The Price of Smiles (Egao no Daika) is slowly reaching the peak of its story with only two episodes left! The losses in this series have already been great and this week we had to face another. I have lost interest in the series and am only waiting to see how the end will play out. Let’s hope there is some great finale waiting for us!

Japanese Title: 魂の発火 (Tamashii no Hakka)

Episode 10–The Ignition of Souls

Stella and the rest of the team are fighting resisting forces of Soleil and when they are given a new mission, they get a short break. Lily and Stella decide to explore the city; they find a child selling some items. When they hear that he lives in an orphanage, they ask Commander Gale if it is all right for them to visit the orphanage and send them some necessities. He allows it and even decides to go with them. They hear that the orphanage is run by an elderly pair who are actually only taking them in because they can’t bear to turn them away. Together with the kids, they spend some fun times and Lily and Stella bond with the Commander. When Stella is alone with him, he says that he is happy he gets to see a more human side of her without the fake smile that has more honest emotions. However, the war doesn’t wait and they have to go into the next fight.

Highlights

Stella’s Humanity

We can see Stella on edge more often recently. She tries to hit people, tries to protect her squad and sometimes a more honest smile shines through. There are always the moments with Lily when she seems the most human and natural and this time there was also the times she spent with Gale. Which was fishy enough already…

Gale’s Death

Of course he had to die after getting more screen time and after getting us warming up to him. I was surprised they didn’t send Guy with him… The way he died and the reason for it, however, were way better than any other deaths so far. It was still in the middle of this stupid war, but he jumped in front of Stella and consciously died for his subordinates. There was enough time for him to call out their names one by one, which made me so sad… Stella’s scream didn’t make it better. Good thing this series has already broken my heart enough times so that this time I didn’t cry but only teared up.

Harold’s Funeral

This was a surprising scene and shows the bitterness war is always connected with. While they honor this enemy commander, they didn’t do it for any of the other characters, friend or foe. The team was so bitter about Gale’s death and didn’t like the funeral, but they didn’t really cry for their friend?

Comment

Oh so romantic, Gale

There was this bitter aftertaste when Gale talked about how they are responsible for the kids being orphans. The lines sounded so romantic and poetic, as if he said something very wise. Yeah, you are – among other people – responsible for killing their parents and leaving them all alone in the world. It’s nice that he tries to help them after he did all that, since he can’t just drop out of the war. Still, the traumatized kids that only draw bloody war pictures won’t be helped with a house, some food, and toys. There is probably no right answer to this problem, but I really didn’t like that scene in this episode.

Yuni?

So Gale died and Stella seemed to think that the Thaurgear is the same as one they faced before, which could mean there was another death this episode we just didn’t see yet, right? Yuni, are you all right?

Meeting?

So the only thing I am still waiting for (and a bit sad that it didn’t happen earlier) is the meeting between Stella and Yuki. Will it finally happen next episode?

COMING NEXT: The Resolve of Two

The Price of Smiles

Winter 2019 | Anime Info | Simulcast