「撃滅するもの(トリーシュラ)」 (Gekimetsu suru mono (torisshura))
“Trishula”

You know, at times I almost regret covering Clockwork Planet. The light novel origins have a way of rearing their ugly head at inopportune moments, while the show’s world building can often devolve into stone cold insanity. Yet those very concerns dissipate just as quickly, because for every hair tearing scene there’s a hilarious follow up making me forget my pedantic nitpicking. Whether intended or not, this show gets me laughing. Hard.

This week’s charm once again rested with Naoto and RyuZU. Slowly, but surely this relationship is starting to win me over, mostly because of the character development it invokes. Naoto is as Naoto does of course—that will never change—but RyuZU is hilariously shifting into protective waifu mode. RyuZU certainly had the wish fulfillment flair earlier on, but she raises the bar this time by openly flaunting the goods at the merest whiff of Naoto inattention. Marie daring to sit on the anointed one’s lap? Well that’s a paddling. Naoto losing it over a swim suit? Let’s give the boy what he really wants. I think I’m beginning to like this robot. Marie too is not immune from the giggles, especially when livid over talk of her hole (hue) being sad—probably one of the best moments to be a tsundere. That has nothing on the daddy issues with Halter though, it’s just too deliciously perfect given the characters involved. If Clockwork keeps these interactions up, I might just look forward to Thursdays.

The other hilarity, however, was found in the world building. Clockwork’s setting is fascinating—most steampunk is in some aspect—but really, communication through resonating gears? Ignoring potential explanations later on, for me that implies sound waves, and anyone remotely familiar with wave theory knows the problems with this. There’s also the issue of how electromagnetism interferes with gears, but that’s probably down to whatever keeps RyuZU ticking (i.e. suspension of disbelief). Pretty much it’s all just amusing to me at this stage, an extra layer keeping the mind questioning “how” while giggling at Marie’s attempts at CPR. At least the big giant death robot works better, probably because you can never go wrong with big giant weapons—it’s a certified fact of life. No idea how our hacked and overclocked AnchoR will perform next to that beautiful monstrosity, but I’m loving her methods so far. Something about overkill that tickles the fancy.

So with Naoto’s new plaything finally appearing and a guaranteed fight to look forward to, I’d say things are looking up for Clockwork Planet. We have ourselves a veritable Metal Gear meets Nier: Automata scenario, a tendril for future arcs with Marie’s bold dream of Saving the World™, and a thoroughly traumatized Halter—what’s there to dislike? Ok maybe some things, but so long as Clockwork Planet can keep things entertaining, I have little to complain about. Bring on next week, I’m ready for the fireworks.

Full-length images: 21, 35.

 

Preview

26 Comments

    1. Quite ingenious, really. A great way to cut animation costs, allowing the use of a small number of cyclically repetitive, nearly static frames, eliminating the need to depict the frantic, exaggerated bodily movements and facial expressions typically accompanying such heated arguments- while also ensuring that few amongst this show’s (presumably mostly male) audience will complain…

      Zen
  1. Well, I am not sure what happened in the couch scene with Marie. A paddling? I didn’t see it.

    Anyway, I thought that you were going to comment more about the hilarious message. Pity that they didn’t insert the explanation why the message hinted AnchoR pressence.

    Hey! It wasn’t a bad CPR! He awoke, right? Kids, don’t try that in the real world. XDD

    Kinai
    1. Maybe not a true paddling, but being unceremoniously dumped on the couch would sure hurt the bottom lol.

      Also I thought the message spoke for itself, so I largely left it be. Some things are best left savoured 😛

  2. Marty
  3. Marie’s “Papa” joke is a nice reversal, as it’s Halter who usually delivers punchlines at her expense.

    Also, her violent outbursts against Naoto really grind RyuZU’s gears. 😀

    I gotta hand it to Naoto for picking a really nice swimsuit for RyuZU. ^_^

    Magnus Tancred
      1. Remember this scene from Episode 2: they’re walking down the street, then he sees a pretty dress on a store front and immediately asks her to try it on.

        So yeah, I really think he picked the swimsuit for her.

        He may have a dress up fetish. 😀

        Magnus Tancred
  4. SoundWaves… Well, you do not need everytime Air to transport the sound. You know of earphones that communicate direct with the Skull? mostly Secret Service has them, pro no other can hear the Sound

    So, if these resonating gears have somehow contact with the Skull, they could work like above

    Worldwidedepp
    1. The issue is not from phone to ear, it’s between phones. Those messages heard in the earphones? First transmitted to the earphone via electromagnetism. Resonating gears alone does not answer how it’s possible.

      1. Take two tin cans, make a hole in the bottom. Take some cord (should work with a thick yarn, too), pull it through the hole in the bottom, make a knot to fix it, now flex the cord, put your ear in one tin can and listen, and on the other side the other person speak inside it. Voila!, even without energy, just use of physics

        Worldwidedepp
  5. Mm, finally able to watch it, i think this kid in the end is not AnchoR, sure same model and same look, no this Automaton is somekind of Planet antibody and scavenger cell function

    Worldwidedepp
  6. HalfDemonInuyasha
      1. i hope so, i am curious about the “ghost in the shell” part of this Automata we see here. They act to much Human alike

        there must be some hidden things, we do not know yet.. AnchoR twin model Automata here, has use “Magic”…

        Worldwidedepp

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