Screw Astral Ocean... Really Screw it in the...

So, you know I watched Eureka Seven recently. You know, it was due to a recommendation from a friend... So, she was sending me mixed messages about the Sequel Astral Ocean. Like I HAD TO SEE IT, but at the same time, avoid it like the plague...
This is why I will never understand women... Curse my Shinji-ness!! So, I had to see it to...
wait for it...


Well, Astral Ocean is Eureka Seven's Try-hard little brother... (I know Try-Hards real well, since I can be a Try-Hard at times... A shortcoming that I'm trying to fix.)
Eureka Seven has been dismissed as an EVA Lite... Even I've called it an EVA Lite... Well, Astral Ocean is Eureka Seven if it was trying REALLY HARD TO BE AN EVA Clone.
Ao is more Shinji-like than Renton. He even has daddy issues like Shinji, a Missing Mom, like Shinji... Nirvash acts like a Robomom (which is eerily similar to how EVA-01 acts like Shinji's Mom)
Fleur Blanc is totally Ao's Asuka... Truth kinda acts like Ao's Kaworu and the Goldilocks unit are kinda like Ao's Toji... The whole G-Monsters thing Reeks of Angels and Generation Bleu reeks of NERV.

But EVA Clones can be enjoyable... E7AO is no exception... Problem is that the story it tried to tell was too big for the medium it was used. The curse of Neitlich-writing strikes back! The Original Eureka Seven had 50 episodes to tell its story. AO only had 24.

Then we have the Quartz Gun...
A Super Mega Weapon that could Retcon the world when used.

Every time this sucker was used, the show would retcon events and delete characters from continuity.
It almost seemed like when a Character was reaching enough development, the plot would force the gun to be fired in order to erase said character and keep everyone else in a 1.5 dimensions.

Then they have to remind us of the better series by having Eureka's "spirit" show up at times...
Then we finally Meet Renton Thurston, who has become a massive X-Men fan to the point that he often cosplays as Rogue. (only for the last 2 episodes)

Eureka Seven Astral Ocean would have been better off as a new series on its own WITHOUT ANY ATTACHMENTS TO THE MUCH BETTER EUREKA SEVEN. It kinda reminds me of Ghostbusters 2016 whenever it reminded me of the Original E7, which was way better than this sequel/prequel/reboot/dunno what to call it.

The E7AO OVA The Flowers of Jungfrau was a bit more enjoyable... It might confuse the hell out of Renton's penis since Ao is forced to run around dressed like Eureka and damn he LITERALLY LOOKS LIKE HIS MOTHER. They are less subtle than Hideo Kojima with the whole genderbending thing about Ao looking a lot like his mother to the point that...

Ponytail + Chinese Clothes + girl holding a kettle...

This actually happens...
Sure, it might seem a bit odd but when you add the dialogue to it, it all makes sense...








Well, here's the pic with the Subtitles...
What anime has a Truly Genderfluid Protagonist who can switch sexes by getting wet?

Seriously, Eureka Seven Astral Ocean is trying to bribe me into liking it by making references to MY FAVORITE ANIME OF ALL TIME.
It won't work, but I'll commend you for your efforts.

Long story short: If you want a continuation to Eureka Seven, AVOID AO like the plague.
If you want to see a flawed Mecha Anime that had a much bigger story to tell, but was crammed in a medium too small for it, then AO is perfect for you. Let's hope you can endure the cried of the Children of the Stars...