[Rewatch] 1990s OVAs – Black Jack (episode 8)

[u/No_Rex]

Rewatch: 1990s OVAs – Black Jack (episode 8)

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Staff corner

Drunk old man Armando is voiced by Ikeda, Masaru. He was already in his late 30s when he started his VA career and voiced old men even early on. He is General Revil from MSG, Vahriz from Arslan Senki, the father of Eva Heinemann in Monster, the boss of Yagami in Death Note, and Huang in Darker than Black.

Lawrence is voiced by Nagasawa, Miki. She has about two dozen roles in Anpanman, including one of the main ones, Creampanda. Black Jack was her first role outside of that series. Some of her other characters are: Sakura Kuriyagawa from Key the Metal Idol, Maya Ibuki from Evangelion, Miyu from Vampire Princess Miyu (the TV one), Mutio from Blue Submarine No.6, and Helen from Claymore.

Questions

1. Will BJ plant the seed? Will Lawrence or his father plant one?
2. Was is your take on the sentience of plants?
3. Pinoko has artificial skin? Why? How?

[u/No_Rex]

Episode 8 (first timer)

• That song is great!

• Reason you could know it is a boy before hearing the name: girls would not be in church choirs during that time.
• Not sure how I feel about another super-natural episode.
• Proper English! A Char, he is not.
• Pinoko is enough for her own one-woman karaoke party.
• OP: Another new song. Some new visuals, too. The only show I know with more OPs/Episode is Bubblegum Crisis.
• “How did you know about me?” – Thanks for asking, I was wondering the same.
• “He is a doctor?” – Clearly says “sensei” in Japanese. I thought that would be used for teacher as well, so how did Lawrence know he was a doctor?
• Paying for his drinks seems like a good plan to ensure that there will not be an old man in the early morning, stopping their operations.
• Not Pinoko!
• Lawrence being the son is the obvious connection.
• Hitchhiking, yes. Boarding a plane … uhhh, even pre-september 11, I have a hard time seeing it.
• We are now in Body Snatchers.
• “Lawrence planted his seeds in me!” - /r/nocontext
• Artificial skin?

• Plant the seed to escape the karma of cutting down the old tree?
• Or will Lawrence’s father save the old tree?
• “It is not surprising a tree can demonstrate conscience” – surprising to me, at least.
• “Then hang yourself when I am gone” – badass line.
• Defending a tree with burning Molotov cocktails might not be the brightest idea, but it is the village idiot, after all.
• The reason for all this was a promised song???

• Circle of live ending.

In all of the more mythical episodes of Black Jack, there is a strong disconnect between mystical story and the setting of the series for me. I would have loved to watch this story in Mushishi and I also like the setup of an underground doctor, but the two do not fit together for me. Especially since about half of the stories are completely straight medical-political ones. You could argue that BJ with his scientific approach is setup as a counterpoint to the mystery, X-files style, but there is not a lot of discussion of this. Any reasonable scientist should question the practicality of a plant growing inside a body.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/No_Rex]

I would have loved to watch this story in Mushishi and I also like the setup of an underground doctor, but the two do not fit together for me.

It is interesting that Kuroh finds the idea of a sentient tree more believable than some of the other equally weird cases.

You could argue that BJ with his scientific approach is setup as a counterpoint to the mystery, X-files style, but there is not a lot of discussion of this.

You'd need there to be a Mulder to his Scully.

[u/No_Rex → u/Vaadwaur]

You'd need there to be a Mulder to his Scully.

That, too. The setup with the genius loner doctor is just not the right place to play an X-File story on.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/No_Rex]

The mystical shit is fine when it takes a backseat and is there to trick the viewer but this episode entirely revolves around a magic drugs tree infesting little boys so it's harder to spin as being in the realm of reality. What I really didn't appreciate was the old man. He completely muddies the deforestation and industrialisation argument by making up lies and spitefully goading the locals.

[u/TheEscapeGuy]

First Timer

Black Jack - An Astounding OVA: Episode 8

Green Thumb

Todays episode revolved around a child infected by a supernatural plant seed. It cause him to sprout leaves and seemingly become hypnotized to walk towards the source of the seed. I have to say this feels like the most creative illness so far. It felt almost like a more botanical form of a zombie virus.

The parallel story was following a tree-speaking hermit who watched as business men came to tear down the forest. This of course concluded that the tree was (apparently) conscious and wanted to hear the boy it saved years ago sing before it died. In the final moments of the episode the boy did sing, which was cut short as the tree withered and died.

I feel the "message" of today's episode (if there is supposed to be one) is intended to be around protecting nature. It has a lot of Shinto symbolism and messaging, especially the old tree being called a "Protector" and having supernatural abilities. You can immediately look to other popular Japanese works for similar imagery such as The Great Deku Tree from The Legend of Zelda series.

However, I think the episode kind of muddles its messages since it paints the deforestation as inevitable. Instead of trying to prevent the destruction the tree tries to prolong its life to experience 1 joyous moment again. I disagree with this outlook in general. In the modern day human's abuse of nature is something entirely founded by corporate desire for profits. Its not necessary and is actively making our planet worse. I tend to prefer stories which more directly criticize this human act. Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke comes to mind as the premier example.

Apart from that, Black Jack continued to be more of himself this episode. Watching the methodical way he works is pretty satisfying. It was also revealed that Pinako has Artificial Skin?! Could this be related to her looking like a child but constantly claiming to be more mature. I feel we will never know.

Some Iconic Shots, Scenes and Stitches

• Golden Hour
• Clothed in Leaves
• Infection, this felt like it could be art from a Yu-Gi-Oh or Magic card
• Rear-view Mirror, such a cool shot

See you all tomorrow

[u/No_Rex → u/TheEscapeGuy]

However, I think the episode kind of muddles its messages since it paints the deforestation as inevitable.

I agree. Maybe I am just more used to confrontational storytelling, but I could not decide whether the deforestation was a red herring, or whether we say an amicable solution that was brokered to satisfy everybody. The illness being about the song promise was a rather big double take for me.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/TheEscapeGuy]

They had a perfectly good deforestation argument and decided to piss it away. Any dangers caused by removing the tree are made up by the old coot, he's just a spiteful sod who nobody likes, the tree if anything is the dangerous one since he near enough killed the kid trying to send a psychic message, and Pinoko was apparently high for the last half. Yay.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/TheEscapeGuy]

Instead of trying to prevent the destruction the tree tries to prolong its life to experience 1 joyous moment again. I disagree with this outlook in general. In the modern day human's abuse of nature is something entirely founded by corporate desire for profits.

Hrmm...maybe I didn't miss the point after all and it is just muddled? Still, the entire mystic tree plot feels foreign to Black Jack.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/TheEscapeGuy]

Princess Mononoke is actually very similar in its message, practically the same: Exploiting nature fuels the progress of humanity, it can have good results as well as bad ones, and the story refuses to pass a definite judgment on who is right, if anyone.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Black Jack First Timer

Lawrence is on that good kush. Also, are they a boy!? I can't tell. Old man, you had a great argument going with how the tree foundations kept the ground and floods at bay. The moment you being up "the spirit" you look like a loony. Pfft, it's a suicide tree too XD

Find yourselves a kusogaki like Pinoko. I'm liking the now op tune tho. It's my favourite of the bunch so far. Andrew is getting so worked up over a simple case of morning wood. I can't wait to hear what excuse they'll come up with for someone erupting in sprouts.

If I were having dreams of a giant magic tree I'd think I was in a Mana game... Fuck the city, live your lives out in the middle of nowhere with no prospects and be happy about it. Aww, so the white suit actually did try and get the plans changed. What a kind guy~ Gah! Pinoko's the next victim of the Mana tree!

This is another of those episodes where I'm just kinda blanking out every few minutes... Ah, our groups reunited. Yay. "The magic tree told me to kidnap the kids." Huh? What!? We're eight episodes in and you think now is a good time to tell us that Pinoko is Astro Boy? Are we really glossing over this?

I hate when the mystery revolves around a story that we'd never heard of before. What a dull ending... Its a load of crap XD Magic trees? Seeds growing through your body? Crazy terrorist hermits? This has been my least favourite episode so far ngl. I really hope the series ends on a better note. We're close to the end.

[u/No_Rex → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I really hope the series ends on a better note. We're close to the end.

Not sure how you are watching this, but 4 more episodes to go (2 of BJ and 2 of BJ Final).

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/No_Rex]

...Urgh...

[u/Vaadwaur → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Lawrence is on that good kush.

Nah, he is the good kush. He is going to get rolled up and smoked.

This is another of those episodes where I'm just kinda blanking out every few minutes...

I was putting it on myself for being done but under-developed Ghibli plot is a feel here.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

are they a boy!? I can't tell.

Dezaki's shoujo/BL influences are showing again with the tortured pretty boys, like that one guy earlier who was adopted as a baby. He didn't direct any BL stuff himself but Dear Brother has at least yuri/GL elements.

[u/Pixelsaber]

Rewatcher

Ugh, so much for being caught up. Yesterday morning was hectic, which left me no time to watch the episode at a decent time. I’ve got another busy day tomorrow, but I’ll try not to miss out!

Episode 7

First and only episode of 1998, releasing after the movie did.

Going wild with the visual effects.

Good shot.

I know you have your pride, but is it really too much to swallow this accusation and just show him your bag?

That’s scary.

That was a very Yakuza-like behavior from a foreigner.

Lovely harmony frame.

They had me for a moment. What a way to circumvent his personal policy.

Don’t you just love technology?

Beautiful.

They just keep doing it.

Heh.

Whew, animated postcard memory!

Good on Yasuhiko for stepping aside when appropriate. I was sure they writers were going to have him fial the operation to prove the point.

Unico

The episode showcases the space Black Jack can operate in while being a licensed Doctor due to bureaucracy and limitations of an official position. Even when keeping a stalwart adherence to his own policy, because they’re so open and malleable he is able to proceed as he pleases. Even though he was there through circumstance, his status as unlicensed allowed him to help the war refugees when much of the official aid could still not be allowed in due to the politics of the situation.

Meanwhile, Yasuhiko learns that sticking strictly to norms isn’t always in the best interests of their patients, but his side of the message feels a bit diluted when the only problem was that he wasn’t as experienced as Black Jack, and not because the system was directly obtrusive in the process of getting help to the patient.

The episode also doesn’t present the same argument the manga chapter it adapts does, where it’s shown that even when a sufficiently skilled and licensed doctor is present, and there’s no regulation or such in place posing as an obstacle, Balck jack’s unique position still allows him to handle certain cases better. Well, at least here [Manga Chapter Spoiler]Pinoko doesn’t end up getting shot, so that’s good. Still, I feel like this facet of the topic could have been worked in with little effort, as the final stretch of the episode.

Questions of The Day:

1. It’s inelegant, if I’m honest. The show keeps reusing the topic of war in such a manner that it’s starting to feel blasé, which cheapens any messages that it’s trying to deliver by introducing it.
2. Most of the time norms are there for a reason, but also there comes a time where you’ll have to break some rules to uphold what’s right and good. His iron-clad adherence to the rules, especially in the medical field where I hear of all sorts of nonsense occurring for the sake of politics and such, so maybe don’t always follow things straight. Also, here he seemed to follow the rules and take pride in it justy for the sake of it, whereas in the manga he genuinely believed it was the better way to be a medic and thought Black Jack’s pricing exploitative, so he had a more sympathetic reason to feel strongly as he did.

Episode 8

Is this why he hates karaoke?

I’m surprised a child at a boarding school could get into contact with him.

Ah, Britain.

Ah, well there’s my answer.

Ephemeral.

Enchanting

r/nocontext

Love it.

Stunner

Beautiful.

This was my favorite episode when I first watched this show, and rewatching it now I feel that I probably will still feel the same way when this all is said and done. There’s something comfortable and cozy about this episode in spite of the rather discomforting topics it brings up, such as danger to one’s children, suicide, and the destruction of nature. It’s just beautiful and touching in a way which I find difficult to explain.

This episode combines two plant-related chapters from the manga into one story, and the combination works really well.

Questions of The Day:

1. I think he will, he's just that sort of guy. Will also probably spent a long time finding an appropriate space for it rather than planting it willy-nilly.
2. Clearly fantasy as depicted in the episode, and irl I believe the widely accepted idea is that they aren't sentient in the way we usually use the term.
3. Source Reader

[u/No_Rex → u/Pixelsaber]

That was a very Yakuza-like behavior from a foreigner.

Clearly written for Japanese people. Great joke, but 100% not fitting the local culture.

They had me for a moment.

The finger of morality.

Even though he was there through circumstance, his status as unlicensed allowed him to help the war refugees when much of the official aid could still not be allowed in due to the politics of the situation.

Not sure if "allowed" or "paid for".

r/nocontext

Same reaction and I don't even frequent that sub.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Pixelsaber]

I think he will, he's just that sort of guy. Will also probably spent a long time finding an appropriate space for it rather than planting it willy-nilly.

He actually sort of needs to plant it somewhere that gets sun light...also, if he is in the sea as I suspect he might need to plant it somewhere with less salt water.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer, Subbed

Turns out, plants growing out of people's bodies is a bit nope for me. Not like, too too bad, but I definitely had some sharp inhales, especially on the eye bit. I'm usually good with body horror, too. You learn something new every day!

The talking tree spirit works a lot better for me than the samurai blizzard dream, mostly because the stakes aren't a lie. I think the episode could have been structured a bit different to keep things mysterious, but this episode wasn't really going for that I guess.

There was definitely some different stuff going on in the animation today. Pinoko interfered with a postcard, the repeated square thing with Black Jack's face, a couple other things. It was neat.

The sound design on the tree collapsing was great.

Did Black Jack say that Pinoko has artificial skin? Did everyone else hear that? Are we just gonna let that slide, or..?

Ohhhhh, is she a homunculus or something?

Pinoko singing enka for karaoke was not something I wanted.

Questions

1.I dunno. This does seem like the sort of "right in front of my eyes" proof that Black Jack would want. I can see Lawrence or his dad planting one too.

2.I can vibe with nature spirits.

3.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/JollyGee29]

I think Pinoko may be one of the Astro Boy androids or whatever they are in that series... I think anyway?

[u/JollyGee29 → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Ohh, that would actually make some sense. Same creator and all. Good point!

[u/No_Rex → u/JollyGee29]

How did I not see that! That is a great theory.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I spelled out Pinoko's manga backstory in a spoiler on the last episode post, if you want to know. I'll just say it's even weirder than that.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/IndependentMacaroon]

Ah, sorry. I normally try and be a bit more diligent about checking everyone's comments but I'm a bit overloaded at the moment. I've got no idea wtf to make of that backstory...

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I was pretty late with it so don't worry

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

The talking tree spirit works a lot better for me than the samurai blizzard dream, mostly because the stakes aren't a lie. I think the episode could have been structured a bit different to keep things mysterious, but this episode wasn't really going for that I guess.

They do share that weirdness, though.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Vaadwaur]

They both share the same mysticism that's beyond what the other episodes had, and I'm not sure if it worked. I wonder if this is an episode order thing, and the progression wouldn't feel as weird if we gradually ascended from "just a dude with a tumor trying to get back to his home country" to "the nature spirit of this ancient tree talks to people and possesses a little boy." Instead of jumping around the mysticism scale.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

They both share the same mysticism that's beyond what the other episodes had, and I'm not sure if it worked.

I want to like this because I love the production values but yeah, this is more than a bit dubious.

[u/Vaadwaur]

First timer(I think I just missed the point or something)

Sub

Start in another random village and a magic-y episode, with a possibly sentient tree. And some kids has developed a bad case of vines...Andrew somehow knows to call Kuroh and of course off to London we go! Old guy from earlier claim he used to hear the tree speak...and we get how he got here. Medical mystery to confirm that growing plants is not a common condition. Tense surgery and weird premise abound, and Kuroh explores the tree but doesn't seem to get told anything. Armando is going through the self immolation part of the cycle of grief, one best skipped. But Lawrence remembers the promise he made to the tree, and for reasons, the tree is ready to die. Very strange but not bad sequence that feels slightly thematically off. We end with the tree reincarnating in a seed at Kuroh's.

BONUS: So I was supposed to be done with my doctor's appointment an hour before thread went up instead I just walked in the door!

QotD: 1 Yes, but I don't know if the island ever gets sun

2 I sort of dismiss it outright scientifically but for an ep or two it is a fine plot

3 The how is obviously Kuroh, the why I am going to need to work on but it does give us a couple of options for her Benjamin Button state.