[Categories: Anime Reviews]
Gasaraki #6 (episodes 17-19)
It’s back to the present day for Gasaraki, as Yushiro and Miharu hide out in the ‘Asian Veins’, the immigrant districts, away from the Gowas and Symbol. An act of kindness on Yushiro’s part grants them safe haven with the locals, but for how long? Meanwhile, the pieces are being moved into place as the Gowa clan’s plans begin to reach fruition.
First off, I was glad to see (and hear) that the op theme is back to its usual self, albeit with differing visuals to reflect that current situations in the series. Secondly, it really feels that the story is about to launch headlong into its final act: this is the Big Plan from the Bad Guys and, as the old saying goes, the proverbial stuff is about to hit the proverbial fan!
Yushiro appears to have been motivated by the history lesson that he experienced in volume #5, although Miharu has been reduced to a silent, apathetic zombie by the new developments. Her concerns seem to centre around a potted plant and she has little desire to evade capture; I can only wonder what’s going through her mind right now. There are some interesting supporting characters introduced too, which leads to conflicting loyalties, double crosses and the like. The whole immigrants subplot reminded me of the more recent series of Ghost in the Shell’s Second Gig, in which shadowy figures exploited the immigrants and the surrounding issues in a similar fashion. This time, it all revolves around inciting riots by playing around with the global grain markets.
As is often the case with Gasaraki, the three episodes per disc thing is a little annoying because it makes an already-involved story feel even longer and slower. I honestly think ADV could have squeezed it all onto seven, or even six, discs. Either way, it’s a gripping volume that does not explain as much as some of the previous volumes have done; it has now turned its attention to moving things along and providing some action and tension to keep us entertained.
Summary
Things are lining up for the big finish which, although it probably won’t come for another two discs yet, is promising to be a good one. The Yushiro/Miharu relationship is keeping me guessing, as is the idea behind the Gowas and their plans for Japan. All in all this series is beginning to head for a great finale.
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