Get Backers Volume 2

Is it enough to say I simply enjoyed Get Backers #2?
While I have found nothing particularly inspiring or different about this show, it remains good, solid fun thanks to a quirky sense of humour, some exciting action scenes and the stylish character designs.
Ban and Ginji are an undeniably likable pair of chancers and lead the show well, helping me to digest the scooby-doo level of evil schemes with a thick helping of tongue in cheek humour and a knowing wink to the audience. Sometimes it’s important for a series to play to it’s strengths and Get Backers does this with almost German-like efficiency, giving it’s fans laughs and action in equal measure without ever making us think too hard either.
Inherently, this safe style of story telling limits the appeal of Get Backers too; if you’re looking for originality, or for emotional drama, you should look elsewhere. Get Backers #2 makes no attempt to challenge the viewers comfort zone, we just accept the fact that this is a pure action series and get on with Ginji shooting lightning at some evil bastard.

Evidently, this volume’s most pressing purpose was to introduce us to a pair of new characters and courtesy of Ginji’s shrouded past, we meet the thread spinning, genderless Kazuki and the angsty animal lover Shido. As I’ve come to expect from Get Backers, their character designs are stylish and interesting and compliment the strange personalities they portray with aplomb. Now, if only the story started moving a little faster, we would have a classy series on our hands.

At this point (ten episodes in), Get Backers needs more of a firm direction if it is to sustain my interest beyond some inventive action scenes. What’s the point of this show? Is it important that we follow the Get Backers recovery service on yet another ‘find the violin’ job? Sure, it’s all good fun, but I can’t help but feel that I’m wasting my time with these drawn out situations. Whatever the reason, there appears to be a vital element absent from Get Backers; the kind of quality that transforms a fun, if mediocre series into essential viewing.

The characterization is especially worrying; none of these people feel deep or compelling. I rarely find myself really rooting for Ginji or Ban, with their personalities often coming across as one-dimensional and predictable. Likewise, the female characters, especially Ms. Hevn, are your typical stereotypes of busty, acid-tongued blonde and timid, curious brunette. Only Himiko really held my attention on this volume, with her strange mood swings and apathetic attitude towards Ban hinting at dark, infinitely more interesting history.

In Summary

Get Backers #2 is a fun little action show balanced between terribly mediocre and terribly good. Suffice to say, I’ve had enough of these smaller adventures and the next volume will prove a make or break moment for this series; I’m looking for some real emotional angst, something tangibly compelling to bind me to these pretty, but rather dull characters.