Kami no Tou: Tower of God – 04

Sometimes with adaptations we get to a “if it’s not working for you by now”, point – where it seems to me that if a new viewer hasn’t clicked in, they probably aren’t going to.  Who knows, no one can predict how anyone else will think or feel, but it strikes me that we’re there with Kami no Tou.  It’s not as if there isn’t a lot more development and a lot more twists to come (there are, to excess) but this episode represents the appeal of the part of the series the anime will cover in a very elemental way.  This is Tower of God (Part I) at its most essential.

This was also the episode that for me most closely captured the experience of the manhwa.  It cut very little for starters.  It also had big-time animation director (and director, period) Masahiko Murata in charge of the episode, and it was easily the most stylish and lavish of the bunch.  It’s clear that these events were being built towards as the series’ first big crescendo, and it worked big-time.  And a lot of resources both of narrative and budget were set clearly aside for it with that in mind.

Anak is the main plot driver here, just as she was last week.  Now that she’s sat on the throne she can’t get off without the team being disqualified (which they’d know if they read the rules) much to Shibisu’s chagrin.  Hatz is the trusting sort – he believed Shibisu’s “killing arts” performance – but Shibisu’s main weapon is certainly his mind.  That, and he has no qualms about punching a girl in the face – which, I’d contend, was exactly the right thing to do under the circumstances as she was going to “stab him a little”.  Hatz’ swordsmanship is enough to hold the fort – and the crown – against the first challenger, but that’s when things get serious.

You know how viewers and readers complain when a series has an overpowered character?  Well, SIU seems intent to test the idea of what will happen when you take a clown car full of them – any one of whom would elicit such complaints if they showed up in most shounen action series – and throw them in a blender together.  Laure finally rumbles into action, and reveals himself to be a “Wave Controller” (yes, there is something Nen-like about these Shinsu users and their ability types.  Where’s Hisoka when you need him?).  He’s capable of clearing the decks easily, but that gets Anak’s blood up, and there’s no question now that both of them are wide awake.

A wave controller, an ignition weapon – it’s no wonder Khun decides it might be best to sit this bonus round out.  Bam’s Black March is literally quivering with excitement (sorry Rak, not because of you – but I love that you thought that), and there’s a good reason.  Anak’s weapon is a relative – each are part of the “13 Month Series” (hers is Green April).  That, of course, makes her a Princess of Zahad just like Yuri.  She and Laure have their fun, but his teammates have seen enough and drag him from the arena.

And that would be that – no one else seems keen to challenge the lizard girl – but Anak has sensed the presence of the Black March.  She forfeits the game in the process of going after Bam, but clearly the crown was no priority for Anak.  She demands the weapon from Bam, who refuses (having promised Rachel never to betray anyone, “especially a girl”), and seems about to take it by force before Lero-ro intervenes to restore order (and not even Anak can ignore him).  She offers Bam a wager with the two weapons as the pot, but he again refuses – leaving him with her open-ended promise to “kill him and take it anyway” when the crown game ends.

The whipped cream on top of the chocolate-chip pancakes with maple syrup (sorry, I just had a sherried Scotch and it was really decadent) is Khun finally revealing some badassery of his own.  With Anak off the pitch he sees no reason to hold back now, and none of the other teams look to have a ghost of a chance – bar one.  This is surely Rachel, though Bam tries to believe otherwise, but who is this girl (Suegara Rie) who mouths “Imposter!” at Anak?  Could she be…. another badass?

 

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10 comments

  1. K

    Haven’t read the manhwa but I am perfectly happy with this anime so far and trying to string it all together. Pacing is working for me as well and this is really the only anime I am looking forward to weekly. Curious to see how the fight with Bam and Rachel’s team will pan out. My only gripe is that Anak’s sword looks WAY too overpowered and I don’t think it was even fully unleashed which sets a precedence in my head for “if she did that in this episode why doesn’t she do it in another episode” which no doubt will annoy me. I prefer when power is limited/constrained in some way. Using up mana/nen/chakra/whatever so it can’t go on uninhibited. Fingers crossed this is the case.

  2. R

    I’m beginning to think Khun is some sort of Doraemon character with that pocket handbag of his and I would like more detailed explanation about Shinsu and how that ties the abilities of these players.

  3. Some of that explanation is certainly forthcoming, but it’s an open question whether the anime will insert more of it within this first part than the manhwa does.

  4. S

    I’ve been binge reading the manhwa since last week and I have to say that’s quite addictive. My previous foray was Lee Chae Eun’s Trump manhwa which is also very interesting though more darker in tone.
    Anyways, so far I’m enjoying both and I love shows were everyone is ridiculously overpowered.

  5. d

    Yeah it’s still not clicking for me. But will at least finish this cour, because frankly, there isn’t much else to watch this season with all the delays…

  6. Still mixed on this show. It seems to me to be a series about a long tournament with different tests that has the players upping the ante with their skills and capabilities. Some of it so far is the “see-what-I-did-there-I-am-so-cool” type. This is not to say that there are no points of interest. There’s some background I am curious about – like Rachel and her team; and the real purpose behind this game. So far, from the first 4 episodes, I would rate it a generous C+ at best. May continue to watch it but it will be low priority.

  7. fun fact: Anak Zahad name is literally translated to evil child in Indonesian language (Anak=child, Zahad/Jahat=evil)

  8. I vaguely remember hearing about this manwha years ago but I never gave it a try then when I saw just how much promo Crunchyroll was doing for it, I was pretty turned off. I mean aside from BNHA, they promoted the hell out of Fairy Tale and Kobayashi Maid so I figured ewww.

    But I gave it a shot and I didn’t hate it…? I liked it however I DO NOT LIKE the whole different names for characters being spoken than what is shown in the subtitles. I know ppl have voiced their opinions but it really throws me off.

    Also, I got to rewind sometimes because there is so much information! I decided I may have to binge this one when it’s done or otherwise I’m gonna forget names, plots and misc. stuff if I watch it week to week. Still enjoyed the world that they built.

  9. M

    Late but problem with names is they are using the original Korean names for the Japanese being spoken. Probably should have used 25 th Night or Night for Bamm to have the same effect in English. I can almost never tell if what is said vs subtitles is different and I would think most Subtitle users will never notice that type of thing for quite awhile. I am at the very low side of language ability I would guess your on the high side. But anyway using Japanese in subtitles for a Korean language story would be wrong no matter what using Korean or better translating to English would be best in Subtitles when a name has a meaning in English.

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