A
Darker Shade of Paradigm:
The Big O Volume 3
Bandai
DVD Review by: Troy
Brownfield 
The concept of The Big O remains one of the more delightfully
deranged in anime. A full-on pop culture kit-bash, the series
incorporates elements of everything from Dark City
to the Bond films to Timm and Dini's Batman animated
series to Blade Runner and giant robots. Smooth negotiator
Roger Smith, ably assisted at turns by his android sidekick
Dorothy, his Alfred-esque butler, his former commander at
the police department, and his giant Megadeus robot, The
Big O, winds his way through the futuristic landscape
of a city that lost its memory 40 years ago. The premise alone
is fascinating, and the creative team shoots any number of
ingenious ideas through this filter.
On this, the third collection of episodes (numbers 8 thru
10), things have begun to take a darker turn. While the series
has always been painted from the night-side of the spectrum,
certain events begin to carry more weight and import. The
added gravitas moves the story from entertaining diversion
to a more literary level of theme. I began to notice more
homages to things like old Hollywood and the significance
of memory to identity. I was also shocked by two brutal murders
in episode 8; while the series has always been action-packed,
the sudden ambush in the script was all the more surprising
given the usual level of restraint. (The series is, after
all, rated for viewers 13 and older).
The three episodes herein are:
Episode 8: Missing Cat: Dorothy finds a missing cat,
and caring for the animal awakens certain feelings in her
android soul. Of course, the cat, rare in Paradigm after the
events of 40 years previous, has other parties who are interested
in it. This segment is particularly effective. In 10 episodes
of this series, I've witnessed more pathos to the evolution
of Dorothy the android than in 7 years of Data on Star Trek
(or for that matter, much more than Seven of Nine on Voyager).
Episode
9: Beck Comes Back: Beck, the shifty bastard who kidnapped
Dorothy at the outset of the series, breaks out of jail and
tries to ensnare Roger in another one of his schemes. Beck
is a good foil for Smith, whose actions push the normally
taciturn negotiator into a higher level of emotional involvement.
This is a very mature and thought-provoking episode, containing
as it does a bizarre twist regarding Roger's client, and a
tough question posed by Dorothy.
Episode
10: Winter Night Phantom: This seeming love letter to
foreign cinema puts Officer Dastun in the role of protagonist
as Roger narrates the events unfolding. Dastun's been having
dreams of a pale woman, and begins to see her near the sites
of terrorist bombings. He wonders if this is a memory shaken
from his own mind, or if it's a portent. In addition, we finally
get a peek at what might be the hidden power in Paradigm.
Frankly, this installment really put me in mind of the novel/film
"Laura", and that's a good thing. Deftly executed,
with a perfect ending, this might be the best episode of the
three.
Once
again, the group behind The Big O comes out swinging.
This is a smartly made series, punctuated by wonderful music
and a unique atmosphere. It's a thing of rare quality, and
Bandai should be proud to be its distributor in America.
Troy
Brownfield is the Editor-in-Chief of Shotgun Reviews. He keeps
his giant robot in his garage, disguised as a grill. Email
him at psikotyk@aol.com
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