(L+CR) Samurai Flamenco

[HandofFate]

I was really worried for Mister Justice near the end. I thought he was going to get shot and killed, but he only got traq-darted which seemed rather lenient, especially when they were all willing to shoot bullets earlier.

I think he's probably to show up again, brainwashed, and Flamenco has to fight him.

One thing I like is how the series casually rotates characters out. With the first major arc, the flamenco girls were phased out. Now the Flamengers are phased out, and maybe some room for new team-mates, or the girls to come back in. Then maybe at the end, flamengers + girls team-up.

[ginger02]

lol "this is still safer than a New York City intersection!"
the sad part is that's true XD

The government thing didn't surprise me at all once the Prime minister got all b****-slap happy a few episodes ago.

The show needs more Mister Justice and Goto.

[jeroz]

Thematically speaking, Beyond Flamenco is the Bad Ending for Hazama once he got his passion extinguished and is forced to play the role that's shoved down his throat. You can just hear how empty his heart is during that monologue.

He is not the grand arch nemesis in terms of narrative, but in terms of the whole Hero Dream theme, he's yet another great foil for Hazama alongside King Torture. Pity we didn't get to know him more, but if we just look at that one single encounter he has done his job.

At the same time I wonder what would be the outcome for the likes of Goto and co.

[DragoonKain3]

So now Sentai is done, now we're onto Watchmen? Brilliant!

Finally, we have an actual ass-kicking villain worth defeating (lol@blue getting Yamcha'd). I sure hope they bring in the first arc characters to help finish this.

[Esclair]

Wow, this episode:

-Flamen DRILL!
-ROCKET PUNCH!
-Momoi's death gaze at Kaname during the parade
-MISTER JUSTICE!
-JUSTICE TRUCK!
-JUSTICE BAT!
-JUSTICE BEAM!

Everyone thought they were going to go into space but this direction is way better. So many American comic tropes to explore now. Plus it'll be a good time to bring Gotou and the Flamenco Girls back in.

[MeisterBabylon]

DAMN YOU JAPAN, YOU FOOLED ME! BAKA! AHOU!!

...

But I-I don't mind this.

[erdii]

actually this episode showed the real meaning of super heroes. they are just exist to make people think they are safe. it is kind of like commercials. well nice episode, I want to know how Masayoshi will get out of this situation. I have a few ideas but I hope it is not one of them.

you can never trust politicians, they only think about themselves, to them people are sheep that can vote.

[kuromitsu]

Originally Posted by erdii

actually this episode showed the real meaning of super heroes. they are just exist to make people think they are safe.

Not really. Remember Kaname's speech when the host of TV heroes showed up? Heroes may not be real (as in, "real") but they can inspire people to be good and heroic. Just as Masayoshi was inspired by them (and, admittedly, took it a bit too far ), ordinary people can look at them as role models.

Originally Posted by Triple_R

n the other hand, this sort of twist and narrative setup is kind of overdone in superhero fiction, really. I know that Samurai Flamenco has been very trope-based as it is, of course, but what we're getting now is a trope narrative that's difficult to lampoon due to its inherent darkness/seriousness.

It's overdone, but then everything this show has been done many, many times before, that's kind of the point, really. (In fact, apparently the "drop something in Mt. Fuji to blow it up" thing was an homage to some hero TV series.) Besides, it's only as dark as the show makes it out to be, really.

[Mad Pierrot]

Finally watched episode 15. Probably the biggest twist is that these twists are suddenly making sense. Why did From Beyond use the name Flamenco? Masayoshi's grandpa knew about this? He knew about the whole controversy? Were Masayoshi's parents killed as a result of this?

Also, I'm pretty sure Mr. Justice was referencing the damn awful Marvel Civil Wars storyline.

Anyways, I'm really liking what they are doing with Masayoshi's character. Unlike in the Torture arc, his character is actually showing a lot more reactions like "What the heck is this?!" On the other hand, I don't get the point of Mari's character now.

[kuromitsu]

Originally Posted by amaterasu4

On the other hand, I don't get the point of Mari's character now.

What I expect on the Gotou/Flamenco Girls front is that since Masayoshi now has to go against the system without support from the Flamengers or other heroes, Gotou and the girls will come to his aid. Of course for this Mari will have to finally face her issues and get over them so the Flamenco Girls can be a team again.

[takai]

I'm liking where this is heading. Thought it was just going to stay Flamengers. So this puts me at ease.

So, Mister Justice was hilarious. Now that he's been captured, I'm hoping Masayoshi calls for help to the Flamen Girls and Godou, and maybe even the professor. That'd be a badass team.

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by kuromitsu

What I expect on the Gotou/Flamenco Girls front is that since Masayoshi now has to go against the system without support from the Flamengers or other heroes, Gotou and the girls will come to his aid. Of course for this Mari will have to finally face her issues and get over them so the Flamenco Girls can be a team again.

Agreed. That makes the most sense now.

Masayoshi will have to rely on his older allies now that his newer ones are all captured.

In addition to Gotou and the Flamenco Girls, I think that Konno and/or Hazama's boss will probably harbor him somehow (Konno certainly has the money and connections to pull this off if he wants to, and if he locates Masayoshi in time).

The guy that made stationary weapons for Masayoshi might come back as well.

[MK-95-]

I like how all the twists aren't pointless like some of us originally thought. Remember how everyone went "dafuq" when we transitioned from your average Joe trying to be superhero to fighting real monsters?

Now that the government has been revealed as the real culprit, all the prior twists are stringing together & now makes sense. That was all a multiphase plan to create a superhero idol & then crush him at some point.

Yup Goto, Mari & Harazuka (his stationery weapons supplier) may now regain purpose in the series. They will/may be key players in this arc & help him greatly. Its also the chance for Mari to gain that long awaited character development that's been coming her way. Konno may also play a major part in this arc (Due to his cash...lol).

This is my shipper talking, but I'm really hoping Masayoshi gets some romantic development also. Come on, am I the only one hoping for this? We've got Mari & to a lesser extent, his manager. I'm hoping for some romance.

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by mangakid95

This is my shipper talking, but I'm really hoping Masayoshi gets some romantic development also. Come on, am I the only one hoping for this? We've got Mari & to a lesser extent, his manager. I'm hoping for some romance.

I'd like to see it, but I'm not going to get my hopes too high up.

I do like the idea of Masayoshi and his manager ending up in a romance together, and I do see some growing chemistry between them. At the same time, though, I like the idea of his manager being Gotou's secret girlfriend, so yeah.

But yeah, it would be nice if he had a happy romance ending with someone.

[MK-95-]

Originally Posted by Triple_R

I'd like to see it, but I'm not going to get my hopes too high up.

I do like the idea of Masayoshi and his manager ending up in a romance together, and I do see some growing chemistry between them. At the same time, though, I like the idea of his manager being Gotou's secret girlfriend, so yeah.

But yeah, it would be nice if he had a happy romance ending with someone.

Good to know I'm not alone. I can see some possible scenarios that have a shot at happening.

Mari's situation right now stems from feeling inferior to Masayoshi. This is common in romance subplots. That resentment can turn to love given the right stimuli. She can also have a character changing chat with him that changes her PoV & he makes an impression on her.

With his manager, I'm getting a "there's something more than it looks" vibe from them, but no one is taking the initiative to go beyond that. Also, now that Konno's back in the picture, he just may get through to her this time. So the chances of shipping her with Masayoshi have lessened quite a bit.

I think Mari is his bet bet at romance right now. That's of course if the anime staff actually decide to give him one.

[takai]

Originally Posted by Triple_R

I'd like to see it, but I'm not going to get my hopes too high up.

I do like the idea of Masayoshi and his manager ending up in a romance together, and I do see some growing chemistry between them. At the same time, though, I like the idea of his manager being Gotou's secret girlfriend, so yeah.

But yeah, it would be nice if he had a happy romance ending with someone.

I too enjoy those two together. They seemed to have grown a bit closer as of late.

However, I have a sneaking suspicion that Gotou's girlfriend is actually dead, regardless of the texts. I don't know why really. We never see her, and in the first opening, he's holding flowers in a suit. Which sort of leads me to believe that. Maybe I'm paranoid.

[azarhal]

Originally Posted by amaterasu4

Also, I'm pretty sure Mr. Justice was referencing the damn awful Marvel Civil Wars storyline.

The Prime minister of Japan is a Skrull!

[Breimoon]

Originally Posted by azarhal

The Prime minister of Japan is a Skrull!

add to that the USA president and other important politicians. Did they do all this mess just to give them a reason to start martial law and defeat legally all the heroes? So now our MC is going to be a villain instead accellerator style(just less brutal).

[MeisterBabylon]

This is a thinly veiled Civil War reference alright. I just never expected them to jump overseas.

Now for the Bat Flamenco to take on brainwashed cyborgs of his former colleagues. I do hope there will be "Justice Amigos" Avengers/JLA reference in the works as well. We got the Cap so all we need now is everyone else.

Natasha please!! And get Uesaka Sumire to voice her!! <3

[Frontier]

Beyond Flamenco went down a lot faster than I expected, though I guess his role wasn't to give Masayoshi a rival to fight but to psyche him out and pave the way for the governments real plan.

Flamen Robo, you may have been a little generic, but I thought you unloading all of your Finishers on the drill was pretty awesome. You will be missed

So in the Samurai Flamenco universe, Japan's Tokusatsu heroes and superhero film franchises in America were all created as a ploy to make the government look good? Makes about as much sense as anything else .

It does seem like the plot is shfiting a little bit from Tokusatsu to more western superhero conventions, with heroes going against the government. Though I'll be really disappointed if the Prime Minister doesn't have a proper "Final Boss" Kaijin form .

Captain Justice... just, Captain Justice .

Though considering his powers, I guess America went with genetic engineering for their heroes rather than powered suits/costumes like most of Japan's?

Sakura was certainly not pleased to see Joji with his wife at the parade. Whatever beautiful lie did you tell that girl Joji ?

With the Flamengers, Joji, and all the other heroes arrested, it looks like Masayoshi's going to have to get Team Flamenco back together and finally become Samurai Flamenco again. I wonder if they're still using old animation in the opening because they don't want to spoil Samurai Flamenco's new suit?

Mari is lucky she, Moe, and Mizuki retired as the Flamenco Girls when they did. Since they're not active, the police likely have no reason to bring them in, especially when they're not currently out in public like the other heroes evidently were. This is the perfect opportunity for Mari to finally grow out her funk and for the Flamenco Girls to make their dynamic return to the series .

I doubt the Flamengers or Joji are just going to stay quietly in custody, though I'm not sure whether they'll break themselves out or if Masayoshi will have to handle it.