Ep 8. The Day the Angel Flew

The Vision of Escaflowne is an anime series that was created in the late 1990s. The show follows young high school student Hitomi Kanzaki, who is transported to the world of Gaea where she finds herself caught up in a war between two nations. The show is known for its mix of science fiction and fantasy elements, as well as its complex and nuanced characters.

In season 1 episode 8 of The Vision of Escaflowne titled "The Day the Angel Flew," Hitomi and Van set foot in the castle of Freid, the country that is at war with the Zaibach empire. Their mission is to rescue Princess Millerna from the captivity of King Aston, who holds Millerna hostage to force her into marrying his son Dryden. Van is determined to save Millerna, as he sees her as a crucial factor in his quest to protect his kingdom. On the other hand, Hitomi is unsure of Van's motives and questions his actions.

Meanwhile, Dryden meets with his father to ask him to release Millerna, but King Aston insists that the marriage goes ahead. Dryden is heartbroken and tries to express his love for Millerna, but the king gets enraged and attacks Dryden, causing him to fall from the tower. Millerna is caught in the middle of all of this, and she is put in a dangerous situation with no clear way out.

Hitomi and Van decide to rescue her, but not before Hitomi has a vision of their battle. She sees a vision of Van's sword breaking, and she tries to warn him. The two are ambushed as they make their way to the prison to rescue Millerna. They are nearly defeated, but Van is saved by his Draconian friends, who come to his aid just in time.

As they make their way out of the castle, they are confronted by King Aston and his army. Van uses his fighting skills to take them on, but his sword breaks, just as Hitomi predicted. He is forced to use his bare hands and he is badly injured in the process. Just when things seem to be at their darkest, a powerful winged figure appears, who the characters refer to as "the angel." But is this angel friend or foe?

The episode ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the fate of Van and his companions hanging in the balance. Although "The Day the Angel Flew" is just one episode in a larger series, it is a well-crafted episode that demonstrates the best of what The Vision of Escaflowne has to offer. Fans of the show will be left on the edge of their seats as they eagerly await the next installment in this exciting adventure.