Terraformars

Episode 7

One of the dangers of having a large cast of characters is that it can be difficult to keep up a show's pace. If things aren't plotted out carefully, there will be episodes that force the protagonists to take a back seat while minor characters wrap up their own subplots. Terraformars runs into that trap this week, but is able to muddle through without too much trouble. It's a brief but necessary detour from the show's most compelling material.

This episode wraps up the initial round of human-versus-Terraformar battles. A few new characters get a chance to show off their special abilities, and Russian team leader Sylvester's backstory is filled in. There are some tantalizing hints of what's really been happening on Mars, but there's not quite enough information to draw any solid conclusions. The main focus is on tying up loose ends this week, so any new developments are minor.

Compared to the crazy, enjoyable spectacle of the previous episode, this week's battle scenes are fairly low-key. The members of the Russian crew are able to dispatch their opponents without any jaw-dropping stunts, which isn't ideal for a series that sells itself on over-the-top action. Sylvester's crab abilities just make him incredibly hard-shelled, which isn't as visually interesting as some other powers we've seen. On the other hand, Ivan's ability to cause hallucinations provides some amusing, trippy scenes. The powers themselves aren't the problem so much as the reduced intensity of the combat. It's a static affair that lacks the high-flying theatrics of the previous episode.

Part of the problem is that the balance of power is starting to tip excessively in the Annex crew's favor. While only a single Terraformar posed a legitimate threat early on in the series, things have progressed to the point where even a large group of cockroaches can be taken down with few casualties. It's difficult to get caught up in the excitement of an action scene when the heroes don't appear to be in any serious danger. Terraformars does seem to be aware of this problem, and episode 7 suggests that the aliens become more powerful at night. With the sun going down, the playing field will hopefully level out more.

Just as the action promises to pick back up, the story leaves the door open for interesting developments later in the series. At first, the lack of visual difference between a Terraformar and a human seemed like lazy monster design, but a few of Sylvester's lines suggest there's a reason behind the aliens' appearance. The giant stone pyramids on Mars make for another tantalizing question mark, that I can only hope contains some satisfying answers. Of course, hints and promises can only sustain the audience for so long, so the show needs to pick up the pace as we enter the second half of the season.

This isn't the most exciting episode of Terraformars, but at least it lays the groundwork for improvement down the road. With the initial Mars landing wrapped up, the series has plenty of options for its next big story arc. As long as it plays to its strengths, there's no reason it can't continue being a worthwhile piece of entertainment.

Rating: B-

Terraformars is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Paul Jensen also covers anime and manga at SharkPuppet.com.