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SengalBoy watches GARO: Makai Flower
Forgive me for copying Kamen Rider Die's format.
So with the Covid-19 putting everyone inside their homes for who knows how long, I've devided to rewatch Garo even if I am an introvert, in which it does actually affect me a bit because I'd still go out to buy some foods and exercise along the way. So any ways, why start with GARO: Makai Flower or Makai no Hana? For a couple of reasons. First, I have vague memories of this particular series. It's also because back then I skimmed through the episodes rather quick so I wasn't really been able to enjoy it at the fullest. Second, I ordered SHF SKC Garo Raiga ver, so what better way to celebrate it by watching the very show the suit is in? Third, Kiramei Blue from Kiramager was one of the main characters in this show, so I wanted to see how much he has grown as an actor! Plus Garo is about to have another new TV series soon, so I thought it would be a good refresher for it, especially since the last show I watched was Jinga, and that show....... Has fantastic ideas but terrible execution. Without further ado, let's start GARO: Makai Flower! https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ai_no_Hana.jpg |
Episode 1
Ahhh you know, the first time I watched Garo, everything was so weird. No toy gimmicks, emphasis on out of suit fight scenes, and rather short suit fight scenes with CGI as the majority. But now? It's the staple of Garo, and what is best for Tokusatsu: over the top martial arts and the usage of CGI to enhance the special effects. Funny thing to note that Garo was always marketed as a horror show and people general public who knows about it would say it is an R-rated Power Rangers, but ever since Makai Senki, the franchise emphasizes more on high fantasy rather than horror. And it helps that due to being a Tokusatsu, the cheesiness (in a good way) helps define the show. I always saw Makai Flower as Amemiya wanting to course correct Garo thanks to The One Who Shines in the Darkness felt so different. And it really shows. This feels exactly like the first two Garo series, just with new cast (except Zaruba and Gonza). This is what a Garo without Kouga should have been. Now for the characters. Raiga has a lot to live up for. Kouga was a certified stoic badass, and Raiga is his direct successor. But from his first scene, he easily wins you over. He feels exactly what happened if Kouga and Kaoru fused together (which is, you know, what a an offspring technically is). He has his father's skills, and his mother's personality. I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty amazing for them to make an offspring protagonist who feels exactly like their parents. Next is Mayuri, the main heroine of the show. Right of the bad you know she's not any normal human, even from her introduction. But what surprised me the most is that, she is pretty talkative! From promotional images and even the intro, she gives you the vibe that she doesn't speak much. So it is a surprise that she actually talks a lot, for someone who looks cold and silent. For the action scenes, it's the classic Garo fight scenes. For sone reason I loved it when Raiga first fights the Horror using his bare hands. It makes me wonder if one day we'll get a Makai Knight who specializes in hand-to-hand combat. The biggest highlight of the fight scene in the first episode is that suit Garo has more screen time than CGI Garo. They know that we watch the show for the suits, and it's pretty awesome that as the franchise grows bigger, they are more confident to use the suit as much and long as possible. Honestly it always bothered me for years as to why the suit fights are rather short and mostly done through CGI, but then I found out, because technically Garo was funded fully by Keita Amemiya, so it is an indie Tokusatsu, and the suits are expensive to make, they don't want to damage it, because it is proven that the suits are capable of performing in stunts (as evidenced by the original series). But here, they are more confident to let the suit perform as much stunt as possible. And kudos to them. Overall, first episode started out very strong, as we are introduced that some Horrors are now unable to be sealed by Makai Swords, thus that's where Mayuri comes in, as she is a Madou Tool that is necessary to seal these Eilith Horrors. I can only imagine how refreshing it would be to watch Garo return to form right after The One Who Shines in the Darkness, back when it first aired. |
Oh man, this show. I have such mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand, it’s probably the best looking Garo series and it has some incredible standalone episodes. It does such a bad job of developing its central plot, though, and most of the characters are never really fleshed out much. I remember the show’s unwillingness to properly explain what Mayuri’s deal was really frustrated me, in particular. Also, Mayuri stopped wearing that hat, which was a huge mistake because it was cute af.
I’m not trying to discourage you from watching it. When it’s good this show is amazing. I think it just had problems with incorporating serial elements into a more innately episodic series. |
Yeah Mayuri looks better wearing that jacket and hat lol.
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Episode 2
We are introduced to Crow, another Makai Knight. Huh, honestly I didn't expect them to introduce a second Makai Knight rather early, albeit he doesn't transform or even fight yet. Kiramei Blue's actor really looks so young, and I gotta say, it's a pretty perfect casting. Crow really does look like someone who can be a smug about his abilities yet still look young and has a lot to learn, and you can see it well through his expressions. I kove that he is pretty confident, yet is still able to be humbled upon the presence of Raiga. Speaking of Raiga, this is what I like about the Golden Knights in general. They are never arrogant about their status or skill nor they treat everyone else differently just because they are a renowned knight. Oh, I like how the ending sequences are different this time. |
I really like Raiga. He’s a lot warmer and more approachable than Kouga. You can really see what parts of his personality come from Kaoru.
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Episode 3
It's always interesting to see a Horror host who is just corrupted, they retain themselves after being possessed, with the Horror just being the means to enhance their depraved activities/desires. Succubus' design is so damn awesome. It's always fun to see colorful Horrors. I guess another of my complaint is that due to the fact that the suited fight scenes are rather short, it makes the monster suits feel like a waste. Which is a shame because this is Keita Amemiya, who designs great monsters. Speaking of the action scenes, it's kinda bad? There's a lot of closeups which somewhat wastes the choreography. I guess partly because they shoot it in the greenhouse, and the room was pretty narror so they don't have much space. Also props to them for showing actual suit of Garo more than its CGI counterpart. I believe even when he does that jumping slash, it's also practical suit, not CGI slash. One thing to note, earlier during the fight, Raiga seems to be shaking his hands briefly. At first I thought he was being affected by the Succubus' attacks, but it doesn't appear so later. Could it be that he was frightened? Or angry? Because he did seem to be angry at Succubus. |
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