NieR Automata Ver1.1a Episode 16: A Love Without Regrets (2024)

2B and 9S successfully escape The Bunker before it can fully self-destruct. Though while on their way to the surface, the two are ambushed by remaining infected YoRHa units, leading 2B to take the full brunt and sending 9S's ship to crash somewhere else. From this attack, 2B is infected, and the virus quickly spreads to a near uncurable state. Meanwhile, 9S senses her signal and follows to reunite with her in hopes of curing her contamination, though he arrives too late to witness A2 killing her and taking up her sword, as requested by 2B. In his rage, 9S swears vengeance as a mysterious white enclosure rises up from the ground; while Pod 042 solemnly confirms her death.

No Going Back

Going by the events of the story thus far, it's safe to assume we're approaching the climax. The poster girl of NieR Automata Ver1.1a is no more, and, like the game, the narrative now shifts its focus to A2. Ironically, as she is 2B's original model, this means it all comes full circle. At the end of the episode, Pod 042 states that ownership has been transferred over to A2, effectively making her an unofficial YoRHa soldier, despite her deserting the cause. What makes this especially interesting, however, is that A2 cuts her hair after seeing 2B's memories through her sword - as if she's honoring the fallen and taking up her new mission. She despises YoRHa, but something (or someone) must have caused her to embrace her new role.

Stuck in the Past

Last season, we learned that the No. 2 we saw in Lily's past was the same person as A2. As 2B mentioned to A2 before her death, her sword had her memories stored in it. The last time A2 and Lily saw each other was before the end of their first mission (seen in episode 6), where Lily thought all her allies had died, and presumably, A2 thought the same. By absorbing 2B's memories, she realized there was still someone out there she could call a friend. Additionally, in a monologue and flashback sequence earlier in this episode, we see 2B's full perspective.

She was loyal to her cause and accepted her designation as a disposable tool to YoRHa, but 9S cracked her shell, bit by bit. His carefree attitude, and passion and desire for adventure had rubbed off on her, and her mission of eliminating him if he got too close to the truth, became less about keeping YoRHa's secret, and more about keeping him in blissful ignorance. In a way, 2B isolated herself like A2 does - so this could very well be a trait that No. 2 models have. Yet simultaneously, they have a desire for companionship.

Internal Atonement

Interestingly enough, A2 doesn't react with hostility when 9S comes for her. This can be attributed to her now being familiar with 9S's personality. However, those who played the game will know in Ending C, she falls in her battle against 9S and laments that she'll finally be joining her comrades - indicating she has survivor's guilt. Though since she's probably seen Lily, her calm demeanor could be because of another reason: a new purpose. She will live on completing 2B's mission as per her request to "look after everyone".

We don't entirely know A2's motives, let alone his current personality. But with Pod 042's confirmation that his ownership has been transferred to her, it's safe to assume that we will come to learn a lot more in the coming episodes.

NieR: Automata Ver1.1a

Action

Sci-Fi

Release Date

January 8, 2023

Studio

A-1 Pictures

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

MyAnimeList Score

7.51 (Season 1); 7.94 (Season 2)