Now this is more like it! I was a bit worried with Steins; Gate’s recent string of episodes focusing on the addition of new haremettes, but Moeka’s case is fortunately not so simple.

In the initial episodes, Moeka was one of the characters I liked the least, mainly because she never talked. She came across as unemotional and level-headed. This episode disabused me of that notion. She broke her silence, but didn’t speak so much as scream and wail. She is a broken character, with an overriding dependence on FB. The whole scene with Okabe and Moeka in her apartment was downright intense. I wouldn’t say I *like* Moeka now by any stretch of the imagination, but I can say that she’s managed to capture my attention and a bit of sympathy.

Okabe has changed a lot. He went from a boastful yet timid mad scientist into someone willing to physically assault a woman in her home. His character has taken on a darker tone: how much of his beatdown was to save Mayushii, and how much was for revenge? His recovery when that woman walked in was… creative. Transforming a scene of domestic abuse into a rape scene. Of course that is completely socially acceptable, so the woman lets out a giggle about “lovers these days” and walks away. Anime… *sigh*. Yet it disturbingly mimics reality. Okabe shows a hint of sympathy for Moeka towards the end, but then leaves her crying on the floor.

As for speculation, I’ll be honest: I have no idea who FB is, except it’s probably someone we already met. Maybe Daru is a double agent… I kid, I kid. But perhaps if Okabe can recover the IBN5100, knowing FB’s identity won’t be necessary. This seems like a logical first step, at least.

And I have to wonder: how did Mayushii die at the comics festival? I’ll be interested to hear that one. Okabe has really come to trust and rely on Christina- I’m guessing he’ll need to eventually trust the rest of his harem (and Moeka) with the truth to free everyone from their fate.