Welcome back to my blind coverage of the new Netflix anime Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, a series based off of some of the most influential comic books and movies of my life. What I’m doing here is giving my thoughts, analysis, and predictions after each episode before moving onto the next, so what follows is based solely on the first six episodes (and will contain spoilers for all six, but for nothing that comes after).
You can find coverage of all previous episodes below:
Episode 1: Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life
Episode 2: A League of Their Own
Episode 3: Ramona Rents a Video
Episode 4: Whatever
Episode 5: Lights. Camera. Sparks?!
With that out of the way, let’s jump into episode six, where we find out who done it, but not why…
EPISODE 6: WHODUNIT
Can people change? It’s a question that’s always been at the heart of the Scott Pilgrim franchise. Scott and Ramona are both characters who regret the way they’ve hurt people in their pasts and run from the damage they’ve caused, scared that they’re too “bad” to ever change; both the comics and the movie end with them starting over and deciding to “try again,” a new attempt at their relationship and an attempt to change for the better as people, one we’re left hopeful — but not 100% sure — will work.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, though, switches things up by applying this question to its villains. One consequence of Scott disappearing is that the Evil Exes are never defeated, and it’s been fascinating to get glimpses into the kind of lives they lead when they aren’t chasing Scott and Ramona around; they’re feeling more like real people and part of the Scott Pilgrim ensemble rather than villains and antagonists, and that’s a delightful changeup of the franchise’s formula. It also raises quite a few questions about these characters. Are they actually evil at all? Roxy was just deeply wounded and lashing out, and Lucas was more arrogant and stupid than evil, but Ramona describes Gideon as a straight-up abusive monster, and everything we know about the character supports this. For the ones that are evil, can they change? Can they be redeemed?
It’s clearly a question Takes Off wants us to consider, as it spends its entire cold open on a scene of Lucas and Gideon — or, I’m sorry, Gordon — just kind of goofing around, their simultaneous reachings of rock bottom seemingly humbling them. The episode spends a significant amount of time showing that Gordon, specifically, is a different person now, and even outlines the way Gideon would have reacted if only to show how much more meek and aimless Gordon is in contrast. Ramona, rightfully, doesn’t trust Gordon, but does seem to genuinely think that he and Julie could be good together and wishes them well, a small but significant acknowledgement from her that, maybe, somewhere deep inside him, Gideon can change.
Except, almost every time Takes Off dangles the possibility of redemption for its villains, it also, eventually, snatches it away. Lucas may have hit rock bottom, but he’s still the same self-obsessed douchebag he’s always been. Gordon, meanwhile, has come up with a revenge plot just like Julie claimed that Gideon would have, showing that his morals and approach to life haven’t changed, even if his circumstances have. It makes me scared for Exes like Matthew and Roxy, who have shown growth over the course of the series, but even moreso for Scott and Ramona. Given this series’ view of redemption thus far and the final second cliffhanger reveal of who actually kidnapped Scott, I don’t know if we can be as hopeful about their chances of changing for the better as previous endings once suggested we could be.
Stray Observations:
— This episodes lives up to its title by giving us the “Whodunit” — The Twins and their Robot, but they were actually working for Scott himself, assumedly a version from the future — but not at all the “why.” My gut instinct is that something bad happened between Scott and Ramona in the future, leading Scott to travel back in time to stop them from ever getting together. The hitch, of course, is the movie script Future Scott assumedly leaves behind for Young Neil. Why bring unnecessary attention to the fact that there’s a version of the story where Scott and Ramona end up together if you’re trying to prevent it?
— Wouldn’t all robots be vegan? Are there meat eating robots?
— For the first time we get an actual backstory for the twins! Again, in the movie they do not speak at all, and in the comics all we know is that Ramona dated them both at the same time, and kinda pitted them against each other while doing so. Here, Takes Off shows us that Kyle and Ken were Ramona’s TAs, which adds a whole new dimension to their relationship; Ramona is now their victim, and her pitting them against each other feels far more justified. Making Ramona less of the bad guy feels like a notable change, but I’m not sure where it’s leading yet.
— It’s nice to see Wallace and Stacey gossiping again, even if Stacey’s entire role in this series thus far just feels like they were obligated to give Anna Kendrick a paycheck.
— I’m so glad we got a “Bread Makes You Fat” gag before the series ended!
— Sex Bob-Omb’s attempted musical rendition of Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life adds yet another new adaptation of Scott’s story to the pile. Between the real life comics, movie, video game, and anime, and Young Neil’s movie and Sex Bob-Omb’s musical within Takes Off, the sheer number of different ways this story’s being told is starting to become a running gag in its own right.
— Ramona breaks up Julie’s attempted beatdown of Gordon and Lucas by telling them “fighting is stupid.” Again, I don’t have enough information to build a thesis yet, but this feels significant. Though Ramona has fought plenty in this series, she hasn’t really been an instigator, and has instead attempted to talk and work through many of her problems. I really am curious to see if this is leading somewhere.
— Large chunks of this episode are given over to exposition, but they go down easy thanks to the chemistry and camaraderie between the cast. It really is just so much fun to see these characters hang out, no matter what formation or medium they’re in. Ramona, Kim, Knives, Stephen Stills, and Young Neil together in a room bouncing exposition back and forth is somehow absolutely delightful, and it really makes me wish there was a version of this anime where the ongoing plot wasn’t quite as urgent, and we could see all the characters together like this more often.
We’re almost at the finish line, friends! See you next time!
ABOUT
“Do You Know What I Love the Most?” is a newsletter from Spencer Irwin about his relationship with the stories he loves. Spencer is an enthusiast and writer from Newark, Delaware, who likes punk rock, comic books, working out, breakfast, and most of all, stories. His previous work appeared on Retcon Punch, One Week One Band, and Crisis on Infinite Chords, and he can be found on Twitter at @ThatSpenceGuy. If you like this newsletter, please subscribe and share with your friends!
I really like how you examine the way the series is distinguishing itself from the comics and movie. I think the series made it clear in Episode 4 that they aren't really evil. Lucas said something like "You know, we're not really evil. It's just a branding thing." Then again, the possibility of change is something the show seems to be indeed actively debating.