This review is solely based off the first three episodes provided by Netflix.
For many audiences, Pacific Rim was quite the surprise when it made its debut in theatres back in 2013. In a landscape of super-hero movies and other random action flicks, not many films came close to the unique approach that Pacific Rim offered. Despite its appeal though, it didn’t make a huge splash in the mainstream. There was a video game, an okay sequel, and some toys, but not so much besides that. Jump to today, and the Jaegers and Kaiju are back – this time in animated form.
Pacific Rim: The Black is a new Netflix original that takes place years after Kaiju ran rampant in the world. Don’t worry though, there are still plenty of monsters causing mayhem in this show. Following siblings Taylor and Hayley, the two head on a journey to find their lost parents, who they have not seen in years after a major conflict took place.
The Black wastes no time getting into the action. After a brief exposition scene, the show jumps to a battle. Kaiju roar and crash through a city as Jaegers blast and punch away at them. The cell-shaded approach in animation offers a lovely, vibrant look to each mech and monster. Combat animation between the two giants proves to be smooth and exciting; unlike the character animations – which I’ll get to later – battles between Jaegers and Kaiju don’t appear clumsy. For what should be the core appeal of a Pacific Rim show, this large-scale battle makes for a great means to kick off The Black.
The opening fight also draws the viewer into the story, as at this point, our protagonists are kids who are watching their parents pilot a Jaeger. As the situation becomes more dangerous, mom and dad take them and others to a remote location, dropping them off and leaving to find help. From there, the show jumps a few years into the future, showing an older Taylor and Hayley in their established home. Each sibling is impacted in some manner by the departure of their parents. Taylor holds onto a tremendous sense of responsibility, believing they should stay put in the community; Hayley wants to leave and explore. While these are not the most intriguing characters ever penned in an action show, each sibling is at least enjoyable to follow.
The Black’s efforts to establish an emotional element to its narrative are mixed at best. There are some genuine moments of heart as the two siblings strive to comfort each other in this world, but in three episodes alone, there is little depth. When it comes to the sibling’s community and friends, plot details are shoehorned in, making their relationship to both vapid. Another area where The Black struggles is in its character animations. Watching characters walk around and talk comes across goofy at times. Movement can appear robotic, and worst of all, some of the emotional moments come off flat given the stiff facial animations. Thankfully, the voice acting carries these scenes well enough, as to make sure they don’t entirely fall apart.
One thing leads to another and the siblings find themselves with a Jaeger and leaving their home. The Black’s world is super barren; compared to the fluorescent, post-apocalyptic playfulness that was on display in the first Pacific Rim movie, there is barely any flavor to this show’s setting. Thankfully, the pacing keeps the story interesting, balancing the use of quieter moments with that of action. Speaking of action, The Black provides some intense sequences that don’t include Jaegers fighting Kaiju. Whether it’s the siblings outrunning some relatively smaller Kaiju, or a group of people fighting off a larger one, The Black satisfies when it comes to exciting skirmishes.
At three episodes in, Pacific Rim: The Black looks to have some solid promise to it. Plot wise, it has some fun teases up its sleeves. New characters arrive over the course of episodes two and three, throwing a wrench into the plans of our protagonists. Even with some weak character animations and bland emotional depth, Pacific Rim: The Black provides enough solid set pieces to keep viewers interested.
source https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3654700/review-netflixs-pacific-rim-black-offers-promising-action-among-minor-faults/
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