The Idaten Deities Know Only Peace “Peacetime” Review
The Idaten Deities Know Only Peace “Peacetime” is the first episode in the Idaten anime. This introductory episode sees the main characters show just what they’re made of but what exactly is Ysley up to? And is he double crossing his friends? Either way, the demons seem to be back but how?
Introductions
The episode begins by showing the war between the Idaten and the Demons ~800 years prior. With the elder Idaten having to seal the demons away at the cost of their lives. Rin, the granddaughter of one of the elder Idaten witnesses this and behaves as you’d expect. She’s distraught that her grandfather will leave her. Fate forward to the Present and Rin stands watch over the seal holding all the demons at bay.
Introduced to Rin’s student Hayato via several scenes of her kicking his backside. Hayato goes to whinge about her methods of training to Ysley, another Idaten and they both go to see Paula the third younger Idaten. Paula can talk to birds and tells the boys that they’ve seen military aircraft that belongs to the Zoble region in a glacial region. They question why and decide to go look. With that settled, they run their way there.
The Mad Scientist
The group come across a mad scientist like figure called Oobami. Who is in the process of thawing out Gyudo, a leftover demon from 800 years ago. It’s clear he’s more interested in the Idaten and how they’ve changed though. So everyone, especially Ysley, assumes he isn’t human. Gyudo thaws out and the kids find themselves having to fight him. Paula starts the attack but is quickly overpowered and whilst Ysley does slightly better than she did he still gets his chest ripped open. Hayato is alone and pretty quickly despatches Gyudo being a slower thinker but a better fighter.
Oobami tries to get away on a jet but Hayato catches up to him, crashes the jet and destroys him. Showing that he was an android the whole time. Ysley, is mysteriously on the phone to someone telling them to come get “it” before Zoble do. But the question of how Oobami knew about the Idaten remains unsolved.
Review
I love this episode. Not only has it made me super excited to see more of what happens between the characters. But the writing and direction is handled expertly too. Whilst the characters are somewhat stereotypical, they’re just different enough to be individual and interesting. Ysley and Paula being my favourites at the moment. The show knows how to handle the more serious situations in a comedic enough manner that it doesn’t belittle or make fun of it but still makes it funny. The more gruesome themes like the rape of the nun at the end of the episode was treated with the respect it needed to be, it didn’t shy away and just hint at her rape, it was very in your face. Creating an uncomfortable feeling about the brutality of what you’re watching, obviously exactly what was wanted.
The show has gotten off to a promising start. Fantastic characters, brilliant direction and an interesting premise. This is the perfect episode to start a new show on.
