 With Mechanabe proving to be a lot more powerful that anyone expected,
can Oji & the rest of Black Heaven save the world? It's the final
disc of Legend of Black Heaven...
11 - Sweet Emotion
The enemy is starting to inflict some real damage on Formalhaut's
fleet, and the odds look to tilt against them entirely once the enemy
starts using their own version of the 'ultimate weapon'. The remaining
members of Black Heaven
are doing as much as they can, but that lack of a keyboardist is
hurting them. Can Layla fill the role well enough to make a difference?
Her first turn on the keyboard shows some promise, but her 'technical'
knowledge needs to be turned into proper musical skill first.
Meanwhile, Yokko's patience with Oji's antics finally runs out, and she
confronts Layla about the effect her presence is having on her family...
12 - Into the Arena
Watanabe's clone is in full flow, and the effect of his playing is
cancelling out the effect of Black Heaven's playing - even going so far
as to set the 'ultimate weapon' off against its own fleet. A
fortunately-timed malfunction is all that saves Formalhaut's fleet from
complete destruction. With Formalhaut demanding full-time service from
the band, Oji has to break the news to Yokko that he'll be away from
home for a while - and she doesn't take the news too well.
13 - The End
The stage is set for the final battle between Black Heaven and Android
Watanabe. Back on Earth, Yokko's finally had enough and is moving out
of her home, leaving only divorce papers to welcome Oji home. Back in
space, things are not looking good - with Sato picking up a wrist
injury & Hamill's observations showing that the enemy's weapon is
several orders of magnitude more powerful than their own, Oji has a
plan 'B' - but he needs Black Heaven's fans on board to help him carry
it out. His first call is to Yokko - but she's not there anymore...
Have to say, Yokko's quite a cutie in her groupie gear. Anyway...
This final disc played out pretty much as expected - enemy's new
super-weapon beats our heroes, heroes re-group but with little effect,
support of others is enough for our heroes to push that extra bit
harder and save the day when all seems lost. The End. Points of note:
Yokko leaving, followed by Oji's desperate phonecall when there was
no-one there to hear him. Yokko's appearance on the Zappa, with Black
Heaven fans in tow, in time to encourage Oji one last time. Oji's final
scenes with Layla (shouldn't there have been a 'reunion with Yokko
scene?).
For all that it was as deriviative as hell (it's all been done 101
times before, right?), I enjoyed it. Oji's not the standard anime hero
- he's 15 years to old for that, for a start - so just like with Zone of the Enders there's something to be said for the old guy saving the world, and that's what Black Heaven
provided. All didn't go according to plan & he almost lost his
family in the process, but Oji pulled through & you couldn't help
but cheer him on at the end of it. Let's just hope Layla's return
(short sequence right at the end of the episode) doesn't unhinge him
again...
Overall, while not the most original show, Legend of Black Heaven
was well worth watching - particularly as I got it on the cheap. Not
sure I'd pay full RRP for it, but as a bargain or second-hand buy it's
well worth some of your money. |
