Forum - View topicKaiju No. 8 (TV).
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Edjwald
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Alright, alright, I said I'd try it again. Geez, throw another good thing at me why don't you
That said, it belatedly occurred to me that I probably should have mentioned Gridman before SSS.Dynazenon since the latter spun off of, Gridman and Gridman had a more obvious kaiju becoming human sort of character. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2984 |
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#5
I was half-right with my guess, Kafka was never going to join the Corps based on his assessment results but Rino had done enough to qualify through the normal route. Saving Kikoru together with Kafka probably tipped the scales in his favour since he didn't actually kill any of the monsters in that last stage. Kafka going in through the backdoor (which will not remain open for long if he doesn't improve to a minimum standard) keeps the story going, but he's actually being investigated without his knowledge which might trip him up later if he isn't careful. Hoshina might have wanted his personal comedy relief for a few months, but unlike his captain he isn't giving Kafka a free pass due to past personal relationships. Surprising how he was the only one who noticed the absent biological readings from the suit when Kafka transformed and didn't chalk it up to Kafka having zero compatibility like everyone else. He's fair though, giving Kafka the opportunity to work his way up the ranks even though he's clearly not as talented as everyone else in the cohort and not putting him down like the other graduates. Kafka being Kafka, he's making everyone laugh at how inept he is as a probationary candidate (months of training and he's only at 1%, only able to use a pistol sidearm instead of the heavy rifles the others have no issues wielding). He's also doing his upmost to keep his secret as he's taken Kikoru's warning to heart that any sign of him transforming will send him straight to the autopsy room for recycling. A lot of the episode is actually focused on the new cohort going through the motions with basic military training. As a cooldown episode from the previous exam, it serves its purpose. Since Kafka is on probation, it probably means he is on sabbatical from his previous employment and will not have the opportunity to interact with No. 9's human form. Assuming he passes probation (which at this juncture is effectively impossible), then he'll have a new job as a Kaiju hunter and will leave his old job behind. Just as it was impossible for Kafka to pass the exam through the regular route, it will take something drastic like an actual mission for Kafka to prove his doubters wrong and win full-fledged honours through battlefield achievement. He'll need to either play a pivotal role in helping the cohort to victory against the Kaiju with his extensive knowledge of Kaiju anatomy, or transform (partially or fully) to kill the Kaiju himself without exposing his secret. The former is a safer bet, although the ex-JSDF elite is probably than Kafka at strategy given his formal military training. Next episode (and beyond) will determine how this story will keep going since Kafka has really been threading a needle to get this far without openly using his Kaiju strength and it isn't sustainable as far as narrative goes. |
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smurky turkey
Posts: 2741 |
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That was a good episode for building up the feeling of being part of a group of hard workers and striving to become better together. Some fun lighthearted moments and gags helped sell that feeling too. The warning and alarm shortly following that are a bit worrying, some may indeed not survive for long.
As for Kafka, I can see it go one of four ways: the first is him proving himself to be useful due to his knowledge and experience. The second is Kafka somehow getting a power up to his suit somehow. The last two are a bit different in that Kafka could be kicked out of the force and thus become a rogue agent or his true power gets found out and the force decides that he is worth more alive than dead. |
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ACｘS
 Posts: 965 |
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5:
It's really starting to feel like My Hero Academia, in that there's strong element of shounen in here. The archetypes are here: the Tsundere, the Hothead, the Coolhead, the Stoic, the Emo, the Underdog, the Kuudere (you can map each of them pretty easily). I'm more intrigued to know more about the Kaiju side. They're evolving but I want to know by how far. |
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Edjwald
Posts: 1670 |
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I agree that the show felt more like a shonen this week, but a good shonen. I liked the team stuff, nor did I think the tropes were all that obvious or overdone, It's good to have some breaks between the action episodes, and the light-heartedness was somewhat balanced out by the reminders of a high mortality rate and the likelihood of Kafka winding up on a dissecting table rather than becoming a team mascot if his secret gets blown.
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2984 |
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#6
The entire episode is a set piece to showcase how the franchise's monster hunters go about their jobs. There's a surprising amount of detail that goes into each operation as well; civilians only see the end result while clean-up like Kafka and Rino don't realise why the best hunters make such a huge mess. From civilian evacuation, host body diversionary fire, selection of the optimal firing platform and deployment of the corps grunts to hold off the secondary spawns, the franchise does its best to show casual viewers just how slick each operation is with all stakeholders playing their roles and keeping time wastage to a minimum. And into this mix is added the one individual who can't really contribute in a conventional way because his human form is so underpowered compared to everyone else. Most of the humour is seeing Kafka bring his usual antics into the preparation area and later as the first corps member to be unceremoniously sent into the trash heap. Good thing Kafka eventually racks his brains and realises he is unique amongst the corps members in having a deeper knowledge of monster anatomy than anyone else. It's actually good to see him contribute to the cause without transforming, instead of just being deadweight or trying to sneak in a few cheap hits using partial transformation. Rino doesn't need transformation, and he's plenty motivated that he has to work hard enough so that Kafka doesn't feel obliged to transform to bail everyone out. He's also doing very well for a first mission, with Hoshina rating him highly in terms of untapped potential. The focus on the ammunition used in their super-heavy rifles is interesting as well; I had assumed the rifles were energy-based and only had one effect. I'm still not sure how the effect of ammunition is amplified depending on the wielder's suit compatibility and power output though. Mina and Hoshina also showcase why they occupy their current positions. Mina having the highest suit compatibility is capable of wielding railguns on her own, so she's assigned heavy weapons duty. Hoshina on the other hand has a family background of traditional demon slaying, so is better suited to cutting up monsters using his specially modified blade. None of the other corps members (including Kikoru) have their specialised roles, but anyone who earns the promotion apparently gets specialist equipment which suits their combat roles. Just as it looks like the operation is progressing without a hitch, Rino and Iharu have the misfortune of meeting No. 9. He/it is up to no good as well, with this week's monster having some of its design prepared by No. 9 beforehand. This week's cliffhanger sets up next week nicely, since Kikoru never spoke about No. 9 so Rino and Iharu are sitting ducks if they engage in a straight fight. Kafka might well be forced to transform if he feels there's no alternative to saving Rino, even if it means blowing his cover. |
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smurky turkey
Posts: 2741 |
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Given the ominous way the previous episode ended I expected shit to hit the fan this week and yet it went well...for the first 99% of it. The rookies really got a chance to show off their stuff. As for mister transforming kaiju, I think he will be a bit too much for the rookies. I am curious about Kafka and how he will pan out long term, his advice and knowledge is useful, is it enough to become a full member though?
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ACｘS
Posts: 965 |
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6:
I like this episode for two things. One, Kafka continues to contribute to the team the way he knows how. Even if he is the protagonist, he ironically plays a secondary role compared to the ones with better combat performance. But on top of that, we learn right at the end of the episode that Kafka's information is way more vital than they would realize. Not because it will stop the Yoju from spawning further, but it's exactly what the Kaiju mastermind had planned. Two, we now see that the Kaijus are not playing. They are moving fast and waste no time infiltrating the human population. Heck, this show wastes no time brewing the plot. Stuff is going down pretty quick, and I'm loving it. |
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Edjwald
Posts: 1670 |
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I kinda like the way the show alternates between the MC being the underdog using his wits (sometimes and his nitwits) and his heart trying to eke out a place on the special forces team, and the MC being Ultraman (ie, the dude who has to transform in secret when something blows up in the monster minefield). I'm interested in finding out how the...I can't remember the name of the special monster forces...anyway, I'm interested in finding out how they'll react when they start to realize that there's a kaiju out there fighting kaiju. I figure it's gotta happen soon even if next week doesn't play out the way I'm expecting..
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Blood-
 Bargain Hunter Posts: 24225 |
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"Cougar Mode". Heh. I'm happy that the training part is over and we are into the real kaiju fighting deal. Loving the characters, loving the action, loving the humour. A real Spring show highlight, for sure.
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2984 |
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#7
Although the episode template isn't original, there's no shame in enjoying the action set piece as Kaiju 8 and 9 finally face off for the first time. The episode is surprisingly easy to structure: Rino and Iharu vs. No.9, No.8 intervening and taking over, No. 8 driving No. 9 to a corner and finally No. 8 doing a typical Kafka and allowing No. 9 to escape and now having to face Hoshina in full slayer mode and with nowhere to run. Iharu isn't the most likeable person, being ultra-competitive and snarky against his perceived rival. That said, he did do the decent thing and save Rino from certain death, so they're even on that score. Ultimately it didn't matter since we viewers didn't know about the barrier in place preventing Iharu from getting help anyway even if he wanted to. In the end, No. 8 somehow finds a way to save the pair in time and take on No. 9 himself. Not sure we viewers will find out exactly how he managed to trace No. 9 inside his jamming field when regular communications were made impossible. No. 8 vs. No. 9 is where the visual fun begins. I expected No. 8 to win a straight out brawl, but No. 9 is crafty and uses every trick in the book to gain an advantage. Unlike Kafka, No. 9 adapts very quickly and either evolves or develops counter-measures to Kafka's raw (and instinctive) power moves more or less on the spot. More than capable in combat, albeit reliant on his projectiles whose path is predictable to survivors of Kikoru's calibre. If there is a rematch, then No. 8 (assuming he survives next week's onslaught and makes a clean getaway without blowing his cover) doesn't go away empty-handed. No. 9 can be killed: expose the Kaiju core and rip it out of his body to finish him off. I suppose the same applies to No. 8, but he hasn't been pushed hard enough to leave his core exposed. Next week is the litmus test: if he survives Hoshina (and the pursuing Mina) then he'll know more about his own limits than any of the fights he's had to date (including this week). Hoshina asking for permission to unlock his suit's full potential is a surprise: Kikoru goes all out without really trying. If he has to ask for permission, it suggests the procedure is not without risks. Either he can't maintain the state for too long, or there's a price to pay for overloading his physical attributes past a certain point. At 92% combat capability and specialised at killing Kaiju the size of No. 8, does Kafka stand a chance especially when reinforcements are en-route and he has no intention of actually fighting his squad commander? |
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smurky turkey
Posts: 2741 |
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Cliches aside (the episode had plenty of them indeed) there are some interesting developments. The first one being that the human imitating kaiju/No. 9 does not really seem like the mastermind type. This leads me to assume that he has a boss or even more fun: maybe he is part of an organisation/group of sorts? Something like a league of monsters such as in One Punch Man could be fun.
As for Kafka, I really wonder if he can keep up the act long term, a careful spy he is not. |
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ACｘS
Posts: 965 |
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7:
Man, Kafka just can't catch a break. A bit bummed that Kafka couldn't finish the job and capture the Mastermind (I'm just gonna call it that). But in the grander scheme of things, I guess this was meant to happen. The Mastermind isn't just a strong villain; I think it's part of something bigger. But I am happy about one thing: Kafka's goofy bit didn't disrupt the tension of the moment. There was a bit when he saved Reno, but I could see it was kept to a minimum and I really appreciated that. That's ultimately what I want from the show: keep the light-heartedness but don't let it get in the way of the climactic scenes. |
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Edjwald
Posts: 1670 |
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Mastermind doesn't really work for me either. Maybe I'll call the bad guy Sushi? Inside different than the outside...destined to get sliced up at some point....but definitely not delicious...
Anyway, I have to say that the show's getting pretty deft with it's handling of cliffhangers. It's pretty adept at working in some character development in with the action too. Kafka and Leno seem pretty fleshed out by this point, and now Kikoru and...Soshiro (sp?) are starting to gradually come into focus, and it all seems pretty unforced. Good stuff. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2984 |
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#8
Although the outcome wasn't really in doubt (if Hoshina had done Kafka in that would be story done), the process was where the interest lies. Kafka is basically evading all of the attacks and not retaliating, while Hoshina didn't really go all out to begin with as he wanted to test the waters. Kafka came really close to annihilation (he's got a core like No. 9, if that's destroyed he's finished for good) but gambled on Hoshina going for the kill and used the opportunity to get distance and obstructed vision to make a clean getaway. Like No. 9, he can regenerate severed limbs but according to him it's very strenuous and he can't do it more than once or twice before his Kaiju frame gives up. The aftermath is a chance to cool off for the cast. As expected, it takes a full mission to earn Kafka his spurs since he would never reach the required physical bar in training to qualify for official membership. Kafka's monster anatomy knowledge is comfortably the best in the cohort because he knows it's his USP as a human and he has more experience than anyone else in dismemberment. Now that he has the corps library at his full disposal, he can cram his head full of monster anatomy knowledge to augment his knowledge base. He also knows he won't get another chance if he is forced to face off against Hoshina again, so he's grateful for the promotion and terrified he'll be found out. Rino almost blowing Kafka's cover is a first, usually it's Kafka responsible for the Freudian slips. Good thing Iharu isn't the sharpest tool in the shed and is quite gullible, so the three of them get off lightly. Iharu isn't the type to think about these conversations after they're done, so once he forgets they're more or less scot free. I personally think it won't be the last time he'll be saved by No. 8, but that's for the future. Turns out No. 9 used up so much energy recovering he decided to ditch his current disguise and go for a fresh body and identity. As expected from such a crafty adversary, but it'll be laying low for the time being while it analyses No. 8 and figures out how to win the rematch. The arms race has begun, and Kafka is the only one who isn't thinking about how to adapt to No. 9 (or Hoshina) in the event of another duel. No messing around either, as No. 10 leads a horde of winged Kaiju and is going to make a grand entrance. Will No. 8 be forced to intervene again and risk blowing his cover? |
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