Allison & Lillia 05: Creepy Village People

Oh, did you think the story was over just because the war was? Well, I did, and that's why I thought that Episode 4 was rather abrupt and convenient.

But then here comes Episode 5 of Allison & Lillia and already the heavy undertones of politics, romantic tension between the main characters, and Benedict's bigger role has got me sitting up at attention. I mean, creepy village people! By god, that's something. ^.^

(Also, the abduction thing was hilarious. Leave it to Allison to do the complete opposite of subtle.)
Episode 05: The Closed Forest
More Screencaps from Allison & Lillia 05
So the war between Roxche and Sou Biel is finally over. In his home country, Ker has been lauded as a hero and has even been promoted to Major. His status has also been raised from playboy fly-boy to heartthrob, who could make army women salute at random and make silly declarations about respect and honor when asked a simple question.

Wil and Allison, on the other hand, still manage to keep low profiles in Roxche. Allison continues to serve with the Royal Air Force, where she has apparently made several friends (who aren't very law-abiding by the way). Wil, after returning to the Academy, is now enjoying a relatively normal, uneventful winter break. That is, he was until Allison has the bright idea of getting her RAF friends to pick up Wil from his class field trip in Ikstova and bring him over to where she is waiting.

"I know this looks suspicious but it's going to be alright."

Allison brings Wil first to the Sou Biel Army Camp where they meet up with Benedict Ker. This is the first time the three of them has ever been together since their hair-splitting adventure the previous summer but, thankfully, we're not treated to too much flashbacks. As a matter of fact, there is only one flashback: that scene where the three of them are standing in front of the treasure. All this told over a round of hot tea.

Afterwards, Benedict invites the two of them to dinner and they accept.

As Allison and Wil go on their way to spend some, err, quality time together (Allison has something major to tell Wil), they get caught up in a blizzard and end up in an isolated village deep in the forest. The people seem nice enough and helpful, but as soon as Allison and Wil turn their backs, they shed their act and reveal paranoid personalities suspicious of strangers. They recognize Allison's uniform and think they are spies.

Without any idea about the air of hostility surrounding them, Allison and Wil wait in the town hall where they are, unknowingly, served with drugged tea. Wil's knowledge of history tells us that Ikstova is ruled by a sovereign family, who takes up plants and animals as their symbols. Wil, bless his photographic memory, correctly identifies each family member's symbol. This, however, raises the townsfolk's suspicions even more.

While the townsfolk leave them alone to convene and make evil plans, Allison tries to tell Wil that she wants them to live together in the city after he graduates from the Academy. But, as soon as she finishes her embarrassing speech, she discovers that Wil hasn't even heard a word since he's dead asleep. Allison realizes that they've been drugged just as she too falls unconscious.

Meanwhile, Benedict, who has been searching for the two of them this whole time, finds himself in a forest where he meets a village girl, named "Fi." The girl appears to have a major issue with the guy on the poster. Also, she has no idea who Benedict is, which is fine and dandy for him since he's getting tired of his celebrity status. But then some villagers arrive, calling for Fi, and Benedict, wondering what it's all about, decides to follow them into town.

COMMENTS:

I don't have a lot to say about this episode. It's the beginning of a new adventure. That's obvious. And we finally get to meet the other character featured prominently in the ED clip of the show.

The kingdom of Ikstova is apparently undergoing some kind of political upheaval and something tells me that the person behind it is the guy in the poster. His name's a mouthful.

It looks like Benedict's going to save Allison and Wil's asses again. It's a wonder these two even survived the war. Sure, Allison is resourceful and Wil's skills come in handy most of the time, but these two are walking magnets for trouble. I absolutely adore them. ^.^