Gatchaman Crowds Episode 3 Discussion

Kaioshin_Sama said:
the sense of pacing and exposition is borderline non-existent...
It just gets so many basic storytelling and expositions things wrong I find it utterly baffling as to how this could have been allowed to happen.

Imosa said:
Could you elaborate on this? I mean, is there something that should have happened by now, or something that should have happened sooner?

Kaioshin_Sama said:


I had moderate expectations for this show and so far it's managed to disappoint pretty much all of them. The characters are lousy and frankly while I have little issue with alternative lifestyles I don't know why every other character needs to be an example of one, the sense of pacing and exposition is borderline non-existent, the animation quality control is abysmal....the soundtrack is alright but that's about all this has going for it right now. It just gets so many basic storytelling and expositions things wrong I find it utterly baffling as to how this could have been allowed to happen. I think even Nakamura and Tatsunoko's last team up in [C] had a better opening set of episodes, it's just that slipshod.

Just unacceptable setup and execution for me. If it can't pick it up next week when it looks like it really wants to go for it finally then it's an easy drop for me. Setting my expectations at the lowest possible level and totally prepared for it to drop the ball on the frankly already kind of weak cliffhanger setup somehow.

Kaioshin_Sama said:

I don't know have the characters showcase something other than being weird, boisterous and effeminate. Be interesting and compelling to some degree with it's material when the setup is there for it. They could have integrated all this social media stuff into the framework of the story in some way that gives the characters noticeable drive instead of just to depict weird campy scenes like the milk crisis in the schools or so that they can give Hajime a contrived moral leg up on the rest of the cast without actually having to do anything heroic.

Basically give me a reason to care about what I'm seeing on screen and to see the supposed super hero team actually doing heroic stuff and making a difference. Showing half-hearted examples of character conflict like Hajime and Sugane's, villains acting all effeminate for the majority of their scenes doesn't exactly cut it on the intrigue level from where I'm sitting.

Kaioshin_Sama said:
I had moderate expectations for this show and so far it's managed to disappoint pretty much all of them. The characters are lousy and frankly while I have little issue with alternative lifestyles I don't know why every other character needs to be an example of one, the sense of pacing and exposition is borderline non-existent, the animation quality control is abysmal....the soundtrack is alright but that's about all this has going for it right now. It just gets so many basic storytelling and expositions things wrong I find it utterly baffling as to how this could have been allowed to happen. I think even Nakamura and Tatsunoko's last team up in [C] had a better opening set of episodes, it's just that slipshod.

Eudaimonia said:


I can see how you expect more character developement from them, though. It seems like the show is intentionally spending as little screentime on characters like Utsutsu or O.D. as possible to save their background and special traits for later parts of the show if the OP is any indication, though their scene at home in this episode thankfully gave us a slightly more nuanced view on them.
Similarly it seems that Bergkatze is held an enigma for exactly that reason.

As to the antagonist, if the scenes involving Rui this week where his plans and mindset are explained didn't do it for you then I fear that this anime is a lost case for you since the further plot progression will most likely build up on that.

Abracapanda said:
(much stuff here)Power Rangers (much stuff here)

bobyn said:
I guess since MESS isn't the enemy any more? Too bad I thought they looked pretty cool.

bobyn said:
anyone think Rui will be an antagonist? theres already that weird grell-looking guy running around kissing everyone.

Baddie007 said:
[img]
So, whose side is she?

Kjeldoran said:
I don't really see any potential for character development either, except for Sugane being humiliated humbled in the fact that his idealism is wrong as proved by Hajime or Rui, for not being the same type of altruist as Hajime is, will eventually "see the light." Maybe I'll be proved wrong; I doubt it.

Basically give me a reason to care about what I'm seeing on screen and to see the supposed super hero team actually doing heroic stuff and making a difference. Showing half-hearted examples of character conflict like Hajime and Sugane's, villains acting all effeminate for the majority of their scenes doesn't exactly cut it on the intrigue level from where I'm sitting.

Seemingly the fundamental purpose of Gatchaman Crowds is to subvert the superhero conventions; of the original series, seen in Power Rangers, seen in typical shounen animes, and seen from classic comic book heroes. Aside from the costumes screaming modernisation, you can see this already with how the villains, the MESS, were misunderstood - not requiring Gatchman/superhero intervention in the regular baddy-bashing criminalising expectation. Less notably, at the end of episode 1, most viewers expected each episode to handle a single MESS, whilst honing in on a side-character, one by one - typically shounen. Rather, given what episode 3 would indicate, we're being treated to something less linear and what I hope will be a tailored pacing/structure to give us a unique anime experience, rather than follow the normal (somewhat tired and old in my opinion) structure of an exposition, conflict and resolution (If you want that, maybe find a Shakespearean play?)

Baddie007 said:


So, whose side is she?

VioLink said:
you could even say she is the product of his creation.

1idd0kun said:


I agree with everything you said except this point. Even though Rui's ideal is a world where people help others without seeking reward, GALAX, ironically, is a system which gives points as reward for every good deed you do, which goes against Rui's own philosophy.

Basically, Rui is a cynic. He wants a world where people is truly selfless, but he doesn't believe it's possible, so he created a system that exploits people's natural selfishness.

Hajime isn't a product of his creation. She's the exact opposite of what his creation promotes. She's the one person who is really selfless.


And now you know why they're going to clash: their ideals are pretty much the same, but Rui, deep down, has already lost faith in humanity, while Hajime still believes, and more than anyone.