Grendizer U ep.9 Review: Beginning of the End
With only four episodes left, Grendizer U is building towards its climax with episode nine. With the Vega Super Cannon repaired and upgraded, the Vega faction launches an all-out assault on the Photon Lab, while Duke Fleed is locked up by Professor Yumi. This final battle draws all the characters in, and gradually reveals their purpose and determination.
I was disappointed that the final arc of the series started with episode 9, because it was quite rushed. All the previous episodes felt like they were just introductions to new characters or machines, and the anime didn’t have much plot or character development. Meanwhile, so much has happened in the past few episodes, that they had to put a lot of things off screen to fit the plot into the running time. Grendizer U‘s plot truly has problem, it’s crazy how an anime plot can have so much going on, and yet feel like nothing is happening at the same time.
I was disappointed that the final arc of the series started with episode 9, because it was quite rushed. All the previous episodes felt like they were just introductions to new characters or machines, and the anime didn’t have much plot or character development. Meanwhile, so much has happened in the past few episodes, that they had to put a lot of things off screen to fit the plot into the running time. Grendizer U‘s plot truly has problem, it’s crazy how an anime plot can have so much going on, and yet feel like nothing is happening at the same time.
As I said in my previous review, I didn’t like how they made Professor Yumi a racist, and episode 9 proved that idea is as horrible as I thought. His decision to imprison Duke Fleed backfired as soon as Vega’s army raided the Photon Lab, and Duke was released just a moment after he was imprisoned, making this internal drama not really go anywhere. I thought Mazinger X would launch first to hold off the enemy until Duke was freed, which is a bit of a cliché but still better than Duke being released in this episode.
Besides the protagonists, the antagonists also have psychological shifts in this episode. Not only the Photon Lab faction but also the Vega faction has internal conflicts: Teronna and Blaki, Gandal’s mutual conflict. The audience is also revealed the reason behind Cassado’s hatred for Duke, which is jealousy, a reason that I think is quite weak, unable to balance what Cassado has done to Duke.
Overall, despite playing the opening during a fight scene, episode 9 did not make Grendizer U any more engaging. The unattractive animation and rushed plot gradually drains my interest. Hopefully, with the remaining 4 episodes, the anime will bring a memorable climax, enough to erase my impression of the boredom of the past few episodes.
//Getter Andy//
//Getter Andy//
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