Ep 17. Terra Incognita

In "Terra Incognita," the seventeenth episode of season one of Ergo Proxy, we witness the aftermath of the deaths of Donov Mayer and Vincent Law's fellow immigrant friends. Realizing that they can no longer hide from the world they inhabit since society has now become too dangerous, Vincent, Re-l Mayer, and Pino set out on a journey of exploration to find new lands or perhaps the truth about themselves.

Throughout the episode, the trio travels across a barren wasteland, leading to new discoveries as they try to avoid encounters with various dangers along the way. The trio takes off from Romdeau and heads out into the deserted land that feeds off a mountainous terrain. They board the the Seal Ball, a specialized vehicle designed for traversing abandoned highways, in hopes of discovering something new. We see them spend quite a bit of time on the Seal Ball, learning how to navigate the harsh conditions and how to ration their food and water supplies.

As they travel further, they come across a group of nomads led by a man named Swan. The nomads are sort of a utopian community that lives in an untouched part of the world and has regained the knowledge and skills that have been lost to humanity. Swan and his followers claim to be able to communicate with the spirits of the lands they inhabit and believe that Vincent may be the one to lead them to a new civilization. However, Re-l is skeptical of their intentions and wants to keep moving forward.

Things take an unexpected turn when a group of soldiers led by General Patecatl arrives and attempts to take down the nomads. A fight ensues, making it seemingly impossible to escape. Swan has a change of heart, realizing that what he had been preaching for so long may be causing more harm than good. He decides to help Vincent, Re-l, and Pino escape and continue their journey.

The group eventually arrives at a massive tower in the middle of the barren landscape. Inside the tower, they discover that it's an ancient facility that had once been used to control the environment but now sits deactivated and abandoned. As Re-l explores the tower, she realizes that it is a place with significant importance in her family history.

As the episode progresses, we see the trio gradually introspect their own beliefs and relationships. We learn more about Pino's character as she opens up about her feelings and emotions. Similarly, Re-l and Vincent's relationship is pushed to the breaking point, as their contrasting beliefs on how to move forward in life may prove too much to overcome. The tension in their relationship culminates in an explosive argument outside the tower, as they try to comprehend their situation.

The episode ends with the group setting up camp outside the tower. They reflect on their journey so far and how much they've learned about the world and themselves. It is evident that the major themes of the episode include the trio's journey of self-discovery, the importance of community and companion, and their desire to discover the truth about themselves and their place in this new world.

In conclusion, the seventeenth episode of Ergo Proxy, "Terra Incognita," provides an exciting and thought-provoking addition to the series. We explore themes of identity, community, and persistence, while the trio discovers a new land and spends time with the nomads. The trio conflicts are also highlighted in this episode and, as a result, the characters are fleshier and more complex. The episode is an excellent building block for what is expected to be an increasingly impactful climax to the series.