The mecha gets a little meditative in this one. This episode felt like the sort of reflective interlude that would’ve likely been excised if this story was a novel getting the usual page-to-screen treatment. The Hobbits’ little stop at Tom Bombadil’s abode isn’t the best point of comparison, but it’s the most well-known and, thus, the most useful for what I’m trying to convey here. It’s one of the major advantages the 26-episode serial has over the feature film. The latter might have more money to burn per frame, but you just don’t get to throw your characters against such a variety of personalities and scenarios as you do in the former.
I don’t know if I necessarily got the message this encounter with the Baxters was intended to convey. Perhaps the whole notion that it only takes small strikes (albeit over a long period) to eventually bring the giant spikes down - -and then the whole notion of nature correcting such interference on its own - - is a smaller example of how this still-largely-undefined evil empire is eventually going to be undone? Even if it wasn’t, I enjoyed this part for introducing young Renton to another point-of-view in this very-PINOCCHIO (the book, not the Disney movie) parade of potential mentors.
Speaking of which, apparently all it took for Holland to win back his sympathy points was a quick curb stomp of a bum. After watching some anime lately whose dialog leave absolutely nothing to inference, I got more enjoyment than usual out of how that callback/payback was left refreshingly wordless. And that went double for the quick flashback montage that established Holland’s back-story with Charles so swiftly. Seeing him as an awkward teenager winning some unspecific airboard championships and then getting betrayed for some reason was far more effective than any number of long conversations that start with, “You and I have a history, Charles…”
Watch this episode, "World's End Garden" here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the previous episode here.
Tom Pinchuk’s the writer of HYBRID BASTARDS! & UNIMAGINABLE. Order them on Amazon here & here. Follow him on Twitter: @tompinchuk
