As we move into what will probably be our final arc, we both pay off what’s passed and set up what’s coming in another fairly good episode.
For one, this episode once again puts
the focus largely back on Bam. He actually gets a chance to really
talk with Rachel, and by the end his nature as an Irregular is out in
the open. But, let’s try to do this in order.
The episode largely starts with Rak
(who gets shrunk down to child size after insulting the high-ranked
test overseer) and Khun, the latter of which is shown in his
machinations before and after the Position Selection test,
recognizing Hoh’s danger, acting to defuse it, attempting to track
the sender of the mysterious letter, and hating himself for his
continued, bitter duplicity. Khun seems to regret what happened,
feeling that Bam will abandon the Tower, but Rak tells him to not
underestimate Bam just before Bam proves why his devotion should not
be underestimated.
Bam reveals that Rachel’s wound is
deep, to the point where it will never really heal, and we see later
that her legs seem to be paralyzed. Bam, however, is determined to
help her, even if he has to be her legs and carry her on as they
climb the Tower.
The administration, meanwhile, schemes.
One of the test-takers, who looks like a cloud with feet (or
possibly some kind of sheep) turns out to be a plant from Jahad,
seeking to recover the Black March and Green April and eliminate
Anak, which the lead overseer seems amenable to, though how honest he
is in supporting such an aim is hard to say. We’re also briefly
reminded that Yuri is in this, and trying to catch up to Bam.
We also get two goodbyes in the middle
of this episode: a funeral for Hoh (who’s regarded as a friend
despite the literal backstabbing) and a farewell from the thief girl,
who won’t be continuing on the tower but seems to be departing with a
new will to go on with life.
There is, in the midst of this
sequence, a dynamite conversation between Bam and Rachel. Rachel
lets out her guilt for how she’s treated Bam, how she abandoned him,
and it clearly tears her up as she tries to push Bam away and
convince him that he can leave her. Bam, however, reaffirms how much
Rachel means to him, and that he’ll support her even after
everything. It’s very sweet and also, possibly, a little messed up.
Which is at least one way to keep Bam’s absolute devotion
interesting, the indication that it’s not basic romantic love (as was
implied between Khun and the woman who betrayed him) but a borderline
matter of worship.
Finally, we get the formal announcement
of who passed the tests, including Khun, Rak, Bam, and Rachel (as
well as most of the others we’ve really gotten to know). Rachel,
however, is set to be disqualified on account of injury. Khun
restrains Bam, and steps up to contest the result on their behalf.
Using what he leaned from confronting the junior manager of the
tests, he announces that he wishes to take the “Administrator’s
Test”, a test originally passed by King Jahad that gives one who
passes it the right to modify the rules. He’s rebuffed despite his
attempt, though, with the declaration that only an Irregular can take
the Administrator’s Test.
That seems to come as a shock to Khun
but is, of course, Bam’s cue to step up and take the test himself.
The Regulars are, after Bam is led
away, given the chance to support him (gaining privileges if he
passes but also the stigma of being cohorts of an Irregular) or not.
Khun and Rak put on a show of arguing it out to try to drum up
support, but such a thing was largely unnecessary as Bam has done a
quite good job of making friends. Finally, we glimps the beginning
of his test, as Bam comes face to face with a gigantic eye, which
greets him as the entity he made his pact with in order to be a
proper Wave Controller. What this entity’s test will entail has yet
to be seen.
On the whole, I feel like Tower of God
has really hit its stride. It’s almost a shame that this is
happening now, when there aren’t a lot of episodes left, but there’s
always hope (and clearly material) for more seasons, especially if it
keeps on like this and finishes strong.