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HIKARU: AN ONGOING LOVESTORY (Eps 23-25)
The dice is taken. Ufo Robot Grendizer will never be the same from now on and Hikaru Makiba is going to be the centre of the new story developments. Two new scriptwriters had been hired: Mitsuru Mashima and Tatsuo Tamura, helping Uheara and Fujikawa (the latter will definitely stop working on Grendizer after ep31).
This staff change for sure is the basis of the change of direction in the story, that we can see from ep23 for at least the next 25 episodes. Katsuta and Nagai are going to show, for the first time in anime history, a real lovestory: but they are going to do it in their own way. By the way, at the same time of Grendizer airing in Japan, Leiji Matsumoto was showing to the public on a different TV channel other lovestories in “Yamato” second series, but with a complete different atmosphere and – I would say – audences...
EPISODE 23 (part 1)
Well, the new story development starts with a change in the script style. For the first time, there is no trick: the script is clearly aimed to reach the point of Hikaru finally discovering Daisuke’s real identity. Or, to be precise, to reach the point where Daisuke decides that the time has come to stop liying and to reveal the truth to Hikaru. Anyway, his decision would be not understandable without the key scene at the farm. I have to tell, this scene gave me a strange impression, since the first time I saw it: why the heck Hikaru was so angry with Daisuke? After all, that was not the first time he “disappeared” in a crucial moment. Besides, why Daisuke needs to justify himself in that way? Why he simply did not tell her: “Well, where I was is none of your business!”? Or, more simply, he could accept the opportunity of the excuse Koji offers him (“Daisuke had to do an urgent task for Umon”). Instead, he shamefully lowers his eyes. Why? Well, Hikaru has just accused him exactly of what he knows to be guilty of: being a liar and a person she cannot trust. It would be hard to explain anyway Daisuke and Hikaru’s behaviours simply thinking to a discussion between two good friends. There is something different: otherwise, we cannot give a proper explanation to this scene.
For me, that scene describes enough clearly a discussion between two persons in love. Koji’s words are an indirect confirmation of this interpretation: facing Hikaru’s reaction to his tentative of defending Daisuke (“Hey, now you are mad at me?”), he first looks at both, then he leaves with an eloquent “Ah, I don’t want to get involved in this!”, which is a typical way for a friend to leave alone a troubled couple. Oh, I can hear lots of you gasping at these words of mine. How can I possibly suppose that Duke Fleed, the prince (or, better, the king) of an entire planet, a man who – as I remarked previously – was for sure used to meet and to be loved by a lot of stunning girls (we'll know a couple of them during the story), could be in love for a “girl from the countryside”? We can understand Hikaru's falling in love for him (even without knowing his real identity), but we could find hard to believe the mutual case: according to literature schemes, it would not be possible a similar situation, wouldn’t it? ;-)
Instead, here is Grendizer's innovation and its unicity once more. Here is the genius' touch, the desire to experiment, the intention of creating a “great”, irreplaceable story. I don’t want to repeat here some very old considerations of mine 1, but I have already expressed more than once my opinion: one of the main characteristics of Duke Fleed’s personality is his desire (for a long list of reasons, which I won’t describe again here for brevity) during nearly the whole anime (at least up to the “final arc”) to live on Earth forever and to have a complete, new, simple life there, possibly forgetting about his past royal role. Hikaru is the perfect partner for him in achieving this desire. Perfect. Hikaru for sure is a strong, independent, honest, sweet woman, but – more importantly – she is in love for him without being “influenced” by external factors like his social position, wealth or whatever. Following the initial surprise for her interest, Daisuke for sure has evolved his feelings during the first 22 episodes, up to making a strong bond with her, while, on the other side, Hikaru has been changing her sentiments from a “teen crush” to a deeper feeling, mostly related to his personality (see eps 21 and 22), based on her trust on him. Daisuke knows this: in this episode, he finds himself in a terrible position. Continuing to live a double identity hidden to Hikaru would mean for sure to lose her. But what would be her reaction, if she could face the truth? This is Daisuke’ biggest fear. What if she would change her approach to him? What if she would see in him the alien prince, instead of the farmer he would like to be for the rest of his life?
 
 
Episode 23 is crucial to understand Grendizer's anime. Honestly, I think it’s a pity its drawing was not assigned to a better team (the sakkan was Toshio Mori). Luckily, the script comes from Shozo Uehara, Daisuke and Hikaru's creator (he is the writer of Uchu Enban Daisenso). He knew very well where his characters came from and where the story was intended to go.
The discussion at the farm is really a turning point of the anime. Hikaru has always been strong, she took care for years of her family, being also a mother, instead than only a daughter and an older sister. We could say also being a wife, in the meaning of the need for her to take care also of Danbei. Hikaru has spent her youth acting as an older woman. She thought to have finally found someone who can support and someone to trust, instead of confiding only on herself. But, suddenly, she finds herself alone once again in a difficult moment, without a proper explanation! Her anger is perfectly understandable. She has also a terrible doubt about being wrong in trusting Daisuke. Why did he refuse to tell her where he has been, disappearing from the farm in that crucial moment? She needs to stay alone to reflect, while searching for the white fugitive mare. By the way, in Italian version it is called “Biancone”; it is not Daisuke’s horse, but only Danbei's best animal 2.
   
With anger, Hikaru tells this to Daisuke (that is, the fact she want to be alone to reflect), while he tries to reach her. She can live alone by herself, she is not scared. Anyway, she cannot trust a man who tells lies. Once they arrive to the dangerous canyon, Daisuke interposes himself and tells her, with disappointment:
Daisuke: Let's stop now. I think it’s stupid to risk your life because you are acting as a naughty baby. (then, with a softer voice) Come on, let’s go back home.
 
(Hikaru, still angry - see visual expression - replies her question)
Hikaru: Where have you been? Please, tell me. Where have you been?
(Daisuke lowers again his eyes: he is embarrassed)
Daisuke: I can’t. I cannot tell you this.
This is really too much for Hikaru. Even in an isolated place, alone with her, facing her anger, Daisuke does not want to share the truth with her. She really cannot have anything to do with him. She was wrong, he is only a nice guy, but not somebody to confide in. That’s why she is looking to him with that expression and she launches her horse along that dangerous canyon.
  
She lived alone counting on herself for years, now she will go on in that way once again. Bye bye Daisuke.
But destiny (well, in this case it has Mr Uehara's face and pen  ) has a big surprise coming. For a casualty, Hikaru’s horse get scared and unsaddles her, letting her falling down the precipice. Daisuke has no hesitation (could he?): he saves her transforming himself in Duke Fleed, but she is passed out and she cannot see him.
  
  
You can see here the greatness of Uheara’s script: Daisuke thinks that the moment has come to confess to Hikaru his real identity, whatever reaction she could have and whatever consequences in their relationship this revelation could cause. He could change his aspect once again in Daisuke Umon, while she was passed out: he would have enough time to do it. Instead, he remains in front of her as Duke Fleed. When Hikaru awakens, she can recognise him only through his voice:
Daisuke: My real name is Duke Fleed. I wasn’t born on Earth. My homeland is Planet Fleed.
   
Poor Hikaru, what a shock! I thought about it sometime: how could I react discovering my boyfriend is an alien? (well, very likely it won’t happen, so I won’t waste time in trying to figure out, I cannot really predict after all... LOL! ) She probably has thought to some possible explanations for her question “where have you been?”, but Daisuke’s alien nature was not for sure included in her hypotheses. Hikaru, of course, is upset: rushing away is a very logical reaction for her.
   
Daisuke/Duke Fleed runs after her. When Hikaru falls (also, it’s raining, as in every typical Japanese dramatic scene), he tries to help her. Despite this, Daisuke receives a disturbed reaction from her:
Hikaru: Don’t touch me!
  
(Daisuke’s terrible internal tension and anguish explode in an incredible act: he slaps Hikaru)
Daisuke: Stupid! 3
What a wonderful script, what a special anime; Mazinger saga, anime for kids, where are you? In a few drawings, without a word, we can see something very deep about Daisuke and Hikaru’s feelings. Daisuke has just been overcome by his fears and emotions: he looks at his own hand with incredulity. He really gave a slap to Hikaru? How could it have been possible? Maybe he is not so strong? (well, we are going to see in a couple of episodes the final evolution of this process).
 
Even Hikaru is astonished: not only the man she loves hides a really incredible secret: he has just acted in an irrational way. She could have never imagine this before. This is too much for her: Hikaru passes out in his arms, while the rain continues to fall and a thunderbolt cuts and burns a tree (what a perfect symbol, what a genial way to describe that crucial moment for both characters and Grendizer's story).
  
We are going to see something even more surprising. In the following scene, Hikaru, still passed out, is laying in a cavern under some covers (I refuse to discuss here why, how, when Daisuke could have brought that covers there. Maybe he used that cave in the past. Well, who cares, it has zero importance now). Daisuke, back to his earthling aspect, is near a fire. He is looking at her with a sweet expression.
  
When she wakes up and sees him again in his usual aspect, she has a relieved face, but, immediately, has a worried expression comes at her: she is naked! Keeping the sweet expression, Daisuke explains:
Daisuke: You could not keep your wet clothes on. They are put there drying.
   
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JOE7'S DEEPENING ON GERDHA'S ANALYSIS
Before presenting it, let's pass to the facts: at first light, due to the coming of an UFO in the woods, Danbei's favorite white mare, Shiraba, frightened by the noise, runs away from the ranch. Hikaru and Danbei go to her research, but they don't find Daisuke. In fact, he had gone immediately to a mission with Grendizer, hunting the UFO. Hikaru goes up to the Space Center to find Daisuke, but she does not find him: she only meets Umon and Koji. The latter tries clumsily to justify Daisuke's absence, without convincing her. At the end, Danbei, in seeking the mare, is wounded. At that moment , when they bring Danbei at the ranch, Daisuke returns. But he finds a very angry Hikaru. Where had been Daisuke in those dawn hours, when Hikaru searched him everywhere? What had he done? Here is the dialogue:
Daisuke: How is Danbei? (onboard of Grendizer, Daisuke had seen the scene of Danbei's fall from the horse, so he knew what happened)
Hikaru: Wait a moment. Where have you been?
 
Daisuke: Tell me how is Danbei. (he tries to slip away the question, but Hikaru does not listen)
Hikaru: Answer my question. Where have you been?
(Daisuke is increasingly embarrassed, he puts his hand on his head, then he looks down: these are signs of confusion. He does not want to tell the truth to Hikaru and he does not know what to say).
Daisuke: You…don't know?
Hikaru: I know nothing!
  
 
Koji (he intervenes): Wait! He had to make an important job for Umon!
Hikaru (says angrily): Koji, let Daisuke talks!
(Koji looks at right and left, confounded)
Koji: Hey, now you are mad at me?
(then he goes away with a smile that implies something)
Koji: Well, it's better if I go. I don't want to get involved in this!
   
Besides, Daisuke's revelation scene to Hikaru is done with a film movement around the two characters, emphasizing the importance of the event. Also, the cavern scene has a romantic background music.
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1 "I don’t want to repeat here some very old considerations of mine": Gerdha is speaking about her interventions on French forum.
2 "By the way, in Italian version it is called “Biancone”; it is not Daisuke’s horse, but only Danbei's best animal" : here Gerdha refers to VF (French Version) which has a wrong dubbing with respect to the horse: on French forum it was creating problems of interpretation of the episode.
3 "Daisuke: Stupid!" In this dialogue, Gerdha had written that Daisuke did not say anything. In fact, she wrote this analysis in summer 2003, basing on VI DS (old Italian version dubbing), which, at that point, was wrong: in fact, in VI DS Duke Fleed is silent. Subsequently, Gerdha, reviewing the series a few years later with the help of her Japanese relative, she discovered that Duke Fleed in the Japanese original version (VO) says "Stupid!" in that scene.
Edited by joe 7 - 25/11/2019, 17:37
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