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--- Gatchaman Episode 54: “Gatchaman Burns with Rage†(http://www.gatchamania.net/threadid.php?threadid=2736)
Posted by lborgia88 on 09-11-2009 at 09:22:
Gatchaman Episode 54: “Gatchaman Burns with Rageâ€
[Thank you, Saturn, for the screencaps!]
Gatchaman Episode 54: “Gatchaman Burns with Rageâ€
BOTP Episode: “Raid of the Red Scorpionâ€
“Good morning, Berg Katse,†says an unusually polite Leader X.
Naturally, Berg Katse wishes him a good morning too. It quickly becomes apparent that this episode is following closely on the heels of “Farewell, Red Impulse,†and that this explains Leader X’s atypically friendly mood.
Leader X notes that the Red Impulse squad, like the Science Ninja Team, “has long been a nuisance,†and he is glad that Katse has managed to get rid of its leader. I’m not sure exactly how they would know who undertook the suicidal job of piloting the missile that stopped the V-2 plan –maybe the ISO issued a press release?
“This has been your crowning achievement; you have pleased me greatly,†continues Leader X. This is certainly a change from the usual harangues that Katse has to endure!
However, Leader X is assuming that the Ninjas must currently be “lost in despair,†and he wants Katse to take advantage of this opportunity and attack again quickly. Katse assures him “Don’t worry, Sire. We have the Crab Killer.â€
Leader X, in return, assures Katse that he’s “the only one I can count on,†and sends him on his way to attack the despairing Ninjas.
So now we get our first look at the Crab Killer mecha, as it bursts forth from the sea to fly on its way… somewhere, and it’s clearly based on a horseshoe crab.
On board the mecha, Katse appears onscreen to issue directives to its Captain of the Week. It turns out that, once again, the ISO’s mantle project is the target. “I want you to destroy all the Earth’s uranium facilities,†explains Katse.
The Captain replies that he will head for the ISO’s “World Uranium Research Institute.†Take note of the fact that he has a small mustache (and no, he isn’t Red Impulse!)
So the next thing that we see is the World Uranium Research Institute, as music of impending doom plays. Two scientists, sitting in front of a window, see the Crab Killer appear. “It’s some kind of crab monster!†cries one of them.
With that, the Crab Killer hits them with a glaring beam of some kind of energy and the two scientists have a brief moment to cry out in horror before being obliterated in an explosion. Elsewhere in the Research Institute, scientists are all now running around in mass panic, as Crab Killer begins smashing the entire place apart with its tail and claws. Tanks, presumably from the UN Forces, are on the scene and they fire at the Crab Killer but, of course, it doesn’t do a bit of good. Crab Killer merely flies up into the air and then turns and blasts all the tanks with its energy beam, destroying them all.
The whole Research Institute is in flames now, and as a parting gesture, Crab Killer smashes through a large glass dome on top of one of its buildings before flying off.
Now, we see that this is actually onscreen footage of the attack being watched by Dr. Nambu.
Dr. Nambu then turns around to address the Team, who are all gathered around. “All of the world’s primary uranium institutes have been attacked within this past week,†he tells them, adding that it’s clearly part of an effort by Galactor to destroy the ISO’s mantle project.
“So Galactor’s starting to get impatient again, huh Doc?†asks Joe.
“You know, I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since they first started attacking the Earth,†says Ryu, leaning back resignedly on one of the couches (and providing us viewers with a handy chronological reference point).
Dr. Nambu announces that the ISO is going to hold a conference to discuss countermeasures to Galactor’s latest attacks, and he notes that Galactor is bound to try something unexpected.
“You want us to guard it?†surmises Jun. Jinpei is unimpressed, as he is keener to go and “take down the Crab Killer.†He turns to Ken, seeking his opinion, but Ken merely sighs and walks away to an undersea window (with a view of the fish parade).
“What now?†demands Dr. Nambu, to Ken.
“Our goal isn’t to take down these ridiculous mecha monsters,†says Ken crossly, “It’s to defeat Galactor!â€
“Man, it’s kind of the same thing though!†snarks Jinpei (with, it must be said, some accuracy).
“No, it isn’t!†yells Ken, turning around.
Jinpei is startled at this. “But Big Brother…†he says, bewildered. Jun puts her hand on his shoulder, saying “What Ken’s trying to say is that no matter how many mecha monsters we defeat, it’s pointless unless we defeat Galactor itself.â€
“Well, yeah, he’s got a point there,†sighs Ryu wearily.
“That’s enough. Move out tomorrow. I’m counting on you,†says Dr. Nambu firmly (while doing a good imitation of Lord Kitchener in WWI recruiting posters –he even has the mustache).
Everyone responds with a salute and a “Roger!â€
Everyone except Ken, that is. He merely walks out the door without a word. Everyone gasps in shock and dismay.
“But Ken!†cries Jun, but Ken is gone.
“He’s got a lot on his mind right now,†says Dr. Nambu, exhibiting more tolerance and understanding than he usually does in such situations, either from guilt over his role in keeping Ken in the dark about his father for so many years or because he doesn’t need Ken at the conference until tomorrow. “He’ll be back soon enough.â€
Next we see where Ken has gone.
“The stretch of ocean that could be seen from this small hill was calm today,†the narrator tells us, “It was unaware of Ken’s sad fate. Just as he had learned the Red Impulse Squadron commander was his father, his father sacrificed his life in the skies over Hontwohl in order to save the Earth.â€
As sad music plays, Ken stoops and leaves a flower at his father’s memorial.
“His long awaited meeting with his father had become a sorrowful, eternal farewell,†concludes the narrator as Ken touches and stares at the words on the stone, filled with strong emotions (mostly anger).
“I’ll never forgive Galactor for killing you, Dad,†thinks Ken, one hand clenched in a fist, “I will avenge your death with my own two hands!â€
But now it’s the next day and we cut to the ISO Headquarters, where the conference to discuss Galactor’s attacks on uranium facilities is being held and representatives from around the world are in attendance.
We are shown a bunch of the representatives, gathered in a large meeting chamber. However, Joe, Jun, Jinpei and Ryu (in their civvies) are sitting in what appears to be the headquarters’ lobby or foyer, presumably on security duty.
Jun is wondering if anything is actually going to happen, but Joe is convinced that Galactor could yet attack at any moment. Jinpei pipes up that he hasn’t seen Ken anywhere, and wonders “What gives?†Ryu, however, thinks that Ken just wants some time alone.
In fact, Ken is outside the headquarters, sitting alone on the edge of a large fountain. His brooding, or whatever it is he’s doing, is suddenly interrupted when a corpse in the fountain drifts up behind him and brushes Ken with one of its stiff, dead arms. Ick!
Needless to say, Ken is horrified to see the dead body in the fountain!
Nevertheless, he does lift the body out of the water, and he notices the identification badge on the dead man’s jacket.
Posted by lborgia88 on 09-11-2009 at 09:26:
He realizes that the dead man is the conference’s representative from the country of Atarii (a country, no doubt, famous for popularizing video games like ‘Space Invaders’ 
) “Galactor!†thinks Ken angrily, turning his eyes towards the headquarters.
Meanwhile, inside the meeting chamber, Director Anderson is commencing the proceedings, and announcing that all the representatives will be asked to voice their opinions frankly so that a common plan of action against Galactor’s attacks can be devised.
Director Anderson calls upon Dr. Nambu to speak first and Dr. Nambu has risen to his feet and is about to do just that but he is suddenly interrupted –by Ken’s voice.
“Wait a minute, Doctor!â€
Everyone turns to look where the voice is coming from, and then Ken (in birdstyle now) enters the meeting chamber.
Dr. Nambu is surprised to see him. One representative actually doesn’t recognize Gatchaman and asks another, better informed, representative who he is, only to be told “I think he’s a member of the Science Ninja Team.†I guess there still is some mystery and secrecy surrounding the Team.
Director Anderson actually starts dressing Ken down for entering an international conference without permission (despite the fact that Ken and the other Ninjas saved his ass in episode 47 –some gratitude).
But Ken says nothing, and merely startles everyone by leaping high in the air and coming down in the middle of all the assembled representatives.
Now Dr. Nambu is annoyed with him too, and demands to know what he’s doing, accusing him of being “out of line.â€
“I’m sorry,†says Ken, finally, “But there’s a Galactor member among you.â€
Much consternation and anxious discussion now breaks out all around the room, but Ken zeroes in one man who’s in the seat for the representative of Atarii.
Take note that he has a small mustache, just like the Captain of the Crab Killer…
The supposed representative of Atarii now casually lights up a cigar, as Ken glares at him and begins denouncing him.
‘I’m sure your game is to infiltrate the conference and to steal vital information, but I won’t let you, Galactor!â€
The man merely laughs quietly to himself, but at the very moment that Ken hurls his birdrang at him, he tosses his cigar such that it lands on the floor at Ken’s feet and then he swiftly leaps high into the air, dodging Ken’s birdrang.
In fact, he leaps all the way up to a massive chandelier above that looks like it’s more than 20 feet from the floor. This is one very agile Galactor!
“I’m impressed you were able to see through me, Gatchaman,†he growls from his perch. It somehow must have never occurred to him that leaving a dead man with an Atarii badge on his jacket floating around in broad daylight in the main fountain just might give him away!
“Underestimated the Science Ninja Team, didn’t you?†smirks Ken, but meanwhile, the cigar on the floor is burning…
Ken and the nearby representatives realize that this cigar is not just a cigar and they all dive for cover just as it explodes. The Galactor Captain then takes the opportunity to leap from the chandelier and smash clean through a large window. Damn, I wonder if this guy started out in Galactor as a Blackbird!
Ken heads off in pursuit, as the Galactor Captain (now outside the meeting chamber) bypasses a very tall flight of stairs leading down to the headquarters’ exit by leaping over a railing and dropping down to the floor some 30 or more feet below. Yeah, this guy is definitely a cut above the usual sort of Galactor Captain in terms of agility and dexterity.
He runs outside the headquarters, tearing right past Joe, Jun, Jinpei and Ryu (who are standing around on the steps outside the headquarters).
He leaps into a yellow sports car and takes off at high speed.
However, just a second behind him, Ken comes smashing out of the headquarters through a window, vaults over a lamp post, and lands just in time to see his quarry getting away by car. The other Ninjas are quite surprised to see him!
Without a moment to waste, Ken jumps into a nearby red sports car (whose owner is wiping it with a cloth).
Ken says merely “Sorry, pal!†and zooms off after the Galactor Captain as the man who had been wiping the car yells “Thief! Give me back my car, you rat!†and runs after him.
“Big Bro!†cries Jinpei, perhaps alarmed by Ken’s newfound casual attitude towards car theft. Joe seems more perturbed that Ken is having all the fun. “Damn, Ken’s got a head start on all of us!†he says.
What follows is the biggest car chase scene that we’ve yet seen, and it is rather ironic that it’s Ken and not Joe who’s involved.
“I’ll never let you get away!†thinks Ken grimly as he pursues the Captain through the city streets.
So quickly and recklessly are the Captain and Ken tearing through the city streets, they’re causing accidents and pile-ups all around them. A traffic cop tries to flag down the Captain, but ends up leaping out of the way instead as the Captain ignores him completely.
The Galactor Captain even drives straight through a building, but Ken follows him regardless, and then a man staggers out in their wake yelling “You’ll pay for the damages!†The Captain nearly plows down more pedestrians and takes his car down a long flight of steps, but Ken remains doggedly in pursuit.
Soon they’re outside the city and zooming along a mountain road, bordered on one side by a high cliff. “Damn, I can’t get him off my tail!†thinks the Captain angrily.
Ken manages to speed ahead of him and then block Captain’s way with the red sports car. Ken leaps clear of the red car just as the Captain leaps clear from his yellow car and it crashes into the red car, sending both cars over the side of the cliff.
Both cars fall a long way, and then explode into flames when they hit the ground. Meanwhile, Ken has finally caught up to the Captain and he’s beating the crap out of him, punching him repeatedly until he collapses.
Next we see the Captain, though, he’s conscious again. But he’s tied to a chair in a room somewhere, thrashing around as if in pain, while Ken shines some kind of intensely bright, multicolored strobe light at him.
“Now you will tell me,†declares Ken, “Where is Galactor’s headquarters? Tell me now!â€
But, the Captain is just gasping and thrashing, trying to get his face away from the light.
“Too many people have died because of you! Reveal Galactor’s headquarters or suffer the torments of hell!â€
“No!†gasps the Captain.
“You’d better start talking soon!†yells Ken, “Where is Galactor’s headquarters!â€
But Jun’s voice cries out “Stop it, Ken, please! You’ve done enough,†as she and the others come into the room now.
Posted by lborgia88 on 09-11-2009 at 09:28:
“Yeah, let’s just leave him alone for a bit,†says a worried looking Jinpei. “Sorry, man, but you’re getting carried away,†adds Ryu.
“Don’t you all hate Galactor as much as I do?†demands Ken, still keeping his back to them. “What about you, Joe?†he demands, turning now to the one Ninja who hasn’t said anything yet (perhaps because he’s holding a shuriken in his teeth). “We’ve had the same thing happen to both of us!â€
Joe pauses to take the shuriken from his mouth
“Me?†he asks.
“You want to know how I feel? Like this!†With that, Joe throws the shuriken at a vase of roses on a shelf above the Galactor Captain such that one falls to the Captain’s face and cuts him with one of its thorns.
“But right now, Ken,†continues Joe calmly but intensely, “You’re just burning for revenge; that’s all you’re focused on. You know, seeing you like this is like taking a good long look in a mirror and I really don’t like what I’m seeing, my friend. Besides-â€
“Besides what?†frowns Ken, “Go ahead!â€
“Sorry,†says Joe, in a harsher voice now, “But vengeance doesn’t really suit you!â€
It’s interesting that Joe, here, is pretty much admitting that he needs (and the Team needs) Ken not to be just like him, but rather to be his counterbalance.
“I get it,†says Ken bitterly, turning his back on them all again, “None of you like the way I’m handling things. Well, I don’t care, ‘cause I’m going to find out where their headquarters is!â€
With that, Ken’s gaze falls on a nearby fire extinguisher.
He goes to retrieve it and then heads back to his prisoner who briefly opens his eyes as Ken approaches him again and asks apprehensively “What are you going to do with that?â€
Well, Ken brandishes the extinguisher’s hose near the Captain’s face and again asks him where Galactor’s headquarters is. “Tell me!†he yells and then he lets loose with the extinguisher’s chemicals, spraying the Captain in the face.
The Captain starts gasping and choking, and Jun cries out “Stop it, Ken! Please stop,†but Ken ignores her, still spraying the Captain.
“You’d better start talking, jackass!†he yells.
Finally, the Captain chokingly pleads “I’ll tell you! Please, just stop.†But Ken keeps spraying, barking “Out with it!â€
“An iceberg,†gasps the Captain, “North Pole, I’ll take you… ahhh!â€
But now Ken has finally stopped spraying him, and is just staring.
But now we see Dr. Nambu, and he doesn’t look or sound too pleased. “You mustn’t go!†he snaps, “It has to be a trap. It’s too dangerous!â€
He’s addressing Ken, while the other Ninjas stand further back. Ken insists that, trap or not, the location imparted by the Captain could still be Galactor’s headquarters. “We won’t know if we don’t go!â€
Now Dr. Nambu declares that he heard that Ken got the information through torture (I wonder who told him) and says “Even Galactor troops are human; I can’t let you do something so vile!â€
“I did nothing compared to what Galactor does to innocent people every day!†retorts Ken, a defiant look on his face -well not for long, because this is when Dr. Nambu smacks him in the face and yells “Silence!â€
Everyone else gasps in shock. This is the first (and, I believe, the only) time that Dr. Nambu hits one of the Ninjas.
“You have resorted to the same barbarism as Galactor at its worst,†continues Dr. Nambu sternly, but Ken now looks up at him again.
“If that can restore peace sooner, then what could be wrong with it?â€
It is interesting how, 36 years later, this debate still continues in the world, finding supporters on both sides of the question.
Ken’s had enough. “I’m going to handle this my way,†he says, turning and walking away.
But he pauses and turns. Looking at the other Ninjas, he barks “Science Ninja Team, move out! Come on!â€
Jun and Ryu turn anxiously to look at Dr. Nambu, but he’s grave and silent.
“That’s an order, damn it! I said move out!†yells Ken, and he runs from the room. The four remaining Ninjas all turn and stare at Dr. Nambu, but he doesn’t say anything –he just glares- and they all then move to follow Ken.
So we see the God Phoenix departing the Crescent Coral Base and soaring through a red and purple-streaked sky as the narrator says “After forcing the hesitant Science Ninja Team to come along with him, Ken flew to the North Pole. It was almost as if the burning sky reflected Ken’s rage.†And, we get another look at Ken’s grim and angry face.
Commercial break!
Well, it’s pretty serene up at the North Pole –sunny, blue sky, peaceful music. We see the Galactor Captain’s feet jump onto a piece of floating ice and then keep on going, followed smoothly by Ken’s, Joe’s, and Jun’s. But then it’s Jinpei’s turn; his feet slip and we hear him yell in alarm, but Ryu’s feet are right behind him and he shoves Jinpei onward before he can fall over backwards. Good save there, Ryu, and it’s a nice little bit of humor in an episode that, really, doesn’t have too much.
Now, northern lights are shining in the sky overhead. Jun pauses to look up, remarking how beautiful it is, and Ryu and Jinpei join her. But up ahead, a scowling Ken is demanding “What are you doing? We didn’t come here to play; we’ve got a job to do!â€
“Man, calm down,†mutters Jinpei, and Jun stares at Ken and says “You’re scaring me.†But they all get moving again.
Eventually, Jinpei wonders aloud “Where could their headquarters be?†but now the Captain approaches a pile of ice, and uncovers a red button that had been hidden by snow.
When he presses the button, a door opens in the ice.
But, some distance away, there is a much, much larger pile of ice. Somewhere inside it, we see the Crab Killer mecha and Berg Katse is there too, standing before rows of Galactor goons.
Katse is announcing that, with Crab Killer, they have dealt a crushing blow to the ISO’s mantle project and now today’s plan is to attack its largest uranium repository. “Now, unleash the Crab Killer and wreak havoc on them all!†he concludes.
But suddenly a goon’s face appears on a screen, anxiously informing Katse “We have a problem!†The problem, it so happens, is that the Science Ninja Team is coming and also has the Captain with them.
“What?†yells Katse, and the screen now cuts to a view of the Captain walking through the “headquarters,†closely flanked by the Science Ninjas. “That fool must have failed!â€
So, Katse decides this requires a change in plans and he orders all the goons standing before him to go and capture the Science Ninjas instead of launching Crab Killer.
Meanwhile, the Ninjas are continuing to follow the Captain further and further down inside the “headquarters.†Joe, however, is becoming very suspicious that they have yet to encounter anyone –the place seems empty. The Captain can only try to explain by saying that everyone must be gathered in Katse’s office. Ken then decides that Katse’s office is exactly where he wants to go and orders the Captain to show them the way there.
So, this brings them to a door surrounded by the red Galactor symbol.
Joe, however, is still very suspicious and he orders the Captain to go through the door first.
They end up in a large room with a high ceiling (and a chandelier –Katse must really love chandeliers) but it’s devoid of any Galactor personnel.
That it, until the walls around them start sliding up to reveal dozens of machine gun-wielding goons. And up above, on a balcony, stands Katse himself.
Katse greets them, saying “Glad you could make it, Gatchaman. We’ve been waiting for you!†and now the Captain, smirking, turns and declares that he was lying when he said this was Galactor’s headquarters. “It’s just another base!â€
Posted by lborgia88 on 09-11-2009 at 09:34:
“Damn, how dare you lie to me!†growls Ken. If you think about it, Ken, why wouldn't he lie to you?
Katse admits that Galactor failed to learn what went on at the ISO conference, but doesn’t really care now, as he’s captured the Science Ninjas instead. So, Katse orders all the goons to open fire on the Ninjas. Immediately all the Ninjas run towards what looks like it could be a corridor out of the room they’re in, but once they all rush into it, it turns out to have no floor, and they all fall…
Everyone manages to land gracefully on the ice floor far below –except Ryu (he’s on comic relief duty). The walls around them are all ice too.
Katse, looking down from above, cackles triumphantly as Ryu winces and rubs the portion of his nether regions that just made abrupt contact with the ice. Katse continues to mock them, speculating that they must be cold. But, he tells them, it will get warmer, and “Once it’s hot, you’ll be able to do some swimming –or drowning.â€
With that, the opening high above where they fell through closes up, and Katse is gone. But we see Katse instructing a goon to pull a switch.
When he does, large heat lamps come on inside the ice chamber where the Ninjas are now trapped.
“Suffer slowly now, suffer to the fullest, and then die!†says Katse. But of course, in classic villain mode, he’s not going to stick around to verify that this actually occurs. “Now we’ll attack the ISO’s uranium repository,†he tells the goons, “Release the Crab Killer, let’s get busy!â€
So Katse and the goons move out, and we see Crab Killer leaving the base.
Trapped in the ice chamber and under the glare of heat lamps, the Ninjas are more than a little uncomfortable.
A crack appears in one of the ice walls, and sea water starts coming in. Ken then recalls Katse’s words about “some swimming –or drowning,†and he realizes the direness of their predicament as water, ankle high, fills the chamber.
So, he instructs Jun to use her yoyo to try to break through the ice wall where the water is coming in. Joe testily points out that the ice has to be at least 3 meters thick and that her yoyo won’t be able to do much except widen the crack enough to let more sea water in, faster.
But despite Joe’s “I really don’t think that’s a good idea,†Ken orders Jun to do it. “Throw it!†he shouts.
So she does.
But after the blast, it’s just as Joe predicted!
“I hate to say I told you so,†says Joe, turning his back on Ken.
But now, it seems that this was a “last straw,†and things really start to unravel.
“What are we going to do, Big Bro?†demands Jinpei accusingly, “None of this would have happened if you hadn’t forced us to come along! So what now? You’ve got to do something!â€
“Does the idea of dying really bother you that much?†snaps Ken, but it’s Joe who snaps back.
“It bothers me," he retorts, back still turned to Ken, “I don’t want to die just ‘cause I got caught up in your screwed up life!â€
“What?†yells Ken.
“He’s right!†cuts in Jinpei, “You shouldn’t drag us down just because you can’t handle it!â€
So, Ken stalks away to face one of the walls. “None of you could possibly understand; they killed my father before I had a chance to know him!â€
“Crybaby!†yells Jun, and Ken wheels around in total shock and outrage. “What?â€
Jun has pretty much supported or even defended Ken’s actions and decisions since the first episode. It’s quite something to see her lash out at him now, but really, none of the others could have done it with the same impact that she achieves here, just because it is that unexpected.
“My Dad, my Dad,†she mimics scornfully, “How long are you going to keep whining like a child?â€
Ken just stares…
“You’re not the only one here who lost their parents. Joe did! Jinpei did, and I did too! Take a good look at Jinpei; he’s at the age where he needs his parents the most,†she continues.
“But he’s never whined about it once! You’re acting like you’re the lone hero in some kind of Greek tragedy. How can you call yourself the leader of the Science Ninja Team? You’re just a crybaby! A coward!â€
Ken doesn’t seem to have anything to say, and just then, more sea water comes bursting into the chamber.
Meanwhile, on board Crab Killer, the Captain (now back in his “Crab†uniform) is telling Katse that they’re almost at the uranium repository. Gloating that the Science Ninjas are dead, Katse tells the Captain to attack the repository “without mercy!â€
Back with the Science Ninjas, sea water is continuing to flood in… Ryu slams himself against the ice wall a few times and concludes that the walls are weakening and will collapse on them soon. Jinpei’s more than a little distressed and Jun is looking at Ken.
It’s looking bad, but Ken now pulls himself together and reminds them all that they’ve been in worse situations before and have always found their way out of them somehow.
“Teamwork makes the dream work,†says Joe, and Jun, smiling now, says Joe’s right.
Staring up at the ceiling high above, at the door sealing the opening that they originally fell through, Ken now gets the idea that they could try to break through it with their tornado fighter technique.
Just in time that he gets this idea too, as more ice breaks, more water comes rushing in, and Ken realizes that the walls’ collapse is imminent. So they quickly get into formation and do it.
And… it works!
But, it was strenuous. Only Ken and Joe end up still on their feet. But there’s no time to waste, so Ken orders everyone to get up so they can go after Katse and the Crab Killer.
Jinpei complains he doesn’t think he can move even as Jun and Ryu stand up, but naturally when Ken says “Fine, then just stay here,†Jinpei realizes that he can, in fact, still get up and run.
As they all run out of the Galactor base, Joe tosses a dart-shaped explosive charge at one of the walls, where it sticks…
Meanwhile, at the uranium repository, scientists and staff are tearing around in mass panic as the Crab Killer mecha has just appeared and is wreaking havoc with its tail and with its energy beams.
“Annihilate them, kill them all, smash it all to pieces!†orders Katse, gleefully, before breaking into laughter.
But, everything pitches and Katse falls out of his chair to sprawl on the floor. “What the hell is going on?†he demands.
What’s going on is that the God Phoenix has arrived at the repository too and is firing bird missiles at Crab Killer.
Katse is outraged that the Science Ninjas aren’t dead, and he calls off the attack on the repository and orders Crab Killer to attack the God Phoenix instead.
The God Phoenix sure is firing a lot of bird missiles here! Joe must be very happy. Except they’re not really damaging Crab Killer all that much. Ken gets the idea that they should target Crab Killer’s belly instead.
Ryu puts the God Phoenix into a dive, to get below Crab Killer, but then has to veer to avoid its energy beam. Then, Crab Killer’s claws detach and come flying straight at the God Phoenix as giant projectiles, but Ryu manages to dodge them too. At last, Joe gets his chance to fire lots of bird missiles at Crab Killer’s underside.
On board Crab Killer, Katse is yelling “Damn it!†and flames are pouring from its underside now.
Ken urges Joe to keep attacking (I doubt he needs any encouragement) and still more bird missiles strike Crab Killer’s belly.
Now, on board Crab Killer, explosions are ripping through the bridge and decimating goons. We don’t see the Captain, though. But he was a very agile fellow –maybe he’s managed, once again, to leap through a window and escape. Katse, however, makes a run for his ever-present escape pod.
Clearly, word has gotten around in Galactor’s ranks that Katse always knows how to survive a mecha’s destruction, and several desperate goons try very hard to accompany him.
Posted by lborgia88 on 09-11-2009 at 09:35:
Unfortunately for them, Katse yells that their job is to fight the Science Ninja Team “to the end,†and he shoves them all out of the way so that he can enter his escape pod (the end bit of Crab Killer’s tail) alone.
No sooner is Katse clear of Crab Killer, the entire mecha explodes completely.
It’s a massive explosion. “This is not good,†declares Ryu in alarm as massive chunks of burning Crab Killer debris come flying at the God Phoenix. The view screen cuts out, and one of the God Phoenix’s wings is also badly damaged (in fact, I think that either Jun’s or Jinpei’s vehicle might have just gone “bye byeâ€).
Everyone is alarmed.
But Ryu manages to get the God Phoenix down and land it on the surface of the sea. In his escape pod, Katse is consoling himself that at least Galactor struck a major blow against the Mantle Project, if even the Science Ninjas survived and Crab Killer was destroyed. The Science Ninjas, then, all go up to the God Phoenix’s dome just in time to see Katse flying off.
“Ken,†the narrator says as we see Ken staring after Katse’s escape pod, jaw clenched, “having transformed his thirst for revenge into a blade of justice, will continue to challenge Galactor with a vindictive storm raging in his soul.â€
Thus ends an angsty episode that certainly has some unique, memorable and controversial scenes -Ken’s treatment of the Galactor Captain, Joe’s words to Ken in the interrogation room and in the ice chamber, Dr. Nambu’s reaction to Ken’s behavior, and Jun’s one-of-a-kind “crybaby†speech.
Posted by UnpublishedWriter on 09-11-2009 at 12:03:
Very unlike American animation at the time, which could barely acknowledge that people even got hurt.
Ken spent some 15 years wondering about his father. No grave to visit, no ashes to scatter (or keep on the mantle). Yeah, he's angry. At Galactor for creating the circumstances that took his father from him (twice!), at his father and Dr. Nambu for keeping this secret so long, and at himself for being such a jerkwad towards his father when he only knew him as Red Impulse (even though he had no idea of their relationship). Maybe feeling a little guilt for having run off to look for his father when he should have been concentrating on his duties (thus slowing down the SNT so that they didn't arrive in time to stop the V2 launch).
On the lighter side: did you notice that Ken's cape lining turns violet in the 'Tornado Fighter' sequence?
And, typically, the Sandy Frank people threw zoology right out the window when they renamed the Crab Killer the 'Red Scorpion'.
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Posted by gatchamarie on 09-11-2009 at 12:26:
Thanks again for a great recap, LB and Saturn!
This surely is an episode full of angst and controversies as you said LB. I love the dialog throughout as all make sense and have a particular effect on the outcome of events! Thumbs up for the comparison of Dr Nambu with Lord Kitchener! You have a good eye!
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Posted by Transmute Jun on 09-11-2009 at 14:35:
Great job as usual, LB! And thanks, Saturn, for the screencaps!
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I'll go out on a limb here. Katse left the V2 termination missile with RI an Ken, telling them that one of them would have to pilot the missile in order to use it. So all Galactor has to know is that Ken is alive, and they can surmise that RI flew it, and therefore died along with it.
Is it just me, or does it look like Ken is placing a Jigokiller at his father's grave?
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Either that, or they're all just a bunch of old fogeys with no idea of what's hip and hot.
I agree, the CotW certainly displays a lot of ability in the ISO conference room. But then, it makes it that much more interesting when Ken tortures him later, because we know this is a man of strength, and not just some weakling goon.
And speaking of the torture scene, I always thought it was interesting that they had that conversation about Ken being out of control in front of the Galactor. As we know, he gets away at the end, and presumably reports to Berg Katse. Hmmm... I've made use of that in fanfic, and I'm sure others have too.
Same thing goes for Jun and Ryu being reprimanded at the North Pole.
Wow, Dr. Nambu is strong! It looks like he's hitting Ken through his visor!
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And my response to that is, just how big an office does Ken think Katse has? Big enough to brief ALL of the Galactor tropps stationed at Headquarters? Sheesh!
Of course, in Gatchaman II, Dr. Nambu has an office that is clearly big enough for such a task, so perhaps I'm just not up with office designs of the future...
And I have to say that I love the way Jun lashes out at Ken in the ice chamber. She totally knocks some sense back into him! It's like she's counteracting all of the bad emotions RI brings out in Ken, and wiping them away in one fell swoop. Go Swannie!
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I believe this is one of the same dart explosives used in the whale episode... didn't we comment that we never saw them again? Now I have to go and check...
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Posted by Transmute Jun on 09-11-2009 at 14:40:
Oh, and I should add this great Gatchafunny that Sosai Tim made from this episode:
Strangely enough, this one is one of my kids' favorites!
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Posted by Transmute Jun on 09-11-2009 at 15:06:
Okay, exploding spikes/darts in Episode 18:
And in this episode:
I guess they're not quite the same, but pretty close!
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Posted by UnpublishedWriter on 09-11-2009 at 16:47:
TJ, you should know that kids like toilet humor. I think it's in the specs for building children.
I have to check that episode out again. I don't recall Nambu striking Ken. (They're all under stress.)
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Benefits, not features; benefits, not features
Posted by Transmute Jun on 09-11-2009 at 16:50:
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Trust me... I know....
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Posted by lborgia88 on 09-11-2009 at 18:22:
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Yeah, no matter how much Gatchaman I watch, I'm still always struck by the body count. I appreciate the show's honesty for not hiding the toll of war and violence from children even though, as a little kid, I think I might well have been horrified by some things in Gatchaman -maybe because I saw so little of such things on television in Canada.
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It makes sense, for sure, that Ken would be upset by his father's death and all the years of lost opportunity to know him, and be feeling some guilt too. It would have just felt wrong if episode 54 hadn't given as much time and attention as it did to the aftermath of episode 53 and its effects on Ken.
Ken does have a very strong sense of what is right, just and fair. I wonder if that's why, when fate hands him a really, really raw deal (like Jun's "death" in the Jigokillers eps or the death of Red Impulse), he doesn't seem to quite know how to cope with it.
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It's an interesting change. Now that I look again, I see that Jinpei's boots and gloves turned from red to blue as well. I guess it's supposed to be a discoloration created by the heat lamps?
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It's especially crazy in that there's an episode that features an accurate-looking scorpion! (ep. 9, "Devil from the Moon" in Gatch, "Jupiter Moon Menace" in BOTP)
Posted by lborgia88 on 09-11-2009 at 18:30:
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It's what happens when you take too many British history courses...
Posted by lborgia88 on 09-11-2009 at 19:02:
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You have a wicked mind!
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I think you're right. The plot would have come off much less effectively if his opponent (and then prisoner) had been one of the more inept and bumbling Captains that we've seen in some episodes -either the prisoner would have "confessed all" immediately and taken away all the dramatic tension of Ken's slide into ethically murky waters, or Ken would have been inflicting the strobe light and fire extinguisher on a weakling, immediately desperate to cooperate, and then Ken would have crossed into complete sadism.
The scenes needed a Galactor captain who could be a "worthy opponent."
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I hadn't though about that, but you're right! The Captain witnessed some very interesting and revealing intra-Team conversation and interaction, and he had plenty of time to tell Katse all about it while the Ninjas were trapped in the ice chamber.
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Maybe we're supposed to think his blow mostly caught Ken across the jaw, but in light of the fact that Ryu can eat fish right through his visor, maybe we need to consider that the Ninjas' visors might have some kind of "selective permeability" capability, as an another aspect of the transmutation technology?
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It is a great scene! I love that fact that Jun (his staunchest supporter) draws a line and effectively tells Ken "This is as far as it goes!" I think it's only when he realizes that Jun, of all people, has turned against him that it finally dawns on him that he's really been screwing up.
Posted by clouddancer on 09-11-2009 at 19:37:
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I guess you could look at it that way but the jigokiller flowers looked more like peony flowers before they open, rather than petaled daisy like flowers, at least to me they did.
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Posted by clouddancer on 09-11-2009 at 19:39:
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Good catch UW, although I suspect it has something to do with the tinting of the picture, all that pink to show the walls of the ice chamber
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Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
Posted by clouddancer on 09-11-2009 at 19:43:
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An don't forget to throw in the slap that Ken gave Jun at the end of the Jigo Killers eps. That "slap" has the same ctiteria .... through the helmet and visor.
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Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
Posted by Transmute Jun on 09-11-2009 at 20:17:
I like the idea of selective permeability in the visors! What a great device to explain away little plot mishaps!
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Posted by amethyst on 09-11-2009 at 20:50:
Great recap LB! Nice screen caps Saturn!
I completely missed the color-changes in the the tornado fighter; thanks for pointing them out. I am wondering, though, about Ryu's sudden growth during that move. He's noticeably several inches shorter than Joe until the tornado fighter, and all of a sudden he is nearly the same height. Thus, keeping Jun shorter than Ken in the formation, when she should be closer in height.
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