Ep 6. Welcome Home the Both of Us

The Plastic Memories Season 1 Episode 6 revolves around the aftermath of a disastrous mission of Isla, Tsukasa, and Michiru. The episode is titled "Welcome Home the Both of Us" and starts with Isla and Tsukasa returning after completing their duty of retrieving a Giftia. They came across Ray, who is Tsukasa's senior, and her partner.

The episode progresses into a glimpse of Ray's work ethics and personality, which is quite different from Isla's. Ray is shown to be strict and serious towards her work, making her partner feel uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Isla is shown to be thoughtful and compassionate towards her partner and the retrieval targets.

The story takes a turn when Tsukasa's manager, Kazuki, summons Tsukasa and Michiru, who is a Giftia, for a meeting. During the meeting, it is revealed that Kazuki has a personal relationship with Michiru, which complicates the situation. Kazuki requests Tsukasa to wipe Michiru's memories and replace her with a new Giftia before her expiration date.

The news of wiping Michiru's memories hits Tsukasa hard, and he struggles to accept the request. Isla tries to comfort Tsukasa and offers to help him with Michiru's retrieval, which leads to the turning point of the episode where the audience sees a different side of Isla. She reveals her past and how she coped with difficult Giftia retrievals.

As the episode progresses, Isla's backstory is revealed, which shows how she struggled with retrieving Giftias. The audience sees how she turns to obsessive-compulsive disorder to deal with the stress of her job. Isla describes how she used to clean and re-clean the work station until it was perfect, a way to distract her mind from the painful truth that Giftias do not have a long lifespan.

The episode is an emotional rollercoaster that explores the struggles of the characters dealing with the expiration of their colleagues. It explores the themes of loss, acceptance, and companionship between humans and Giftias. The audience is taken on a journey that shows the importance of memories and how they can connect individuals beyond their lifespan.

In conclusion, the episode "Welcome Home the Both of Us" is a deeply emotional and thought-provoking episode of Plastic Memories. It explores the complex relationship between humans and Giftias and delves into the struggles of dealing with the expiration of the Giftias. The episode is a reminder that memories are precious and that they have the power to keep individuals connected beyond their lifespan.