Recap: After returning from a scouting mission, Kodai and Yuki find the Yamato mysteriously abandoned, yet still functioning…

Gee’s Thoughts: 

Well damn. This episode explored a lot of different things and I’d feel bad if I spent too much time gushing about Yamato 2199 every week. Guess I’ll try to keep things short. This episode, to quote TvTropes, was the classic Lotus Eater Machine episode. Those familiar with the penultimate episode of Gurren Lagann or Alan Moore’s excellent Superman comic, For the Man who has Everything will be familiar with this one. The Yamato is infiltrated by some kind of mind ghost projected by one of the Gamilans, who proceeds to use her power to cause every crew member to witness their most beloved memories and wishes. A little hokey if you ask me, but Yamato 2199 does an amazing job of creating tension in one of the few situations in the anime so far where I felt genuine dread and fear. Goes to show that what the original Yamato did, it did well, and 2199 is doing a great job of keeping the ball rolling.

Also, some weird supernatural antics going on this episode, though it’s been hinted at since the beginning. Misaki’s odd tendency to blank out and sense the unseen seems to be attributed to some kind of space possession, though I couldn’t tell you who’s doing it or why. Yet another layer of intrigue added to the Yamato’s crew. Here’s hoping the number of different subplots going on doesn’t bog the anime down too much, but considering how gracefully it’s addressed everything from Kodai and Shima’s arguments to Akira coming into terms with her hatred of the Gamilans, I have high hopes this will be another intriguing facet of the story, rather than a hindrance.

Rather than the conflict of the illusions themselves, I believe the main theme of this episode was honestly Kodai and Yuki’s budding relationship, as the two learn to trust and care for each other. While not entirely subtle, the interaction between the two and their mutual assistance in getting each other out of their respective delusions was really well executed. I do feel sorry for any other girl who might be attracted to Kodai though, because this race has clearly already been won.

Overall, another great episode of Yamato 2199, and I continue to look forward to the Yamato’s struggle against the Gamilans’ increasingly creative methods of destroying them.