Baccano-Episode-1 Television 

Five Thoughts on Baccano!‘s “The Vice President Doesn’t Say Anything about the Possibility of Him Being the Main Character”

By | May 15th, 2017
Posted in Television | % Comments

So, here’s the score. This summer, the posse here at Multiversity Comics are taking looks at a whole variety of shows that are near n’ dear to our hearts. For my choice, I decided to revisit an anime about crooks and thieves. About mafiosos and alchemists. About immortals and men who’ll never die. It’s the anime called Baccano! Based on the novels by Ryogho Narita, Baccano! is what happens when you take Pulp Fiction and Fullmetal Alchemist and set it in 1930s New York.

Now, I should give you some warning. I am going to give spoilers each week and, while I love the show, it is vi-o-lent, so if you want to check it out, be warned. Also, I am watching the dubbed version of the show for this review series. I know there are people who’ll take umbrage with that, but to be perfectly honest, I think the dub is one of those few times where it’s superior to the original.

1. The Opening

First impressions are everything and Baccano!’s first impression hits the ground running with its opening theme song, “Gun’s & Roses” by Paradise Lunch. A clear spiritual successor to Cowboy Bebop’s classic “Tank!”, it’s a jazz piece as energetic as it is infectious. On top of that, it gives us an introduction to the huge cast of characters and also a small slice of visual personality of each, whether it’s Luck Gandor’s slyness, Nice Holystone’s love of explosions or Jacuzzi Splot’s fearfulness.

2. Where Does The Story Begin?

The thing about Baccano! is that, the show is an adaptation of the first four novels by Narita. Stories that take place at different times. As such, the Pulp Fiction comparison comes into play because the storylines are played out in an Anachronic order, through the narrative devices of the reporters at the Daily Days, a New York-based newspaper/information broker. In particular, it all starts with a conversation between Gustav St. Germain, vice-president of the Days and his assistant, Carol. It is this examination of story construction, time, and character that Gustav gives us the words that will be a big part of how we view this story: “Depending on who you place in the same situation, the characteristics of said incident change kaleidoscopically. In other words, there is one incident. However, there are as many stories explaining it as there are people involved in it.”

3. Who Is The Main Character?

Like the discussion of where the story begins, we come to the discussion of who the main character is? And I’ll be honest, the first episode of this show is a journey through that kaleidoscope of stories and characters, whether it is the eccentric pair of robbers, a young man who is cursed, the youngest brother of a mafia family, and so much more being thrown at the audience in rapid fire. It is, admittedly, jarring. That being said, Carol does manage to offer up a suggestion of someone that’s Main Character-ish…

4. Firo Prochainezo

So we come to who could possibly be the main character… if you squint your eyes, cock your head and realize he isn’t the main character either: Firo Prochainezo, an associate of the well-respected Martillo Family. We are introduced in perhaps the first of Baccano! signature scenes, the scene where we realize there’s a lot more than meets the eye. It’s the scene where a mugger tries to stab Firo, who grabs the knife and gets two of his fingers cut off for his trouble… only for the blood to float back off the knife and for Firo’s fingers to fly back up and reattach themselves to the young camorrista who proceeds to knock the mugger right Hell out.

I dig Firo a lot. He’s a bit cocksure, but never to a grating degree. There’s a bit of that Artful Dodger archetype in him, having been a pickpocket in Hell’s Kitchen before becoming a member of the Martillo Family (pulled that info from the novels), someone who is a lot smarter than he puts on. It’s hard to call him (or really anyone in this series) a “good soul” since the majority of the cast are criminals, but that’s the thing with humans, lots of grey. Perhaps this series can be accused of glorifying criminals, but there is a good chunk of them who do end up doing good things. Anyways, Firo is one of the good ones and we’ll see that further down the line.

5. So Many Plot Threads!

I cannot overemphasize that this premiere episode throws a lot at the viewer. The concept of immortals, the Advena Avis tragic voyage in 1711, the tale of the fabled Grand Panacea in 1930, the brutal affairs aboard the trans-continental train Flying Pussyfoot in 1931, the missing mafia prince Dallas Genoard in 1932. It is so much happening so fast, but I have to promise you, there are a lot of connections, and for the next sixteen weeks, we’re gonna explore them. Buckle up. It’s going to be a ruckus of a time.


//TAGS | 2017 Summer TV Binge | Baccano!

Ken Godberson III

When he's not at his day job, Ken Godberson III is a guy that will not apologize for being born Post-Crisis. More of his word stuffs can be found on Twitter or Tumblr. Warning: He'll talk your ear off about why Impulse is the greatest superhero ever.

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