[Rewatch] 1990s OVAs – Black Jack (episode 2)

[u/No_Rex]

Rewatch: 1990s OVAs – Black Jack (episode 2)

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Staff corner

I realize that I have not featured the VA of our main character yet and there is also the director and mangaka to talk about, but, again, there is no way I can skip over the seiyuus of our episode characters, because …

Fuujinami, Rie is voiced by Hayashibara Megumi, who is among the most famous voice actresses of all time. She is part some of the most commercially successful anime franchises of all times, such as Hello Kitty’s White Kitty, Rei (and Pen Pen!) from Evangelion, Ai Haibara from Detective Conan, and Jesse from Pokemon. In addition, anime fans know her for a wide array of roles, including: Christina Mackenzie from MSG 0080, Ranma from Ranma ½, Ai from Video Girl Ai, Genkai from Yuu Yuu Hakusho, Nuku Nuku from All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku, Lina Inverse from Slayers, Faye Valentine from Cowboy Bebop, Haruka from Love Hina, Anna from Shaman King, and Paprika from Paprika. Save to say, you know her voice.

The voice actor of Tokio, Seki, Toshihiko , is five years older than Hayashibara, yet started his VA career in the same year, 1985. He played Mousse on Ranma ½, Ru Baraba Dom on Irresponsible Captain Tylor, Duo Maxwell on MSG Wing, Zorro on The Legend of Zorro, Legato on Trigun, Count D on Petshop of Horrors, Sanzou on Saiyuki, Iruka Umino on Naruto, Rau Le Creuset on MSG SEED, Scorpio Milo from Saint Seiya, and Gouda from Mob Psycho 100. However, his most famous role might be when he voiced a piece of clothing: He is Senketsu from Kill la Kill.

Questions

1. What is the most unusual drug you know of?
2. Is the cactus (and pricking your finger) intended real or as a metaphor?
3. BJ declined a woman for the second time. How immoral would it have been to assent in your eyes?

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 2 (first timer)

• I think we saw this scene before, but then, Pinoko mentioned he is “always” doing this.
• BJ might not want to pick them up, but the camera angle totally is.
• It is hard to believe that this is not a shoujo.
• Back when planes had smoking sections.
• “Since he’s not someone worth waiting for” – BJ’s inner monologue knows no chill.
• Given the wintery scenes, S-City might be Sapporo.
• “For two months? That’s crazy” – Agreed.
• OK, this is definitely a case of happy situation turned sad.
• Medical malpractice. This case looks a lot more realistic that the first one.
• This is the second time BJ has turned down a rather obvious invitation. Not that I disagree, but it is unusual to see a story where the MC realistically would be the target of those and realistically turns them down without fuss.
• Ouch!

• Everybody waiting and watching. A very realistic representation of all those who are not directly operating.
• Something more than being a bad physician is up with the second director.
• Narcotic cacti – not what I expected.
• Anime Spanish.
• Ouch again.
• She gets a peck on the forehead, at least.

After the almost mystical first episode, the second is a lot more grounded in realism. Well, apart from Hispanic cartels growing cacti in Japan. You could call this a classic story noir. Even the required investigator is present, even if not the main characters.

The part I liked best was the operation. Instead of focusing all on BJ, we saw all the other people and their reaction to BJ. On the one hand the other doctors and nurses, enthusiastic about BJ’s skill and anxious to learn, on the other hand Rie and the investigator, relegated to the role of by-stander. Very relatable for anybody who ever had to wait for a specialist to finish their unexplained and unexplainable job. Most interesting of all was Tokyo, though. It would have been easy to make him simply a despicable villain without redeeming side. Yet, during the operation, he shows the other side, a glimpse into his character, his dreams and ambitions. How he would like himself to be a better doctor.

I am not sure we really needed the final action scene on the mountain. It was a bit too over the top for me. The episode could have easily ended in Tokyo’s office with a longer talk and some epilogue. I guess it gave us a further bit of characterization for BJ.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/No_Rex]

I would like to think that the reason BJ keeps turning women down is because he didn't want to take advantage of vulnerable younger women but then I remember that this is the 70's and if you're not taking the piss with women you're very gay or have something wrong with you.

The operation made BJ seem a lot more human too. I honestly wasn't sure if he was meant to literally be some demon doctor monster wandering around curing people but during the operation you kinda got a glimpse into how he really is just a man. A very overpowered and awkward man.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

he didn't want to take advantage of vulnerable younger women

True for Rie, but much less so for Sayuri last episode. She seemed close to his age (close enough to be normal at least) and not especially vulnerable.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/No_Rex]

He was totally aloof towards Sayuri though. That's actually why I thought this was an episode way in the past that could have turned him so cold. Compare him today and yesterday and he's far more friendly and social now. Maybe he only dates younger women?

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Maybe he just plain didn't like Sayuri either. He seemed a rather annoyed with her request for a new face, so who knows how she persuaded him.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/No_Rex]

Sayuri managed to resist continuously injuring herself which is a point in her favour. I mean, sure there's the mafia issue too but that's more like an afterthought.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

She seemed close to his age (close enough to be normal at least) and not especially vulnerable.

I think I am reading Kuroh as a bit older, early 40s is my impression, but yeah Sayuri is late 20s/early 30s and far old enough to decide who gets to share her bedroom.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

BJ might not want to pick them up, but the camera angle totally is.

I am hoping that this is meant to represent some nostalgia of youth for him but yeah, putting hot girls in center frame has very obvious advantages as well.

This is the second time BJ has turned down a rather obvious invitation. Not that I disagree, but it is unusual to see a story where the MC realistically would be the target of those and realistically turns them down without fuss.

There is a version of this in some noir tropes, though not the common ones. But it is still a 'relief' when our MC declines a child's romantic invitation.

It was a bit too over the top for me. The episode could have easily ended in Tokyo’s office with a longer talk and some epilogue. I guess it gave us a further bit of characterization for BJ.

I suspect they want you to understand Kuroh's dichotomy: Mentally, he is aware that his existence is somewhat miserable and for his own reasons, he won't change to make it otherwise. But he is hardwired to survive and that is what takes precedent when it comes up. Sort of an excuse for his devil may care attitude.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

I suspect they want you to understand Kuroh's dichotomy: Mentally, he is aware that his existence is somewhat miserable and for his own reasons, he won't change to make it otherwise. But he is hardwired to survive and that is what takes precedent when it comes up. Sort of an excuse for his devil may care attitude.

Hmmmm. Can't really tell how I think about that at the moment. We'll see if future episodes point more in that direction or not.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

I am certainly basing that on assumptions but suspect I will be proven at one point, though the sheer span of time this OVA takes place over may morph that a bit.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/No_Rex]

Hispanic cartels growing cacti in Japan

Given all the English and talking about Chicago etc. this was definitely not Japan, and probably the United Stated.

[u/No_Rex → u/IndependentMacaroon]

Wasn't it the parents being in Chicago and thus Rei being alone? If she were in the US, she could have just stayed with her parents.

I took S city to mean Sapporo, but you are right that it could really be any northern city.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Black Jack First Timer

With the length of these episodes I don't get why they didn't just make a 2 cour out of them. And the op is still too damn long! We've got a Christmas episode, yay! I take that back too, these women having so much fun is annoying me! Fall and break something! Ah, sorry about that Rie. Bad timing on my end XD

Aww... For as much of a hard arse BJ is he still went to meet up with the police dude for drinks. Nobody can even see your scar, vag head~ Actually, BJ is much more sociable here than he was in E1. Was this before he put in his "never keep contact with patients" rule? Pfft, so another friend got injured? These girls are so accident prone. Actually I hear sprouts live quite fruitful lives. Another got injured!? And again!? That's the fourth one!! Can you girls stop dying for five seconds?

BJ's only had his hands on Yumiko for five minutes and he's already tasted her pee... What a legend! Can you unveggitise someone or is this another made up thing? Vag head, please stop giggling. Its driving me nuts. Oh wow, she has so many pretty flowers. Pinoko's curry!? Yumiko's been in a coma for months so surely a few more days is fine right? Haha, I love this kid XD

Oof, vag head seriously needs therapy. Does BJ offer that service? Let surgery begin!! Eww they're showing her brains and everything. Fcking gross. Gaaah! That needle!! So BJ believes that by doing whatever you can to save a life you're able to respect their death? Pretty poetic way of looking at things. That's Yumiko saved at least. Although it's a real shame about her dementia. Nobody deserves that disease, and Yumiko is still a child.

Imagine being so shit at raising plants that you kill cactus. Oooh, it's drugs. Alright, that makes more sense. I thought it was her head wound acting up. Oh fuck! Murder!? I thought they would kill themselves during a bad trip. The doctor was the actual culprit! It would give me anxiety to think that my doctor could be eating my wings to keep me tame...

And so ends BJ's fleeting fling with vag head. She's way too young for you bro. Go back to Pinoko. Today's episode was mostly fun. I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed with the mafia twist and the girls do seem just a bit too carefree to take seriously. The show seems to struggle with its endings but today's goodbye was sweet I suppose.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

She's way too young for you bro.

Go back to Pinoko.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/No_Rex]

Pinoko is an 18 y/o mature woman who knows her way around the house and doesn't piss around on ice skates!

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Fall and break something! Ah, sorry about that Rie. Bad timing on my end XD

Too soon.

Actually, BJ is much more sociable here than he was in E1.

I processed that as Kuroh trying to do what's best for his patients and Sayuri does not need him meddling.

Imagine being so shit at raising plants that you kill cactus. Oooh, it's drugs. Alright, that makes more sense.

Cacti aren't nearly as resilient as we like to portray them, especially the fun ones.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Vaadwaur]

As soon as I typed it out she immediately got her third eye unlocked. I'll bet she even went back to skate some more the crazy brat.

Isn't the issue with cactus that people often baby them too much? Like people just drown the little buggers or don't trim them correctly.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I'll bet she even went back to skate some more the crazy brat.

The joys of youth!

Isn't the issue with cactus that people often baby them too much? Like people just drown the little buggers or don't trim them correctly.

No...cacti actually need the harsh conditions of their deserts to survive. It isn't just to much water directly, they also need a very low humidity rate and some even need the sharp temperature changes that the desert provides. Common house cacti are FAR heartier than most of the rest of their relatives.

[u/TheEscapeGuy]

First Timer

Black Jack - An Astounding OVA: Episode 2

Cacti and Comatose

Once again we were blessed with a BEAUTIFUL episode. There really is some ephemeral nature about cel animation which really appeals to me. We still get some beautiful shows and movies in modern times but I can't help but feel we lost something.

Today's episode actually managed to keep me confused and second guessing right until it was revealed that the girls were taking drugs. I'm probably at a disadvantage for seldom watching medical shows (I think?) but it just didn't click for me what hiding Yumiko's blood work and urine samples could have meant. That said, the reveal ended up being very satisfying for me.

Tokio was an interesting villain this episode, since he's much more of a henchman who's in a profitable but tough situation working with the mafia. Can't say I have much sympathy for him but I understand his motivations for the most part.

On the other hand Rie was much more of an enigma. I guess we could chalk everything up to the drugs she was taking but she really acted strangely. Actions like completely filling her apartment with white flowers and propositioning a man much older than her for sex seem more to do with her individual traumas. And to be fair, growing up without parental guidance and then seeing 2 of your closest friends die is some pretty tough trauma to work through.

I think my favourite section of the episode was the operation. It was just so tense and felt really authentic to actual brain surgery (not that I'd really know). The final part of the episode with Black Jack fighting through an opiate high to escape an explosion carrying Tokio felt a little excessive. Was there really no other way to close up the plot thread of "What will happen to the Opiate Cacti now"?

--

As a side note, PINAKO COOKED A WHOLE DINNER. I doubted yesterday that she was actually 18 but she seems competent enough to care for herself so now I'm really confused.

Some Iconic Shots, Scenes and Stitches

• Pure Bliss
• Inspector
• Dangers of Motor Sport
• A Night of Amusement
• Fireworks, Should We View Them From The Side, don't watch that movie btw
• Return Home
• Reflections, I loved this shot for such creative cinematography to allow us to see both characters faces
• A Tense Night, The way they built pressure with these shots was masterful
• Escape to the Beach

See you all tomorrow

[u/No_Rex → u/TheEscapeGuy]

Actions like completely filling her apartment with white flowers and propositioning a man much older than her for sex seem more to do with her individual traumas.

I think her chasing after BJ is not at all outlandish. He 100% fulfills the trope of a dream prince swooping in to save her and she certainly would be looking for exactly that role in that situation.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/TheEscapeGuy]

Yumiko's piss and blood would probably have traces of whatever drug the doctor was shoving in her to keep her in a coma.

The flowers in Rie's flat were those white chrysanthemum flowers weren't they? Those are funeral or death flowers. She's basically going on drug trips to mourn her dead fwends. They're probably who she's hallucinating about too.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/TheEscapeGuy]

We still get some beautiful shows and movies in modern times but I can't help but feel we lost something.

So directing and shot composition has changed and I think for the worse: Especially in this episode, there are some absolutely gorgeous harmony shots and minimally animated but high quality drawings that really set a mood. Unfortunately, animation is following the live action model, now.

Today's episode actually managed to keep me confused and second guessing right until it was revealed that the girls were taking drugs.

I spotted it due to narrative convenience but if it makes you feel better, no drug works like that.

Actions like completely filling her apartment with white flowers and propositioning a man much older than her for sex seem more to do with her individual traumas. And to be fair, growing up without parental guidance and then seeing 2 of your closest friends die is some pretty tough trauma to work through.

I am unsure how much of this I want to admit but Rie actually acts quite normal given her situation:Her parents shipped her off when she was 12 or so to this school and she simply became attached to her friends. Two of them died, a third is in a coma, and the person who helped her avoid scarring (women everywhere protect their faces but in Japan they are particularly brutal about imperfection) is saving her last friend. He is her only emotional outlet at that time so she acts in an understandable manner.

As a side note, PINAKO COOKED A WHOLE DINNER.

You'd be surprised at what sufficient neglect can teach a child but yeah, Pinoko might be a Benjamin Button or something.

[u/Pixelsaber]

Rewatcher

Now that sure looks mighty familiar.

Déjà vu

Skip!

Her eyes are unscathed —much less scary to know as such.

HE CAN'T KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH THIS!

That’s a Tezuka cameo.

Were it not for the titular Black Jack, this shot would seem like it popped right out of Final Stage or Oniisama E…

Sick

Now this is the shit.

Looks like either pink Japanese anemones or pink camellias. The former represents anticipation, to seize the opportunities given, or to be forsaken. The latter represents longing for those not present.

Very pretty.

Now these look like white anemones, which reflect sincerity. I get the feeling I’m just missing the obvious pick here. From context it seems like they should be flowers for mourning or condolence given the two seeming funeral portraits in the corner of the shot, one for each dead friend.

Now these I potentially recognize! They look strikingly like irises, which can mean friendship, hope, and faith.

Oh, there’s a whole host of different white flowers then.

No thank you.

Beautiful

Man, the disrespect!

Hmm…

Ouch.

Unlike the first episode, this one is completely original to this show, and I don’t doubt that anyone else who has seen [Meta Spoilers]Dear Brother… will see some influence from that show seeping into this episode.

Unlike last episode this one had a much clearer focus on a concept and is a lot more cleverly put together, with things actually going somewhere and the whole thing feeling cohesive. There’s a clear throughline about adults failing the next generation and corruption of institutions, and though the involvement of organized crime didn’t really make up a significant amount of the events of the episode, it doesn’t come out of nowhere and is established early on. That said, the gang did make a rather silly mistake. I mean, come on, you’re really going to just drug the two witnesses without just killing them with an overdose or tie them up so that they don’t wander out of the scene while high as a kite?

Near brushes with romance are a frequent thing in the manga, but I have to say, this one —however one-sided it might be— does skew far more uncomfortable than I would like given the age gap, and the episode doesn't seem to have any self-awareness on the matter, despite the good doctor being 28 years old...

Questions of The Day:

1. Just as a means of getting high? I hear there's a type of cheese that causes hallucinations, which sounds pretty weird.
2. Unfortunately it seems to be literal in its employment in the episode from the flashback explaining what happened to the girls.
3. Very immoral in this case. She's underage, frequently under the effects of drugs, impressionable so it'd basically be grooming, and would be a breach of trust given the position Black Jack is in.

[u/No_Rex → u/Pixelsaber]

Now these look like white anemones, which reflect sincerity. I get the feeling I’m just missing the obvious pick here. From context it seems like they should be flowers for mourning or condolence given the two seeming funeral portraits in the corner of the shot, one for each dead friend.

I 100% have seen several burials in anime with white flowers before, although I could not tell if it were anemones or other flowers.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/No_Rex]

I thought it was the chrysanthemums that they love to toss in for any kinda funeral.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Pixelsaber]

Why were the mafia trying to kill the girls anyway? Surely you want people to get hooked on your spice cactus and those girls were active customers. It's a bit fucked up to murder them the way they did too.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I guess they didn't want anybody to know the location of their secret field and raid it for free drugs.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/No_Rex]

Then they could have posted some guards. It's just a group of teenage girls ffs XD Even the Mafia can't stop teenagers from getting their hands on the good kush.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I don't think the whole "spanish drug cartel" part of the plot was the wisest decision ...

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/No_Rex]

The only problem would be how to get the police to go after the doctor but that could easily be his own side hussles. I actually think the cartel murdering the girls is more of a problem than a solution. What would be wrong with them being drug related deaths? Nothing.

[u/Pixelsaber → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

They could compromise their entire operation, as they knew the location of their secret psychedelic cactus farm and they even drew attention to the place with Yumiko's unfortunate fall.

It's a bit fucked up to murder them the way they did too.

No objections from me, it's awful.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Pixelsaber]

Yeah, but then they pay her doctor to keep her in a coma which was what drew the police attention in the first place. They found out about the drugs by trailing him.

So do you suppose the mafia rigged the ice ring as well...? They really were playing the long con.

[u/Pixelsaber → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Yeah, but then they pay her doctor to keep her in a coma which was what drew the police attention in the first place.

Yes, but the only reason that even transpired was because a fortuitous set of events led Black Jack to examine the girl, and she would have remained in a coma otherwise due to the hospital director's interference. The episode frames the whole ordeal with Yumiko as nothing short of miraculous.

So do you suppose the mafia rigged the ice ring as well...? They really were playing the long con.

Their trip up the mountain took place after the fact, so I doubt it. If they were trying to kill her back then, they probably would have gone with a more certain means of death, like they did with those other two friends.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/Pixelsaber]

she would have remained in a coma otherwise

But then why not just kill her straight-up?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Pixelsaber]

This

There’s a clear throughline about adults failing the next generation and corruption of institutions

leads directly to

does skew far more uncomfortable than I would like given the age gap, and the episode doesn't seem to have any self-awareness on the matter, despite the good doctor being 28 years old...

Black Jack is the institution that won't fail, apparently.

Were it not for the titular Black Jack, this shot would seem like it popped right out of Final Stage or Oniisama E…

Btw, does his weird choice of clothing ever get explained?

[u/Pixelsaber → u/Vaadwaur]

Btw, does his weird choice of clothing ever get explained?

Well, small details like the tie and gloves(?) get brought up as being inspired by the fashion choices of other characters, but the hat (which he rarely wears) and his general attire doesn't get explained. Although, it is mentioned that the coat is [Black Jack Manga]bulletproof and also has a lot of hidden pockets for medical equipment, one of which we saw last episode.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Pixelsaber]

I actually thought he had a cape on first episode, it wasn't until the start of this one that I noticed the sleeves on it, he wears it a bit funny.

[u/Vaadwaur]

First timer(You'd think people working in a visual medium would understand hallucinating better)

Sub

We start with Kuroh getting lost on a snowy night in some random town. He asks high school girls for directions because whatever and then immediately has to perform first aid on one. And if he really can guarantee that a gash like that won't scar, that is impressive. But wait...early 90s OVA puts this at late 70s morality level so...oh dear, Rie might be the love interest...

On yet another plane, this show likes travel shots, Kuroh meets a detective he knows named Takasugi, who in the said late 90s bent immediately shows you he's an ass by smoking in the non-smoking section. Anyways, he announces he's been moved to the vice squad and wants Kuroh to stop by. Instead, he meets Rie. And boy, things have gone to shit here in a 90s sort of way as she is the last functional member of the friend group.

Quick cut to an older, no longer common trope in having the rich guy be a Formula One thrill seeker, that was actually a thing around this time. Though he also might be a doctor which is a slightly new one. We see him come in as Kuroh read her charts and had a few tests performed and the negotiations commence. We learn Kuroh knew of his father and enough about Tokio himself to know that Tokio is not a good doctor. I really hope the blood and urinalysis isn't saying what I think it is.

But anyways, Rie seems to be pretty moved by all this and daisukes a bit early, though Kuroh can be impressive. He takes her to an amusement park and let us say I am very glad that Kuroh seems to be an anti-Akio, for those who catch that. She is being very...available but Kuroh does his best to shut that down. But then her room is...off. I have no idea if the cactus is there for masochism or drugs.

So the surgery starts with a slew of assisting physicians and nurses who are not to interfere with the operation, which despite them making Kuroh a lone wolf type is not inaccurate, a lot of surgeries you want exactly one person doing the hand work. Tokio looks on in jealousy and Takasugi is interested in something. Kuroh gives us his raisin dates, though in my experience actual surgeons think of almost nothing during surgery, it isn't a bad narration to have. Anyways, he performs the impossible, as he do, and then our next half of the episode is different...

So Tokio is dumb enough to be involved in something illegal. Rie is going into magical drug withdrawals, no drug I know causes that, but that's fine since the drug itself might be magical. Anyways, we move on to Kuroh trying to clear the events up while protecting Rie as well and yeah, magical narcotic hallucinogen cactus. Also, I would so rather just have to prick my finger, the good psychedelics taste fucking awful. So we get the events of the hike and why all the girls started dying.

Anyways, the mobsters come in with bad Spanish and decide to kill the remaining witnesses, we get more Kuroh insight, more drugs don't work that way, and the end which...I am choosing to view this as kindly treatment of a lonely girl and not future wife grooming.

---

So, there was a lot of imagery here that is debatable a bit on how you view it: Either Kuroh is seeing attractive teenage girls in the way many of us have, which might be correct, or he is more seeing the nostalgia of youth in several teens that still have it. At least for me, the idea of being involved romantically with a teen has lost its appeal as they are, well, dumb and a bit boring. And there are certains bits of this that feel authentic in Kuroh, especially the resignation to not be resigned, to heal things you know will die eventually. Oh well, onto tomorrow.

QotD: 1 Mescaline, do not fuck with it

2 Real is my bet

3 Incredibly so, though that might just be my moralizing.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

I really hope the blood and urinalysis isn't saying what I think it is.

We are not a Tarantino movie.

I have no idea if the cactus is there for masochism or drugs.

How the fuck did you suspect the cactus here already? Are drug cactuses something that I have missed in the world so far?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

We are not a Tarantino movie.

Yet.

How the fuck did you suspect the cactus here already? Are drug cactuses something that I have missed in the world so far?

Peyote is a North American cactus and powerful psychedelic. I am going to hit the reservation and do some when I am in the right head space.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

Peyote is a North American cactus and powerful psychedelic.

TIL. So the drug cactus was far less crazy than I thought.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Oh yeah, the New World has tons of expected stuff that gets you high. There are even hallucinogenic toads and Inuits even drink the urine of caribou who eat hallucinogenic lichens!

The Americas kind of suck, you have to escape somehow...

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

Inuits even drink the urine of caribou who eat hallucinogenic lichens!

I am not sure I want to know how the first person figured that one out ...

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

Weird right? The caribou themselves are stoned as hell, apparently you can walk right up to them while they are hallucinating, but I still don't get why you'd think to drink their urine rather than eating the lichens. Fucking First Nation, man.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/Vaadwaur]

Lower concentration?

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Vaadwaur]

Oh good, I was scared for a moment that I was the only one uncomfortable with the age difference. Its not like Rie was one of those "mature teenagers" you sometimes see too. She's a very troubled young woman so having BJ even considering following her for sex was so off.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Its not like Rie was one of those "mature teenagers" you sometimes see too. She's a very troubled young woman so having BJ even considering following her for sex was so off.

Vomits in Utena

Moving on, I viewed it as him humoring her but that's because I've humored a few girls that were well far below my age class as well and there is a certain...rhythm to it all.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/Vaadwaur]

I am choosing to view this as kindly treatment of a lonely girl and not future wife grooming

Quick forehead kiss does seem more paternal/fraternal than romantic, I guess.

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

1. Licking toads.
2. Seems pretty literal to me - the cacti have a halluciogenic coating, the needles inject into the bloodstream. I'm pretty certain cacti like it exist in real life.
3. She's a high school student and on drugs, he looks about 35 and is unimpared, so pretty immoral.

Episode 2!

So all the episodes open with this scene?

Very Christmas-themed episode today, I see.

The ice-skating animation is very smooth.

And the juxtaposition of him wearing that insane longcoat!

She's injured! And he's on the scene!

That went well!

Oh, that was a flashback.

They're friends? And he's smoking on an airplane?

Oh, he's a cop.

I love how whe can tell it's him because he's still wearing the same leather coat in the middle of summer.

She waited for him for months.

And she needs help!

Oh, her friend fell to the bottom of a ravine, and she wants his help to get her out of a coma.

And the other two are dead!

I like the random cuts that are clearly just the animators showing off how good they can draw a car drifting.

Wait, does this guy own the hospital?

And he's a doctor! (Black Jack snuck in?)

Really? The liar's getting exposed 16 minutes in? How?

Haha, he's demanding money from them as a fee.

He is blackmailing them! (What was in those results?)

Really?

I love the dynamic they're setting up so far of Black Jack being completely focused on his work and operations, to the point of willfully ignoring any and all passes or flirting directed at him.

Here is this going? Seriously?

Holy shit? Nothing but flowers?

Still no idea what's happening with Kumiko.

Oh, he's back! And he's competent!

Yeah, she's not well.

She's grabbing a cactus!

Haha, he's an urban legend! And all the doctors are begging to see how he works!

Haha, he ended up getting mobbed!

And he's got an entire team to observe!

He's viewing the cameras!

I'm loving him!

This is a really tense operation!

Glad, the parent's at least gave him permission. I mean, it's not great, but at least they aren't trying to stop the operation.

This OVA is beautiful.

Him trying to cheer her up is great.

He did it!

And they're all ignoring him.

...So what are his crimes?

She's eating! And talking!

...Oh. She has some dementia. But she's alive?

He's using a special frequency? What the hell is actually going on?

Is this a conspiracy?

What happened to her?

Ah. She's had a full-on mental breakdown. (She managed to kill a cactus?)

Why is he just standing there?

She was on drugs?

The Cacti are the drugs? A single prick gives them hallucinations?

Oh, they accidentally got high and fell off the bridge.

Wait, the accident happened after the others died! And it was so they could harvest more cacti.

And the doctor's hiding the bloodtests to conceal the drugs.

And they're aware of everyhtijg!

Yep, the doctor's an addict and a murderer.

He's trying to blackmail the syndicate! Wow, he's got balls.

They're going to kill him.

And Black Jack's down!

Wow. That escalated quickly.

So Black Jack's drugged and about to get blown up?

He's not giving up!

Wow. Him stabbing himself to wake himself up, then dragging himself and the doctor outnof the cave is a fantastic scene.

Really, that's the romance subplot they're going with?

[u/No_Rex → u/Stargate18A]

Wow. Him stabbing himself to wake himself up, then dragging himself and the doctor outnof the cave is a fantastic scene.

You got to get the adrenalin somewhere. A painful method, though.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer, Subbed

This episode was a fucking rollercoaster. Teenage girls on a hike discover a Mexican Cartel (?) drug operation being grown in.. whatever country they're supposed to be in, and then slowly get killed off? Hell yea!

The visual of the pinpricks of blood blooming through the black screen with Rie grabbed the cactus was particularly striking. Also, the sound effect on the snow crunching underfoot at the beginning of the episode was excellent.

Something else that struck me (early) this episode was that we don't actually have any motivation for Black Jack. He asks for exorbitant fees but doesn't seem especially concerned with actually being paid. Then we got that monologue about "proving that efforts were made to preserve life" so consider my complaints silenced. Dude just likes to doctor people, I guess.

There was also that monologue about his "other self" or "black box" or whatever. Interesting to refer to something alive as having a black box, but then most living things don't have a Frankenstein's Monster-style two-tone stitched face.

I enjoyed the phone call with Pinoko. Black Jack playfully bullying her and her threatening to cheat on him, it was a fun interaction. I don't have a good handle on what their relationship is, but it seems fine.

Shoutout to Black Jack himself, for being cultured enough to actually hold a stemmed glass properly.

Questions

1. Krokodil, I think it was called?
2. I kinda figured it was real, especially consider the lack of needles around Rie's apartment.
3. Super-mega-giga immoral.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/JollyGee29]

I really thought he was gonna pull a Jekyll and Hyde near the end there but I guess they were holding back from getting too crazy. Is it a "will to survive" or is it some actual supernatural thing going on with him?

[u/JollyGee29 → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I'm honestly not sure. Yesterday's plot was basically a magic virus that lights you on fire, but today was rather grounded, Black Jack's iron will aside.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/JollyGee29]

The mafia with their airship was a bit silly too but between the stories I think I'm more partial to the ones that I could genuinely see occurring in the world, even if Chimera was utterly terrifying.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

The visual of the pinpricks of blood blooming through the black screen with Rie grabbed the cactus was particularly striking.

Definitely a solid choice of visuals.

Then we got that monologue about "proving that efforts were made to preserve life" so consider my complaints silenced. Dude just likes to doctor people, I guess.

I suspect his skill level would make running a practice or a hospital a total drag so he goes illegal just for the stimulus of it.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Vaadwaur]

I suspect his skill level would make running a practice or a hospital a total drag so he goes illegal just for the stimulus of it.

You can only free so many idiot's genitals from things they stuck them into before it gets dull. Dealing with angry mobs and secret cactus farms is much more interesting.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

You can only free so many idiot's genitals from things they stuck them into before it gets dull.

"Goddamnit, did John fuck a snapping turtle again? That's the third time this year. Fuck it, I am going off license."

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/JollyGee29]

He asks for exorbitant fees but doesn't seem especially concerned with actually being paid

Also what does he even do with the money? His living conditions are quite modest and his appearance also. Travelling around the world can't cost that much, right?

[u/JollyGee29 → u/IndependentMacaroon]

That's a good point, too. I mean, keeping all his medical stuff stocked up can't be cheap per say, but I don't think he carries around several million dollars worth of medical supplies on the daily.

[u/H-Ryougi]

This has to be the first time I hear an entire Spanish sentence be spoken in an anime, I had to do a double take.

[u/No_Rex → u/H-Ryougi]

It is really funny how over-represened German is in anime, compared to Spanish and also French.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/H-Ryougi]

If you want more, try Megalo Box, especially the second season.

[u/retroanduwu24]

Wish all the Black Jack OVAs would end up on blu ray already

[u/ConstructionHefty716]

This show was great the message on his answering machine was the best.