I’m just including episode 52 in this entry so that I can comment on the new OP and ED. I love them! They are unmistakably Space Brothers, but they feel so retro! The OP reminds me of this cheesy beach music, while the ED starts out dull and boring, and suddenly explodes in this really well sung piece that actually perfectly symbolizes parts of the story, and the quest of both brothers to reach space.
But yeah, episode 52 WAS a recap. That’s the only flaw of Uchuu Kyoudai at this point: the excessive flashbacks. Episode 51 took nearly five whole minutes before it got to its new content. What could be the cause of this? Budget restraints? Is the manga not long enough ahead? Not enough staff?
Either way though, when episode 51 did start for real, it was really, really good. It really took its time again, to focus on the difference between Nitta and his brother, and Mutta and Hibito. I really like how Mutta and Nitta both are jealous of each other. The episode also showed some progression in Nitta’s brother, and it did so with a lot of heart. Nothing that Nitta did when he was in the desert had any effect on that, but it was the fruit of Nitta and his mother, constantly having patience with him and encouraging him to actually do something with his life. With this, the first step was set.
Rating: 5.5/8 (Excellent)
I knew 52 was a recap… and watched the whole thing anyway. Space Brothers is just that good.
This recap is due to the lack of people watching television around this time of year, and possibly also to catch some people up on some events. A lot of long-running series do this at least once or twice a year, so I wouldn’t call it a “flaw” as much as a necessary interruption for the sake of the audience in Japan.
Space Brothers recently had a timeslot change for the current season. The recap was likely deliberate so that new viewers could start watching the show and not have to catch up on the 50 prior episodes.
Yep, this is what I read as well.
However, did it have any new content? Or can I (and the Blu-Rays) skip it altogether?