Wanting again on the premiere of Astro observe, I would say it was extra attention-grabbing than really good. I imply, it wasn’t horrible or something, however the humor was form of spotty and the apparent path it was crusing on appeared a bit pressured. Nicely, this second episode was clearly higher in my e book – and never just a bit higher, rather a lot. There have been quite a few causes for this, however collectively they supply a transparent enchancment, and that’s what actually counts.
One of many first issues that appealed to me right here was that Astro observe brazenly acknowledged the Maison Ikkoku connection, which in some way subtextually makes an enormous distinction. There is not any arguing now that it is an homage, and as I famous final week, authenticity is essential for a sequence that works so abjectly retro. It has additionally clearly modified by way of humor. As an alternative of a sequence of jokes, this was kind of a narrative. The humor was character pushed (at the least a few of it). Principally, the primary episode tried method too exhausting, and this episode benefited from being much more relaxed.
Creating the backstory additionally helps. We now know that the previous landlord Tasuke was most probably additionally a “widow”, and that he most likely hid the important thing Mira is in search of someplace in the home (maybe within the Showa umeshu). There may be one other alien species that’s in search of it: the “Hubbys”. I like that these names exist for no different motive than to trigger some misunderstanding with Takumi – I feel Rumiko would approve of that. The Hubby has despatched a robotic spy to seek for the important thing, and it infiltrates Astro Lodge posing as Roomba (which is a pleasant approach to replace the 80s-style storyline).
We additionally know why Mira’s final title is Gotokuji, and I am a little bit embarrassed that I did not make the connection final week since I visited Gotokuji whereas residing in Tokyo. Publish that Astro observe in Setagaya, and although Maison Ikkoku wasn’t there, it has the identical environment. The humor usually labored higher for me right here – for instance the encounter Takumi has with the oba-san on the town. That complete bit the place she used the Kansai-ben as a sweet (“Ame-chan”) as a result of she expanded her vocabulary was hilarious. And handing out sweet to strangers is the final word Japanese oba(a)-san transfer.
Briefly, Mira and Takumi look extra like actual characters now and that helps. She’s mainly a bored aristocrat who simply desires to flee her obligations and have enjoyable (and it is Naosuke’s job to nag her about it). However she accepts that these obligations (peace within the universe) are essential and she or he tries to do what she got here to do. At that time, her fiancé “Shoin Ginger” (one other big-name seiyuu, Fukuyama Jun) reveals up, and he is precisely the form of ridiculous popinjay you’d count on from him in this type of sequence.
“Sasuga” is a vital phrase within the Japanese language. Like many, it’s tough to translate actually, nevertheless it means kind of “as anticipated”. It says one thing about Japanese tradition that this may be the best praise you can provide, though relying on the context it could even have a detrimental connotation. For a present like Astro observe it may go both method, and I do suppose that is the case within the first two episodes. This one was rather more optimistic, and that offers me loads of hope for the long run. A present like this may be consolation meals for an old-timer like me, and there is nothing mistaken with that.
