Gankutsuou, ep. 01-06

[oyceter]

Gankutsuou is based on Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, although I am fairly certain Dumas' version didn't take place on the moon. Or in the year 5053, for that matter. Plotwise, all I can really say is that the Count has nefarious plans. Thanks to cultural osmosis, I am fairly certain these plans involve revenge of some sort. So far, he

Comments

[meganbmoore]

*reads post for 3rd time*

No, no. I suspect that we could tell you the entire plot, point by point, and only minimally spoil you.

(The moon! No one told me it was set on the moon!)

[magicnoire]

You haven't seen Gankutsuou? ;__; This was my favorite anime before Mononoke kicked it out of the #1 slot.

[meganbmoore]

Nope. Keep meaning to, but haven't.

[oyceter]

Heeee! Yes, parts are on the moon! Some are also in France on Earth, but I'm sure the moon will come back in play.

[rilina]

I've read the book, but it was so long ago that I only remember the sketchiest details.

I think I may have to watch more of this later to find out if the Count is indeed an alien, vampire, smurf, or some combination of the three.

[oyceter]

I think you should too! Maybe you will be able to figure out more of the plot than I have so far, although from other comments it seems like general confusion is the norm.

[magicnoire]

But here's the trick! Gankutsuou diverges from the book and the endings are different!

[oyceter]

Now I will be even more confused! Although I do want to read the book some day, so I still don't want to know what happens.

[therck]

The weird patterning actually made this one near impossible for me to watch. It made me dizzy and a little sick. I watched part of the first DVD (from the library) and ended up giving up on the series.

I did get kind of cranky with Albert, though. I had the feeling that there were big neon signs over the Count flashing 'I'm evil' and 'Stay away. This is a Bad Idea.'

[oyceter]

Oh, I can definitely see how the patterning would make it impossible to watch.

Right now I am ignoring Albert's stupidity and just pretending that it's because he's the ingenue.

[etrangere]

It's Dumas' best possible adaptation : not faithful at all from the fact, but just as DRAMATIC. I think Dumas would approve.

[oyceter]

It seems very dramatic indeed! It also makes me want a version of Three Musketeers as a space opera.

[magicnoire]

I agree. It's not the most faithful adaptation in terms of events and storylines (though I think the storylines that are there are recognizably part of the Monte Cristo mtyhos) but it has the DRAMA down. And the "OMG, your soul is in mortal peril, what are you doing?!" bit down too. The spirit is there.