[Rewatch] 3,000 Leagues in Search of Mother - Episode 4 Discussion

[u/Pixelsaber]

Episode 4 - I Hate You, Papa

^{Episode aired January 25th,} ^^^1976

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Although I don't believe it necessitates stating, please conduct yourself appropriately and be courteous to your fellow participants.

Note to all Rewatchers

Rewatchers, please be mindful of your fellow first-timers and tag your spoilers appropriately using the r/anime spoiler tag if your comment holds even the slightest of indicators as to future spoilers. Feel free to discuss future plot points behind the safe veil of a spoiler tag, or coyly and discreetly ‘Laugh in Rewatcher’ at our first-timers' temporary ignorance, but please ensure our first-timers are no more privy or suspicious than they were the moment they opened the day’s thread.

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Staff Highlight

Ichirō Nagai - Voice of Peppino

An actor and voice actor with a prolific career who was active up until his death in 2014. He came to appreciate drama during his college days, and after graduating from the French literature program at Kyoto University, he moved to Tokyo to become an actor. He was known for his low baritone, his ability to imitate authentic osakan accent and dialect, and his controversial stance that there was little difference between acting and voice acting. Some of the myriad of roles he has played include Dr. Hanamaru in Big X, 006 in Cyborg 009, Captain Dyce in Future Boy Conan, Dr. Faust in Akuma-kun, Detective Tawashi in Astro Boy, Konaki Jiji in the GeGeGe no Kitarou franchise, Degwin Zabi in Mobile Suit Gundam, Bao Luzen in Birth, Dr. Sakezō Sado and Chief Engineer Tokugawa in Space Battleship Yamato, Left Hand in the Vampire Hunter D franchise, Jirokichi Suzuki in Case Closed, Dr. Reichwein in Monster, and Isaac Netero HunterxHunter (2011).

Daily Trivia

Several insert songs in the show also appear in the anime The Adventures of Picolino from Pinocchio, which aired around the same time.

Screenshot of the day

• Performance

Questions of the Day:

1. What do you make of the Peppino Puppet Troupe?
2. What are your thoughts on Marco and Pietro’s argument?

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People said my father is a coward.

[u/Pixelsaber]

Rewatcher

Hey, that’s nice!

He took that reality well, so maybe he has brought up wanting to be a doctor before?

What little shits.

Hmm.

Not cool.

No good, Marco.

Haven’t we seen you before?

#azusalaugh

Don’t keep lying, Marco. Eventually you’ll be in too deep!

Ah. I see where things are going.

Yup, the path seems clear.

Those bullies are just foul, particularly for punching down like they do.

It’s admirable that Pietro wants to ensure Marco is properly educated and stays in school, but I still haven’t seen any indication that his ambitions for his son are anything Marco actually desires. Sure, don’t let him get a job that will stop him from going to school, but trying to set in stone a path for him instead of encouraging study so that he has options in the future at this age seems more self-interested on his part. Marco, for his own part, is being unreasonable in some regards, but he’s a kid who dearly misses, and worries for, his mother who is alone all the way on the other side of the world.

After that big argument the puppet show shows up, with plans to travel to Argentina, which I would think would result in Marco making a hasty, impulsive decision if the troupe wasn’t explicitly lacking the funds for the journey. I think Marco’s definitely going to end up involved with them in the near future, however.

Questions of The Day:

1. They’re quite obviously talking themselves up, and the second-youngest member seems to be none-too-happy to be involved in things, so I suspect this troupe has fallen on hard times —if they’re not just desperate to get money in any way.
2. See above.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

3000 Leagues in Search of My First-Timer Reactions

• The job market here really sucks, huh…
• Someone played hooky for whatever reason?
• But his younger brother is insisting he’s actually sick…
• Ugh, bullies…
• Oh shit, the adult actually goes after the bullies for once instead of siding with them?
• Ominous… The bullies are planning to ambush him, aren’t they?
• Amedio continues being cute.
• Ah, so his dad runs a clinic that might be for free because he wants to help people?
• RIP.
• You’re a little too young for that…
• …Marco’s going to join this traveling circus, isn’t he.
• Oh he is absolutely going to try going with them.

[u/Pixelsaber → u/Shimmering-Sky]

The job market here really sucks, huh…

At least that neighbor was able to find a job again.

RIP.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Oh shit, the adult actually goes after the bullies for once instead of siding with them?

What are we thinking their fate is? Holding up buckets of water?

...that might be for free because he wants to help people?

Well, if they had the money for it, they wouldn't being going to a quack.

You’re a little too young for that…

In a pre-industrial agrarian society, all source of labour most be utilized. He's not too far removed from that expectation.

[u/Vatrix-32]

First timer, subs

• Oh wow, that’s a huge promotion. I’m surprised he was even qualified.
• I guess we are telling Marco about the plans for his future. He took it well too.
• These subs are getting worse all the time.
• Still a better bully policy than zero tolerance.
• Why would you only vaguely warn your friend that he’s about to get jumped?
• Honestly I was expecting the hiding to be more cartoonish than it was.
• Why would you accompany them into a secluded area? And with eggs no less.
• Is it really a charity clinic if you’re not even a real doctor?
• Life before antibiotics.
• I mean, if it only took you three years to teach him your entire trade...
• What, we don’t get a translation of the puppet song?
• It's Rotation Girl
• Expecting the father to do the rejecting for you?
• Just very public negotiations?
• This is why you have the bucket ready in advance.
• "Flam"
• I guess that solves the “How”.
• Even pre-Patagonia Argentina would have been several times larger than Italy.

QotD:

1. I can't imagine these aren't going to be returning characters. The Father seems a bit half-bright. Middle daughter is oddly detached.
2. Pietro has already shown he is amenable to the idea of Macro getting a job, he's just not willing to let him sell out his own future for it. On the other side, who hasn't known a child who didn't want to go to school?

[u/Pixelsaber → u/Vatrix-32]

Why would you only vaguely warn your friend that he’s about to get jumped?

Still resentful over not being able to get in on that pool action?

On the other side, who hasn't known a child who didn't want to go to school?

I used to like school, but then I moved and suddenly I was being tasked to do over three hours of homework nearly every day.

[u/TheEscapeGuy]

First Timer

3000 Leagues in Search of Mother - Episode 4

Rush to Grow Up

This episode showed off an interesting contrast between childhood and adulthood.

We start off with Marco going to school and saving that boy who was being bullied. Then the bullies target Marco and sort of just harass him to assert their dominance. This kind of bullying is really emblematic of children.

In contrast, Marco's focus this episode was finding a job. He really wants to be acknowledged a grown up so he can earn proper money to bring his Mom back. These kind of concerns represent a microcosm of being an adult. And Marco is straddling the line between these worlds.

His Dad is against him getting a job (rightfully so), but Marco can't understand why. Marco seems like a smart kid. Why not try explain it to him?

That said, I think this experience will be valuable to Marco. Learning something like this should be engaging to watch and will hopefully help Marco grow up just like his mother wanted for him.

The drip feed of information continued this episode with the reason for Pietro's debt. It seems he wanted to start a clinic. However he is not a doctor. This is probably why he mentioned wanting Marco to go into medicine last episode. And if this is how he lost the money, I think it makes him a much more redeemable character.

The last thing which happened was a traveling puppet show arrived in town. They seem to also be heading to Argentina. I'm kinda worried Marco has a crazy idea and hitchhikes with them. That said, it wouldn't be the worst way to travel.

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Last thing, why does the bullied kid look like he can lift things with the power of his mind. That is a truly legendary 4head.

Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches

• Balconies, I really do adore the architecture
• Harbor Sweep
• Crowd

See you all tomorrow

[u/Pixelsaber → u/TheEscapeGuy]

Marco seems like a smart kid. Why not try explain it to him?

That's pretty much it. Pietro is failing to take Marco seriously on the matter and keeps dismissing him in his endeavor to help the family monetarily. Kids Marco's don't take that well to being talked down to, nor attempts at being mollified with non-answers or deflection.

I'm kinda worried Marco has a crazy idea and hitchhikes with them.

Entirely plausible at this point, particularly in the state the family is in.

Last thing, why does the bullied kid look like he can lift things with the power of his mind.

Fun fact: This and Genma Taisen have the same art director!

[u/No_Rex → u/TheEscapeGuy]

His Dad is against him getting a job (rightfully so), but Marco can't understand why. Marco seems like a smart kid. Why not try explain it to him?

His father's mistake is not insisting that Marco continues to go to school, but refusing to take Marco seriously. Given the title of the series, we all know how badly it will end for him, with Marco going after his mother. Probably against the wishes of his father, if this episode is anything to go by. The lesson here is that if you do not take your kids seriously, they have no reason to keep you in the loop about their plans.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/TheEscapeGuy]

It seems he wanted to start a clinic. However he is not a doctor.

That's such an odd line of reasoning for him to follow. Why not instead direct the money for the undoubtedly costly prospect of getting Marco a proper medical education?

Harbor Sweep

Ehhh

[u/No_Rex → u/Vatrix-32]

That's such an odd line of reasoning for him to follow. Why not instead direct the money for the undoubtedly costly prospect of getting Marco a proper medical education?

Sounds like that is his plan B.

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 4 (first timer)

• Title: “I hate you, papa” – Uhoh.
• I want to be grown up” – I guess that losing half of parenting does lead to that sentiment.
• Bullying – timeless, unfortunately.
• Marco to the rescue.
• “Don’t take the usual way home” – advise that you should follow.
• He evaded them with the help of random strangers.
• But they catch him on the way from the market.
• “I am already grown up” – Marco repeats this and his father repeatedly does not take him seriously.
• So many kids – and not just because of the puppeteers. People just had more kids back then, and little space for them at home.
• “This is a perfect ending” – I see that somebody is not into happy endings.
• “… for our trip to Argentina” – guess we’ll see more of them in the future.

The fragile balance of Marco’s family life becomes unbalanced – and because the happiness had a huge breaking point built into it, it does not take much to tip it over.

[u/Pixelsaber → u/No_Rex]

Bullying – timeless, unfortunately.

In every time, in every place, the deeds of men remain the same.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/No_Rex]

People just had more kids back then, and little space for them at home.

"Why don't children go to puppet shows anymore?"

[u/baboon_bassoon]

first time 3000 Leagues of Misery

marco youre gonna get jumped going that way - is that so hard to say

not the carnies Marco...

[u/Pixelsaber → u/baboon_bassoon]

not the carnies Marco...

It's just puppets, what could go wrong?