Tuesday 27 January 2009

Hetalia Axis Powers - Episode 1

I don't think I've ever been entirely lost for words on this 'Blog before, but today appears to be a first - What the Hell did I just watch?

Axis Powers Hetalia has been much talked about of late, mainly because of Korea's hatred of the series before it was even broadcast based upon the content of the manga, even going as far as to threaten a cyber-terrorist attack should it hit the airwaves.


Well, the first episode has been broadcast (albeit online and via mobile phone networks - The TV airing of this show has now been cancelled), and I have to say with my hand on my heart that I don't have the slightest clue what's going on. Obviously, there is plenty of caricaturing of various countries going on within this first five minute instalment (oh, how the German likes to eat sausage! How the Russian is a bully to his neighbours! What witty repartee!), but some of them make little sense to me - The Brit disagreeing with America, when has that ever happened? Pretty much the funniest line of the episode is the Italian shouting out "pasta", but if that's the extent of caricature Hetalia is aiming for then I fear for the comic value of this show.

What really confused me was the whole Roman Empire Chibitalia section, coupled with the myterious appearance of tomatoes in some kind of relation to World War I. I'm starting to think that I need to start doing drugs just to understand this show....

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

The show moved at a mile a minute, that's for sure

I was able to follow along a bit cause I read the original comics (http://nisecal.googlepages.com/hetalia--mainarcindex) but trying to follow along with it all was still rather confusing

Anonymous said...

Hmm, I'm about to dive in in just a minute, just hoping it'll be as lovably bigoted as G Gundam.

Anonymous said...

Wut?

I have a fleeting impression that I was swindled out of 4 min 59 secs of my life.

Anonymous said...

It makes more sense later on, I'm sure~ *waves hand dismissively* I think this is really a show for the fans of the manga.

Anonymous said...

... dear lord I hope that was sarcasm about America and the UK not agreeing...