Ep 1. I'm Gonna Burst

In the first episode of Valkyrie Drive -Mermaid-, titled "I'm Gonna Burst," viewers are introduced to our protagonist, Mamori Tokonome. Mamori is a ordinary high school girl who suddenly finds herself trapped on an island with no memory of how she got there. As she wanders aimlessly, she is attacked by a mysterious girl named Mirei Shikishima. However, just as things seem hopeless for Mamori, Mirei kisses her, and Mamori undergoes a shocking transformation: she turns into a powerful sword!

It turns out that Mamori is a "Liberator," a sort of human weapon who can be wielded by "Extars," teenage girls with the ability to transform into powerful fighters. Mirei is one such Extar, and with their combined power, the two are able to fend off attackers and make their way towards the island's central tower, where they hope to find answers.

On the way, they encounter a group of other Extars, all of whom seem to have their own goals and motivations. And as they learn more about the island's strange power dynamics, it becomes clear that there is far more going on here than they initially realized.

As a first episode, "I'm Gonna Burst" does a great job of hooking viewers and drawing them into the show's central mystery. The setting is intriguing and unique, and the concept of human weapons who can only be wielded by female fighters is an interesting twist on the familiar magical girl genre.

The episode also gives us a good sense of who our main characters are, with Mamori coming across as sweet and innocent (if a bit naive) and Mirei being the more hardened and no-nonsense of the two. Their dynamic is fun to watch, and it's clear that they'll be at the center of the show's action.

On the downside, the episode does lean a bit too heavily into fanservice, with an emphasis on female bodies and suggestive imagery. While this is par for the course with many anime series, it can be off-putting for some viewers. Additionally, the episode's pacing is a bit uneven, with the action coming fast and furious at times and then slowing down to a crawl during the characters' more reflective moments.

Overall, though, "I'm Gonna Burst" is a promising start to Valkyrie Drive -Mermaid-. It sets up a fascinating world with intriguing characters, and leaves us eager to learn more about what's really going on on this mysterious island. Fans of action-packed anime with a touch of magical girl flair will likely find plenty to enjoy here.