[Phantom Stranger]

So Episode 4 of Gingaman... I think Yasuko Kobayashiwas drunk as hell for this episode, because the moral lesson makes no sense. Also, this episode really pissed me off and I'm going to curse a lot. But here's the short version of my experience:

In theory, this ep. should be about becoming too reliant and complacent with a single tactic, and having to over come that when faced with a threat immune to said tactic. Instead, it's a muddled mess where everyone (mainly Hayate) is an ass to Hikaru for no good reason. The core of it is that Hikaru uses his earth power a lot, and has been neglecting his training elsewhere like with swordsmanship. Although that last bit is only mentioned briefly. The rest of the episode is everyone getting on my Goddamn nerves by acting like holier than thou bastards. "There's a time and place to use your power. It's not yours to use, and blah blah."

So what did Hikaru do? He scared off two asshats trying to shoot rocks at horses, and he helps a struggling magician get some money. And freaking Hayate berates him even for that last one, saying that there are better ways to help people. Its like fuck you, asshole. Just because Hikaru was helping some poor guy out get money for- ya know, food and bills- and not atop a legendary beast fighting a city destroying monster, that doesn't make his act a pointless one, or a bad use of his powers. Later, Hikaru even brings doughnuts back for everyone, which were bought by the magician because he was so thankful for the help. When they learn this, everyone spits out their doughnuts in disgust, like they were bought with crack money. Why is everyone such an asshole in this episode?

Btw earlier in the episode, Ryoma was using his abilities to chop wood faster. Now, Hayate says something to him, but not like he does with Hikaru. So, guy using power because lazy, slap on the wrist. Guy protecting animals and helping someone get food, lectures out the ass. I guess that's because Ryoma is the leader and shit doesn't flow up hill.

*sigh* So eventually Hikaru goes to fight the M.O.W. by himself, which is stupid, yes. But I understand not wanting to fight alongside people that spit out doughnuts kindly brought to them.

MOW absorbs electricity. Goes over about how you'd expect. But the thing is, Hikaru doesn't need to shoot bolts or anything, just being touched by the monster is enough. Also, Hikaru has enough sense to try to use other methods like a sword. Now the logical thing would be to have him not be good at it, not land a hit since he was was neglecting training, one of which was explicitly stated to be swordsmanship. But no! He stabs the monster, it just doesn't do anything because it's armored. Hikaru is beat to hell, questions the limitations of his power, etc. Olmec- I mean Mokk, says that the power isn't his, it's from the stars, which are infinite in their power and as such can never run out and is only limited by the individual. And then Mokk encourages him to use the power....which the entire episode spent against.

So to recap; unlimited power, no actual consequence for using it, Hikaru's neglected training had no barring on the outcome, and the very thing everyone spent the entire episode giving him shit about for no good reason(Including Mokk) ended up helping save the day because he learned to use a more powerful version of it.



What a fantastic lesson.


Holy hell this was an awful, awful episode. It has been a long time since I've seen something this poorly written. And I have never seen anything this bad, this early on in a series. I almost recommend watching it just because of how astoundingly nonsensical it is, especially given how competently written the previous three episodes were. It's like some weird Twilight Zone Bizzaro universe where everyone is a rude ass except for Hikaru.
This was meant to be a character episode for him and Hayate, which I was looking forward to since Gouki just had a pretty damn good one with some world building and good battles. But all this did was make me seethe with hate towards every single character but Hikaru. There is no lesson to learn here, no moral, no point at all to this episode.

Fuck.