As our lovely commenter Katy mentioned in the first impressions post, Kanata no Astra got a double time episode for the premiere. That time it went past the 40 minute mark and I was wondering if it was going to be like that weekly, but alas, no. We’re back to the standard 24 minute-per-episode run. The episode felt like it flew by! It was a pretty nice episode in my opinion, so I’m pretty excited to talk about it.
Although the episode felt very fast-paced since they had to cram the whole first planet stop into it, it didn’t feel rushed or confusing at all. The big cast helps since everyone fills out a role that moves the story along without a huge need for exposition. Some information is not as deftly presented, but the fact that it came come up in conversation in a group of people who must cooperate and are getting to know each other is pretty belivable.
I really liked the idea of the Tor-gon or dragon-like creatures that they found in Vilavurs and I was wondering if they would hunt for one. The scenes where they collect food is great precisely because everything they see is so far from what they expect that there are many humorous moments. This show really handles the contrast between tension and humor well. The characters stand out a lot too, even if at times they can be predictable or seem stereotypical.
Kanata and Aries are great characters and they add very good balance to the group, but the cast members all seem pretty intriguing and I can’t wait for them to make it to the more mysterious ones. This episode focused on Quitterie and some of her inner turmoil and how this affects her relationship with others, particularly her younger sister. Quitterie is brash and openly challenging of others often. Kanata gets the brunt of it a lot. It was nice to see she has a friendship with Zack from way back, although this was expected considering their previous interactions.
There was quite an adventurous feel with some members of the crew taking pleasure in exploring the new place. Charce was able to show off a little and he seemed very delighted at being in contact with all that unknown flora and fauna. It really is funny that he’s the ‘ikemen’ of the group, but he has a bit of an odd personality.
Overall, the moment of tension where Funicia is about to be taken and Kanata is trying to rescue her but is about to fall and then is in turn helped by Quitterie is quite satisfying since it shows how dependable Kanata actually is, how deeply Quitterie cares for Funicia despite her ‘tsun-tsun’ demeanor and how easy it is for this group to become close just because of these shared experiences. I’m looking forward to more of these developments in their relationships as we get to know each of them more.
I must admit, though, that the highlights for me were two very puzzling things that appeared in this episode. First off, the sphere that seems to have followed them here (or maybe there are multiple of them?) and secondly, the conversation between Kanata and Zack in the post-credits scene where Zack informs Kanata that there might be someone in the crew trying to sabotage or tamper with the equipment. So mysterious and exciting!
Kanata no Astra is still going strong in episode 2. It managed to present some farther-off conflict related to both mysteries and at the same time it keeps the viewer engaged in the ‘now’ with interesting characters and engrossing action. I can’t wait to see what’s next!
I’ve found this one really enjoyable so far. I really like the tone of the show and the characters are definitely growing on me. Hopefully Kanata no Astra continues to be fun for the remainder of the series as there is certainly plenty for it to sink its teeth into.
Yeah, I definitely agree. It’s pretty nice to watch it and I don’t get bored during the episode at all! That had been happening to me with some shows lately, so this is a positive change for me.
One thing I found particularly compelling about this episode was Quitterie’s inner monologue which concluded with “Nobody taught me how to love”.
For me that line spoke volumes about her character. She didn’t believe she was capable of love and so was blind to the self-evident truth that she actually did love Funicia.
I’m not that familiar with the trope but she doesn’t seem like the typical Tsundere as I understand it.
You’re absolutely right. They did a really great job portraying that too as it showed her against a white background just as she said that line and it felt like time had slowed down a bit so the information would sink in. It had a very impactful effect.
Well, I don’t think any of the characters fit specific tropes, but they do have some traits that can be associated with certain tropes. As for Quitterie, she’s way more honest than a regular tsundere, but her hot and cold attitude at times makes her seem a bit Tsundere.