Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Outlaw Star Part 6 Episode 23-26

(Originally Written February 9, 2015)


The Galactic Leyline.  What is it exactly? Ultimate power? A vast treasure? A gateway to another universe?  The mystery of this formless pursuit has brought Gene Starwind a heap of danger from merciless pirates to powerful assassins to lovely femme fatales.  It’s also landed him with a group of people he has come to call both crew and family.  Now the time has come for Gene and the crew of Outlaw Star to throw everything they’ve got into one final adventure.  A three way battle between themselves, Hazanko and the remaining Anten Seven and the McDougall Brothers await them.  The finish line is in sight and there’s no turning back now…and you can bet some wont be coming back from this trip alive or worse.

So with the Galactic Leyline in sight, it’s time to get down to business and finish off this series right?  Not quite.  And honestly that was a good move to make.  Because in this set of final four episodes for Outlaw Star, it’s the calm before the storm that ends up being the best of them.

Hot Springs Planet Tenrei is not just a super fun episode but it is also infamous as the episode that has never been aired on TV (or at least to my knowledge it was never included in either the Toonami or Adult Swim runs of the series) and rightfully so.  The amount of flat out nudity in this episode Dwarfs any edits Cartoon Network had to make on Tenchi Muyo and it’s so integral to certain scenes it could never be just glossed over…which is a shame cause this may very well be my favorite episode of the series.  If you ever wanted a planet of skimpy bikini clad women or full blown nude or have really wanted to see the rest of the females of the Outlaw Star besides Melfina disrobed for once then this episode was for you.  Or if you just thought the show needed a very humorous episode then you’re in luck as well.  From start to finish, Planet Tenrei was nothing but a relaxing breath of fresh air.  Even the Wizards, when they weren’t giving morbid cryptic warnings about the powerful Caster Shells they bestowed on Gene for the final battle to come, they were a pretty lively bunch all trying to one up each other for centuries old grudges.  If I had to nitpick I would say that the Wizards references to Gene’s hair and gun as if talking about a familiar friend were pretty confusing.  And also we got a rather unthreatening look at another Anten Seven member who could not catch a break trying to kill Gene.

Actually he’s a decent segue into the epicly set up battle royale that ended up not being as grand as it could have been.  We had the Outlaw Star, the McDougalls, the Catrl Catrl and Hazanko with what’s left of his guard in a four way fight to the Leyline.  And truth be told the first battle in space to get there was the best part of the whole thing.  Seeing everyone going at it was intense.  It might not have been a space battle from Star Wars but it wasn’t a slouch at all.

Once we got inside the Leyline however, things took a disappointing turn.  This is definitely the point where things got crowded and forcibly rushed.  The other members of the Anten Seven were not given nearly enough time to flesh themselves out as say Lei Long or Hanmyo and could’ve made for more interesting foes rather than just the standard ones who posture until they’re defeated.  Even Aisha’s fight against Hiraga a couple weeks back was much better than the fight she got in the end.  Sadly this bleeds into Suzuka’s not so much fleshed out backstory.  I really think this series did her a disservice outside of her role as the action bad ass and in the end everyone of the main crew except Suzuka got an episode to call their own, flesh out a little back story and establish them as better characters.  Suzuka got hints every once in a while but the most we got were a tragic family slaying and the possibility that she’s in love with Gene. 

And really, I would have accepted that coupling well before Gene and Melfina.  Call me crazy but I never saw those two as lovers material.  Sure he cared about her and felt responsible for her but I always felt like Gene would end up more with Suzuka than anyone else.  It’s the one final revelation I have still haven’t accepted but then again I don’t accept a lot of things about this series in the end.  Up there on that list is Melfina ever forgiving or accepting Harry’s affections without returning them.  Harry McDougall has done nothing but whine, posture and threaten Melfina with the possibility of a very abusive relationship in their possible future.  The fact she even smiles and cries for him makes no sense to me.  Even when he bites it I don’t feel anything.  I think I feel worse for Ron McDougall who was probably the most consistent villain in this show: a merciless bad ass who genuinely loves his brother til the end. 

As for what the Leyline is…I don’t really know in the end and I really don’t care.  It has been hyped up as many things but never given a clear definition.  But still everyone got what they wanted (Gwen Kahn became data I guess, Gene got Melfina rather than treasure).  However, Hazanko definitely got short handed when his ultimate power was so easily defeated by a Leyline infused Outlaw Star…yeah not even the slightest fear everyone was going to die at all I guess.  It was a pretty meh ending to the shows main story to say the least.  It would’ve been helped greatly by a second season with a stronger quest and more character building.  But sad to say, much like a true Martian Successor Nadesico sequel, that’s never going to happen.

Final Verdict
Outlaw Star was a fun trip down nostalgic lane for me.  Getting into Anime heavily because of Cartoon Network’s Toonami block this show holds a special place in my memory…I just wish overall it held up better.  It starts off strongly, teeters in the middle from time to time and ends on a less than stellar note.  The Villains are one note for the most part, a lot of potential is not met and some adventures are more rushed than necessary.  However, the main cast is still a blast to watch with Gene still being one of the defining standards of Anime heroes in my book.  With a cool lead, a slick ship and a crew of misfits including beautiful women, I can forgive some of Outlaw Star’s shortcomings for just being fun…which is what all Anime at the end of the day should aspire to be.

7/10

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