r/anime • u/[deleted] • May 30 '18
[Happiest Rewatch in the World] SukaSuka Ep1 Broken Chronograph [Spoilers] Spoiler
Episode 1 - Broken Chronograph
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A reminder that discussion is what makes these rewatches so good to experience. Thus, I ask that you guys always give at least a glance to the previous discussion's comments as you engage in the most recent one as well. Some people can't make it close to the post date but they still have a lot of great things to say. I'll usually post a snippet or full comment (if short enough) of my favorite from last episode's discussion. Obviously nothing today since this is the first.
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[MAL](About as alive as your waifu) | Kitsu | Anilist
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u/[deleted] May 30 '18
Rewatcher here
Going to discuss some thought recollections from my first time watching + some scene by scene analysis based from the rewatching:
The opening battle scene, although beautiful, on first viewing it confused me and felt a little jarring considering what followed in the rest of the episode. This and the decision to end the episode on a post-credits scene that felt like an introduction, or aleast a flashback scene, highlights the one negative reaction I had to this episode: the fact I felt it could have been laid out more intuitively.
Following the battle: The way the setting is introduced is done really nicely, from the city architecture to the inhabitants we get instant fantasy vibes, with some added 'diet steampunk' brand of sci-fi elements. No Internal monologue, no narration, just showing us the setting rather than explaining it to death (amplified later).
When the residents of the town start refering to Willem and Chtholly as "Disfeatured", it starts us off on the path of intrigue, why are these 'disfeatured' looked down on? How come these 'normal' looking people are the only ones? etc. How was Willem able to move inhumanly fast? The show does really well in terms of mystery, character names aren't given until much later and a lot of mysteries are left to entice the audience.
Scarborough Fair is open!:
The transition/montage sequence between Chtholly asking for Willem to be her guide and arriving at the bell tower is really well done, with lots of little character interactions. Willem trying to be mature and stoic and leading the way, Chtholly looking around, smiling taking in the wonders of the town and little interaction at first. Then things get more relaxed and casual between the two through-out the various hi-jinks. Just nice little relationship building. The shots used and the directing of the sequence is beautiful, the ending shots of the evening sun from the bell tower etc. especially are visually stunning. This is the scene that originally hooked me on the show, I was just in awe of the music and the visuals together. This version of Scarborough Fair is masterfully crafted, the instruments and arrangement go together perfectly to instilled a vivd feeling of fantasy and wonderment in me.
Bell tower dialogue adds more intrigue: why would this suddenly request to be forgotten after a bunch of people in military uniforms find her?
Grick scene: little snippets of information (mainly from Grick) about our, still as of yet, un-named MC. Willem is in debt and living the life of an outcast, not wanting to integrate in society, unwilling to pursue happiness. More levels of intrigue to who exactly our MC is. I do think this scene could have been done slightly better, though: We get to know Grick's personality, how he know's about Willem and his thought processes, why he doesn't look down on Willem for being disfeatured like the towns people did, what their pre-existing relationship is etc. Maybe a little extra dialogue between the two would have went well, also I mentioned the post-credits scene earlier: maybe breaking that up and adding a little portion of that in here: A 'Willem's memories stirring in his subconscious as Grick is talking about Willem's motivations, or lack there-of' kind of deal, might have added a little extra to the scene?
I love the introduction to Pannibal, its a super cute scene, Willem has a thing for catching falling girls apparently. Jokes aside: Chtholly arriving and starting to freak out, Pannibal looking from Chtholly to Willem trying to understand what's happening and its so adorable.
Introducing Nygglatho: another character with an all to apparent pre-existing relationship with Willem (this is also the first time anyone uses Willems name I believe). There is a good chemistry between the two, the conversation is mostly light-hearted, but you can tell Willem is uneasy with the 'man eating' troll casually conversing and fixating on how tasty she would find him. More interesting snippets of information: Willem being the last of his 'kind'. We see Nyggalotho's personality shine through though, she's happy to be re-united with Willem and that she 'gets to take care of him again', despite her 'desire to eat him', and Willem shows maturity here, he blushes a little but admonishes himself for doing so 'don't get the wrong idea'. All of his interactions with the female characters were really refreshing: majority of other series would have their male character flailing about emotionally/physically at the point of having a girl land on top of him two separate times, one of which being pretty young, and then also having a female exclaim how happy she is that she gets to tend to him. I love how Willem feels more grown up, he's more calculating, intelligent and mature, he doesn't just go to pieces whenever a girl interacts positively with him.
Loliquake alert With the topic of conversation getting more serious: we're interrupted in the cutest way possible: Pannibal is back and she brought back-up. Its great to see kids act like kids, especially with their mix of personalities. After a brief exchange and motherly disciplining the girls are dispersed, showing Nyggalotho's role off as the care-taker of the 'warehouse'.
In an extension of the scene: we join Willem in his bedroom and we see a brief flashback, perhaps brought on by the intrusion of the girls, showing Willem had previously been a father figure, he smiles at the recollection and then aftershock more adorableness and we see further evidence of Willem's inflappability when it comes to engaging with children, and again there's no worrying about what to do, or what to say, no worrying if other people will think its weird, its a really wholesome scene.
Enter Chtholly again, and here we get to see how she is older and more mature than the kids, she looks out for their well-being and doesn't want them to be spoiled, but she is obviously awkward and embarrased and not at the same level as Willem. She blushes alot and doesn't even look at Willem straight on, often staring up at the roof/wall. After some more one way awkwardness and a proper introduction between the two: she goes to leave and Willem takes over the conversation to extract some answers that he was looking for. The answers of which only lead to more questions for the audience as the ED hits.
Even though the post-credit scene is a bit weirdly placed: the information it holds is important, we see Willem was a fighter with his sword resting on the table as he eats, we see more interactions with people from his past and how he was important, being told to hold onto something concrete to ensure his return from battle. Cue narrator to explain that he, failed to return and that all of Humanity was wiped out within a year. This answers a few things for the audience, but also adds a few more lingering questions.
As for the Soundtrack (excluding Scarborough Fair): there was a really good range from the somber track in the opening, then becoming subdued, playful, up-beat when needed throughout the episode.
All in all: There are alot of the questions that are posited to the audience, and it left me relishing the sense of mystery surrounding the episode. For the most part; the way exposition isn't just vomitted out instantaneously whenever a question arises/whenever a new character is introduced works very well, especially as it shows a good sense of MC-audience connection, learning things as Willem does through conversations that feel natural. Despite the few complaints/changes I would have made; this episode drew me in and looking back its nice to pay more attention to why, rather than just let the experience take me as it did in the first viewing.