The following contains spoilers for Episode 19 of NieR Automata Ver1.1a, now streaming on Crunchyroll.

9S eventually reaches the tower and attempts to get inside after receiving confirmation from his pod unit that the building acts as a common coordinate for machine lifeforms. However, upon his approach, he discovers 21O, who has reprogrammed herself into a B-Type unit to fight on the front lines. However, since she was connected to the bunker network, she was also infected and subsequently stabbed herself to avoid hurting him.

Meanwhile, A2 continues to entertain the children in Pascal’s village at Lily’s request as they prepare for an attack by more machine lifeforms. 9S realizes he needs keys to get into the main tower and finds two neighboring smaller ones that have them. Although he encounters machine lifeforms, they are far from hostile, but he slaughters them anyway in his rage, despite the protests of Pod 153.

Shaping your own identity

A2 was portrayed as cruel and merciless towards machine lifeforms when she was first introduced. However, her relationship with Lily and her soft spot for the machine “children” suggests otherwise. Because she had a close familial relationship with the resistance movement, the machines in Pascal’s village call her “big sister,” and she reluctantly plays this role. In terms of design, A2’s physical appearance is sensual in nature, embodying the “femme fatale” stereotype, complete with long hair. After she cuts her hair, her dynamic changes to the more rounded character we see on screen.

When Lily asks A2 for help, she tries to playfully guilt-trip her into agreeing by reminding her that Pascal used his own resources to help her recover, using A2’s former label and acting like the “old” Lily. When putting them side by side, it is important to note how much Lily has changed. She started out as the “little sister” of the group, being playfully teased and being shy, similar to a standard anime girl stereotype. Furthermore, in YoRHa – Pearl Harbor Descent RecordIt turns out that Lily is a type L model – “L” stands for “lover”.

This implies that her purpose was, among other things, to provide “stress relief” to other androids – and that it was Rose who saved her. But despite all of this, she has grown into her own person – or, in her own words, an adult. One could argue that Lily is a deconstruction of the “sweet and innocent” anime girl image that is often sexualized in Japanese media. Her change in clothing (from shorts and thigh-highs to cargo pants) reinforces this even further.

Continue to break the vicious circle

Both characters are a prime example of how a person’s environment and experiences make them who they are. But 9S’s personality change is much more extreme. He started out with an idealistic attitude and saw things in black and white. He vowed YoRHa and lived what he knew best: machines are evil, androids are good. This fits his design: he has perfectly groomed hair and wears youthful male gothic lolita fashion. But with such a polarized mind, learning and exposing yourself to something you’re not used to can only be harmful.

Lily and A2 have adapted to their environment, but 9S refuses and becomes obsessed with it. In this season’s OP, there is a fight scene between 9S and A2, but the former’s hair is disheveled – a far cry from his previous appearance. Ironically, even though he too has undergone changes due to his environment, he maintains a black and white morality no matter what his conscious tells him.

9S seems only too willing to kill, but with an impending attack on Pascal’s village, if he somehow finds out about it, will this be an opportunity for redemption? Or will he be unaware of his surroundings and fall ever deeper into the abyss?