Forum - View topicUncle From Another World (TV).
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2905 |
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#9
I thought the last arc was done and something new would take its place. Turns out this series is really good at segueing plotlines together in the most unusual manner possible. Not only that, the episode even throws down a few bombshells together with its usual mix of humour and outrageousness. Transformation isn't to be done at a whim, as Shibazaki finds out to his cost. He probably would have stayed like that forever had the Elf not bailed him out, so despite his distaste for her unwanted advances there is gratitude for what she did. His habit of using precious rings to pay off debts is hilariously off-base for this world, which would drive the Elf to kill him if she wasn't head over heels in love. Although it's not a surprise to learn who the Elf really is, the merchant who had a hold over her did not expect his trump card to be taken out in that fashion. I wonder if we meet this merchant again, since he's going to want payback for Shibazaki ruining his best-laid plans. Regarding Spirits, turns out it's probably not a good idea to rely on them too much without appropriate compensation. Last week's dinosaur gag was left-field, but Shibazaki is really lucky he hasn't paid more heavily for the number of favours he's asked the Spirits for during his journey and back. I wonder if the post-credits scene is going to be followed up on or if it's a one-off gag meant to put off the trio from having fish for the rest of the summer. Obviously Shibazaki survived his experience with the parasite to tell his tale, but I wonder if it was the Elf and Mabel who saved him or if he asked the Spirits for instant healing. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2905 |
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#10
It feels a little forced how the series brought back Fujimiya's younger brother and her best mate at university Sawae back into the picture, but the animators still find a way to bring out the laughs for the short time they were on screen. Of course the centrepiece is Shibazaki unwittingly displaying his powers in front of them without consideration of the consequences, which panics Fujimiya and Takafumi to no end. I'm guessing the two of them can be fobbed off with excuses to get them to forget what they saw without actually forgetting if Shibazaki was allowed to have his way with them. With that said, the way the episodes transitions back to the memories is clever. The best part of the series is seeing what Shibazaki did in the other world, so like Takafumi and Fujimiya we are happy to skip through the boring parts like Shibazaki enjoying a bath. What surprises me most is Shibazaki actually knowing how to give a massage despite his background. I didn't figure him for someone who could pass as a masseur, but it seems Elf physiology isn't too different from humans since he was getting the right points. Plenty of innuendo in that scene, especially with the suggestive camera shots. It's all good in the end though, since we get to see what happens when the Heroic Trio meet the Elf for the first time. Alicia already has her eyes set on "Kuroki", which the Elf is not slow on picking up. To make matters worse for the Elf, Alicia's compatriots are so put-off by the prospect of marrying her that it's even more likely Alicia will focus her efforts on snagging Shibazaki. Not sure why the Elf is desperately searching for ancient artifacts and is roaming the known world to do so, but she wants that scabbard and is willing to go out dressed in a Yukata at night to do so. In the meantime, this arc looks like it's going to continue as Shibazaki and the remaining Trio have to deal with a burning resort. Before it really becomes purgatory like its namesake, they've got some monster-purging to take care of. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2905 |
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#11
The conclusion to the Hot Springs arc doesn't have as many laughs as previous episodes, it does make up for it with quite a few revelations interspersed with the numerous action sequences for this week. Spirit magic is great, until the Spirits go on strike and Shibazaki is effectively left defenceless. That's a really weird monster which most adventurers like the Heroic Trio could easily slay, but it completely counters Shibazaki's only ability to commune with the Spirits for his magic arsenal. Just as well he kept talismans in reserve for situations like these, so his gaming mentality of having insurance for the worst-case scenario paying off. A real Deux Ex Machina moment with Alicia's staff, especially with the casual way it was "powered up". With the full potential of the staff unlocked, she'll go some way towards living up to her new moniker, even though she now realises it was never deserved. She'll likely keep the revelation a secret from her party members, although her experience with amnesia means Shibazaki will never be able to get away with his mind wipe against her moving forwards. The Elf's new toys are considerably stronger than what she's had to date, so if Shibazaki triggers her possessive nature he'll find himself at the wrong end of her sniper bolts. The Hot Springs establishment gets away lightly from the monster encounter, and they might even make back the renovation costs with the new Open Air Springs reinforced by a force field. Probably not a permanent fixture given the bargain made with the Spirits, but at least they weren't killed during the monster invasion. Not much airtime left, but it's only in this episode that viewers finally learn why Shibazaki did certain actions which didn't make sense at the time. Obviously he succeeded in the end, but the whole process which brought him back to his family after so many years is going to form the main plot for this series moving forward. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2905 |
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#12
The series always throws in a surprise or two each episode, and this one's big surprise is Shibazaki going from defeating a singing monster to inadvertently starting the final showdown with a huge monster of epic regenerative proportions. In the meantime, he even reveals his true name to the Elf and learns her true name (which is practically impossible to pronounce let alone spell, episode credits stuck with Elf) in return (and gives her a charming alias which makes her Tsundere character personality swoon). We've learnt recently that Shibazaki has never once given up on going home, even after years spent in the other world. This episode it seems he's accidentally triggered one of the obscure preconditions to starting his homeward journey, so much so the spirits who have helped him almost since the start of his journey had to reveal what he did by accident to accomplish this. Mabel and Elf may have wanted to join him, but we know the end-result (he made it back to Japan alive) but not the process (they didn't join him despite the high-magic world setting). Mabel's singing voice is SO wasted on Shibazaki's video game addiction. There are plenty of gaming music tracks which are great to sing to, but he had to choose a BGM UFO-catcher track which sounds good only because the singer has a solid voice to back up the monotonous lyrics. One interesting tidbit is this episode marks the first time all three of Shibazaki's "wives" have assembled in the same place at once. So Alicia and party meet Mabel for the first time. Introductions will have to wait, since everyone present has their hands full. However this last episode goes, it will mark the end of the franchise as there are no more important memories for Shibazaki to share. The story could go on with Shibazaki sharing more of his memories with the others of his everyday life in the other world, but the main plot (him returning to Japan alive and thus awakening from his 13 year coma) ends next week. It's been a long ride and a very bumpy one because of real-life circumstances, but I'm hoping the last episode gives this franchise the send-off it deserves. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2905 |
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#13
I was wrong, the animators figured this series might remain a hit so they've written the ending in such a way as to leave the story open for further adventurers with Shibazaki. One quarter later and with the final episode aired, the tortuous production cycle of this series finally reaches its end. The battle itself is actually very short since most of the time is spent watching the party do their strategy meeting, mess around a bit and then finally take on the Souped-up dragon. There's the usual series humour in the lead-up to the battle, but when it starts in earnest everyone pulls their weight and the world is saved (for now). Visually it's probably par for the course since it took so long for this episode to air that the delay means most of the expectation and impact is gone. The aftermath is typical Shibazaki, so the masochistic Elf has to put up with more of his antics and throw more tantrums without getting anywhere nearer his affections, especially as her two main competitors have knowledge of the previously exclusive tidbit she possessed. Had this series not been affected by its production issues, it would have made far more of an impact both in its home market and overseas. Whether or not another season is greenlit and put forward by Netflix remains in flux, since the sales target to make up for all of the delays is set so high this first season might not turn the profit it was initially rated for. It's a shame, since it was incredibly entertaining when it first aired. A case of what might have been, but anyone who hasn't watched this is highly recommended to do this series in one setting to experience it the way it was meant to be viewed. If by some miracle there is another season, the production team REALLY need to learn the lessons from the first season and ensure a smooth production cycle delivered on time. If the production quality is upheld, then the content will speak for itself. I would love to see more of Shibazaki's travails animated, but am not hopeful of seeing this come to pass. |
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smurky turkey
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That was a great last episode and I am glad to have seen the complete season. It is sadly also the prime example of how delays between episodes are a hype killer and how it can be hard to get back into a series that has been put on hold for a while.
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