Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, directed by BenDavid Grabinski and written by original creator Bryan O'Malley, marks the return of Scott Pilgrim in animated form on Netflix today. In the very first episode, the show takes a significant departure from its source material, and we'll dive into the details right here.
The anime revolves around a musician who falls in love with his dream woman and faces a daunting challenge of dealing with her numerous ex-boyfriends. The plot seems reminiscent of a popular movie. However, episode 1 takes an unexpected turn, defying all anticipated notions for this series. Before delving into details, be aware that there are significant spoilers for episode 1.
The series’ titles foreshadow the Episode 1 twist
Frankly speaking, it was pretty obvious that this would happen. The series explicitly suggests that he "Takes Off," and the initial episode is even titled "Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life."
However, there is a surprising turn of events in Episode 1 as Scott Pilgrim seemingly meets his demise. Initially, the anime appears to parallel the storyline of the movie, depicting Scott's chaotic life, his complicated relationship with Knives, and his newfound romance with Ramona. As a consequence of this romantic entanglement, he finds himself confronted by Matthew Patel, the initial member of the group known as Ramona's Seven Evil Exes.
As anticipated, the anticipated fight unfolds with Scott emerging as the victor, initiating his quest to win Ramona's affection. Nevertheless, things take an unexpected turn as Matthew Patel emerges triumphant against Scott Pilgrim.
Scott executes many of the actions depicted in the film, however, his attempt to defend against Patel's powerful blow proves futile. In a sudden flash, Scott vanishes, leaving behind only a few coins. Consequently, Episode 1 concludes.
Moreover, this is not merely a comedic moment used once; the entire ensemble of characters is stunned by Scott's effortless defeat, and his demise carries on as a lingering theme in the subsequent episode.
This twist surprisingly doesn’t pose much of an issue
In our 4-star review of the anime, we find it to be a stunning revelation, which undoubtedly justifies the series' purpose. It cleverly challenges our understanding of this franchise, allowing it to captivate us, regardless of whether we have watched the movie or not.
And although it may be surprising, the issue is not of significant concern. While Michael Cera will always be beloved as Scott Pilgrim, his particular acting style, known as "Michael Cera-isms," could not be fully expressed in animated form. Removing the character was likely the best decision. Some fans may be upset by this choice, but it is important for each new adaptation to explore different aspects of a franchise, which is exactly what this anime accomplishes.
We won't reveal any more details in this article, except to mention that Patel's talents will be further showcased later on. Rest assured, the series still holds more twists and turns, so be sure to watch it before any spoilers come your way!
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is now available to stream on Netflix. Check out our other Netflix coverage below:
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Editor's P/S
In the first episode of the anime series "Scott Pilgrim Takes Off," a surprising twist occurs that challenges expectations for the series. Scott Pilgrim, the protagonist, meets his demise at the hands of Matthew Patel, one of Ramona's seven evil exes. This twist is both unexpected and intriguing, as it raises questions about the direction of the series and how it will deviate from the source material.
The twist is also significant because it highlights the differences between the anime and the movie. In the movie, Scott is able to defeat Matthew Patel and continue his quest to win Ramona's affection. However, in the anime, Scott is defeated and seemingly killed, leaving the audience to wonder what will happen next. This twist suggests that the anime will take a different path than the movie, and it will be interesting to see how the story unfolds.