Forum - View topicKaiju No. 8 (TV).
|
Goto page Previous 1, 2, 3 |
| Author | Message | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Edjwald
 Posts: 1164 |
|
||
|
Alright, alright, I said I'd try it again. Geez, throw another good thing at me why don't you
That said, it belatedly occurred to me that I probably should have mentioned Gridman before SSS.Dynazenon since the latter spun off of, Gridman and Gridman had a more obvious kaiju becoming human sort of character. |
|||
|
|||
|
Harleyquin
Posts: 2868 |
|
||
|
#5
I was half-right with my guess, Kafka was never going to join the Corps based on his assessment results but Rino had done enough to qualify through the normal route. Saving Kikoru together with Kafka probably tipped the scales in his favour since he didn't actually kill any of the monsters in that last stage. Kafka going in through the backdoor (which will not remain open for long if he doesn't improve to a minimum standard) keeps the story going, but he's actually being investigated without his knowledge which might trip him up later if he isn't careful. Hoshina might have wanted his personal comedy relief for a few months, but unlike his captain he isn't giving Kafka a free pass due to past personal relationships. Surprising how he was the only one who noticed the absent biological readings from the suit when Kafka transformed and didn't chalk it up to Kafka having zero compatibility like everyone else. He's fair though, giving Kafka the opportunity to work his way up the ranks even though he's clearly not as talented as everyone else in the cohort and not putting him down like the other graduates. Kafka being Kafka, he's making everyone laugh at how inept he is as a probationary candidate (months of training and he's only at 1%, only able to use a pistol sidearm instead of the heavy rifles the others have no issues wielding). He's also doing his upmost to keep his secret as he's taken Kikoru's warning to heart that any sign of him transforming will send him straight to the autopsy room for recycling. A lot of the episode is actually focused on the new cohort going through the motions with basic military training. As a cooldown episode from the previous exam, it serves its purpose. Since Kafka is on probation, it probably means he is on sabbatical from his previous employment and will not have the opportunity to interact with No. 9's human form. Assuming he passes probation (which at this juncture is effectively impossible), then he'll have a new job as a Kaiju hunter and will leave his old job behind. Just as it was impossible for Kafka to pass the exam through the regular route, it will take something drastic like an actual mission for Kafka to prove his doubters wrong and win full-fledged honours through battlefield achievement. He'll need to either play a pivotal role in helping the cohort to victory against the Kaiju with his extensive knowledge of Kaiju anatomy, or transform (partially or fully) to kill the Kaiju himself without exposing his secret. The former is a safer bet, although the ex-JSDF elite is probably than Kafka at strategy given his formal military training. Next episode (and beyond) will determine how this story will keep going since Kafka has really been threading a needle to get this far without openly using his Kaiju strength and it isn't sustainable as far as narrative goes. |
|||
|
|||
|
smurky turkey
Posts: 1997 |
|
||
|
That was a good episode for building up the feeling of being part of a group of hard workers and striving to become better together. Some fun lighthearted moments and gags helped sell that feeling too. The warning and alarm shortly following that are a bit worrying, some may indeed not survive for long.
As for Kafka, I can see it go one of four ways: the first is him proving himself to be useful due to his knowledge and experience. The second is Kafka somehow getting a power up to his suit somehow. The last two are a bit different in that Kafka could be kicked out of the force and thus become a rogue agent or his true power gets found out and the force decides that he is worth more alive than dead. |
|||
|
|||
ACｘS
 Posts: 894 |
|
||
|
5:
It's really starting to feel like My Hero Academia, in that there's strong element of shounen in here. The archetypes are here: the Tsundere, the Hothead, the Coolhead, the Stoic, the Emo, the Underdog, the Kuudere (you can map each of them pretty easily). I'm more intrigued to know more about the Kaiju side. They're evolving but I want to know by how far. |
|||
|
|||
|
Edjwald
Posts: 1164 |
|
||
|
I agree that the show felt more like a shonen this week, but a good shonen. I liked the team stuff, nor did I think the tropes were all that obvious or overdone, It's good to have some breaks between the action episodes, and the light-heartedness was somewhat balanced out by the reminders of a high mortality rate and the likelihood of Kafka winding up on a dissecting table rather than becoming a team mascot if his secret gets blown.
|
|||
|
|||
|
Harleyquin
Posts: 2868 |
|
||
|
#6
The entire episode is a set piece to showcase how the franchise's monster hunters go about their jobs. There's a surprising amount of detail that goes into each operation as well; civilians only see the end result while clean-up like Kafka and Rino don't realise why the best hunters make such a huge mess. From civilian evacuation, host body diversionary fire, selection of the optimal firing platform and deployment of the corps grunts to hold off the secondary spawns, the franchise does its best to show casual viewers just how slick each operation is with all stakeholders playing their roles and keeping time wastage to a minimum. And into this mix is added the one individual who can't really contribute in a conventional way because his human form is so underpowered compared to everyone else. Most of the humour is seeing Kafka bring his usual antics into the preparation area and later as the first corps member to be unceremoniously sent into the trash heap. Good thing Kafka eventually racks his brains and realises he is unique amongst the corps members in having a deeper knowledge of monster anatomy than anyone else. It's actually good to see him contribute to the cause without transforming, instead of just being deadweight or trying to sneak in a few cheap hits using partial transformation. Rino doesn't need transformation, and he's plenty motivated that he has to work hard enough so that Kafka doesn't feel obliged to transform to bail everyone out. He's also doing very well for a first mission, with Hoshina rating him highly in terms of untapped potential. The focus on the ammunition used in their super-heavy rifles is interesting as well; I had assumed the rifles were energy-based and only had one effect. I'm still not sure how the effect of ammunition is amplified depending on the wielder's suit compatibility and power output though. Mina and Hoshina also showcase why they occupy their current positions. Mina having the highest suit compatibility is capable of wielding railguns on her own, so she's assigned heavy weapons duty. Hoshina on the other hand has a family background of traditional demon slaying, so is better suited to cutting up monsters using his specially modified blade. None of the other corps members (including Kikoru) have their specialised roles, but anyone who earns the promotion apparently gets specialist equipment which suits their combat roles. Just as it looks like the operation is progressing without a hitch, Rino and Iharu have the misfortune of meeting No. 9. He/it is up to no good as well, with this week's monster having some of its design prepared by No. 9 beforehand. This week's cliffhanger sets up next week nicely, since Kikoru never spoke about No. 9 so Rino and Iharu are sitting ducks if they engage in a straight fight. Kafka might well be forced to transform if he feels there's no alternative to saving Rino, even if it means blowing his cover. |
|||
|
|||
|
smurky turkey
Posts: 1997 |
|
||
|
Given the ominous way the previous episode ended I expected shit to hit the fan this week and yet it went well...for the first 99% of it. The rookies really got a chance to show off their stuff. As for mister transforming kaiju, I think he will be a bit too much for the rookies. I am curious about Kafka and how he will pan out long term, his advice and knowledge is useful, is it enough to become a full member though?
|
|||
|
|||
|
ACｘS
Posts: 894 |
|
||
|
6:
I like this episode for two things. One, Kafka continues to contribute to the team the way he knows how. Even if he is the protagonist, he ironically plays a secondary role compared to the ones with better combat performance. But on top of that, we learn right at the end of the episode that Kafka's information is way more vital than they would realize. Not because it will stop the Yoju from spawning further, but it's exactly what the Kaiju mastermind had planned. Two, we now see that the Kaijus are not playing. They are moving fast and waste no time infiltrating the human population. Heck, this show wastes no time brewing the plot. Stuff is going down pretty quick, and I'm loving it. |
|||
|
|||
|
Edjwald
Posts: 1164 |
|
||
|
I kinda like the way the show alternates between the MC being the underdog using his wits (sometimes and his nitwits) and his heart trying to eke out a place on the special forces team, and the MC being Ultraman (ie, the dude who has to transform in secret when something blows up in the monster minefield). I'm interested in finding out how the...I can't remember the name of the special monster forces...anyway, I'm interested in finding out how they'll react when they start to realize that there's a kaiju out there fighting kaiju. I figure it's gotta happen soon even if next week doesn't play out the way I'm expecting..
|
|||
|
|||
Blood-
 Bargain Hunter Posts: 23817 |
|
||
|
"Cougar Mode". Heh. I'm happy that the training part is over and we are into the real kaiju fighting deal. Loving the characters, loving the action, loving the humour. A real Spring show highlight, for sure.
|
|||
|
|||
 |
All times are GMT - 5 Hours |
|
|
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group