BEM Episode 9 Review: Falling

Have I missed something? Honestly, this episode felt like so many important events have happened before and that Gavin was like a super important character that played a huge role all this time, but he was just introduced to us in this episode. In many other anime out there this would sound like a fascinating turn of events but since this is BEM, everything was once again done in such a mediocre way.

Plot

Gavin Briggs, an important medical supply maker is ready to open the Briggs Foundation where he will be helping those in need, especially in the Outside and especially humanoid monsters. Bem has tried to get close to him and see if he actually willing to help them and as it turns out, Gavin is a genuine person that wants to do his best to find a way to make them human. Unfortunately, the Unseen Council plays its cards once more and they blame Gavin for bribery, manipulate the media to misjudge him and forced him to use all him money to bail himself out of jail, leaving him penniless and unable to proceed with the opening of his Foundation. As they were out drinking with Bem, he asks him to show him his real form and when Bem transforms Belo, who has been chased by that cyborg ninja comes into the scene and unfortunately due to his recklessness Gavin gets killed. Meanwhile, the rich kid that has been going through his deceased father’s files is going to the Unseen Council where the Mystery Lady has little Harazy sleeping on her lap.

Episode Highlights

The Nin guy learned new things: For some reason I thought that this guy was dead after his encounter with Belo but as it turns out, he seems to be very much alive and back into action. In fact, not only is he alive, but he is also upgraded with like bionic eyes, arms and a lightsaber. It is also very hard to miss that he learned another word besides ‘nin’, now he likes to say ‘Ja’ as well. Such a huge character improvement.

The kids and the abuse: I love how the writers of the show continue to go along with this abuse thing like something that has been well established and is worth of referencing back every now and then. In this episode, ladies and gentlemen, we learn that the kids hang out in the arcade all this time because guess what: they are abused by their families and don’t want to go home. Who would have thought that this minor conversation between then a few episodes ago would have such huge plot value?

A merchant of death: The death flag for this guy appeared before the actual character came on screen. A guy that is so nice and wants to help humanoid monsters wouldn’t survive in this terrible town, because the Unseen Council sees and controls everything and because the plot of this show makes so much sense that it is so hard to follow. Despite my bitter sarcasm, of course the guy that came close with Bem would die, because otherwise Bem wouldn’t go rogue and start seeking revenge on the council or the mad scientist, or whoever seems to be the ultimate villain in this show.

Guys, Sonia actually did something: I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw her helping Bem out. This is probably the most important event that has happened in this show since its beginning. Sonia, I don’t know what you are planning, but I am proud of you.

Themes & Trivia

The bar looks exactly like Nighthawks: The scenes where we see Bem and Gavin drinking at the bar looked a lot like the Nighthawks painting, which makes me think that this some sort of an homage to it. Nighthawks is a 1942 oil on canvas painting by Edward Hopper that portrays people in a downtown diner late at night as viewed through the diner’s large glass window. Also portrayed are the exteriors of the urban structures across the street from the diner.

Comments

The scene where Felt is looking at Briggs through the cameras made laugh out loud so much. It looked like Felt was playing some sort of 2D game where his character looked like a chibi version of Gavin. BEM honestly you have been the treat of this season.

‘The people of this city lack imagination.’

I have absolutely no idea what to expect about this show anymore. I just go with it week by week and hope that something good will happen soon. This episode was kind of promising to be honest, since it made an effort to put all the pieces together, but again the execution was fairly disappointing.