This was another Mari Okada episode. And one impression I’ve gotten after watching this episode is that she really likes Oscar. This was the second episode devoted to him and his crush on Zenigata. Whenever this show focuses on Oscar it suddenly gets so full of shoujo-vibes, completely different from the rest of this series. It’s great for variety’s sake, not to mention that we actually have a bisexual character in a series where the rest of the cast is just straight.
Having said that though, I do have to point out that the end of the episode suffered from one huge flaw in Oscar’s logic: why jump along with that bomb? I mean, couldn’t you just… drop it or something? Right now, his end is basically that he was trying to be someone who impressed inspector Zenigata, he got indirectly rejected and couldn’t bear this so he committed suicide. Was that the image the creators were going for? Still, I liked this episode a lot again. Perhaps also due to this shoujo vibe it had.
The animation by the way also really improved over this episode. This episode finally had some smooth animation again, plus the artistic direction also was at its best again. The smoke effects in particular had some really good animation, so I’m glad that the producers still managed to find enough budget to pay some attention to inbetween animation. On top of that this episode took place in Paris. Having been in Paris a month ago, it really hit home how they portrayed it. Although obviously all hints of commercialization were removed.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
I thought he killed himself because it was something to do with his pride? He stooped so low just to get the one thing he wanted, and when Zenigata slapped him into his senses he realized he was in the wrong.
Or maybe his conflicted emotions drove him crazy and made him do something irrational :-/
It’s also a convenient way to explain why Oscar is absent in the future adventures.
excellent episode.
The bomb did not look very heavy. Holding on to it ensures that it drops deep enough to not damage the bridge.
That’s my guess..
I still need to catch up to the latest episodes, but I was thinking the whole show is a bit of a commentary on Mine Fujiko’s sexualization/objectification, its role in her personality/self-worth, and the culture surrounding/creating it.
I mean, look at how much characterization of her and the other characters is focused on Fujiko’s beauty, sexuality, and related emotional damage.
At any rate, not gonna essay this, just wanted to throw it out in response to the “it’s a style-over-substance show!” critique.
To be honest thats in part what many feared when a female director was appointed and sadly has turned out to be true.
Excellent review. I never thought about it as Zenigata’s way of rejecting Oscar. It is an interesting perspective. I went with the way of “You have no pride”.
However, if you are referring to Oscar as bisexual, I’m not sure if I would label his sexuality as such. Yes, there was episode 6 but I firmly believe he did that just to trick Fujiko.
Then again, that’s just my opinion.
I agree, I never saw any hint of straight in him, especielly what the tape said about him wanting to be Mine Fujiko in the interrogation where she had sex with Zenigata.
Zenigata himself is played to be incredibly cruel and emtionally distant from his comrades in this adaptation, something which didnt happen in any other adaptation. I wonder if its just because Zenigata the bumbling gentleman didnt fit with with the narrative that all men are exploitative of women.