Parasyte - General Discussion

[Meredith Quill]

Discuss Parasyte Here!

[Lantern7]

For anybody who hasn't seen it yet, here's the promo . . .

 

I'm thinking MTV's Oddities: The Head by way of Midori Days. Google the latter . . . Japan is a weird place, y'all.

[Sandman87]

I would have said The Thing meets Midori Days.

Fun fact - there's a real medical condition called Alien Hand Syndrome:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_hand_syndrome

[Lantern7]

Why do I feel that this would be a mere dark comedy without all the murder and gore? I mean, the guy wakes up to find his arm drastically morphed, surfing online . . . and there's no huge reaction?

 

I like the credits because of the Engrish lyrics. They were featured in this compilation of English-sounding opening credits. "I killed my baby while we're in China!"

 

Parasyte : Corgis :: Cujo : St. Bernards?

[Sandman87]

Complaints first:
1) The opening credits music is crap, utter and complete. Thanks, auto-tune! I hate it even more than the final opening theme from Blood +.
2) Not real pleased with the animation of the human characters' faces. Everyone looks like they came from The Boondocks. I keep expecting Shinichi to sound like Grandpa, and the glasses aren't helping any.


The alien hand sounds like the homunculus-in-a-jar from FMA: Brotherhood.

The wackiness is overshadowing the horror so far. Not quite what the promo was selling.

The alien hand is interesting in a way I didn't expect. He (for the sake of simplicity I'm calling it "he") is hyper-rational and unemotional, like a Vulcan or something. Shinichi, meanwhile, seems to alternate between freaking out and apathetic resignation. Who'd have thought the hand would be the brains of the outfit? (Potential alternate show title: The Pinky is the Brain). And a better student too, what with all the studying.

How long do you figure it'll be before Shinichi's parents have him go see a shrink? From their point of view he probably looks about ready for a nice padded room.

Alien hand needs to make up his mind. One minute he's all about acceptance and mutual cooperation, and the next he's all "Another alien! Kill it!"

[Terrafamilia]

2) Not real pleased with the animation of the human characters' faces.

Alien hand needs to make up his mind. One minute he's all about acceptance and mutual cooperation, and the next he's all "Another alien! Kill it!"

I, also, was not entirely pleased with the animation.

 

The Hand's relationship with others of it's own kind is a driving force in the manga. As he pointed out in this episode, both he and the dog creature were "failures".

[ZoqFotPik]

 

I'm thinking MTV's Oddities: The Head

Wow that's a blast from the past! I remember watching that when I was in high school.

 

I'm not liking the animation either.

 

 

Alien hand needs to make up his mind. One minute he's all about acceptance and mutual cooperation, and the next he's all "Another alien! Kill it!"

I don't think it was that bad. It seemed like it wasn't looking for a fight until it could sense the dog's hostile intent, and even then it's first instinct was to run. It didn't enter"Kill or be killed" mode until it knew there was no way out. 

[lathspel]

It was a good first episode. "Being out of control of your body" is a good metaphor for high school, when you think about it.

I didn't anticipate the alien beig so strong - I thought it would be more sneaky. It seems like the concept could go a long way. Particularly since both alien and Shinichi have a lot to learn still.

[Matt K]

The episode was decent but I'm already wondering where the story is going.

[nobodyyoucare]

This was a pretty successful manga and anime. They have done a live action movie version btw. Part 1 and 2 

 

 

 

[nobodyyoucare]

 

2) Not real pleased with the animation of the human characters' faces. Everyone looks like they came from The Boondocks.

Madhouse the studio that makes this anime and many others is one of several studios that worked on the Boondocks though they are not credited. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhouse_(company)You may recognize a lot of their works that they are credited on. 

[Sandman87]

It was a good first episode. "Being out of control of your body" is a good metaphor for high school, when you think about it.

Suddenly the groping makes a lot more sense.

[Sandman87]

That scene in the gym equipment room had me wondering why Shinichi was hiding his hand, and looked like something had been cut out. A few minutes of research revealed two things:

1) The anime seems to have made a bunch of arbitrary changes from the manga, and the scene in the manga was split into two different scenes in the anime.
2) He was hiding his hand because Migi had turned himself into an arm-sized penis. Which might come in handy some day if Shinichi ever wants to flip someone off. So yeah, some censorship there.

 

I get the feeling that his wing-man Satomi is going to end up being his girlfriend, rather than Kana. And speaking of Kana, that little bit of hand holding at the end suggests that something about his right hand feels wrong to her. Plus she keeps asking him if he's really Sinichi.

[nobodyyoucare]

Well anime and manga series often have changes. some make perfect sense since tv Japan rules wouldn't allow a percentage of stuff that is in the manga. Sometimes they are so different its basically two different series. Sometimes the anime is better then the manga due to changes other times its the other way around.

 

Sometimes the author tells the anime side to do something because it feels better or there wasn't time to do or couldn't be done   in the manga. Other times its the other way around. 

[Sandman87]

You say that as if I hadn't been watching anime and reading manga since the mid-80s.

[nobodyyoucare]

Just explaining why changes are done and that it is nothing to be alarmed about. See far too many people exclaim censorship or that American company butchered it. Sorry long forum exposure to people who don't know the reality of the industry makes me go into professor mode to explain things. 

 

You have to admit having your arm change to a penis gives a whole new take on a certain act in porn films and photos. Wouldn't be too surprised to find parasyte rule 34 material already out there or coming out after the american debut of that episode. 

[lathspel]

Definitely continuing the "my body is out of control" thing.

It was weird how she switched hands. Hopefully we get back to that.

[jbrecken]

The artwork over the end credits is very pretty

[Lantern7]

Here are the unaltered opening credits, in case you missed it the first time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPPfG-VAscQ

 

While I'm thinking about it . . . what does "the Maxim" indicate in the title?
 

[Lantern7]

So many questions from an anime . . . like the reproductive rights of parasites from outer space, and whether Shinichi should be packing heat to make up for Migi only being able to control his hand. Also, Migi can now detached himself (itself?) from Shinichi for a few minutes at a time. Freaky, even for this show.

 

Anybody else hear "Mr. A" and think of Steve Ditko?

[Sandman87]

I thought Migi looked a little less disturbing when he detached himself from Shinichi. Almost like an exotic pet.

 

Shinichi's voice actor is really beginning to grate on my nerves. His name's Adam Gibbs. All the other VAs are ok so far.

 

I half expected Shinichi's parents to die immediately when they left on their vacation, maybe get eaten by the taxi driver.

[Lantern7]

This video spoiled me in regard to Shinichi getting skewered (2:01-2:20). Amazed by how he managed to deny what was going on until the very end. That sort of denial must be a gift.

[Sandman87]

So the parents died, just not immediately. And now Sinichi has been impaled by his Momster. I wonder how Migi is going to save him, since there's an anime tradition of sentient hands reviving their dying hosts (see Vampire Hunter D).

Interesting that the ability to detect "something wrong" with parasite hosts seems fairly common in humans.

Sinichi vs. the bullies gave Migi a lesson in how cooperation and sticking together is a good thing. Wonder how that's going to affect his views.

[nobodyyoucare]

Its more the ability to detect something isn't right in a person's behavior or mannerisms. The person doesn't know its a parasitic alien that has eaten the hosts brain. Most people can if they actually listen to their senses and brain can detect if someone has potentially evil intent or the area is potentially dangerous. Situational awareness is a thing a lot of people lack today and these people wonder why they become victims of random crime.

Edited November 9, 2015 by nobodyyoucare

[Sandman87]

I doubt that's what the show is driving at. They're making it seem more like some sort of mutant ability to detect aliens.

[nobodyyoucare]

I doubt that's what the show is driving at. They're making it seem more like some sort of mutant ability to detect aliens.

Its what people refer to as the sixth sense which is like I said our senses telling us something is not right about the person or area. People call it the sixth sense when it is just situational awareness. 

[lathspel]

We didn't have a mature content warning before, did we?

To be honest, none of the parasites (except maybe Ms. Tamyo) have really tried to conceal their presence. The one eye rolling up, while creepy, is also a solid tell.

[lathspel]

I really liked the musical motif in this episode.

And, it seems we've turned a new corner. Shinichi is somewhat super powered, and be and Migi are not exactly enemies any more.

[Lantern7]

Helluva trade-off: Shinichi basically becomes Spider-Man (increased abilities, no need for glasses), but Migi goes offline for four hours. I wonder how long it'll take for him to reveal Migi to somebody. And there's the question of whom he'd make the reveal. His friends at school? The girl at the friendly hotel? His frazzled father?

[Sandman87]

"Sinichi Izumi, student. A boy barely alive. We can rebuild him. We have the biology. We can make him better than he was  Better...stronger...faster. The Six Hundred Million Yen Boy." I wonder how the super-health upgrade will affect his raging teen hormones.

 

Sinichi tries to talk to Dad about the alien parasite situation, but Dad needs his denial, dammit!

 

"Is it ok if I kill her?" (or however he phrased it) seemed sufficiently ambiguous that Migi might have meant the hotel girl.

[Terrafamilia]

Having a polymorphic alien hand does seem to have had one up-side. Shinichi has turned into a chick-magnet.

[lathspel]

He has abs now too - not sure if that's because Migi rebuilt his body, or maybe just that Shinichi lost a lot of weight when he was mostly dead.

[Sandman87]

Sinichi meets a guy named Uda with a neck-centered parasite named Parasite. He gets no points for originality. Parasite has learned English...er...Japanese...uh...whatever from watching TV, which would explain why he talks like Gilbert Gottfried. I keep expecting him to say "Afflack!" Anyway, they make friends.

 

Sinichi has a confrontation with his Momster, and turns out to be able to hold his own against her even though Migi is asleep. Better, stronger, and all that. Uda turns out to be somewhat useful in a fight as well. Buh-bye Momster.

 

Sinichi returns home, but he's probably going to be even more of a chick magnet now that he's lost the glasses and has rebellious spiky teen hair.

[Lantern7]

Interesting that "Momster" is dead. I guess the parasite that infected the teacher is going to be the big bad from here on out, along with the possibility of Mr. A showing up with a new host. Also interesting: seeing another "conjoined" parasite/human combo. Lots of yuks to be had with a poor weepy bastard possessing a host that takes control of his chin. Anybody else think of Jay Leno seeing Uda & Parasite in action?

 

Oh, if anybody is reading this and wondering what the heck has been going on . . . Toonami is running a Parasyte marathon this Saturday, covering the first seven episodes. It's gross, but it hasn't been dull.

[Sandman87]

Random thought: Now that Sinichi has met another human/parasite "partnership", I wonder how long it's going to be until we see a human with multiple parasites. Pooling their resources, combining strengths, and all that.

 

 

Anybody else think of Jay Leno seeing Uda & Parasite in action?

I didn't, but it did make me think of Frank Zappa's "Tryin' to Grow a Chin."

[Terrafamilia]

Random thought: Now that Sinichi has met another human/parasite "partnership", I wonder how long it's going to be until we see a human with multiple parasites. Pooling their resources, combining strengths, and all that

Shhhh...spoilers!

[Sandman87]

Speculation, not spoilers.

[lathspel]

Shinichi amost sounds like he has a different VA at this point.

[lathspel]

Aand we're back after the marathon. There's a new parasyte in school, and I think he may be fibbing about being on a diet.

I'm enjoying the angle that this may become a harem show, except the protagonist has lost all emotions except self loathing and rage, and is partially a disgusting monster. Not so much afraid of girls, more afraid of what might happen to them.

[Lantern7]

Shouldn't it be common knowledge that Shinichi's mother is dead? Also, I think the writers should pay Stan Lee and Steve Ditko royalties in regards to a teenage protagonist dealing with great power and the death of a loved one. Shinichi becoming a robot like Migi is a nice twist.

[Sandman87]

I like it. "My parasite sense is tingling!"

 

It'll be interesting to see whether Shinichi's lack of emotion is from the shock of his mother's death or from the tune-up that Migi gave him. My money's on the shock. In any case,

 

And speaking of shock, Dad's hitting that bottle pretty hard. Wonder whether he's going to get better or end up like the father in CLANNAD.

[Lantern7]

More unlikely: People "in the know" starting a hair-plucking trend, or a school opening its doors a week after at least a dozen people end up getting killed?

[Sandman87]

Interesting that the parasites can be hurt by paint thinner. Gotta wonder what other vulnerabilities they have. Since they're being described as a cross between muscles and neurons, I expect booze would hit one of them pretty hard.

 

I bet the authorities are scratching their heads over the rock that came out of nowhere and killed their monster for them.

 

 

More unlikely: People "in the know" starting a hair-plucking trend, or a school opening its doors a week after at least a dozen people end up getting killed?

In Japan? Where maintaining personal space is a way of life? Definitely the hair-pulling.

[lathspel]

Shinichi's baseball pitch head shot was impressive. But how have we gone this long without an Evil Dead "the evil got into my arm" joke?

The hair pulling trend could also be handy if you wanted a surreptitious way to DNA type someone.

[Iguessnot]

I wanted that girl to be killed just for the stupidity of asking Shamada if he was a people eating monster, and if he was, to just go away because she didn't want anyone else to get hurt. I hate when they write female characters like this.

 

I rewatched and noted she purposely pulled out the paint thinner, saying this would work. How or why did she know it would be effective?

 

I know the alien was having trouble getting himself together, but was that stopping Migi from locating him? There seemed to be a lot of directionless searching. When he was hugging his classmate, Shinichi & Migi seemed clueless to the presence of Shamada until he killed those boys.

[Sandman87]

I wanted that girl to be killed just for the stupidity of asking Shamada if he was a people eating monster, and if he was, to just go away because she didn't want anyone else to get hurt. I hate when they write female characters like this.

The paint thinner turned out to be kind of a bad idea. Sure, it kept her from dying, but the monster rampage & massacre wouldn't have happened if Shamada hadn't gotten thinnered. Bet she has some crippling guilt issues for an episode or two.

[Lantern7]

I'll have to rewatch the latest episode. What stuck with me was how cheerful the bodybuilder parasite looked ploughing through the Yakuza camp. He got hit three times, but he put out a bigger body count than the parasite involved in the school massacre. And it looks like the scientist from last week wasn't talking out of his ass in regard to using hair-pulling as a detection tool.

[Sandman87]

I'm not sure, but I think the yakuza killer is the first parasite we've seen with any kind of expression on its face. I like the fact that it switched bodies afterward, like the way a bank robber might ditch a getaway car.

 

It's interesting to see how Shinichi is feeling the urge more and more to confide in someone about his parasite, and at the same time there's three girls around him who all seem to be gradually getting closer to figuring it out on their own.

 

No guilt trip from Ms. Paint Thinner. I'm disappointed.

[lathspel]

I wasn't expecting Kanna to fall for Shinichi that hard - that was unexpected and a bit awkward.

I'm intrigued by where this "parasytes working together" thing goes.

[Lantern7]

Man, Kanna did not die well. Or with dignity. If Migi was capable of happiness, he'd be glad she's dead, because he doesn't want Shinichi to spill the beans to anyone.