A New Twist on an Old Tale: Scott Pilgrim's Unconventional Journey

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, the eight-episode anime released on Netflix on November 17, 2023, has garnered immense popularity within just two days. This adaptation of the familiar Scott Pilgrim story surprises both new viewers and long-time fans with a twist in its first episode.

Disclaimer: The subsequent assessment of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off comprises divulgence of key plot points from the recently debuted anime, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World the film, as well as insights from the original comic. Please note that all viewpoints expressed are subjective.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off: What's the story like without Scott?

First episode: Scott dies?!

How Scott vs. Patel usually goes vs. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (Image via Our Website)

Many fans are familiar with the iconic story of Scott Pilgrim, whether through the comic or the movie. The tale revolves around Scott, a Canadian musician who happens to be a professional slacker. He falls head over heels for a mysterious new girl named Ramona Flowers, which leads him on a challenging journey to win her heart.

In order to pursue a romantic relationship with Ramona, Scott finds himself facing a daunting task. He must battle against a league of seven Evil Exes, all of whom are former romantic partners of Ramona. This epic showdown becomes the backdrop of their unconventional love story.

The first episode of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off faithfully adheres to this gripping narrative. It begins by introducing Scott and his bandmates, as well as his questionable group of "friends." Soon enough, he crosses paths with Ramona, and a connection sparks between them. However, their budding romance is abruptly interrupted when the first Evil Ex, Matthew Patel, appears. As tradition dictates, their first clash takes place at the infamous Rockit club.

Days in the lives of the other characters

In both the film and comic, Matthew is ultimately defeated in a dramatic and extravagant clash that includes fireballs, summoning of a demon girl, and Scott's bewildered state of mind regarding his own identity. However, in the episode titled "Scott Pilgrim Takes Off," Matthew effortlessly knocks out Scott with a single punch right at the onset of their confrontation, officially initiating the fight.

In Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (Image via Our Website), the focus is shifted away from Scott and towards the other characters, making it a departure from the graphic novel and the movie. Despite being marketed as a faithful adaptation of the graphic novel, the show gives everyone else a chance to shine, with the Evil Exes League now becoming more involved with the entire cast rather than solely focusing on Scott's relationship with Ramona.

The focus of the story shifts to the other characters as Ramona investigates the disappearance of Scott. She is skeptical about his death as she witnessed him being taken through a portal in the security footage during the fight. This revelation expands the world of the comics, showing that there is more to it than just Scott.

In episode 2, the Evil Exes League undergoes a hostile takeover when Patel defeats Gideon and assumes control. Young Neil mysteriously writes a screenplay in his sleep, while Knives Chau joins Scott's band, S*x Bob-Omb, and learns to play bass in just four hours. Ramona also manages to reconcile with all of her exes.

Differences between the stories

Example of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off vs. the film and Comic: Fighting Roxie (Image via Our Website)

In addition to the unexpected twist of Scott's disappearance, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off presents several notable variations in the storyline. One major difference is the increased focus on Ramona in the show. This is particularly surprising considering that she receives little attention in the graphic novel, only being portrayed as Scott's detached girlfriend and the initial target of the Seven Exes, and no attention at all in the movie.

Furthermore, the Seven Exes themselves are explored in greater detail, revealing how and why each of them fell in and out of love with Ramona. This highlights the potential for personal growth and change among these characters, which diverges significantly from the movie and graphic novel where they are simply defeated one by one. The series takes on a more mysterious vibe, resembling a "whodunnit" narrative, as Ramona collaborates with the Exes and Scott's friends, while they reciprocally assist her.

Notable characters that receive more attention also encompass Young Neil, Matthew Patel, Robot 0-1, and various others, who were either insignificant or had contrasting narratives, such as Stephen Stills, Knives Chau, and Wallace. Scott is compelled to address his own poor choices and actions, aligning with his initial rendition in the comic book series.

The animation

Additionally, the noteworthy animation in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off deserves further discussion due to its impeccable quality. One particularly commendable aspect is the subtle blur effect employed when highlighting specific characters, along with the seamless execution of mundane actions like Ramona dying her hair in the opening scene of each episode.

The show's animation is already captivating, but it truly shines with its variety of animation styles. In episode 3, the thrilling movie fight between Roxie and Ramona showcases different animation techniques. Episode 4 features a visually stunning Studio Trigger inspired fight between Lucas Lee and the ninjas. Additionally, episode 5, filmed in a documentary style, adds another layer of creativity. The overall effect beautifully mimics the comic book style, incorporating dynamic sound effects, musical cues, and immersive background effects to highlight important moments, such as Knives learning to play bass or the intense sparks and fireworks that accompany passionate kisses.

The cast

In Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, the beloved 2010 film boasts a star-studded cast returning to reprise their roles. The only exceptions are Keita and Shouta Saitou, who played the Katayanagi Twins, as their roles are now voiced by Julian Cihi in the series. With over 10 years having passed, fans have been curious about how the cast would sound after such a long time.

Fortunately, the cast has not missed a beat in their performances. Michael Cera effortlessly embodies the laid-back nature of Scott, while Mary Elizabeth Winstead delivers a drier sense of humor as Ramona. Additionally, the remainder of the cast, with their expanded roles, are able to display even better performances.

The cast is further enhanced by the inclusion of guest stars such as Kevin McDonald, who is known for lending his voice to Pleakley in Lilo and Stitch, Will Forte who portrays Mcgruber, the talented "Weird Al" Yankovic, and the likes of Simon Pegg. It has been reported that the original cast members were immensely thrilled to reprise their respective roles, with Chris Evans promptly confirming his decision within just 20 minutes of receiving the offer.

Sequel, alternate universe, or both?

Real Old Scott from Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is pitted against Nega Scott from the comics. The image, available on Our Website, captures this intense showdown.

Before diving into the series, fans often ponder a compelling question: Is Scott Pilgrim Takes Off a sequel to the comics or an alternate universe? The answer lies in its unique blend of both. While it serves as a continuation of the original comics, it also delves into an alternate reality. In this reality, certain pivotal events such as the defeat of the Exes, the marriage of Ramona and Scott, and other significant occurrences do not transpire due to Scott's sudden disappearance.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is a sequel to the original comic as it delves into Old Scott and Even Older Scott's experiences in an alternate future. In episode 7, Present Scott uses the Virtual Boy/Virtual Guy to view the events of the comic timeline, represented by the intense red color. In a nutshell, the storyline reveals that Ramona and Scott were once married but ended up getting divorced, which deeply affected Old Scott.

What sets this series apart is its exploration of the flaws and shortcomings of both Ramona and Scott as individuals. Unlike the movie adaptation, which only briefly touched on this aspect, the audience is given insight into how the older, more resentful version of Scott came to be.

Ramona and Scott deconstructed and reconstructed

Ramona and Scott deconstructed in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (Image via Our Website)

What Scott Pilgrim Takes Off succeeds in is its ability to deconstruct and reconstruct the characters of Scott and Ramona. By removing Scott from the story, it allows Ramona to truly shine without the facade of aloofness she had maintained around him. This provides the audience with a clearer insight into Ramona herself.

In this series, Ramona is not as aloof as she may seem. In fact, she is arguably the warmest and kindest version of herself once the mask is removed. She also exhibits a playful and silly nature. However, her flaws are also revealed – she tends to flee when faced with difficult situations and views her exes as villains, disregarding their humanity.

Final thoughts

Scott is similarly scrutinized in this situation as he is confronted by both Old Scott and Even Older Scott, who reveal his numerous flaws. These flaws, akin to Ramona's, primarily revolve around his consistent refusal to take responsibility for his actions, such as the significant age difference between him and Knives, as well as his tendency to mooch off Wallace.

If Gideon and Julie's potential partnership hinted at the end of the last episode is realized, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off may not be over just yet. Nevertheless, the current content is already impressive. Surprisingly, removing the main character, Scott, has led to numerous delightful moments. One notable outcome is Ramona's early and extensive character growth.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is a delightfully nostalgic anime adventure that not only captures the essence of the original comic books, which were first published in 2004, but also the whimsical charm of the movie. It successfully builds upon these foundations, making it a must-watch for even those who have only experienced the film. The series offers a captivating story, stunning animation, and a heartfelt touch evident in every episode.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about the new anime series "Scott Pilgrim Takes Off." On the one hand, I appreciate the fresh take on the beloved story and the shift in focus to other characters. On the other hand, I feel that the show's departure from the original comic and movie may alienate some fans.

Overall, I think "Scott Pilgrim Takes Off" is a well-made and entertaining series that is sure to appeal to fans of the original story. However, I would have preferred a more faithful adaptation of the source material.