Banana Fish – 23 [For Whom the Bell Tolls]

Welcome one and all penultimate episode of Banana Fish! This week we lose 2 antagonists, Blanca gets a history and Ash asks for help for the first time. Lets go!

Opening, I have to say, a lot happened this week and Banana Fish just nailed it. No part of it felt particularly rushed or cut. Sure, parts came as a surprise, such as Dino’s fate, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t work. If anything, the surprise of who are final villain is made it work even more. I was not expecting the episode to go down how it did. Of course, I am talking about Foxx and Dino, which I will get into deeper in just a moment. Now, I suppose this justifies Foxx’s introduction so late in the series a bit. I still think that compared to say Arthur or Yut, he is a much weaker villain. I wish he had more time to build his character and threat. But for a narrative surprise? Good enough. Now, onto the meat!

Naturally the first thing we have to talk about this week is out villains. I mentioned before that Dino’s death surprised me, and it did. I was expecting him and Ash to has it out before Ash finishes him off. That someone else put him down, completely shoving Ash’s revenge in his face? Simply fantastic, way to kick him while he is down Banana Fish. The real treat for me though was Yut, and how he was non-violently removed from the story. I do wish he got a bit more, but it makes sense. His entire relationship with Ash up till now was one of jealousy. Either his power, the loyalty people pay him or eventually his love of Eiji. Of course Ash couldn’t resolve this conflict, he barely understands it himself. So to have Blanca walk him through it, having already run the gamut himself? I liked it.

In fact, I loved everything about Blanca this episode. We saw what turned him into who is he. Why he treats Ash how he does, how he actually does care for Ash like a Father on some level. To me, his love for Ash was one of prevention. He didn’t want Ash to feel his pain, so he tried to get him to give up on love before it could occur. But once it became clear it was to late for that? Blanca went all in trying to give Ash what he had lost. Even showing Ash that he was treating his relationship with Eiji in a very one sided manner, “Eiji doesnt exist for your salvation”. I love how Blanca was this bridge between Yut and Ash, two individuals with similar histories, one who found an out and another who was still searching. It makes me want more.

On that note though, I think it’s time we talk about Ash and Eiji, and one of my biggest gripes. Last episode, Eiji got shot, and I was both surprised and happy. I thought we would get a tragic ending. Naturally, Banana Fish rolled this back a bit this week, sending him to the hospital. Not surprising, but a little disappointing. There is still the chance for a less than happy ending of course, Ash is still in a dangerous situation. And Blanca has tipped his thoughts towards leaving Eiji for good. Like Star Crossed (Blog drop!) Lovers, never to meet again. If that is how it ends, then I won’t complain. In my opinion, as much as Eiji might, Ash does not deserve a happy ending. He has lied, murdered, and in general cut his way through this series, only recently trying to leave it all behind. It’s sad.

Perhaps this is why Ash’s scene at the window and in the church work so well. Before the window, Ash almost looks like an Angel. Or a caged bird, depending on which side you are on. As a follow-up to his scene with Blanca, I quite liked it. Ash hasn’t shown a hint of religiousness up until now, so to have him pray for the first time, it being for someone else’s safety, once again reinforces how strong their relationship is. We see this once again, in a somehow even sadder scene, in the hospital. Here Ash says goodbye to Eiji, no doubt in his mind for the final time. I really liked the framing here, and how Eiji even managed to help Ash by holding back the officer, as one last act of loyalty. Something that is in short supply in Banana Fish.

Finally, speaking of loyalty, let’s talk Foxx. While I appreciate the twist coup, I am still torn on Foxx. I feel with more time to develop, less rushed scenes, he could be a legitimate villain. He has no dependency on Dino unlike Arthur, many of Blanca’s skills and more experience than Yut. He is just like what Ash could have grown into eventually, though probably not as good. But because he was introduced 2 episodes ago, his appearance and take over of the story feels like its coming out of left field. We have had Dino since episode 1 after all, so to off him that quickly, by some random new side character? I would not be surprised to hear many people felt disappointed, cheat even, by that twist. I am not one of them, not fully at least. But I can understand.

So all in all, how did Banana Fish do? Pretty good. It set the stage for the double length finish well enough that it could save it self. Assuming the ending doesn’t backtrack and get all sappy with Ash and Eiji riding off into the sunset, I think Banana Fish will pull it off. My big concern, aside from what I just mentioned, is Foxx. The man simply doesn’t strike as intimidating a figure as Blanca or as nuanced a one as Yut. I am having trouble seeing how he will make for a compelling finale. Let’s just hope that Banana Fish focuses more on the end of a relationship rather than an action set piece, eh?

But what did you think? Ready for the finale or are you afraid it’s not going to end well? Let me know below and I will see you next week for the grand finale!