Eve feels the need for stiff competition after her golf tournament with Aoi. When golf-hustling disappoints, Eve tries VR golf and meets a familiar player.
Episode 5 – “VR”
Hmm.
BIRDIE WING continues to make its pitch to the world that we need another video game golf simulator. Last week, the anime showed us how super-rich people can form the premise behind its campaign mode plot. This week, we saw how an in-world virtual reality golf game became the source for Bandai Namco’s interface and art elements. Who wouldn’t want a customizable avatar with “popular” outfits and accessories? I loved the self-aware joke that Japan has weird tastes if the country likes cat-girl maids. Hey, I like cat-girl maids too!
If the world of BIRDIE WING is a golf game, Aoi and Eve both become bored with its default settings. Eve needs more of a challenge than taking wealthy golf nerds’ money. Aoi doesn’t care much about the title of Japanese high school girls’ golf champion. She just won the World U15 Women’s golf championship, so the level of competition would be lower. Even so, Aoi doesn’t care about any of that. She just wants to play with Eve.
Speaking of games, Rose plays the long game too. BIRDIE WING’s campaign mode needs to shift to Japan to continue Eve and Aoi’s golf buddy relationship. The foreshadowing started in the third episode when we saw Aoi’s high school friends and rivals. But how does Eve get over there? VR Golf isn’t going to cut it. But what if the casino development deal Eve won for Catherine forced the demolition of her family home? Ironic! Rose’s motivations are complex, but there appears to be a genuine concern for Eve. Let’s see if that’s true as the story continues.
Heh.
Aoi wants to go straight back to Nafrece. After a 12-hour nonstop flight? Look at all the pouting. Oh, come on, BIRDIE WING. Did these high school girls come to the airport only to issue a defiant challenge? Aoi doesn’t care that much about high school titles anymore. Ha! Aoi can’t shut up about Eve to her mother. They have a friendly relationship. Aoi truly is the Innocent Tyrant. Mrs. Amawashi is an empress in her own right. Seira Amawashi needs to protect her empire’s heir. Who’s the missy on her daughter’s mind? Seira talks to her husband’s portrait as if he has died.
Fun! Lily bought another Gundam. BIRDIE WING needs to sell those Gunpla kits for Bandai Namco! Also, Lily hand-paints Eve’s golf balls. Eve looks unmotivated. Klein saw how much Eve enjoyed her golf game against Aoi. Eve still needs to pay the bills, though. She doesn’t want to hustle, but she’ll do it for the little urchins. Eve got her rainbow wings back. Symbolism, yo!
Trainyard golf again. Did Kevin need to dress in traditional golf wear to play here? Whatever helps (it didn’t help). We can see why he hired a ringer in the first BIRDIE WING episode. Aw. Eve’s not concentrating on the game. Her drive went into the bunker! On purpose? She claims she wanted to give Kevin a handicap. Well, she can win against him without trying too hard.
Catherine gave Rose her service fee for the golf wager. That’s a big suitcase full of money! Where will the mafia queen build her new casino? Catherine wonders if Eve can perform other “services” too. Rose warns her off from the idea. Does Rose want Eve for herself?
Basil cheese pizza! Thank you, Kevin! Hey, random question. Have you heard of VR golf? Does Eve look like she plays with computers or game consoles? Oh! This is how Eve reunites with Aoi! How will BIRDIE WING get these crazy kids back together? Play the Japanese version, Eve. Hint, hint! Oh? Who sent Aoi an email?
And now we’re in the Nafrece version of Times Square. I see a sign for Lion King! The tacky neon signs for this VR arcade are straight out of the 1990s. Okay, the Virtual Reality room looks plausible. Oh? Eve had a 3D scan of her entire body. Three sizes, please! Big mistake. Eve let the attendant choose the “most popular” outfit from Japan.
Ooh, fun! Eve has trouble with the instant sliding around inside the 3D environment. Ha. Hahaha! BIRDIE WING nailed it! Japan’s most popular options for her avatar make a cat-girl maid with a bowtie! Japan is weird! Hohoho. Eve’s tail works! Enough of that. Eve wants to play golf on the max difficulty settings. This looks like the digital version of the golf video game interface. Or the VR golf game is the isekai version. Blue Bullet works in VR! Har. These stats are like KOMs (King of the Mountain) in Strava. Best score today. Thirteenth overall. Whoa. Zooming between shots is incredible!
Hello! There was a reason Klein started talking up VR Golf to Eve. Rose paid Klein to do that! If Rose wants Eve to meet Aoi in the game, she must have sent the Japanese girl an invitation. Rose also claims to have long-term plans for Eve besides keeping her away from Catherine’s mob. It’s a win-win relationship. BIRDIE WING shows us plot development!
Uh oh. Eve is only second place on these difficulty settings. Someone suspiciously named “Althea” is number one. Suspiciously close to Athena, the Amawashi golf brand. I’m getting excited! Is there a happy reunion in store for Eve and Aoi? That player has a 48-inch driver! Uh, who’s that? Oh, it’s Aoi. The mask threw Eve off. Eh? Eve confirmed she didn’t send Aoi an invitation to join her in VR Golf. It’s looking like Rose has plans for these two. Enough apologies. Play golf! Creepy. Rose is listening to their game. Seira heard that Eve has mafia ties but thinks they’ll never cross paths again. Ever heard of the internet, lady?
There’s time for an epilogue after the BIRDIE WING end credits. Eve wants to play Aoi in real life. Then, she should get her life on track to become a pro golfer. Or move to Japan… Oops. Forced logout. Ack. Lily is there for an emergency. The bar is going away! Just where is Catherine’s casino going to go? Hint, hint!
Next time, Vipère returns!
BIRDIE WING: Golf Girls’ Story (BIRDIE WING -Golf Girls’ Story-) streams on Crunchyroll and VRV in Japanese audio with English subtitles.
