Garo’s second half finally came out, and so I got to finish this recent swashbuckling adventure ride. The second half was unfortunately not quite as impressive as the first – the show kinda felt like it had just run out of fundamental story after the collision of Leon and Alfonso, and introducing devices like a born-to-be-fridged girlfriend certainly didn’t help matters. But Garo is still just a fundamentally compelling production, and so I still had a fine time with its conclusion.
You can check out my full review over at ANN, or my episode notes below!
Episode 13
Another fluid and interesting OP, though not as compelling as the first one
Nearly grayscale colors for the funeral of the queen. Garo continues to be an extremely visually inspired production
And the music is similarly compelling. Chimes and a mournful vocal track
Character designs as well, still very diverse and creative
The show has significantly more filmic direction than you tend to get in TV anime
Horror designs are excellent, too
Leon recovering slowly, through some gorgeous pastoral scenes
“Whether he recovers or not is up to him”
“Even though there’s nothing, it’s the land my father left us.”
Leon is still prickly and rude, but a fundamentally well-meaning guy
A lengthy sequence visually and aurally paced to the rhythm of their daily farm life. A really interesting choice for the season premiere
He only tells them his name once he feels pride in himself again
The contrast between Leon and Alfonso rebuilding is pretty nice
Oh no evil assistant lady is still alive!
Episode 14
The prince sneaks out
Lara is Leon’s new friend
Seeing German have to deal with Alfonso instead of Leon is pretty great. They have a very different but understandable dynamic
This is largely just an episodic Horror conflict, though
Pretty messy narrative
The ED is an incredibly tacky techno/numetal song
Episode 15
The craftsmen of the town are trying to create another Knight of Light
So it’s a team of armor nerds making Knight of Light cosplay
“Why don’t we just make it a self-moving doll?” Oh my god they’re making a Gundam
They use intestines for pipes, this is going to be horrifying
This is a pretty smart way to make a low-cost episode. Lots of repeated frames for the various experimental attempts
THEY GAVE IT A ROCKET PUNCH
This episode is so cute
“The people we protect aren’t weak”
Episode 16
A story about a wandering doctor. He is replaced by an ambitious young man who gets taken over by a Horror
“A mask makes it easier to believe in me”
German’s ladyfriend Jimena is wrapped up in this one
Haha, the doctor horror can’t help but want to treat German even as he’s fighting him
And he has a medicine cabinet for a chest. This show has a bunch of nice little ideas like that
Episode 17
Welp, looks like tragedy bait girl’s gonna bite it
The show is very good at creating a wintery atmosphere through slight visual cues, color palette, and sound design
Lara was an unfortunately designed character, but they’re at least selling Leon’s despair well
This final scene is also very well done
Episode 18
Aw, cute kiss for German and Jimena
Great articulation of Leon’s rage. Although I sure do hope he isn’t consumed with the exact same conflict as the first season – if Lara had to die, I’d at least like her death to come with him growing as a person
Leon wants his armor back. Great
“I want the power to protect someone”
“I will confirm your determination through your blade!” This show
This fight is gorgeous
“I will never look at the flames within myself again”
Even this Horror fight looks terrific
“Looks like I’m going to be helping Mendoza out”
Conflicts based in not fully explaining things are pretty lazy as well
Episode 19
Ema is chasing Luciano, a Horror who used to be her husband
The significance of Horrors is kind of vague. They’re often tied to impossible ambitions or greed, but then also framed as tragic figures
“What can you do with a body like that? A mere alchemist.” Oh dang, they’re kinda getting into the unequal gender politics of the Makai order!
This airborne fight is as absurd as it is awesome
The show’s still using CG flourishes where most appropriate
Jeez, Leon and Ema? That’s an odd pairing
Episode 20
“Is it wrong to hope for a better life for oneself?”
Octavia is a much more interesting villain than Mendoza
“Octavia. Do not forget. I will not toss you aside.”
Dang. Octavia sacrifices her leg to end their suspicion. Intense stuff
“Those damn Makai knights!”
German’s position continues to be completely incoherent
Episode 21
“Words are meaningless. Makai knights only converse with their blades!”
Ema: “They’re both so stupid!” Yep
They’re going to use Valiante as a gate for Horrors so they can destroy them. Welp
“Nobody wants sacrifices, but if many more can be saved in the exchange…” That old debate
This conflict is so similar to the first season, too
Episode 22
Mendoza is playing a terrible game of soul tetris
German’s plan sure is bad
The other three get trapped in a modern world reality marble
O no Octavia
Episode 23
Really creatively framed fight as they dance on this falling beam
So many gorgeous shots in this episode
Episode 24
And Mendoza absorbs Anima
“Who said I wanted you to come with me?” Ema great to the end
Welp, looks like Zoro’s line continues
Episode 25
Looks like an Ema OVA episode
Ema bullying this girl about her crush is great
And now Ema has to play mom
Ema declines to clear up the accusations around her, because Drama
Once again, the victim of the Horror isn’t a bad person at all
Garo was nothing really to make you go WOW but it’s so rare to see stuff thats just alright and fun in the adventure genre that I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Kinda remind me of Punchline which was just a small story well told without any other ambition.