Lol Screw that. The first rock I saw, I'd be getting off Mud Whale and saving my lifespan. Like y'all can join me if you want. Sail me back to where Lykos was or something.
I didn't mind this show, but I did notice that they kept introducing new things knowing that they'd never be able to wrap them up given their twelve episodes. Like, as soon as Rohalito and his crew came, I was thinking, "No no nooo, unless there's a season two, there will be like almost no way to give them a really good role in the plot".
Or just everything with Orka and his plot, I knew they wouldn't be able to wrap it up. I'm also interested in just how they'll really justify Liontari's reappearance-- I mean, not that he's still alive, but just that he's still here doing the same stuff even after being near death. Like what will his change be if at all? They had a major turning point opportunity for him already to have the chance to change him, but they didn't, so I feel like it'd be weird to go through yet another scene which might deal with death for him when it was already shown to be ineffective. But that's also one of the few things that will actually change someone like him maybe, so I dunno what they're going to do-- and I'm kinda wary of what they're going to do since I can only imagine they wouldn't wrap it up well.
I don't mind the characters, and I felt that Chakuro was fine; he had his own inner battle for a little while. I thought that was fine. I don't mind Lykos; it's usually really hard to connect to a character who doesn't really emote, but I think after she regained a little more of her emotions, she was fine. At the same time, I feel like they could have explored that aspect a little more. They made a point of saying that they were interested in seeing how being on Mud Whale would drive her crazy, and I understand that they believed emotions were no good though there really wasn't anything wrong with them and therefore there really SHOULDN'T be much of a conflict between Lykos and gaining her emotions (because the point is there shouldn't be any problem with having emotions). Still, I think it would have been maybe a little better if Lykos didn't kinda just gain her emotions back and not have any real conflicting thoughts about them-- or good thoughts as well. It could go both ways... "Ah, emotions aren't too bad, eh?" or "Gosh darn it, I'm not used to having these darn emotions. I hate it, but I'll get used to it" (taking her decision to stay into account). She didn't really go into how gaining her emotions back really made her feel though-- or they didn't show it and kinda more told it if anything? Like even when talking to Ema, she decided to stay and keep her emotions too, but I dunno, it was a kinda lackluster like, "I'll keep my emotions, thanks" instead of maybe even Lykos going a little more into why she started to treasure her emotions. I did like that she was just a little willing to have the emotions taken away again though.
I did notice that anyone that someone else seemed to genuinely get along with died. Like, not just in a telling way either because we did have a lot of relationships in which the anime just kinda said "they're close" but I personally found no chemistry between them. Then as soon as you saw two people laughing together or like actually interacting in a way that was genuine to the audience, one of them died. See Masoo and Kuchiba, Kuchiba and Taisha, Nibi and Ouni. That's a big old trap and you need to look out for it. I can't even think of any characters left who seem to genuinely get along with each other maybe other than like Chakuro and the dude he lives with (and he hardly even shows up to do anything). I even felt Chakuro and Suou's relationship was kinda thin. Even Chakuro and Sami's relationship was like...?? On Sami's end, sure, but when Chakuro said he wanted Sami to be his wife too, I was like, "Oh. Really? I didn't notice at all. Like, that legitimately comes as a surprise. Your friendship kinda seemed like one-sided or even clueless". They just kinda told us they were close.;; Or they tried to show us when it was too late. And people wonder why others sometimes ship MCs with like their best friends instead of the supposed end girl... BECAUSE the chemistry isn't believable while the chemistry between the MC and their friend is.;; It's kinda sad that folks are just that bad at writing character interactions sometimes. Or maybe they can write it, but they only write it when one of the characters are going to have to die. I've seen way worse in other anime though, so I guess I don't mind Kujira no Kora's as much.
I'm also really interested in the fact that some of the folks from the place Lykos is from have been taking things to give them emotions (especially those higher in rank). I guess it kinda makes it seem like they're leaving the emotionless to do most of the fighting while those with a little position kinda just enjoy the good and bads of life. It also calls into question what they actually value in their society. I actually had been wondering why some of the higher ups seemed to be emoting just fine; now we know.
I kinda wish they revealed the secret of Mud Whale a little more early on as well since for most of the time it served as the elephant in the room. And it's like everyone (from like everywhere else) seemed to know but like dang why can't I know? I'm not gonna tell anyone, obviously. People would just be like, "I just can't get over the reason why they're sinners. -evil cackle-" "Man, those Mud Whalers... all those short life spans, am I right? You know why though, right? Oh you do? Ho ho ho ho". Like dang let me in on it! Don't wait until episode like eleven or I think that was the time they revealed. I don't remember. I think revealing it earlier would have given the actions more weight as well-- and if the characters knew, I feel like maybe that would have changed the dynamic too.
There are a lot of things I'm actually interested in for this anime. A lot of people are saying as it went on, it got boring, but I actually didn't feel that way at all.;; I became even more interested in what was being thrown at me. The only thing that really made me frown up a little was that I just figured they threw the things in a little too late for them to properly wrap it all up, and that ended up being true. So it's either they're going to have to make a second season or I dunno what to say.
Other than that, I enjoyed Kujira no Kora and would gladly picked up season two if they make one. They brought up some interesting things that I'd like to know the answer to. |