Phi Brain – 04
Fun with numbers (and all-consuming fire)
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I’ve been trying to get into the Halloween spirit, but it’s tough. The street perpendicular to ours is one of the city’s best in terms of decorated houses (it’s usually on the news) so my street has become bitter and apathetic. I don’t think anyone even attempts to give out candy anymore. The lack of spooky anime specials also makes it tough. The scariest thing about this episode is probably how often they use the word “ecstasy” and that’s…okay, yeah, that is kinda scary. |
To be honest, this episode fell flat in a lot of areas I was expecting it to succeed in. I want them to do something interesting with the retrieval of Jin’s memories, but it’s more like a primal tug-of-war with Kaito and Raetsel. It’s clear that they both know him very well in their own pockets of time of knowing him, so nothing they tell Jin is essentially “wrong.” This clash of perspectives could have been the topic for really interesting discussions between the three of them. Unfortunately, the intensity just isn’t there. Trying to get Jin to remember involves Raetsel cleverly describing specific events while Kaito just yells a lot. You know, maybe he could try to bring up specific things like a particular puzzle that Jin made him? His lack of trying to offer any countering evidence to Raetsel other than “YOU’RE WRONG” is frustrating. It’s no wonder Raetsel has been successfully recovering the majority of Jin’s past – because she’s the only one to hand him the actual pieces instead of vague concepts.
This is bad because none of them ever descend beyond catty comments. The flashbacks show a really, really interesting past with Raetsel and Jin, but she just isn’t communicating that at all. There’s so much potential there and it’s just being dragged out. On the bright side, the reasons why Raetsel ended up with Jin should be revealed in time and that should be really great to watch.
A little girl trying to comfort a tormented adult is all kinds of messed up
The terribly scripted dialogue for these amnesia-recovery sessions makes them painful to watch. It gets especially cringe-worthy when Raetsel descends into yandere-levels of possessiveness. Well, she may not be a male, but they kept the tradition of the lead villain being clingy. “Boku no Jin”, indeed. It’s obvious she’s delusional and ignoring anything Kaito says, while Kaito is showing the same level of stubbornness in kind. Meanwhile, Nonoha has a perfect picture of what is going on despite not even knowing Jin. Once again we see that puzzle-solving skills do not translate into things like sensibility.
While the small scale BBQ was a bit of a bust (I WANTED A FULL SCALE MEAT THROWDOWN WITH GAMMON AND THE GANG CREATING MEAT PUZZLES) at least Cubic’s bit of limelight was nice. His encounter with Dr. Theorem was in true Phi Brain fashion. While riding a robot, Cubic encounters another man riding a robot. Overcome with shock, he unironically exclaims, “a robot!”. Then again, perhaps the real shocker here is not another robot, but the fact that the two of them built robots for the sole purpose of riding on like a segway. They’re not for fighting or even solving puzzles, they simply exist. It’s kind of hilarious that despite this, they gave Cubic’s robot a bigger role this season. He has a personality now! I’d be totally fine if robot battles became a thing for this show, because it’s really the only direction left for this show to go in. That or puzzles on motorcycles. Take your pick.
TimerTron 2000 V 3.1 (it also makes coffee!)
The number puzzle seemed rather easy…I’m depressed that Cubic had to ask for Kaito’s help at the end like always. Thankfully, it was addressed appropriately at the end by Kaito admitting he needed some of Cubic’s help to solve it. It would have been better to let Cubic finally live up to his title of “child prodigy who can single-handedly manufacture hyperintelligent robots.” Like…come on guys. He’s probably 7 years old or something and he knows how to make tracking devices. Give him some credit other than being the clingy shota. What number geek doesn’t immediately think of pi when told to find a beautiful number? I don’t even like math and my eyes just locked onto 3.14 like a hawk. On the bright side, the “co-op puzzles” thing has happened twice now. I’m just waiting for when Gammon and Kaito have to swallow their pride and team up again, causing Gammon to get all pissy afterwards when he doesn’t solve it alone. Please let this be a thing!
Bonus Screenshots: Show ▼
Preview: A ROOK EPISODE. It seems like we’re making our rounds through the side characters now. To be fair, Rook shared his past with Jin and Kaito, so there should be some plot progression other than two idiots yelling at Jin. As always, there is a puzzle involved and I bet Kaito will have to save him.
Kids, never take puzzles from strangers.
About Overcooled
A neuroscience graduate, black belt, and all-around nerd. You'll either find me in my lab or curled up in my rilakkuma kigurumi watching anime.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I hate halloween, so I wish it was as apathetic here as your house is. But nooooo, we get all these brats showing up in ‘costumes’ (wearing your football uniform, or a Scream mask, is not a costume you lazy jerks). This is where I turn into a “Get off my lawn, you bratty kids!” grumpy old man.
So I’ll trade you!
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I hate when people try to get candy without even putting a little effort into their outfits. =A= When those kids come to my door I always give them the worst candy.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I’m not even there but somehow, I can imagine such a person swinging a caine in the air.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
They should have a robot fight instead of a puzzle fight! That would have been hilarious xD
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
If that happened, I’m sure Cubic’s robot would get thrashed.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
Hell ya it would or does Cubics robot have some super cannon like the Arpeggio blue submarine LOLZ
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Yes! Cubic should consider that for a future upgrade
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
He should consider a lot of them because he’s not the physical battling type.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
His robot wouldn’t be able to handle the energy output. We’re comparing a submarine to a toy model robot.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 167 comments
When I saw that puzzle I immediately thought of the value of Phi cause Most Beautiful Number = Golden Ratio = the fkin name of the anime series.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
It’s symbolic and makes sense.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I was kind of surprised Kaito didn’t know the golden ratio considering he’s the star of the show. You’d think more answers to puzzles would include phi in it since yeah…IT’S THE NAME OF THE SHOW.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Well, in season 2, Kaito was beaten by Klondike which was his first time engaging in a puzzle. So there’s a first time for everything.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Hmmm, this was one of the weaker episodes. Maybe it would have been better with a more exciting puzzle because this one wasn’t all that.
More and more, I feel the Jin both Kaito and Raetsel are talking about are real. So either one of them was played as a kid or he might have a slit personality.
Side note: Since it’s November 1st now, I’d like to tell you it’s been officially three years today since I made my first comment on Metanorn. Time sure flies fast, huh?
Second side note: Since you blogged the show, you should know that Gatchaman Crowds is getting another season.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I forgot to mention how ridiculously loaded Enigma must be. Being able to travel the world, eat different kinds of food and have enough money to bring Raetsel along for the ride. How rich is this guy?
POWUH: 600-699 and LN Enthusiast with 623 comments
Uh, every Giver in the whole franchise is loaded, else they wouldn’t be able to set up every single one of those huge puzzles. I mean, that flying puzzle by Masaka Jin last episode must cost a fortune. Let’s not forget that whole falling building puzzle by the Orpheus Order last time.
I don’t think these bounties given to the Phi Brain cast is enough to pay back what these Master Brains spent, except maybe for Kaito.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Watching these villains indulge themselves like that generates envy. If only the Phi Brain children were that loaded. Gammon’s lust for money would have been quelled right away.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I liked the puzzle. The BBQ was soooo slow. I think Jin loves puzzles but grew bitter because of the Fool’s Puzzles he had to solve. The “true” Jin loves innocent puzzles though so of course Kaito will win this argument u_u
Totally ready for GATCHA part two!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
That could be it. After all, he disappeared for a year one time and no one could find a trace of him. That could have been all the time he was spending with Raetsel as a kid.