#StarDriver ep16: my libido is so big, so long, so hard that you can't possibly handle it! #anime 

First of all, this is the best episode of the series overall and represents a small bit of the fulfilled potential in this show. Takuto took the predetermined idea of him losing (which I'm sure he wasn't aware of anyway) and threw it to the wind. I like how things were settled overall. And we finally get a glimpse into Takuto's past. It was fantastic fun.

I guess it makes sense that Marino was the one who wasn't real, though initially I never imagined the maidens capable of doing something like this. It's pretty insane that she was capable of creating a living breathing doppelganger of herself that fooled everyone including herself into believe it was a real person. Add that to her newly discovered ability to see into people's pasts, and she had some rather god like abilities. Of course all that was weighed against the fact that she could never step foot off of the island. I loved the scene at the end where Mizuno realized that she could be with her sister anytime she wanted. I suppose the witch still has some magic in her afterall.

The rest of the episode revolved around a rather bold, and arrogant Head and the pressed Takuto. Have to admit, Head looked really impressive throughout most of this episode. Quickly and powerfully breaking the second maidens' seal and then quickly and easily putting Takuto on the ropes. He gracefully outmaneuvered and overpowered Takuto. And that's when we get the flashback.

While I enjoyed seeing a bit of Takuto's past, he didn't really seem that different before he was influenced compared to after he met Natsuo. Perhaps that incident merely stoked the flames that were already burning in Takuto. I have to admit that I laughed my ass off at that flimsy glider they were trying to fly in. How the hell did that thing break the way it did? Was it a Hong Kong knockoff or something? And I had to have a moment of empathy for Takuto when he crashed and got hurt. Anyone who has had the time of their life doing something stupid will understand that laugh of his. I did. I also couldn't help but take notice of Takuto's grandfather's voice. Anyone who watches Fairy Tail will recognize it in a heartbeat. Apparently that wild hair of Takuto's runs in the family as well.

And what is the purpose of this flashback? I suspect it's to show that his motivations and commitment are deep and not so easily snuffed out. I enjoyed seeing him and Tauburn go all GURREN LAGANN on us and evolving just a bit there on the battlefield. Sorry Head, it appears you came up just short because reaching the third phase just isn't enough. Takuto dispensed him with glorious flair in what may very well be a "crowning moment of awesome". But perhaps I'm jumping the gun just a bit, because I'm sure there are even more glorious things awaiting Takuto in the future. I'm very interested to see where we go from hear.