Yes, that was distracting me the entire episode.
Impressions:
The first thing I can’t help but notice since every single scene is filled with haze to show how prolific steam power is in this world is how utterly immaculate everybody’s clothing and hair is. Do you know how sweltering it would be if the steam is literally so thick that it hangs in the air? But that KyoAni special attention has been given to make sure that everybody’s kimonos are spotless, every coiffure immaculate, all skin unblemished by sweat or moisture, even while they repeatedly blast steam out from the blistering hot pipes everywhere. You’re going out of your way to make this unusual setting and call so much attention to it, but everything’s so baseline pretty and flawless, so all you end up with as the ‘magic’ of electricity is that it has bloom. These people should be dripping with sweat and grime. Those clothes should be unwearable. The entire city would be a damn swamp. I can think of some benefits to electricity besides fairy lights, guys.
But don’t think that this is some meaningful show either. Everyone’s pretty puerile cariacatures. We start with the obnoxious shounen protagonist who likes to yell that nobody truly understands how great electricity is. Also, how the episode ends, with him screaming AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! for giggles. Then move on to the quirky girl sidekick who even has a mascot pet and is amazed by literally everything. And then there’s the cackling, slavering antagonist loanshark dude who keeps getting overanimated in the worst ways. If you’re noticing a lack of plot, that’s because there wasn’t really one. Only the loose thread that they’re all either after or unknowingly in possession of the titular catalog. Only the evil dude is actually looking for it though, so kudos to him for trying. More than can be said for Yelly McAnnoying.
