REVIEW: ‘Metallic Rouge’ Episode 7 — “Appropriate Gear”

We’re at a crossroads in Metallic Rouge Episode 7 in more ways than one. To start, the story is at a pivotal point where it aims to redirect, taking us on a new path after setting up what seemed like a standard, mystery-of-the-week framework. “Appropriate Gear” throws away the notion of episodic storytelling and leans fully into the lore and dense worldbuilding that’s always been there but now takes center stage. The second crossroads is our own durability as viewers. How much of the worldbuilding will work when the core reason to care about the series—Rouge (Yume Miyamoto) and Naomi’s (Tomoyo Kurosawa) dynamic — is in shambles?

Episode 6 left the series on a pivotal cliffhanger. Naomi, initially believed to be Rouge’s ally, arrests Rouge. We learn that Naomi is a member of the Guardianship Bureau, possessing much more pull and power than we were formally led to believe. Known as the “Divine Facilitator,” her betrayal wounds despite only having known her and Rouge for such a short period. Metallic Rogue Episode 7 further digs the knife in by reminding us of how naive Rouge is and how ready and willing she is to act when pointed in a direction. While there’s hope that Naomi’s betrayal is also a part of some greater act, the series commits to ensuring we feel the loss of their partnership.

The first half of “Appropriate Gear” is dialogue-heavy to the point of near disengagement. Conversations contain the world’s political jargon as we learn about who Naomi works for, the power of the Ministry of Truth, and the continued depiction of the power imbalance between humans and Neans. In one of the more chilling moments of the episode, officials discuss what to do with Rouge now that she’s under arrest. Due to her considerable powers, they suggest she be stripped apart and studied. Those who suggest this are unable to see her humanity and bodily autonomy. This gets a greater spotlight after Jill Sturgeon (Yui Ogura) breaks her out. We see a makeshift Nean graveyard of those deemed too dangerous, Neans who are disassembled and taken apart as if they were near equipment.

For every answer we’re given, a new question arises as more and more players set forth on their journeys. From the mystery of the Red Gladiator to the major secret withheld about Rouge to what the Puppeteer could do with Rouge’s memories, there are countless mysteries floating around. It’s for the best, then, that Episode 7 establishes a strong ensemble cast that includes faces we’ve come to know throughout the series. Rather than getting peeks at each character in small, unsubstantial sequences, we watch a moment that fully accounts for their presence in the series.

Jill is one of the Immortal Nine and is deeply resentful of humans for their means of hindering Neans’ powers. A formidable fighter, her combat sequences are beautiful. Once again, the dexteric fluidity of the series is on full display, with the artist team at Bones showcasing their tremendous abilities. The fight scenes with the Immortal Nine suited up in the mecha skins adopt a similarly lithe approach to animation that merges well with the suits’ design. It’s sinewy and graceful, the embodiment of a human weapon.

But Jill isn’t the only Immortal Nine member we meet. The twins from Episode 6, Ace and Alice (Minami Tsuda), also reappear mid-battle, rescuing Rouge. They’re a split personality sharing a body known as Acros Of The Twin Heads, they dig into Rouge’s psyche. While Alice is the pushier of the two, they both compel Rouge to question herself and her motives. Rouge resists rescuing, unable to fathom the possibility that her captors are in the wrong. She — they — are the good guys. Her job is dispatching members of the Immortal Nine, so even though they just rescued her, it makes them the bad guys.

However, Alice/Ace rightfully points out her hypocrisy. They’re not like the rest of the Immortal Nine, and they aren’t seeking to enact a seismic change in the dichotomy of power that topples their world. They’re young, and they want to live normal lives. They aren’t dangerous, they tell Rouge. When Rouge responds to their question about why she kills Immortal Nine with “because it’s my job,” they undermine the validity of that statement. They prod, asking if she’d kill anyone if she were ordered to. Then, in the most damning statement, tell her that, in their eyes, “She’s the bad guy.”

It flips both Rouge’s world and the show on its head. Rouge operates under the belief that what she was doing, killing, was an act of good. Her belief system meets critical condemnation. She must reckon with her expectations without Naomi in her corner and on the run from head officials. Even more crucial, she must find a way to extract herself from the larger machine she’s helped move.

Gears are a constant reference in Episode 7. Metallic Rouge (Metarikku Rūju) loves itself a theme to latch on to. This week, it’s what it means to be a gear in the system, a small piece that keeps things orderly. Rouge must reposition her idealizations and look to the future with a new set of eyes to succeed. She isn’t alone; investigator Ash Stahl (Atsushi Miyauchi) is at a similar crossroads. He’s been hunting the Red Gladiator all this time, believing it to be Rouge. Now, he’s questioning that line of thinking and must work with Rouge to determine the assailant.

Metallic Rouge Episode 7 is intense once it works itself out of the exposition weeds. Beautifully shot with smooth, captivating action scenes, the writing is where the series truly shines this week. Rouge is an intriguing protagonist, and she only becomes more interesting as the layers of her mystique disappear.

Metallic Rouge Episode 7 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.