REVIEW: ‘Synduality Noir’ Episode 6 – “Dice is Cast”

Having survived the ambush in The Maze of Fes, Kanata (Takeo Otsuka) and Tokio (Yûsuke Kobayashi) are once more gathering resources to keep themselves going for another day. But when an unexpected storm forces them to stop over in Baccarat Nest, a place where everything can be bet on, and anything can be bought, Kanata and Noir (Aoi Koga) are soon drawn into a battle to save a friend from servitude in Synduality Noir Episode 6 “Dice is Cast.”

One of the key components that continue to make Synduality Noir such an engaging series is how it builds out its world. Returning characters and new elements come together harmoniously in Synduality Noir Episode 6 to push the narrative forward in some interesting ways.

The first of these returning elements is the appearance of Ciel (Nagisa Aoyama). First seen back in episode two when Noir had been taken by Range, they find the Magus now singing at a nightclub. The three have a pleasant reunion as they catch up on what each other has been up to. Ciel is visually pleased to see Kanata and Noir getting along well and admits that she hopes to one day find someone she can take as her master that will treat her as Kanata does Noir.

However, those dreams look as if they might get suspended permanently with the appearance of Range. It seems when she first met the unsavory drifter. He tricked her into signing a contract with him. In desperate need of cash and learning that Ciel is extremely popular with Baccarat Nest’s clientele, he offers. Pay an entry fee and enter a battle royale. The winner claims Ciel’s contract. Mortified at what may become of her, Noir puts her camera, her most prized passion, in hauk so she and Kanata can enter the competition and set Ciel free.

How Synduality Noir Episode 6 juxtaposes Kanata and Range’s attitude toward Magus is striking in this story. While Kanata views them on equal terms to everyone, Range sees them simply as things to be bartered with and used for his advantage. This ideological clash between them adds another layer to the personal conflict the two have harbored with each other.

The ensuing battle for Ciel’s freedom is a short but eventful moment in the episode. The mecha combat is fun and fast-paced, and we see more of Kanata’s growth as a pilot. But while much of the action is simply more of what we’ve come to expect, Synduality Noir Episode 6 does deliver on one often foreshadowed moment for Noir.

At the height of the fight, just as it looks like she and Kanata cannot win, Noir cries out in pain as her Magus Skill comes online. While it had never been expressly stated that she had this capacity, it was so heavily hinted at it would be more of a twist for her not to possess one. Often, when a reveal is so strongly hinted at, the final moment where it comes to pass can be underwhelming, as the surprise is not there to carry it through. This is not the case here, as Synduality Noir Episode 6 leans into the moment, ensuring that the visual power of what Noir unleashes is enough to wow the viewer, despite knowing it’s on the way.

While all this is happening, we also see a reappearance of the mysterious masked man from Desire Nest, now called Black Mask. While his part is ancillary here, his presence drops a couple more hints at his goals and sees him lend a timely hand to Kanata and Noir during their battle.

Synduality Noir Episode 6 continues to employ all the world-building and personality that has made it such a strong series thus far. Built around the growing strength of Kanata and Noir at its center, the series never fails to deliver something that holds my interest, increasing my desire to learn the final secrets to the show’s various mysteries.

Synduality Noir Episode 6 is streaming now on Hulu.