What They Say:
“Gatchaman” is the general term for warriors who wear special power suits called NOTE, which are manifestations of special spiritual powers possessed by living beings. The Gatchaman force on Earth consists of aliens who have been dispatched by a council and Earthlings who have been scouted for their latent abilities, all of whom work together to protect Earth’s people and resources from alien criminals who have invaded the planet in violation of the probation enforced by the council.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
Another week, another massively dense Gatchaman Crowds insight episode that defies easy analysis. One thing that’s absolutely clear, however, is that the series keeps forging onward without delay, attempting to deal with all of the complexities of its subject matter of the internet and civil society.
Despite its focus on social media, insight is also making sure to pay attention to traditional one-way media like the television. The episode opens with Tsubasa and Gel Sadra performing a manzai act on the popular Millione TV program, the show we’d previously seen OD co-hosting. The two newbies are media superstars, and Millione appreciates the numbers they bring. The two have a certain charm, innocence, and naivete that even Hajime lacked, making them a big fit for media stardom. Gel Sadra is, as we know, naive and wants everyone to be happy, like a child, and as we learn, hot-headed Tsubasa just wants to be a “hero of justice” in a shonen-protagonist way that’s much more instantly relatable than Hajime’s eccentric brilliance is.
It’s therefore fitting, and somewhat concerning, that OD decides to name Tsubasa Gel Sadra’s guardian, as the two naive newbies may very well end up reinforcing each others’ worst tendencies. This is born out by a crisis JJ predicts that soon takes Shibuya by storm.
In an attempt to further sway public opinion away from CROWDS, Rizimu and VAPE stage an assault on Shibuya, taking various people hostage, though apparently not intending to harm anyone. VAPE turns out to have military discipline, meaning the few good “blue” crowds that do show up are no match for the coordinated teamwork of VAPE. It falls to the Gatchaman then to act as forum moderators and wipe all of the Red CROWDS out. They do a fairly decent job of it, so Rizimu decides to change tactics and target Rui’s idealism directly: Rizimu threatens that VAPE will start killing people if Rui doesn’t turn over his NOTE. Rui breaks away from the fighting in order to try and talk some sense into Rizimu.
Rizimu doesn’t really pull any punches, accusing Rui of being too enamored of the CROWDS’ potential as a fun toy to actually take their risk seriously. Rui concedes some of this, but argues that the potential for good outweighs the risk. In an answer to Rizimu’s question in the last episode, “Do you trust even me?” Rui hands Rizimu his NOTE. Rizimu returns the trust by stabbing the NOTE (the manifestation of Rui’s soul) with a knife, causing Rui to cough up blood and collapse in a heap.
Hajime and OD respect Rui’s fight for his own ideals, so they don’t immediately run to assist. Those watching on TV and from the streets are horrified, however, and want “somebody to do something”, a sentiment that Gel Sadra reads and agrees with. Rash Tsubasa also finds herself unable to sit by, and is this time able to transform since her angry sense of justice is apparently the key to unlocking her powers. Tsubasa flies on a gust of wind Gel Sadra generates from public outcry, and reaches the top of the building where Rizimu is about to finish Rui off.
In Summary:
Tsubasa’s attempt to rescue Rui looks outwardly heroic and is perhaps necessary to save Rui from her own idealism, but the show makes clear that the potential for abuse of Tsubasa and Gel Sadra’s powers are very real. Hajime always had everything carefully thought out ahead of time, while Tsubasa shoots from the hip and Gel Sadra looks for the utilitarian solution that makes everybody happy. Philosophical disagreements, such as the argument that occurs between Rui and Jo this episode make me wonder if the Gatchaman won’t find themselves divided as to the best course of action to stop VAPE in episodes to come. Hajime’s introduction of Berg Katze to Tsubasa, and Berg’s admission that he created the NOTE that Rizimu uses also underscores that his threat to Earth is still very much a present danger. With VAPE’s main assault happening in only episode 3, I’m curious to see where insight will take us next. A must watch.
Grade: A-
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
Review Equipment:
Sony VAIO 20″
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