Moonlight Mile 05 - How Goro Got His Groove Back
This episode employs a couple interesting devices that I haven’t seen from Moonlight Mile before and, frankly, that I didn’t expect it to employ in the first place. Was it entirely successful? Well, I dunno about that. But it’s nice to see them trying something different.
Our introduction to the first device comes right after the OP (have I mentioned how much I love this? Because I do!). The ballet “Giselle” is used as a running metaphor and here we get a little preamble. Basically, poor girl and rich boy meet and fall in love but boy won’t be with girl so girl dies of sorrow and becomes a spirit serving under the Fairy Queen. Surprised to see ballet in a series like Moonlight Mile? You and me both.
Then we see a man on a motorcycle in the snow. I don’t know much about motorcycles, but I’m pretty sure that’s not a good idea.
EXPLOSION!
But it’s taking place somewhere else. And it’s actually taking place before the scene with the motorcycle in the snow. The explosion was the rocket that was supposed to take Goro to space. The snow is Russia. There’s a space program there that Goro decides to volunteer for.
Back to the snow. Goro gets run off the road by some crazy Russian broad. But neither of them seems to mind.
Back to Japan. His space-buddies try to warn him about joining the Russian program (there was recently an accident with their rocket). But Goro’s too cool for school, he don’t care.
Back to Russia. By the way, Goro’s ladyfriend is a stripper. Nipples galore! Then he takes her home and gives it to her hard. Atta boy! I was beginning to wonder if he’d lost his touch.
It’s an interesting approach, the two split timelines - definitely a departure from Moonlight Mile’s generally linear style. At first I didn’t understand what in the world was going on, but once I figured out what they were doing, I was intrigued. I wonder what it means to start getting tricky like that almost halfway through the series. Well, we’ll have to wait and see if it means something deeper than just a new way of doing things.
Anyway, the Russian space program is looking pretty shoddy. The astronauts keep killing themselves in the simulations and then there’s yet another accident with the rocket. I kind of get the feeling that it’s all held together with tin foil and a prayer.
After the accident, Goro starts to, presumably, get nervous about his own mortality and sneaks off to see his woman. They have a nice day together. They also share a sweet moment where she talks about how she used to be a ballerina, and tells him the story of “Giselle” (don’t forget about our second device!). Apparently she quit because it was hard. No biggie, she likes stripping better. It’s kind of like a pep talk wrapped up in a story about how it’s OK to be a quitter.
Then Goro screws her up against one of the pillars. They don’t show you that part, but you totally know it happened.
There’s some more scenes of the two of them and a scene of the bitch-lady tucking Goro’s picture into her pocket (ooooooohhhh). Goro also has a bad dream about the launch. This seems like mostly an excuse to a) underscore the fact that Goro has slept with the woman again and b) show off her tits while she showers. Still, I appreciate the character development, such that it is.
And then…holy shit…miracle of miracles…the day comes when the rocket is actually ready to go!
They actually make it into space!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, and we get the end of our ballet story. Which boils down to, “it’s okay for lovers to go their own way.” Um…thanks?
I’m so excited that one of our duo finally made it up into space. It took awhile, which really surprised me considering how short this series is going to be, at least this first season of it (maybe it will continue, who knows). No we just need to get Lostman up there and we’re all set.
Wait, was there another plot? Something about a chick getting killed on the moon? Naaaahh.
Next time: Goro…in space!
