Whiplash, The Anime
- Episodes : 13
- Genre : Action, Sci-Fi, Comedy, Police
- Airing Date : September 2018 to December 2018
- Studios : Sunrise
Contains Spoilers
Double Decker! Doug & Kirill Introduction and Story
Expectations define an experience. Anime crime dramas are in relatively short supply, but the industry has blessed audiences with some fantastic shows. Typically featuring a refreshingly older cast, the genre offers an opportunity to step away from high schools and explore the streets! Comparisons to Psycho-Pass are invariably destined to be unflattering, but Double Decker! Doug & Kirill attempts to reframe a recognizable premise in a new light. Toeing the line between comedy and drama, Sunrise's anime centers around the SEVEN-O, a special task force devised to combat a mysterious drug called Anthem. Matched up with the cool-headed Doug Billingham, Kirill Vrubel aspires to be a famous heroic detective adored by the public! Unfortunately for the constable, life is never so straightforward!
1. Tiger & Bunny
Along with belonging to a rarely touched genre, Double Decker! Doug & Kirill drew attention due to a loose connection to Tiger & Bunny. Reuniting several staff members who worked on the beloved superhero anime, Double Decker! Doug & Kirill can almost be regarded as a spiritual sequel, with the crime drama sharing many traits with its predecessor. Is this a must watch for fans of Tiger & Bunny? No, but Double Decker! Doug & Kirill should be an enjoyable sit. Sunrise maintains a comedic tone throughout the majority of the series, although the main plot is taken rather seriously. If abused, Anthem turns users into hulking monstrosities, which tend to manifest as a physical representation of the person's primal desires. The action is fast paced and exciting, while the criminal element is presented and explored effectively.
2. Perfect for the Job
Given the creative pedigree behind Sunrise's anime, it should come as little surprise that the characters are nearly universally awesome. Stealing the show as the main detectives, Kirill and Doug compliment each other splendidly! Instead of regurgitating the same tired buddy cop formula, Double Decker! Doug & Kirill allows the detectives to near instantly form a rapport, with the anime refusing to waste everyone's time by pretending the partners are a poor match. Such cliches should remain in the 1980s. Perpetually level-headed, Doug personifies "cool;" conversely, Kirill's motto is "don't think, feel so good!" The broken English merely adds to the character's charm. Be it the hilariously outdated Travis Murphy or the complex Maxine, the SEVEN-O refuses to hire anyone who is anything less than exceptional!
3. Good to be Bad
Double Decker! Doug & Kirill's heroes are a blast, but can the same be said about the villains? After all, a detective is only as brilliant as the criminals they are assigned to apprehend. Responsible for distributing the poisonous drug, Esperanza is a criminal organization with ties to the military. Flourishing in the seedy underbelly of the otherwise peaceful Lisvalletta, the anime's resident mafia is home to the only group of people qualified to encroach under Doug's skin. Double Decker! Doug & Kirill introduces two intimidating antagonists in Bamboo Man and Zabel Franken, who are both allocated enough screentime to mature into real personas rather than just enemies to be conquered by the SEVEN-O.
1. Tone
Endeavoring to blend comedy, action, and procedural elements; Double Decker! Doug & Kirill is undeniably ambitious. How well does the anime handle the diverse genres? Inspected separately, the scenes deliver on their initial promise! Whether seeking to be funny or explosive, more often than not, Double Decker! Doug & Kirill manages to accomplish its task without much fuss.
2. Sadly, the whole amounts to less than the sum of its parts.
Sunrise's series suffers from a bad case of tonal whiplash. Double Decker! Doug & Kirill does not know the meaning of subtlety, which is particularly apparent when it comes to the humor. Periodically pausing an episode to riff on the action, a disruptive narrator makes Double Decker! Doug & Kirill seem like a parody of procedurals. If the story reflected the narrator's tone, then it might have been acceptable, but that is not the case.
Final Thoughts
Fall 2018 was packed with engrossing, gorgeous, and thought-provoking anime. Eclipsed by the likes of Goblin Slayer and Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, Double Decker! Doug & Kirill seems to have flown under most people's radars. Such an oversight must be amended! Is Sunrise's anime perfect? No, there are definitely tonal and pacing issues. Nevertheless, Double Decker! Doug & Kirill's lovable cast and entertaining premise help smooth over any cracks.
Did you agree with our review? Is Double Decker! Doug & Kirill worth watching? Please let us know in the comments below!
Author: Mark Sammut
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