Wow. The series looks to be building to an explosive finale. A few items of interest...

I enjoyed seeing more of Rinna. She had yet to get much attention since returning to Stellvia. Also, it's nice to see more of the kinder, gentler Ayaka.

Overall, a very solid episode, laying the foundation (no pun intended) for how the series will end. With most shows that mix teenage characters and apocalyptic themes, you often end up with angst galore. But Stellvia continues to chart a different course. Despite what's looming, the characters remain optimistic. It's a sort of grim optimism, but optimism nonetheless.