And so we start with the aftermath of the revolution. I think that with this, we’ve passed the best part of the story, though that doesn’t mean that the current episode wasn’t excellent. We see Jean, escape from the sewers, Gavroche, waking up and finally getting to see Cosette again, and Cosette, who afterwards returns to the scene of the battlefield, discovering that everyone died. I do have a few points of critique for this episode, though.
Thenardier returns! Finally! It could have used a bit more foreshadowing, though. The guy almost literally appeared from out of nowhere, and we’ve got no clues as to what he’d be doing in a sewer in the first place, especially when he just happened to be where Jean found his exit, with none other than Javert waiting on the other side. Did the novel explain this better? I mean, the potential for the next episode is huge, but it’s a tad too coincidental. 😛
I’m also still hoping for Thenardiere and Azelma to get released from prison, but with seven episodes left, I think that they’ll get some more attention, as it seems that the creators are going to have to fill the remaining airtime with a few fillers here and there, because the book doesn’t seem to have enough material left to fill them. That’s also why I found Thenardier’s appearance so strange, for a series that was always so careful with building up.
Another thing that bugged me in this episode was the animation: it went everywhere! It’s not something that I’m used to of this series, which has always had very consistent graphics. Did something happen over at the producer’s side?]]>
Les Miserables – Shoujo Cosette – 45
No, unfortunately it didn’t. It states that he’s hiding from the police for some reason or other, but it still comes across as a case of deux ex machina.
Ah, deux ex machina. What would we do without you? Ahem.
I have not read this part of the book, but in one of the movie versions I’ve seen (the 3-hour English-dubbed French one to be precise), it shows Thernadier running around Paris trying to scrounge everything he can in the midst of the pandemonium produced by the revolution. At one point, when he is stealing from a shop, a group of policemen try to seize him and he claims that this is his shop. The police are smart enough not to believe him, but somehow Thernadier manages to escape from them and descends into the sewers to hide. This might have just been filler that the movie provided in order for Thernadier’s presence in the sewers to make more sense. Also, I think Javert was pursuing Thernadier without really knowing who he was, and when Thernadier gave Valjean the key to the grate, he also allowed Javert to follow after Valjean. It’s kind of weird because almost no one recognizes any one else (except Jean and T. recognizing Javert – he’s a hard guy NOT to recognize.)
Question: Did the episode just end with Valjean running into Javert outside the sewer grate?
It’s a bit strange that Javert was chasing Thenardier after all this. I mean, just before he was still obsessed with Jean, and I don’t see him chase a random criminal on his own that fast.
As to the answer of your question, yes, it did. The cliff-hanger showed Jean, finally coming out of the sewer and Javert standing outside the sewer gate.
In the musical, Thenardier’s been looting the bodies of those who were killed at the barricade, which is kind of a better reason than the book gives, which is, uh, none at all, really. xD There’s Romantic literature for you.
Also, in the book, Valjean recognizes Thenardier at once, but Thenardier doesn’t recognize Valjean because 1) it’s really dark, and 2) by that point Valjean is so covered in blood and gunpowder and sewer muck he’d pretty much be unrecognizable even if it were daylight. But of course they can’t show that in a children’s anime. xD
Oh, and in response to your question about Javert chasing Thenardier – that wasn’t his original intent. After being released by Valjean, Javert returned to the prefecture and made his report, then immediately returned to his duties, which included watching a certain area of the right bank of the Seine. He just happened to catch sight of Thenardier in that area, recognized him, and decided to follow him. Javert may be determined to catch Valjean, but he’s hardly neglectful of his other duties.
(Why, yes, I am watching this anime with a copy of Les Mis in hand. *dork*)
I thought Gavroche would’ve died. *sad, since Gavvy died in both the book and the musical, even though his death was kinda sad*
In the musical, Thenardier’s been looting the bodies of those who were killed at the barricade, which is kind of a better reason than the book gives, which is, uh, none at all, really.
I disagree. Whenever I listened to that part (http://www.box.net/shared/zjzdx7duqb), I always wanted to know exactly how so many corpses ended up down in the sewers. It seemed even more random than the book version.
I’m of the opinion that a poor reason is better than no reason at all, but I do see where you’re coming from. xD
“Also, in the book, Valjean recognizes Thenardier at once, but Thernadier doesn’t recognize Valjean because 1) it’s really dark, and 2) by that point Valjean is so covered in blood and gunpowder and sewer muck that he’d pretty much be unrecognizable even if it were daylight.”
I thought neither of them recognized the other right away because it was dark and they were BOTH covered in muck. Valjean may have recognized Thenardier as they spoke (I, unfortunately, do not have the book in front of me), but I’m pretty sure that Hugo directly states that they did not recognize one another. Do check, my memory is by no means infallible.
And yes, Valjean is so covered in filth that even Javert does not recognize him. That’s pretty extreme, since they had seen each other just a few hours earlier.
I cannot WAIT for the next episode. Gah, next week seems so far away!
Thenardier raised a hand to his forehead, knitting his brow and pursing his lips in the manner of a man seeking to recognize another. He failed to do so. Jean Valjean had his back to the light, and was anyway so begrimed and bloodstained that even in the brightest light he would have been unrecognizable. Thenardier, on the other hand, his face illumined by the light from the grille, faint though it was, was immediately known to Valjean, and this gave the latter a certain advantage in the dialogue that was to take place between them.
–Les Miserables, Norman Denny translation
And yeah, I can’t wait for the next episode either, especially since anyone who knows the plot and has seen the preview can guess what they’re going to cover. Oh, man, I hope they pull it off right! O_O
I really can’t wait for the next one, I’ve been waiting for this bit since the anime began. I hope they pull it off!!! >_
Oy, I know, me too. It took the official website FOREVER to post the trailer for the episode. It’s the only way I can see any part of the episodes, since the show is not available to the American public yet. I’m tingling with anticipation!
Sorry I didn’t talk sooner, Irene, but I still haven’t had a chance to check my copy. I believe you and all, I’m just wondering if our different editions are consistent on that point. They should be. O_O
In the musical, he’s robbing the bodies that have fallen or been pushed into the sewer. He sings a pretty catchy song about it, too.