Best Conversion Act

*ahem*
If you were to pick an Act of the Big O that you would show to someone who is either a really tough critic, or dislikes most anime (like me!); that would most likely convert them to a die-hard (or normal) Big O fan, what would it be?, since i personally didn't like the first and second acts.
-it should be easy enough to understand, but have some complications to it.
-no or very little background info needed
-have it all: a "non-forced" megadeus fight, some plot (to get them hooked to the other acts), etc.
-be easy to sit through, aka no real "boring" parts.

I haven't finished the series, but i'd choose "The Enemy is Another Big"
i know, i know. LOTS of background info, but that's the price to pay for a spectacular fight.

Yes, I was going to say the same act...

Why? You ask...Schwartzwald ofcourse,

"Everyone loves a german, if you don't...Your EXCOMMUNICATED!!"
-Soon to be the greatest words of all Papalcy, Pope Benedict...

Anyway, He is a fascinating charecter. Anyone with a sensical mind would be attached to this man, who is so enigmatic yet knows so much. As he said, one must yearn for truth, or he is nothing but a puppet. <- My paraphrasing.

The actual quote was...
"There is but one truth. If you avert your eyes from it. you are nothing but a puppet."

Either that or The Greatest Villian, just for the fun-factor

Big O is a really tricky show to get people hooked on. You have to watch the right several episodes in a row to see how different and incredible Big O.

If I were trying to get someone hooked I'd show them act 20 and 21 as a set. It's in the middle of several key story threads which would definitely be confusing, but understanding something isn't a pre-requisite to getting hooked on it. Acts 20 and 21 show several times over that Big O is not your typical super-hero show. Roger is obsensibly an absolute jerk for roughly 4/5ths of the series, these acts show that's Roger's got a heart and does care about people. Mainly though act 21 shows that Roger isn't your typical ball-less superhero. The episodes bring up freewill and refference tomatoes in such a way that you know it's not total cryptic-talk b.s. What you really want is to get people intrigued, once you've done that they'll be more likely to watch Big O if it happens to be on or search for it on TV listings.


muchlove
-Dork

I suggest watching the Greatest Villian, Leviathan, and The Legacy of Amadeus. Under no f***ing circumstances are you to try to woo over someone using Eyewitness. That is by far the most boring act ever. Sure its got some strange Asimov influence, but you could delete it from the series and get on with your life. The only scene even worth remembering is the infamous Pocket Rocket launcher...but thats sick..

quote:

Originally posted by BigOZ Under no f***ing circumstances are you to try to woo over someone using Eyewitness. That is by far the most boring act ever.

Hahhaa I also hate that epsoide! It is such a boaring epsoide! Hahaha I also personally think that A Legacy of Amadeius is also a boaring epsoide but thats just me ^_~"

Hmmmm honstly I have to agree with Dork its a rather hard series to jsut jump in on in the middle of it. The Greatest Villian is also a pretty good epsoide its gotta be one of the most memorable ones too. Other wise I think Missing cats kind of good too its got its little cuteness but enough dark stuff to lure you in as well. ^-^"

-Beth

I'm pretty sure that most people will likely choose their own favourite episodes, but regardless I'd say Leviathan

• Enigmatic narration by Schwarzwald himself
  
• Mystery of Schwarzwald's letters
  
• Big Megadeus battle featuring the show's namesake acting intriguingly
  
• Backdrop of Dorothy to entice most critics

Granted that you might need to know something about Angel prior to watching to understand her influence at all, but it's overall a good episode to get hooked from.

the first episode i watched all of, and make me realize "hey, this isn't jsut some giant robot show, there's soem real substance to this" was #14
plus, it has that incredible opening sequence

sure, i was completely lost, but i was interested
i sitll didn;t watch religiously after that, but i did watch when i could
then i saw 26, and i HAD to figure the series out

quote:

Originally posted by BigOZ I suggest watching the Greatest Villian

I disagree about The Greatest Villian. It's the 'oddball' of the Big O episodes, and it'll give people the wrong idea.

As for me, I suggest..

Missing Cat, and Daemon Seed

And remeber to replay Eugene's "Where's my kitty?" scene over, and over, and over again in English and Japanese.

12 and 13 back to back!

Action / Storyline and schwarzwald!

Act 4 - "Underground Terror". It presents all the mysteries, requires little background info, does some exposition, has Schwartzwald, has a unique robot battle but doesn't spend a whole episode on it, shows human elements, has a re-introduction of Angel without clogging the storyline, demonstrates what Roger does, and has great action.

Simply, it has everything about the series, but without the commitment, so it is presented in a single package for mass consumption.

quote:

Originally posted by Umino quote: Originally posted by BigOZ I suggest watching the Greatest Villian I disagree about The Greatest Villian. It's the 'oddball' of the Big O episodes, and it'll give people the wrong idea.

I was gonna say that.

I'd say 12-13-14 in a sequence. It's the point where the series starts getting really good, in terms of both plot and action.

I'd disagree on Leviathan... the twist at the end really lacks any punch if you don't have a good understanding of who Schwarzwald is.

quote:

Originally posted by Lady Tesser Act 4 - "Underground Terror". It presents all the mysteries, requires little background info, does some exposition, has Schwartzwald, has a unique robot battle but doesn't spend a whole episode on it, shows human elements, has a re-introduction of Angel without clogging the storyline, demonstrates what Roger does, and has great action. Simply, it has everything about the series, but without the commitment, so it is presented in a single package for mass consumption.

You're completely right. My idea sucked, the two I suggested were way to spoilerish.

Oh and Act 4 was the one that got me hooked.

Well, i'll just put my 2 cents in.
I first watched the Big O while flipping channels and came upon a part of Leviathan. i was like "this is freak'in weird" and just went back to it when i was really bored or when there was a commercial to some other show. the first full episode i saw was The Greatest Villain. I thought it was decent, but due to scheduling i missed all the acts until Twisted Memories. Than i saw the rest of the series. By the end, i was like "woa" and hence forth became hooked. I have to say that now i'm watching the series from the beginning i regret knowing the end, so i would advise against acts with spoilers, just in case they do get hooked, they won't regret knowing the truth at the end.

I would show act 12 to someone to try to get them to like Big O.
There was a good fight, and plenty of Schwarzwald's revolutionary words.

If I could only pick one episode, it would be Act 1. If I could pick two, it would be Act 1 and Act 2. They're intriguing, powerful, and mysterious. They are intended to take people who know nothing about the show and hook 'em, and they do it very well. None of the other episodes have what it takes.

quote:

Originally posted by A Clockwork Tomato If I could only pick one episode, it would be Act 1. If I could pick two, it would be Act 1 and Act 2. They're intriguing, powerful, and mysterious. They are intended to take people who know nothing about the show and hook 'em, and they do it very well. None of the other episodes have what it takes.

Yeah, I thought Act 1 (and 2) of Big O is the best opening episode(s) of any anime I've seen. It sets up the story, setting, major characters (yeah, not all of them, but most of them) and their dynamics.

Other than that, I'd say Act 4 (Underground Terror) is a good "gripper." And Act 8(?) (Missing Cat) has a lot of heart to it that some people might find intriguing.

Im going to go off on a limb here and say "Enemy is Another Big!"

In terms of actual artistic qualities, its one of the best. Schwarzwald is awesome in it and the way Big Duo is presented is awesome. I love the way the way Schwarzwald rises up on top of Big Duo after the party. The fight scene is incredible, both pilots are pushing their megadueces to the limit and kicking the crap out of each other. At the end seeing someone as fearsome and powerful as Schwarzwald soiling his pants when Big Duo gets up on his own is almost disturbing in a way. The question he asks at the end "Do we control them or do they control us/themselves*?" is a great cliffhanger type of question that generates even more interest in the series.

You'd have to explain a little bit about good ol' Schwarzie to the person first, but they'd figure it out soon enough.

[*I forgot what he said exactly]

I'd choose Acts 1 & 2 or Act 4. 1 & 2 just go together, so there's no use separating them. THey do a good job setting up the basics of Paradigm and give us good glimpses of Roger, Dorothy, Dastun, Norman and Beck.

Act 4 gives us the rest of the major Season 1 players and does a great job of introducing Rosewater and the giant that is Paradigm Group, as well as really giving the first questions in regards to what happened 40 Years Ago.

quote:

Originally posted by Captain Maw *ahem* If you were to pick an Act of the Big O that you would show to someone who is either a really tough critic, or dislikes most anime (like me!); that would most likely convert them to a die-hard (or normal) Big O fan, what would it be?, since i personally didn't like the first and second acts. -it should be easy enough to understand, but have some complications to it. -no or very little background info needed -have it all: a "non-forced" megadeus fight, some plot (to get them hooked to the other acts), etc. -be easy to sit through, aka no real "boring" parts. I haven't finished the series, but i'd choose "The Enemy is Another Big" i know, i know. LOTS of background info, but that's the price to pay for a spectacular fight.

Gotta agree with you... enemy is another big is what I show all my friends