REVIEW: ‘Scarlet Nexus,’ Episode 8 – “The Hospital’s Secrets”

Scarlet Nexus is a sci-fi anime from Sunrise, based on the video game by Bandai Namco Entertainment. WIth Yuito’s search of the mysterious hospital yielding the desired results, he is reunited with Nagi. All is not well, though, for the OSF member as his reunion with Yuito is less than happy. Meanwhile, Kasane’s squad prepares to follow up on where they may find Naomi in Scarlet Nexus Episode 8.

Opening with Yuito and Nagi’s reunion, this episode starts with a bitter moment as this scene plays out in a way other than what Yuito was hoping for. With more Others rapidly appearing, the reunion is forced into a violent corner with only one chance for escape, whether Yuito likes the option or not.

While cut short due to the unfolding circumstances, Scarlet Nexus Episode 8‘s opening scene nonetheless lands with a solid amount of emotion. Yuito and Nagi’s mutual concern is portrayed well, and while they are the major personalities in the scene, the rest of Yuito’s squad further the scene’s emotional presence when they do get involved.

While Yuito’s desire to see Nagi again is fulfilled, the reunion ends up creating more questions and problems than it solves as the powers that be take note of Yuito’s activities. Whether or not Yuito can continue to be the Hero of New Himuka seems to be in doubt.

Meanwhile, Kasane and her squad have not been idle. After her confrontation with Major General Karen last episode, Kasane seems to have taken Arashi’s advice and allowed the tech-gifted OSF Officer a chance to dig up information about Naomi’s whereabouts a bit more covertly than the heavy-handed tactics Kasane was utilizing.

Joining the squad outside a mysterious facility that the group suspects will hold answers about Naomi’s whereabouts, if not the missing woman herself, the team heads in to investigate the structure.

This sequence continues to bring revelations, as well as emotions, to the back half of Scarlet Nexus Episode 8. Kasane’s search for her sister hits a little harder for me than Yuito’s situation. As the mystery of the facility reveals itself to Kasane’s squad, a troubling situation begins to unfold that ends the episode’s narrative on a cliffhanger that will further complicate the show’s situation next episode.

While I’ve been critical in the past of how far Sunrise has gone to deliver the emotions throughout the series’ previous entries, I think they stepped up their game just a bit for this entry. The voice work, particularly on Kasane’s side of the episode, really lands well, and the animation provides a strong visual presentation of the emotions projected throughout this week’s tale.

When all is said and done, Scarlet Nexus Episode 8 delivers arguably the strongest episode this series has produced to date. Despite little action in its run time, the episode delivers plenty of emotion as it continues to untangle the web of conspiracies that surround the story’s two protagonists.

Scarlet Nexus Episode 8 is streaming on Funimation.