Warning: The following contains minor spoilers for Metallic Rouge, Episode 2, "Wander in the Labyrinth," now streaming on Crunchyroll.

After a premiere episode heavy on aesthetics but a bit light on character, the second episode of Metallic Rouge makes up for this as the scope widens to include a colorful supporting cast. From good worldbuilding to better performances, it's only slightly let down by a climax that struggles on account of its pacing or - more likely - the battle soundtrack.

Last week, viewers were introduced to Rouge Redstar and partner Naomi Orthmann on their mission to hunt down the Immortal Nine, the Neans who threaten humanity. After a vicious fight against one such foe, "Purgatory Viola," the pair set out on a bus to their next destination, but have a run-in with mercenaries that sets them back a step.

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Making Exposition Natural (& Other Character Tricks)

The second episode's setup is a classic example of incentivizing character interaction through close, diegetic proximity. Rouge and Naomi are riding in a large transit car across a vast desert, and what better way to pass the time than to talk and, better yet, strike up a conversation with the passengers? It's nothing fancy, but done well, it can work wonders for a script, and thanks to a strong vocal cast, there's some useful exposition this time around.

A brother and sister bicker, but Naomi intervenes, pointing out the spaceship wreckage lining the desert and sharing an enthusiastic history lesson about the past war. The way Cassie Ewulu voices Naomi in the English dub makes this scene special, as she gives off the energy of a big sibling or teacher well-versed in engaging a younger audience to pay attention to a story.

It's also just generally informative, letting the viewer know about the existence of aliens that humanity once fought, and how Neans were a critical component in their victory. From there, the focus shifts to the older couple who are traveling with their own Nean servant. Soon after, Jill Sturgeon, a reporter, strikes up a conversation with the two leads. Later, Naomi breaks the ice with a mysterious gentleman at the back of the bus.

The story is rapidly introducing a lot of supporting characters, and while some of them will likely just be passing faces, many of them are clearly going to be important later on. This has also meant more good-looking character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto. Admittedly, during our preview for this series, there were some concerns over the designs looking rather plain, but that's a side effect of this series' underwhelming marketing.

For what it's worth, the character moments are a lot stronger this week. There's this hilarious and snappy exchange between Rouge and Naomi in the bus bathroom stall (see the clip above) before a fight that builds excitement for future action scenes and the potential comedy. Rouge has revealed herself to be a far more expressive and even slightly awkward character than what the trailers suggested, and her chemistry with the cast yields good things to come.

An Underwhelming Climax

The main plot of the episode revolves around the bus being raided by mercenaries who are after Rouge. After a small skirmish and an escape into a forest lit up under the night sky by colorful bioluminescent flora and fauna, tensions die down until a new threat emerges. The action is creative and Rouge's gladiator form will always look cool, but something feels lacking, and this is unfortunate for a few reasons.

See, there's an understandable concern among some fans of Studio Bones that Metallic Rouge might not get as much attention as other shows this season. This is sad because there isn't a wealth of action shows quite like this these days, with such heavy emphasis on mechanical animation - outside pre-established franchises like Gundam, of course. Yet, something about the directing and presentation of the action here doesn't inspire a lot of hype.

Granted, that's quite a blanket statement, and not everyone will have the same reaction. For what it's worth, the animation certainly isn't slacking, and the overall visual presentation has been appreciably consistent. The issue, then, feels tied to the energy of the scene, something often aided by the sound design and the music.

Taisei Iwasaki has made great soundtracks. In 2015's Kekkai Sensen, his multi-genre, international score was perfect, and together with Ludvig Forssel, he helped give 2021's Belle a magnificent atmosphere. Yet, something about "Crimson Lightning," the apparent main battle theme for the series, doesn't quite work, or at least the variation used in this episode.

With only the repeated chorus chant and none of the lead vocals, the rhythm makes the fight feel slower and robs it of a sense of buildup. By the end of the fight, it might well elicit a sense of "Is that it?", which is unfortunate in a show like this. All the right components are there, and it would be a lie to say that the animation is falling short, but something leaves one wanting more.

Right now, Metallic Rouge's best assets are its characters and - assuming this episode wasn't an isolated example - the world in which they find themselves. Unfortunately, save for the premiere's flashy finale, the series has yet to present anything that carries it from "good" to a "must-watch," but that's not to say fans of similar shows won't have fun. Besides, there's still time for this show to surprise us with something special.

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