Review: KanColle, Episode 12: Kantai Collection

Screenshot taken from: http://www.crunchyroll.com/kancolle/episode-12-kantai-collection-668663

Review:

Well, one thing that can be said for the final episode of KanColle is that it went out with a bang. The vast majority of the episode is an action-packed sea battle that should either feed whatever thirst you may have for combat, or annoy you by the repetitive nature of the occurrences. Essentially, the battle keeps restarting. Every time things look like they’re supposed to end, the fight resets with the Fleet Girls left more and more depleted. This would seem to play into the whole “destiny” aspect that was introduced in the previous episode, although there is a clear solution that becomes evident as the episode plays on.

As stated in the previous review, this concept of the girls being driven by some invisible force of destiny would have been a great plot point had it been used from the get-go (or at least early on) instead of being tacked on at the last minute. Instead, it was added on hastily and solved by the following episode. The solution to the issue of a regenerating enemy also seems to undermine the “destiny” aspect of things, as it really ends up being less about fighting against some pre-ordained event and more about eliminating numbers. All-in-all, while it was an entertaining episode from an action stand point, it ultimately falls flat on its face in terms of plot once you stop to consider the way everything played out. *Spoiler* The fact that everyone lived, despite the presence of overwhelming enemy numbers, also detracts from the impact. While I’m not a fan of killing characters for the sake of killing characters, there is a certain level of realism that it would have achieved in this setting. *Spoiler*

Of course, the end of the episode is the typical spunky, happy thing you would probably expect from a show about cute girls with ship powers. In the end, KanColle was my guilty pleasure show for the season. I enjoyed it for what it was and found entertainment outside of the fanservice, but when looked at on a critical level it ultimately fails. The conclusion of the episode also announces a sequel, but at this point I don’t know if I will be tuning in.

A Christian Perspective:

I feel like I’ve made a lot of connections to the church being the Body of Christ this season, and not just in this show. I don’t want to beat a dead horse, but that’s about the only connection that I can make for this episode. In the end, part of the reason the girls succeed (other than the fact that a cute girl show where all the girls die and the enemies win would not appeal to the moe crowd) is that everyone plays their parts. The girls who were sent to be diversions until the time was right come in as scheduled, and even those who wouldn’t normally set foot on the battlefield make their way out to lend their firepower to the war effort. I wont’ claim to be very active in my local church (because that would be a lie… I help out here and there, but I’m not nearly as involved as some people), so it would be hypocritical for me to sit here and lecture you about how we should also be getting up and going out to support the effort for Christ. Speaking from a matter-of-fact perspective, though: that is how it’s supposed to be. How much any one person is supposed to do I cannot say—perhaps God intends for one person to do more than another. All I know is that it’s important to be involved, and that if we feel God is leading us to a certain place then we should consider it, pray on it, and, if we truly feel God is leading us that way, follow through.

Content Guide:

Language: 1 “h*ll”

Alcohol/Drug Use: None

Nudity/Sex/Fanservice: Damaged fleet girls show cleavage; the airfield princess is shown in what appears to be a skimpy outfit; there is a shot of Nagato’s legs from the front, and it appears that you can see the very bottom of her butt in the shot

Violence: Fleet girls are bombed, Abyssals are shot down, explosions; Abyssals are hit with fleet girl rounds and blown up; an Abyssal is kicked; an Abyssal is punched and kicked; basically, plenty of gunfire, explosions, bombs, and the like the go around

Blood/Gore: One fleet girl has a trickle of blood in the corner of her mouth; the Airfield Princess has some purple stuff (Abyssal blood?) on her body

Other: Oicchi refers to Kitakami as “my Kitakami-san”; Mutsu hangs onto Nagato in a suggestive manner (and later brings her flowers)