Sorry that this post comes fairly late in the season, but it’s been tough to find time to write after spending what little time I’ve had watching shows. I wasn’t sure about Letter Bee coming into the season, so I was hoping the episode would strongly sway me one way or the other.
One of the first things I noticed was how desolate the world of Letter Bee is. Everything is shadowed in the cover of perpetual night. There is no wildlife, just rocky mountains as far as the eye can see. It conveys a strong feeling of bleakness. The world is cold, and we already see it reflected a little bit in the characters. Lag’s mother was taken away, and Gauche is resolved treat Lag as a package to be delivered.
I was surprised at the action scenes, as my first impression was that this show wouldn’t have many fights. I forgot Letter Bee is a shounen show. Nonetheless, the action was animated fairly well, and it infuses the show with excitement every time a Gaichuu is destroyed with a blast from the Shindanjuu. I found it interesting that whoever shoots the Shindanjuu loses a portion of their soul. It reminds me of Chrno Crusade, and how Rosette really lived in the present because her life was going to be cut short because every time she fought evil, her years were a taken off her life.
I immediately thought Basquash (and then Code Geass) when we found out Gauche has a wheelchair bound little sister. He’s working hard to cure her legs! When he makes it to the Moon the Britannian Throne the capital city, she’ll be able to walk again!
Lag had moments were he was annoying, and moments that were sad. I found him spoiled stupid and obnoxious, but other times you can really feel the heavy emotions of losing his mother. I realize that he’s a kid, so he embodies a child’s immaturity and innocence. He’s not enough to drive me from the show, and I think he offsets Gauche well.
The first episode of Letter Bee was surprisingly appealing. The plot is a little generic, but the journey is enough to keep me following. There’s an appropriate balance of Gaichuu fights and emotional character introspections. The world is well animated and fleshed out. I came into this episode unsure, and I came out resolved to follow it until the end.
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I am reading the Manga and thought it was a pretty depressing place as well. I have it on my “must check out” list. Appreciate the writeup!
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Letter Bee does a good job of bringing you into its world. Having said that, I still need to watch episodes 2 and 3. =/
@bluedrakon: It’s the desolation that makes things more tragic. I mean in such a depressing place, you try to keep hold of anything that gives happiness, and it’s sad that Lag had to lose his sole source of happiness, while Gauche has abandoned his sister in order to save her.
@Reltair: I’ve seen episode 2 (which was good also) and I think I’ve got a good write up idea. However, it’s tough to find time to blog it.
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