. 86 has a skilled execution and a great pace, so pulling off a final episode that’s lighter and softer here was very much an easy task. On the whole, the episode serves to give the show a happy ending, or if not then at least a hopeful finish, rather than the dark yet determined end of season 1. For what is (for the foreseeable future, at least) the last of 86 to be put to screen, this is fairly important. While this is a show with both the material and technical skill to possibly give a downer ending, that clearly wasn’t what they were going for come Season 2, so they did need to stick the landing.
The episode is, more or less, cut into three acts. The first act is focused on Shin and how he and his friends are now a good deal more balanced. Ernst welcomes them home with Christmas presents (he even wears antlers and a Rudolph nose for the occasion, because while he’s quite capable of being terrifying in his goodness he also knows how to have fun), which all of his kids enjoy, having now reached a point of acceptance with the idea of having a life outside of war – yes, even Shin, who probably gives more honest smiles this episode than he has in the whole show up until now. Shin also has some visits to do, as we see him both lay the tag for his brother, which he had been carrying with him, to rest at the monument for the fallen, and visit the grave of his friend from officer school who died.
At the monument is where Shin finally seems to cut loose the negativity of his bond with the dead, being comfortable living on to remember his fallen friends, while at the same time thinking of those who are still suffering within the Legion, and affirming his role as the Reaper, that he hasn’t forgotten them either, and will be going on with a new outlook on his mission. The grave, on the other hand, sees him making peace both with other people (his deceased friend in some sense, his sister and a living fellow soldier taking care of her in other senses) and with himself more. These are somber scenes, but they’re still scenes that indicate Shin has healed a great deal and is still actively on the mend, psychologically.
Also in this section, it’s revealed that the team will become an independent force, given their experience and skills allowing them to raid deep into Legion territory. The defense forces took heavy losses, after all, and while the Legion’s active combat ability is also smashed, its central factories remain intact, a grim tiding of future attrition. Ernst lets them know this, and about the foreign commander to be assigned to their unit should they accept, and they all seem pretty happy about it. Ernst’s underlings want to know why he’s become okay with this, but he acknowledges that he has no right to stop his kids from joining the fight out of misplaced pity, and wants them to be able to stick together and be at their best if they want to remain on the front line, indicating that he’s recognized how they’ve changed as people and that they’re no longer blindly seeking death and battle, as distressed him so much earlier.
The second act focuses on Lena, in the ruins of the Republic of San Magnolia. As an independent nation, the Republic is gone, but much of its citizenry remains. The survivors of the 86 have been offered blanket citizenship by the Federacy of Giad, but reconstruction is not quite so kind to the Alba, who remain in their home and under occupation, not exactly punished for the crimes of their government but certainly being made aware. This is fine by Lena, more or less, who (now a Colonel) continues to do what she can. She even manages to visit her old home in the District 1 ruins and find her cat, while observing that while some tensions run very high between the citizens and relief forces, in other places people seem to be starting to change for the better. She visits the grave of her father, gets a lot of what’s happened off her chest, and then reports to hear about her new assignment from her wormy as hell commanding officer, under the watchful eye of Federacy forces, since she’ll be leading a new independent unit for the Federacy. The names of its members, however, are largely redacted from her brief, and she’s clearly conflicted on whether this is a hopeful note or the same old sins.
She also visits with her scientist friend (who she is once again on good terms with. The intervening time has changed a good deal) who notices, among other things, that a Federacy raid device she has is the same tech as her Para-Raid, which would only be possible if a living 86 made it across Legion territory to the Federacy. Lena thinks of her squad, of course, but stamps down on that hope in case it’s in excess. Soon enough, she ships out to the Federacy, and our team scientist will be going with her – as a volunteer Science Officer, but if anybody was going to get the Operation Paperclip treatment, it would have been her anyway.
The third act starts with Fido’s point of view, getting us some retrospective and memories of the group. Shin and the others are in a good mood , and looking towards the future, and more than that eager to see Lena, with quite a few of the lot (basically not Kurena, who has her own reasons) all ready to ship her with Shin. Meanwhile, Lena meets with Ernst Zimmerman, and visits the monument to the fallen 86. She examines the wall of names and leaves her own jar of the fallen she lead beside the sealed case with Shin’s tokens, swearing that she will never forget. When she emerges from the monument, Ernst decides that he’ll introduce her new team.
At first, Lena doesn’t recognize them, but after Shin introduces himself to making the situation a joyfully tearful reunion, she’s able to recognize each in turn, and that she’s finally caught up to them, literally and not just in spirit like she’d resigned herself to trying. There’s a great moment of Catharsis, Frederica and Fido take a new team picture, and the episode and show end with everyone ready to be back in action together and Lena and Shin’s hands drifting close to meeting.
The world may be a grim place, but I think these kids are going to be alright.
86 has been… a ride. Deep sorrow, painful death, high action, and merciful catharsis. It’s pacing, story, and characters are really grand and stunning. I’m glad it’s been recognized at least somewhat up through now, but frankly it deserves more yet, and I feel it’s the kind of thing that will stand the test of time. It’s absolutely an amazing show, and if you haven’t gone ahead and watched it yet, do yourself a favor and do so.