Yoru no Yatterman – 05

Donboro taking the Yatterbull by the horns….

Well, just like Fosh said the last time, this show is the one that really needs more love. So this week, let’s see how the show is trying to earn that love.

The Hurricane Dedicated to His Mother

A chance meeting

I love this show for forging it’s own ground. While it is formally based on a show with a mega-long history, it hasn’t forgotten to both update, and tell it’s own story. But, for this episode they clearly, and without shame took many pages from it’s past. If some of the despair, outright poverty of wealth and spirit in previous episodes got you down. Then this is the one that you should watch, as it pretty much jettisions that and tells a big whopping, goofy battler of a show.

Which is not to say that they completely abandon some of the storylines they’ve been working on since the show started. This part of the Yatter Kingdom is still pretty darn depressed. The Festival is just what the people needed, but as revealed by General Goro, it’s all bread and circuses to keep them distracted from the raw deal the Yatters are giving them. Both Leopard and Ally are getting to be a touch closer to both each other and the Angel that may be guiding them. Galina is still somewhat a hapless rube, and both Boyaky and Tonzra are, well, Boyaky and Tonzra. Oda still rules.

The First Wacky Martial Arts Tournament

Beating on LOLis is the best way to get into fighting shape

So we have to have a new character in the mix, and the callow youth appeal of Takeshi is just what was needed. Well, that one part of him is arguable…really, he can’t hold it? Am I missing a cultural reference? Do I want to know? But, anyway, this kid is more than meets they eye. In addition to being boisterous, hopeful, and cheerful, he’s a bit dim. But for the purposes of a wacky martial arts contest (is wrestling, boxing, and sumo wacky? Or were the Yatter trying to telegraph the episode?), the kids is built like a damn steamship, easily able to press Leopard’s boys with one arm.

Not quite a Yokozuna…

So before you can say plot point, Tonzra, the natural for this style of fighting is right out, as it is for minors only. Which is fine for 15 year old Takeshi, and for Galina. But that guy in the mustache that fought one of the Yattermechs? Anyway, Takeshi happily drafts Galina in without a second thought. So on to the embarrassing fighting montage! In addition to being creamed by both Boyaky and Tonzra, he gets to pick on Leopard, which isn’t at all cool. But Galina soon learns that determination is all he needs…

…and a head made of  steel, i guess…

But no sooner than you can say Yatta! The Evil Empire just starts to cheat and floods the entire competition with mechs the locals just cannot even conceive, much less fight.

Leopard loves all the fighting!

But she hates being sidelined

It’s a trick they’ve pulled off before, that Donboro. But just one instant mech (based on the musing of Ally about barbeque mutton earlier in the episode) brings out the Dangerous GenghisKhan. It’s the sure fire way to beat a bunch of cheating cheaters that cheat. So with all the wacky hijinks, the “heroes” win the day and the final matches and earn some sheep and some pocket money. Awfully nice of them to donate that to Takeshi, he of the sick mother and all.

Their bike of shame is become less and less shameful.

Yes! This is just what the series needed, wasn’t it. It flew high and it flew well and gave us a great dose of the craziness the original series is based on. Now, for the future, I don’t think they will abandon the world-building they’ve established thus far. The Yatter has soured there is not doubt, and that still calls for the Big Damn Bad Guys of yesteryear to answer the Call to being Big Damn Heroes…and ain’t they just…

LOLis are all about the style…