The whole philosopher assassin thing would normally be pretty insufferable as far as I’m concerned. So I guess it’s testament to the fact that The Fable has done a good sales job that this wasn’t. It doesn’t romanticize mobsters much as compares to most animanga, but Akira is an exception. This is still a guy who kills lots of people – seemingly remorselessly – for a living. But he’s such a weird and fascinating freak that I can’t help but find the character somewhat sympathetic. And as for Kuro, he’s such an earnest doof that it’s hard to muster much antipathy for him.
This was certainly the most linear episode of The Fable so far. With the exception of a few seconds at the very end (Youko reeling in her latest catch) it’s Akira and Kuro in the woods. Kuro is out of his depth, obviously, but perhaps more resilient than one might have expected. Akira is very much in his element – he’s obviously pacing himself to Kuro, as unflinching a facade as he tries to project. He notes that Kuro took his cast off too soon – that was obvious. But he doesn’t leave him behind, and even carves a walking stick for him with his Jimmy Lile knife (out of respect for Fable he’s brought that instead of his new Blackhawk).
The woods are full of dangers Kuro knows nothing about. Like wild boars, which will rip your flesh open so you bleed to death. And mamushi, the Japanese viper (though Akira is always glad to see those, as they’re delicious). Kuro manages to hang with Akira long enough for them to reach the river where the latter declares they’ll set up camp. Along the way he’s found a rat snake, which he promptly whacks against a tree (hard enough to stun, not to kill) which will serve as dinner (Kuro is reluctant to say the least). Akira scoffs when Kuro offers his lighter, instead relying on tinder fungus and stones to get a fire started.
Under the circumstances, it’s not surprising that Kuro would struggle to see how this all ties in to Akira’s role as a professional hitman. I found the sequence where he tries to explain that the most compelling of the episode. Both because he’s convinced he can’t do so adequately, and because in fact he does so with considerable eloquence. “The stuff you learn in the wild is useful back in the city” Akira says. “But somehow the stuff you learn in the city is useless in the wild”.
After a long night for Kuro (including a mamushi midnight snack – burning hair to attract them is a new one on me), unused to 8 PM bedtimes, the next day brings more danger. There are bear tracks in camp, and while Akira admits that for “ordinary people” that would be a reason to bug out, that doesn’t apply to them. He warns Kuro never to turn his back on a bear – or play dead – and proceeds to hunt frogs and grasshoppers as Kuro heads back to camp to start a fire. He finds his hat and backpack on the way, and inevitably the bear who took them. Just as inevitably he panics and plays dead. It’s a good thing Fable showed up when he did.
What I was always taught: with black bears (the Japanese bear is a close cousin) you go for intimidation, and with grizzlies you play dead. So this tracks. Unfortunately, Akira says, the bear will be back – having claimed Kuro’s things as its own. He gets rather philosophical again, about the need to teach bears to fear humans, but Kuro doesn’t look too convinced. And can you blame him?
Booboo18
July 14, 2024 at 9:35 pmI am enjoying fables old-school style and weirdness ~~ rarely do i like most characters of a show. thank you for covering and introducing it. Do you recommend other titles that has this sort of quality?
Guardian Enzo
July 14, 2024 at 9:47 pmYou’re welcome! That’s a tough one – I don’t have much tolerance for yakuza shows as anime usually does them. Maybe Hinamatsuri?
Simone
July 15, 2024 at 1:47 amIf by “this sort of quality” you mean not necessarily this specific topic but more in general this grounded feeling, check out Odd Taxi. It might look like a weird suggestion due to the characters being anthropomorphic animals at first, but past that first impact you’ll find it’s a great thriller with lots of interactions that feel unusually “real”.
Nadavu
July 15, 2024 at 1:49 amThe Sopranos 😀
Twig
July 15, 2024 at 5:05 amFor anime with the same balance of off-beat humour, solid characters, and the yakuza angle, I honestly can’t think of anything else that compares. Possibly the upcoming Sakamoto Days anime, which seems to have a similar set up, but I think may be more of a battle series (I haven’t read the manga).
In terms of non-anime. I’d suggest looking up some Beat Takeshi yakuza movies from the 90’s, as I suspect his work influenced the Fable manga. Also, the Yakuza/Like a Dragon video games (and upcoming live action series) are fairly well-known for having a very similar tonal balance and overall approach to character work as The Fable.
Simone
July 15, 2024 at 4:51 pmYeah, Sakamoto starts out as more action comedy and becomes more battle driven later. It’s really not the same tone, it mixes hints of absurdist comedy with a deep love for absolutely bonkers action choreography inspired by Western action movies (two early villains are photocopies of Jean Reno’s Leon and his girl sidekick). The best way to describe it as a hybrid of John Wick and a Jackie Chan movie. The Fable as you said has much more Kitano vibes.
Nadavu
July 15, 2024 at 2:00 amThe AkiraxKuro pairing is an interesting one to me. Mostly I’m curious as to why Akira puts up with his silly sidekick (why Kuro would find Akira a role model is obvious). No one else has tried to push themselves on Akira so far, so maybe he’s be equally accepting of anyone, but it’s also possible he sees something in Kuro that he likes – but what? His hardheadedness? The misplaced eagerness? Or maybe that Jackal record really did pave a way to Akira’s heart. I wonder if Kuro really does like Jackal or if who was merely coached by Youko to say that.
Guardian Enzo
July 15, 2024 at 8:43 amI would guess “curiosity” mainly. As you said likely no one ever approached him this way before.
nadavu
July 15, 2024 at 6:42 pmIt just occured to me Kuro might be the heroin of this cour, like Misaki was before him