Bang Brave Bang Bravern

[Mafty]

Having just seen Episode 3 it could well be trying a Gunbuster (starts as an affectionate parody grows into well done drama by the end) albeit with Yaoi subtext instead of Yuri.

The battle sequences are again very well done(this time with a shark mecha) on another note

Spoiler

There's the Alien character Lulu, though as of the end of the episode there winds up being more Ecchi style comedy than plot development on that part

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The comedy was more dominant in this episode so I didn't think it clashed as much with dramatic points this time (with the exception of the solemn gathering at the beginning). That being said going forward its probably better for the show to go from comedy to drama over its course (like Gunbuster) rather than flipping back and forth during the episodes, as it can be kind of a jarring tone shift (like what happened in Gundam ZZ, Majestic Prince and My-Otome).

[Mafty]

This episode really ended up taking a turn for the dramatic

Spoiler

Tokyo is devastated, and who knows about the rest of the world, and all it is played quite seriously

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So it really seems to be going more for ZZ in mixing comedy and drama, and this episode actually did it a lot better, as it started out lighter, and the comedy completely disappeared by the end.

Back to the plot

Spoiler

With the darker tone we'll probably be heading into a serious battle against another alien mech, this one almost looking vaguely like a Zaku from the front

[Seto Kaiba]

For me, this most recent episode was definitely more tolerable than the last few.

Not anything I'd call "good" or "enjoyable", but at least less irritating? My main issue with Bravern is that it won't pick a lane keeps wanting to be both a serious action series AND a goofy parody. It really does feel like two separate, almost unrelated, stories that are crudely stitched together by having the same backgrounds. It was nice to see Bravern not be a complete dick to Isami for once. I could definitely do without "Lulu" and her ear-piercing toddler screeching. You can tell whoever thought THAT was a good idea has never been around small children.

[Underrated GM Custom]

So it really seems to be going more for ZZ in mixing comedy and drama

This show does not remind me of ZZ Gundam in the slightest. Maybe Nadesico, Dangaioh or perhaps even Danguard but not ZZ Gundam.

I could definitely do without "Lulu" and her ear-piercing toddler screeching. You can tell whoever thought THAT was a good idea has never been around small children.

100% this. I've heard enough toddler screaming to last a lifetime
I did find it interesting that Lulu emphatically called Bravern "Smith" even when being corrected. Definitely feeds into some of the theories I've seen floating around regarding a potential past connection between Smith and Bravern.

Overall I'm enjoying the show a great deal, I really enjoy the comedic elements although I agree being juxtaposed with the serious moments regarding death, shock and mourning, is very out of place.

I am loving all the Bry-Thunder call backs with the Brave-Thunder. Also did not expect Bravern to pop his head out like that

[Mafty]

The darker part of the plot may be getting more dominant now, so hopefully they at least keep it like that for a while, because as dark as the plot is getting adding too much comedy now will create an inconsistent tone, of course that's been part of the series from the start. I'm not against the comedy, but like GM it clashes with the darker moments when both are in the same episodes.

As for the connection theories floating around, maybe Braven will have some kind of time travel power like in Buddy Complex, where Smith was it's first pilot, something happened, and now on the second attempt Isami is chosen.

[Underrated GM Custom]

Yeah I've seen the time travel twist theory a few times, I've also seen one that

Spoiler

Bravern had the soul of Smith inside him from a different timeline where things didn't end well. Or the theory that Smith was a standard shonen Braves protagonist but gave a piece of himself to Bravern in a hypothetical prequel series which is why he doesn't remember it and Bravern seems to act rather like a young kid. It's all interesting stuff, I'm looking forward to seeing where they go with the show.

[Mafty]

Definitely they've set up a lot of interesting directions for the plot to go.

Even now with

Spoiler

The main characters traveling to a devastated Tokyo and then possibly a post apocalyptic Earth

it seems like the plot will get a lot more intense now.

[Underrated GM Custom]

This was a very good episode, probably the best so far after EP1.

I actually like that the show producers looked up how much time it takes to steam from Hawaii to Japan, and they're using the travel time productively. Speaking of steam, one of the early arguments against the EM catapult was that steam from the reactor after generating power from the turbines which would normally be a waste product but it was captured and then repurposed for use in the catapults. (The downside of course is that it takes a lot more time to rebuild pressure between launches). I wonder which one Obari prefers, I'm guessing the steam powered based on the characters dialogue.

I wonder if Bravern used the hyper-dimensional printer to make his Bravern sized chair

Spoiler

Lulu is calling Bravern Smith again and there's an interesting color scheme on Smith's favorite kamen rider-esque show as well.

[Mafty]

This episode continues with the surreal mix of serious and parody.

Spoiler

We find out more about the Aliens. In that they are sentient robots tied with a pilot called Lulu who cannot communicate on their own. Also if they go in to battle they have their wishes granted

Spoiler

With all that said

Spoiler

Lulu is unsurprisingly able to become Smith's co pilot in the new mech that links to the pilots brain, which actually reminds me of Argevollen

One another note

Spoiler

What's going to happen to Superbia now?

[Ryujin]

The admixture of Cunus in Bravern's circumstances would explain a lot about his more questionable moments in the earlier episodes.

Kinda surprised how Hiro (the fat lips pilot) is still alive after the repeated time-looping number on him. Can't say the same for the accidental astronaut.

[Omega]

I just wanted to make a note of this for anyone watching the series as i'd seen discussion on...

Spoiler

With the reveal that Smith is reborn as Bravern because he fused with Knuft using the mech he died in as a catalyst... I saw some ppl talking about why Smith doesn't do anything to change things. I bring this point in turn.

Wouldn't he refrain from interfering in the timeline out of worry that he might prevent himself from becoming Bravern altogether, doubly so because of how genre-savvy his love for toku and other media makes him?

[Mafty]

Spoiler

There definitely appears to be some kind of stable time loop thing going on, so Lewis wanting to ensure it remains fixed makes sense

Also

Spoiler

There's the rather bizarre encounter between Lulu and Superbia at the end, to which even Superbia himself is confused. It seems though that Lulu wants to pilot Superbia, the whole young women as power sources in mechs seems a bit like what ended up happening in Strain: Strategic Armored Infantry with the Union

On another note

Spoiler

Does Lulu seem kind of like a reference to Inia Sestina from Muv Luv Total Eclipse?

[Underrated GM Custom]

I've been on travel so finally got some down time to catch up on Bravern.

I was half expecting Bravern to have a Fighbird/Katori origin story, where he behaves that way after watching some TV, but it looks like

Spoiler

the common prediction regarding Smith and Braverns connection came true.
I was honestly expecting the Bravern = Smith to be a red herring given how often they teased it each episode but it's a welcome twist nonetheless. It also explains how Bravern seems to know the events ahead of time and is rather coy about explaining things. Not to mention the model building habits hahaha.

I'm curious if or how they'll address the time paradox. If Smith merges with Knuth to create Bravern, then someone must have intervened back in Hawaii in order for the team to meet up with Knuth later. I suppose the original timeline could have had Knuth attacking Hawaii and Smith leading a suicide charge to defeat her.

Felt really bad for the astronaut TS what a way to go =(