Aaahh! So we’re at episode 3! This post is going to be all over the place and filled with spoilers, so bare with me here.
(This face—and that noise, before we begin.)
. Progression
I feel like this was the best episode yet in terms of progression. Unlike the others, I didn’t feel like the cutaways were too frequent or too random. Unlike the previous episode, I didn’t find the little map separators to be nearly as annoying. I think this is because it actually kept the episode in several longer, more consistent sequences, instead of a bunch of random 1-2 minute cutaways that just break up everything else.
Perhaps I’m being a little too optimistic but I didn’t feel as annoyed.
. Story
So, a lot of people were rightfully scared of where the last episode left off, afraid of what it’d mean for the story and what may get left out. This is another thing that I feel like this episode helped. It went back and covered a crucial part of the story that was missing from last time, and in several longer sequences that I dare say take center focus more than the attention whore that is Youzen. And honestly? While I like Youzen as a character much more, I felt like this was the better way to go. This was important. It needed to be emphasized. It was a pivotal moment in the story, and it was treated right, I think.
Also, Kiohi punching the emperor was a true highlight.
. Random Tangent
One thing viewers have universally rebuked so far is the sheer lack of humor in this show. In this episode, they actually slowed things down a bit and took the time to include many of the humorous scenes. Enough that I find myself snickering more than once, and it made me enjoy the episode that much more. Of course, let’s not forget that this is a fairly easy story to handle. It may not spend that extra attention to detail in later story arcs.
One of my favorite lines from both this episode and the manga story is the “IF HE’S BITING YOU, BITE HIM BACK!” line. Oh, if only he’d listen!
. Inclusion of Manga Details
One of the things I most wanted to see was Koutenken being the little terror that he can be. I enjoyed seeing this included, and he is drawn just adorably. I prefer this style much more to the previous anime’s, even in its cartoony state.
While it went back and covered a major story plot that needed conclusion, we’re here missing another one! The young princes. I suspect this’ll wrap up in the next episode, as it surprisingly didn’t place Tenka as the center focus.
While some people may disagree with me here, I feel like this episode covered most points that it needed to cover. It’s getting there, just in a more unorthodox time line.
. Backgrounds, Music, and Animation
As usual, the backgrounds impress. These didn’t have to be complicated for most of the episode, but they did their job. The music, I did enjoy for most of it, but that random classical score? It felt so weird to hear it in Houshin Engi, and more like a “We had to license some music because our budget couldn’t cover everything” skit.
The animation I don’t have many complaints about. It’s following the trend of still frames, but I think we can expect that for most of the series. The scenes still look nice and fairly consistent, though the blood spurting from Taikoubou was just... awkward. Somebody please turn off the garden hose. Please.
Kashi’s face though, there’s something seriously wrong with her face.
. The Big Reveal!
Aah! Watching this without subtitles with my extremely poor Japanese skills, this caught me entirely off guard. I fretted that they’d cover the Gyokutei youknowwhatscene in flash forwards, but thankfully they didn’t, and seeing this made me super excited.
Also because I was scared of what kind of colors he was going to get stuck with. I’d prefer black clothes, but I realize red is just as valid. I’m also extremely happy that he didn’t get stuck with the god awful greenbluemonstrosity skin from the cardass series. Sorry, I just hated that color scheme.
Now that I’m done being a loser fanboy, I do wish they’d left out all the “TRUST ME TAIKOUBOU SENPAI” stuff. It just felt awkward and disjointed. Youzen’s whole thing is that he DOESN’T trust people, and for him to be gushing like a girl wanting to fall in love felt just horribly out of character. They could’ve left this little bit without the spewing of his guts.
But mother never questions my ideas —
. The TL;DR Version~
The Good: I think it was handled way better than previous episodes, but again, this was a fairly simple part of the story to tell. I expect lots of rushed episodes in the future. We shall see. Backgrounds are always gorgeous, and the Youzen part of the story pretty much included everything that it needed to.
The Bad: Here we are again, wondering if a monumental part of the story is getting cut in favor of squishing in screen time! Lots of still frames all around, some questionable animation choices, and an awkward music score in parts.