Sky Girls: Episode 2
Rating: 7/10
Impressions:
Even though there are an ample number of episodes left, I’m quite surprised with the rather slow pacing of this episode. The first I understand is supposed to give a decent amount of background information of the three girls, though this episode at best would only set the setting. If anything, more characters should have been introduced if this entire episode covers practically nothing. I had been expecting the worms to burst through from underground and prompt an immediate and illogical counter-attack by the strong-headed Ichijo, only to fail and see her own ass get saved by some other person, let’s say, Otoha.
This does get to me a little: Ichijo’s cockiness. She’s a little too confident for someone who’s never piloted a Sonic Diver. She obviously believes that she’s far superior to the civilians that Otoha and Karen are. I guess she’s probably sore about the fact that she was had by a ‘temporary helper’ piloting a prototype weapon. This does say something about te handling of the Sonic Divers though (apparently very easy?) This means that it wouldn’t be too surprising for the girls to take the controls and defend against some kind of surprise onslaught, but you can’t really tell with the preview of the next episode. Sigh, I wish Ayako would stay up to date with subbing.
If this one episode does succeed in something, it would have to be the increase in anticipation that viewers would experience due to the questions newly presented. When the girls try on the nanoskin gel, one person is deemed as ’special’, and I’m betting Otoha is that person (since I’m pretty sure she’s the most ‘main’ character, due to her role in the OAV). She also seems to be able to feel some kind of connection between herself and her Sonic Diver. Is this due to the DNA selection process that is mentioned in the episode, or something else? Also, the commander speaks of a ‘final encounter’, which I think it refers to the last battle with the worms though.
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Thanks for the review! Nice job!
The slow pacing doesn’t surprise me that much. Honestly, I think it usually makes for better episodes later. I’m hopeful that all this background information means that someone actually thought about giving the series a plot, some pacing, and fleshing out the personalities. Given the suspension of disbelief we’re already being asked to make concerning the mecha’s physics, I think it’s nice that they are at least not asking us to do the same for the plot and personalities so far.
Speaking of which, Erica’s personality is pretty believable to me. She’s a military lifer who has probably already spent several years learning not only how to fly, but also in being the best pilot at her base. Being beaten would easily stick in her craw. Finding out she was beaten by a “helper” just makes it so much worse. Saying she’s being paired with two civilians when she’s been working her ass off for the same possible position – yeah, I can see how she’d be less than cordial to her new teammates and commander.
Anyway, I’m liking Sky Girls for what it is – a summer action show. It’s probably worse than half a dozen other shows out there already, but unlike say Darker than Black or Code Geass, it’s not a hard show to follow. It’s also got more of a plot than Hayate or Lucky Star, but it’s not as cute, either. It’s pretty much your standard mecha show, but with some good art, decent personalities, and perhaps a decent plot (with 26 eps we won’t know until around ep 10 to 13 what is really going on, if this is a standard series).
Looking fun so far, in a visual appealing without much thought needed way.
Perfect for summer!
looking forward to loli action next week! oh wait they’re not lolis XDD
This series seems to be setting itself up nicely; I’ll be looking forward to your prophecy of a random WORM attack in the next couple episodes.
As for the pacing, I have no problem with it. After tormenting myself with the pacing, character, plot, and visual horror that is Nanoha StrikerS this serving of moderate pace, reasonably well written characters, and nice visuals is extremely refreshing. I’ll be looking to Sky Girls for my aerial combat fix this summer.