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There were some unsettling trends evident in the fourth episode of Mawaru Penguin Drum, which was an overall step down in entertainment value from the first three for me.
While there’s never been any question about the visual inventiveness and killer style with this show, I’ve been waiting for something involving the plot and/or characters to really grab me. While I still didn’t get that this week, what really worries me is a sense of repetitiveness was starting to creep into the proceedings. Things dragged at a few points (which has never happened before with this series, in my view) and some of the gags started to feel recycled.
Basically, there are two questions nagging me about MPD. First of all, is there any “there” there? Is there a heart at the center of all the colors and fabulous backgrounds and character designs and the great sight gags? And second, does Ikuhara have what it takes to see this through for 24 episodes? I’m afraid the answer to both is inconclusive at this point. The opera joke wasn’t all that funny the first time, never mind the fourth and fifth. Yes, I get it – they’re both bad singers, and it’s a stupid schoolgirl fantasy. But it was looped too many times. Ringo having more and more ridiculous things go wrong time after time is starting to feel like an old joke, too. So is the “housewife” line. You get the point. If it doesn’t feel as fresh after 4 episodes, how will it feel after 24?
As to the question of whether there’s anything of substance at the center of the labyrinth, I’m equally unsure. The only character on this show that seems remotely likeable to me is Shouma. And he is likeable – he has a core of real feelings and emotions that certainly sets him apart from the other characters. But he’s on a bit of an island at the moment. I’m not thrilled with Ringo seemingly emerging as the main character, as I don’t find the stalker humor holds up well to after repeated use and the only other way she can go is downright scary. Kanba is, frankly, a dickhead. Hiromi is a cipher, Tabuki hasn’t made any impression beyond “amiable doofus” and Yuri seems like a very cliched sexy older woman/villain. At least there’s a Horie Yui character out there somewhere, waiting to potentially add something to the mix.
In terms of plot, the episode really felt like it was running in place for about 20 minutes – an excuse for a bunch of crazy stuff to happen to Ringo and a bunch a sight gags involving the penguins. They were good gags, especially the one where Sho’s penguin seemed to be diving down to rescue Ringo, only to go after a carp, and the scenes between Shouma and Ringo weren’t intolerable, but the only moments that felt like they were of any import were the very brief scenes involving Kanba and the hit squad of girls he dumped on, who lured him to the coffee shop with an message strongly implying they knew something about the drum. As MPD has already proven it’s wont to do, the ep ended on a hairpin turn – this time Kuho, one of Kanba’s victims, being pushed down an escalator, presumably to her death. The twist? She was on the phone with someone implying that the business with Kanba was a ruse, and that person appeared to know about the drum too. Even bigger twist: her death was apparently predicted in Ringo’s death note diary. That’s certainly thought provoking.
The one thing I’ve never questioned with this show is its entertainment value, so when that drops off even a little that’s a major cause for concern. I have faith – though not endless faith – in Ikuhara. He’s a creative genius, but I’d argue he hasn’t always been able to close the deal as well as he should have. There’s no way in hell I’ll stop watching, but I’m at the point now where I want more from this series, not less.
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Anonymous
July 29, 2011 at 1:33 pmWhile I agree that the opera fantasy sequences felt overplayed by the end, I personally think this was the most amusing episode so far. I have honestly not laughed at an anime so much in a long time. And I appreciate that there were dark punctuations mixed in with all the comedy.
I guess there is a lot to say about managing expectations. This is Ikuhara and we are all hoping and expecting for MPD to be ultimately brilliant. I'm trying not to let that get in the way of how I feel though.
I think its also worth noting that for as much as we all remember Utena's dark glory, it can be easy to forget that the first third of the show was heavy on the Nanami comic relief. I recently watched the DVD re-release and was surprised at how much screen time she got in the beginning.
admin
July 29, 2011 at 4:09 pmGood post, Anon. I still feel this ep showed some cracks in the armor. I'm not a huge Ikuhara fan, actually – more an admirer than a fan – so I think my expectations are realistic. If anything, maybe my (perceived) views about his failings as an auteur might cause me to search a little too hard for evidence of them here.
Seishun Otoko
July 30, 2011 at 12:48 amThey probably overdid the opera gags this week but it's still very enjoyable and the suspense towards the end was a great safe.
I like all the main casts and surprisingly, I even find psycho Ringo's weird antics tolerable (most of the time). It seems like the show is going for a Shouma x Ringo pairing. I wonder how would that work out.
admin
July 30, 2011 at 1:00 amI'm not quite as sold as you, Seishun, though I'm still positive overall. Like I said, Shouma is really the only cast member that's working for me so far. Ringo is the key – I kind of sense that character could go either way (in more ways than one).
draggle
July 30, 2011 at 2:22 amI had pretty much the opposite reaction from you, this was my favorite episode so far. 🙂 I'm actually pretty sold on Ringo after this episode – sure, she's a stalker, but she's quite earnest about it, and I can't help but feel bad for her considering how everything goes so terribly for her. I feel she goes quite well together with Shouma as well.
admin
July 30, 2011 at 2:59 amWell, you're WRONG! WRONGWRONGWRONG!!!!!!
J/K… I'm glad you feel she goes well with Shouma, as I think it's pretty obvious Ikuhara is shipping them. Like I said, she can go either way fr me.
P.S. If ever decide to add links, I'd be honored to swap. I like your blog a lot.
draggle
July 30, 2011 at 4:00 amHaha. I've actually been intending to add links for a while now but have been too lazy. This is as good an excuse as any, so let's swap. 🙂
admin
July 30, 2011 at 5:05 amDone!
Lcdsound
July 30, 2011 at 2:45 pmTo me personally, this show has so many intricate details and layers of symbolism that it feels fresh and diff from the regukar anime tropes. The opera/fairy tale joke is one such eg and i personally think that the "death" is just an injury which could complicate the pllot even further. But yes, Ringo gets trolled= good for the ppl who hate her chara. Also did any1 catch the star driver nod in this ep?
admin
July 30, 2011 at 2:56 pmLcdsound, good to hear from you. Yes, that death could be an injury, we don't know. Kanba has to get shipped with someone besides his sister. Of course we still don't know who the Horie Yui character is…
Where was the SD reference? I missed it!
lkaze
July 31, 2011 at 1:55 amWhile I agree that this episode lack in entertainment and new gag. However I can see multiple story plot finally moving into places. They finally found out about the note book. Other people are also looking for P.D. and they know kanba are looking for it too. It seem that the notebook do more than predicting the future love, also the death of rival of P.D.
P.S. For some reason in accordance to the lack of fanservice, those damn penguin seem to be getting all the action.