Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha: StrikerS, episode 2.
So far this is more like a spin off series where the original main characters act as mentors, instructors and superior officers to what looks like two four new main characters. The interweb told me this will go even further with the subsequent seasons (called Vivid) to a point where almost none of the original characters are in the show, but that's sort of far off. So far the third season continues the pattern of A's of having one action packed episode followed by a less action packed one. The first episode had the two newbies on a training course for a promotion from "C" to "B" rank, just in case it was unclear: We're still in an animated JRPG.
Hayata wants to form a elite team with Fate and Nanoha, and is trying to recruit the newbies (Teanna, or Tia for short and Subaru). Nanoha, now combat instructor, kindly informs them that they, while finishing the training course on time and with excellent combat results, failed the examination due to their reckless behaviour. Now isn't that something else. They're assigned a special safety training course and a new date for a reexamination.
A flashback to a rescue effort four years ago serves to explain why Hayate wants to form an elite response unit and finally gives out something we've all been waiting for: Fanservice (beyond Subaru's fighting "armor" consisting of a crop top and hot pants, that is)! At least they're all 19 now.
Well, it was worse already in the first season, so this is a welcome change... no, really.
This happens directly after the three spent an evening trying to rescue trapped civilians from a fire at the aiport, or space port, on the home planet of the Space Cops. I'm not sure if that's meant to show that they were exhausted and fell asleep, in that case they're entirely too clean, or if that was meant as food for a whole bunch of shippers... sigh. Yeah, I'm going with the former in my mind, and just imagine they're all still sweaty and grimy instead of the latter. Why else would they still wear shirts.
The newbies are 15, or thereabouts, except the two other newbies that'll complete the new main cast, by the looks of it. Those are good deal younger. I wonder, really, is there no age limit for joining the miliatry? Well, who knows, maybe they're part of some miltary academy.
The introduction of the two younger newbies has them fall over each other, a bit like Rei and Shinji in Rei's appartment, just with more clothes on (and in public). Their names are Erio and Caro, although I'm not really sure if those are supposed to be their first or last names. The boy introduces himself as Erio Mondial in that order, but Erio seems like the first name, but it's entirely not Japanese to go with the first name first... erm, whatever. I mean they're aliens, so... like. Whatever, really.
Caro has a pet baby dragon. I don't think the Space Cops have an elite dragon force, but hey, maybe.
Fate ominously asks Nanoha if everything is all right with her, and the episode ends with showing the Belkan Knights fighting some rising threat. The pieces are on the board, and I'm curious what's going on, I like new newbies so far and it's all... not so bad for something that moved from an Earth based Magical Girl series with super advanced technology to outer space sci-fi action with schlocky elements.