Parasyte – Episode 20

Yeah, I’m running out of steam. Blame Shirobako for demonstrating that good two-cours can feel just as energetic at episode 20 as at episode one. Or blame Parasyte, because it actually is Parasyte’s fault – the show dragged, the show somewhat recovered, and now the show’s just indulging in an arc with absolutely no coherent plotting at all. The police plan was dumb, the way too on-the-nose theme declarations are dumb… man, this all makes me pretty sad. Parasyte was a good show.

Here’s my full ANN post. Head-shaking notes below.

Parasyte

Nice dramatic sound leadup to the first shot

So their plan was to somehow isolate one parasyte from the group and… shoot it to death? With loud guns? While everyone else waits around. Hmmm

“They’re machines. To destroy a machine, we need only destroy the ‘motor.’”

Jeeez, these CG people. And it’s the same shot as last week repeated, even though this time they’ve heard a gunshot. Sloppy work

The parasite mayor is advising the police to let him go rescue hostages? Because otherwise they’ll be panicked? whaaaaaat

Alright, suspension of disbelief is taking a smoke break this week

Serial killer gets his cuffs off as he goes in to investigate

And the parasites muck up the exit pattern, and a dude runs and gets shot, and another parasite attacks, and they hit the sensing van. This plan was incredibly stupid from the start, but it’s falling to pieces pretty fast

And the mayor and his gang head for the elevators

“We will now expand our hunting area”

“I’m counting on you to ID the monsters.” “Look who’s talking.” OH COME ON

Yeah, we’re not really so subtle in the “humans are the real monsters” anymore, huh

And the serial killer’s reveling in the suit-dude’s attempts to rationalize their actions. Yep

This episode is “fun.” It is not subtle, it is not enlightening, it is not smart or clever or gracefully constructed. It is not pasta, or teriyaki, or steak – it is Blood Pie.

Parasites using humans as shields, and of course the police shoot through the humans

“I’m starting to get the hang of telling the monsters apart.” Because he’s becoming more animal, because he’s just killing people. That’s actually decently understated

“If I hadn’t been here, they’d be full of holes by now.” The serial killer’s just being used to comment on their ethics. Jeez

“Just shoot anyone you find.” Now that humans are willing to be animals, they will win. They are the stronger animals, as Tamiya Ryouko warned

By giving up on Shinichi’s human values, the humans win easily

“Follow me. We’ll have more room this way.” AND THE COPS JUST LET HIM DO THAT? JUST LET HIM SET UP A SHOUNEN BATTLE FIGHT GAAAAHHHHHH

“I’ll give you two minutes.” What the fuck am I watching

HE’S A SUPER-PARASITE

AND NOW HE HAS A MACHINE-GUN ARM RAAAAHHHHHH

“In situations like this, does one say ‘insolent fool’?” stoooooopppppppp

More silly electronic music, as if to emphasize how ridiculous and videogamey this all was. I remember when the videogame music sounded bad because it was unfitting – now it’s too fitting, and it sucks

And the mayor just goes to the council chamber and stands at the podium. Jezus