Strike Witches 2 ep. 4 review

(UPDATE: Pictures of the weapons Barkhorn used in this eppy added below)

They appear to be having a lot more fun with the historical context this season, it would seem ^_^

In this episode the 501st is given a Jet Striker modeled after the real-life ME 262 (the first jet used in WWII, also known as the Schwalbe (Swallow)). Naturally, Shirley wants to be the one to try it out, but Barkhorn insists that since it was developed in Karlsland, that she, hailing from Karlsland, should be the one to fly it. Lucchini beats them both to the punch but gets a nice shock (literally) from it before she can even take flight. She warns Shirley not to fly it, and Shirley, sensing there's something to Lucchini's words, agrees not to fly it, retorting (after Barkhorn accuses her of chickening out) that there's "plenty of time for jets, and there's a lot I haven't done with a reciprocating Striker yet," which is an alteration of what Chuck Yeager once said ;)

So Barkhorn in the ME 262 and Shirley in her normal Mustang have a race, and Shirley gets her butt handed to her. Barkhorn makes a comment about how it feels like "I'm being pushed by angels," which is something that Adolf Galland said in real-life after his first flight (and if you recall, Galland was mentioned by name by Mio in the previous episode, though in this world it's Adolphine Galland). I remember thinking that seemed like an OOC line for her to say, but when I was reading up on the real ME 262 after viewing the episode I came across the line by Galland and said "HAHAHA, so it WAS a real line!!" My husband already knew that though, apparently =P Though he couldn't remember who'd originally said it. Oh yeah, and it turns out that piloting the ME 262 requires so much magic that Barkhorn is visibly drained after the first flight, and passes out in the middle of her and Shirley's second race, crashing into the ocean. She is placed on room and flight restriction by Minna.

A new type of Neuroi that can split up appears, and it's faster than Shirley can handle. Barkhorn, listening in on the action via her ear comm, joins in the battle despite Minna's protests (and the fact she hasn't recovered), saying she'll take her punishment later, and goes and saves Shirley. Right afterwards, though, the ME 262 goes out of control, taking a now-unconscious Barkhorn along for a ride. Shirley is forced to break the sound barrier again in order to catch up to her and rescue her, and in the process the ME 262 is trashed.

(Cue Barkhorn actually snuggling up to Shirley's breasts...and Lucchini squealing　「私の物だああ！私の物！！」)

Yoshika gets confused when Erica is suddenly shown wearing glasses, but wait! It's actually Erica's twin sister Ursula, who had a hand in developing the ME 262 (and is named after Erich Hartmann's wife IRL, and SW fans will also be keen to point out she was in the Suomus Misfit Squadron novels), and apologizes for the trouble it caused, and as compensation she brought several HUGE crates of potatoes. Barkhorn says it's not a problem, that there's always bugs to work out in new weapons.

And next week appears to be a Lucchini episode. W00t~

Alrighty, so we've seen Takei, Galland (mentioned), and Ursula. Anyone wanna take bets on who'll appear next? I'm hoping Tomoko, though she'd be too old at this point to fight. Come to think of it, so would most of the rest of the Suomus squad. Ouch. Well, one can hope.