Heavy Object

Episode 9

I was a little worried when I first realized that this episode's title didn't have any kind of “part one” subtitle attached to it. For better or worse, Heavy Object has normally allowed its conflicts to play out at a careful, measured pace over multiple weeks. That approach doesn't typically work well when applied to a standalone episode, so it's a good thing that the series doesn't try to force it here. Instead of a drawn-out duel against a complex and powerful enemy Object, we get a few simple gunfights and plenty of comedy relief. It's a leaner, less serious version of the usual formula, and it actually works.

Qwenthur and Havia get a brief respite from their usual death-defying antics early on in this episode. The guys are stuck with the tedious task of loading an endless supply of rifle magazines, but time passes more quickly once they stumble across a particularly interesting DVD in the storage room. A call from Havia's fiancé interrupts the party, after which the guys are whisked away to Antarctica for another mission before they can figure out what's going on. They're tasked with taking out a terrorist group that's taken over a remote outpost, which sounds more difficult than it ultimately ends up being. With the base secured, there's nothing left to do but kick back, relax, and save Havia's fiancé from being killed by a rogue laser satellite. All in a day's work, I suppose.

This episode bears the usual marks of a filler storyline: the animation takes more shortcuts than usual, the main characters aren't in as much danger, and the plot has little bearing on the series as a whole. If Heavy Object is taking a week off before the end of the season, at least it's doing it in style. The majority of this episode is played for laughs, from the opening scene in the storage room to the guys' reactions upon arriving in Antarctica. Even the action scenes are presented with less gravity than usual, and I'll admit to bursting into laughter at the image of a parade of baby penguins interrupting a gunfight. The series does a good job of playing to its lighter side here, and the end result is a lot of fun.

As entertaining as it is, this episode does run into a few issues in its attempt to tell a complete story. The terrorists' activities don't all seem to fit together as part of a coherent plan, and any attempts at offering a detailed explanation come across as rushed and convoluted. The same goes for the business with the hacking drone and the laser satellite, which is over as soon as it begins. The identity of the terrorists' target comes and goes in a flash, leaving the audience to just assume that the military has a good reason for turning a blind eye to the attack. None of this interferes with the show's comedic efforts, but it adds a layer of complexity that didn't need to be there in the first place.

In a somewhat unusual turn of events for Heavy Object, this episode makes up for its vaguely explained battle scenes with some strong character development. The backstory with Havia and his fiancé is reasonably compelling, and it adds some emotional depth to a character who was previously limited to playing Qwenthur's gun-toting banter buddy. The chemistry between the guys and Milinda is also strong here, with Milinda having some fun at Qwenthur and Havia's expense throughout the mission. For a series that's previously been all about complex machines and improvised engineering, this is a very human episode.

As a disposable one-off, this is a pretty strong effort. By showing an improved sense of humor, it provides the positive change of pace that the previous story arc struggled to deliver. I wouldn't want the show to permanently eschew its meticulously planned Object battles in favor of penguin-based comedy, but this break in the action helps clear away any sense of monotony that had built up over the course of the season. The series is now free to dive back into its usual formula without that persistent “been there done that” feeling hanging around its neck.

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.