(L) Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo (Ryoko’s Case File) [Retro Crush]

[Sorrow-K]

Ep 4

I'm really not sure what to make of this episode. A bit of mystery, conspiracy, unethical science, a twisted sense of maternal instincts... a rather weird mix overall. Not the worst episode in this series, but arguably one of the strangest. Ultimately filler, though.

[Yu Ominae]

Strange is part of this series, my friend.

Though Ryoko and Izumida allowed the woman to let her offspring be with her before it dies...

[Ninjacat]

It worked better than the giant snake mystery at least

One very interesting bit is how we see all elements of Japaneese society interact in a fairly corrupt way. The corporation's who got a juicy goverment contract? It's president is a former minister who's using Yakusa to do his dirty work. Even Ryoko is far from pristine, her own people are the ones who will get all the research and samples afterwards.

It's surprisingly politics-heavy for a cop show.

[Mecha_Trueno]

Originally Posted by Undertaker

"this is the first time I heard Ryoko talk about her taste in men, I don't know where she'll find such a guy but I'm already feel sorry for him and his future"

LOL, this SO reminds me of kyon humor (suzumiya haruhi series).
anyway, enjoying the show so far.
*now time to look for the novel*

[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by Ninjacat

One very interesting bit is how we see all elements of Japaneese society interact in a fairly corrupt way.... It's surprisingly politics-heavy for a cop show.

It's surprisingly politics-heavy for an anime, period. Other than promoting feminist ideas, which many anime producers seem to have adopted as a goal, there's little political substance in most anime. I see this as resulting from the mix of a docile political culture and the imperatives of commercialism.

I actually wonder if the story described in this episode isn't so overblown as it make it irrelevant as a political commentary. As you observe, the episode appears to indict all of Japan's political and commercial institutions. Tarring with such a broad brush might enable viewers to write off the entire story as "just anime" rather than stimulating thought as to whether the corruption depicted has any basis in reality.

[TinyRedLeaf]

The US Federal government found an alien in Area 51 and has been cloning an army of super human-alien hybrids over the past 60+ years. In secret!

JFK's assassination was a bloody cover-up! Various shady elements in the White House (and the Mafia) had it in for him!

Astronauts did not land on the Moon. The photos of the moonscape were taken in a sound studio. You've guessed it — it's a Government Conspiracy^tm!

Big Foot exists! I know because the Government's (who else?) Men In Black told me about it!

Politicians are corrupt and evil! (*Yawn* tell me something new, please.)
.
.
.

etc, etc.



Gee... I wonder who started the trend of politics in my sci-fi whodunits?

Seriously though, I like how Ryoko shows more professionalism in this episode. Her sharp intelligence and dry wit reminds me of Sherlock Holmes at times, especially when she rebuked Izumida for not knowing how to tell direction by the position of the Sun. It's truly elementary, my dear Izumida.

[Ninjacat]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

Gee... I wonder who started the trend of politics in my sci-fi whodunits?

That ain't what I'm saying. The more interesting stuff has nothing to do with Sci-Fi! The little lizard thing? Just an excuse really.

I'm referencing the interconnection between the private sector and the goverment, with a bit of organized crime on the side. The whole show is built around the almost incestuous relationship between the three. In anime this kind of references to the real world is virtually inexistant.

About the whole Ryoko/Izumida relationship. I think the novel is different, but anime version Izumida gives me the impression he's quite aware Ryoko's interested in him. He's just not the type who's willing to sleep with his boss.

[TinyRedLeaf]

I know what you mean, but I can't quite take your opinion at face value, because I'm almost certain that it's been done before in other anime, ie, the connections between organised crime, government and private sector. But I'll agree that the relationships are very clearly depicted here, because I think it's hard to avoid the "government conspiracy" meme in these kinds of shows.

Izumida gives me the impression he's quite aware Ryoko's interested in him. He's just not the type who's willing to sleep with his boss.

A very sensible man. Which is probably why Ryoko likes him so much, I suspect. Nothing excites (or irritates) a prima donna more than a man who refuses to pay attention to her advances.

[kujoe]

Oh wow. Episode 5 is another demonstration of the playfulness between Ryoko and Izumida.

Spoiler:

I was amused at how Ryoko observes the girl, realizing that she's also an admirer of her trusty manservant. Even better is the end, wherein she "reluctantly" accepts a picture of Izumida as a reward for helping out. Izumida's work still isn't finished however.

And oh, the main conflict on this episode? Some killer robot gone haywire... Yeah, you know... That sort of stuff. I think it's pretty obvious what the main appeal of the show is for me.

The preview looks interesting with Ryoko's French maids finally making their anime debut.

[Kaoru Chujo]

This isn't really that great a show, but the two main characters are certainly great. In ep6 again, Ryouko and Izumida (voiced by Nabatame Hitomi and Kiuchi Hidenobu) are just excellent. These are memorable characters.

[Yu Ominae]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

A very sensible man. Which is probably why Ryoko likes him so much, I suspect. Nothing excites (or irritates) a prima donna more than a man who refuses to pay attention to her advances.

From what I've seen so far, Ryoko's irritated for Izumida to notice that she really, really, really digs him.

[Ninjacat]

Well, Ryoko deffinitely enjoys a challenge.

Add to it that Izumida is the closest friend she ever had and suddenly 'kinda interested' becomes 'borderline obsessive'

I agree with the general assessment of the show. Those two characters are the show. The actual stories are extremely meh.

[Yu Ominae]

Liked Ryoko's face when she found out Mana had "photos" of Izumida.

Wonder what happens if she'd get a nude photo of her assistant inspector. XP

[Ultenth]

I have to echo pretty much everyone's sentiment that the core of the show is definitely the two leads. The rest of it is really nothing special at all. In a way Ryoko reminds me a lot of Horo from Spice and Wolf, anyone else see any resemblince in their characters at all? I'd mention what I see that makes them similar, but I'm curious if anyone else thinks the same without my input first.

[Ninjacat]

That one is easy; confident, thinks she's better than everyone else, knows everything, likes to play mind games with their sidekicks... and kind of fall appart when their guy isn't around.

The differences are huge though, especially considering their relationships with their respective men and the difference in tone between the stories. Ryoko is a lot more like Haruhi.

Age is the biggest difference; Horo looks and acts younger than Ryoko. It shows in every facet of their characters. That and the fact one is a goddess on the run while the other is a smokin' hot police detective.

Ryoko also has much better taste in men, Izumida is pretty awesome.

... I guess it's pretty obvious wich show is more to my tastes

[RMgX]

The maids are certainly cute but if the "french" is painful to listen to, it is even worse than when they speak english in japanese shows.

[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by Yu Ominae

Liked Ryoko's face when she found out Mana had "photos" of Izumida.

Nor did she object to Mana calling her a "rival" for his affections.

[Ninjacat]

Originally Posted by RMgX

The maids are certainly cute but if the "french" is painful to listen to, it is even worse than when they speak english in japanese shows.

I'm a native french speaker and I couldn't get what they were saying most of the time. Neat character concept though.

Is it just me or was this episode completely nonsensical? Corrupt bureaucrats build an underground resort (?) but see their project threatened by a giant salamander.

Ok, what was the author smoking and where can I get some?

[Yu Ominae]

One of them happens to be a tarento, Christelle Ciari FYI. She did the blonde maid.

I'm watching the episode right now, but I'll look at it and give my thoughts later.

[kujoe]

Man, episode 6 has a pretty trippy premise... Giant salamander terrorizing some illegal resort under Tokyo?

Too awesome to be real, but such a plot does exist! And oh, another case of Ryoko owning Izumida's life as usual.