Gangsta ep 2 [ Beware of Dog ]

Episode 2 of Gangsta serves several purposes: one, it’s to clarify the purpose of Alex and her position that allows us to obtain information. Despite being a prostitute who is involved in crimes she was never quite introduced to the world of ‘Tags’ and it’s implied she might even be new to it all because of it. Even though Alex is a brand spanking new prostitute she serves as the intrigued, fearful, naive newcomer. Yet something about her unfortunate past lends her a place in this gray spot anime and reminds us: oh shit, everyone in this show has something going on.

Another thing we learned is: Tags. Tags. Lots about Tags. This was namely thanks to Alex but it was also thanks to the cute girl who comes by for the Doctor in town. I’m fairly sure we’ll be seeing both of them, and the little girl is basically friendly with Nic and understands him while not fearing him. I enjoyed her part in the episode and it was nice to feel like she was safe in whatever position she was in because Nic was around to protect her.

I was expecting an immediate backlash for saving Alex, but instead the Doctor is the focus. We see a lot of things are starting to go bad in town and another Tag is the one trying to pick up the Doctor, but Nic and Worick are a little too cozy with him to allow him to be snatched up. The Doctor is an absolutely fun character who is so dead serious about his proclamations he legitimately tackles Nic when he allows damage to happen to his clinic and threatens to disembowel him while he is fighting the tag. Jeez.

Once again there is violence, but it never feels out of place. I really get what the anime is doing this time and I really enjoyed watching the characters interact. We get a very heavy dose of ‘TAGS ARE IMPORTANT AND VERY VERY POWERFUL’ this episode and we also get a dose of ‘THEY ARE MORE THAN WORICK EXPLAINED’ with the episode ending with Nina calling attention to tags and referring to them as ‘Twilights’. There’s a big mystery here and the show is blaring signs at us going OOOH BE EXCITED FOR WHAT THIS IS GOING TO BE SOON OOOOH!

Nina and Theo are absolutely adorable. Theo is a crazy bastard and Nina having a cute relationship with Nic makes me happy. I like that even though violence was threatened towards Nina that was snuffed out quick. I am slightly terrified, however, because there is a young girl named Nina with a doctor for a father. I have seen where this goes and I am frightened. No one buy them a dog!

Gangsta doesn’t fail to set new standards. I’m more than happy to be covering a show that both reminds me of darker more macabre manga like DOGS: bullets and carnage but also keeps an air of something more, something with more bonds and friendship like Samurai Champloo. The anime is unique in that regard, being both violent while making us think of more pleasant things and feel more positive emotions.

Next week Midnight and I begin our trade off, and trust me, I don’t think you’ll be seeing anything else exactly like Gangsta all season. Even if it does make me feel like a poser to pronounce the name.

Oki