I’ve always found it hard to write about Gurren Lagann. Any attempt at coherent bloggage is foiled simply because I like it too much; it’s just a quivering mass of animated awesome. Yet come every Monday and jaw on the floor after every single episode, I’ve been fighting that nagging feeling saying it’s my duty as an anime blogger to write about this show. It’s a disservice to myself and to you, dear reader, because while I’ve tried to keep a lid on it, Gurren Lagann just keeps getting better, and right now I’m oh so close to claiming it as my favourite anime of all time. So, pulsing with spiral energy, mine rippling rantage on episode the 25th begins.
Yoko’s curse & Kitan’s sacrifice
After the blatant foreshadowing of the last couple episodes, there was a clear inevitability to Kitan hooking up with Yoko. Even still, the surprise of the “first kiss” was a great moment. Passionate, romantic and tinged with an understanding of impending tragedy, Yoko’s knowing look almost immediately harkens back to Kamina’s last few moments and sees Kitan overflowing with the brash confidence of a man with a future to protect.
“Kill ’em all”
Kitan greets his demise with a devilish smile slapped across his pointed face, savouring his last few moments of epic sacrifice with no regrets; knowing that he’s risked it all for his friends. And though his death was an admirable feat, I’m slightly bothered by these kamikaze attacks that see many secondary characters almost welcoming death for the greater good. For a country so entrenched with ritual suicide, I suppose it’s a distinctly Japanese style of story telling that lends itself dramatic tales of brave warriors, yet I’m feeling almost disturbed by the suggestion that suicide is okay when used as a last ditch means of forging a better future.
Adrenaline rush
Just this evening, I’ve replayed the last five minutes multiple times. It gets better every time, the shock of the kiss, the tragedy of the sacrifice, the moment Simon shouts “transform” with Viral replying “I’ve been waiting for those words”, the swirling soundtrack, rising, it’s just constantly ascending. Simon’s goggles inexplicably morphing into Kamina style shades, it’s totally illogical, yet it totally resonates on such a base emotional level. By the end, things are so pumped up and we’re left hanging for another week. More, MORe, MORE!
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