Suisei no Gargantia Episode 2: The Planet where it Began

‘After all, he may have come from the heavens…’

 Summary: Deciding to try and open a dialogue with these people, Ledo stays pinned to the pylon. They ask to talk to the Alliance in charge, but the crew have no idea what he is talking about and they believe that Chamber, who is translating, has another person inside. As Ridget, the commander, and the crew try to decide what to do, Amy gives Red food and begins talking. She explains that this is Earth, and when it was frozen over, some humans escaped to the stars while others stayed. Eventually, the ice melted and became a vast ocean, in which many people form fleets to salvage old technology from below. Looking for other items advanced technology, Ridget sends Bellows to the point where Chamber and Ledo Were found, and her ship is attacked by pirates. Amy asks Ledo to help them, and he agrees with the intention of earning their trust. Ledo boards Chamber and efficiently eliminate all enemies with no harm to Bellows’ ship and crew, as Amy and the others watch in awe at its destructive power.

 Please, get me a bucket so I don’t drown in my own drool. This. Episode. Was. Amazing.

 For me, Suisei no Gargantia had one of the best first episodes this season (sorry, Shingeki no Kyojin definitely had the best…) and I was dying to see the next episode… Well episode 2 was leaked two days (or was it one day…) after the first episode… BUT! And I know you’re wondering why I didn’t cover it then, I didn’t want to spoil it for myself. Sure, watching episode after episode of anime is great, but one of the great things about seasonal anime (and watching them during the season) is the week that leads up to the next episode. Sure, your filling every day in between with other anime but, when you have a weekend of anime as awesome as this you don’t want to spoil it for yourself! Now I have even more reason to be excited for the weekend! Shingeki no Kyojin, Suisei no Gargantia, Hentai Ōji to Warawanai Neko., yes! This is life…

 But I digress, episode 2 starts off exactly where episode 1 ended, Ledo (or Red?! I don’t know!) has been ‘cornered’ on Earth, Amy is filing a claim for sexual harassment, the sea is big and Chamber is awesome. Did I get that right? This episode was set up in such a way that we all knew what we were going to get, a nice Ledo + Amy dynamic that is sure to continue throughout the show. The thing I like about this show is the dynamic between each and every character. Every character has their opinion on Ledo and every character seems to enjoy voicing that opinion. Ledo has become somewhat of a spectacle/tourist attraction on Gargantia and he’s definitely loving the attention. The fact that he can’t talk without Chamber’s assistance leads to some truly hilarious scenes like, for example, the ‘fish carcass’ scene. This episode was all about the other side of the coin, with last episode being about Ledo and his world and this episode being about Amy and the reborn Earth. From now on, I think, the majority of the focus will be on Earth and Ledo’s slow adaption to his new life, BUT knowing Gen Urobuchi something will definitely happen to stir up some trouble, whether that will  be Ledo slaughtering pirates or Ledo touching Amy’s ass some more, who knows?

 I have a feeling that Ledo and Amy will become friends. Maybe it’s the opening that gives it away? I’ll be honest, as much as I’d hate for this show to become a boring slice of life where in the end Ledo becomes a fisherman, marries Amy, they have 5 kids and they die together happily ever after, I think I’d quite like to see something nice and calm during these first few episodes. With this episode being primarily dialogue, eating and, well, y’know, DAT ENDING, I find myself with a lack of things to talk about, but I’ll try my best! This paragraph shall be dedicated to characters Ledo and Amy… So in a single episode I feel that Ledo has already come along way. He’s gone from a semi-hostile, mecha wielding, alien (who likes touching ass’) to a confused, fish eating, alien, who likes lighting and sparkly sea water… oh and ass’! Amy hasn’t changed much though and I think that’s the way it should be. This anime is primarily about Ledo’s adaption first and then secondarily Amy and Ledo’s relationship. I don’t think what they have will evolve into romance (much to my despair), but I do think that they will grow quite close. This episode has shown us that Amy is probably one of the most open minded people on Gargantia. Sure, Ledo’s supposedly an alien (actually he’s not, but let’s just say he is because he came from ‘above’) but in Amy’s eyes Ledo’s just a skinny guy, with horrifyingly white hair and a tendency to touch her ass (okay that joke’s getting old now, I’ll stop) and that’s okay! He’s just a normal guy and should be treated as such. Everyone everywhere is pointing a gun and the poor guy and judging him from afar. Why don’t they try to talk to him? I’ll get back to this point after the next two or three paragraph…

 Amy’s brother(?). I don’t know how much of a role he’s going to play in this anime, but the kid seems pretty darn insightful. We’ve yet to be informed why he’s seemingly bedridden and I guess that doesn’t matter, but, what does matter is that he is pretty much the guy responsible for the ‘peace talks’ between Amy and Ledo. I know we haven’t seen much of this kid yet, but I’m looking forward to A. seeing how that model boat of his is going to turn out and B. seeing how he affects the slowly unfolding story. I’m betting that he’s going to be first to die!

 We’ve yet to see more of the crew on Gargantia, I mean, sure we’ve had a few clips with them complaining about Ledo’s existence, but I’m looking forward to when we get to know them better. Every character in this show looks amazing! I just want to get to know them better you know?

 And another thing! DAT SCENERY! My god… You have no idea how much I love good looking scenery and good looking anime. Everything in this show looks so crisp and clean; the lighting scene is a perfect example of that. The character designs are amazing as well (there are no good synonyms for amazing okay!), although I hear the person that designed them (Hanaharu Naruko) is actually more adept to drawing/designing porn/hentai characters… who knew?

 And one last point (before I get back to the main point), what’s up with that clay/tooth thing? Hopefully it receives a bit more of an explanation than it’s gotten, because Ledo keeps drawing on/playing with that thing and I need to know what it is? Is it the potential for evolution? Is it a bomb more powerful than the hydrogen type? Or is it just a drawing pad that Ledo acquired for when he gets bored? Come on people! Work with me here…

 …and we’re back. So where was I? Oh right, yeah. Ledo. I feel like now is the appropriate time to talk about, DAT ENDING. So, whilst Bellows and the gang go out to sea to look around the site where Ledo landed, the find themselves under attack from pirates. Ledo is sent into action by Earth’s envoy Amy and he quickly subdues the pirates… by obliterating them. Totally. Completely. Gone. Poof. Dust in the breeze. I’m just saying Ledo, maybe you could have gone a little bit easier on them? Although I guess a war machine like your own wasn’t made to fry humans y’know? I just didn’t think Ledo was this powerful! I was too distracted by the pretty neon lights in the last episode to notice… Thing is, I have a feeling that this is going to increase tension again on Gargantia. Ledo has now become an even bigger ‘threat’ and there’s nothing he can do to dissuade them. Hell, even I’d be afraid of the guy after that display of power… it’s like a pissing contest where one guy goes a couple millimeters with a trickle and then another guy f****** fire hoses a building into oblivion… yes that crude/crass metaphor was the best I could come up with… I’m sorry. But yeah, if these final faces are anything to go by, Ledo’s in serious trouble!