I really should’ve sung the praises of noitaminA earlier. Chalk it
up to sensory overload, I guess, but I just didn’t make the connection that
most of the more interesting shows I’ve watched over the past few years have
been on this block. PSYCHO-PASS, TATAMI GALAXY, [C] – CONTROL and all the
wonderful slice-of-life series like BUNNY DROP, PRINCESS JELLYFISH and KIDS ON
THE SLOPE that I didn’t get a chance to see all the way through. All series
that reach outside of the usual demographic boundaries; all series that give
you something meatier to chew in, even when they misfire.
I didn’t realize that FLAMENCO was part of this block. Now that it’s moving
past the familiar amateur vigilante premise and getting into bigger ideas, it
really is less of a surprise.
Sam brought this up a few times on the Vice Pit, and it’s something I
noticed while watching TIGER & BUNNY, but American superheroics and
Japanese tokusatsu seem to majorly differ over their characters’ motivations. US
heroes are generally seeking vengeance (Batman/Punisher), atoning for mistakes
(Spider-Man/Iron Man/Thor) or are outcasts who’ve suddenly been empowered to
save their persecutors (X-Men/Hulk/Captain America). That is, they’re driven by
very personal reasons that can quickly get angsty.
Tokusatu heroes, on the other hand, generally seem to be just do-right
guys who are trying to live up to a heroic role. However, it’s a step beyond (or
removed from) true blue heroes like Superman because there’s often this odd
disconnect where they seem to be literally playing a role. They’re
heroes because there have always been heroes and, by gosh, somebody
needs to be the hero today. Whatever they do is an affectation.
It’s an interesting contrast, and FLAMENCO throws us an added twist
here by revealing that the villain is also playing a role. Who
knows if the series will actually go this far, but this development does raise
the logical question of where this train of inspiration started. Who are the real
larger-than-life heroes and villains that these normal people have been taking
their cues from?
Watch, "Final Battle in the Enemy
Base” and
decide for yourself, then read my comments about the previous episode.
About the Author
 | Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk |
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