Gaim Episode 9: "The Monster Inves Capture Battle!" Discussion
 

Three words people: Fruit Bat Inves!

We all knew deep down it would happen sooner or later.

Was a good episode. Not as good as the last two weeks though.

Wow, subs are up early this week.

I was initially disappointed that it seemed we were heading into MTW territory, but Gaim even made this stuff fun and quirky. The transformation attack thing, the stunning double finisher, ZANGETSU! The action has really hit its stride. Coupling that with the actually hilarious goofiness, this was another stunning episode for Gaim. And it looks like it's only gonna get better, I love this show!

Wow, Baron turned out to be a real dick, huh? After he helped Mai out last episode, I thought his characterisation was deepening, but he acted like a spoilt child in this episode.

Mai actually suggested the police?!

Great episode, I'm really liking Zangetsu's suit, its really growing on me.

Oh shit, invess ARE people who eat the fruit!

Really good ep. Micchy and Takatora, totally aware of what the oher is saying, but not stating it outright was really good, and the realization that they've been playing games with these deadly creatures I honestly didn't expect so soon.

Also, everything about the "trap" was awesome. Micchy may not be a super awesome fighter, but he's smart as hell.

That was fun, I liked the humor with the bait and Micchy is really showing his smarts. And nice to see more Zangetsu.

Micchy is fast becoming one of my favorite Riders in recent history. I can't wait to see him grow more as a character.

Great episode! This was cool to see Micchy's side of things and his thinkingness. So when we gonna see him and Zangetsu fight? Thatll be cool!

So much build up, so much awesome, can't not wait for more. It also seems we are going to see the other driver soon.

Man, it amazes me how Gaim keeps the excitement growing every episode without feeling too cramped. It's a darn shame they didn't fit in a scene with Team Gaim going to ask Invitto and Raid Wild for help, though. Gridon and Kurokage's wacky antics have been sorely missing since their debut.

The cracks should give the show an easy way to throw some MOTW's in there every now and then. I prefer Riders saving people over Riders having silly/awesome gang-fights. But maybe that's just me.

And hey! They finally went a whole episode without introducing a new toy, hurray for pacing! Although speaking of toys, I like the idea that Micchy scored himself a free bike from Sid last episode, I honestly thought he was just borrowing it or something since it's the same as Baron's, but the Rose Attacker's cool, so whatever.

I almost missed that - that the more "evolved/humanoid" invess monsters are people who eat the fruit. That adds a really dark and twisted....twist...to things.

I can't wait for the next episode - Kurokage and Guridon return! And the movie previews are simply awesome and I really want to see that movie now.

So have we come to a consensus as to what the significance of apples is? All of the fruits that the shopkeeper dude was carrying have corresponding Arms other than an apple, which is even stranger since it's one of the most prominent fruits out there. Of course, that was the fruit that the Invess grabbed and crushed (although that may have just been because crushing a pineapple in your hand doesn't work too well). If you factor that into the theme of "forbidden fruit" and Eris's golden apple and whatnot, then I think that Urobuchi has actually managed to make the fruit theme into something deeper than Bandai's toy licensing. There was that rumor of the Adam character, and I'm becoming more convinced that it's true.

WOW, I guess it's freakin' confirmed that Yuuya was killed in the first episode as that Invess monster! Goodness how will Team Gaim react?

I like the bits of heroism introduced in this episode. Fun as the plot of Gaim has been so far, it's a nice showcase of how Gaim and Ryugen are proper heroes so far. Not just "in it for their own good" like Baron, Raid Wild or Invitto. Baron's right, there is nothing to be gained from saving bystanders so Team Gaim is showing some development in that area.

The bits with Zangetsu are amazing. The mystery of Helheim forest is really starting to intrigue, I can't wait to see how it plays out from here on out.

There might be some truth to the Lock Seeds being forbidden fruit or something like that.

Micchy is incredibly competent, maybe too much for his own sake.

Great episode once again.

Subs were quick for this week but I´m not complaining XD

My rating still stands though. Really Good episode but not as good as the last two weeks. I really appreciate that we learned alot more about Takatora(batta) and that even he seems himself as the good guy in this story xD

Oh God I hope not.

That'd be the quickest way to get me to drop Gaim by introducing hamfisted, unsubtle religious symbolism that Japan just loves. I really, REALLY hope that doesn't happen, with "Adam" apples and forbidden fruit and shit. Especially since it doens't sound like it's at all actually symbolising the tale from the bible, but rather just taking the imagery from it and using it because.

This is exactly what I thought, but after the trouble I got in lately I didn't want to be the one to raise this, so thank you.

You mean like Yggdrasil and Helheim? Those are unsubtle symbols to Norse mythology.

Oh good, I'm not the only one. :lol

That is different though. Japan doesn't have a history of putting in hammers into every single production to become 2DEEP4U but for decades Japan adds Christian iconography into their shit for no reason beyond the purpose of pretentiously pandering to try and act like their kids cartoon/live action drama isn't actually a kids cartoon/live action drama but in fact something deeply cerebral and thought provoking. What thoughts are we provoking? Shuuush! Look at that vague crucifix shape. DEEP.

The scene with everyone trying to grab the fruit before the Invess takes on a whole new meaning when you realize what would've happened if they ate it...

It's pretty dark anyway considering they were children, and an old lady and they didn't know why they were there, they just really wanted that fruit. There is only really one kind of addiction like that in our world...

There was quite a lot of silly stuff in this episode considering the gravity of it all :lol Not that it's by any means a bad thing, this show really manages to strike a balance well and it just goes to show how blissfully unaware the heroes are.

Meanwhile Zangetsu is still awesome and I need a Team Gaim iPad case.

I need gifs of when Gaim was dragged away.
Both times.

I'd said the Invess were people who ate fruit ages ago :lol

And that unknowingly Gaim killed his missing leader Yuya in episode one. I feel like this episode hammers the danger of the fruit home further.

Need to Zangetsu fight more too. Love that design but he never does much.

Which would make it even more ridiculous if they put in Christian symbolism.

I CALLED IT!

*Eh-hm.* I really liked the polarity of this episode. I think they handle the light-hearted and serious sides of the show really well in this episode.

And am I the only person excited for Zangetsu's henshin next week?

I am! I'm super excited!

I knew I wasn't alone! :D

I'll be excited to see how they make the Henshin work.

I know I am one of three people who liked Wizard, but GOD DAMN was Haruto's Henshin shit. You'd have these huge dramatic sequences and then SHABADOOBIE. So far they've embraced the insane transformations for how insane they are here, but I'm not sure if that'll work for someone who has been introduced as 'shit gets real'.

I think Kaito is going to have that problem. There's just something hilarious about the word "banana."

They made it work by having his team react to how nuts it was, so they could keep Kaito straight faced and make the henshin work, and be fun, without detracting from the badass too much.

But Zangetsu is pure straight, unlike Kaito, and I can't imagine the same effect will work for him.

Thing is, Takatora has "Melon" which, especially how it's pronounced in Gaim, sounds a lot less silly than "banana" which is practically the go-to fruit for when you want to sound silly.

Plus, this show is pretty good at putting different spins on the Hensins. There's plenty instances even so far of the "fruit as armour thing" barely factoring in when the show wants. Hell, Mango has to transform out of fruit mode before attaching.

It's pretty clear, if they wanted, dramatic, serious transformations are totally possible. It's all about being clever.

Another great episode.

I think getting rid of the two-episode story arcs was a very smart move for Gaim. A new form or smaller plot twists, like this episode, don't need to be spread out over two episodes. It's keeping the story moving along at a brisk pace while allowing extra focus to be given to the overall story arc.

Yes, the show doesn't feel like it drags. Watching the first parter of the two-episode format was sometimes really dull because you kind of knew what to expect. I occasionally skipped the first part until both episodes were out.

With the kind of story they wanted to do, doing the two episode story arch would've hurt the series pacing wise.

And I think taking the Ryuki route was definitely a good idea. The Invess showing up this episode really did feel like a bigger threat.

Great episode. Managed to do a lot of things right, some good reveals and character interactions, humor was spot on, nice revelations, especially with the characters realizing just what they were treating as a game.

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One of my favorite parts of the whole episode. Love it when they weaponize henshins. :D