Bodacious Space Pirates Volume 2

Marika Kato, the sixteen-year-old schoolgirl captain of the pirate spaceship Bentenmaru, has a duty to keep her ship’s precious Letter of Marque valid by regularly performing a certain number of pirating tasks. So when her crew are placed in isolation after catching a rare (though not life-threatening) virus, it looks as if she’s in danger of losing her licence. However, the members of the Hakuoh Academy Space Yacht Club are ready and willing to come to the rescue – and so the Bentenmaru sets out into space crewed by schoolgirls. Girl power rules!

Just as Marika is getting ready to sit her end of year exams, a new threat to the pirate community erupts as several ships are wiped out by a mysterious intruder. It’s time for the pirates to get together to face this unknown threat to their lives and livelihoods and Marika and crew head for the legendary Pirates’ Nest to discuss their tactics. On the way there, the Bentenmaru is attacked by an unfamiliar and powerful spaceship. If Marika and the other pirates can’t find a way to defeat the intruder, she may not survive to return to Sea of the Morning Star, their home planet. Suddenly Marika’s school examinations seem to be rather less daunting than the prospect of battling for her life and her crew.

Bodacious Space Pirates continues on its merry way much as it did in its first thirteen episodes. We get to see Marika being decisive, resourceful and determined as she settles into the role her absent (deceased?) father has bequeathed her. We also see her flaking out from exhaustion from time to time as she rushes between school and space – but, supported by her friends and crew, she never seems in real danger of cracking under the pressure; she’s having too much fun!

As I mentioned in my review of the first thirteen episodes, Bodacious Space Pirates is a great show for younger female viewers because it offers plenty of positive role models for girls to identify with.

If there’s fan service, it’s on the mild side of mild and the sight of helmsman Kane in beach gear, showing off his well-toned abs ensures that no one need feel neglected on that front. However, when it comes to the thrills and spills that you’d expect to find in a pirate adventure, the peril Marika encounters here is definitely also on the mild side. There are some nail-biting moments, to be sure, but not until the final episodes, when the unknown space ship makes its appearance. So why the 12 certificate? I’m not honestly sure… unless it’s because of the rather sweet yuri relationship between ex-president of the Academy Yacht Club, Jenny Dolittle, and the present incumbent, Lynn Lambretta.

Nothing, therefore, to get terribly excited about…and that’s where Bodacious Space Pirates proves itself to be slightly underwhelming as it reaches the end of its twenty-six episodes. It’s often charming and displays a childlike fascination with food and desserts. But if you were hoping (as I was) for Marika to make some meaningful discoveries about her mother and father – and therefore about herself – then you won’t find those answers here. The motley pirate crew of the Bentenmaru are rather like kids who have never quite grown up; one devours vast quantities of sweets and crisps at her consoles, another collects teddy bears. Yes, there are some (mildly) exciting races and space battles, but you never really feel that anyone’s in true danger.

So, a sweet and ultimately undemanding series, with likeable characters whom we never really get to know in any depth. Mini-skirt Space Pirates. (Extras include textless Opening and Ending songs, a teaser trailer and trailers for both Arakawa series.)

Oh – and there’s a Bodacious film coming soon.