[DreamSword]

Episode 12: The Machine That Dreams

No gif for this one either unless requested.

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Okay, I should probably just get this out of the way here. Despite how much I love this show, this is the one, singular episode that I come really, Really close to disliking. And there's a couple things someone could gripe about with it, but for me it mostly boils down to one major factor that we'll get to later on.

First off though I do wanna point out; What is the title even referring to? Like, with no context you'd assume Jiro, or heck, based on the opening scene, maybe even Saburo, but there's really not much evidence to support either, unless something just went way over my head. Feel free to fill me in if there is.

What is our opening scene? Well, it's actually rather interesting.



We open to Hakaider getting operated on; Having what appears to a blood transfusion between him and Kohmyoji. More than likely it's keep both the Doctor's' body and brain functioning.

What I like most about this scene and the scene that follows though is that all throughout them, Saburo has a look of utter disdain. He looks, to put it in OOO terms, unsatisfied with his life as a whole. He even ends up telling Gill to shove it when the Professor tries to remind him that he's a robot and thus, should just do everything Gill says down to the latter.

This of course means that what little trust Gill had in Hakaider has now run out.



Looks like we'll finally get to see what the deal is with that Gamera Robot we've been seeing throughout the show?



Back with the main group, it's established that they've constructed a secret hideout underground, and everyone begins to prepare for the raid on the DARK Hideout. This is in turn followed up with a great scene of Jiro actually rejecting getting his Gemini Circuit fixed; Fearing that fixing it would in turn erase who he's grown to be. He instead wants to celebrate all that he's learned, feel every emotion, and grow into his own person in his own way.

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And this is immediately ruined by what I consider the absolute worst scene in the entire show. Let's just get right into it:



...Yeah, they have sex. There's so many things wrong with this I just... UGH.

Okay firstly, did Kohmyoji seriously build Jiro with a functioning robo-dick? Because that's the implication. This further implies that ALL of his humanoid creations have this, which is all kinds of gross that I don't even wanna think about. And furthermore, where the heck does it go when they transform? All the other physical features can be attributed to synthetic skin, but this??

Next, Mitsuko is for all intents and purposes Jiro's' sister. Yes, I get that their relationship growing into something more than platonic was foreshadowed, and blood-related or not, they're still both Kohmyoji's' children. Heck, Masaru even calls Jiro his brother, so just....

Lastly, the story so did not need this. Ignoring everything else, having this cap off Jiro's' speech about wanting a fulfilling life full of love for those he cares for implies that no life nor love is truly fulfilled without sex. And that. Is. Garbage! Platonic love is a thing! Hell, it's arguably far more important than lust is!

This entire sequence comes across as incredibly shallow(and gross). Which hurts twice as much considering this has been a story all about introspection and deeper meaning concepts.

Is it just me? Is there something I'm missing? MOVING ON.



We get to the climactic showdown between the two brothers, and it certainly pays off. The fight itself is cool, and we're back to the overall message of being mentally fulfilled, with Jiro calling Saburo out on how, despite how Saburo claims to be, he's only been lying to himself this entire time.

Again I love the contrast between these two. Hakaider solves all of his problems with violence. Destroying the Gamera-Bot, threatening to kill Mitsuko, and when things aren't going his way, attempting to shoot himself the same way Mitsuko's' mother did.

Meanwhile, Kikaider, sure, he defends himself, but in the end what ends up putting Hakaider down isn't an Electro End to the face or anything like that, but words. Words that he knows he can't deny and so he lashes out instead. I really loved the entire way this last bit played out.

And that's that. Despite my issue with the midpoint, that in no way killed my love of the show, and there was still alot to like about this episode. But, lemme know what you all thought. And if you think I'm overreacting, don't be afraid to let me know. Cause trust me, I can take it.