For being a series written by Ichiro Okochi, the brains behind anime such as Code Geass and Planetes, Valvrave the Liberator isn’t quite as liberating as it should be. Then again, this is the first episode we’re talking about. Sometimes the first episode of a series is more than enough to demonstrate its importance and potential. Other times, the result is completely hackneyed. After all, Valvrave kicks off its premise in a school setting, with students and their raging hormones confessing their unrequited loves, all-the-while a sociopath and his group of terrorists plot an attack against the school; and… our young protagonist finds and pilots a mecha in order to save the day. Sounds familiar? I thought so too.