Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid OVA

After a somewhat dismal quasi-third season (TSR), finally one more redeeming element comes to light, and in the most perfect sense. Why? Because it’s about one of the best characters of the series.

Tessa.

A single 23 minute or so episode long, it’s titled something like ‘The Captain’s ordinary day’, the entire episode is dedicated to a single day in the life of Captain of the Danan Teletha Testarosa, but on everyone’s day off. Though choosing a true-love (and you think I’m joking see) between Chidori and Tessa, but I’ve always loved Tessa slightly more – probably because of my penchant for side-characters, and also because Tessa isn’t just cute, but quite emotional and intelligent too. The mental side of Chidori’s character while being funny, sort-of edges her towards some of the fairly standard female characters we see in comedies that have a habit of beating up on the all-too-common ignorant male protagonists. This OVA has Tessa wondering around the base encountering different hillarious situations, all of them a joy to see unfold. I kind of always thought Tessa had some more time and attention owing to her, and I felt that this OVA went a long way in fulfilling that. Her cameo in Fumoffu for two episodes was brilliant, and her intensity in TSR actually was great… when it was allowed to shine.

So after the disappointment that was TSR, this almost redeems it alltogether. Truth be told, there were only a select few scenes which I’d keep from The Second Raid that were important to the characters. After a totally throwaway narrative, it was the developments in the characters’ relationships that were most valuable in the third season; everything that transpired between Chidori, Sousuke and Tessa. I’d love another Fumoffu-like season to totally focus on these elements as I’m sick and tired of brash and/or mysterious villains and seemingly insurmountable odds in battle. I want to see these characters flourish as people in a fully-fledged comedy/drama that is wholely committed to their relationships and emotions.

Who knows – the day may yet come…