Episode 6 – Thunder 3

One persistent flaw in Thunder 3 has been its tendency to sideline the main trio, and this installment is no exception as they remain entirely absent. Instead, the narrative doubles down on Segami, a character as flat and lifeless as a cardboard cutout. Unfortunately, he isn’t alone in this regard. Despite utilizing 3D CG animation, the “real world” human cast lacks any semblance of dimension, expression, or dynamic body language. It makes one wonder if the creators are simply unfamiliar with basic emotional cues or if they were severely limited by budget and effort. While I initially hoped this lifeless apathy among background citizens was a satirical jab at smartphone-addicted modern society, it ultimately feels more like a byproduct of sloppy production.

Consider the sequence where Segami and his heavily armed militia step off a bus carrying massive bazookas—heavy artillery you certainly don’t expect to see casually lugged through urban Japan. Not a single bystander blinks. When a colossal alien war machine stomps down the main thoroughfare, a local casually remarks that the threat is “best left ignored.” It completely shatters any semblance of realistic human behavior. It isn’t until a bazooka actually blows the mecha apart that the citizens finally spring into frantic, stiff-limbed panic.

Miraculously, Thunder 3 manages to render a high-stakes battle entirely tedious. The pacing is sluggish, and the wooden character models prevent any emotional resonance. When one of Segami’s companions meets a grim end via a glowing alien projectile, it barely registers. Segami delivers a fleeting mention of his mother before pressing onward, but the scene evokes nothing more than utter numbness.

The episode’s only genuine high point occurs in the opening sequence featuring the lost toddler Futaba wandering the alien mothership, reducing the spindly invaders to sheer terror. Her interaction with a furry creature named Q-chan is charming, but the sequence vastly overstays its welcome. Moments that pass by quickly in the manga are stretched to agonizing lengths here, padding out the runtime unnecessarily. Not even a cute child can salvage this sluggish adaptation.

On the bright side, the world-building holds a modicum of intrigue. The idea that Segami’s incompetent paramilitary squad relies on QR codes on their smartphones for tactical weapons training provides a darkly humorous touch. The mysterious alien-fluid nasal spray given to Segami also sparks curiosity, though viewers are left waiting for specifics. By the time the series decides to answer these questions, it risks exhausting whatever patience the audience has left.

Rating:

Thunder 3 is currently streaming on
Netflix.