Fooly Cooly : Alternative (FLCL 3)

[A random user]

The final installment of the FLCL sequel project, this last part being announced as a project which will redefine the definition of "sequel"

This time the story focus on Kana, a female teenager who mostly spend time with her best friends and wishes something extraordinary happens on her life. Until one day a strange mecha falls from the sky and a mysterious girl under the name of Haruko appears as well. Kana and her friends would be the object of interest to Haruko and her plans which involves a mysterious force name ATOMSK.

A co-production between Production I.G, Adult Swim and more, the series premiered on September 8 on Toonami and new episodes to air every Saturday while in Japan premiered as a compilation movie.

Source: Anime News Network

[A random user]

My reaction once the episode ended:

 

 

For real, it left me with mixed feelings.

 

 

More than a half of the episode was slice of life with the #CuteGirlsDoingCuteThings theme...depending on what anyone would consider cute (I swear one of the girls was holding a cigarette). And to be honest, surprisingly it was pulled off well with a solid cast and world introduction. The final stage of the episode is when the "absurdity" came on the table and, again manage to deliver...until certain point.

 

However, since it had the Fooly Cooly tag I expected more...craziness, not at the same of the original but still, expected that. Which made feel this episode a bit average. Nevertheless, It woukd be lying to me to deny that this episode delivered a solid plot and it's development through it with a, way, better production quality than Progressive, comparing first episodes of course. Is just that if this was any other show I would had loved but it's a FLCL's installment so I have my doubts.

 

On a minor scale, is it me or some Kana's lines did not made sense? However, it was on not crucial moments to sabotage the experience.

 

Anyway, is just the first episode.

 

 

[A random user]

 

Yup, base on this two episodes I'm gonna have a lot of mixed feelings with this season (kind of like the previous one).

Is obvious this seasons jumped on the moe/CuteGirlsDoingThigs-slice of life-coming of age trend and tries to blend it with the FLCL's theme which was a typical coming of age seasoned with randomness in a crazy universe and mechas with nice soundtrack back on it's time. So far the coming of age is blowing out of the water both the original and Progressive with solid characters and arcs, and yes, Kana is way better than Naota as a character (Hidomi is a separate case since, unlike the mentioned two, her past was way more complicated... but poor handled it on Progressive), but on the randomness and crazy universe so far felt stale and the OST, except the ED, boring. Hell even the fight scene, despite the obvious way better production value than the original and Progressive, felt uninspired and even a filler, even Haruko antics could not help it, even thought I laught at it.

I guess the "Alternative" tag really spoils a lot of what the show is aiming and Kana and friends are the testament of it while Haruko will be the "nexus" between this new universe and the old FLCL's vibe.

Like I said before, if this was another show I would be head over heels of it but since is FLCL I had my expectations set on advance.

[A random user]

This episode was the closest to fit into the FLCL's original spirit. First, because there was more world building and, as expected, is wtf; and finally, Haruko had more screentime. However, I said almost because those elements were introduced in a lighter way to fit the slice of life's mood.

I said on the previous episode that Haruko and the new lead cast work as the representations of the past FLCL and the current FLCL and this episode prove my point by trying to blend both words but can't say the results were satisfactory enough. But still, this episode gave me a bit hope things will pick up by going on it's own way.

[A random user]

This episode brought the old FLCL's vibe back in a new swing and I like it. Obviously, the slice of life was sacrificed for that goal.

The world building, plot development, characters development through the episode and the "monster of the week" introduction was solid and wacky at the same time. However, once the fight stepped in things went backwards to my bittersweet taste of the first episodes but it was made up by the episode's resolution, it truly felt like it was a FLCL episode.

My hopes were restored, in special now that medical mechanica came into the game.

[A random user]

The plots thiccens...literally, excluiding the whole recall to episode 5 of the original, the show really took a mature tone in almost everything, world building and character performance through the episode.

However, when the fight came in it did not live up to the mood of the episode and even drag it, I blame the soundtrack and how lackluster was it's build up. But despiting that, I really loved how this episode wrapped it up the conflict between Kana and Pets, from how it was presented to how it tricked the viewer with that scene before the true ending came. I would say it was extremely realistic but most important it did followed the nature that was presented on Pets in this episode. And I'm all for well fleshed out angst endings.

Can't say it was my favorite episode, but it was my favorite "climax" and ending...pretty much putting a middle finger to the early mood of the show which was #CGDCT atmosphere.

The finale is next week but can't say I have strong feeling for it.

[A random user]

 

It ended better than I expected, I'm impressed.

However, it repeated the same mistake of Progressive's by not rushing, but throwing everything at the end making it not impactfull. I've read many felt a lot of stuff was thrown out of nowhere in this episode and yeah, some stuff were out of nowhere but a lot of stuff were teased on previous episode and thus, expected. But probably not teased enough to made their presence feel.

Kana had a stellar participation, probably the best out of the whole season, the production kept it high standard and the pace was great for an episode which threw everything at last hour.

Overall, the series aimed at certain direction at first but later decided to go to another one. The shift wasn't well treated and led to some downgrades. In the end, finished as an average show with a high quality production and a well developed main cast.