[Categories: Anime Reviews]
Gasaraki #7 (episodes 20-22)
Things are falling into place as Miharu is captured by SYMBOL, Yushiro takes it upon himself to rescue her and the Gowas set their plans into action. After what has proved to be a slow but steadily-paced middle section, Gasaraki shifts into a higher gear as it enters its final phase, which is in the nick of time. While I can’t help but admire its realism and attention to detail, the imaginative escapism that animation usually offers has been somewhat absent from this show just lately.
The refreshingly understated relationship between Yushiro and Miharu is shown with greater clarity, giving the proceedings a real sense of urgency. I wouldn’t go as far as to say there’s some romance there per se, but there’s definitely some emotional motivation that drives Yushiro to try to rescue her; this culminates in a dramatic and action-packed confrontation between Yushiro’s TA and a squadron of F-22 jet planes. It’s a shame that the action takes place at night because the murky lighting effects mute the impact of an otherwise tense and exhilerating scene.
The political side of things is interesting, not least the reasoning behind the Gowas and the enigmatic Nishida. The Gowa clan are the shady, power-hungry bunch I’d always viewed them as but Nishida seems to have a lot of insight and commitment to his cause. Any violence he implies needs to be acted out is a means to an end, rather than a power trip for his own selfish goals; the more I heard of his motives and philosophies, the more I viewed him as an intelligent and idealistic individual. Nishida is not some sort of terrorist, religious fanatic or egotistical crank: the social and political issues of Gasaraki’s Japan are not unlike those of countries today but crucially feel very real and definitely need addressing sooner or later.
Summary
The penultimate instalment of Gasaraki maintains my flagging interest in the series, giving a surprisingly gripping lead-up to the final act. There’s action, drama and intrigue but what’s most telling of all is how it gives little indication as to how the events will play out in the end. Whatever happens, it’s going to be a surprise!
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