[Locke]

Garo 02.

Man Kaoru is annoying. So fucking beautiful though. I guess at least they've given her an in story reason to be in direct danger every episode. Not that that makes it any better.

Everything else? Eh. The action sequences sure are flashy, but the overuse of bad CGI is a disappointment, as are the goofy cartoon like sound effects that feel out of place. Still, fighting in actual urban environments is refreshing, rather than jump cutting to the cheapest location they could find. And it is nice that Kouga is a badass, that the show doesn't feel the need to drip in explanations.

Plus, the CGI at least allows them to add little details that I really enjoy. I love the way the ground cracks beneath their feet, the way things break as they collide into them, the speed people move and the weight behind their punches. It sounds daft, but these are things that are often oddly omitted from toku fight scenes. I think Garo is one of Toku's best representations of two super powered beings clashing.

The only real issue I have with this, is Kouga is so fucking powerful in his civ form, I have no idea why he really needs to transform at all. I mean I know like once he transforms he takes them down in like a single hit, but I'm pretty sure he could defeat the Horrors so far without transforming. Plus, the tired old question, if he can defeat the Horrors in a single attack when he transforms, why prolong the fight so much by fighting in his civ form?

In terms of plot, it is nice to see toku approach an episode about money without immediately connecting it to greed. I've always hated that irony, toku, franchises built around selling plastic to children, condemning anyone who needs or likes to have money. Hypocrites. Here, the show recognises how useful money is to people, and that necessity of it in day to day life.