Ushio and Tora Episodes 8 + 9: He Is in the Sky + Mad Wind - Bobble Reviews

Ushio has set off on a journey to find his (assumed to be evil, previously assumed dead) mother! On the way to Hokkaido, he gets involved with such a big, awful plane crash!

Well, he's not wrong.

Ooshy and his pal Blanka are forced yet again to come in contact with some other losers who are somehow involved with demons. In episode eight, it's these people:

Gonna be such a fun episode. The goofiness just emanates from them.

But as usual, Ushio's here to help. He'll also prove useful when the same monster pops up again, as we all know it's gonna do. That's also as usual. Mend some hearts, break some bones.

DICK TRACY: It's ALMOST as if you had REASON to believe that a demon crashed the plane, thus killing her dad!
It's like YOU came into CONTACT with DEMONS FIRSTHAND!
USHIO: *superwink*

He gives some comfort to men and girls alike using the wisdom of his deadbeat father.

thats a face that says you better gimme a little somethin somethin somethin if u kno what i meen ;)

Bet you can't guess what's gonna happen next in this episode. You just can't. Okay, I'll spill it. That demon comes back. And it's gonna try and crash the plane. But Ushio and Tora are gonna use their powers. And save the day.

Ah...

W'AAAAAAAUGH!!

It becomes something of a family affair — a begrudging, extended family affair because not only do these four all have to play substantial roles, not only does this girl not like Professor Utonium here even as he tries to give condolences and explain time after time, but also, none of them are related (hence "extended") and their enemy is stretchy (again, note "extended").

In the end, though, it comes down to our ol' boy and our semi-trusty tiger-man-thing.

Just like a rockin' metal father and son.

 And then someone else kills it with a missile!

Yay!

But this episode's not over yet! The landing gear is busted...and Ushio doesn't think they're gonna make it out alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He acts like he doesn't live in a genre where death for the protagonist is a revolving door.

Anyway Tora substitutes for wheels and skids all over the ground to be their landing gear, which is great, because I think he's stupid and was hoping he would get run over by an airplane sometime. I know he didn't really get run over by an airplane. But this was a nice teaser, you know, for when it actually happens.

The girl and the pilot have a tearful moment of understanding, yadda yadda yadda chop chop chop chop let's get to episode nine!

A strange "wind" is blowing through town. No, it's not Negima from that fantasy ecchi manga...it's a m-m-m-monsterrrr! But she's not here to kill, she's here to see if Ushio can use the Beast Spear (for newcomers: that's not a baguette he's holding). And then she comes to him with a plea...in human form. Or should I say saucy form!

Yes. This is what passes for humor on this blog.

Then things get serious. Ugh. Lame. She takes him to the house of the two magical transforming wind ermines who have been pushed off of their land by humans and their new highways. They have an evil brother who wants to destroy all humans, and they want Ushio to kill him. So our kid's at a crisis point! Can he really do this!? He's not some bargain-brand murderer for hire!

"Oh yeah."

"Oh, looks like he's just here to kill you ermines instead. That's fine. Seeya."

"Oh, never mind, it's on."

Ushio jumps into battle, but even his spear is not enough to defeat Juurou the Evil Bro! But what could possibly save him!? It's...um...a disembodied hand!!!!!

*plop* *plink* *plortcht*

I'm just waiting for him to use the Decapattack and fling his head at people, partly because he is stupid and I enjoy the thought of him being double-dead, and partly because with all those atrocious expressions constantly plastered onto his face, I'm sure it would be his strongest attack.

He does some more fighting moves and saves the day! Except...oh no! Ushio's dead, and not by no plane crash! He's dead forever! End scene! End series!!

One of the ermine people basically asks him "uhh don't you want this medicine to bring him back to life" and he goes "SHUT UP" because he is stupid and he enjoys the thought of Ushio being alive. They bring him back to life by the magic of fading, old movie style, like when the Wolfman transforms by having five stages of varying hairfulness.

Except here they just pour on some snot.

I know you just came back to life, but there's no time to waste, dude! Gotta get to what's important.

*segue into 10-minute exploration of newfound arm-launching powers*

They're all off to fight Juurou, together. But in no time at all, it seems that Juurou has bested them. Or, rather, a really large rock that looks like a box and a minivan fall on them. Bam. Must really hurt to die twice an episode.

But...never mind, they're all alive...!!

Don't give up, Juurou, this strategy hasn't failed you yet! Just stand on top of them!

They fight! And then they give Ushio a chance to give an inspirational speech. Ushio, the representative of all of humanity. And yet even he can sympathize with the plight of the windy ermine community. If you like him in these primaries, be sure to cast your ballot and vote him in for prime minister (and Tora as vice prime minister (which I guess is something like "easily-divisible minister")). Make your speech, Ushio — the nation is watching!

No, Mr. Aotsuki, that's a jungle gym.

This is about the point at which the crowd would be laughing at his excellent stand-up routine and he would start to go on about how every growing boy needs a little rust in his diet (gives you iron), but I guess ermines aren't cultured so they think it's inspirational. I'll laugh for you, Ushio. Ha. Ha.

He's interrupted by the village from Frankenstein. You know, all the people who just don't understand...and I don't just mean your parents*. Their torches are cigarettes and conveniently-placed lagoons of flammables.

* This is a joke on the name of the song Parents Just Don't Understand. Probably one of my comedy crown jewels. I explain it to help you appreciate it.

Oh no! But the ermines haven't been freed from under the car yet! It's just too heavy! They're gonna be killed by the fire! Unless somebody here cares a whole awful lot...

Huh, guess that rock-and-cigarette dude was a ghost or something.

Not one...not two...but a whole flock of construction middle-agers run over to lift the car and save the day! So once again, the explosion that I hope is now becoming a once-per-episode occurrence gets to be cool instead of tragic.

Kerblooey!

Just when the sun is rising both metaphorically and literally, and Juurou is coming along to the idea that Ushio could find him a cool place to live where humans understand his plight (and encouraging him to Vote 4 Ooshy so that he can bring new pro-ermine policies into the Japan House), this happens:

Oops! You stabbed him! The end! Woo-hooooooooo!

Oh, the real ending is that he jumped into Ushio's spear on purpose because of some "deep" bullcrap. Like he just wanted to hear the guy say he was sorry for humanity's crimes. Pffffft.

Gee, that's bittersweet. Wonder what next episode's explosion's gonna be like.