After a year-long hiatus, Nier: Automata Ver1.1a is finally back with its second season, and after a stellar season premiere, episode #14 is poised to be a great follow-up. Season 2 is likely when the anime will start to truly diverge from what was presented in the original game, and that’s bound to make it even better to watch than season 1.

Nier: Automata Ver1.1a episode #13 picked up where season 1 left off with 2B and 9S having gone back to fighting machine lifeforms after the defeat of Adam and Eve. The two of them ended up undertaking what appeared to be a simple request for a Resistance fighter, but things escalated in a way that completely changed 2B and 9S’ dynamic, in-universe and out.

Whatever season 2 does to follow that up will be great to see, and as such, it creates a lot of excitement for episode #14, and beyond.

What Time Nier: Automata Ver1.1a Episode 14 Releases

As with previous episodes, the Nier: Automata Ver1.1a anime streams exclusively on Crunchyroll, accessed through their app, website, and third-party streaming services like Amazon Prime. Assuming there are no delays, Nier: Automata Ver1.1a episode #14 will premiere on Friday, July 12 at 9:00 AM Pacific Standard Time (PST), 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST), and 5:00 PM British Standard Time (BST).

What Happened In Nier: Automata Ver1.1a Episode 13?

Produced by A-1 Pictures; Directed by Ryoji Masuyama

Nier: Automata Ver1.1a episode #13, “Reckless Bra[V]ery,” saw 2B and 9S take up a request from an android in the Resistance with odd memory problems to find her missing friend. 2B and 9S not only discovered that the missing android was dead, but that the one who asked for their help was her killer, and it was then that the android remembered her true identity: an E-type “Executioner” android designed to assassinate traitors to YoRHa. Overcome with guilt, the E-type android killed herself in one of Nier: Automata‘s saddest moments, but not before whispering something to 9S.

2B and 9S are then sent on a scouting mission that initially took them to the shrine of the Kingdom of Facade, but 2B abruptly had them leave to search elsewhere. At the ruins of a department store, the signal brought them to a bizarre, talking head that rolled away before they could confront it, and as 9S tried to chase after it, 2B, now revealed to be the Executioner model 2E, started attacking 9S.

A flashback revealed that the commander ordered 2B to kill 9S after he hacked the Bunker to learn the truth about Project YoRHa, and it was later revealed that 2B has had to kill 9S countless times in the past for learning sensitive information about YoRHa. Despite 9S’ attempts to fight back, a betrayal by his Pod gave 2B the chance to kill him. Back on the Bunker, the commander remarked that she wanted that to be the last time 2B had to kill 9S and that it was time to begin the final assault against the machines.

Nier: Automata Ver1.1a Finally Brings In Its Biggest Nier Character

Amid all the dramatic reveals of episode #13, one lighter element worth highlighting is the long-awaited appearance of Emil from the original Nier game. Season 1 notably skipped over where Emil would have chronologically appeared in the story, but now it’s clear that Nier: Automata Ver1.1a still intends to incorporate Nier’s story into its narrative like the original game did. The anime has already been making more explicit references to Nier compared to the game, so it will be great to see how that keeps going with Emil finally joining the story.

Nier: Automata Ver1.1a Is Poised To Be Better Than Ever In Season 2

Overall, A-1 Pictures’ Nier: Automata Ver1.1a season 2 might be just as good as season 1, if not better. Just like with season 1, the animation and overall direction of Nier: Automata Ver1.1a perfectly bring the stylish action of the game to life, as every fight scene in episode #13 has an incredible amount of fluidity from start to finish. With the story season 2 will cover, that level of quality is going to be taken ever further for some of the game’s best fight scenes, and that’s sure to make the later episodes great to watch.

Regarding the story, episode #13 once again shows how well the anime is handling that side of its adaptation. Not only are the original narrative elements perfectly adapted to animation, but Nier: Automata Ver1.1a’s willingness to show 2B killing 9S adds an incredible amount of drama to an already great story and suggests further great expansions of the source material in future installments. After such a promising premiere, there’s plenty to be excited about for Nier: Automata Ver1.1a episode #14, and beyond, and hopefully, season 2 won’t be plagued by the same production issues that ruined season 1.

Be sure to watch Nier: Automata Ver1.1a episode #14 when it releases on Friday, July 12.