Ep 2. What It Means to Connect

In DARLING in the FRANXX season 1 episode 2, titled "What It Means to Connect," the story continues to follow the group of teenagers known as the "Parasites," who pilot giant mechas called FRANXX to protect their society from mysterious creatures called Klaxosaurs.

The episode opens with a flashback to the previous episode's battle, showing newcomer Hiro's struggle to connect with his FRANXX partner, Zero Two. The flashback ends with Hiro losing consciousness after using up too much of his energy synchronizing with Zero Two.

Back in the present, Hiro wakes up in the infirmary, where he's greeted by Naomi, another Parasite who was injured in the previous battle. Hiro learns that Naomi won't be able to pilot a FRANXX again due to her injuries, and she tearfully bids farewell to him and the rest of the group as she's sent away to a new life outside of their society.

After Naomi's departure, the Parasites are given a day off, and they each go their separate ways to explore the city. Hiro runs into Zero Two, who's taking a bath in the nearby river, and they have a conversation about their partnership as FRANXX pilots. Zero Two reveals that she's part-Klaxosaur, which explains her inhuman abilities, and she tells Hiro that he's the first person she's ever been able to sync with completely.

The two of them decide to go on a test drive of their FRANXX together to see if they can figure out how Hiro was able to sync with Zero Two so well. During the test drive, they encounter a Klaxosaur, and Hiro - emboldened by his newfound connection with Zero Two - decides to take on the creature alone.

The rest of the Parasites, sensing his recklessness, rush to the scene and try to help, but they're unable to defeat the Klaxosaur until Zero Two and Hiro team up to become an unstoppable fighting force.

After the battle, Hiro reflects on the experience and what it means to truly connect with someone. He realizes that his previous FRANXX partnerships were lacking in the kind of emotional connection he shares with Zero Two now, and he feels grateful to have found someone he can rely on completely.

The episode ends with Zero Two and Hiro sharing a brief moment of intimacy, as they both acknowledge the unique bond they share as both humans and Klaxosaurs. It's clear that their partnership will be crucial in the upcoming battles against the Klaxosaurs, and the rest of the Parasites will have to work harder to find their own connections in order to keep up.

Overall, "What It Means to Connect" is another intriguing episode in DARLING in the FRANXX's first season, building on the previous one's world-building and character development to set up some potentially exciting plotlines in the future.