Intro:

The past few episodes of Bravern have been polarizing. In particular, episode three left many fans, including this author, unsatisfied or disappointed. This author even almost quit reviewing Bravern. It was difficult to believe episode four would surpass expectations. Thankfully, however, much-needed character development was the highlight of this episode.

Lulu and Lewis:

The fan service last episode is one of the primary polarizing aspects for fans. While some enjoy it, many find it distasteful. Episode four remedies the fan service of its predecessor by shifting the dynamic between Lulu and Lewis. In place of potential romance, Lewis is in the caretaker role for what many fans describe as his alien daughter. 

Lulu only knows a few words and primarily relies on Lewis to take care of her. She has weak digestion, possibly from being inside Superbia for so long. Her emotional reactions to anyone mean to Lewis are also over the top. In every sense of the word, she is a child. This causes conflict with Isami, who thinks Lewis is avoiding his responsibilities. Thus starts one of the central conflicts of the episode.

Isami and Self-Isolation:

Isami has become increasingly irritable over the last three episodes. This comes to a head when he sees Lulu clinging to Lewis in episode four. From Isami’s perspective, Lewis is irresponsible and abandons his duties while Isami risks his life. Isami’s job so far has been thankless and has begun to wear on him. 

At this moment, Bravern appears. While operating under the idea that he’s going to talk to Isami about new attacks, his real intent is much different. He encourages Isami to make friends with the people around him and learn more about them. These scenes with Isami and Bravern showcase Bravern in the most empathetic light we’ve ever seen him.

Isami and Bravern:

This is the first time we see Bravern try to reach a point of understanding with Isami. He isn’t imposing his wants on Isami in the way he did in the last episode. Instead, he guides Isami in the right direction by encouraging him to have faith in others. The scene in the bar specifically stood out to this author. It can be speculated that Bravern took Isami to this place because he knew the people there admired Isami as much as Bravern did. It’s a form of morale boost and emotional support. While Bravern can be oblivious at times, he clearly wants what’s best for Isami. As a result, these lighthearted moments make the cliffhanger of this episode all the more shocking.

Bravern Episode 4 Cliffhanger and Theories:

This episode ends with the military learning that Tokyo is completely on fire. For once, this tonal shift did not appear to be a bait and switch. Instead, this twist was carefully set up by the ominous tone following the military plane’s flight to Tokyo. Many fans wonder where things are going to go from here, including this author. Is this episode the last of the last of the lighthearted moments? Will things get darker from here? Only episode five will tell. In the meantime, fans have been constructing theories that perhaps Bravern is a death driver who rebelled against his own kind. Others believe Bravern is working as a spy for the death drivers and is secretly evil. Both theories are interesting to think about.

Conclusion:

Episode four was a breath of fresh air for fans like this author who wanted a focus on character development. Additionally, seeing Bravern and Isami interact in a situation that isn’t life or death is refreshing. Their interactions bring a new layer to the show and more things to think about. Lulu and Lewis also had interesting moments that cemented their new dynamic in this episode. With that said, this week’s episode can be found on CrunchyRoll.