Taboo Tattoo - Episode 2 Review

Written by ArchmageIf you haven't read the Episode 1 Review, click here to go back and read that.SPOILER WARNINGWe start off with our main character, Seigi, coming out a short nap after his fight with The Bear. Right away we're presented with the basics of the plot again, and are reintroduced (because you probably forgot who was who already, cuz you're dumb) to Izzy and Tom who are in the process of tearing Seigi's room apart.Yes Tom, I'm sure you're just looking so you can read the articles.They are part of the US Army (Why not the CIA? Idk but whatever) sent to Japan in order to retrieve secret human augmenting sigils called Tattoos (a little too on the nose, but again, whatever). They explain to Seigi that his tattoo has the ability to create Voids, but without proper use, he could end up consuming himself.They then give him 2 options: either he joins them in hunting down the other Tattoos, or they can remove whatever physical part of him has been linked to his Tattoo. Izzy makes it very clear that probably means he will be left at least severely crippled or possibly dead, either way it's his "Choice".Rightly so, Seigi is upset by this sudden turn of events, but he gets the night to think about it.We then cut to a scene where we see 2 unknowns cross each other's paths. Reminds me a bit of X, not sure why but that's the feel I get off this small scene. Seems there are forces battling in the city besides the US Army.If you're going to cheat me out of some good action, which we're keyed into by the dramatic sound effect when the light changes to Red, you might as well do it this way. I can appreciate the foreshadowing approach if you want to get on with the plot. So... ON WITH THE PLOT.Not wasting any time getting into the tropes, we cut right to Izzy writing her name on the board in Seigi's class. She is the new transfer student in his class. Oh and she has a very VERY special relationship with Seigi; which of course pisses off the rest of his male classmates, and his Childhood friend Touko.Did I mention that her first name is Fluesy? Oh right, I didn't because saying that to you would be WAY too on the nose for the next scene.No kidding...In the words of George TakeiWell, at least they acknowledged that the rest of the class is here to witness.For a series that constantly make me think of Full Metal Panic, it's surprisingly self aware. I do appreciate a good Lampshade hanging. Would be nice though if you drew Touko's bewbs better. They look like one blob, is she not wearing a bra? If so, she needs to get refitted.Ehem... Moving on then. Later, Izzy demands Siegi's answer. They then clarify that gaining a tattoo isn't just all power with no consequence, there are side effects to having one, Izzy's being that she's stopped aging at 17.Seigi, needing all the facts for the audience's sake, asks why they are even with the Army. It seems slightly out of place and really only for the sake of exposition. I'm not asking you to not to have any exposition, but you don't have to do all this right now. Show don't tell please, I'm not stupid.We are then reintroduced to the current state of the world. The Kingdom and America are amassing power and this is causing tension among the super powers. The Kingdom apparently has a leg up on America when it comes to Tattoos.Guess they forgot they have these guys.Seigi accepts, but not without stating the obvious.I'm going to refer to Seigi as Captain Obvious for the rest of this article.So Captain Obvious accepts and again, we're reintroduced to Izzy and Tom. Why? Because Captain Obvious needed to have the obvious pointed out to him again. He is then welcomed into Team Blue Moon.WELL, if you INSIST.Now, we move on to Izzy and Tom chatting about what to do next. I don't know why they're speaking in Japanese if they're American, but this is just a continuity nitpick. I'm sure they did this just for the audience's sake. If dubbed into English, I wouldn't expect the other way around, just think it might have been a nice touch.Izzy and Tom key us in that they going against orders by not handing over Seigi, telling us in the process that he's got a special Tattoo, one that is capable of sealing it's counterpart. This restates something said briefly in Episode 1. It seems that each Tattoo has a counterpart that can cancel it out. This probably indicates that whoever has the mirror to Seigi's Tattoo is important in some way since Izzy is willing to go against orders for the time being to train Seigi.Or you know... this person has something to do with it.We then move over to the slight introduction of 2 people who are most likely going to be our main villains for at least the first arc. Carnage inside a castle and a young girl playing a Hand Held gaming system, monologue to her Butlerish type person; who, you know, hasn't probably heard all this already. She then tells a giant lion type creature to devour her father. Oddly there's no sound effect that accompanies it consuming the body. Probably censors forcing them to edit out the disturbing sound, I don't think they would have been that careless.Back with Captain Obvious the next day, he sneaks out of his house trying to avoid Touko's watchful gaze.Guess he's not as sneaky as he thinks. Also, I dub thee Lieutenant Obvious. Captain Obvious then heads over the the Secret US Army hideout.I don't know Captain Obvious, what would be in a secret hidden US Army Hideout in the middle of a suburban Tokyo street?'murica...Captain Obvious, even that would be a bit too on the nose. He rings the bell, and we're given a slightly comedic interaction with Tom, who then lead CO (I'm don't writing that out) into the hideout.Lieutenant Obvious reporting for duty sir! It's not your fault Touko, you just don't want him to get into trouble like he always does.Well, no. No it's not. Just go home Touko. But of course, it's too late. she followed him, meaning that she has to get into trouble.Time has no meaning as we move into the house with CO. Fairly sure that if a power mad baddy really had your friend by the face, they wouldn't end up in a convenient place for you to save them later right? Right Taboo Tattoo? You wouldn't really use that Trope would you?Well I'll be a monkey's cousin twice removed... I think you might just get a promotion out of this Captain.Since again, time has no meaning when best friends are in peril, we are treated to Tom getting the news that there is trouble in The Kingdom; but at least we have a name for Princess Gamer.Captain Obvious is sent to the basement to find a box. But Ding-dong someone is at the door. Tom, don't you know that's a trap right? But no, it couldn't possibly be after you JUST got some critical information. No need to be careful in your secret base after you just spoke with Izzy and know she won't be back for a bit right? RIGHT??Well shoot, that was his nice suit. Who is this? Who did this to Tom? Where's Touko?I... okay that's actually interesting. Not what I was expecting.We move back to Izzy who is setting up some sensor things at the School. As she activates them, they go off right away. In comes Henchmen Number 2.Henchmen 2 opens up a flurry on Izzy, but she manages to dodge....mostly? I see we're going to have the fan service this series. Not that it wasn't aparent before. Though I guess when fighting, this is more practical than a school uniform.We then cut back to Captain Obvious being stared down by the tranced figure of Touko, and this is where the episode ends.All in all it was passable. We get the tone of this series. I'm going to say it falls somewhere between Full Metal Panic and Fate Stay Night. You're going to have some comedy, probably a fair amount of fan service, but very well animated fight scenes. The small amount of action we did get in this episode was fast, deliberate, and you could see the motion. Only one part when Henchmen 2 is attacking Izzy do you see reused frames. I'm going to say that the pacing of this episode and the minimal fighting is gearing up for Episode 3 being a knockdown drag out based on what we saw in Episode 1.Taboo Tattoo shows promise. It plays with the tropes but gives us a curve ball or 2. Very Entertaining and still on my list. We'll see where it goes next week.Taboo Tattoo Episode 2 viewable on Crunchyroll