Mecha-Ude Ep 4 Review: Back To School…Or Not?
Episode 4 of Mecha-Ude seems to have more comedic moments than the previous, but even that couldn’t hide the dark undertones that the series served us under a cover of Sugita’s antic. This time we dove into the past of many things, the Kagami’s family, Alma’s past owner as well as Aki’s personal vengeance that might be a bit too shocking for a JK.
While the pacing of the series is very erratic, it feeds us just enough information to get through the episode. Now that Hikaru and Alma has officially became part of ARMS, they have to take on mission for the organization. And of course, while Hikaru has very high latent power, he is still a complete newbie when it comes to actual combat operation. And it’s great that they introduced other Mecha-Ude users within ARMS, even if it’s just a foreshadow to the crazy stuff that happen later. And the intro sequence also setup an important things for the story as well. And after last episode insane beatdrop, we get another amazing Hikaru x Alma fight scene with great choreograph and effect animation. While Hikaru is still green in terms of strategy, when it comes to raw power, he and Alma pack an absolute beatdown in them.
Then we returned to Hikaru’s school life…with a new friend. Another transfer student make his way into Hikaru’s class, and this time it’s another face that he didn’t expect or wanted to see in the classroom of all places: Jun Kagami – the kid that got his face punched in by Hikaru last episode. Of course, Aki went berserk and hilarity ensued.
Then we returned to Hikaru’s school life…with a new friend. Another transfer student make his way into Hikaru’s class, and this time it’s another face that he didn’t expect or wanted to see in the classroom of all places: Jun Kagami – the kid that got his face punched in by Hikaru last episode. Of course, Aki went berserk and hilarity ensued.
It’s kinda funny (and Trigger-like) that Mecha-Ude set out a very clear “boundary” between when the exposition happen and when the action do. When there’s exposition, there’s absolutely no action at all so the viewer can focus on the loredump. And then when the action came it’s non-stop go go go. So even when we thought Aki will punch Jun’s face in at school, Hikaru stopped her for his precious “lore exposition”. And we get a very “Gintoki” impression from Alma – down to the voice as well. Sugita does know how to turn the serious-but-sarcastic voice on and off that he is so well known for. And Jun’s revelation was pretty shocking as well: Alma used to belong to the head of the Kagami family. This really reminds me of the Katekyo Hitman Reborn story, where the weapon of the protagonist belong to a head of a family generations back. And the Kagami boss back then seems to be a not-so-simple guy. He was Alma’s partner and he looks quite…normal, but he started an entire city and conglomerate on his own, so he’s definitely not ordinary.
And we can’t forget about the school life rom-com stuff either, since it’s played up quite a lot this episode. And I think it gives the series a feel of levity and relief to pace out all the serious stuff.
And we can’t forget about the school life rom-com stuff either, since it’s played up quite a lot this episode. And I think it gives the series a feel of levity and relief to pace out all the serious stuff.
And here comes the fight! After wacking Jun, it’s time to move onto another Mecha-Ude user. And since we’ve been hearing a lot about Aki’s grudge for the Worm-type Mecha-Ude, so that’s the arc we’re getting next. The Worm-type Mecha-Ude is quite powerful and dangerous. It is perhaps the type that gets on people’s nerve the most since it can take control of another person and manipulate their action. Aki and Hikaru absolutely loathe that type of behaviour, and the victim this time is the ARMS member we met at the start – basically fulfill the foreshadowing, as well as giving Hikaru a reason to fight.
The clincher at the end of the credit for this episode is of course the real identity of the Worm-type user. Manga readers may already knew everything there is but for anime-onlies, this might come as a shock, and next episode promises to be a tear-jerker.
=Aaron=
The clincher at the end of the credit for this episode is of course the real identity of the Worm-type user. Manga readers may already knew everything there is but for anime-onlies, this might come as a shock, and next episode promises to be a tear-jerker.
=Aaron=
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