At the risk of reading too far into things, I think it’s clear after this episode that the control of knowledge is one dominant theme of GURREN LAGANN. Earlier on, I said it was pretty obvious that this show was riffing on Plato’s oft-referenced “Allegory of the Cave” by literally starting our heroes out in a cave. You can’t get much more explicit about their journey being about self-discovery and enlightenment and all that when they're busting out from the underground to see what an exciting, wide world awaits them above. They make a point to use that same curvilinear composition again here when Yoko and her pupil are sitting atop the tree - - she even comments on the similarity! - - so I don’t think I’m too far off in my conjectures.
Getting back to what I was saying, consider this. The Spiral King has his Beast Men keep these knuckleheads underground without letting either of them know about the Anti-Spiral - - he keeps some very important information from them. Similarly, Yoko denies her real identity to her pupils even though the fact is patently obvious to anyone reading their textbook - - she’s keeping important information from them, too. The show even goes for the allusion- trifecta by having the one girl use that whole “satchel stashing” ruse. Yoko comments on him being like a young Kamina and it fits… because both of their heroic quests are founded on deception.
Anyway, enough heady analysis, let’s talk about narrowly-dodged butt rape!
sotyfan16 wondered why I didn’t comment about how Simon and Viral’s new alliance started last episode. It honestly seems like too big of a jump for the evil cat man to join forces with these knuckleheads and help pilot Gurren Lagann, even if they’re united by a common threat. But, then again… if Viral saved Simon from getting sexually assaulted last episode (c’mon, you know that’s what the chicken man wanted to do) I suppose that makes up for everything. It’s like how Ving Rhames is suddenly pals with Bruce Willis in PULP FICTION right after he takes down the gimp.
Anyway, watch this episode, “You Must Survive” below, decide for yourself and then read my comments on the previous episode here.
Tom Pinchuk’s the writer of HYBRID BASTARDS! & UNIMAGINABLE .Order them on Amazon here & here .
