(L) Zankyou no Terror (Terror in Tokyo)

[thundrakkon]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

And why didn't Lisa ask them why they were blowing people up when Nine showed her those videos?

Lisa has extremely low self-esteem right now, and she needs to try and fit in. Who knows how they will react if she asks them why they are doing what they are doing? They might try to kick her out for being too nosy, and she is scared of that right now. It's best not to rock the boat and just try to be useful in someway.

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by Arya

The real issue now with Lisa is that they involved her into their, crazy, game knowing how klutz she is. They have considered that she could be useful in some ways, but the sole way I can see her "shine" should be causing an obstruction due to her klutzy-ness to let them escape or something similar.

She's useful because Five doesn't know her face, that's it. But it's potentially a lot, it depends. Maybe they'll have some really easy task for her, maybe not, we'll see.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by dniv

This is being written by Watanabe... how could it even possibly be anti-American?

I have my doubts Watanabe is actually the one writing this show. He was only credited as the director, and it's a bit unusual for someone to handle both tasks.

[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by Kanon

I have my doubts Watanabe is actually the one writing this show. He was only credited as the director, and it's a bit unusual for someone to handle both tasks.

From ANN:
Director: Shinichiro Watanabe

Script:
Hiroshi Seko (eps 4, 6) - ten episodes of Shingeki no Kyojin; a few others for Imaishi
Jun Kumagai (ep 5) - Galilei Donna, Hamatoma, Valvrave, Persona 3/4
Shōten Yano (eps 1-3) - no prior credits at ANN

Storyboard:
Shinichiro Watanabe (ep 1)
Yuzuru Tachikawa (eps 2, 5-6) - episode director in Chi's New Address (39 total), Chihayafuru, Kill la Kill, Mine Fujiko
Minoru Yamaoka (ep 3) - episode director in Oh! Edo Rocket, Sakamichi no Apollon, Nijuu Mensou no Musume
Sayo Aoi (ep 4) - episode director in Samurai Flamenco, Sakamichi no Apollon, Kill Me Baby
Kou Matsuo (ep 6) - Lots of credits; director of Kurenai
Takeshi Koike (ED)

Watanabe created the storyboard for episode one and is credited as the overall director.

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by dniv

how could it even possibly be anti-American?

Even Hollywood movies are a bit "anti-American" sometimes, and it's not completely unjustified.

On that note, this series reminds me a bit of the Bourne franchise.

[karice67]

Originally Posted by mangakid95

Why feel bad about it? I'm still cracking up over it...

Still, seems she was the only Japanese person made to speak English there because everyone else were speaking fluent English (which is really rare because you can usually tell when a native Jap is trying to speak or is speaking English). Either that or her seiyuu is just really horrible with the English language.

Everyone credited in the cast is actually Japanese, so what we have really seems to be just one Japanese seiyuu who can speak English pretty damn well. Clarence is voiced by a guy named Takahashi Daisuke (not the figure skater, though born in the same year); I think all the other English roles are probably played by someone who has another role in the show - e.g. one of the police, or even Takahashi-san himself - as bit parts usually are.

Takahashi-san is good, though not perfect. I suspected he was Japanese when I first heard him, but even going by the credits, it has been difficult to confirm because he shares a pretty famous person's name... However, it seems like some Japanese fans finally gave him a wikipedia page, which definitely wasn't there when I checked last week...

[dniv]

Originally Posted by Kanon

I have my doubts Watanabe is actually the one writing this show. He was only credited as the director, and it's a bit unusual for someone to handle both tasks.

In the interview, Watanabe said that he was the person who came up with the overall premise and idea for the show and that he had this idea for a long time, before the earthquake and the subsequent need to keep it in store before he could finally make an anime of it. This is why I actually think the overall general storyline is something he made. Some of the specifics may not be things he made, but I think this is his precious little gem in more ways than one.

[Stark700]

Episode 7:
This is interesting. It seems like Nine and Twelfth are running through the cameras but with a bit of blind spots. The episode was pretty intense overall with the mind games and chess references.

Lisa also plays a role as well. Very expected though as she goes to Area 17B. I like how they were able to checkmate Five briefly or at least at this stage. That was a close one though. I like how they were able to save Lisa before that plane went BOOM.

Hence, Five's rape curious face at the end:


I hope Lisa realizes what she's got herself into this time.

[ookamigirl]

#7

Spoiler for plot:

Our guys are smart, but 5 was hot on their trail.
That game of chess felt more like a game of tag.
It was fun watching them run around the airport.
The music made the suspense even greater.
Lisa got her first task.
9 pulled a checkmate on 5 or so he thought.
Guess 5 pulled a fast one on them after all.
Lisa found herself in the middle of ultra serious trouble.
Wonder how they're gonna get her out of that mess..
With some instructions from our duo she almost saved herself.
Without Shibazaki that crazy bitch would've blown up the whole airport.
Damn! She is totally insane.
Lisa was stupid to take her ID with her.. such a rookie mistake.
That mistake is gonna come back and bite the on the ass.
Great episode!

[Om Nerabdator]

sighs..let me guess the police who saved the airport will get fired or something next ep while the police who tried to blow it up will still be in charge.....really starting to lose interest in this series, shame too since the first 4 were awesome!

[revive4563]

Hmm....this is a department store of corny plots. So what the f@ck is Hive(five)'s organization? Who the hell has a competence to explode a passenger plane?
Which government do make a super organization of a special procedure beyond the law like that for mere cheap terrorist? Child play by Death Note lover.
But this is Noitamina. Everybody can make something as they wish.

[Apache Thunder]

lol at the folks complaining about the "Engrish" from Five. In my opinion it just makes her more human and realistic. She probably isn't a native English speaker, so of coarse she has an accent. I could understand all of their English lines even without the help of the subtitles. It's a nice change of pace to hear a sprinkling of English in a show dominated with Japanese and/or other foreign language. Something that usually gets lost when you watch an English dub since usually English dubs just have everyone speak the same language. Here it's all Japanese, but the English sprinkled in adds a bit of diversity to the cast if you ask me.

I was rather satisfied with how this episode played out.

[Fellen]

The episode was a bit too over-the-top for my liking, but otherwise it was great.

[Kaoru Chujo]

@Kanon and SeijiSensei -- Japanese Wikipedia and the official site both say Watanabe is director and did the "original plan/draft" 原案 of the story. I'm not sure that completely answers the question, but it indicates to me that he has control of the story. This tallies with the interview mentioned by dniv. It is normal that different writers script each episode, under the guidelines laid down by the director and/or "series composition" person (i.e., the overall lead writer). It is not usual, but also not that uncommon, for a director to be their own lead writer.

[psycho bolt]

my guess is some organization other than the FBI is sending five to prevent nine and twelve from revealing their goals. One scenario probably, maybe a twist is that Five will switch sides or let them have their ways at last minute. She doesn't seem to be type who follows a organization, but prefer to go with her own twisted intentions.

[Wandering Soul]

Lisa really did come in handy as she allowed 9 to get the drop on 5 and hold her at gun point. Unfortunately 5 was just a few steps ahead of them. They managed to stop the bomb by working with Shibazaki but 5 has now set her sights on Lisa. I wonder what she is going to do to get to Lisa. 5 really is getting a kick out of playing around with 9 and 12 since she actually enjoyed being at gunpoint by them.

Shibazaki and the others played a satisfying role. I was sorta disappointed they spent the first half just running around but there wasn't much they could do. They managed to stop the bomb with help from Sphinx and they also saw 9 in person. I am worried about their careers as they disobeyed direct orders so I wonder what is going to happen to them.

[DorkingtonPugsly]

Another good episode, went by faster because of all the action.
Shibazaki was cool running up to the top and casually pulling the gun on the guy.
Lisa being timid and hesitant was cute.

4 more episodes left, I expect things to ramp up fast now.

Wonder what the hell 5 has in store for Lisa...

[Jerseykid]

At least they don't have to fight over lisa. nine has five and twelve seems to be the one more interested in lisa.

[Guardian Enzo]

The reality I see with Zankyou is basically this - Watanabe hasn't exactly turned into Michael Bay, but this show is quickly abandoning any pretense at being anything but a pretty popcorn thriller. And frankly, this season already has Aoki Ei and Aldnoah.Zero doing that better - with a plot that's only slightly less realistic and in the moment, viscerally more believable (and I mean that sincerely).

[Flower]

Ep 7

You know, to be honest I agree a bit here. Ever since the arrival of 5 things have become different than...well...the first 5 eps.

Her introduction and the eps that have come afterwards have not been as enjoyable as those that came before. It is as simple as that for me.