So, it was a will. It makes sense, and it also changed the mood of this series quite a bit with this episode. There still is plenty of light-hearted stuff, but at the same time it also got Mutta thinking about the more serious issues of spaceflight and how things can easily go horribly wrong. Add that to Serika’s reason for trying to become an astronaut, and you’ve got an episode with a lot of really good mood-swings.
Also, Kenji: a “best friend” character who actually has a stable relationship. Not only that but he is married and has kids. I know that this is a series about adults, but still, it is very refreshing to see his archetype being done completely different. At first I feared that there would be some sort of love triangle between him, Mutta and Serika, but with this that also is very neatly avoided.
I also love what this episode hinted at: a time-skip. Instead of having characters ready within months to go into space, it’s established that it may very well take up eight years before Mutta can join Hibito into space, in which he’ll be in his forties already. Besides death, this episode put an even bigger focus on the passage of time for these astronauts, and how it’s completely different from what we’re all used to.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
Well, the will part was pretty much obvious from the preview of the previous episode, but I do like how the theme of death is not ignored here.
Btw, while I haven’t read the manga and could be wrong, Kenji being married in an anime aimed for adults means absolutely nill, so imo it’s too early to call this a friendship and exclude love triangles, polygons, crushes and unrequited loves
Psgels doesn’t watch previews. He prefers the suspense.
I’m pretty sure Kenji ain’t the kind to cheat on his wife. Sure, two and a half years is a long time, but if Kenji cheats on his wife, I will be surprised and dissapointed, really. I was really glad to see the love triangle so neatly sidestepped. However, I’m far from ruling out Mutta misinterpreting actions of other astronauts towards Serika.
This show has not yet failed to add both character and plot development with each episode. I’m really enjoying it. Though I have to admit, I do (occasionally) find Mutta’s antics to be cringe-worthy.
I’m pretty sure Kenji ain’t the kind to cheat on his wife.
Maybe so, but Kenji doesn’t need to cheat on his wife for Serika to have a one-sided crush on him and therefore further complicate Mutta love prospects. Of course they could play it straight as you suggest, all I’m saying is that it’s too early to tell where it will all go. Serika’s behaviour toward Mutta at this point is pretty ambiguous.
He almost but then doesn’t self destruct. Quite amusing I thought. Really enjoy the show.
“this episode put an even bigger focus on the passage of time for these astronauts, and how it’s completely different from what we’re all used to.”
Best show IMO to handle that issue is (Aim for the Top! Gunbuster), the effects of space travel on the passage of time for the astronauts/pilots in the series was pretty significant.
A brilliant episode. Like Psgels I really appreciate that this is a grown up anime devoid of high school, where the main characters are the ones with kids.
I loved the part on the plane where Mutta accidentally ends up eating his neighbour’s choco burgers.. and his imagination of Hibito’s thoughts while writing the will.
They have such a great fraternal relationship! The parents were also such jokers.. and I liked the bit where Mutta joined in with the way he said ‘hair ball’ it feels like such a warm family.
And then the bit where he rushes out to see the ISS.. and the ghosts of him and his brother as kids running up the same slope, was very moving.
I loved the colours of the night city scape.
There really is real fight for my fave anime of the season!