Suisei no Gargantia - Character Discussion - Bevel

[Pellissier]

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[Dark Wing]

I don't know why but I have a feeling this poor kid will end up dieing before the show is over...

[FlareKnight]

I really do like this kid. Even though he is sick, has a mature outlook on his situation. Think regardless of how things look out, he will play an important part of Ledo's own character development.

[Guardian Enzo]

Bevel's two conversations with Ledo were the highlight of the series so far. He represents a threat to everything Ledo has always assumed to be true, the embodiment of the lack of discipline and resolve in Gargantia that bothers him so much.

In watching the two of them speak, it's interesting to note that though Bevel is a child and Ledo isn't (barely) it's Bevel who seems self-aware and reflective, and Ledo who seems awkward and hesitant (partly because of his halting Japanese, but not exclusively).

It will indeed be interesting to see how Bevel's character evolves - he clearly has a sense that his own life is going to be a short one and has reached some kind of peace with it, though he badly wants to live on. If Ledo's society weren't so focused on war with the Hideauze I might have considered the possibility of an ending where he returns home and takes Bevel with him to be cured, though that's obviously impossible - and given that 100% of the tech in the Galactic Alliance seems to be geared towards military use, it's unlikely Chamber will possess any knowledge or medicine that can help Bevel.

[MeisterBabylon]

I wonder how much drama they will get out of him before he dies.

[Guardian Enzo]

While Amy has been a fairly superficial construction so far - perfectly pleasant and likeable, but mostly a plot driver - it's in Ledo's interactions with Bevel that Gargantia has achieved its greatest emotional depth. For Ledo Bevel is a reminder of his old world in the most painful way, and also the reason he wants to exterminate the squid now - so that Amy will never have to experience the sacrifices he had to experience as a result of being a species under perpetual threat of extinction. It was quite powerful seeing Bevel not just lift himself from his bed, but to actually run to Ledo's side after he sees what the older boy's planned departure is doing to Amy - while Ledo struggles with being an alien on his own world, Bevel must deal with his inability to be a fully functioning member of society. Both of them, in their own way, feel useless - and because of that I think they understand each other in a way no one else understands either of them.

[ThereminVox]

It struck me as a big deal how much he disregarded his own health to rush to Ledo when he saw how much his departure was hurting Amy. And I agree that Bevel and Ledo's interactions are just about the strongest aspect of the show. With Chamber providing the GA perspective to Ledo, and Bevel being the Earthling voice, it helps free up Ledo and Amy's interactions to focus on building a more personal relationship.

[andyjay729]

I agree with all the other posts. Ledo's moments with Bevel and Amy have been the best moments in this series.

Now for all the talk about all his death flags, remember Ozma Lee in Macross Frontier?

Spoiler for macross frontier spoiler:

Everyone was certain he was going to die throughout the show (and send Ranka into despair)...but he survived.

If Gen really wants to defy our expectations of him with this show, Bevel might survive too.

[Guardian Enzo]

Initially I was hopeful that Chamber might have been programmed with some knowledge on how to cure Bevel, but of course curing disease doesn't seem to be a big priority for GA technology. They have their own "cure" for the sick, and it works every time.

[Paranoid Android]

Originally Posted by andyjay729

Gen really wants to defy our expectations of him with this show, Bevel might survive too.

It would be nice. It may also serve to prove to Ledo that physically unhealthy people are not any less significant; that they can survive and serve their own contributions.

[Jan-Poo]

Ledo isn't good at expressing his feelings but I think he respects Bevel, and not just a "human being" or as Amy's brother, he was the only person that he thought that could tell him more about the whalesquids.

Unfortunately Bevel didn'tt know much about that particular subject, but it's interesting the fact that Ledo thinks of him as a useful person when it comes to knowledge.

[ThereminVox]

Originally Posted by Jan-Poo

Ledo isn't good at expressing his feelings but I think he respects Bevel, and not just a "human being" or as Amy's brother, he was the only person that he thought that could tell him more about the whalesquids.

I think I may have said it before on this forum, but I actually loved that little detail, because it stood in such sharp contrast to how Ledo went about his information-gathering early on, and how dismissive he was of the value of meeting Bevel at first. Ledo's questioning was downright brutish, but the fact that he needed answers, and immediately -- and probably without thinking about it -- turned to Bevel suggests that their little heart-to-heart left him with a certain amount of reverence for the boy.

[Iron Maw]

Originally Posted by Paranoid Android

It would be nice. It may also serve to prove to Ledo that physically unhealthy people are not any less significant; that they can survive and serve their own contributions.

I actually, I'm pretty sure he already believes this as of ep 8.

[Guardian Enzo]

It seems based on the epilogue that Dr. Ordum may be grooming Bevel to be the next Sage (if he lives long enough).

[andyjay729]

Spoiler for last episode and macross f:

People were saying it isn't possible for a guy to have so many death flags and survive the show, but like I said earlier, remember Ranka Lee's brother. And I'm glad he made it.

Given his mad exposition narration skillz, maybe he'll sound like Morgan Freeman when his voice changes, heh.