What wonderful timing! Just as I caught up with this show and considered taking a break instead of trying to keep up with its day-and-date airings… the latest episode’s release just conveniently happened to coincide with an open slot in my write-up cycle! The quandary isn’t so much resolved as it is prolonged, of course; but let’s just enjoy the moment…
Anyway, I might have commented on this before, but I continue to be fascinated by how this show more-or-less deconstructs one of the most fundamental conceits of modern adventure fiction - - namely, the notion of the rebellious, oft-unhinged hotshot who succeeds spectacularly despite ignoring all the wisdom of procedure.
Surely, you’ve met his type many times before. Kogami goes off on a classic, reckless hunch here that ultimately proves to be right; and you can almost see the bureau tabulating just what percentage of his offbeat thinking is necessary for the overall welfare of the society.
The morbid minds behind this show continue to show off their macabre creativity in all the inventive usage of power tools throughout our cop’s “tower storming.” (I’m sure the cops are going to need a Tetanus shot or two after the wrap up). I suppose it takes such a mind to realize, and appreciate, how bashing somebody in the back of the head with a helmet would put them out of commission right away; but it’s that attention to detail and relative realism that really makes the “mercy or execution” moment that much more effective. Our plucky gal's been displaying an almost saintly ability to do dirty work without getting dirty herself, and I like the unsaid notion about how that’ll be what always separates her from Kogami.
Now that main bad guys have been seemingly taken out, my mind's boggling over what sort of plot could fill up the remaining six-to-ten episodes. I’m sure we’re going to get a chilling interrogation episode next time that'll plumb the depths of a flawless Crime Coefficient (or whatever their name for it was). Past that, I’m sure we’ll be dealing with the horrors lurking inside Sybil, and I honestly can’t predict what that’ll entail.
If can’t be mutants - - that’d be too much like .
It can’t be aliens or gods - - that’d be way too outlandish for this setting.
So what could it be?!?!
Watch this episode, "The Gate to Judgment” 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
