I can see why Steven couldn’t figure out if this show was serious, or badly done parody. There were a couple of good multi-episode arcs here, but I thought the next to the last battle of the first series was actually better than the last one. Through the first three episodes of the series, they set the pattern a new challenger each episode, and having to defeat it with a new attack form, since the last one was ineffective. They broke out of that, but it was still “monster of the week” until this disc.
We finally see some multi-episode arcs, and the battle against the dual Zevaire was pretty good, because they couldn’t just come up with a new attack and smash their way to victory, nor did they take the corny route I expected. They had to try several different things, and though I have a quibble about how it got resolved, it was the best battle yet.
Bearing in mind of course, that we’re talking about battles involving giant mecha as the personification of samurai warriors. I’m still trying to figure out why I liked Godannar. Must have been the crazy redhead. Or the naked dark blue-haired one.
Overall though, I’m really finding it hard to slog through, and the art went to hell around episode 11. The most annoying thing to me is the mysteries. No, make that the “Mysteries” with a capital M. The show loves to throw random unexplained stuff in. More secret weapons and hidden power-ups than a session of Ultima IV.
Thou hast lost an eighth!
It may be a while before I continue.
Update: In the comments, Steven notes that the series gets better after it stops trying to be serious. All I have to say is “about damned time.” Telling this story straight is a mistake, a flaw in the series. It’s a variant on the complaint we both have against The Third: The writers are trying to do something, and they’re not succeeding. If they’re going to make a parody, make a parody. If they’re going to tell the story straight, tell it straight. The problem is, so far, they’ve been telling it straight when the material screams “parody!!!” All that accomplishes is to make it a less-angsty Godannar, without the epic babes.
As Steven said with Strike Witches, “Embrace the stupid.” Gravion’s writers didn’t for the first series, so it doesn’t work.
And on that note, I’m sad to say that Jason doesn’t embrace the stupid. Then again, 40% of his readers (as of this writing) think Louise is superior DFC to Lina, so all I can say is he has a large following of people with equally bad judgement. :p
Update: Ok, after all the talk in the comments, I decided to re-run the first couple of episodes. There was something I had a faint memory of, and I wanted to check it. Didn’t make it 5 minutes into the show before cinching it. Warning, may be a spoiler! Show ▼
Raven is Ayaka. Don’t ask me what she did with the “huge rack,” this is animé. The eyes are the giveaway, although I’d thought the way Raven was watching Eiji at the beginning was suspicious. Obviously, they decided Ayaka was too weak to be Knight of the Grand Diva, but her stubborn & rambunctious younger brother wouldn’t be. The problem was, they had to get him to come, and stay. So Ayaka had to disappear, to lure Eiji to the castle; and stay disappeared, so he will remain. The “evidence” surrounding her disappearance was faked.
Now what the other big secret is, I have no idea, except it involves Sandman and explains his knowledge of the Zeravaire. Show ▼
WAG: Maybe he is one?
Or maybe it’s about Leena’s father. Or maybe Darth Vader is going to show up and say, “Eiji, I am your father!”
Edit: Oh, and unless they come up with something even more insane, I think they’re playing it straight; this is not parody. Evidence: the “big reveal” towards the end of Godannar.
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