Let’s start with a positive, because Tokyo Revengers did. For the second week in a row we weren’t subjected to a lengthy recap at the beginning of an episode, and that’s very refreshing. Not having any idea where the series is going to leave things off at the season break (as I haven’t read the manga) there was a definite sense of slowing things down here. Almost to the point of stalling, but I actually found the change kind of refreshing so it wasn’t a problem for me. With only a couple of episodes left it’s obviously not a great idea to start another major arc, so I’m assuming the last episodes are likewise going to be more of the reflection/setup variety.
That said, two extended flashbacks in one week may be pushing the envelope a bit. Especially given that the event setting all this up was kind of a whiff for me. Not that I didn’t like Baji but the whole martyrdom thing was on the ludicrous side. And I think it’s worth taking a moment to once again remember that it’s a good idea for parents to try and keep their kids out of street gangs. It’s all fun and games till someone loses an eye (I’m looking at you, Chifuyu). Or gets killed. Which, you know, people do. If you choose this lifestyle, even as snotty 13 year-olds, you don’t really get to be surprised when shit like that happens.
The point to be proved here was that Baji was a good guy, the type that looks out for everybody else. In fact he was the one who suggested the creation of Toman (again with the shrine – why is it always a shrine?) in the first place, as a means of protecting Kazutora – who was being targeted by an older gang called the Black Dragons (as in real life, there’s always another gang). That was the theme of the first flashback – the second was from Chifuyu’s perspective. Chifuyu too was a snotty 13 year-old yankee who bit off more than he could chew, but Baji (already a member of Toman) came to his rescue.
In the end, Kazutora chooses to take the fall for Baji’s death – which is only fair, since he pretty much caused it. Mikey forgiving him seems to suggest that Takemitchy has managed to change the timeline even if he hasn’t managed to save Baji’s life – I suppose we’ll find out in coming weeks. Even so Kisaki is still sitting pretty – he commands a squad, he appears to have saved Mikey during the fight, and he’s probably not going to be dislodged from his perch easily. He also seems to be smarter than anyone who’s opposing him, quite frankly – certainly Takemichi – and that’s going to present a real problem.
ibtachi
September 6, 2021 at 3:14 pmAt some point, Takemitchy has got to start acting like he has the mental faculties of a mid-20s adult. At least in the future?
I can suspend my disbelief if some time-travel metaphysics is giving him the mental capacity of his 13 year old self but I’m really hoping we’ll see him stop getting blindsided (from the past) by some pre-teen yankee.
leongsh
September 6, 2021 at 5:13 pmWho are these specific “some pre-teen yankee” you are talking about?
ibtachi
September 6, 2021 at 10:36 pmWell Kisaki mainly, but to an extent both Kazutora, Hanma and whichever lackey he’ll be using in the future. It just felt a bit laughable how even with foreknowledge, he barely — by a hair’s margin really — managed to change anything. In actuality, an onamori ended up playing a more pivotal role than Takemichi in changing Mikey & Kazutora’s fates (as narrated to Future-mitchy by Future-ken). And this definitely has some meta-comedic value but I’m not sure it’s supposed to.
Point being, I’m not averse to his character and personality — I actually find him to be quite an sensible choice for a story like this. I just don’t know how many more times I’ll be able to put up with utter ass-pulls making up for his incompetence. There’s a middle ground there (where Takemichi is fairly incompetent but still manages to pull his weight through his own scrappy efforts — see: his role in saving Doraken boiling down to biting and persevering against a beat-down) which Tokyo Revengers avoided like a mission during this arc.
leongsh
September 7, 2021 at 12:50 amThose that you have named are not “pre-teen”. Pre-teen means aged 12 years and younger.
Guardian Enzo
September 7, 2021 at 7:43 amThats true. But he’s still mentally 26 and they’re in middle school.
Kim
September 6, 2021 at 9:08 pmI enjoyed this episode but yeah this arc was a let down
And I enjoyed Baji as a character and the interaction here between Baji and Chifuyu. But Baji’s death was so silly and such a let down it doesn’t have the emotional response it should.
leongsh
September 8, 2021 at 4:35 pmQuick related comment but with respect to manga. DO NOT CHECK SOCIAL MEDIA ON TOKYO REVENGERS MANGA LATEST CHAPTER (#221). Stay away.
Guardian Enzo
September 8, 2021 at 5:23 pmDuly noted, thank you. Not that it will stop stuff from coming across my twitsream anyway.
leongsh
September 9, 2021 at 12:39 amNow that the title is more mainstream with a lot more readers who picked up after the anime adaptation started, a number of them are just reckless with spoilers. These people are flaunting that they are up-to-date with zero consideration for others. Just like the idiots who watched The Avengers: End Game early and spoil it by shouting out loud in social media about what happened at the end of it. I follow and know what happened in the manga but it started popping up in some of my manga/anime topics in social media. So, I thought I should warn those who are anime-only in here.