The Pod Cast

I'm branching off into new territory! I'm detailing my TV experiences now. This is pretty much just like The Pod Plays, just for television shows (and the like). My first case:



The minds behind Gurren Lagann are supposedly behind this. And it looks gorgeous.

Kill la Kill: Episode 1 - If Only I Had Thorns like a Thistle
Yeah, this has Gurren Lagann written all over it. Also, clothes are evil. Well, some clothes.

In the first four minutes of the show, A MASSIVE MAN IN A SPIKED COSTUME BUSTS OPEN THE DOOR TO A HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM. HE'S A PERSON OF AUTHORITY ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A MOLE IN THE SCHOOL. SURE ENOUGH, A STUDENT DASHES OUT OF THE ROOM, DOWN THE STAIRS AND OUT OF THE SCHOOL (THE MAN [named Ira Gamagoori] OPTS TO JUST FALL FROM THE WINDOW DOWN TO THE GROUND SEVERAL STORIES BELOW).

THE MOLE PUTS ON A SCHOOL UNIFORM (called a Goku Uniform, similar to Ira's) AND PROCEEDS TO GET SUPER-FIGHTING ABILITIES FROM THE UNIFORM. IRA UTTERLY TRUMPs THE MOLE WITH HIS OWN SUPERIOR UNIFORM, UTILIZING AN ENORMOUS WHIP TO SLAM THE MOLE ACROSS THE SCHOOL GROUNDS (which, by the way, ARE SURROUNDED BY A MASSIVE WALL). IRA FINISHES OFF BY DESTROYING THE STOLEN UNIFORM, RENDERING THE MOLE NAKED.

AND THEN THE STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT (Satsuki Kiryuin), WHO APPARENTLY IS THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY IN THE SCHOOL, APPEARS ON TOP OF A MASSIVE PILLAR IN FRONT OF A BLINDING LIGHT, AND MAKES A SPEECH ABOUT THE STUDENTS BEING"PIGS IN HUMAN CLOTHING"

I just need to emphasize just how utterly amazing these first few minutes were. Holy shit. And the music is amazing.

We then move on to our protagonist, Ryuko Matoi, who is just arriving in the city (which is shaped like a mountain), apparently coming from far away to come to Honnouji Academy. Regarding her character, she's pretty no-nonsense, ignoring or beating up anyone who gets in her way. She owns half of a scissor-like weapon, and is on the lookout for a person with the other half. Apparently that person killed her dad.

At the school, we get a good look at our secondary heroine, Mako Mankanshoku. In contrast to Ryuko, she's pretty much pure wacky. She is nothing short of ecstatic to be desk-neighbours (and therefore besties) with the new transfer student. She's alright. Her energy is fun.

The minute that Ryuko finds Satsuki, she gets ready to fight her, believing her to own the other half of the scissor blade. Satsuki, being queen of the school, just sends a minion in a two-star (medium-level) Goku Uniform (with a boxing motif) to fight in her steed. As it turns out, Ryuko doesn't actually stand a chance against a Goku Uniform, and is promptly punted off the school grounds.

We cut to a scene featuring Satsuki and her elite three-star guard, a group of four students (Ira from before being one of them) who head the school's various clubs. It's like the adults have no power (indeed, it's stated that President Satsuki gets away with everything she does because her mother is the principal's boss). And they're typical. We've got the cool guy, the tough guy, the brainy guy, and the snarky chick. They play off each other, and for now they just lounge around while their minions do the dirty work.

Exhausted, Ryuko falls down into a pit. She stumbles upon an outfit that (upon absorbing some of her blood) comes to life. What follows is uncomfortable to say the least. The uniform strips her of her clothes and forces itself on to her. Now, in context, it makes sense; the uniform just wants to help her and in fact imbues her with superpowers like the Goku Uniforms. But the whole thing just reeks of rape symbolism; there's a discretion shot, and Ryuko doesn't sound to happy when the uniform latches on to her. Let's just move on for now.

The next day, the two-star minion from before is using Mako as bait to lure Ryuko back in, to kill her. They fight, except now Ryuko's costume (which barely covers her, by the way [and the characters go on about that fact for a whille) completely nullifies the Goku Uniform's attacks. Ryuko uses her Scissor Blade to destroy the Goku Uniform, and a glowing read strand floats onto Ryuko. That looks important.

The episode ends with Ryuko inquiring again about the other scissor blade.

Well, aside from that awful rape-esque scene, this episode was FUCKING AWESOME. Everything's just so exciting, the action is intense, and the designs and lighting are wonderful. I want more. There's more. Superb.

Kill la Kill: Episode 2 - So Sexy she Might Pass Out
Shut up Mako.

Continuing off from last episode, Ryuko's uniform (which she names Senketsu - "Fresh Blood") tells her (it can talk) that she's lost a lot of blood (Senketsu is fueled by blood, so Ryuko always loses blood in battle) and must leave (which Satsuki seems pretty okay with). Mako decides to house Ryuko at her house. Cue Mako's family; they're just as wacky as she is. Apparently her dad's a doctor. Apparently he's a really bad doctor. It's never really paid much attention.

The next day, another two-star Goku Uniform-wearer (the head of the tennis club) shows up to take on Ryuko and punish Mako for (apparently) slacking off in tennis club. Again, Ryuko gets her assed kick, because Senketsu won't activate. She wakes up in a small room with her homeroom teacher (Aikuro Mikisugi), who begins to act weird. He begins explaining what Ryuko's costume (a Kamui) is, and how it works. All the while, he's slowly undressing himself for no discernable reason. Whatever, he wants to help her.

What follows is much like the climax of episode one; Ryuko fights the head of the club in a tennis match, using her Scissor Blade as a racket. She wins, Mako is once again freed from her hostage situation, and they run away back to her house.

So, once again, this episode was really cool. This show is genuinely funny, a lot of the humour coming from the dynamic between Ryuko's straight-girl attitude and Mako's wackiness. But Mako herself's starting to get on my nerves. She is constantly chirpy and upbeat, no matter the situation. It's annoying because she's a main character and I want my main characters to have more depth than this.

Actually, something interests me about Mako. On one hand, she seems very complacent about the world around her, no matter how shitty it treats her. In this and the last episode, she explains the social structure of the school very matter-of-factly (this school, may I remind you, is run like a military state by the Student Council). On the other hand, she is very supportive of her brand new best friend's utter disregard for any and all of said social structure, and is very excited to see her kick authoritarian ass. It makes me wonder what sort of hidden depths Mako has.

Here's hoping she moves on from being just a gag character.

love the name of the thred

Kill la Kill: Episode 3 - Junketsu
Yes, please Ryuko, continue describing exactly how you've grown as a person.

Ryuko and Mako continue being a hilarious comic duo. She seeks out her homeroom professor Aikuro and talks with him about Senketsu. Aikuro explains that Senketsu, like all Goku Uniforms, are powered by Life Fibres. Goku Unifrorms are only a fraction Life Fibres; Senketsu is 100% the stuff. Sounds pretty special. If only it didn't look so fucking stupid. Oh, and Aikuro's still doing that stripper-thing. Yeah that's still a thing.

Then we get a scene with Satsuki trying on "her wedding dress" which is a kamui (the same thing as Senketsu). However, this kamui looks like it doesn't like being controlled. Is that normal behaviour for a kamui? If so, props to Senketsu for being a team player.

Satsuki, our main villain, decides:

Satsuki wrote:Fuck pacing!

And challenges Ryuko to a duel herself. Satsuki is wiping the floor with Ryuko, if only because Ryuko's shame in wearing something as revealing as Senketsu is keeping her from utilising his full potential. So, after Mako does her thing (being stupid yet endearing), Ryuko lets go of her shame and unlocks her Kamui's true potential. And proceeds to explain the moral of the story that she's learnt today in excruciating detail. No one is really listening to her, except Senketsu, who's all:

Senketsu wrote:Yes!
Yep!
Mm-hmm!
That is most certainly the lesson that I wanted you to learn and should have actually been talking about this episode!

Well, to be fair, Satsuki was kinda filling that role, setting the example of someone capable of harnessing the true power of a Kamui.

Whatever, at least Ryuko stands a fighting chance now. The episode ends with Satsuki calling their duel short and establishing the show's overarching plot: Ryuko will fight through the entire student body of Hannouji Academy in her quest to take on Satsuki once more and learn more about her father's death.

And now we know where the show's going. And that's the main function of this episode really; establish the plot.

Kill la Kill: Episode 4 - DAWN OF A MISERABLE MORNING (GAAAH ALL-CAPS)
Just stay home, Ryuko!

This episode's pretty funny. And that's all it is really, a silly breather episode. All of the students have to get up super early on this special day: today the Student Council is making the trip to school one massive Death Course where failure results in expulsion.

Okay, Mako I can understand fretting over this, but why is Ryuko bothering? She's pretty much the high-school equivalent of a terrorist at this point, there's not much for her there aside from regular attacks from Goku Uniform-wearers. Actually, scratch that "high-school equivalent" part, she's just a straight up terrorist (a heroic one, but a terrorist nonetheless). Satsuki does run Honnouji like a police state, after all.

Regardless, funny episode, totally worth watching.

Kill la Kill: Episode 5 - Trigger
Clothing is serious business.

We are introduced to a mean looking guy with a mohawk. He has weapons which can disable Life Fibres. For some reason he's after Ryuko. He proves to be a formidable adversary when he disables her without Ryuko so much as tapping him. The guy (Tsumugu) is revealed to know Aikuro, and they same to be working for the same group. Tsumugu hates the use of Life Fibres, which is why he's after both Ryuko and evil students.

What was surprising about this episode was how serious it got. In their second match, Tsumugu has Ryuko trapped in a corner. Senketsu jumps up to guard Ryuko and is pinned to the ground. It's all real tense, and Ryuko's freaking out. Even when Mako comes in all silly-like, she drops sad little tidbits such as Ryuko being her first real friend ever.

Then the Student Council drops in. Specifically, Elite Four member Nonon Jakuzure (Snarky Chick), the Non-Athletic Committee Chair, gets a bunch minions together to perform. They fights with music. It's still amazing, damn you. Tsumugu lets Ryuko go and they team up to fend off the students. During all of this, we get some fun dialogue between Jakuzure and the Elite Four's Nerdy Guy (Houka Inumuta, the Information and Strategy Committee Chair).

I got a lot out of this episode. A new character. Villain-to-villain chit-chat. Emotional moments. Action. Oh, and Jakuzure's voice is fucking weird.

Kill la Kill: Episode 6 - Don't Toy me on a Whim
This guy is high-tier.

Elite Four's Cool Guy (Uzu Sanageyama, the Athletic Committee Chair) wants to challenge Ryuko to a duel. Satsuki previously forbid the Elite Four from directly fighting, but she seemed to make an exception this time. Uzu's Goku Uniform grants him super-sight, enabling him to analyze all of his opponents movements. Ryuko quickly pacifies him by covering up his vision with pieces of Senketsu. He's dealt with by the halfway mark of the episode.

I guess it's too much to hope that the rest of the episode is spent on the Mankanshoku eating cake at home.

Uzu shows surprising earnestness to rematch Ryuko, going so far as to have his eyes sewn shut as a form of penance. During all of this, we get a flashback to five years ago. An Sanageyama who has yet to join Satsuki's cause (although Gamagoori, Jakazure and Inumuta are shown at her side already) challenges her to a kendo match. THE GREATEST KENDO MATCH OF ALL TIME. Satsuki blows a crowd of warriors away without budging an inch (she doesn't even have Junketsu).

There seems to be a unique relationship between Sanageyama and Satsuki, given that he speaks with her directly, in her own house. So far in the show he has been presented as a lax but at-a-moment's-notice hot-blooded athlete, but here we see just how much he truly admires Lady Satsuki. He proposes that they have tea together when he beats Ryuko. I hope we can get Satsuki's feelings on the matter.

Anyway, Sanageyama gets his wish; another chance at fighting Ryuko. This time, though, his Goku Uniform let's him sense (without seeing) the entire world around him. That sounds pretty OP. Indeed, he totally beats the shit out of her. She has to run away, something she only manages because Sanageyama overheated his Goku Uniform.

This episode was cool. By the end of it, it turned from another Ryuko episode to an episode about a villain. Sanageyama seems to be set up to stand out from the rest of the Elite Four. I hope so. He's cool.

Oh, and his seiyuu is Viral from Gurren Lagann.

Kill la Kill: Episode 7 - A Loser I Can't Hate
A Mako episode!

More and more clubs seem to be challenging Ryuko, but no biggie; she's goten real good at this gig. An idea hits her, though: why not make her own club? A Fight Club, to be specific. That way she can improve the living conditions of Mako's family (higher-star students get nicer living conditions). The paperwork proves too imposing to Ryuko, who quickly makes Mako the president of the club.

What follows is the Mankanshoku Family's descent into luxury and, subsequently, darkness. Yes, it's that kind of episode. The one where the good guys are poor and the bad guys are rich and the good guys are given a chance to be rich and by some dumb natural law the good guys also turn bad.

Fortunately, we get a heart-wrenching climax from it all. Satsuki forces Mako to fight Ryuko with a two-star Goku Uniform. Mako obliges, for the sake of her family, but Ryuko doesn't want to fight Mako (who's actually pretty strong with a Uniform). What we get is Mako beating up Ryuko for several hours straight. Mako finally stops, Ryuko proves that the good guys can stay good, and Satsuki reveals that her plan all along was for Ryuko to weed out weak clubs so that she can rebuild Honnouhi Academcy's society holy shit what the hell.

This episode's message was pretty ham-fisted. We did get a Mako episode, technically. And that's good.

Kill la Kill: Episode 8 - I'll Wipe My Own Tears
A Gamagoori episode!

The Natural Elections have begun. All the students are going to fight for the next week in an all-out civil war for high school supremacy. But that's not what this episode's really about. It's about Mako, Ryuko and Gamagoori being in the same car and not killing each other.

They technically have the week off, so Ryuko and Mako go to Ryuko's old burnt down house. She reveals her distant relationship with her father (of course her mother died when she was just a toddler), and how her quest for vengeance is really about finding our more about him. Their scooter breaks down, when who of all people shows up; Ira Gamagoori. As a Committee Chair, he makes it his duty to escort students back home, even the likes of Ryuko.

Cue automobile/airsoft club. They gang up on Gamagoori, which prompts a flashback. To five years ago. Gamagoori is Student Council President at his middle school, trying to stop some snobby teens from pushing some poor guy to suicide. Satsuki steps in, using her own connections to trump the snobs' connections and saving the suicidal student's family from social outcasting. It's fascinating, seeing these two villains actually being pretty awesome people. They're not so evil. I still prefer Sanageyama as a character.

After the flashback, a silhouette of Gamagoori is seen trouncing the entire attacking club. Cut to seven days later (that was fast). Satsuki provides five tall pillars for the surviving crowd to climb. Only five students have the potential to belong in Satsuki's inner circle. And of course the five students who make it are Ryuko and the current Elite Four. The episode ends with the Four ready to fight Ryuko one on one.

Gamagoori is the first up.

Kill la Kill: Episode 9 - A Once in a Lifetime Chance
This whole episode is just Ryuko vs. Gamagoori.

Ira Gamagoori has an S&M theme for his Goku Uniform. He basically works like the Bide attack from Pokemon; he takes hits and unleashes the energy back at the opponent. In the form of whips. We're treated to another flashback of Gamagoori and Satsuki. They're in a duel in the forest on the day of Gamagoori's graduation ceremony.

Gamagoori demonstrates his iron resolve by never kneeling to Satsuki, even after totally getting his ass kicked. Truly he is a paragon of fortitude HOLY SHIT HE'S A GIANT. I think the artists just didn't care for a week and made him, like, twice his usual size. In the flashback. The top segment of his index finger is the size of young!Satsuki's entire hand. He's not nearly that big in the rest of the show.

Anyway, back in the present, Ryuko and Senketsu develop a new technique after deliberately getting swallowed by Gamagoori's gigantic crotch whip (ooooohhhh). Senketsu transforms into a spiked version of himself that tears through Gamagoori's defences. This is what ensures Ryuko's victory.

Cue the next of the Elite Four, Inumuta.

Kill la Kill: Episode 10 - I Want to Know More About You
Said Cephalo the Pod to Houta Inumuta.

So Gamagoori got a whole episode for his fight, right? Inumuta should be the same. Except he totally isn't. He's finished by the episode's half-time. Even his flashback isn't as good as Sanageyama's or Gamagoori's. And it's a shame, because Inumuta's the one we know the least about. It's like he's getting cast to the side. His powers are so cool, too; his uniform, instead of attacking directly, is supposed to gather data on the opponent and alter its capabilities accordingly. That sounds amazing.

I don't know whether or not to be disappointed, because the next opponent, Jakazure, is really entertaining. Her transformed uniform is the size of a sound stage, prompting hilarious reactions from Ryuko, and it flies too. Ryuko decides to be a meanie and play copycat; Senketsu transforms again, into some sort of jet, to combat Jakazure. Cue hilarious reaction from the opposite side.

Oh, and Mako/Gamagoori is great.