Screenshot taken from: http://www.crunchyroll.com/classroomcrisis/episode-9-joyless-victory-682155
Review:
After receiving his latest order from Yuji, Nagisa gets to work making political moves in the background. Unfortunately for Yuji, this was the moment Nagisa was waiting for, and while he technically did exactly what he was asked to do, it was not what Yuji wanted. Meanwhile, Angelina approaches A-TEC and explains exactly how Nagisa went about his scheme while also sharing her concerns about the path he is walking. Even Nagisa himself appears unconvinced as he tries to play the villain to Kaito, only to tear up at the thought. Elsewhere, Yuji’s world crumbles around him, and the field is prepared for the showdown between Nagisa and Kazuhisa.
Some parts of this episode may seem hard to follow, not only because it jumps around between different times at some points, but also because it deals with a bit of business and political dealings. Certain conversations may be harder to follow if you do not have a mind for that kind of material (or maybe that’s just me). In any event, if you can understand what is going on or even look past it, then this episode really satisfies in the sense that it finally puts some of the building conflict into motion. For those who were hoping to see Nagisa finally get back at Yuji for all of the pain and trouble he has caused, it will definitely be worth it.
Where the episode deserves applause, though, is in the fact that it makes us question whether Nagisa really wanted this. Once his plan has been hatched, Nagisa returns to the A-TEC hangar, where he is approached by Kaito. Nagisa looks for Kaito to censure him, yet Kaito refuses, which sends Nagisa into a long rant about how he is a villain. Kaito calls him out on this and points out that Nagisa is crying. A large question that floats in the background of this episode is whether or not the Nagisa we are first introduced to is the real Nagisa, or if it is the Nagisa that we have seen emerge throughout the series by his interactions with A-TEC. Judging by this scene, it would seem that the changed Nagisa may very well be the real one. It is worth watching the episode for this moment alone; of course, if you haven’t watched the rest of it, then this part won’t make much sense on its own.
Unfortunately, Nagisa’s identity crisis doesn’t put a stop to his plans. At the end of the episode, he is still contemplating his move on Kazuhisa, which will inevitably play out in the coming episodes. What this will mean for Nagisa and A-TEC is yet to be seen, so stay tuned to find out!
A Christian Perspective:
Romans 12:19 – Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
Well…. this one is kind of obvious. Everything that happens in this episode is born from Nagisa’s desire to get revenge on his brothers, and the task handed him by Yuji presented the perfect opportunity. By convincing the contender for the Seinin party to switch sides, Nagisa effectively took political power from his brother and simultaneously set himself up to have a pawn in his own back pocket. He also succeeded in getting Yuji shipped off to an undesirable location. Yet, despite all of this, Nagisa doesn’t seem happy, or else why would he start crying as he tries to play the villain? The lesson is clear: revenge doesn’t bring happiness.
In the same way, we may feel tempted to get revenge on the people who have wronged us, but we should not follow through on it (and should not expect good results if we ignore reason and do so anyway). First, as Scripture states, revenge is God’s, so we can’t expect God to bless any attempt we make at revenge. Second, it is likely to lead to more bad things. At best, we simply end up feeling terrible about our choice; at worst, we set off a chain reaction where the other person then seeks revenge on you and so on. Let’s just leave the vengeance to God and not trouble ourselves with such things, shall we?
Content Guide:
Languae: 5 “h*ll”, 1 “b*stard”
Alcohol/Drug Use: None
Nudity/Sex/Fanservice: None
Violence: A recap shows Yuji punch Nagisa
Blood/Gore: None
Christian Anime Review 