cypsiman2 | Where I watch Episode 8 of Simoun

Show of hands, all those who thought that the Plumbum Highland's 'peace conference' was going to be just a cover? Everyone? Even before one of the Plumbum priestesses started discretely signaling their warship? Yep, but even so, I wasn't quite expecting that.

First thing I want to mention though, is the quality of the world building that happened in this episode; the thing about the Highland Priestesses mostly coming from the border with the Simoun Theocracy as the reason for their bilingual status, the discussion of the notion that Tempus Spatium and Animus being off-shoots of a much older faith... the writers are definitely showing their work when it comes to this sort of setting and society.

We also get some more of Mamiina's backstory, where her village is under attack and the other Sibylla refuse to use the Simoun as weapons, but Mamiina won't have any of that. Prior to this, she was rejected by the other Sibylla for not being of the right family line, something they think that Tempus Spatium would not approve of. Funny, a god disapproving of the people you already don't like and look down upon; how often does THAT happen?

But the real meat of the episode lies in the whole 'escorting Priestess Angulus' plot. First thing to mention is that when Angulus is being introduced to all the members of Choir Tempest, she says everyone's names but Aeeru, who really doesn't want to drop it. Later on we see Limone going through a Plumbum dictionary, but we don't get the significance of this until a bit later, but I mention now for a reason. Then the inevitable betrayal happens; Angulus pulls a gun and takes Kaimu hostage, and at first it seems that she's planning to hijack one of the Simoun, but the real plan is a bit more deadly.

Yep, for the Plumbum people, this was a suicide mission; the representatives and other priestesses shoot themselves, and Angulus sets of a bomb to destroy the bay and all the Simoun inside it, and as she does she screams out "Aeeru!". Aeeru is quite confused as to why Angulus would choose then to say her name, but Limone rushes up and explains that she looked it up; in the Plumbum Highland language, "Aeeru" means The Love of God. Overwhelmed, Aeeru falls to her knees.

Neviril shows up, and in a touching scene declares that while she and Aeeru are very different people, they do have one thing in common, and she declares that they will be a pair. Unfortunately, they first have to resolve the whole "Choir Tempest" being disbanded thing, but with the other two Choirs having lost their Simoun, they should have a chance. Silver linings, I guess.