KILL la KILL – 02
Move over, Prince of Tennis – there’s a new challenger in town.
With its non-stop, frenetic, and breakneck pace, KILL la KILL will end up leaving no genre left untouched, unscathed, and un-parodied when all is said and done. The sheer epic-ness of the premiere somewhat overshadowed a thoroughly entertaining send-up of boxing action scenes like Hajime no Ippo, but this week the clear victim was none other than tennis action scenes like ones found in The Prince of Tennis series.
The tennis match (if you can even call it tennis) between Hakodate Omiko (Takahashi Chiaki) and Ryuuko was just as absurd and over-the-top as the first episode’s boxing bout. It is worth noting that through two main fights so far, there has been nary any mention of strategy or tactics. The battle shounen genre usually has a great deal of focus on these aspects, since every fight incorporates at least some discussion of fighting strategy and/or tactics. Opponents’ strengths and weaknesses are discussed, counter-measures are developed, and a new and secret move or weapon is held back until needed at the very last second. KILL la KILL eschews most of this formula completely. In these fights, the strategy all boils down to one thing: attacking with your fanciest and craziest attacks and do it as powerfully as you can. And if that somehow doesn’t work, use your sword. With such a simple formula to KILL la KILL’s battles, an argument could definitely be made that the series is a classic case of all style and no substance – but when its style is a fantastically addictive assault on the senses, is there really anything wrong with that label?
That said, there is a some semblance of substance in the story that is developing – if you can get past the zany humor permeating the rapid fire dialogue. We already knew Honnouji Academy is one hell of a militaristic institution with its uniforms and strict hierarchy and rules, but we now know a little more about the extent of its military culture.
It wasn’t too surprising to hear Sanageyama Uzu talk about the interleague tennis match in terms like “subjugate” and “armed suppression”, it does raise the question of whether these terms are in reality accurately describing what happens. Maybe all these academies do use their uniforms to battle one, under the guise of athletic competitions. With an entire city built around the base of the school, it’s not too farfetched to think of Honnouji as akin to a city-state of sorts and the academy itself as the castle/fortress.
The stratification of Honnouji students by ranks is not unusual at all, especially in light of how militaristic the Academy is, but the fact that this stratification extends even to their families’ housing is very unusual. If for some reason Mako were to be promoted in rank, does that mean her perverted back-alley doctor of a father would be promoted as well, becoming a doctor in an actual clinic or hospital? (By the way, it is hilarious to see anything back-alley so loudly advertised.) And what does this social hierarchy say about the condition of Japan in general in the universe of KILL la KILL? Satsuki mentions that “the masses have been domesticated by the establishment”, but is her comment merely an ironic one because she is part of the establishment, or is there another power at work here in the world of KILL la KILL that will eventually be revealed? Then again, another possibility is that all this “substance” to the story will actually turn out to be nothing at all and the show is just a series of epic battles filled to the brim with style, culminating with Ryuuko finding her father’s killer and that’s it.
Does all this style really need that much substance anyway? KILL la KILL already demands 110% of your attention during every single second with its lightning-fast dialogue, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it action, and fanservice for both boys and girls around every corner, which has made it easily one of the most entertaining shows of the season. Maybe this time, it is what’s on the outside that matters.
Random thoughts:
- Episode title:「気絶するほど悩ましい」 (Kizetsu suru hodo Nayamashii)
“So Sexy She Might Pass Out” (or you can go with “Swooningly Sexy”) - Hilarious that Sengetsu has gaps in his memory, but can describe Matoi Isshin’s appearance with uncanny detail.
- Why stop at a nice round number like 100 million tennis balls? Let’s take it to 11(0) million!
- Watching Mikisugi Aikurou’s pointless stripping makes me wonder if that’s how girls feel when there’s pointless female fanservice. Nice of the show to turn the tables!
About verdantly
I like writing about anime, long walks on the beach, and clichés. Oh and being mysterious too...
POWUH: iLurker with 1 comments
Your review is very…..short lol but informative. Usually other reviews have a few extras but I still liked yur review (^__^)
i’m still kinda getting used to Ryuuko’s battle outfit and I LOVE the over the topness, but in my mind I’m still kinda bummed that she has to go and embarrass herself from lack of cover in the battles so far . Maybe the fibers she’s collecting will actually do something to her suit like add stuff to make it more badass. (or at least that’s what I hope.)
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
Welcome to the site. Now, are you a Metanorn Fan that is curious, or are you a fan of the Curious Metanorn?
I think the threads or fibre’s that get collected might start to bring more things into play, Sengetsu gets more power and more memories, and it also starts to unravel the battle costume hierarchy, literally..
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
Watching Mikisugi Aikurou’s pointless stripping makes me wonder if that’s how girls feel when there’s pointless female fanservice. Nice of the show to turn the tables!
Yeah. This, and we get more of it next week….if the previews are any indication.
Yep, the show is just straight up Bawls, and isn’t afraid to admit it.
And it is rather interesting, the further down the ladder of this society you go, the more human you get…in a manner of speaking.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Well, I was a little let down by this episode. It just didn’t deliver like the first one. Some of the scenes were just getting TOO ridiculous, and TOO risque. That scene with Mako’s family was downright disgusting. The teacher who was once cool and cute to me, suddenly lost all appeal from his ridiculous almost semi-nude poses. This fight-of-the-week syndrome is already beginning to wear on me. I’m beginning to think I might not like this outrageous style as much as I did at first.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
An episode as unhinged as the first. Tennis has never been this crazy. This show is going to redefine the term “extreme sports”.
Given that flashback, Ryuuko has adapted to her vampiric, Witchblade-like uniform Senketsu rather quickly. I guess she’s the “go with the flow” type. My question is: How much blood is needed to use its abilities? In their world, I’d say the fight didn’t last anywhere 10 minutes and already she’s been drained to the point of losing consciousness.
What I didn’t like was the look of Mako’s family and their disgusting environment. It’s hard to believe she’s related to these people, especially the slob who’s supposed to be her father.
The battle was awesomely over the top which is the best part and the opponents are nuts so I don’t know if I should the place a school or a loony bin. Another thing: Is there any point in rescuing Mako now? No matter what trouble she gets into and the abuse she endures, she comes back unscathed as if nothing happened. It makes you wonder if she’s immortal.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
This show would be better if it wasn’t so subdued. Come on, Kill la Kill, cut loose a bit.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Uhhh…. Are we watching the same show? Cuz I honestly don’t feel things were less insane in EP2.
Helllooooo Aikuro-senseiPOWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
It’s a joke. Of course it’s over the top and insane.
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 38 comments
Oh my god, I am loving Kill la Kill so much and I liked this episode even more than the first.
I thought the scene where we met Mako’s family was hilarious. It was so high energy and the music was pretty great. I lost it at the line about how Mako’s dad has killed more people than saved. And then later the fucking teacher comes along and just starts stripping and I totally lost it again. That part was my favorite of the episode, without a doubt. How can anyone not like that fabulousness?
I just… AHHHH. I love over-the-top shows like this. It’s so absurd and ridiculous. I’m really hyped for the next episode though. They screened it in Japan and apparently it’s a big table-turner.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
I can’t get that flipped main character scene out of my mind. That G-string literally went into, or at least right at the top of, the- yeah, you know what I mean. Won’t that hurt? Ouccchhh
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
I’ve heard varying reports of both pain and pleasure. Reports may or may not be questionable on either aspect…
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Damn I can’t unthink of it now.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
You’ve been scarred for life.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
Scar tissue tells a story..