English Dub Review: No Guns Life “Noble Rot”

OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)

Having regained some of her influence and position, Olivier grills Juzo for information on that data, and while he’s vague with her about as he is with everyone else, he essentially tells her he can’t give her the data yet. Also Rosa tries showing Juzo affection but misreads things when she sees Olivier. Though that will have to wait, as another Extended named Podpie, a private investigator, comes into Juzo’s mechanic’s shop, though mainly to gawk at the daughter, Scarlet, with his special eyes, even though this is what got him fired from his last job. Mary finds him out and wants him locked up, though Scarlet is willing to forgive him and Juzo gives him a pass if he commits to using his gifts for the greater good, which is something more possible for him than Juzo. Also Tetsuro finally makes it back after being let go.

OUR TAKE

We’re taking a breather after the intense opening arc for this half of the season, which is good timing considering things got pretty heavy for quite awhile there. But while this show is quite good at its action and drama sides, the comedy is more often a miss than a hit, and that was before it primarily focused on old men staring at young womens’ chests like it does here. It’s already a enough of a cliché in anime as it is that has only aged poorly as time has gone on. Putting aside the grossness inherently in it, it’s just old hat at this point, meaning that the joke has long since past its prime and there really isn’t a whole lot original to be done with it. And even then, Podpie isn’t all that interesting of a character to begin with, his entire personality beginning and ending with obsessing about staring at boobs with his x-ray eyes. Heck, the only plot significant detail in this episode, aside from the check-in with Olivier and Spitzbergen plotting to attack again, is Podpie examining Juzo and seeing a lot of stuff that freaks him out.

Oh, and we learn a bit more about Juzo’s previous group, Noble Rot, whose mention is probably set up for the final quarter of the season, which we are fast approaching. While this episode feels more like an OVA that got mixed in with the regular batch and could have easily been removed, I’m hopeful that the remaining seven episodes will get us back on track to focusing on No Guns Life’s strengths in terms of narrative and action. Even with the ridiculous aspects of it, it still overall manages to be an earnest and thoughtful sci-fi romp that has managed to keep itself together for the most part. I guess what this episode really just does is point to how the comedy is probably the weakest part of this, so it would maybe be best to avoid it for the time being. Levity is all well and good, but there are plenty of other ways to make that work that don’t make us all feel uncomfortable for watching it. And maybe Podpie will get his redemption if we have enough time to see him do so. Heck, if we get that, this episode will actually have a purpose and I might retroactively add a point to it. Until then, it sits firmly at its current score.