THE BIG O
Cast in the name of Evangelion, ye not impressive
Review by: Craig "Negotiate This!" Norris
Length: 26 episodes
Genre: BFR, mind-fuck, film noir
Watched: 1-26, dubbed
I couldn't stand this series when I saw the first several episodes. M.H. and I watched it just so we could poke fun at it mercilessly. However, the conclusion of the first season left me wanting to see more, and I was actually happy to hear about the creation of the second season. In the end, Big O is far from my favorite anime, but it does contain a handful of redeeming qualities that saves it from being a complete travesty.
Plot synopsis: Forty years ago, the citizens of Paradigm City all lost their memories. Despite this, they found a way to move on, relearning their own technology and piecing together their own lives. Roger Smith, a negotiator, has become the owner of a portion of the technology lost 40 years ago; a giant robot named Big O. With the help of Big O, his android servant Dorothy, and his old friend Police Major Dan Dastun, Roger attempts to uncover the secrets that were buried in Paradigm City those many years ago.
Artwork: The art is a mixed bag. Backgrounds are very well done, and action sequences are smoothly animated. Character designs are adequate, but the way they are rendered makes them look over-simplified. Facial features lack depth and look very soft, making them appear as though they were carved from a brick of soap or marble. Aside from the characters, everything else looks pretty good, including the mecha designs. Too bad the show focuses on the characters so much; otherwise you would be able to look at something else most of the time.
Music: The music ranges from fair to horrid. The opening theme is, for lack of a less vulgar descriptor, ass-nasty, and someone should hit Rui Nagai in the face with a brick for writing it. Having someone scream, "Big O! Big O! Big O!" for over a minute isn't the best way to start things off. The ending theme is too light and fluffy, and I fail to see how it fits in with the series. The in-episode music runs a fairly wide gamut, from sultry saxophone to classical piano, to a very blatant rip-off of the Twilight Zone theme song. Sometimes the soundtrack is decent, but usually it is either unimpressive or noticeably bad.
Characters: All the characters have something in common: they are all very confused about who they are and what they are supposed to do. As a result, their development proceeds at a very choppy pace. Roger Smith, as a negotiator, is accustomed to being in control. So then, it is very understandable that he becomes flustered as he gets closer and closer to the truth. He dresses in black and sleeps until noon, which sounds a lot like me when I was in high school. He does not know why he is able to pilot Big O, but realizes that his ability is in some way connected to the city's collective memory loss. Dorothy is an android who Roger pretty much inherited when her builder was murdered. She seems to have about as much personality as drywall, but her love of classical music, and her frequent criticism of Roger, shows early on that there is much more to her than first suspected. Dan Dastun is a Major in the Paradigm City Police Force, and worked closely with Roger when he was a member of the department. Dastun is a very dedicated public servant who would gladly put his life on the line for his friends and for his city. He gives Roger sensitive police information for his negotiation cases. Norman Burg is Roger's butler, and also the chief mechanic for Big O. While Roger is out saving the city from giant robots and monsters, Norman makes sure that his bed is made and that there is a hot meal waiting upon his return. Angel is the mysterious, omnipresent woman whose agenda and allegiance constantly remains unclear. Her role in Paradigm City is unknown even to her, and her own quest for the truth often intersects Roger's. Alex Rosewater is the president and CEO of Paradigm Corporation, which pretty much owns every aspect of city. He attempts to use the secrets of Paradigm City to become its uncontested ruler. His only interest is power, and he cares very little for the citizens. The characters themselves are pretty interesting, but it's the way they all relate back to one another that is the centerpiece of the series.
Plot: This plot went for maximum mind-fuckage, challenging the viewer to decide for him/herself what is real and what is not. It is a bold approach, which was pulled off with only a mild degree of success. The ending pointed in no clear direction, and was vague enough to have multiple interpretations, which I found to be rather annoying. It asks more questions than it gives answers, so as the credits roll on episode 26, all but the most rabid of philosophers will invariably feel a bit cheated, especially since the buildup was so intense. The series is half detective story and half sci-fi robot fights, and as a result of the dual platforms the series can seem a little schizophrenic. As original as the whole concept was, I felt that the way it was dealt with left much to be desired.
CHICKS!: As stated before, the characters look a bit off, so those looking for straight eye candy should seek it elsewhere. There's a little bit to be had personality-wise, but I've certainly seen better. Dorothy shows flashes of personality, but too often slips back into her role as an emotionless android. She never smiles, and her skin is about as white as bathroom grout. On the plus side, she has a very nice figure, and is very flexible. Plus, she is an android, so stamina is not an issue. But she is very heavy, so that should be taken into account as you check off potential positions in the Kama Sutra. Angel is nubile and seductive, and is the only worthwhile human chick to be had. Unfortunately, her mysteriousness becomes diluted into self-doubt, and her lack of confidence or identity makes her value plummet. Also, with a near complete nonexistence of fanservice, it is difficult to accurately gauge her on a purely physical sense. Unfortunately, even if both these chicks were seen full frontal, they would still be bit players on the anime chicks stage.
Overall: This series has come a long way, from the butt of my and M.H.'s jokes to an almost respectable title. There's still a lot that keeps it from being successful, but it is certainly not the biggest waste of time. Though the reasons to watch it are not numerous, they are there, and you won't have to look too hard to find them. It is a departure from most other series, and even most other BFR series, so it works as a change of pace. It took a couple of seasons, but it is now clear to me that the show I first dubbed "The Big Shit" isn't that big of a shit after all.
IN A NUTSHELL:
+ Original
+ Characters interact well
+ Nice mood and ambience
- More questions than answers
- Inconsistent soundtrack
- Plot executed poorly
Rating: 5.5/10
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