Episode 25

FIRST CONTACT (MISSION: 25) is the twenty-fifth episode of the SPY x FAMILY TV anime series, the thirteenth episode of the second cour, and the final episode of the first season.

Synopsis
A social gathering happens at Eden College once every half term. It is a strictly guarded event where only Imperial Scholars and their parents, the VIPs of Ostania, are allowed to go. Damian tells his brother that he'd like to see their father when he attends the event. Loid finds out about that and uses Damian to get close to his target.

Summary
The Imperial Scholars mixer is Eden Academy’s semi-annual get-together exclusive to Imperial Scholars, their parents, and select alumni. In short, it is a meeting between Ostania’s top brass. Because the event is currently taking place, school security has tightened, with agents and the military on guard. Inside the campus, Twilight overlooks the security disguised as a professor. He remarks how difficult it is to infiltrate the Imperial Scholars mixer, citing past failed attempts by other agents.

The event is at the “Tower of Wisdom,” which not only has a few possible entrances but even tighter security. Twilight considers the option of taking the tower by force, but that could only work once and be effective if he was to assassinate Donovan Desmond. But because Operation Strix requires establish continuous contact with Donovan, it is out of the question. Approaching Donovan in disguise is another option, but Twilight is aware of the risks and decides to meet him as "Loid Forger" instead. He concludes that opportunities to make contact with Desmond outside the tower are virtually nonexistent but should try to explore those possibilities. Cecile Hall finishes class for the day, and the teacher reminds them that the school will be closed in the afternoon for the Imperial Scholars event, so the students must leave the school grounds. The students chat about the mixer and who will be attending. One of the girls asks Damian Desmond if his dad will be there, as his brother, Demetrius, is an Imperial Scholar. Damian does not hear them, instead thinking back to a phone call with Demetrius. Damian asked his brother to deliver a message to Donovan: to meet with him in the courtyard at Library 2 after the mixer. Demetrius agrees but tells Damian not to get his hopes up, as their father is a busy man, before ending the call.

In the present, the girls ask to meet with Donovan, and Damian angrily tells them to leave him alone and stomps away with his friends in tow. Having read his thoughts, Anya Forger realizes Damian’s plan. Seeing that her plan to win his heart with fashion failed, she decides to tail Damian and face Donovan herself. The boys have already noticed Anya sneaking behind and glaring at them, so Damian yells at her to go away. Ewen Egeburg speaks up to tell Damian why Anya has been chasing him. Damian reddens up, assuming romantic reasons. Ewen explains that Anya might be chasing him to curry favor with Donovan, and Emile Elman agrees, saying Anya is the same as all the other kids. Embarrassed and enraged, Damian calls Anya a stalker and other names before running away. Anya suggests punching him again, but Becky Blackbell, who has been with her, reminds her that she will get expelled if she does.

Suddenly, Anya hears Loid’s thoughts, expressing his frustration at how Anya and Damian are not getting along and that Plan B is failing. Loid decides to follow Damian if he decides to meet with Donovan. Hearing her father’s plan, Anya follows after Damian. Heading to the courtyard, the boys discuss Damian’s plan to meet with his father. Eavesdropping on their conversation, Loid confirms that Damian will meet with Donovan as the boys go to check out the mixer for themselves.

Outside the Tower of Wisdom, Imperial Scholars and their families walk through the school grounds, heading to the event. The boys are amazed at how many people there are, and Emile comments that even among all the famous people present, Donovan is a V.I.P., which makes Damian freeze up. He decides not to see his father, shocking the boys and Loid. Damian reasons that Donovan is an incredible and busy man that does not have time to waste on people like him. As he turns to inform Demetrius of his decision, he is stopped in his tracks by Anya, who cannot let him do that.

Loid and Damian are surprised by her sudden appearance, and Damian once again tells her to leave, calling her a stalker. Anya smugly taunts Damian, asking him if he is scared and says she knows he is. Damian wonders if she is reading his mind, causing Anya to worry. Anya nervously reveals that Damian got 50 points on his language test. When asked how she knew, Anya says she peeked over Damian’s shoulder, making Becky think Anya really is a stalker. Anya says Damian is scared his father will find out about his poor grade and tries empathizing with him, admitting to getting 17 points. Anya says she does not know if Loid likes her, so she is also scared, and adds that he gets mad at her often. Despite that, Anya believes in her father because she loves him, so she will use all her courage to tell him that she failed.

The boys, Becky, and Loid stare at Anya in confusion, who quickly wonders aloud what she was just talking about. Damian starts walking in the opposite direction, and Ewen asks where he is going. An embarrassed Damian says he will go to the courtyard to meet with Donovan. His friends follow him, cheering him on, while Damian says it is not because he is scared. While not sure what just happened, Loid quietly commends Anya for the effort. In the courtyard, the kids quietly sit and wait for the mixer to end. Becky is surprised that Anya is doing the same, as she just wants to go home. She assumes Anya is eager to meet Damian’s parents because she wants their blessing to marry, misreading her seriousness. Becky decides to wait with Anya, hoping to see the 'big moment’ with her own eyes. Anya falls asleep shortly after and Becky realizes her mistake. She asks a nearby Martha Marriott to take Anya back to their car as they prepare to leave. On their way out, they pass by Loid, who reveals a handmade duplicate of Anya’s expensive sheep keychain made with cheaper materials. With that, Twilight puts his plan into motion.

Loid continues to observe the mixer from the outside until it finishes. He watches until Donovan leaves and decides to make his move. At the courtyard where Damian’s group is waiting, Loid appears and asks the boys if they have seen a sheep keychain. Damian recognizes the description and gives Loid the replica that was planted on the ground earlier for them to find. The boys connect the dots and realize they are talking to Anya’s father. Realizing who he is talking to, Loid quickly kneels before Damian and apologizes for Anya’s behavior at the orientation. He tells Damian that he would also like to apologize to his parents, and at that moment, Donovan arrives. In his thoughts, Twilight apologizes to Damian for needing to crash his family reunion. Damian is surprised his father showed up, while Loid comes face-to-face with Donovan. He tries to talk to Donovan, but the bodyguards tell him to leave. However, Donovan gives him the chance to speak, prompting Loid to apologize for Anya’s behavior towards Damian and introduces himself with a smile.

At a WISE safehouse, a rookie member reviews a file containing attendees to the Imperial Scholars mixer, including Donovan Desmond. Seeing how the mixer is a treasure trove of intelligence, he suggests sending more agents to back up Twilight. Sylvia Sherwood advises otherwise, saying it would be giving them easy prey. She reminds the young man that they are in enemy territory and Eden Academy is the front line of this cold war.

As Loid Forger introduces himself to Donovan, he thinks about his investigations of any media regarding the man. In it, he could not learn much about Donovan since his disappearance from the public eye. With this conversation, he must learn more about Donovan, his behavior, how to get him interested in "Loid Forger," and extract the plans for the war he is plotting. Donovan recalls the incident at the orientation and apologizes for being too busy to respond personally. Loid offers to bring a token of regret to his manor. However, Donovan brushes it off with an uncharacteristically bright smile, startling Loid. Donovan states it is just a spat among kids, but Damian yells that Anya laid hands on him, a Desmond. Loid agrees and insists on making amends after what she did. Donovan smiles again and says it is fine, although he appreciates the sentiment. Loid realizes he is being blown off and withdraws, but not before thanking Donovan for his generosity.

Seeing that his father does not care, Damian tries expressing his humiliation to him, hoping for affection. However, Donovan responds with an exasperated sigh, unnerving Damian while Loid watches quietly. Damian stops and apologizes, and his father smiles in response. Loid speaks up, saying Damian’s anger is justified. He proceeds to talk about Anya and her bizarre behavior. Hearing this, Damian, Ewen, and Emile unanimously think how Loid has it rough. He then talks about the challenges of raising children and how uncontrollable they can be.

Donovan concurs, saying that despite sharing your blood, your children are essentially strangers, and it is impossible to understand what someone else is truly thinking. He says that, in the end, people will never be able to understand each other. While he says this, Damian is left stunned. Loid wonders if that is why Donovan seeks to control other nations with threats of military force and if he has uncovered a core belief. Loid proceeds to agree with the statement, saying that as a psychiatrist, he sometimes wonders if he can truly understand what goes on in his patients' heads. He adds that it may be arrogant to think that people can understand each other. In his thoughts, Loid knows that the idea of people reaching a mutual understanding by talking to each other is idealistic at best. Nevertheless, he tells Donovan that what is important is meeting them in the middle. Loid admits that despite not understanding Anya’s actions, he acknowledges her and creates opportunities for dialogue, even if it works out or not. Loid then thinks about how he, as a spy, will never stop seeking information to understand others.

Loid steps forward to pat a dejected Damian’s shoulder and says that it may have been why Donovan took the time out of his schedule to meet with his son. Donovan supposes so, which surprises Damian. Loid then talks about Damian’s respect for his father, bringing up his school report on Donovan’s work, which he had secretly snuck a peek at in the school. Loid claims that it moved Anya so much that it was all she could talk about at home. He tells Donovan that he was touched by Damian’s respect and knowledge for his work as Party Chairman, praising the boy. Loid mentions his initial concerns about the National Unity Party’s platform but changed views after hearing about the passion with which Donovan looks out for Ostania’s interests in Damian's report. He wonders if he should attend one of the party’s seminars, again praising Damian. An embarrassed Damian tells Loid to stop, and Loid happily apologizes. Donovan decides to wrap up the conversation, but not before remembering Loid’s name and saying that he enjoyed their conversation. Loid is satisfied with the result, chalking up Donovan remembering his name as a victory, and was able to memorize the faces and features of his security team. Loid thanks Donovan for sharing his time with him.

Before he leaves, Loid asks Damian not to tell Anya about their conversation. He says Anya is at an awkward stage, and if Damian thinks she hates him, Loid suspects otherwise, so he hopes they can get along. Damian shyly says he wants to as well, surprising his friends. He quickly gets embarrassed and yells at Loid to go away. Loid laughs it off and bids goodbye, leaving the Desmonds to talk.

Donovan looks to Damian, asking what his son wants from him. Damian starts getting nervous and says it was nothing. He struggles to get the words out, thinking back to Loid emphasizing the importance of creating a dialogue with others. As Donovan prepares to leave, Damian remembers Anya saying she will summon all her courage to tell Loid that she failed. Damian shouts out to his father, informing him of his Stella Star from the midterms, his 50 on his reading test, and how the griffin he made in art class won first prize. Hearing this, Donovan congratulates him. Damian asks why Donovan decided to come see him, and Donovan says he acted on a whim and to think nothing of it. As he walks away, he tells Damian to continue striving not to besmirch their family name. Damian enthusiastically agrees while Ewen and Emile cheer him on. Watching from inside the school, Twilight senses how distant Donovan is from his son. He concludes that the closer Donovan and Damian are, the better the odds of success are for Plan B. As for Donovan, Twilight decides not to tail him, and his next step is to lay the careful groundwork and take his new intel to HQ for analysis. Before he leaves, Twilight sees Damian and his friends excitedly cheering for Stella. Loid watches them quietly before making his way out.

Loid returns home to Yor Forger and Anya, and sees his daughter fast asleep with Bond Forger. Yor explains that Anya was already asleep since she was dropped off by Becky and Martha. In her sleep, Anya mutters that she and Loid will "fight the superboss together." Loid thinks about how carefree she is and has no idea what she is babbling about.

Anime Notes

 * From 01:55-02:10, most of the portraits of Imperial Scholars graduates shown were directly taken from Chapter 64.
 * At 03:42 in the episode, the darkened silhouette of Melinda Desmond can be seen in the background to Donovan's left. In the manga, she was not shown at all in this chapter and debuted much later.
 * Differences in coloring:
 * At 04:03, when in Loid's imagination he replaces the father of one of the Imperial Scholars, he and the girl are shown with blond hair, whereas in the manga both had dark curly hair.
 * When Damian calls his brother on the phone, he is wearing a black sweater with gray stripes, pale brown trousers and black shoes. In the manga, he was wearing a blue sweater with white stripes, light blue trousers and brown shoes.
 * The hair of the Imperial Scholars and their relatives who arrived at the meeting, as well as most of their guards, are brown in different shades. In the manga, they all had blonde hair and only the bespectacled boy and the guard on the right had a black hair.
 * In this episode, Sylvia is shown to be still wearing the rings Nightfall and Twilight gave her in episode 23. In the manga, she stopped wearing them after chapter 34.