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[series:4806#628] | ||||||
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(Rent+ or Buy) (All episodes watched): I had already decided that this was a pretty neat show that I would be watching even before the rug was yanked out from underneath us with the revelation that Kafka has become a Kaiju with a human mind. Indeed, I wasn't completely certain that cliffhanger had been a good idea, since I had been liking the show so much up to that point and didn't know what to think afterwards. But one thing I could be sure of was that this was a show with a plan behind it, not just another hastily written rehash of conventional tropes. A sure sign of that are the developed (and developing) characters. Kafka had pretty well accepted his fate after failing to pass the test to enter the anti-Kaiju force, but then decided to give it another try--and now has a mind-blowing problem on his hands which he will have to deal with in episode two. Reno and Kafka have saved each others' lives (before being saved, in turn, by Ashiro). Ashiro hasn't forgotten about Kafka and may even harbor romantic feelings for him (it seems that she will not be one of the three principal characters, however--the third has yet to be revealed). Judging from the illustration above Kafka's shocking appearance as a Kaijuu is not permanent and he (and ichikawa) will make it into the DF at some point. Perhaps what we'll get will be an 'it takes a Kaiju to catch a Kaiju' theme. One thing that annoyed me was the almost superdeformed character designs, in contrast to the nice background artwork, which at first made it hard to take these people seriously. I also didn't get why rockets fired from helicopters had no significant effect on the Kaiju yet a hand-held weapon wielded by Ashiro easily despatched it. I had thought early on that this show might be entirely a dark comedy about the cleanup crew, which would definitely be unusual, but it seems that it will be more conventional than that. But I'm enjoying it nevertheless, and if it continues to be as surprising and richly detailed as it has so far, it might just be my favorite show of the season. Yes, despite the savage battles with Kaiju, this show definitely has a strong comic element to it. And ordinary people are often apathetic about the struggle with the monsters, as if they are nothing but an inconvenience. In episode two Kafka and Ishikawa flee from the hospital to hide what has happened to the former. I wonder if anyone has noticed that while Kaiju usually just go on a rampage, this one ran away from a fight with the DF. As expected, Kafka can transform from Kaiju mode to human as he pleases. Why did the small one that infected him say 'found you' before plunging into his mouth? It sounds like they had singled him out, but apparently all they've done is give him a super powerful new body which he will use to fight them. Kafka and Ishikawa learn that they have passed the first of several tests to join the Defense Force Anti-Kaiju branch. They meet Kikoru Shinomiya, an obnoxious blond-haired rich girl who is taking the tests as well, and will surely pass since she is featured in the illustration above. I delayed watching this episode for a while because I considered it so precious that I wanted to be in just the right mood, and it did not disappoint me. In episode three Kafka and Ishikawa take the demanding test to be admitted to the anti-Kaiju Defense Force. The physical test would be a breeze for Kafka if he could use his Kaiju powers, but those must be kept secret, and he comes perilously close to failing. Plus, he's repeatedly humiliated by Shinomiya. It was a little hard to believe that applicants would be sent on an actual hunt for real-live Kaiju, with expensive cutting edge technology that will be of only minimal use for most of them, but whatever. The episode went quickly and I was frustrated that it ends with the test still incomplete--frustrated because I was enjoying it and wished it could continue for a few minutes longer. The test seems like a disaster for Kafka until something unexpected happens and the Kaiju being hunted turn out to be much stronger and more resilient than expected. Plus, they have an intelligent and diabolical leader (that will apparently be known as Kaiju #9). Kafka has no choice but to transform and let rip, which he does; but somehow his secret is revealed to just one new person, Shinomiya. We get another major surprise when it is revealed that the Kaiju leader can transform into human appearance himself and is posing as a member of the cleanup team. Each season there are countless shows which have just enough quality to get by, and a handful that have enough to be truly good. In episode five Ishikawa is accepted as an officer trainee in the Anti-Kaiju Force and Kafka is sort-of accepted as what's known as a 'cadet'. Shinomiya insists that she be told just what the ---- happened during the test, and Kafka tells her the truth. This episode contained no violent action, just plot building, but that was fine with me, in fact I think that in numerous high quality anime these are often the most interesting and entertaining ones. Fights with Kaiju are for children, episodes like these are for adults. In episode six the new graduates are sent on their first real mission, against a truly colossal Kaiju and the countless Yoju it spawns (there was a comment that they reproduce much like a fungus). It seems that these augmentation suits they wear not only make them stronger and faster, but somehow make the weapons they carry more potent as well. Some rifles have little or no effect while others blow gaping holes in Kaiju. Kafka manages to make himself useful with some quick thinking. The mission goes pretty much as expected until the Kaiju leader intervenes. As usual, the episode was exciting and over too soon. In episode seven Ishikawa and the red-haired guy find themselves up against the Kaijuu leader, and by all rights should be dead except Kafka comes to their rescue. The Kaijuu leader is intelligent but in an otherworldly manner, which is fairly terrifying. How are creatures which operate like a fungus at one level also highly intelligent on another? I hope we get some sort of explanation of just what the ---- these things are someday. After an inconclusive fight Kafka, in his Kaijuu mode, is spotted by Hoshino, the unit leader and a deadly hand-to-hand fighter. For some reason I wished this confrontation hadn't taken place; perhaps it seemed like Kafka and Ishikawa have a big enough problem with the Kaijuu leader, and being attacked by their own comrade is the last thing they need. But of course sometimes that's how life works. And perhaps it was hard enough to believe that nobody had gotten killed by the Kaijuu leader, and no doubt here will be another fight in which nobody gets killed. It's hard to balance comedy with horror. In episode eight Kafka and Hoshino fight it out, and Kafka manages to neither kill his superior nor get killed by him. I was thinking that maybe he should try to think of a relatively safe way to reveal to Hoshino that he and Kaijuu #8 are one and the same rather than just hope they don't come to blows again. In episode nine flying 'wyvern-like' Kaijuu and an intelligent red leader raid the base of the Anti-Kaijuu Force. A furious battle ensues and there is tremendous property damage but again no one is seriously injured. Things come to a head when Kafka must finally demonstrate his amazing powers in front of everyone and as a result is arrested afterwards. Higher ups see him as nothing but a supply of Kaijuu raw material which can be used to develop new weapons, but his comrades remember the many times he saved their lives. You can really feel the confusion and sorrow the characters feel, unlike most action anime which are devoid of deep emotions. The General in charge of the JAKDF (Shinomiya's father), wearing a power suit made from a defeated Kaijuu, takes him on in a deadly duel. In the end the general decides that Kafka can be trusted, to a certain extent, and he is granted a stay of execution. I didn't quite understand how, by sheer willpower, Kafka was able to overpower whatever entity had possessed him. And everyone seems to think that they can become just as strong as a Kaijuu if they exercise enough, which is absurd. But this show knew just how to keep us engaged and enthralled, and I'm looking forward to the second season that must surely be coming. Last updated Wednesday, July 10 2024. Created Wednesday, April 24 2024. | ||||||||
