Episode 17 of Aldnoah.Zero 2, titled “The Turning Wheel,” is currently streaming on Crunchyroll for paid members. Free members can watch this same episode six days from now on February 14th.
The reunion between Inaho and his older sister Yuki is not the happy one that either of them were expecting. It is understandable that Yuki doesn’t want her younger brother to continue risking his life to fight against the Vers Empire.
Inaho has been the United Forces of Earth’s ace because he was the only one able to kill Vers’ Orbital Knights. There is also the fact that he was almost killed when Slaine Troyard shot him in the head.
But there are things that Inaho knows that Yuki does not like Princess Lemrina assuming the guise of Princess Asseylum to perpetuate and justify Vers’ continued invasion of Earth.
Inaho shows his resolve in rescuing Seylum.
I was surprised that that the United Forces of Earth were able to capture an Orbital Knight let alone with Inaho’s help, which I assumed that Lieutenant Marito was going to kill the person. I can say that I am glad they spared Count Mazuurek because he doesn’t seem to be part of the corrupt nobility of Vers.
He is a noble, but cares nothing for war. It is safe to say that Mazuurek is one of the “good guys,” who genuinely cares for his people.
Things get heated when Rayet decides to have a word with Mazuurek, which is actually the first time she has been able to talk to someone from Vers other than Seylum. Apparently she has a lot to get off her chest with Mazuurek on the sole fact that he’s an Orbital Knight.
“The Turning Wheel” played on the theme of birds as Slaine explained that the birds trapped in a cage are to be pitied. This has a significance on the entire episode because Seylum is trapped inside the stasis tube, Lemrina is trapped in her role as Seylum, Mazuurek being imprisoned on Earth, and Rayek being a prisoner of the past.
Slaine is perhaps the ultimate prisoner because of the act he must play as the new Count.
It was an overall interesting episode as it paints Aldnoah.Zero 2 as being more political than Aldnoah.Zero. This ultimately feels like the outer space version of Game of Thrones from Slaine Troyard’s perspective.
