REVIEW: ‘Scarlet Nexus,’ Episode 3 – “Conspiracy”

Scarlet Nexus is a sci-fi anime from Sunrise, based on the video game by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Having saved Kasane from the bullet of a mysterious gunman last episode, Naomi was hit instead, triggering some sort of strange transformation. What the final result of this unexpected attack has on Naomi and what it means for the squads is the focus of Scarlet Nexus Episode 3.

Having played through the full Scarlet Nexus video game, the anime is proving to be a unique experience. I’ve never seen a video game adaptation that adheres so closely to the original game’s story.  It feels like things are happening extremely quickly at first glance, but there is a good reason for it—the absence of gameplay sequences. The combat moments in this series are, of course, far shorter than what the game presents players with. Realizing this helped me appreciate the pacing a bit more, and I figured it was worth mentioning here if anyone else was experiencing a similar sensation.

What transpires as Scarlet Nexus Episode 3 opens has huge and immediate ramifications. This is doubly true for Kasane. As both Naomi’s self-appointed guardian, as well as the one Naomi, acted to save, Kasane is instantly burdened with guilt for not only failing to protect Naomi but also being the indirect cause of it. The situation isn’t helped any when she receives a vid call from her and Naomi’s mother. Let’s say she doesn’t seem to be sympathetic to what Kasane is going through.

While Kasane is the focal point of the episode, she isn’t the only one struggling. Everyone present at Naomi’s sacrifice is struggling to process the situation, especially Nagi, who seems to come unglued at the moment.  Seeing his only friend struggling, Yuito finds himself in a lesser but similar situation to Kasane as he struggles with the need to help an important person in his life that is beyond his abilities to aid.

Even as Kasane and Yuito struggle with what is happening around them, the world continues to turn in Scarlet Nexus Episode 3, and the OSF knows no rest. A huge Others event is forecasted at the Kunade Highway, and the entirety of the OSF will be deployed to face the coming onslaught. With an event of this magnitude unprecedented, everyone is on edge as to what the coming fight could bring.

With only a couple of brief flurries of activity in this episode, the animation team focused on the emotional side of the visuals, as opposed to the stylish action. While these moments are delivered well, they don’t go nearly as far as they could’ve. The emotions of each character are always presented clearly, but they lack a bit of intensity in some spots. It would’ve been nice to see the animation really go all-in on a few of these scenes.

When all is said and done, Scarlet Nexus Episode 3 continues to bring the game’s story to the anime medium in a way that is faithful and well-executed.

Scarlet Nexus Episode 3 is streaming on Funimation.