Sparks of Tomorrow Episode 9 Criticized
Reviewer criticizes 'Sparks of Tomorrow' episode 9 for its reliance on poor communication and offensive character tropes in Seiroku's backstory.
Anime News Network reviewer Lucas DeRuyter has published a critical review of episode 9 of the cour anime 'Sparks of Tomorrow'. The review condemns the episode's narrative logic and its portrayal of a gay character as a child predator.
DeRuyter states the episode offends his sensibilities as a queer man. He argues it is overtly homophobic to have a gay man also fill the role of a child predator, calling the trope a validation of harmful stereotypes with no place in modern media.
Plot and Character Dynamics
The episode ostensibly follows Kihachi and others chasing Inako to prevent her marriage to Yosuke Mizoe by delivering an electrical catalogue. It finally provides a distinct backstory for Seiroku, Yosuke, Kengo, and Noriko.
Flashbacks confirm they were all schoolmates. Seiroku possessed a magnetic personality that caused the others to fall in love with him to varying degrees. The review notes this had been implied in the anime's opening for several episodes.
These scenes reveal Yosuke was fully romantically in love with Seiroku. His grief over the inventor's death is presented as the driving force behind his actions in the series. For more on the show's character roster, you can visit our squad page.
Narrative and Logical Flaws
A central criticism is the plot's reliance on a lack of communication. DeRuyter points out a drunk character's observation that much inner turmoil would be resolved if characters simply talked to each other instead of making presumptions.
He questions why the protagonists assume Yosuke will keep his word after they deliver the catalogue. They have no leverage to enforce the deal. The audience knows Yosuke only wanted the marriage to obtain the catalogue.
However, the episode introduces the idea that Yosuke could fall out of favor with his family if he backs out of the wedding. This creates a scenario where it benefits him to take the catalogue and still proceed with the marriage.
DeRuyter argues the conflict could be easily resolved. If the characters communicated, they would realize they simply need to raise money to save Inako's family brewery, which the inventions in the catalogue could presumably achieve. This kind of narrative breakdown is why checking our stats for episode ratings can be so revealing.
Overall Assessment
The reviewer also finds fault with the episode's construction from a writing perspective. He calls it a piece of media whose conflict could so easily be resolved with any amount of honest communication between characters.
He criticizes the show for having characters bend over backwards to keep a conflict and storyline that isn't all that interesting going. DeRuyter expresses shock that this version of the script made it to broadcast.
The episode also lacks the animation flair of prior installments. Combined with its narrative issues, episode nine is described as a low point for the show, despite being intended as the first stage of build-up to the climax. The review gives the episode a community score of 2.9.
