Helck – 05 – Random Interest

「孤島の村」 (Kotou no Mura)
“The Remote Island Village”

In addition to its methodical pace, Helck has so far impressed me with its extraordinary constancy. There hasn’t been a notable decline in quality, tempo, or one of the several adaption idiosyncrasies that can easily transform fun into disaster less than halfway through the season. Does that imply that will be the case for the remainder of these two courses? Hell no, but the odds are improving.

It should come as no surprise that the initial goal of the program turned out to be introducing yet more enigma since we are now essentially in the discovery phase of this series (read: discovering everything about the planet). Random island in the middle of nowhere, home to intelligent beings, with a long history? Check. No clear escape route or justification for why Helck and Vamirio chose this place for some bonding time? Please confirm. Vamirio filling out my packed reaction face folder any further? Of course. It’s a tried-and-true technique for teasing and pointing the viewer toward the series’ real antagonist, one that, although providing less material now to sort through and analyze, at least ensures plenty in the near future. After all, there are all those species listed above, along with what will undoubtedly be a chatty clan chief. It’s just a matter of how Helck responds to the situation and how Vamirio decides to acknowledge that she already trusts Helck a lot more than she realizes.

In relation to Helck, the humor once more speaks for itself. Although this series no longer consistently busts my guts out (at least in terms of adaption), I have to confess that there are still instances when it does. Helck demonstrating his building skills (or lack thereof), utterly bizarre characters providing some very amusing moments, and Kirito Azudora doing his best to emphasize why he should be confined to his room: it’s hardly slapstick, but it nevertheless tickles in the right places. However, it’s difficult to top my new favorite bird, Piwi, who called Vamirio “used goods” in an utterly deadpan manner, making me spit up my tea. Again, humour that is average and understated, but yet doesn’t feel obtrusive, inappropriate, or problematic in its application. Helck won’t be losing any ground on this front as long as it can maintain its current performance.

Just a question of how capable the rest of the story is for making up the difference.

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