Short Synopsis: Michiko looks for Hana’s father while Hatchin finds a job.
Highlights: Number of episodes Hana’s hair lasted: 2,5.
Overall Enjoyment Value: 7,5/10 (Good)
Three episodes in, and I’m finally beginning to see the huge strength of this series. I originally went into this series, expecting this series to be some sort of cross between Samurai Champloo and El Cazador, with fun characters in fun and exciting fight scenes. The OP seemed to suggest the same, and that’s why the first episode disappointed somewhat because it was so damn serious.
I now see that the direction this series chose might be even better than just a fun-filled adventure. There still is some enjoyable banter here and there, but what this series really is about is the really colourful characterization, and the immense attention to detail that’s put into the dialogue to make it seem as realistic as possible, while keeping a solid pace. This series has the potential to become one of the hidden gems of the Autumn-season, but that all depends on how it decides to fill in the rest of the series. There’s no end goal in sight, so who knows?
In any case, in this episode Hatchin (who officially changes her name to Hatchin and cuts off her hair in this episode) and Michiko clash again when Michiko buys (read: steals) Hatchin a pair of shoes. Hatchin then tries to work off the shoes at a local restaurant. I think that she just thought that she’d be handing out plates and dishes, but an unexpected part of her job is trying to stop everyone who’s out for a free meal. At one point she gets carried away and chases a bunch of kids far into the city. Before she can deal with them, they reach their gang, and Hana has to stand in front of a guy with a gun.
I found it typical of Michiko that she refused to acknowledge the guy she slept with because he found another woman and got married. At least, that’s what I think happened, we never see this actually confirmed, it could be that she indeed got the wrong guy, but I think that if that was the case then Michiko wouldn’t be as gloomy as she was gloomy as she was here.
I love this cartoon
The wild and the fearless feeling in this series like fresh air in this autumn season.
I don’t think Michiko left that guy for his marriage. It’s just because everything changed, the man is no longer the cool guy in her memory any more. Sometime people live in their illusion for too much time, they could not accept the reality, that’s all.
This is a really good show. I wasn’t too sure about the premise at first (a mother/daughter fugitive team on the lam), but once I found out that Watanabe was attached (the same guy behind Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo), I was sold. Pretty neat OP and ED too.
I love Hana/Hatchin. She’s just as stubborn as her mother, and she has to have her way too (and having been mistreated by that horrid preacher and his equally loathsome family, I don’t blame her). I do miss her pigtails, though. She’s much cuter with them.
Michiko’s reaction to her former flame at the end was pretty funny but not too surprising. I agree that she’s the type to be too proud to admit to herself (and to Hana) that her ex (and Hana’s supposed dad) is now a big loser with a brood of his own.
That, and it sorta keeps the hope alive that Hana’s “real father” is still somewhere out there. It’s the journey, not the destination, as it were. It was kinda sad/bittersweet that the Hiroshi (if it was indeed him; he and Hana certainly look like each other) kept staring back at Hana and Michiko as they walked away. I really wasn’t expecting the creators to bring out and resolve Hiroshi that quickly, but still an enjoyable ep.
You can really see some aspects of the show from Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, especially with the use of the fortuneteller lady (fortunetelling was a big theme in CB). That Hana was a believer at the end and Michiko wanted to beat the old hag for being a “phony” was amusing.
Michiko is not Hatchin’s mother… ^^;; I just don’t understand how people can make such a mistake…
(I mean, even if you don’t understand the story, just look at them: one chocolate-colored mulata, one white girl with pale white skin and pale blonde hair… what mother and daughter?)
Hatchin is daughter of Hiroshi and some unknown woman. When Hatchin was born, Michiko had been locked in jail for 2 years already, and she believed Hiroshi was dead. Hatchin’s baby pic proved otherwise. When Atsuko showed it to her, Michiko realized Hiroshi was alive and free out there (and screwing other women).
We don’t know the details of what kind of person Hatchin’s mom was, or why Hatchin was left at an orphanage. I think Michiko assumes that the woman must be dead, and that’s why Hiroshi abandoned the child. She has now taken upon herself to take care of Hatchin for the sake of Hiroshi! (But this of course will change as they keep bonding. Soon she will be taking care of Hatchin for the sake of Hatchin! ^_^v)
There’s one very amusing scene where Michiko studies Hatchin’s face and tells her that she looks like her father in some things (for example: “Your eyes are just like his, he always gave me that same burning erotic look you do when you glance at me!” which made Hatchin very embarrassed, lol), but then she notes that other details, like her ears, are not at all like Hiroshi’s, and she comments “I wonder what kind of stupid bimbo did you pick that from?” Haha. ^.^
Genetically it is quite possible for Michiko to be Hatchin’s mother considering that she’s a mulata herself and her father or mother could have been blond and white. So despite her own looks. People sometimes resemble their grandparents closer than their parents. You’re probably right so, that she isn’t but that has nothing to do with skin or hair color.
Genetics is a funny thing. I’ve met and known a few people of mixed race in my travels and sometimes the child just doesn’t look like one parent while favoring the other in looks. You just can’t tell by appearance alone in some cases.
As to Hatchin, well, that’s one reason why I want to watch the show, to see the mystery of her heritage and Michiko’s past resolved in some way. This early in the game (only 3 eps in), most viewers would want to the suspense to keep going a little while longer. At least, I do, anyway.