Anime Quick Thoughts: Bodacious Space Pirates Episode 3

The way this is going, I predict Captain Marika by Episode 6

Episode 3 – The Odette II Leaves Port

Summary

Marika and Chiaki successfully stop the hacker, but afterwards Kane and Misa wonder who it was and what they were trying to do. At the café, Chiaki tells Marika there’s a non-aggression pact in force, so no one is allowed to do anything to her until after the deadline for renewal on the Bentenmaru’s Letter of Marque. She insists she still hasn’t made up her mind about that, but Chiaki and reminds her how eager she was to do electronic warfare.

With final exams behind them, the yacht club prepares to head out for their practice cruise on the Odette II. In addition to Kane, Misa, who’s been working as the school nurse (I think) comes along as ship’s doctor. After the ship leaves port the masts jam when they try to deploy. Kane and the freshmen, including Marika, are sent out on a spacewalk to fix it, which is accomplished using Marika’s suggestion. As she stares out into space Kane asks her if she’s scared, and she says she is, but also excited.

Thoughts

Hmm, I guess I was wrong about who the hackers were. Not sure what the deal is concerning the Bentenmaru, but it’s clearly serious business if a non-aggression pact is necessary. I wonder who the Bentenmaru’s license allows them to go up against – presumably the Stellar Alliance, but is there anyone else?

Apparently I was also wrong about Marika and Chiaki’s ability to handle electronic warfare, given that it was mostly a case of boosting power to the ship’s automated defenses. But still, whoever was trying to hack the ship must’ve not been trying particularly hard, because that still seemed a bit too easy.

It’s obvious by now that the series wants to start out by giving Marika character development and show that she has the qualities to be a captain, and it’s doing a good job of that. She may be a bit naïve and impulsive and doesn’t take herself too seriously (in her own words, flighty), but she’s able to make sound decisions, willing to take responsibility in a tight spot, has a taste for adventure and excitement, and is both scared and fascinated by space. I think we can guess how she’s going to spend her summer…