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Paranoia Agent Vol. 2

Paranoia Agent Vol. 2

Written by Seb Reid on 22 Oct 2005


Distributor MVM • Certificate 15 • Price £19.99 RRP


Paranoia Agent is broken, but in a good way. I treat it with the same way I do as a bad night on IRC; a litre of good strong continental lager and a muffin (substitute muffin with any fattening bread product).

It messes with your head. Some people I have met got the story by episode two, and were able to predict events almost precisely. Others are completely baffled by the entire show, and I am in this bracket. Confusion normally frustrates me, hence the consumption of alcohol. Mr Satoshi Kon always has this effect on me, so why should this be any different.

In general, this volume serves as a stepping stone into another line of thought. What you previously may have thought, ie, the show being a relatively simple investigation/crime story, gets twisted around and thrown right back at you. The story format changes little as this volume progresses with the same kind of twisted relationships and situations present. The story takes a new twist as Shounen Bat (L’il Slugger) is apprehended and interrogated. A false sense of security ensues, could this be the end of Shounen Bat's reign of terror? Remember who the creator is, and you'll realise all is not that simple.

Now, there is a discrepancy which I will highlight at this point. Due to seeing this series in sub form at the NanimeW anime evenings, I have decided to review the dvd in the sub form. What this does is change the name of the dude with the golden bat, roller blades and the freaky hair, to Shounen Bat rather than L’il Slugger, as used in the dub. Its good to know as it can leave people confused or agitated. Or both.

The dub, although well done, feels extremely fake to me. The emotion has been bled from the script completely and this is generally shown in the tone of the voice actors. In this case, regardless of alcohol intake, I am a subtitle person all the way.

In terms of the series itself, it's fantastic. I rarely buy before I try when it comes to anime, but this was an exception. The sheer complexity and the addictiveness of the show itself keeps me going and pulls me in. This is what anime and TV should be about. I don’t really go for any of this artistic pap.

Not quite sure what to add now, other than this advice…

BUY THIS. BUY THIS NOW.

Extras:


8
Only downside is that i keep running out of beer.

Seb Reid
About Seb Reid

Seb has been an anime fan since the late 90s and is particularly fond of anything post-apocalyptic, amusing, catgirly, ecchi or containing exquisite aerial battles. Living in Leeds with his cats and living up the bachelor life, Seb enjoys whiling the nights away deep in a book, game or a damn good series. 


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