This will be the big test for this series: can it keep this tournament arc interesting? Previously the episodes were interesting with their variety: it presented itself differently every episode. With this, Ryuko seems to be fighting a different student council member every episode, all probably with their own power and personality. This is one part that made Gurren Lagann rather boring to me, so let’s see whether these guys can do better. What really helps is that this time, these characters don’t seem to be just killed off, because there are obvious hints that this won’t be the end of them. A thing it probably took over from Utena.
The symbolism behind this series was also really obvious in this episode: Kill La Kill really is a series about the teenaged struggles against what is expected of them. Gamagori trying to forcefully shove Ryuko in a literal mold speaks enough. What more: this series really likes to use heights: everything facing Ryuko is really big, and a lot of Ryuko’s struggles aside from kicking ass are focused on climbing. Satsuki meanwhile did everything that Ryuko is trying to do, but without the struggle and the effort. She’s the privileged and the immediately talented.
The fight itself was over the top and entertaining, but I’m also currently at the point where I’ve seen this already many times before. That wasn’t the interesting part of this episode, especially with the prospect of three more fights like this. In these cases the backstory really needs to make impact, but instead this unexpectedly turned into a building-up episode that sets up Gamagori’s character development for later. Surprisingly I found the previous episode more effective.
Rating: 5/8 (Great)
Hopefully they switch it up a little next week so they break this trend. The “Monster of the week” thing needs to go. I’m sure that there’s gonna be substantial developments before this cour ends and we’re goin to see a much broader plot at work for the 2nd half, not unlike Gurren Lagaan.
Although since there are only 4 episodes left of this cour I would expect the next three student counsel members to each get their own episode, culminating with a mid-season finale showdown with Satsuki. That can be alright if there are substantial plot developments happening alongside each match (the Nudist Beach sub-plot needs more focus and escalation).
This episode was just so-so for me, not bad by any measure but not Trigger enough I would say. It could just be the great string of Kyousougiga episodes that’s been spoiling me, but we’ll see.
I’m still quite optimistic for this show
I like kill la kill still overall, but the fight itself was meh. There’s some ideas there, but it’s not well choreographed, and not ‘pretty’ to watch, so didn’t’ feel like there was much to hold my attention
total contrast: kyoukai no kanata really has some gorgeous animation going on. although overall it’s not as good as KLK
however the more KLK goes on the more I like Lady Satsuki, she kicks serious butt.
so-so episode for me too. maybe its because the last 2 episodes it was apparent another studio was handling a lot of the production. the “feel” just wasn’t there for me, from the boards to the drawings and animation. i could say the script too, but i really think trigger’s artists can bang out on awesome episode with the same script. maybe its too much to ask but i do wish the production values was more consistent like kyoani shows.
still eager to watch every episode though.
interesting, I did not know that they’d outsourced. Where did you find this out?