Tiger & Bunny Forum

''You're a cruel one, Mr. J. Uh... I mean, Mr. Jake."

Alright, I’m going to have to call BS on this show.

There is no way that one, half-cocked punch from Barnaby was enough to kill Jake during their little shoving match at the stadium. Unless he somehow died during the time-skip and that scene is thus in the same realm lost souls where all the sub-titles that randomly go missing during dialog (which happened a lot this episode, even despite my fiddling with the color of the text.) I’m been having a barrel of fun with this show, don't get me wrong, but I’m going put aside the usual relativism and leave the words un-minced - - that’s sloppy storytelling. That scumbag was supposed to be the scourge that shaped Barnaby’s life and yet, when it came time to bring that arc to some kind of natural conclusion, TIGER & BUNNY backed off of the proper fall-out worse than FMA would with a kissing scene.

Unless…

Barnanby’s memories going wonky are the result of Jake using his telepathy to do some involved manipulation. That’d be the perfect getaway, wouldn’t it? Not only make the victim think you’re dead, but also make him doubt that you ever actually committed the crime in the first place. If that's the case, it would make this section absolutely brilliant - - it would mean that the crew has the audience totally in its palm - - but I’ve found that any time I start making conjecture like this, my theories are a lot more elaborate than the plot that the show’s actually going for.

The bigger question, though, is who was Kaeke mimicking when she took on the magnet powers? Magneto? She's already acting like the Mimic.

See, the macro plot’s picking up again (after a couple lighter, breezier episodes) and, part and parcel with that, it’s also reminding me of more and more superhero comics. Ouroboros’ zealous followers and their fanatical mantra is a lot like HYDRA's from CAPTAIN AMERICA, while the hereditary and persecuted nature of the NEXT recalls X-MEN’s mutants even more. And if Kriem didn’t already seem enough like Harley Quinn, she might as well be an Earth 2 analog after this extended flashback and her Stockholm Syndrome throughout felt like it was seriously riffing on the MAD LOVE Batman special.

That's not a criticism, of course. Not at all. But it's unavoidable to observe.

Watch this episode "Ignorance is Bliss" 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. Follow him on Twitter: @tompinchuk

Wait, did you not see the F-ing helicopter fall on to Jake? That is how he died.

But yeah this was when T&B was going in the typical superhero weirdness. You'll find out what is up with Barnaby’s memories soon.

@metalsnakezero said:

Wait, did you not see the F-ing helicopter fall on to Jake? That is how he died.

Yeah but, looking back over it, they don't really drive home that it kills him. Seeing as how the guy's whole power is force fields, I assumed it was another big set piece he survived.

@Tom_Pinchuk: Had same problem with tigers daughters powers.But we dont know how many actual next their are as a % of the population.Could have been one in school with the magnetic powers but id like a explination thier my self.

Your oh so close on Jake .. cant say more or will spoil it.Biger things afoot A few twists an turns ahead with a slippery when wet warning no less.An yes i hope the subtitles are way better for the dvd .Seems any off screen voice is not subtitled very often.

@Roldan said:

@Tom_Pinchuk said:

@metalsnakezero said:

Wait, did you not see the F-ing helicopter fall on to Jake? That is how he died.

Yeah but, looking back over it, they don't really drive home that it kills him. Seeing as how the guy's whole power is force fields, I assumed it was another big set piece he survived.

He'd still die from the fall. Also i guess Kaede actually touched someone from her school that also was a NEXT.

Yeah, but just before that, Barnaby threw him over the whole stadium and it wasn't a problem.

@Marshal Victory said:

Your oh so close on Jake .. cant say more or will spoil it.Biger things afoot A few twists an turns ahead with a slippery when wet warning no less.An yes i hope the subtitles are way better for the dvd .Seems any off screen voice is not subtitled very often.

Are you just saying that's the case in general, or have you gotten your hands on a DVD somehow already?

@Turambar said:

Its this episode that helped confirm that Tiger and Bunny, or at least this season of Tiger and Bunny, is specifically a Barnaby story. Kind of disappointing really as Barnaby's plot is the least interesting of all the story points and assets the show has amassed.

Is it? It seems like really more from Kotetsu's point of view.

@Tom_Pinchuk:

No was trying to say i hope the dvd will have beter subtile production than what hulu has been streaming.Im waiting for the dvd like everyone else.Just have watched up to episode 24 now .An realy hope theirs at least a few more for the season or its realy ending on a clifhanger.

@Turambar: Kinda but if you look over the episodes tigers got a bit of back stroy to.An before its over its more than even i think . Well at least up to episode 24.

Now- I totally believe that Jake could have died- the helicopter. However- I do understand the concern that they understate that a bit.

I think the general gist of his daughters powers is more a part of her and Kotetsu's life- and less of a "This power- that power." She's a kid who's developing an unpredictable - and somewhat infinite form of power- which she can't control. This exists in contrast with Tiger's somewhat basic power set- that he's losing- but aren't- in reality the center of his ability to help people. That comes from experience and more importantly a desire to serve.

Kotetsu needs to explain these concepts to his daughter- he needs to be there for her. This makes the whole battle to be with her- and potentially leave Hero work- that much more serious.

Then again- the degree of intricacy in the plot for Tiger and Bunny could have her running into a secret crowd of NEXT who are in fact the next generation of Ourobos.

I'd have to say there is a certain layer of ridiculum that exists only in the Tiger and Bunny universe as legal. This is an Anime covering a Super Hero Comic- which in all reality is an over the top manifestation of a real hero story..

@Turambar: I can see what your sayng but from persepctive an screen time Tiger wins.An are we sure when the series season will end? episode count rather?

I have watched 24 episodes atm.An realy hope it doesnt end their.Cant say mroe with out spoiing for others but it would put me in mind of a few another well thoguht of classic anime if it ended their.But since they are making a manga based off the anime an its dvd sales have been good .I would think theirs a good chance for a second season.