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02-11-2023, 09:36 AM | #91 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,399
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Episode 15: Statue Straight to the point, if you're sensitive to particular kinds of content, especially those of sexual deviancy, you might wanna skip this episode. As a result this was also probably the scariest episode so far. For me atleast. That said I did like this one, especially since it was a bit more like what I'd wanted out of episode 10 with a bit of a bigger focus on Rei and how he does things in terms of the "standard" Horror plot. It helped too that despite the content being rather graphic by toku standards, none of it really felt tasteless or done just for shock value(and yes I can easily see people disagreeing with me on that one). It still very much felt like all a part of the same GARO universe. The only thing of note is the growing idea that the Watchdogs are nowhere near as innocent as their angelic appearance might suggest. Which, while that isn't any sort of surprise to me as I've already watched the anime, thinking about how this was the first of the franchise and the time it came out... yeah, having the Zordon of the show being morally questionable is a neat spin on things. So yeah, not much for me to say on this one, but I did feel it was well put together overall. No idea what was up with the constant POV shots this episode, though.
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02-11-2023, 09:44 AM | #92 |
Alias: ZeroEnchiladas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,572
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This is a rather disturbing episode in some aspects.
Other than vaguely recalling the content... yeah not much to say on this one sadly. |
02-11-2023, 01:13 PM | #93 |
The Immortal King Tasty
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Every diner you've ever been to.
Posts: 3,833
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I thought it made for a nice little pair with episode 12, and maybe it would've been a much better one if the whole episode was that, but I also really loved the other story this one tells? Like, I said how much I loved episode 7 despite/because of its adamant refusal to ground its high-octane action in too much pesky human vulnerability, and here comes this episode where Kouga and Rei run off to the Playstation FMV dimension to fight an army, because an epic task like that, cruelly enough, is easier for them than simply being emotionally honest with the woman their macho pride keeps hurting. It's definitely another episode that lacks the cohesion that I generally find to be one the show's biggest strengths, but all those disparate elements here are so equally entertaining and interesting to me, I didn't find myself caring all that much. This one was pretty solid, too, even if I'm *this* close to being the person who argues it's sort of tasteless. I kinda had this problem watching Kamen Rider Amazons sometimes, too, but there's a certain vibe to material like this where it goes so far in the attempt to disturb that I just kinda... laugh, instead? I'm not sure what that might say about me personally, or whether it's a mark for or against the episode, but, yeah, that was my reaction to a lot of the Horror-focused scenes here. Regardless, it's a strong enough regular episode of the series, telling a unique standalone plot, inching some overarching stuff along, and even flipping around Rei's deubt, where Kouga is now the one sitting back as Zero does his thing, so it's got that hook of being the first time we really see him take down a monster on his own. I don't really like the new OP/ED combo, either, by the way! Apparently the whole reason they held off on using Savior in the Dark in the first place was because they realized it'd make the show seem like any random kid-oriented toku hero show, but just because the show has established itself by now, I don't think it changes anything about how ill-suited it is tonally. The instrumental theme was extremely well-done, and gelled perfectly with the abstract visuals to communicate what GARO is like as a show, the way any opening should. Savior in the Dark is quite literally a JAM, of course, but I can't see myself ever quite coming around to its use this way, even if that was always what it was for. Both openings and even the episode preview share bits of melody and stuff, so... I don't know, it's all cohesive and everything, but something about it just feels wrong. My distaste for the new ED is less vehement, but yeah, I think the song and the visuals of the first one made a much stronger impression there too. Who knows, maybe if these had been the songs from day one, I'd think they were perfect too, but I really get the feeling this is just a straight downgrade? Crucially, it doesn't feel like there was any purpose to changing them, beyond it being 13 episodes in. There's no real new chapter of the show we've entered, and when nothing about the style there has changed, I find it makes the changes in the musical style stick out in a bad way.
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02-11-2023, 01:30 PM | #94 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,399
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Playstation FMV dimension
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This one was pretty solid, too, even if I'm *this* close to being the person who argues it's sort of tasteless. I kinda had this problem watching Kamen Rider Amazons sometimes, too, but there's a certain vibe to material like this where it goes so far in the attempt to disturb that I just kinda... laugh, instead? I'm not sure what that might say about me personally, or whether it's a mark for or against the episode, but, yeah, that was my reaction to a lot of the Horror-focused scenes here.
And uh, let's just say that the way the Horror possesses the sculptor in this one is very much a joke that like, a 12 year old would make, haha. Quote:
There's no real new chapter of the show we've entered, and when nothing about the style there has changed, I find it makes the changes in the musical style stick out in a bad way.
Like, there's a reason Kamen Rider Black Sun used "Did you see the Sunrise?" as its ED, afterall.
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Last edited by DreamSword; 02-12-2023 at 08:32 AM.. |
02-12-2023, 09:33 AM | #95 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,399
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Episode 16: Red Sake Talky episodes are a tricky thing to pull off in fantasy shows. In my experience, they more often than not come across as boring to many viewers, especially those who are initially drawn in by the action. And while I certainly have experienced a bit of that myself(hi Blassreiter), I actually find myself drawn to them more often than not, because the key thing in making these episodes work is the subject matter at hand. While the majority of this episode is just characters talking, it's all about the continued arc of Koga ontop of establishing a bit more world building lore for the show, namely the establishment of Makai Alchemists and what exactly it is that they do. So if that didn't make it already clear, I really liked this one! It was like I was watching an episode of Yu-Gi-Oh, except in the GARO universe, and I feel it came together rather well. Loved the use of the silhouettes from the opening sequence to represent the battle of ki between Koga and Zaruba's' father, and despite the heightened drama, most of the dialogue felt natural. Though it is a bit obvious, there's also a bit of furthering in the plot pertaining to who killed Taiga, but I did like how the episode played into how Koga might not be remembering everything as vividly as he thought due to his own trauma, and it's likely connected to the incoming threat of a great Horror, if they aren't one in the same. Needless to say I'd be very surprised if the Dark Knight who looks like Garo isn't the final boss in some form or another. Lastly, while it is brief, I did like how Amon brought up that morality is very rarely every black and white or some sort of straight line. It's the sort of lesson I think alot of people could stand to learn. Today's' friends could become tomorrow's' enemies and vice-versa. It's good to keep an open mind, because valuable information could come from the least likely of sources. Sure, it's mainly foreshadowing Garo and Zero working together, but it's still a nice lesson for, well, just about everyone, I think. So, yeah. It's the first episode with no real action scenes to speak of, but I still loved it all the same.
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02-12-2023, 12:07 PM | #96 |
The Immortal King Tasty
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Every diner you've ever been to.
Posts: 3,833
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This was absolutely an episode with enough drama in its dialogue to make up for the lack of showy action. It's all about giving Kouga someone he can feel more comfortable opening up to a bit, and it works great at giving more insight into his character specifically, while doing all the other stuff on top of that. It may not have a golden and/or silver knight fighting a monster, but it's got plenty to keep the viewer's attention anyway.
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02-12-2023, 03:40 PM | #97 |
Alias: ZeroEnchiladas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,572
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Oh yeah this one!
I remember us getting some cool lore/tidbits of information all while we played a Makai Order version of chess, checkers? Idk the equivalent game. Anyway this is definitely one of the ones I remember from the OG Series the most despite it just being two dudes talking over a small game. |
02-12-2023, 03:49 PM | #98 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,399
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Quote:
This was absolutely an episode with enough drama in its dialogue to make up for the lack of showy action. It's all about giving Kouga someone he can feel more comfortable opening up to a bit, and it works great at giving more insight into his character specifically, while doing all the other stuff on top of that. It may not have a golden and/or silver knight fighting a monster, but it's got plenty to keep the viewer's attention anyway.
is it because you could really relate to it
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02-13-2023, 07:46 PM | #99 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,399
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Episode 17: Fish Tank There is a LOT going on in this episode. And I don't mean just in terms of events unfolding, but also in terms of character development, themes, and fully swinging GARO as a whole into its third act. Or atleast that's certainly what it feels like, because lemme tell ya, I did not expect an episode with a title like this, which opens in the way that it does, to be the episode where everything reaches its emotional boiling point. The biggest theme of the episode is Protection. What it means to protect something, the reason why people do so, and how while it sounds nice and flowery on the surface, it can easily be twisted into something obsessive and nasty. It can just as easily be a tool of malice as it is of justice. But I won't lie, the aspect of all of this that stood out to me most, whether it be intentional or not, is another thematic idea the story of GARO as a whole has had which comes to a point here; Truth. The time has finally come for Kaoru to learn the real reason Koga has stayed with her, as well as just what exactly her being stained by Horror blood means going forward. While it's not revealed to her that she'll eventually die, what is brought to light is more than enough to break the poor girl. Koga can't even bring himself to try and justify his actions or plead with her to stay, because he knows he doesn't have a right to. Just when it seemed like she and Koga were making real progress together as people, life came and dropkicked her right down into the dirt. The worst kind of betrayal. Koga isn't off scott free in any of this though. His actor does a fantastic job with his body language here; Showcasing how Koga's' own sense of ethics being at odds with both the philosophy of the Watchdogs as well as his own treatment of Kaoru over the past couple of months are really tearing him up inside despite all of his attempts at staying vigilant. His sense of justice gets challenged the most here, via meeting a human who's not a Horror, yet still has no issue committing to the evils of one. Everyone is put through the wringer here, and it's not due to any sort of grand scheme or ultimate evil, no. It's all been snowballing this whole time due to the actions of Koga, only to come to a crash thanks to a random, pathetic Horror who can't live outside of water and her lackey who has no qualms with murder. The entire scenario is one that out defines the sort of storytelling I love most: A plot driven almost entirely by its characters rather than the other way around. It's intense, it's dramatic, and by the end, it's an awful situation that was bound to happen eventually. This was a really friggen good episode you guys.
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02-13-2023, 08:00 PM | #100 |
Alias: ZeroEnchiladas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,572
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Ah yes, this is another episode I remember purely because of the end scene, but everything leading up to it is also very good too. There's admittedly another episode later on in the franchise I feel gives similar vibes in terms of the Horror Plot in general, but man is this a rather unique beast.
There's also something almost magical about how what is basically a standard Horror of the Week plot basically snowballs into the ending we receive here. Just the amount of tension in the scene where Kouga confronts the Horror and her lackey, like, it's so thick you can cut it with a soul metal sword. All culminating in the Horror just badmouthing Kouga and basically blabbing about everything. Like, despite the formula we ended setting up for the show with Kaoru and Kouga and how we get kind of comfortable, from the start you can tell that this is not a perfect situation and that the shoe was going to drop eventually. And boy did it drop, huh? Also while I don't want to say spoilers in regards to like, story stuff, I will say at least that uh... after that ending? Yeah we're in for something different going forward. I mean we have to be, you know? You can't just end it like that and expect everyone to go back to their usual routine. |
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