Plastic Memories – 04
’tis better to reign in Marshmallow Hell…
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In the past I’ve felt that this show has been walking on unquiet feet, shuffling between it’s emotional story, and it’s sci-fi background. But this time around, I think they’ve gotten back on some decent footing. |
It’s probably a story as old as industry. Buy early and buy often. In an equal vein we can look at planned obsolescence. The value of an automobile goes down the instant you drive it off the lot, the brand new computer you just bought is already behind the times the moment you first plug it in. Goodness but aren’t you wearing last year’s fashion?! We can see this written between the lines with the meeting Yamanobe has with SAI’s chief. Bring down costs, the retrieval is no longer of any lasting value. Push the new product, or the upgrade at the very least. They are wading into a great bit of sci-fi waters that has the value to run deep. I just wish they would have made the chief look a little less like a cliched villain.
Learning how to smile again….
…mashimaro…
This weeks retrieval is a pretty interesting tell all. It isn’t so much focused on the client and the Giftia as it is the reflections our main characters have about it. We do have several wrinkles introduced into the story; the first one is that black market retrieval units exist, and are a future threat. But for the main story we have to come to the idea of Android Children; a functional oddity if every there was one, but that’s par for the course in this show.
I find it really hard to countenance that a society would allow small children to be raised completely by Giftia. But on the other face, the androids are totally meant to be human replacements, so it stands to some reason that they could be uniquely qualified to undertake such a task. That’s not to hard to swallow, and some disbelief can be suspended; are we even going to take into account how Souta would be raised after Marcia is gone? That’s the one big glaring thing, but as the end of the show goes, that story is not yet over….
You are paying attention to the cake recipe, right?
For all accounts, Marcia (Noto Mamiko, this season’s Einhart Stratos from Nanoha Vivid, and last season’s Viv from Junketsu no Maria) is just perfect, a great big sister and mother figure, and the holder of memories that Souta cannot quite come to grips with. But like all Giftia, her time has come to an end. Souta wants nothing of the pain associated with her leaving, so he is quick to be over and done with the retrieval. But this isn’t something that Tsukasa can readily deal with.
I like how his argument bookends the proceedings. You can tell he is doing this just as much for the other characters, and himself, especially Isla, as he is for Marcia and Souta. Along the way we do get a very heavy characterization drop with Michiru, as she is also a member of the Android Child family, and gives us a not to steady warning about the Wandering phenomenon. This is really weird to know four episodes in, that the Giftia can become physically dangerous past the retrieval date. We also get a sublet visual clue about her past as the camera zooms in on one of the retrieval rings we’ve seen on other missions.
Ichigo Tart ala Tsundere
But all in all, I really do feel that this whole birthday party effort was not in Souta’s complete interest. While it did do the job that they set out to do; reconnect the boy to his positive memories, and clear the way for Marcia’s eventual departure, the all in approach the character’s took really showed us this was about their own needs. Now if this is a deliberate action of the writers, or if I am reading into things is one thing, but there is something there to read.
Isla cannot help but compartmentalize her actions in this, and she did put down some traction, however minor, against the birthday plan at the start. Perhaps she knows that one last good memory is more about it’s finality than the goodness it can bring. There are times when we just don’t want any bitter to go along with the sweet. I guess in that viewpoint, it’s much like making a tart. There are some special ingredients waiting to be added.
Isla and the Park
I think we all regret letting go…
I know I can be really loud in chastising fans about expectations. So it’s only fair that I let that voice echo back to me. It’s likely that this show will not develop that sci-fi part I would like them to. The time limit, the wanderers, the black market operators are all there are great big road signs for character development. If left alone, they could not stand on their own; much less bake a nice dessert. But, for a story that has not being alone as a major theme, I think that works. The show may not have settled down to my liking, but I know that I have.
…cause they need to resolve this but quick!
About skylion
All around nerd that enjoys just about any anime genre. I love history, politics, public policy, the sciences, literature, arts...pretty much anything can make me geeky...except sports. Follow me @theskylion
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
One of my concerns around Giftia’s in general is, if they have a life span, with technology’s advancements occurring before the end comes, it’s hard to believe they haven’t found a way to restore or extend the deadline. Nine years is ample time to get something done.
I can’t see Souta making it on his own right now. He’s still too young. The best guess is child services intervening until he’s old enough to go it alone.
Mamiko Noto playing Junketsu no Maria’s Viv is news to me but Marcia’s voice sounded really familiar and it’s clear as to why. She voiced No Game, No Life’s Feel Nilvalen, Kurami Zell’s game partner and master.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Well with the board room scenes, I’m getting the hint they don’t want to solve the problem…it looks like it’s easier and more profitable to sell more units…
I hope he gets help….that guy was creepy!
I really want to list more of her VA roles, but would have been there for more than half a paragraph…so I confined myself to most recent work.
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
He could manage. Anyone can if they need so. He just can’t be put under a new Giftia’s care to go through it all again.
No Game, No Life’s still pretty recent… I think .-. At least in my memory, it’s still pretty much alive.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
A series no longer capable of holding the “recent” tag. No Game No Life was a Spring 2014 anime. So it’s officially a year old.
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
Really? It’s been that long already?
But, well. This is coming from someone who still thinks Attack on Titans was last year. =.=’ I’m really not good with calendar, seriously.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
If you wish, you can call it, “recent in your heart” if not by calendar…
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Let me give you an idea of how much time has passed.
Spring 2014 :
Black Bullet
Captain Earth
Date A Live II
Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka?
Gokukoku no Brynhildr
Hitsugi no Chaika
Love Live! School Idol Project 2nd Season
Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei
Mekakucity Actors
Mushishi Zoku Shou
No Game No Life
Ryuugajou Nanana no Maizoukin
Seikoku no Dragonar
Selector Infected WIXOSS
Sidonia no Kishi (1st Season)
Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii
Soul Eater Not!
Spring 2013:
Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan)
Suisei no Gargantia
Devil Survivor 2: The Animation
Haiyore! Nyaruko-san W
Hyakka Ryoran: Samurai Bride
Dansai Bunri no Crime Edge
Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S
Date A Live (1st Season)
Hataraku Maou-sama!
Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru (Oregairu)
Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko
RDG: Red Data Girl
Kakumeiki Valvrave (1st Season)
Mushibugyou
Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake Ga Nai (OreImo S2)
Photo Kano
Zettai Bouei Leviathan
Spring 2012:
Fate/Zero (2nd Sason)
Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? Of the Dead
Accel World
Tasogare Otome x Amnesia
Sankarea: April 5th 2012
Hyouka
Nazo no Kanojo X
Haiyore! Nyaruko-san
Jormungand (1st Season)
Eureka Seven AO
AKB0048
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
skylion, that’s a good way to put it hahaha
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Di Gi Charat is recent.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
Darker than black called they want their smile memes back!
Interesting episode this week with them returning to FEELS mode, but I am curious to see what they do with the ending scene! Like WHOAAA that was kinda creeepy.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I’ve not seen Darker than Black, should it go on the backlog?
With that ending scene, they’v done quite good at building up more momentum with the background. Way to creepy on so many levels.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Yeah, I don’t think this will be a sci-fi heavy story even though all the elements are in place should they ever want to do so. I’ve had to let go of wanting that to enjoy Plamemo for what it is. So I think I’m going through some similar phases as you.
…I want someone to make me a strawberry tart too *drools*
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…ah yes, tart-makers are blessed folk…