The somewhat episodic nature of this show, which in turn leads to a variety of characters and side stories found within it, will ultimately lead some to believe that the show has no direction, or is plagued with inconsequential filler. However, in most cases, these arcs add a lot to the overarching story, as the world building and character development achieved in them are an invaluable part of Michiko to Hatchin's success, and are usually quite entertaining in their own right. With each stop on the path to finding Hiroshi, as the two characters go off on their separate paths (only to begrudgingly meet up when it's time to move on), they find themselves in a variety of dangerous, romantic, and humorous situations. By these means, the viewer gets a glimpse into their heads that we ultimately wouldn't get a chance to experience without the 'episodic' nature the show lends itself to; we're forced to see how both Hana and Michiko behave and adapt to various situations when they're not in the company of each other, and by these means, what would have otherwise stood out as a duo with opposite personalities, becomes a portrayal of two very unique characters in their own right.
In addition to the development of the main characters that we get to see in this manner, an equally important aspect is the showcasing of the show's environment. The South American setting, an unfamiliar one to most anime fans, is expanded and broadened constantly by the various settings and personalities one comes across when following the escapades of the two; we see the ins and outs of each city, from the poverty stricken streets, to the underground gangs controlling everything from behind closed doors, to the struggle of the everyday man trying to earn a living, to the run-down apartments the characters are always staying in. Their portrayals, along with the show's detailed and distinct background art, jazzy latin style soundtrack, and beautiful character designs, do a great job of immersing the viewer into what would otherwise be an unfamiliar Latin American setting.
The overarching plot itself is a solid one, though nothing mind-blowing. With each town the protagonists decide to rest in, we discover more and more clues regarding the whereabouts and backstory of their beloved Hiroshi, including many flashbacks explaining and highlighting his backstory as a powerful gang leader, which include some of the best scenes in the entire show. His shady history, and Michiko's quest to catch up with some of his old associates in a quest for clues to his whereabouts, make up most of what one would consider the show's "central plot". As the two delve deeper and deeper into things in a quest for the truth, and become more involved with various gangs, they find themselves facing an increasing amount of members who want their blood, and some who are after Hiroshi themselves. This dynamic, paired with the fact that the police are also after the two, makes for a fast paced story in which the characters are always on their toes, always ready to fight off or run from the various forces trying to bring them down.
Already having analyzed the show's strong points, there are a few flaws which need to be looked at with just as much conviction. Though they certainly weren't enough to ruin my enjoyment of the show, I couldn't help but feel that it could have been a lot better had a few glaring downsides been amended.
Firstly, and probably most disappointing considering the high production value and great character designs, were the action scenes. Despite the clever and suspenseful build-up leading to nearly each and every one of them, whenever the time came for shit to really hit the fan, the results were usually pretty underwhelming. These scenes had a overwhelming amount of mood ruining asspulls, the nonexistence of any antagonist who can seem to properly aim a gun, (at least when they're shooting at Michiko) and everyone's favorite, a police force chock full of bumbling idiots. The scenes which could have been a series of heart-pounding climaxes are usually done in a fairly uncreative manner, and they usually rely on the same exact tricks and situations as the last one; frankly, they felt lazy. Not over-the-top enough to make you really drop your jaw, but at the same time, not realistic enough to demand much attention from the viewer. Seeing as how this show took place in a setting dominated by cold blooded, gun wielding gang members, it's a pity that the action scenes couldn't have been stronger, and it definitely took some air out of the sails for me as the adventure went along.
While my second gripe might seemingly be a bit of a contradiction considering the praise I gave the show's episodic nature earlier, I felt that they did a poor job of connecting the story arcs. While it may have just been an unavoidable consequence of the way the story was told, we'd often find one adventure end, only to find the characters in a completely different situation by the time the next episode started. Without getting specific, there are a few times where the stories just didn't seem to get enough closure, and the viewers are frustratingly thrust into a sort of "square one" type situation, where all previous events are forgotten, and our heroes are just on the road again per usual. Whether it's the result of the episodic structure, the 22 episode allotment, or just a case of bad directing, I would have appreciated a bit more flow between the individual stories.
The only other flaw I wanted to bring up is difficult to describe without spoiling anything, but I found the pacing in the final two episodes to be uncharacteristically rushed, with an ending that just didn't seem to match the tone from the rest of the series, and one that left a bad taste in my mouth, despite being adequate.
Michiko to Hatchin is a show that managed to set the stage for an amazing story, with a set of likable and in-depth characters, brilliant thematic music and art, and a fantastic, believable atmosphere. While these strong points weren't exploited to their fullest thanks to a few pacing issues and some lacking action scenes, they make for one hell of an adventure that really shines when it shines, even if it's dragged down by a few murky moments.
