After ceaseless emoing about my disappointment in Un-Go, Aaro and I have decided to take this series on together by staggering the episodes we talk about. He gets all the odd episodes (since he's such an odd boy) and I get all the even episodes (because I like to get even...? How how vengeful and punless I am.) For the first episode, we've posted separately because Aaro's done a more comprehensive review (and posted well before I even surfaced from my disappointment hole), while I just rant and rage, albeit sensibly. From episode two, we will be creating one post together on every episode.
It all started when Pearz demanded that she know what Autumn series I was interested in covering. Un-Go was the first thing that really caught my eye. Djr7 and I even duelled it out. (We managed to come to an agreement and no animals were hurt in the process.) After the first episode, Un-Go crashed to the bottom of my list. The best explanation I can give for this is that the opening episode was a terrible bore.
There is nothing engaging or thrilling about this episode which draws me into the series. In fact, it seems like the story hopes to run on its eccentricity and nonsensical overarching mystery. Allow me to explain; I'll go in reverse order.
Aaro has already established that this is a detective series. Most detective series have two main components to them: (1) The episodic mystery which the viewer has no chance of solving; and (2) the series-long mystery revolving around one or many of the primary characters which keeps you watching the series chronologically. The episodic mystery builds the characters, their relationships and the setting of the series. The series-long mystery compels the viewer to attach themselves to a character via curiosity and compassion. The series will start out heavily in the former, focusing on episodic events, and eventually builds more screen time for the latter. In Gosick, the series-long mystery surrounded Victorique, her mother and the grey wolves and eventually this story almost entirely took over screen time.
Un-Go seems to follow this template. We have the episodic mystery in the murder of Kanou and we have the introduction to the series-long mystery which involves something about the protagonist duo being dead. But not - since they are alive and detecting. This scene introduced the opening episode. I am curious but not curious enough to care if they didn't tell me anything amore about that plot. The scene was much too short and fragmented to inspire genuine curiosity. Before I could finish thinking "hey what's going on?" the opening song was rolling.
Then the episodic mystery kept going and going and going. It was possibly the longest 20 minutes I've endured in a long while. When a piece of entertainment makes you endure the passing of time rather than forget about it, it has fundamentally failed. Entertainment should not employ torture tactics. There is no pace to this show. None whatsoever. Eccentricity is introduced here and there but it's nothing but a superficial layer of "Hey look at this! It's socool!" concealing a hollow, absent core. Example: Inga.
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| Yuuki must lock her up in a dungeon. How else can she be whiter then the white panda garb? |
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This is actually a part of the scene I liked. Look at how honestly Yuuki is revealing his emotions for her. Bet-cha he gave her that black eye.
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Inga, who is entirely female in my opinion, is a transforming, jaundiced, air-headed, truth-seeking panda girl. She is around for eye-candy for I can't imagine Yuuki having any use for her. If Yuuki were a magician, Inga would be his showgirl. When in her "little boy" form, as the community has come to know her, she wears panda garb to look cute and delivers flowery introductions for Yuuki. She also hangs all over Yuuki like a puppy asking if "it is time yet". Time for what you ask? Transform into a creepy, lets say bodacious, woman. In this form, she has an ability... I think. It's all as clear as mud. Her eyes glow and she asks a pressing question and her eyes glow some more and I think I'm having an acid flashback and then her victim sputters the true answer to her question.
I have one question. If Yuuki has this kind of power on his team, why not just ask the person whether they are the murderer? Too efficient I think. I digress. Inga's character has too much weird and not enough basis for it. So instead of intrigued, I'm left baffled. It's a strange, violated sort of baffled feeling, the kind you get when you feel somebody is watching you but you're alone in your room.
I do appreciate the one bone they threw to those of us who have not forsaken reason. Yuuki, despite being much more capable than Kaisho Sr. is known as the Defeated Detective. This is because Yuuki is always right in the truth but wrong in the media. Kaisho Rinroku devises the best story for the public based on what "is right" (According to whose morals?), "best for the public" (Does socialism like this ever work out?), and in the best interest of the involved parties. I take it Yuuki is too lazy to fight for a better reputation. Or maybe his complacence has something to do with the accident which killed him; but didn't.
As much as I dislike the show, I want to end of a positive note. Yes, I'm giving you the "this show sucks but look it has this shiny thing!" routine. The highlight of the series for me, insofar, is the head maid's uniform! Look at it! Its the love child of the western victorian maid uniform and a traditional japanese kimono. I love it so. I love it more than the massive computer console Kaisho Rinroku sits at. (The fallacy of that console is the abhorring lack of vertically oriented monitors. They make reading so much easier.) Not only does she have a uniform I want, she has the most engaging personality in the episode.
How-to: Dress a brat.
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Smile
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Reassure
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Blindside
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...and done!
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I can't say I look forward to episode two, but I do look forward to the story having some pace, be it slow of fast.
/Envy
