Pat's Labor Episode 04: The Tragedy of L
A simple ghost story… or is it?
Like lots of TV shows, Patlabor is a show about cops. It's funny, gorgeous, and prescient, but its entire cast of main characters are all members of a (giant robot) police force. The show has touched briefly on what it means to be an armed agent of the state, but mostly through the prism of Japan's governmental bureaucracy and regulation. Episode 4 takes this topic head on.
In The Tragedy of L, the often irresponsible ways that cops use guns (or simply have them on hand) is not just the explosive instigating incident, but at the core of the episode's themes. Also, ghosts! This is also a spooky mystery story set in a remote school that was recently host to a tragedy all it's own. This gives Pat the opportunity to explore the real ghosts of the labor movement.
Song: "Miraiha Lovers" performed by Hiroko Kasahara from Patlabor: The Early Days
Show notes:
Video podcast (with extra content) for Mini-Boss and Big Boss members below!