Linebarrels of Iron Season 1 Episode 2 Runaway Justice

As you might think, the second episode of Linebarrels of Iron is also packed with action and suspense that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. The episode If you watched episode one, you know that the main protagonist, Kouichi Hayase, stumbled upon an alien robot suit that gives him extraordinary powers. In the second episode titled Runaway Justice, the focus shifts to another character named Risako. She's a smart and dedicated pilot who's also part of the fictitious corporation called Juda. In this episode, the audience starts to get a glimpse of what Juda's objectives are.

We also get an inside look at how the world is functioning since the events of episode one. The incident caused an earthquake and left the streets in chaos. The government is in control of the economic zone, and its troops patrol the area. However, Juda seems to be operating outside the government's jurisdiction. They have their own security guards, laws, and operate independently.

The story starts with a heated dialogue between the head of Juda, Emi Kawamura, and another member of Juda named Vargas. Kawamura is giving Vargas a hard time about not being able to apprehend the rogue mecha pilot, Hayase. She implies that Vargas' team is incompetent and results in them sending them out on another mission. Meanwhile, Risako, who's on a training mission with her team, is contacted by headquarter and given the same task to apprehend Hayase, who's currently out of control on the Linerunner. To make the mission even more complicated, Hayase's senses hack the Linerunner's interface network, causing it to run at breakneck speeds, which puts civilians in danger.

During all of this chaos, Kouichi mistakenly boards the runaway Linerunner, not knowing that it's him controlling the train. When he finally realizes what's going on, he jumps out of the Linerunner while it's still going full speed. The incident results in Kouichi being admitted to the hospital, where Risako and her team come up with a plan to capture the more potent metal. They come up with a trap to disable the runaway mecha by using EMP technology. But, Kouichi catches wind of their plan and decides to intervene.

One of the things that make this episode engaging is how the different character's actions intertwine while telling their individual stories. We follow Hayase's struggle with controlling the mecha, and Risako's dedication to her job, which eventually leads to her clashing with Kouichi. It's exciting to see their perspectives play out and how it guides and drives the story.

The excellent animation style is also present in this episode, with spectacular mecha fights, beautiful animation sequences, and well-timed comedic scenes. The action scenes have a nice flow to them, and the overall visual direction very much suits the show's tone. The fight scenes are well choreographed, and the sound design is top-notch, making the audience feel immersed in the action.

Linebarrels of Iron proves to be a traditional anime with well-rounded characterizations. While the characters are initially introduced as typical anime clichés, the plot of the series does a great job of humanizing them and highlighting their flaws. In the second episode, we see Kouichi's struggle with trying to control the mecha and the psychological effects it has on him, making it evident that he's not a pure-hearted giant robot pilot with an unrelenting will. Risako, who is shown as a stickler for rules, becomes more relatable as we see the events that led up to her obsession with getting the job done right.

In conclusion, the second episode of Linebarrels of Iron does an excellent job of weaving plots, adding layers of intrigue and suspense, and working character development into the storyline. It's a classic mecha anime that will undoubtedly leave audiences hungry for more.