I don’t know what it says about me - - or about society at large, perhaps - - when a adorable puppy putting himself into bondage for some fetishistic gratification actually comes across as rather quaint.
Sarah Jessica Parker’s droll line from ED WOOD actually springs to mind- -“Well, I see the usual cast of misfits and dope addicts are here.” This gang of twisted gods and assorted degenerate mystics has holed up in Ichiko’s flat for so long that, by now, their quirks are happenstance. So much so that I don’t even blink when a… *AHEM *… gag like the one above comes up.
(Thanks to Sonata and Takischea for the image, by the way.)
Honestly, if you told me at the start that BINBOGAMI GA! would eventually get into a rhythm swinging the ol’ tonal pendulum back and forth between the poles of Comedy and Drama every episode, I wouldn’t have been excited. I could very easily picture the attempts at seriousness being very awkward and ill-advised. Now that proof’s in the pudding, though, I’m frankly a little stupefied by how effectively Ichiko’s extended lesson in sympathy has been presented.
As I brought up in the Vice Pit, this series plays like a Dickens parody to me. Now, however, it almost seems like a very demented Dickens pastiche. Part of the reason I detest CHRISTMAS CAROL parodies so much is that they make the lead’s redemptive arc so over-simplified and trite. Again, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think this show’s making the angle work much more effectively by drawing that arc out and adding all this messy complication. It’s seeming less and less like a parody and more like a cheeky supernatural high school soap in the vein of something like RANMA ½. Who'd have figured?
Oh, and this episode’s stand-out gag was definitely the Turtle God’s not-so-subtle “recap duties.” Meta-haha!
Watch this episode, "Open Your Eye-es!” here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the previous episode here.
Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk
This show is the anime version of The Family Guy... with gods of misfortune an an two other important um stuff.With anime parody an pranks for all.It may be to good to be real.But if it is a dream one hopes it does last for a good 24 episodes.
Also.. odds are the best open an close music for this anime season.I would say also the best use of a dog god.Who is into s&m. But their really is no best use of that ever :/
I liked this episode,and it's interesting that they skipped chapter 5, a tennis match. It would have interrupted the flow of new characters, and how they slowly smooth out Ichiko's rough edges. I'm excited to see Ranmaru Rindou in the next episode.
I kind of see a bit of Christmas Carol but not much.
@Marshal Victory:
I agree that opening and closing are so awesome. I say Gintama is more close to the anime version of Family Guy than Binbogami Ga! with its satire and crude jokes.
Great review, Tom!
WTF.
@takashichea: I would agree Gintama does lean Family Guy .But its set in its own alt earth. BINBOGAMI GA! on the ohter hand has its own modern earth.. with gods of misfortune who want to punish Ichiko good fortune because some one, some where ,stubbed their toe.
Sony i think does the music for BINBOGAMI GA! an i really wish i could get into Gintama as much as i like it BINBOGAMI GA! just is more fun for me.
@Marshal Victory said:
Huh. Good way to put it.
Can't recall - - was Brian into that sort of stuff?
@takashichea said:
Thanks!
Well, it's not an outright parody, but it's definitely a Dickensian supernatural morality tale.
@Sonata said:
Hah! I don't even get to look that far ahead with these.
@No_name_here said:
seems so
from
http://www.squidoo.com/cartoon-animated-gif
dont recall the exact episode tho..