Let’s hope Kaede doesn’t have the same crappy 2 min. limitation to her power like Kotetsu. We turn in our uniforms this week for some by-the-numbers family drama. Mostly, old man Kotetsu re-evaluates his priorities. I’m not trying to be mean to Kotetsu in saying what I’m about to say. After all, he’s the best character on the show. It’s time, however, for Kotetsu to retire and I hope the anime doesn’t pull a 180 on his waning abilities. An ending where Kotetsu goes home for good is only fitting for someone who so resembles a Grecian hero.
For men like Achilles and Hector, it was always about status. These men could have run away from war and lived a happy, anonymous life, but life’s too short! They’d rather die with glory than waste away on some farm, living in obscurity. That’s why Hector continued to fight, even when he knew his son would die and his wife sold into slavery. That’s why Odysseus foolishly yelled his name and exploits to the cyclops Polyphemus — people should know who you are, even if it means risking your life.
Is it any different for Kotetsu? Kotetsu appears to have come from humble roots. His mother has a tiny garden that she tends to, and his brother runs a bar. Young Kotetsu was too good for that; God had given him special powers and he was going to be a big-time hero even if it meant he had to leave his wife. Even if she could’ve died at any moment. Well, it has been a long journey; Kotetsu’s been away from home for years, waging a war on crime. Sure, there’s no Penelope to return to, but he still has his daughter. It’s time for Kotetsu to end his odyssey.
Stray Observations
• Kids are always so tricky to portray. Usually, they are whiny and unbearable, but swing the pendulum too far in the other direction and they become too mature. I didn’t enjoy Kaede’s sudden “I’m a rebellious pre-teen who feels neglected by my dad” turn of character, but I suppose it had to be done.
• It’s a little strange for Kaede to keep such an immaculate bedroom, but her drawer is just a mess of Barnaby photos.
• Kotetsu should’ve gotten this photo autographed for his daughter:
Then again, maybe she already has that picture stashed away somewhere.
• So in that short span of superhero time, what can’t Kotetsu do? He apparently has super-hearing as well.
• It is a little convenient for there to be a storm on the same exact day Kaede decided to visit a shrine. It is extra convenient for said shrine to be built near a slope so that a storm could easily take it out. Just saying’.
“It is a little convenient for there to be a storm on the same exact day Kaede decided to visit a shrine. It is extra convenient for said shrine to be built near a slope so that a storm could easily take it out. Just saying”.
I was thinking the exact same thing as that scene played out, although I just let it slide. I just wanted to see Tiger be bad ass in front of his daughter. That said why does he not tell her that he is a hero, that way she may not think he’s an awful father. Also now that she is a NEXT it must mean that the powers are genetic mutations, kinda like X-men.
I dunno, maybe the last thing he wants is for her to worry about his safety.
Regarding his powers, the way they defined it was, it boosts his physical capabilities by 100. If you think about it, it could actually be the most broken power out of all of them, if it wasn’t for that time limit.
Also, I think that he will get his powers back, since I can’t really see them showing Kotetsu living the rest of his life in peace, and just watching Barnaby kick ass.
Well, to each his own, but all this build up only for Kotetsu to regain his powers is a major cop-out in my opinion.
I think there’s a chance we’ll see another time-skip, where Kaeda (now in her mid-teens) works as an understudy for Barnaby, and part of a duo with him.
They’ve done Barnaby = Batman in a few different ways in this anime… maybe the next is giving him a Robin. ;)
Kaeda could be the female Robin to Barnaby’s Batman. She could have “Tiger” as part of her hero name, and take the place of her father (in the hero business). Kotetsu would still be there in the background, cheering his daughter on. Heck, he may even get some official “Hero Trainer” or “Hero Mentor” role.
I dunno, I don’t think Robin is supposed to have a crush on Batman. Well, maybe he can, but nothing should come of it!
This show has at least one implausible coincidence per episode. I did a whole post counting implausible coincidences in a single episode a while back. That said, I don’t think the slope is implausible, because Japanese shrines seem to be typically built at the top of hills. That his daughter is trapped in one on the one day he happens to be around … yeah, that’s the way this show operates.
Well, shrug, it wasn’t like the coincidence(s) bugged the hell out of me to the point that I hated the episode. I just felt the coincidence(s) stood out enough that a mention wouldn’t hurt.
T&B’s narrative does contain its share of contrivances and the whole ”Kaede in danger” situation did feel rather contrived.
That being said, I don’t really understand why you think Kotetsu is some kind of gloryhound since the makes it clear time and again that he became he hero because he wants to save people in need. That’s all he cares about, not fame or glory.
He could’ve started by saving his family.
Hmm. Maybe I’ll catch up with this show… although I have zero faith that Sunrise would actually go the legit route and have Kotetsu have to confront his aging. No, someone’ll hand-wave that problem away, I’m sure.
Or… Sunrise is concentrating their shit in “Sacred Seven” and “Tiger & Bunny” will go out in a bang. Here’s to hoping, anyway; after all, this series turned out to be the best thing to come out of Spring. Who would’ve made that bet at the start of the season?