I just finished watching episode 18 of Gankutsuou...I think I might be depressed for a few days. Talk about the saddest, most painfully emotional animated episode I've seen to date. Nothing even compares...Not the death of Haku in Naruto, not incident with Hughes in FMA, nor the death and brutal torture of Susumu's sister in PeaceMaker...Not even the ending of Chrono Crusade (which was terribly sad BTW). To tell the truth, it was ALMOST as sad as the film "Green Mile", to which I bawled my eyes out, as did my macho, very large and scary male friend did too (albeit, discretely).
Sheesh...all I could say was "Shit..." I kinda just sat there as the credits started to roll going, "God...that is so horribly fucked up..." Of course, I cried too...
I'll give credit to the Japanese VA's here. I've never seen a series so well acted. They are an incredible cast. If Gankutsuou comes to the US, American VA's have their work cut out for them. I'm not saying they're not capable, I'm just saying that the job done by the Japanese cast is so utterly superb, it will be difficult match what they've already done. If US VA pull it off, that would be awesome...
And, there's the material that they creators of this series have had to work with. The Count of Monte Cristo is a fantastic book. I recommend it to anyone who likes to read deep, emotional stories that get you thinking. Gankutsuou has managed to keep those emotions intact in their adaptation...with is a feat on its own.
So...were am I now with this series? Hn...
How do you fault the Count? Certainly, he is mad with revenge and has taken things too far (WAY too far)...but doesn't he have a right to extract vengeance against those who did him wrong? Normally, I'd say no...but in his case, what was done to him was so terribly horrific...someone needs to be punished. But targeting Albert, his ex-best friends son is wrong, no matter which way you turn it. Yet, what a better way to make the man suffer than to use his child to destroy him, right? *shakes head* I didn't think he'd actually try to hurt Albert...I figured he'd use him to destroy everything Mondego (his friend) and Mercedes (his ex-fiancé) had built in their lives...Well, he's accomplished that, but it still wasn't enough...But that's the funny thing about revenge, right? Where does it stop?
Sadly, not until someone gets hurt...or even killed.
For the longest time, I though Albert was the contrast to the Count’s madness, but funny enough it turns out to be Franz who exposes how wrong both the Count and Albert are in their actions. It’s incredibly sad that Albert’s stubbornness and nativity, along with the Count's rage and lust for revenge would cost such an passionate, caring individual to expire. I admire his devotion to Albert...truly, no one could ask for a more incomparable friend. How many of your friends are willing to die for you? I don't mean taking a bullet. I mean walk to their death, literally plan it, knowing full well that they will die in an attempt to save your life? I can't understand that sort of feeling for another person (other than my son). I can’t understand what drove Franz to save Albert…
At any rate, there’s several more episodes left in this show. Things have become decidedly tragic, and I don’t think they’ll get much better. I think the question everyone is asking now is “How far will the Count go?” I don’t think he has any limits, after seeing what he did to Franz (thinking he was Albert at the time). What will Albert do next? He gave the Count his trust, then held his best friend in his arms, bleeding and cut to ribbons by that very man…
Crap, I hope this show gets licensed in the US. I want the friggen DVD’s!
********
comments are open
Posted by Zoso at February 24, 2005 07:24 PM