Gungrave 4

[timepiececlock]

And so it begins. The road to hell is paved... well, with old fashioned ambition, violence, and misguided loyalties, it turns out. Good intentions? Hardly.

So. What is it Harry really wants? I think it's power and security. For him the idea freedom equaled security, but after all this and having to choose between letting Brandon die alone or dying with him, he spontaneously decides that power is another kind of security. His eagerness to join is kind of sad... he's like a puppy. But you know he's going to turn into one mean pitbull.

Already we see the difference between Harry and Brandon. Brandon has no problem with committing violence, but doesn't seem to particularly relish it. I think for him it's probably like John Cusak's character in Grosse Point Blank: it's not good or bad, enjoyable or unenjoyable...it's just something he does. And he's good at it, and he's not afraid of it. Clearly this incident of real violence that personally affects both him and Harry brings home the realities of their situation... both at this point still have the capacity to be horrified by violence. I'm sure that'll change.

Harry wants the organization, Brandon doesn't. He doesn't necessarily NOT want it, but it wouldn't have even occured to him to join if Harry hadn't made it possible. It's not about what the organization can give him, because the organization has nothing Brandon wants; Brandon's only going for Harry and Maria. And Brandon, having nothing else left, decides to follow the path that will keep him close to the two people he cares about. I find it interesting that Brandon seems to be the harder hitter in the fisticuffs, the more in-your-face one when it comes to the fighting, but Harry is the one more willing to go directly to killshot, skipping the foreplay. Without Harry, Brandon could probably be a club or restaurant bouncer all his life and be satisfied with that fate. Too bad he'll never get it now.

Brandon's monologue while watching the funeral says he feels like something's wrong... is that a feeling of grief? Or perhaps a premonition of where their lives are headed after this turning point? Does Brandon already sense that this has started to change Harry-- and himself--forever?

I like the ending theme.

Damn, I can see the Trigun style influence in the animation.

Comments

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

this is just a late comment to
a) thank you for the long comment, which I much enjoyed reading
b) say taht unfortunately I can't think of anything to say in reponse, because I pretty much agree.