How To Subvert Shonen's Greatest Trope

[@raisamike3]

Never stop gushing about Samurai Flamenco. You gotta do it for the fans, all 6 of them But in all seriousness, I'm glad you guys are doing alright and I already can't wait for the next vid

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

>all 6 of them why must you hurt me in this way

[@thekungfukid1990]

This is a classic example of spoilers working in favor of the show. It wasnt even on my radar before this

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

I'mma make this the top-rated anime series ever, one video at a time.

[@xenohans9364]

I watched SF when it first aired. Every week's episode was like a gift. Either laughing, cheering, engaged, or out right confused. It was a wild ride worth being on. So keep on bringing it up. More must know of it.

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

The wildest of anime rides.

[@itsdantaylor]

2:45 I think the other issue with DBZ (besides them peaking with power escalation like....A LONG time ago, is when death loses meaning. As such any and all stakes really go out the window and it seems that if everything can just be undone, there's no consequences for actions and as such no character ever learns anything.

[@hypomanix]

I'd also like to point out that not only is Sawada foreshadowed in episode 1, he also appears in the middle of the show as well! In episode 12, when Masayoshi is looking at the Flamen Robo action figure in the store, Sawada is a sales associate who talks to him. I never fully realized until a couple of rewatches ago!

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

Bruh I just checked the scene you're meaning and holy shit: you're right. I didn't notice before cos he's in a suit of some kind but that's definitely Haiji. Goddamn this show is great. There's always something new to spot.

[@hypomanix]

@@WeHeartGiantRobots its fucking brilliant

[@R1GHTS1DE]

I love this show so much. This show is a miracle that I found by suggesting to watch it in my anime club last semester. The show is a genuinely a masterpiece in my opinion. Its such a beautiful creation of insanity and love. This show is also my favorite anime, and I genuinely wish it got more love. I'm here all the way for it especially as a Tokusatsu fan

[@jessy1982]

Never stop screaming about Samurai Flamenco, you might be the only one left at this point. 😢

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

We plan on starting a cult around it at some point.

[@jessy1982]

@@WeHeartGiantRobots Looking forward to it. 👌

[@Dragonsbane58]

I also enjoy Gurren Lagann's escalation. It doesn't subvert anything, but nesting doll robots representing power improvement is very much my jam. I suppose that I will have to watch Samurai Flamenco at some point now....but what if it harms my expectations? If they keep getting subverted the foundation is gonna become unstable. Keep up the great work.

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

According to a couple studies I've heard discussed, spoilers can actually make people enjoy a series more because they're actively anticipating what's coming next. Yes I am saying this purely so more people watch Samurai Flamenco. Watch Samurai Flamenco.

[@Dragonsbane58]

@@WeHeartGiantRobots how delightfully manipulative. That is what I came here for, anime and manipulation. Bravo, the hit train keeps rolling.

[@jessy1982]

@@WeHeartGiantRobots I would not have watched it if I hadn't been spoiled about the fact it changes tone and has crazy twists. So yeah the right amount of spoiler can push someone to see something.

[@hypomanix]

Thank you for continuing to bring up SamFlam. in a few weeks i'll have been hyperfixating on it for 5 years and my love for it has only increased with each time i watch it

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

We'll be starting a cult around it before long, don't worry.

[@hypomanix]

@@WeHeartGiantRobots best news ive ever heard in my life

[@WeebJail]

well, now i HAVE to watch this. great video

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

The cult of SamFlam grows.

[@revlo8483]

I watched SF when I was too young so I was thrown off by the shift in tone, but I still liked it, great vid btw

[@1995yuda]

Damn, this anime is incrdible, how come I've never heard anything about it lol😂 Thanks for the heads up on this Anime and for the trope subversion observations bro

[@AdamTensei]

I'm glad I found your videos. It was your Thunderbolt vid that introduced me to your channel and I've been catching up on your older vids too. Great stuff guys, keep it up.

[@niwona_]

I think that's why Hunter x Hunter is so great in that it's masked as the conventional shounen and adheres to those rules, yet subverts them at every turn and, especially with the power creep and villains, moves towards the central conflicts being political and character driven. I'm still not entirely sure why more people don't know about and don't care for SamFlam, I've suggested it to many. I do think though that depending on what anime you came from before it, none will really prepare you for it, and depending on how it was set up, you may not realize that underneath all the wackiness, there's layers upon layers of social and anime commentary and it all required you to think. This show should be woven into all of your milestone vids until it eventually becomes a cult classic.

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

It's one of those shows that's worth a re-visit. I think most people can get a lot out of it for the sheer wildness of the ride, but long-time anime/tokusatsu fans will also have a grand old time spotting all the references or recognising the commentary being made on the genre/style as a whole. Also, I really should check out Hunter x Hunter some time. It's one of those shonen series that consistently gets flagged up as "actually pretty damn good".

[@hypomanix]

Funny that you bring up HxH, since that and SamFlam are actually tied for my favorite anime of all time ☺️

[@fashionforty]

It's such an underrated anime. More people need to watch it. I was delighted as to how anime this anime is!!!!!

[@MagnoliaPrince]

*chefs kiss* thank you

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

[gordon_ramsay.exe]

[@davidmaxwell4696]

Goto x Masayoshi best couple

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

That's definitely one thing we didn't mention in the first video. Them boys are absolutely shacking up together by the end.

[@m.czandogg9576]

Oh we back!!

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

We actually managed to release content on a monthly basis. Somehow.

[@m.czandogg9576]

@@WeHeartGiantRobots And I'm enjoying it quite a bit :D

[@OrionHunterOfTheStars]

Great vid, this made me want to watch it more so than the actual review you guys put up. Thank god for anime that aren't Naruto.

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

It's a little easier to have a clear drive/direction for a video when it isn't just Rob and I sitting in a Discord call and yelling about things. Though I do miss the anarchic bullshit that can come out of that process.

[@bensomniac]

I don't remember who, but someone once said that Superman is most interesting when he's either fallen in love, or dealing with life issues. It's not his power that is engaging, but rather the conflict. And of course, One Punch Man deals with this concept a great deal. Of course he can murder everyone, but that's boring. HE finds it boring.

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

Grant Morrison's an expert at writing heroes like Superman in this way. He's a guy who intrinsically understands that the best way to challenge a character like that isn't through escalation alone. I think Rob's called 'All-Star Superman' his favourite Superman comic of all time for that very reason.

[@harryman11]

I was going to say something about Gurren Lagann and their completely ridiculous power escalation, then I see a parody of the mech itself at 10:48 with an additional giant phallus what perfect parody If that's from SF I'm definitely watching it cause they obviously know what they are doing.

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

That would be Flameno Robo, the (literal) big dick super robot.

[@ildiran]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention, WHERE'S THE THREADS DEPRESSION KINO FUCKERS!?!? YOU MADE ME SO INTRIGUED I WATCHED IT AFTER THE CHERNOBYL VIDEO AND NOW IM JUST STUCK WITH DEPRESSION AND NO-ONE TO SHARE IT WITH!

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

We've been talking about it recently, actually. We're basically debating whether "global pandemic" is the worst time to release something Depression Kino related, or the best time.

[@yabuki2923]

insanity incoming (〜￣▽￣)〜 Haiji is most certainly a terrifying villain for the series, not just because of his ruthlessness but for his chaos. He is completely outside of Masayoshi's control. What many people fail to realize about Samflam is that it is NOT a plot driven show, but rather a character driven one-- God itself explains that every bit of insanity, every guillotine gorilla and robo cock ultimate, was created by Masayoshi's own force of will. It was his internalized desires which naturally escalated overtime. These desires literally force Masayoshi to obtain the legendary "character development" until he reaches enlightenment and becomes president of the world (Goto-san can be VP, if he wants!). These desires begin materializing in episode 7 when our dear idiot boy has a crisis over the death of his parents and how he might be a bad person: "I don't know who I am right now, but I know that I must deliver justice!" Everything after that is basically under Masayoshi's control. Sure, some cops got chopped and King Torture went a little hard on the edgelord behavior, but this was a reflection of Masayoshi's desperation for change post breakdown. Beyond that, there was never any real danger. The monsters start stealing fruit, for chrissakes. Everything, in a way, was under Masayoshi's control. And so he became president... But that's where Haiji comes in. Haiji is similar to the Samenco power in the sense that he exists for character development, but the difference is that he is NOT under Masayoshi's control (despite being directly influenced by him). He is radicalized by Masayoshi's speech in the very first episode-- "you won't change, I won't change, society won't change..."-- and that early sentiment, that encapsulation of Masayoshi's truest desire, that plead to change, ignites something. Haiji wants to change. He wants Samenco to change. He wants to form a communication. The difference between the aliens and the twisted middle school boy is that Masayoshi has control over the aliens and he is completely at a loss with this human being. He has to confront something beyond himself. For the first time, Masayoshi has to unmask and do something *real*. It is not just an epic final boss but an exercise in vulnerability and empathy that results in the literal stripping of the Samenco persona. Also, it's kinda gay. Aaaaah, what a long, annoying comment, but the show is so well written and it's a shame that people don't see that! It's real interesting on a rewatch, too. Hopefully this made some sort of sense and sparked the Samenco fan in you. It's always good to see that heroes never die, never run away, and will never be defeated by evil.... Thanks for spreading the Samenco word! Keep at it, to infinitum!

[@Neno-zb1ci]

one piece seriously needs this all evil villaisn are just big bad evil guy one after another just stronger (besides doflamingo) and the epic main hero punches them and everything becomes magically ok

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

In fairness to shows like One Piece, sometimes that's exactly what you want. But it's good to shift things up from time to time.

[@Neno-zb1ci]

@@WeHeartGiantRobots it was good in pre timeskip when it was just jokes and all but after marineford things started getting serious yet we still had these goofy villains doing comically evil things and we were supposed to take seriously

[@brandoncold1027]

I really enjoyed the anime and my samurai flamenco being gay for his bro

[@Matt-xs7ih]

basically you just need to be : FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST BROTHERHOOD, baby !!! btw ¿ have both of you watch fmab ?

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

Mate I'm old enough that the OG Fullmetal Alchemist was one of the first series I watched.

[@Matt-xs7ih]

@@WeHeartGiantRobots but i was refering to brotherhood...............

[@nolancarey6244]

Anime scores, in general, are kinda bullshit in general. In-depth reviews should be what people base their ideas on how a show is. Also, Anime is very diverse, so what you might like might be different from what others like. I totally agree that myanimelist should just get digitally crushed by a hydraulic press. Nice video as always.

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

Pretty much, it's why we opted not to do scores at all when screaming about things. I've always gone for the 'find you a handful of critics/opinion-persons whose tastes match yours' approach. Means you're more likely to find recommendations that will actually suit you.

[@Sentient6ix]

Gash? That must be a British thing. I've never seen that word used in such a way to describe a movie. I have the Killing Joke, though. The one that came with a comic and a joker figure. I didn't like the first half, but the second half was really good

[@zazenbo]

play melee

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

Never.

[@רוני-ש8צ]

damm this thing god damm riped

[@hilltopy]

Apparently I'm obligated to leave a mean comment, sooo, that meme was meh at best.

[@WeHeartGiantRobots]

This implies the memes are anything other than "meh". Which I appreciate, thanks fam.