Freeze: Appraisal of the Situation

"Freeze: Appraisal of the Situation" is the nineteenth episode of the Queen's Blade anime and the seventh episode of the second season.

Story
Irma looks for an opening to strike in her fight with Risty, and finds one when Risty starts having flashbacks to her old, righteous self. However, Irma misses in her killing blow, and is defeated instead. Echidna retrieves her afterwards, and the two depart together. Elina shakes Tomoe's resolve by calling her a hypocrite in regards to how she can call herself righteous while killing people. Tomoe tells Elina she has formed a bond with Leina, since they shared food and shelter on their journey, which Elina misinterprets, thinking that Tomoe has slept with Leina. Elina attacks in a frenzy, but Tomoe pulls through victorious. Ymir is pondering how best to augment Leina's sword. The next match is set: Nanael vs Airi in the Palace of Grief. Tomoe returns from her victorious battle to find a note from Shizuka, leading her to a graveyard. Shizuka reveals that she never actually left the Kouma Ninja, and has been posing as Tomoe's friend to lower her guard so she could kill her. Tomoe finally gains the will to fight her friend, and kills her. In dying, Shizuka says that being able to kill her best friend has made Tomoe stronger since these emotional bonds would only hinder her resolve as a warrior.

Trivia

 * This episode contains an alternate ending sequence. During the end credits, flashbacks of Shizuka are shown as a memorial tribute after her death, and the opening theme song is played once more.