This episode was depressing to watch. I mean, it was almost completely one-sided the way in which some of the best heroes were just pummeled down like it was nothing. This episode did make sure to not god-mode that villain, and an obvious turning point was built up for the next episode, but damn: this episode put a big dent into the glory of these superheroes, especially with Sky High beaten so easily.
Also, the set-up where two main characters have to work together despite their differences is quite a cliche. Often this starts off with tension, leading to them getting to know each other and becoming friends for the rest of the series. This episode toyed with that really well, as it showed that there still is no full trust between Kotetsu and Barnaby when Kotetsu screws up Barnaby’s plan, right after he was asked to trust him (even though Barnaby did the same to Tiger a few episodes ago, only Barnaby didn’t screw up).
This arc is the halfway point of this series. It’s a really unusual place to show how damn flawed the main character is. Previously, this series built him up as this heroic guy with the right ideas, powers and mindset, and yet he hasn’t done anything well here, even compared to the other heroes who also were outclassed. The only way in which he was useful is due to a mistake he made that exposed the bad guy’s weak spot.
Overall, with Tiger and Bunny, Sunrise have finally done what I’ve been hoping of them: return to their string of awesome science fiction series of ten years ago. For nearly ten years, they just kept coming with imaginative action shows that just kept coming with original ideas that were really well executed, and yet for some strange reason this trend stopped around 2005/2006. I’ve got really mixed feelings about their next series, Sacred Seven though. The big thing with that show is that it has the most amazing staff members behind it… and yet it looks completely generic. These are the people whose resume includes the direction of Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto, the animation direction behind Berserk, the script of Zone of the Enders, the original concept behind Karas and Argento Soma… and they end up doing a high school battle series that looks just like all the other high school battle series out there. WHY!?
Rating: ** (Excellent)
“and they end up doing a high school battle series that looks just like all the other high school battle series out there. WHY!?”
Because that’s what really sells. Though seeing Tiger & Bunny’s popularity I bet Sunrise is now regretting not giving more budget to the show. (Still, Sacred 7 will outsell T&B 100 to 1. It has bishounen, bishoujo, mecha, and I bet a lot of equal opportunity fanservice.)
As for T&B, this episode mostly left me frustrated because we’ll have to wait a week to find out the resolution. More than who gets to defeat Jake and how, I’m more interested in finding out if Lunatic will take action and if yes, how; also, I’m also curious to see how the story is going to proceed after they defeat Jake (if they do, although I’m quite sure that they will).
Here’s my question: could Lunatic beat Jake?
Well, Lunatic’s locked in that room with the other executives and can’t really leave without being noticed. Even if he could win, I don’t think he’d risk the lost rep from losing.
Well, Lunatic’s locked in that room with the other executives and can’t really leave without being noticed. Even if he could win, I don’t think he’d risk the lost rep from losing.
“Could Lunatic beat Jake?”
Setting aside the fact that he’d have to wait for a moment to get away from his other responsibilities to do the deed, given what has been hinted at about Jake’s power, and the next-episode preview, i would guess it’s a solid ‘maybe.’
They have been dropping hints that Jake’s power is sound/vibration control-based. There was a high-pitched whine that caused Tiger and Bunny to wince when Origami Cyclone passed out, and Jake said he was able to dodge Tiger’s super-fast attacks because he could ‘hear’ everything Tiger was going to do. The ability to predict an enemy’s movements by listening to their bones and muscles moving has been used a few times before in anime and manga. Tiger’s last ‘kick’ hit him because it was a total accident; he tripped and flipped head over heels, so Jake couldn’t hear his muscles telegraphing the attack.
Having a sound/vibration based power might also allow him to generate plasma via friction, ala. Accelerator, thus accounting for his ‘beam’ and ‘barrer’ abilities, and explaining why Sky High’s air control ability couldn’t do anything to him at all.
If his power is vibration-based, then Dragon Kid and Fire Emblem might have a decent shot at beating him (and, by extension, Lunatic as well), but as we see from the preview, Dragon Kid and Fire Emblem are conveniently being sent elsewhere rather than fighting him, thus averting an anticlimactic defeat for the villain…
Good review. It’s good to see such a flawed guy but you still love him like Kotetsu.
And I still think Sacred Seven is going to be good. That preview really made me look forward to it a bit more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6MT1I9M6rY
@Alhazred23
You are on to something, but missing a very, VERY important point:
He has TWO next powers, and let me tell you why i think that (or, actually, others theorized).
First of all, yes his main power is barriers that he can manipulate to work as projectiles even.
But here comes the interesting bit, he can read minds. Thats his second power. Why do i think this? Because he knows kotetsu’s name. Barnaby is the only hero who’s name is public, Jake has at no point at ALL heard kotetsu’s name. And in the very same sentence he said “i can HEAR everything” emphasizing on “hear”.
That is why he could dodge kotetsu because he knew what he was going to do EXCEPT when he tripped and fell and accidentally hit his head. Since it was an accident Jake couldnt predict it. And since he was in “mind reading mode” he didnt have a barrier up.
Which leads me to another interesting part. He cant use both at the same time, if you pay attention his eyes glows two different colours depending on what power he is using.
Which is ALSO why he fights the heroes alone, because if everyone came at him at once he wouldnt be able to read their movements AND put up barriers, he would be forced to use just one.
And there you have it 🙂 watch the episode again with this in mind, i bet this is the correct theory. And this is also likely how Mr. Legend beat Jake, because he figured out the weakness of his powers.
@Kuromitsu: It’s hard to outsell something 1 to 100 when it’s a 30k+ series. T&B would be over 30k sales if it weren’t for Bandai having distro problems.
Anyway, Sacred Seven is meant to be a fun shounen battle show. I doubt it will have anything revolutionary in it. If you don’t like that psgels then please don’t bash the series when it airs just because it doesn’t live up to your standards that every show should be something fresh or creative or whatever.
Sunrise is very good when it does shounen, or shounen-esque series. (remember kekkaishi? that was an adaptation done right). I wish they did more of those, instead of more gundam. So while I also have mixed feelings for sacred seven from what we’ve seen so far, I also think it could turn into something entertaining.
I wouldn’t even bet money on Sacred 7 outselling Tiger & Bunny. I also doubt they’re kicking themselves for not spending more on Tiger & Bunny, and instead are scheming over how to duplicate its success with the female audience for future works not in the Gundam franchise. My prediction: more stylish clothing, better character designs, more men carrying men.
As to this episode, I actually found the drama a little annoying. There’s really no point in that scene where you can say that Kotetsu fumbled the capture of Jake by Barnaby “Ragequit” Brooks Jr, so the entire thing struck me as being rather forced. Blue Rose piling on just compounded the ridiculousness of the situation for me, because when the fate of everyone in the city lies in stopping some terrorists, “why don’t you believe in Bunny” is head-desk material. The gladiator combat should also go run and hide in Bleach.
I think Jake’s power is over soundwaves. That explains both the barriers, and how he can dodge. He can hear everything indeed.
@Rex: Your theory would explain the bit where Kotetsu thought his name to himself. Still, double powers seems a bit less interesting than having one which gets used in multiple ways.
Hopefully we will hear how Mr. Legend took him down, as i said, Legend must have figured out how to beat Jake.
You could try and corner Jake, and think “left punch, left punch, left punch” then do a right kick. I dunno. Might be too easy.
Either way, they can likely defeat him if they go all out together.