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HIKARU MAKIBA: THE "FINAL ARC" INTRODUCTION (EPS 62-69)
From a narrative perspective, “the Fleedian Trilogy” (my definition  - eps 70-72) is interesting for a lot of reasons: the most important of them, in my opinion, is the Author’s choice to leave to the final episodes the complete re-validation of the whole background story of the anime. But they will reach that point with a serie of episodes which have the purpose to create the dramatic premises of the final “big-bang” (read: ep72). Now that the ratings are secured, it is possible reprising the “old-style” anime and switch once again the stage light of the show on its main purpose: Duke Fleed and his personal journey 1 And consequently, all the other characters need to follow him in his evolution towards the end of the story.
EPISODE 62
Ep62 is the first “choral” episode after a long time, I mean, involving even Danbei, Goro and Umon with their personalities and not leaving them acting as ghosts around Maria Grace Fleed and Koji Kabuto. Here are also, for the first time after a while, the “old” Hikaru and Daisuke interacting with the other characters (particularly Goro, who finally finds again his sister and his “brother”). A good business card for the final arc for sure.
EPISODES 63-65
But the first surprise arrives soon with ep63 ("Kirika: a girl who disappeared in the snow") . After 38 episodes, Tomoharu Katsumata comes back as episode director in Grendizer, re-forming the same design team of ep25, together with Shingo Araki (artistic director) and Mitsuru Mashima (scriptwriter). A very interesting coincidence. But also the content of the script comes back to the drama of that old episode, as if ep62 had been a sort of “test” to verify if it was possible to reprise a certain kind of atmosphere, even with Maria-Grace around. After all, Mashima is the writer of both episodes.... Well, the result seems to me to be really positive: yes, it is possible writing a good dramatic “old-style” episode, involving also Maria Grace. Referring to Hikaru, starts here a long “reappearing” process – very cautious, Japanese boys could be upset if they become aware of it, LOL! – as she is, in the majority of the scenes, acting together with Maria Grace (nice trick really, giving her exposure again without receiving complain letters, eheh ).
The same dramatic atmosphere and choral script are displayed in ep64, so we can hope Hikaru’s comeback is finally approaching.
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1 It is an inner, emotional journey. I did not specify it in the analysis, because I discussed about it several times on the French forum. Here I think it's better to clarify the concept, for the readers.
Edited by joe 7 - 25/11/2019, 17:30
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