Heavy Object

Episode 10

Heavy Object is back after a week off, which means it's time for the show to return with a bang. Time to pull out all the stops and deliver a fresh new episode that breathes some extra life into the series. Then again, it could also be time to just keep on doing the same thing that's been working for the majority of the season. Given Heavy Object's tendency to stick with its established formula, it shouldn't come as a huge surprise that the show went with the latter option.

Jungle green camouflage is in fashion this week as Baby Magnum's crew sets sail for South America with a group of aircraft carriers in tow. The long trip gives Milinda a chance to have a microwave and mini-fridge installed in her Object's cockpit while Qwenthur and Havia discuss the culinary merits of fried chicken. The team's latest assignment is to intercept a rogue corporation's Object before it can threaten their nation's space program. The political and economic details of the mission are fairly complicated, but the practical reality is that the maintenance teams have to make a beach landing under enemy fire while Milinda vaporizes everything in sight. An advanced Object from their home country arrives in the area under the guise of helping with the mission, though it doesn't end up making life any easier. The new machine's aristocratic pilot is only there to take credit for finishing off the enemy after everyone else does all the work, and Frolaytia wants Milinda and the guys to ensure that their new rival's plan goes up in smoke.

The return to longer story arcs means that Heavy Object is also returning to its regular methodical pace. This episode is primarily a setup piece that spends most of its running time explaining the situation and getting everyone onto the battlefield. To some extent, the convoluted premise demands this kind of treatment thanks to all the nations, companies, and factions involved in the mission. This puts a lot of pressure on characters to provide amusing banter while they discuss the situation, and the results are mixed. On one hand, Qwenthur and Havia aren't at their best this week, and Frolaytia's “talent show” is a paper-thin excuse to throw in some extra fanservice. On the other hand, Milinda is able to sneak in a few good lines while waiting impatiently for the rest of the unit to catch up to her. The series clearly needs to find a way to put her in a bad mood more often.

The wild goose hunt for the elusive enemy is similar in format to previous storylines, but it looks like Heavy Object is trying to add a more personal angle to the mission. Both Frolaytia and Milinda seem to have justifiable vendettas against their supposed ally. From what we've seen so far, the guy's about as unlikable as a character can get. I like this more character-driven approach, as it gives the audience a reason to care about the outcome of battles beyond the abstract politics and fictional balance of power. This particular setup also has the potential to give the normally underused girls more of an active role in the mission, instead of letting Qwenthur and Havia take the lead as usual. Only time will tell how much of that potential will be fulfilled, but the series is at least putting itself in a good position.

Once it gets out of the briefing room, this episode is more or less up to the show's usual standard. The brief moments of action are presented fairly well, and the beach landing offers plenty of shiny new hardware for viewers to gawk at. While the new location looks like a hodgepodge of backgrounds from the Mediterranean and Oceania arcs, at least all the blue oceans and green forests are easy on the eyes. Heavy Object has conditioned my brain to be excited for all the technical details of the upcoming battle, even though there's very little evidence to justify that anticipation in the moment. In short, it's business as usual in just about every department.

Heavy Object is a bit like a police procedural with giant robots. It essentially just does its thing from week to week without worrying too much about rocking the boat. If you're happy with what the show's done thus far, there's a good chance that this latest plot arc will go over as well as the ones before it. If you feel an overwhelming desire to grab the series and shake it until a more gripping story with more natural dialogue falls out, then that feeling probably won't be going away any time soon. For better or for worse, Heavy Object remains very comfortable in its particular niche.

Rating: B-

Heavy Object is currently streaming on Funimation.

Paul Jensen is a freelance writer and editor. You can follow more of his anime-related ramblings on Twitter.