(L+CR) Uchuu Kyoudai (Space Brothers)

[Gravitas Free Zone]

You have a good point, though I still think that the years have scrubbed off a lot of the immediate hero interest surrounding space travel. I probably would recognize more 1960s-era astronauts than anyone more recent.

As far as museums go, when I went to the Udvar-Hazy Center, which is a bit off the beaten track for Washington D.C. museums and I would figure would have a more interested audience... there were still plenty of people who had little idea of what they were looking at and were just following their kids around.

There is also the "not critical to the episode's drama" ultimate answer, though that isn't as fun.

Other things to poke about would include "Would Hibito be hale and hearty so soon, or has some time passed in the background?" and "Actually, why isn't JAXA/NASA doing more press touring with these people?" (To which I would refer back to the thought about whether he's all rehabilitated to gravity by now.)

[kitten320]

I'm glad that Serika made a check up the moment she saw something wrong instead of dismissing it as nothing as it usually tends to happen in shows.

[MeoTwister5]

So I rewatched the episode and I'm going to say that Sharon's condition is mostly likely a motor neuron disease, pending any revelations regarding her sensory capacities.

Actually if there was like some sort of sign to show whether there are any differences between her upper motor neuron and lower motor neuron states it would be easier to call it.

So right now for me it's a tossup between Amytropic Lateral Sclerosis and Progressive Motor Atrophy, assuming her condition was called to be fatal.

We'll probably know more tomorrow.

[SeijiSensei]

Any insights on the diagnostic method of tapping her arm?

[MeoTwister5]

It's for testing for muscle fasciculations, which is a common finding in muscle diseases, motor neuron diseases and hypocalcemia.

It's very nonspecific unless it's isolated to a specific muscle group. Hypocalcemia would cause some degree of fasciculations on the entire body, notwithstanding signs of cardiac dysfunction.

Pure degenerative muscle diseases (muscular dystrophies) are more often than not hereditary, progressive rather than episodic, usually occurs early in life, and almost always systemic. She would be in a wheelchair by now and would have signs and symptoms beyond just her arms and legs. The more common ones would be Duchene, Becker and Emery-Dreifuss (I think) and they start early in life. There are a few really rare ones that start early and progress slow but I'm not familiar with them.

Motor neuron degenerative diseases would be one of the more common causes of progressive systemic/local muscle weakness but relatively more difficult to diagnose due to the variability of symptoms, owing much to the highly ordered neuronal interconnections. ALS is the prototype and most motor neuron diseases are variations on presentation and anatomic localizations. You'd need a specialist in neurodegenerative diseases for this. A nerve conduction velocity test would differentiate muscle dystrophies from neurodegenerative diseases.

tl;dr fasciculations as an isolated sign is too general to make a diagnosis.

[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

It's very nonspecific unless it's isolated to a specific muscle group.

I thought Serika was a bit hasty in her diagnosis even given her experience with her father's illness.

[MeoTwister5]

Well I guess that's why she said Sharon should go see a neurologist. Isolated fasciculations with muscle weakness ARE not normal any way you slice it. Maybe she was a bit hasty in making an assumed connection, but she still did the prudent thing of referring to a specialist rather than make a diagnosis then and there without other testing to back it up.

Who knows it might be a completely different thing, though as we all know fiction likes to make coincidences commonplace.

And if anyone is wondering why the MRI didn't see anything, it's because an MRI really won't see anything unless it's a mass lesion. Motor neuron diseases are degenerative demyelinating conditions and won't show up on MRI.

[cyth]

Wow, we've had so many nice discussions and insight about different scientific branches in this thread. That alone manages to save the show for me.

[Kanon]

There we have it, it's ALS. Wasn't sure they would actually put a name on the disease. I've noticed anime tend to avoid being specific when it comes fatal illness. It makes Space Brothers seem like a more grounded show, even if it has its share of problems.

[ookamigirl]

Mutta was having concentration problems.
It was understandable consider recent events.
Lots of flashbacks to Sekira's explanations.
They were quite useful to fill in the gaps.
Interesting, but kinda sad episode.

[FlareKnight]

Definitely a downer of an episode. Though it certainly gives Mutta and Serika even more motivation to reach their goals. Mutta's got to get himself in a position to be picked to go to the moon and build that telescope while Serika is all about getting herself onto the ISS and developing medication that will help Sharon be able to live long enough to see that.

It's a tough road though to getting to that point.

[Guardian Enzo]

Best episode in months.

I found it totally appropriate that Mutta, as a child, asked Sharon for an English phrase meaning "I'm a useless person who never comes through in the clutch." Of course it's fitting that she lied, and in the way she did - that suits her character perfectly, just as asking the question suits his. But the fact is, what really strikes me is that Space Brothers always comes through in the clutch. This is a series that loses its way sometimes, goes through spells of meandering narrative and blind-alley plot threads. But it always gets the big moments right. When the chips are down, it always seems to fall back on a restrained, dignified style that lets the drama and sentiment speak for itself. When trying too hard would spoil the moment, Space Brothers lets the moment stand on its own.

[SeijiSensei]

Were the two hawks flying together intended to symbolize Mutta and Serika growing closer to each other through their shared love for Sharon? It seemed that way to me.

Why Americans call ALS "Lou Gehrig's Disease"

In a strange coincidence, here's James Gandolfini reading Gehrig's remarks in 2002. Gandolfini died on what would have been Gehrig's 110th birthday.

I entirely agree with Enzo's comment that this was the best episode in months. Hibito's brush with death on the moon was compelling but felt unrealistic and a bit melodramatic. This episode had a quiet dignity thoughout, much like Gehrig.

Sawashiro did some great work in this episode particularly during the ride in the taxi cab. All the cast rose to the occasion for this one.

[hamazura]

Very good episode, i cry for unknown reason T_T
so 3 yr... Just how long this series would be?
Maybe 100-150 episode until mars? Lol

[MeoTwister5]

The question now is, will she be alive by the time Mutta makes it to the moon... or not?

For dramatic effect she'll probably be hospitalized with impending respiratory failure when Mutta makes it. There's only drug class available to treat it, Glutamate inhibitors, and it'll only give you a few years on average.

[Dop]

Is there not an episode this week? Nothing at Crunchy.

[Kanon]

Yep, no episode this week. Not sure what the reason is. Probably a sport tournament of some kind.

[ookamigirl]

#65

Spoiler for plot:

Mutta is still down about Sharon.
At least this time we get to see some new developments.
Looks like the training is moving on to the flight part.
It was nice seeking Mr. Young again too ^^

[FlareKnight]

Spoiler for Ep65:

Well we're right back into it. Not surprising Mutta needed to take a make-up test after how completely distracted he was the first time around. At least managed to power through this and probably will get decent score out of it.

At least he kind of got lucky in that respect since I'm sure getting that crazy old guy as an instructor will help push him forward faster. If he wants to reach his goal he needs to really step up and stand out. It's probably going to be hell but oh well .

[saravis]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

The business with Amanti's prediction annoyed me, not only for the repeated characterization of her as the mystical Indian, but as a dramatic device as well.

I wasn't annoyed so much by the stereotyping or by it being a dramatic device, but more so for the fact that it was completely pointless. If anything it hurt Mutta more than it helped him. It hurt his concentration before he even had a chance to know what was going on with it. What was even the point in her bringing it up? She didn't know who had the illness. She didn't know what the illness was. All that her prediction created was worry. As for a plot device, it contributed nothing. The illness would have been discovered regardless of her prediction. In the end it was completely pointless.

With that out of the way, I like what they're doing with Serika. It'll be interesting to see what comes of her promise to Sharon. The promise certainly makes it seem unlikely that Sharon will be killed off.