[Name]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

On the one hand, it's an interesting setup episode, on the other, it's clickbait.

[DreamSword]

Episode 19: The Trio's Sunday

You see, Gridman? This is how you justify a stabbing!

Anyway, color me surprised at how simple yet how telling this episode was in terms of its characters.

It's an episode taking place during Wako's' birthday, and while the primary focus is on the main trio, Keito does show up briefly and she's no slouch either. As much as I don't care for the lesbian antagonists right now, they served a good purpose here.

I just really loved the scene where the two take over the bodies of Sugata and Takuto, only for Keito and Wako to immediately see through the rouse and act accordingly. Not only does it show how well Wako knows Takuto, but also shows that Keito hasn't totally given up on Sugata(and possibly Wako) either.

That said, I imagine what will be the biggest takeaway for many viewers on this one is the episode's' ending, wherein we get an answer as to what Wako decides to do with her love life, though in a pretty subtle way. Essentially, it's implied that she decides she wants the three to be a thruple. And while those are becoming more and more common nowadays, they were pretty unheard of back in the early 10s, let alone in the world of anime.

And since the Trio is the primary focus, and we've already looked at the themes of two of them, I feel it's only fitting to look at the last: Takuto's' theme. It's a pretty upbeat and inspiring sounding song, which not only plays during moments with him, but more happy moments in the show too. Very fitting, and the woodwind bits really stand out to me for some reason.

Anyway, a solid episode. No major complaints.

[DreamSword]

Episode 20: The Rainbow Painted That Day

Never would've expected to get big feelings for the Eyepatch Guy.

He's the main lens through which the majority of this episode is seen through, and as it turns out he's alot more connected to everything going on than it seems.

And yet despite that, it's not really the main point or overarching theme of the episode. The whole story is about love triangles, and the dark sides of them that alot of other stories featuring them tend not to talk about.

At best, they typically end up with atleast one person having wounded feelings. And at worst, it's one of the key players who are actively causing damage without a care in the world. Such was the case with Head, AKA Tokio Tsunashi, who has been and always will be a manipulative scumbag.

We get alot of backstory on Head and Takuto's' mother Sora in this one, and lemme tell ya, the atmosphere does a ton of heavy lifting in this department. The moody music combined with the drab looking visuals make for a set of scenes that I was really drawn into. Thus I felt it only right to choose a song that helped fit that mood for this one.

It's not solely about these three either, as we also get some insight into how Takuto's' own triangle is affecting him. He's not completely over his feelings of being a third wheel from early on in the show, and it's not like Wako ever keyed him in on the idea of the three becoming a thruple either. And most surprisingly, it's the sort of situation that lets him bond with Keito a little. To the point that she even saves him from a viper's' venom.

There were alot of pieces being moved about in this one, all while the viewer gets an interesting look into the past events that had an effect unto the present day. Just like with episode 4, the fantastic use of the music score and visuals, in tandem creating a wonderfully thick atmosphere really drew me into this one, and I think it might be one of my favorite episodes to be sure. As dumb as Star Driver can look on the surface, it's great to see it be able to pull off something like this.

[DreamSword]

Episode 21: The Age for Libido

I have some rather mixed feelings on this one.

On the downside, this episode primarily focuses on Madoka(one of the lesbian antagonists), and the mecha side of the show.

And while the idea the episode presents: A scenario inwhich Takuto might have no other option than to kill someone, is interesting, it's resolved in a rather sudden way and it comes at the cost of eating up screen time that other characters could've really used, like Takashi(Kendo Boy), who at first seems like he'll be important only to not be. Like at all.

Which is a seriously missed opportunity given the emphasis that the start of this arc concerning how he had a natural mark and thus should still be able to summon and take his Cybody to the next level. But alas, it's not to be.

It's a real shame too because we're now in the last stretch of Star Driver, and it's starting to feel like some plans were made without entirely accounting for just how long the show would actually run. Sure, this is only one loose plot thread in a show that's been handling its pacing rather well, but still, it's notable.

But, on the upside, the small selection of scenes that focus on other characters, most notably Head, Kanako, and Keito, are all very interesting to see play out as they all highlight past regrets and how each character processes them. Kanako doesn't hold anything personally and is willing to move on, Keito is conflicted on how exactly to keep going with her current situation, and Head meanwhile still isn't willing to take any of his past reflections to heart.

So anyway here's "Fool." Not because it's a song that notably plays during this episode or anything, but because it's one heard often throughout the show, typically played during embarrassing moments. And uh, this episode also doesn't provide any real highlight songs which which to showcase, which is another strike against it.

But, yeah. Not a total wash of an episode, but it could've easily been something alot better for my tastes.

[Name]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

But, on the upside, the small selection of scenes that focus on other characters, most notably Head, Kanako, and Keito, are all very interesting to see play out as they all highlight past regrets and how each character processes them.

Despite his glibness, a lot of Head's scenes hint at the guy having depression. He's barely aware of how much time has passed between major events (whether that's due to his mental state or the mark's influence never really gets addressed), he has serious insomnia, and outside of his power grab he's completely unwilling to commit to anything directly. Dude even gave up his major passion for at least a decade.

That's not to say he wasn't fully responsible for virtually every screw up in his life, buuuut it does humanize him a bit.

Whether he wants to fix everything for himself or out of a sense of regret is still up in the air, but I find it to be one of the more interesting points in the show.

also Ryousuke deserved better

[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Name

also Ryousuke deserved better

Dude really did get totally shafted, yeah.

[DreamSword]

Episode 22: Eve of Legend

This episode was a major treat upon rewatch!

We get a huge showcasing of backstory on Samekh, Ayngott, Sarina, the Vice President, and even the Star Driver universe as a whole.

And it's all presented via the play that Sarina(the drama club president) has been writing over the course of the show. Combine this tale with both that of Sam(which Sanaka told), as well as that of the Demon King(which Mizuno told), and you have this really interesting tale on the Cybodies of old.

Pretty much the entire episode is just the play, by the way, with very little between. And yet I was totally engrossed thanks to the visuals and character pieces that accompanied it. And you know, the music.

While the entirety of the play does have an original score, sadly only the fifth and final movement has been uploaded to YouTube. Still, the entire thing is befitting a stage production; sounding very grandiose all throughout and like the sort of piece someone would just legit play in the background during something like this. Makes me wonder if the music is actually playing in universe.

Throughout this rewatch, Star Driver has really managed to impress with with just how well it's been able to handle feeding little bits of info that gradually build over time. And I feel like this episode is a shining example of how they manage to pull it off in such a satisfactory manner. Like, it's not even just big backstory stuff with this either, as it's revealed that the reason Sugata was able to recover after using his First Phase was because Keito kept feeding him her libido.

Few shows I've seen are better on rewatch, and honestly, I think that Star Driver is very much one of them.

[Name]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

the play

[DreamSword]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Name

It was cool to see Head put two and two together given his previous talks with Sanaka.

[DreamSword]

Episode 23: Emperor

There it is. My favorite moment in the entire show.

Takuto's' utter despise for his father is the sort of thing that I feel alot of people won't quite understand, especially with how subtle it's been the whole show.

It's the sort of thing, however, that anyone who grew up with an abusive, neglectful, or abandoning parent will be almost entirely sure to understand immediately. All of the contempt built up over the years, released at once.

And it's not even the punch itself either. It's a major part of it for sure, but it's also the fact that Takuto knows outright how manipulative Head is, and he's not having any of it. No conversation, no debate, no argument, no words. Only fists. And he's absolutely in the right for it.

But this episode isn't really about Takuto; or atleast not entirely. Infact, it's mainly about Sugata, and how the events leading up this point get him to take up Head's' offer on joining the Glittering Crux Brigade, under the codename King with the position of Emperor. Or, in other words, becoming the new leader of the Crux in one fell swoop.

I remember back when I first saw this moment play out I was a tad confused by it. But now, on rewatch, and with some hindsight, I think I get it. We've seen many times that Sugata was just sort of coasting through life, with his only real purpose being to protect Wako. Then, when Takuto comes into the picture, he begins to ask himself questions. He's uncertain about the futures of both him and those around him, and he's desperate for answers.

Add in that he's wondering just what in the world is going on with Keito, and that gives him the push he needs to dive head first into the Glittering Crux, and try to get everything sorted out once and for all. It's a bit of irony too, that at the start of the episode Sugata tells Takuto to rely more on logic, only to then have alot of his action in this very episode be driven my emotion. I could see some viewers crying foul about it, but overall I think it really works. Plus seeing him get turned into the Eccentric Tau Missile was neat.

For this episode I decide to highlight "Hunger" which is a battle song which plays during more desperate situations. Which is infact seen here with Takuto having to take on three Cybodies at once. It's one of the better fight sequences in the show, and very much showcases just how skilled in combat Takuto actually is.

Is this my favorite episode overall? Probably not. But man, that punch will forever stick in my mind, I'm sure. Certainly has so far.