Fresh Takes: Gurren Lagann Episode 11 Review!
Welcome to another episode of Fresh Takes, in which Brock and Mike discuss and review “Simon, Hands Off,” the eleventh episode of Gurren Lagann! Can Simon finally get his shit together and join Team Dai-Gurren on their journey to defeat the Spiral King? What role does Princess Nia have to play in Simon’s recovery? Just who is that weird new enemy Divine General called Guame? Is he a lost ninja turtle? And why are Yoko and the others so mean toward someone who is obviously grieving? Let’s ask our dynamic anime-watchin’ duo!
As both Brock and the Captain mention in the video, the crazy-bad dialogue during the “emergency transmission” scene was both horrible and hilarious, and I loved every second of it! Nia continues to be both a soothing presence for Simon and a minor annoyance to me, but I understand it’s her character and her sugary sweetness is necessary. Also, that’s not a knock against voice actress Hynden Walch, who always brings it and adds an element of Starfire to Nia, and I greatly enjoy that. The fact that Yoko and the others basically start to turn their backs on Simon and Nia does not speaks to her integrity and kindness, so there is something I’m starting to glom onto with her character, and that says a lot.
We also have some intriguing scenes with Lord Genome and Guame, in which the latter insinuates that Simon has stumbled upon something pretty important with Lagann (in addition to Gurren, of course). Genome doesn’t seem impressed, but he lets on that there’s something deeper going on here. Personally, I haven’t seen the entire series yet, so I’m very curious to see what happens.
This was quite an episode, and I’m glad Simon completed his “Get Your Shit Together!” arc, because it’s going to be great seeing him kick ass and take names again. Guame was a fun villain, if a bit creepy, and his gunman, Gember, was pretty great. Yoko realizing the meaning behind Kamina’s words about Simon was another watershed moment, and I can’t wait to see where her relationship with Simon and Nia goes. Until next time, Renegades, leave a comment and let us know how we’re doing!
On the next Marvel After The Credits, Captain Kaye and Organoid Zero look at Marvel’s Halloween Special, Werewolf By Night.