A Certain Scientific Railgun T 15
とある科学の超電磁砲T

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis

Mitori recalls being a child at the institute Misaki was at. She learned to suck up to the researchers as she trained to use her Liquid Shadow ability. The researchers send her to the clone Dolly to be her friend. Initially, Mitori isn’t happy, but soon she comes to appreciate Dolly. Eventually, Mitori learns the truth about what the researchers are doing to Dolly. She takes a stand and is punished for it.

However, at some point, the institute was abandoned. Mitori was able to leave. Years later, Mitori attempts to avenge Dolly, but is captured. Gensei gives her an option to work for him in order to gain her objective. She accepts.

In the present, the bloodied Mitori becomes conscious. She realizes she failed and is ready to die. Misaki shows up and enlists her to help save Dolly 2.0, who has all of the original Dolly’s memories. The two go to the facility where Dolly 2.0 is being stored. They release her from stasis. Dolly is happy to see “Mii-chan” again as well as Misaki. Misaki apologizes for not looking into “Mii-chan” years before. Dolly wants to do all kinds of things with her friends, but going to the ocean his her priority.

Meanwhile, Mikoto, Saten, Uiharu, and Konori have a party for Kuroko at the Judgement office. Mikoto goes to the hospital to visit Imouto, who reports having a strong desire to visit the ocean for some reason.

Thoughts/Review

And so we come to the end of the Daihasei Festival Arc in A Certain Scientific Railgun T 15. And a lovely conclusion it was.

Changes to the Source Material

Chapters 68 and 70 were used to construct A Certain Scientific Railgun T 15. Here is the list of changes made to the source manga material.

• The party thrown for Kuroko is an anime original item. It is filler, but nothing objectionable.
• Mitori and Misaki’s trip to the facility with Dolly 2.0 is an anime original item. Since it helps flesh out the events leading up to the pair’s arrival, this is not a problem.

Beyond that, there were no modifications of significance. An example of what I mean is that during Mitori’s flashback in the institute, the moment where Misaki shows up briefly is in the manga. However, it was a tiny panel and Misaki was merely a background character. But bringing Misaki into focus in the anime, even if for a moment, was a good call. In the grand scheme of things, it is not a significant modification in my opinion.

Misaki, Mitori, and Dolly

I found that the reunion of Dolly (2.0), Misaki, and Mitori was much more emotional in A Certain Scientific Railgun T 15 than the manga. That’s understandable since the anime can be done in a way to help evoke stronger emotional responses than a static image on a page. It would be lovely if the three could go to the beach together.

The anime (and manga) does a nice job to redeem Mitori. I think one of the things I enjoyed about the Railgun series is the meaningful redemption of some villains. Mitori may have been working for the evil Gensei, but her reasons were understandable. She wanted to destroy the evil within Academy City after that evil had done despicable things to her.

It was also interesting that Misaki was going to have Mitori turn herself in and confess. I honestly can’t remember if she follows through or not. For Dolly’s sake, Misaki may not force the issue. But I don’t remember if Mitori shows back up or not. I know Misaki does. That aside, Misaki’s reasons were to help Kuroko, which was interesting.

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

In the end, A Certain Scientific Railgun T 15 was a lovely conclusion to the Daihasei Festival Arc that was covered in both the Index and Railgun source materials. Sadly, we have to wait until July 24 when the anime series starts the Dream Ranker Arc.