BBK/BRNK

Episode 7

Last week's episode made me think that BBK/BRNK had the potential to get better, but I didn't really expect it to do so right away. Imagine my surprise when this episode successfully added some substance to balance out the show's glowing neon style. A big action scene and some story developments that actually make me want to see what happens next? That sounds like a win to me.

Azuma and friends take on the rampaging headless Buranki this week, but even a shiny new control room inside Oubu isn't enough to save them from a catastrophic defeat. With the Buranki moving ahead unhindered, Reoko's four lieutenants use their best attacks (and an army of expendables) to delay the monster. Reoko arrives with the limbless Entei in tow, but even she runs into trouble against the Buranki. With time running out, Zetsubi offers Azuma's group a deal: if they temporarily hand over their Bubuki, Reoko can use them to regenerate Entei's limbs and defeat the Buranki. The kids' Bubuki are damaged beyond repair in the ensuing fight, but they come away from the battle with a map to Treasure Island.

If there's one thing the CG animation in BBK/BRNK does well, it's battles between giant robots. Oubu, Entei, and the headless Buranki all have a convincing sense of weight behind their movements, and they look far more natural than the characters as they lumber around and throw attacks at one another. It's a reminder that anime studios have been using this style of animation for mechanical objects long enough to get pretty good at it, which is somewhat encouraging when it comes to the newer prospect of using CG for people. The slugfest between Entei and the Buranki dominates the episode with its emotional intensity, and even a couple of awkward facial expressions aren't enough to rob Reoko's crazed ranting of its impact. This scene, along with the increased competence of Reoko's four henchmen, gives the impression that the story is moving into more serious territory.

That darker tone brings with it an interesting shift in the show's big picture. Reoko's group is still depicted as being ruthless and deceptive, but the black and white divide between good and evil is beginning to take on some shades of gray. While they may not think twice about sacrificing the kids' Bubuki in pursuit of victory, that heartless pragmatism seems to be born out of a desire to prevent the Buranki from wreaking havoc. Reoko's comment about protecting the country implies that she sees herself as acting in humanity's best interests and not just her own, which makes her a much more compelling villain. After weeks of focusing on simple duels between good guys and bad guys, BBK/BRNK is presenting a more nuanced question of whether or not the ends justify the means. Is it all right to be ruthless and deceptive if you're protecting people from mortal danger? I'm hoping that the series will spend some more time grappling with that dilemma as we move into the second half of the season.

As far as I can tell, this improved story is tied closely to the show's departure from the one-on-one battle format that defined the individual Bubuki duels. Apart from some vaguely interesting looks into the characters' backstories, these fights were too narrowly focused to do anything that hasn't already been done by countless other action shows. Now that BBK/BRNK has moved away from that “villain of the week” structure, it has more options for exploring the world and ideas that it hinted at in its earliest episodes. With Azuma's long-lost sister apparently poised to step back into the story in the near future, it looks like this less predictable approach will be more than a one-time deal. It's still too soon to say for sure, but there just might be a good reason to watch this series besides idle curiosity about its unusual animation style.

This episode is an encouraging sign for BBK/BRNK across the board. We've got a good old-fashioned giant robot fight and a plot that's headed into more exciting territory. It feels like the series is starting to capitalize on some of its potential, and I'm holding out hope that there's a compelling piece of science fiction mixed in with all the spunky teenagers and glowing fashion accessories. As fun as it is to watch big robots head-butt each other in the chest, a little more narrative substance could easily lift this show out of the bottomless pit of forgettable mecha titles.

Rating: B+

BBK/BRNK is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Paul Jensen is a freelance writer and editor. You can follow more of his anime-related ramblings on Twitter.