Never trust small-town folk! A lesson learned from the best show you ungrateful curs aren’t watching!

The Closed Forest

Well, A&L totally skipped over the school portion of Wil’s life, and if you watch enough anime you’re probably thinking you dodged a bullet there. Enough school, people! Not to mention, I’m sure Wil is exceptionally boring at school.

Onward! Wil does get to do some extracurricular studying over winter break, funded by Allison, in a country called Ikstova (a thinly veiled Russia). But just as he gets off the bus and starts admiring the scenery, he’s kidnapped by a group of big ugly mugs who insist they “aren’t anyone suspicious.“

The head kidnapper reveals her identity — it’s Allison, who orchestrated the whole thing to get a little Wil time for herself. She’s in Ikstova for a joint military exercise with the Sou Beil folks (including Lt. Ker, who’s now world-famous Major Ker, having unwittingly taken the credit for ending the war). But as she and Wil jaunt off for a spot of tea, they’re caught in a nasty snowstorm.

They take refuge in a small village, but the eerie strains of Dueling Banjos start to play as soon as they roll into town. The suspicious villagers begin arming themselves, and before Allison and Wil know what hit them, a seemingly kind old lady slips a roofy in their tea.

Fortunately, Benedict has been worrying about them out in the blizzard, and he’s on their trail, but he’s derailed as well when he meets a very strange girl named Fiona outside the village.

Poor Allison

A recurring theme in this episode found Allison attempting to ask Wil to move in with her in Roxche’s capital city after he graduates. Of course, that’s a heavy question with a little more implication than “roommate,” or at least it seems that way from her flustered inability to ask it. The first time she tries, she gives up. The second time, they hit the blizzard. And the last, when she finally manages to get it out, she turns to find Wil out cold from the drugged tea. What does she see in Wil, who’s about as interesting as a head of iceberg lettuce? I dunno, but seeing a bold and confident character like her get all wound up and unable to speak is super charming. Wil is obviously a little more typical anime, being so doltish he can’t grasp what’s going on.

The Royalty Story

Shin has a theory that Fiona is going to be an Anastasia type character. The entire royal family of Ikstova was murdered mysteriously some time ago, and Fiona gets jumpy and sad around a picture of politician Owen Nihito. I’m betting on something similar, but I really have nothing useful to add. Even if that’s not the case, though, this story should have a nice element of mystery to it, so I’m looking forward. Seems like the pace is really quick, so I’m guessing they have a lot of material to get through. That might sacrifice depth, but at least we won’t be bored.

You know, the three of us who watch this.