Azur Lane 03
アズールレーン episode 03

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis

Union carrier Enterprise has a memory-dream of spending time with her bedridden siter, the carrier Yorktown. Enterprise is awakened by Royal light cruiser Belfast, who acts as a maid on the Azur Lane base. She recalls that it was Belfast, along with Royal battleships Queen Elizabeth, Hood, and Warspite, as well as Royal light cruisers Edinburgh and Sheffield who saved her in the previous fight.

Enterprise does not go the the mess hall to eat, but takes some field rations instead. She heads to the dock to check the damage to her physical ship self. Meanwhile, Royal battleship Prince of Wales and carrier Illustrious decide to bring up their concerns about Enterprise to their leader, Queen Elizabeth. She’s reluctant to have the Royal Navy involved in an Eagle Union affair. However, she decides she will do something about this.

Union carrier Hornet and destroyer Hammann greet repair ship Vestal. They join Enterprise, where Vestal scolds her heavily for being reckless. Enterprise leaves and is met by Belfast and the shy, Royal light carrier Unicorn. They walk to the beach where other ship-girls are having fun. Unicorn finally musters the courage to thank Enterprise for saving her. She also remarks on how beautiful the ocean is, something Yorktown would tell Enterprise.

A storm comes in, but Enterprise remains on the beach. Belfast comes out with an umbrella. She informs Enterprise that she’s been tasked with investigating Enterprise’s reckless behavior.  Meanwhile, a distress call has Hamman and Union light cruiser Cleveland out. They are stunned that Enterprise came in addition to Belfast. They discover a fleet of destroyed Siren ships. Enterprise investigates and finds Dragon Empery (Eastern Radiance) light cruiser Ping Hai holding her injured sister, light cruiser Ning Hai.

Ning Hai had destroyed the ships, but one Siren vessel remained operational. In order to save the sisters, Enterprise causes the enemy vessel to target her. Her own recent battle damage prevents her from doing anything. As such, Belfast comes in and saves her again, destroying the Siren ship. Belfast says she understands Enterprise a bit more now. As the ships escort Ping Hai and Ning Hai back to base, Belfast makes it her mission to turn Enterprise into a proper lady.

Thoughts/Review

I feel this may grow worse over time, but Azur Lane 03 really had me spending tons of time going, “Which ship-girl was this one again?” 😂 Some I remember better than others. Nevertheless, the episode was an interesting one.

Enterprise Drama

While there are certainly going to be dramatic elements from the different ship-girls, it is clear in Azur Lane 03 that Enterprise is the lead dramatic character. I suppose Yorktown being apparently bedridden is a reference to how the first Yorktown was lost at the Battle of Midway.

It seems like Enterprise feels bad for whatever happened to Yorktown in the world of Azur Lane. And I would guess she feels responsible for Yorktown’s condition. That was clear when she found Ning Hai and Ping Hai. It will be interesting to see what all happened in the past. Also, it will be interesting watching Enterprise grow as a character.

Still, why doesn’t Enterprise seem as close to Hornet as she seemed to be to Yorktown? Hornet is also her sister carrier. Hornet does seem more carefree, which may be why Enterprise has a harder time relating to her.

Comedic Moments

I have to say that I got a chuckle out of the mess hall scene. As Union destroyer Laffey enjoys lunch with Royal destroyer Javelin. I don’t know whom the ships were in the background (and I didn’t have time to try to learn), but apparently, a ship-girl from the Royal Navy was looking forward to some fish-n-chips. I suppose she was with a Eagle Union ship-girl who poured ketchup on her chips (french fries).

In addition, I also got a kick out of Union light cruiser San Diego getting attacked by a shark. That in and of itself wasn’t so funny, but the offscreen response by Union carrier Saratoga cracked me up.

Neither one of these scenes added anything to the plot, but I liked them just the same.

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Let me wrap up my review of Azur Lane 03 with a few more quick thoughts.

• Although we did get a flashback showing the Iron Blood and Sakura ships during their fight with Enterprise, Hornet, Arizona, and company, I’m glad the villain of the week were the Sirens. We still need to know more about them.
• I figure Sakura destroyer Ayanami’s feelings of wanting to be friends with Laffey and Javelin (and maybe even Unicorn) will come into play.
• The Azur Lane game wiki has been a good source for helping me keep the various ship-girls straight. However, that site IDs Ning Hai and Ping Hai as belonging to the minor Eastern Radiance faction (China, I presume).
• Speaking of Unicorn, how could someone created something that cute and precious as a weapon of war? Good grief!

In the end, Azur Lane 03 was a pretty good episode. I am rather interested in seeing where things go.