It feels like this anime has big ambitions, but I'm really not seeing the ability to follow through on the stuff it wants to discuss. The vibes I get every time they try to bring up themes are extremely "I'm 14 and this is deep". The scene that particularly stood out to me was the doctor talking about how sometimes civil rights movements go too far, like ????

On top of that, I feel like our main character is very weak for a philosophical story. It feels like, despite being a nean herself, she has literally never considered whether or not it's moral for neans to be an underclass, nor the implications of her hunting down alters (which she seems to also be). I'm sure she'll end up taking a moral stance eventually, but she really doesn't seem equipped to tackle complex moral issues.

I think this is the end of my time with the show, at least for now. I'll probably check in after the season is over and see how people ended up liking it.

This episode at least had continuity with the previous episode. The dynamic that Naomi and Rouge had established last episode was a bit broken this time through some thoughtless comments by Naomi. It seemed a bit weird with all her talk last episode about Rouge growing up to be an adult to then turn around and call her equipment in this episode. I feel like the Nean rights movement and Rouge's free will is going to be a recurring theme through this series...well...because of course it was. I think that is an obligatory theme that needs to be included in any seemingly sentient robot story.

We got to see more of the "doctor" that was on the bus with them to find out that he is a doctor for Neans (and apparently a drug dealer to humans). Through the Nean that he was trying to keep alive we get to see more themes about Nean free will when he talks about how they aren't even given the option to die. I am curious to find out how this doctor is connected to framing Rouge for the murder near the end of the episode, at least that is what I assume happened.

Overall, I think the story is just beginning to come into focus a tiny little bit. I really really want to like this series, so I am willing to stick with it for now. It is looking more and more like the first episode was really just meant to establish vibes and be a showcase for the show rather than have coherent story. We will see.

As a side note, I love this OP. Half the reason I want to stick with this show I think is because I just want to listen to the OP some more.