Sabikui Bisco – 12 (END)

「 弓矢の二人」 (Yumiya no Futari)
“Bow and Arrow Duo”

Sabikui Bisco’s final episode ends on a pleasingly conclusive level as it ties up its loose ends in time for the final battle against the Tetsujin. But as Bisco and Milo ride off into the sunset, only time will tell if we’ll be able to see the remainder of their journey through to the end.

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

I like how much they unashamedly asspulled most of the last fight with the reveals that being submerged in molten rust merely got the two fused into different parts of the Tetsujin. While Bisco got stuck in the midsection and was saved in part due to having Rust Eater from the pipe snake poison fuse into his blood, Kurokawa got the shit end of the stick and had to roll with fueling the Tetsujin with his undying resentment.

For the most part, the finale seemed to be a successful crowd-pleaser, giving everyone their moment to shine before they’re all given a proper send-off. Pawoo’s contribution was pretty cool because she not only came through without having to sacrifice herself, but also smooth-talked her way into pulling Bisco in for a kiss. It’s also the second time a movie reference killed Kurokawa with the Tetsuo blob scene from Akira being replicated. I think it was very sweet to see that Pawoo was able to become the acting governor as Milo and Bisco continue to go out adventuring, mirroring the checkpoint scene in the first episode with each other. Happy to see Jabi make it out as well given how many death flags the show kept throwing at the poor guy.

It is one of those shows that tries to have its cake and eat it too by having Milo enticed by both the prospect of Pawoo being Bisco’s wife and the idea to pull his head closer to Bisco’s chest, listening to his heartbeat as he reminds him of their vow to die together. I’m not complaining though because Milo’s bold, colorful personality has been one of the anime’s main draws for me. Only one dude could make out with Tirol to rip out a tapeworm or revel in bedding escorts in one scene and hold Bisco’s hands as they fire an arrow together in another. Bisco goes hard as a mofo, but Milo’s combination of chad energy and waifu material has been a blast to watch this season.

FINAL IMPRESSIONS

Even though I’m running a candle on both ends to get my work and my posts done simultaneously, I had an awesome time watching Sabikui Bisco and am excited to have followed the show through to an end. It felt like a really good action movie that pulled off the wackier elements of dystopian action flicks of the ‘90’s with all of the visual flair and stylish animation of an old school OVA series.

Surprisingly, the payoff was also pretty well-earned as it felt like a cohesive story that didn’t have to compromise much to make the story progression believable. It still had its fair share of nonsense and lunacy, but it meshes well with the chaotic feel that the series has had up to this point. It’s hard not to admire a lot of the creative decisions made along the way for its more ridiculous story beats like the climactic battle with the Tetsujin or the cast’s constant brushes with death.

They also did a great job with making its characters fun and/or endearing to watch. Bisco was pretty amusing as a headstrong, hot-blooded renegade who seems to react to everyone fawning over him with befuddlement and confusion. Milo stole the show for me as the adorable, empathetic doctor who quickly adapts and evolves into a bold, reckless action hero. It helps that he has enough confidence by his own merits to just pull something completely cheeky and ballsy out of left field. Again, it’s a pretty baller move for Milo to try to angle for Bisco to be both his brother-in-law and his eternal life partner.

The moment that a giant crab became Bisco and Milo’s closest confidant was the moment I knew the supporting cast would be as awesome as our main duo. No matter the circumstance, Pawoo was also an electrifying character whenever she showed up. It was also nice to see Jabi and Tirol interacting with the two even though more often than not, they were separated from one another. Even Kurokawa was an amusing antagonist as a cocky, disrespectful governor who is as sleazy and shameless as he is dedicated to exerting his will onto others out of pure spite and self-interest.

Even with some of the loopier plot decisions near the final batch of episodes, I had a really good time with Sabikui Bisco and its eccentricities. I’d be happy with moving forward with some of the material from the later parts of the novels because I can’t help but feel a little sad for not being able to see more of them.

It might’ve fallen by the wayside in a season with Attack on Titan and My Dress-Up Darling dominating many anime discussions, but if you hadn’t seen the show, I’d recommend giving Sabikui Bisco a glance in case you missed it. And for those who have seen it and enjoyed it, I’d be pumped up for a second season. It might be a long shot, but hopefully, we’ll see more light novel adaptations like Sabikui Bisco that are both adventurous and paced out well enough to not feel like they need to rush through the material.