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EPISODE 39
I won’t waste time analysing the gym contest, even if a reliable source told me that the kind of exercises Hikaru presents are too much complicated even today to be real. It's a kind of duel, or a clash between Hikaru and Daisuke: none of them actually smiles. Neither Hikaru, during the race (except at the end of the ceremony), nor Daisuke, who understands the sense of Hikaru's gymnastic acrobatics.
  
  
Anyway, Daisuke's reflection on the fact that “those daring exercises seem to be a complain” let me suppose that some big discussions between ep38 and ep39 happened, involving not only Hikaru and Daisuke, but also Danbei and Goro and likely Koji and Umon too. Otherwise, there is no explanation why Danbei and Goro talk with Daisuke at the farm about the fact that, after the gym contest, he should be convinced about her abilities and he should allow her now to join the Grendizer Team.
And it is impossible that Daisuke did not have discussed the topic with Umon and Alcor too, as they allowed Hikaru’s training without his permission and, for more, they have a very different opinion respect to his one on the matter of her involvement in the fight, so at the end about the war strategy. Once again, Grendizer anime shows a real interesting storytelling approach: here is a very “adult” and profound thematic (what to do when good theoretic principles collide with real life issues?) masqueraded behind an apparently simple story.
Anyway, the scenes at the farm in ep39 are some of the best of all the anime, in my opinion. With some of the most beautiful dialogues too. Danbei shows Daisuke the newspaper announcing Hikaru’s victory at the gym contest, happily telling to his “farmer” that now he should be convinced on his daughter’s abilities and he should assign her a task at next vegan’s attack. Daisuke reiterates instead his denial.
Daisuke: That’s impossible, these are very different things.
Danbei is disappointed.
Danbei: She has proved to be exceptional!
But Daisuke is adamant.
Daisuke: One thing is fighting against aliens and one other is playing gym exercises. It’s out of question!
 
Back to work in the stable, Daisuke notices Goro who is looking at him with an angry expression and he feels the need to explain better his thoughts.
Daisuke: Goro, maybe I did not explain myself properly. I don’t underestimate your father’s words, and I have the highest possible consideration of Hikaru.
Goro: So explain yourself.
 
Daisuke: Well, it’s somehow difficult to explain, but you know, war is different from an agility exercise, there’s nothing beautiful in it. Sometimes we are forced to make a war, but we should never desire it. I hate to fight, yet I must do it (he takes a bunch of hay in his hand). Look at this piece of hay. Maybe you could think it has no value at all; to me it has more rate than all combat machines. Do you understand why I would like that Hikaru would not fight? War should not be our ideal. I hope that at least you understand me, Goro.
 
Well, I must confess this Grendizer scene has taught me about war more than a lot of discourse from “adults” during my teen days...
But the best part of the episode has still to come. When Umon advises Daisuke about the attack of the Vega monster, he rushes to his motorbike, but he meets Hikaru in the garage. And Mashima writes an incredible dialogue between the couple:
Hikaru: Daisuke, a monster is approaching, isn’t it?
He does not reply a word and, fixing her very seriously, he prepares to switch on the motorbike.
 
She holds him, so he replies her with calm:
Daisuke: Let me go, Hikaru, move away!
 
But she does not want him to leave.
Hikaru: No...
Silently, he moves her hand away from his arm, but she is not impressed from his mute denial.
 
Hikaru: Daisuke, please, take me with you!
Daisuke tries again to convince Hikaru.
Daisuke: You should not risk your life, it would be useless!
He turns the key on, but she interposes herself ahead of the motorbike.
Hikaru: I am the owner of my life and I want to risk it!!!
Daisuke is totally astonished.
Daisuke: What?
Hikaru: I don’t take my life into account!
Daisuke gets angry.
Daisuke: Don’t say silliness! Stand back, I must go!
  
Then he launches the motorbike outside the garage, while Hikaru screams to him:
Hikaru: You will change your mind, you will change your mind!
 
And driving to the Research Centre, Daisuke reflects:
Daisuke: No, I must do everything possible in order to Hikaru not to be involved in this war!
Uh, great, fantastic dialogue exchange.
Where is the misogynist guy, where is the girl who is a “glue” to Daisuke? What I get to know in Ufo Robot Grendizer, instead, are two incredible characters with such strong personalities who are fighting for defending their own points of view in the name of good principles, and are still unable to find the “balance point” to reach an agreement. Hikaru has all the rights to consider herself as the owner of her life, so Daisuke is not entitled to forbid her to spend her days the way she likes; on the other hand, though, Daisuke thinks correctly that it is better that the less possible number of people get involved in a war (especially for what a loved one is concerned!). How this struggle is going to end?
Well, it is going to end with another wonderful scene, at the Research Centre balcony (ah, that balcony! The ultimate place for a major number of important scenes in the anime...) Daisuke has understood that Hikaru is right and also that he needs her aid, but, after all, he was not wrong so... how could he ask Hikaru to join the Grendizer Team for good? It’s Umon who helps his son: while everybody (himself, Daisuke, Hikaru, Koji and Danbei) are at the balcony, he turns to his son:
Umon: Only because of Hikaru’s precious help, this Research Centre still exists. Daisuke, surely the enemy’s attacks are going to become harder and harder, so I think the time has come to ask Hikaru to help us. What’s your opinion?
Daisuke closes his eyes (Mashima is a genial scriptwriter, really), as if he is fighting his pride for the last time, then he turns to Hikaru:
Daisuke: Yes, I agree. Hikaru, you know, we lean on you.
 
Koji is happy (proving that some arguments probably went on previously with his friend on the matter)
Koji: Oh, great, finally!
Umon approaches Danbei.
Umon: Danbei, vegan troops cannot do anything against them!
Danbei is ecstatic.
Danbei: Ah, I am exulting, dear Umon! I have always said that Hikaru would have become a legend. Look at that trio!
Under the sunset, Hikaru, Daisuke and Koji are crossing their hands, as if they are signing a perpetual deal to fight together.
 
But that gesture is also the signature of the new deal that Hikaru and Daisuke are signing between themselves. She has won her battle, she will stay aside Daisuke, not only as a pure psychological support, but acting together with him, living and – maybe – dying together with him. Hikaru Makiba is the only person who can counterpart Daisuke, who is able to let him change his mind, who has enough personality to be a proactive support for a guy like him. She is the real co-main character of this anime.
Ah, Hikaru, your father is not the only one who is proud of you. There is also a 13 years old girl sitting on a couch in Italy who feels the same... Whatever thing could happen to your character from now on, you have nothing to prove anymore. What your character was meant to be and where the story was intended to go is so clear. Nothing will be ever able to cancel what Ufo Robot Grendizer has been for the first 39 episodes. Nothing.
JOE7'S NOTES
It is noteworthy that Danbei and Goro, initially enthusiastic before Hikaru's performance,, have a perplexed look at the end, as if Hikaru wanted to exaggerate: not only about winning but also overthrowing. She really wats to enter in Daisuke's group. At he end of the episode, with Daisuke, Hikaru and Koji shaking hands, notice how Daisuke is smiling, as he makes the deal with them. It is a sign that he is now also happy with Hikaru's decision.
Edited by joe 7 - 25/11/2019, 17:17
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