Clair and Shuuichi hope to gain more information about other Star Coin collectors by joining an odd group of Gatherers.
Episode 6 – “Gatherers”
Hmm.
Gleipnir tells its story in a way that makes it hard to talk about. No, I’m not talking about its story elements. That’s easy. I’m talking about how there are so many characters forming their own groups, but we don’t have any code names for them. It’s realistic in how an informal and secret group of acquaintances would act, but it’s no help to an audience in referring to these many groups quickly. It’s like the title of the show itself, referencing Norse mythology without having any Vikings in it. So far. If Gleipnir can make an outside reference to itself, I’m going to do the same for all the alliances we’re going to meet.
Team Choker (see? I’m doing it already), who Clair approached by way of a schoolmate, claims that betraying their secrets will lead to their death. If so, how did the Green Titan force Ikeuchi, the Stalker Telescope Head, into joining his group of slaves? I think we’ve seen enough in this Gleipnir episode to know that it’s tied to his feelings for Yoshioka the Cat-Eared Girl somehow, but he hadn’t yet figured out a way past activating Sayaka’s hair braid necklace (I had to look up Choker Girl’s name, because Gleipnir doesn’t use it in the episode). Unless Green Titan was in Team Choker! Stalker Telescope is the key to answering my questions. I find it hilarious that one mousy guy is getting the unrequited NTR treatment from another oblivious mousy guy. Stalker Telescope’s frustration is exquisite!
Here’s a quick aside over a fetish term fans commonly see in doujins: NTR, short for netorare, the passive form of 寝取る (netoru), which means to steal another’s spouse or lover. In English, a cuckold is a man with an adulterous partner and a cuckquean is a woman whose lover cheats on her. These concepts will be important over the next few episodes of Gleipnir. I shudder to think about how Elena will react to finding someone else besides Clair inside Shuuichi.
Heh.
Ugh. Another flash forward in Gleipnir. At least the hockey mask lady is nice to ogle. Some in Team Choker wear disguises, while others don’t. Miss Hockey Mask claims their goal is to stop “this silly game” of collecting coins. Hey, if these “Gatherers” are searching for coins, shouldn’t they call themselves Coin Collectors? Another clunky translation from Funimation. Oh. Clair is joining Team Choker.
So, flashback again before we flash forward. How many kids at Clair’s school are doing this alien coin collecting? That Green Titan thing had this nerd in his contacts. Part of his collection of slaves? Ah. Clair showed him proof of death, but that didn’t make him feel any better. The implication is that a stronger monster just killed another monster, and now she’s coming after him. Scope Head and Helmet Girl, how do their powers work? Clair has a nice strategic approach to Gleipnir’s coin problem. Get information first, be careful about alliances, and keep your own secrets. Aw. Sanbe likes Shuuichi. Manly!
And we’re back to the Gleipnir’s current timeline. Lots of abandoned buildings in these mountains. Ooh. Team Choker has an initiation ritual. Clair will have to give up a secret. Clair will join Team Choker as a normal person while Shuuichi the Gatherer will remain independent and anonymous. Hahaha! Helmet Girl wants to pet the doggy!
Clair is going to get some petting action too! Gleipnir, never change. Choker Girl has a specific alien power. She makes people keep secrets. But first, Clair will undergo a trust-building exercise. In bed.
Hahahaha! Scope Head is jealous! He wanted Yoshioka the Helmet Girl to pet him. Gleipnir gives us aggressive yuri and netorare. My appreciation grows! Yoshioka really did just want to pet the wolf costume, like she’s in an amusement park. Ah. Her alien power is understanding animals. Do humans count as animals for her? Scope Head is in full NTR mode. His name is Ikeuchi, according to naked Choker Girl. Lots of talking from Gleipnir here, which I don’t mind, since we’re looking at two hot chicks about to lie down with each other.
Uh, oops. Clair does not like her own NTR treatment. Look at the glare she gave Yoshioka! But she also dismissed her as if she’s no competition. Catfight! Ooh. Choker Girl knows who Elena Aoki is.
Yuri time. Before that, Gleipnir needs to give you Choker Girl’s backstory. Her name might be nice. Vague pronouns for the teacher. It’s going to be a woman, of course. Classic hentai plot too. Secrets exposed, suicide, bad end. Okay, now it’s yuri time. Not so random shot of a vibe and a box of tissues…
Meanwhile, Yoshioka is just sitting, leaning against Shuuichi. She’s a pure, pure girl who wants to protect her family from nanomachine monsters. This schmaltzy music is hilarious. Haha! Scope Head’s frustration builds. Ah, side-plot for the NTR lovebirds. Helmet Girl needs to find her wallet and Shuuichi’s nose can sniff it out. Hoho! She’s already transformed! BBB became a manga otaku and gave Yoshioka cat ears to go with her power. She’s a furry who’s been yiffing on Shuuichi this entire time! Gleipnir’s humor is great.
Shuuichi has a good logistical reason for searching alone for Yoshioka’s wallet: her smell would overwhelm the trail. Her solution? NTR! The comedic timing is good. Gleipnir is getting better at using this unserious tone. Yoshioka is just like Clair! Ditch the clothes! Double NTR! Scope Head is a voyeur too. This is classic hentai! It’s only Shuuichi’s second partner. She’s terrible at moving his body. Clair has nothing to worry about. His feeling of betrayal only heightens the sensation.
And Gleipnir is back at the yuri lily garden. Ha! Choker Girl’s just horny. Lovey-dovey time with Clair is not related to her power. Clair kept her V-Card! Did she do this with the guys, or nah? The real ritual is wearing a choker of her hair, which will constrict and behead someone if they don’t keep her secret. The loophole is that the wearer needs to feel a sense of betrayal. Choker Girl reveals she had a strong mental image for her power when the alien BBB gave it to her. Those with vague subconscious desires turn into the freaks we’ve seen.
Shuuichi is too pure for this world. Yoshioka is correct. She’s not dumb for getting naked. It is just a crazy situation! She knows Shuuichi likes it too because they share feelings when they’re combined. Yes, Gleipnir, nice metaphor. No sense arguing about it. Ikeuchi is the NTR gift that keeps on giving. Go get that wallet… that Elena’s teammate just picked up. How convenient!
Gleipnir streams weekly at Funimation.
