Whoa, this was actually a really well made episode. The script was just wonderfully written this week. And yet again this show turns completely different from what it was before. The variety in this show rocks!
The best way to describe this show was as a parody of pirate stories. And this isn’t in the predictable way, with everyone going “ARRRRR!!” and stuff. Instead, it showed what would happen if you added a bit more realism than usual to the usual “good pirate” tropes. I loved the bureaucracy in this episode, along with the little play that was set up at the end of this episode (don’t worry, your insurance will cover everything). I kept wondering how the creators would tackle the “legal pirate”-thing, but this was a very humorous look at it.
And then there was the scenario: the creators managed to stuff the bureaucracy, training, and stage into just one episode, without making things feel rushed. Things felt very natural here, and this episode added a lot to the setting of this series. Including its bizarre rules of having to do some pirating within 49 days, which is pretty much what Bureaucracy is about: overly complicated rules for the sake of consistency in the administration.
I also like how this episode didn’t bother to give a formal introduction to the rest of the crew of the Bentenmaru. They were just there, and there wasn’t the kind of forced introduction. Over the course of the series, we’ll get plenty of chances to get to know them. We already got a great start with the nicely named robot Schnitzer, who was very well acted: stern, but not the usual silent badass.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
I’d have to disagree with you on one thing there psgels. In my opinion the episode did feel rushed, its like everything all of a sudden went into overdrive!
That doesn’t make it a bad thing, just wasn’t expecting it. I feel it worked though, showed stuff relevant to the whole piracy set up, without boring us with a slow build up, or having to sit through meaningless eps of training for this or that etc.
Not having formal introductions to the rest of the cast certainly was different though.
In MY opinion, it didn’t feel rushed at all. I’m sure no one wanted a whole episode dedicated solely to Marika’s training. Montages sure are a good way to convey something in a short amount of time isn’t it.
For me it didn’t feel rushed. The cut between the scenes felt natural and the concept of not having a formal introduction with everyone was great. It didn’t give the feel that they were left out, they’re just there.
I believe the pacing was intentional so that you felt swept up in events like she did.
Well that was different. Watching this episode makes me want to read the original novels though, since they speed over many things that looks very fun to read.
Recall the author of Mouretsu Pirates is a Seiun Award winner (Japanese equivalent of Nebula awards for SF literature and media). Past Seiun award winners include:
Novel category:
-Japan Sinks! (1974)
-Legend of the Galactic Heroes (1988)
-Crest of the Star (Seikai no Monshou) (1997)
-ARIEL (same author as Mouretsu) (2005)
-Toshokan Sensou/Library war (2008)
-Guin Saga (posthumous) (2010)
Media:
-Planetes (2005)
-Dennou Coil(2008)
-Macross Frontier (2009)
Manga:
-Towards the Terra (1978) <= This is really classic and respected
-Appleseed (1986)
-Parasyte (1996)
-Planetes (2002)
-20th Century Boys (Naoki Urasawa) (2008)
-Pluto (Naoki Urasawa) (2010)
-Fullmetal Alchemist (2011)
Hopefully, it will live up to my expectations. Most of the winners are definitely not your average series.
I was disappointed with this episode. It wasn’t bad, just mediocre, which makes it below the average for the series so far. The first part was a setting transition, hardly memorable, and the second annoyed me with potential plotholes.
Bantemaru is supposed to be a privateer, a “good pirate”, so why are they pirating a passenger ship? I expected them to pirate the pirates or such, this is disappointing. Is the only thing that makes them good the fact that they have a warrant for that (marque letter)? And if so, what crazy government would legalize such criminal acts for the sake of taxation? This Discworld-turn could be amusing in some crazy shows, but that show so far seemed to take itself seriously. This plot twist ruined that.
Next, why were the passengers so ecstatic to get robbed? The show Marika put was so-so, and you’d thing many would be inconvenienced by loosing their valuables, even if covered by insurance. We further learn that pirates are so rare many have not heard of them, yet apparently being robbed is something that people in this society are crazily happy about?
Uh-oh. I hope they explain things soon so that this will make sense in a retrospective. If not… 🙁
Actually, the passengers didn’t think they were being seriously attacked, they thought it was just a show. As you said yourself, Marika wasn’t being very convincing so it felt like a joke to them. Of course, once Kane got “shot”, they took started to panic and only then did they hand over their valuables.
As for privateer being “good pirates”, they always have attacked ships for money and are part of commercial conflict in time of peace.
I agree with everything Piotrus said. This episode was just disappointing. I’ve been wondering how the transition from school life to pirate life would be, and it turned out to be quite jarring. They went from the slow pace and detailed planning of the yacht club’s flight and battle, to this?
And I just can’t get over how over-done the pirate crew designs are. They include pretty much every pirate cliche imaginable (eye patches, bandannas, swords, the silly hats and jackets) – what next, peg-legs and parrots!?; plus standard anime character troupes (robot-dude, swirly-glasses girl, afro-dude).
And then the actual pirating part was raiding a cruise ship? How lame! And not exactly something I’d have thought last week’s main character would approve of.
I definitely miss the yacht club members and the Stellvia-like feel, they seemed so much more believable and refreshing than the pirate crew. It just seems like a totally different show, and not in a good way. 🙁
A couple of things to keep in mind: 1) it appeared to be government agents who helped the Bentenmaru people locate Marika; 2) Marika had to do a “pirating” deed within 5 weeks to validate the Letter of Marque; 3) there was no evidence anyone in comnand of the Apricot was in the least surprised to be “attacked”; 4) There was every indication that this was a highly unusual event.
I would suggest the government of the planet has an interest in keeping the Privateer Fleet active that has nothing to do with whatever small change they could bring in pirating. What that purpose might be, now….
Agree with above, just like to add a few things.
Seems some viewers expect Marika to jump in a pirate ship with beam cannons blazing and automatically start ruling over space. Not happening. This is not a shounen anime.
Recall that she failed her stimulator test. That can’t be very reassuring to Marika’s crew that trusts their LIFE in her hands. However, the crew is willing to be patient till she learns the ropes. So after basic training, they take the safest route -> go rob a passenger ship.
However; it’s not a normal passenger ship. It’s a ship filled with rich, eccentric people that want rare entertainment. They get to be “robbed” by a “cough” rare encounter with pirates (all planned in advance). There’s no lost or risk to the passengers who get reimbursed later by insurance.
As for Marika, it fullfills her requirement for the Letter of Marque and acts as her pirate debut. As for the government, every government have a need for “clandestine” strike forces. Somebody’s gotta go the dirty work.
Oh wow, someone who fully understands what’s happening in the show and why they decided to rob a passenger ship and why the show hasn’t degraded into laser beams, massive gunfights, lots of gore and shounen pirating.
If only all viewers took the time to actually think about what’s going on instead of complaining that the show doesn’t make sense.
I don’t see where the passengers seemed to be happy to be actually robbed. It seemed more like they didn’t think they were being seriously attacked at first and believed it was a show. Otherwise, their reaction after Kane gets shot makes not much sense (and they wouldn’t have needed to “shoot” him in the first place).
They were happy because they were experienced passengers who knew about pirates and enjoy the spectacle knowing they will be reimbursed, the two young ladies on the other hand were not experienced passengers and thats why they were shocked.
It didn’t seem like that to me, otherwise they would have cheered at the end of the “act” instead of staying silent and shocked.
Sure they were happy at first when it looked like a joke but not aterward.
Same as for Rinne, it has the potential of being a major space series, but it is totally girly, and watching it I cannot help feeling that I should go do something outside, and leave the girls chat among themselves.
I continue to be impressed with just how much is STUFFED into these Mouretsu Pirates episodes. They even teased us with the possibility of a beach filler episode, but we and Marika alike were surprised by how rapidly she was swept into command, and thrown into training and a mission rather than merely building up a mission next week. That urgency was most appropriate here.
They handled the “legal pirates” issue with a surprising mix of practicality and novelty, and I like how they’re more of a ceremonial threat and diversion to their “victims” than a mortal one. They’re a vital part of history and culture, a vivid – if a bit glorified – reminder of the past. Though I wonder if the raid would have been more genuine if Marika had to duel with the captain of the liner, rather than Kane.
FUCK YES FUCK YES DID THIS EPISODE DELIVER OR WHAT
I’VE BEEN WAITING FOUR-THIRDS OF MY LIFE AND THEN SOME JUST FOR THIS ONE EPISODE TO APPEAR
AND IT DID
AND IT DELIVERED
I LOVE YOU, MOURETSU PIRATES
YOU’RE LIKE, THE NEXT MADOKA
/not having a seizure
I am loving this series, reminds me so much of Banner/Crest of the Stars and some of my favourite VA’s too while also loving the charachter style. My only criticism is it seems to have a low cgi budget and we have few low quality external shots.