GATE S2 - Episodes 1 & 2: The Nationalism Continues

Wow, seems reviews will be seen quite frequently here, then, for lack of other stuff to be talked about during the school time. Again, beware of (sometimes unintentional) spoilers.

So, the first season of GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri (GATE 自衛隊彼の地にて、斯く戦えり, The JSDF Fight Like This in That Place) was recommended to me by a friend last year. I have finished it before the new year, as well. 

The premise itself was already quite fascinating. I've never before imagined a fantasy-themed modern military story. But for some reason, it works. It is quite fascinating, and this was what inspired me to do this artwork.

There's stuff like these: modern military mixed with fantasy.
Image from first opening.

We got to see fantastical people, armies upon armies of them, slaughtered by the JSDF. Now, as someone from Indonesia, which was occupied by Japan from 1942-1945 (and, to an extent, by the Allies several years after), this reminded me about propaganda. All of GATE is probably just a way to state that Japan is always better.

They always have better technology, to be able to massacre the sword-and-bow-wielding other-worlders. They are always treating people humanely, seen from any hostage situation in season 1, and in the 2nd episode of season 2, where they beat down the prince to save a Japanese woman. Also, they are rough and hardy, from their rough nation, plagued with earthquakes.

Though so, the visuals are quite good. We'll give it to A-1 for that. the battle scenes were pretty gruesome, and there were some nice fights going on, including the princely beatdown by the female soldier (see what I said when I haven't memorized the names?).

The first and second episodes of the second season isn't much different than the first season. There are plenty of new stuff that happened suddenly. While I like politics, I fear GATE didn't took enough pains to let the power-play in Japan and the fantasy world develop.The banquet in the 1st episode of season 2 was quite sudden.

The story jumps around quite a lot. There were quite some timeskips in the first season. Well, probably as expected from a light novel adaptation, such as SAO. I won't blame them.

Also, most of the human characters weren't special enough so that I could remember even just one name other than Itami, the Japanese-culture obsessor (otaku, but that has a negative connotation in Japan; however Itami himself did recognize himself as one). The elf, demi-godess, and disciple were pretty fascinating, though. Tuka, Rory, and Lelei. I hope the second season will let them develop further.

So, GATE with its military-meets-fantasy theme has shown quite a lot of promise. Which, sadly, it has squandered to be a propaganda which story jumps around quite a lot too. That would summarize everything.

next episode review

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GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri is originally a light novel by Takumi Yanai, and adapted into anime by A-1 Pictures.