In the final few episodes, we learn the significance behind the name and the agenda of Project Leviathan, come to understand and perhaps sympathize with LA more than we could have expected. We learn to like “Blue Eyes” and feel affection for Ricardo and his foster daughter, Lirio.
We watch Ellis change and watch her change Nadie.
Above all things, we watch them come to understand that they are far more than traveling companions to one another.
The climax of the show is ridiculously trite and overdone and sappy, and we don’t care. Why don’t we care? “When you have that sparkle in your eyes, that’s the Nadie I love.”
Ellis FTW.(I mean that in the old-school biker usage, not the new fan usage.)
El Cazador de la Bruja FTW. (This time I mean it in the fan way.)
What a great series. Now I finally have all three of Bee Train’s “Girls with guns on the run” series. Time for a mega-marathon. ^_^
Ratings:
Art – 7
Story – 9
Characters – 9
Yuri – 8
Service – 2
Overall – 9
One more time with feeling – thanks to Okazu Superhero Amanda M. for sponsoring today’s review!
Total agreement.
After Noir and Madlax, this series really surprised me with its light and fun atmosphere, providing a really entertaining change in pace, and this time around I really cared about the characters. And unlike before, some of the supporting characters get to actually survive to the end; the fun tone of the series must’ve put the creators in a good-enough mood to let that happen.
On a side-note, I’m really surprised by how many people from ANN, both the reviewers and the forumites, had expected to see the sniper-cat shown during the ending theme. They had seriously expected to see a pet animal trained to use a full-sized sniper weapon. How is it possible for one to take it so literally and not so much as a symbolic image? Yes this series had mystical and fantastical elements, but throwing a sniper-cat in the mix would really require the greatest suspension in disbelief.
Finally finished watching El Cazador and I must say that “Awesome” is the only term to really describe it.
Well, I’ll admit that the main plot wasn’t incredible and that the action sequence weren’t amazing, but the characters were. From main characters like Nadie and Ellis to the random characters you only see in one episode, nearly everyone was interesting.
Lots of people felt that all the “filler” episodes were boring and useless, but for one I loved them. It allowed for growth between Nadie and Ellis, friendship to develop with Ricardo, Lirio and “Blue Eyes”, and a few touching moments with other characters. Plus a lot of comedy, of course. I think the friendly banter between Nadie and Ellis (and occasionally Ricardo) was the best part of the show.
Great relationship development, awesome ending, lots of laughs, and being left with a smile on your face after watching it. What more can you ask for? Well, beside having Ricardo try to sing the “Taco song”, that is :)
Of the three GWG (with the exception of Noir) I wanted to point out a few scenes and ask a more general question. In El Caz’ on the bus Nadie says she hates men and Ellis scoots away, repeated for emphasis…if I wanted to say, “hey kids this is what lesbophobia is” I would show them this clip. Ep 6, Miguel, Nadie’s old ‘acquaintance’ betrays and uses her again but she Still has feeling for him like the archetype doormat woman. Great example of empowerment. Last episode, the dialogue about marrying sheriff bland-ass comes out of nowhere. I got the idea that they’re very much not lesbians thanks. I guess El Caz’ was directed by the same moron who destroyed the Burst Angel anime because Yuri made him uncomfortable. I go with others on Madlax, it was messy but I got it, although the only two real Yuri characters were killed off. As far as Limelda, I was very happy with the introduction of her character until I saw her laying in Doon’s bed naked (while he’s standing and dressed of course) submissively replying to his dialogue with a slutty, “yes sir”. That was it for her. Later when she cant kill Doon because of her lingering feelings for him but she must kill Madlax I was craving her death. So, my question is how are you able to overlook these types of things along with all the other typical stuff in anime thats irritating to a Yuri fan or a girl, with only a few exceptions (Moribito, Marimite, Aoi Hana). Likewise I watch allot of anime with a great story and here comes the totally unnecessary male romantic/sexual tension bit that ruins the flow and weakens the female characters, the worst of that being the absurd “chick magnet” effect that sometimes makes an anime creepy or ridiculous if not surely a tragic fail. Suddenly altering the fully developed female character without further developement for the sole purpose of feminizing her to pieces and putting her in her proper place. The token fanservice/ecchi episode out of nowhere often leads me to believe they just switched directors as the experience, enjoyment and quality just went downhill fast. I like anime. I want to enjoy it. I’m having a hard time with the misogyny slapping me awake all of a sudden ruining that. Honestly, how do you do it. I know you’re busy but I’d really like to hear your thoughts and any suggestions. Thanks.
@Anonymous – I can’t really answer the question as you intend, because what you see and how you’re interpreting it are so radically different from how I’m interpreting it that trying to verbalize what I see and make you understand is unlikely.
Put very simply – you see woman having complicated (irrational, annoying, passive-aggressive) relationships with men (untrustworthy, obviously corrupt or weak) as misogyny.
I see these as plot complications.
It is not entirely unrealistic for women to fall for men who are bad for them. Nor is it misogyny to have them get angry about it.
Look at it this way. When you watch a Steven Segal movie, are you disgusted beyond comprehension with the 30-years younger than him woman somehow, inexplicably falls for him? I see it as exactly like that.
The audience for anime. in general, is predominantly male. For action anime, especially. They *expect* the pretty female lead to sleep with Steven Segal.
Interestingly, Hisakawa Aya, Limelda’s voice actress, expressed shock that Limelda slept with Doon too. Maybe he was great in the sack.
About your reply: Actually, I do see your points and in thinking I’m wondering if I’m being overly critical or sensitive. Meaning instead of “Yuri goggles” I might have unconsciously created “Misogyny goggles” because of the way females are presented in Anime-Manga in general and the way women are treated in real life Japan. Some of my studies may also have contributed to that in seeing deeper Japanese social and cultural meaning and messages everywhere in everything as opposed to someone building a simple story with typical plots. In any event, something to consider while I watch and read. Thank you very much for your reply.
@Anonymous – That’s a very valid perspective, especially as we watch anime, which quite often caters to man-boys. It’s hard to forget, sometimes, that these children who look up girls’ skirts are the people who lead the companies.
So, I sympathize, I truly do. ^_^