Summary Transcript of the Interview of the Dead part 1:

N:”Are we on? We’re on? Yes? Hello and welcome to the program. We’re here on location at Tokonosu Airport for an interview with the recently deceased Korean actor Bae Yong-joon, who you may recognize from the popular K-Drama Winter Sonata! Joining us today is Doctor Motto Oppai from the Japan Institute for Zombie Mutterings, or JIZM for short. Doctor, it’s good to have you on the program.”

DO: “Thank you.”

N: “Before we get started, I’d like to ask you about your involvement with JIZM.”

DO: “Right. As a young girl I’d always dreamed of getting my hands dirty in the world of science, and in that regard working with JIZM has been like a dream come true. Their up close and personal approach gives me the opportunity to study zombies in their natural setting and help spread JIZM’s message of love and understanding all over.”

N: “Wonderful. Now, Yon-sama, can I call you Yon-sama? Yon-sama, how do you think the new zombie look will go over with your female fans?”

BYJ: “Hnnnggggrrrraaannngggglllleee.”

N: “Fascinating. Dr. Oppai?”

DO: “Yes, as near as I can make out, he said ‘Hnnnggggrrrraaannngggglllleee.’”

N: “Okay… would you mind interpreting that for the viewers?”

DO: “Sure. Ahem. He appears to have said ‘Hnnnggggrrrraaannngggglllleee.’”

N. “Sure, but -”

BYJ: “Aaaaaarrrrglllleeeemmmmmnnnnarrrr.”

N: “Er, Intern Ted, could you check on Yon-sama’s restraints? He appears to be a bit agitated. Now, Doctor Oppai, we were under the impression that you could communicate with the zombies….”

DO: “Due to my extensive research and training, I can understand exactly what the zombies are SAYING. As to what they actually mean, well, that’s something we’re still working on.”

IT: “Ah, sir….”

N: “So you’re saying that JIZM was a bit premature in their offer of translation?”

IT: “Um, sir….”

DO: “It’s a little embarrassing, but with steady effort and an even rhythm of interaction, we’re hoping that JIZM will produce results in that direction soon.”

IT: “Ah, sir….”

N: “Intern Ted, can’t you see we’re trying to do an interview here!?”

BYJ: “Mmmmmnagggggrrrrrnnnnnn.”

ZIT: “AAAArrrgggglleeemhhhhhnggggg.”

DO: “I believe they said “Mmmmmnagggggrrrrrnnnnnn” and “AAArrrgggglleeemhhhhhnggggg,” respectively.

N: “Yes, thanks for that. Er, could we get a little help over here?”

- End Transcript of the Interview of the Dead part 1

Thirty second spot version:
Clearing the runway of foreign debris, Rika Minami demonstrates the proper way to wear police-issue body armor. Meanwhile, those not fortunate enough to be on a plane at Tokonosu Airport are stuck on the bridges trying to cross the river. Among those hoping to cross is our favorite busload of high schoolers, who decide they’ve had enough of Mr. Shido’s attempts to control their student bodies. Leaving the bus, the remaining four of the original six run into a spot of zombie trouble, and things look a bit grim until Takashi and Rei appear to lend a hand (and a broomstick, and a motorcycle). Reunited, and knowing that they’re going to have trouble crossing the river, the six decide that a little downtime would be appropriate and head toward an apartment belonging to Shizuka’s “friend” to marshal their strength.

Reaction:

Making up for a weak episode four, this week’s installment features a hot new character who knows how to handle over-sized cannons, and rifles, as well as an awesome battle sequence that seriously puts the “bi” back in bike-fu. Rika is the purple-haired police sniper (and amateur film critic) who helps put down the zombie problem at the airport. We’re given strong visual hints that she is the “friend” that Shizuka refers to at the end of the episode, though we’ve haven’t been given confirmation yet, and her intention to return to the city could put her in contact with the main group in short order. In a broader sense, her introduction heralds the gradual revelation of the forces of order in the region who have remained mostly unseen (or were mostly just dead) up until now. Though chaos is still rampant in the city, we are shown that there is a coordinated effort to confine the zombie outbreak to certain areas and prevent the infected, and anyone who might be infected, from crossing the river. While I’m not sure how effective this attempt at isolation is going to be, as even restricted areas like the airport are not zombie-free zones, the blockade has at least been proven effective against school age delinquents, so our protagonists will definitely have to look for another way out.

I was glad to see the core group ditch the dead wood and the increasingly oily Mr. Shido, even though it came at the cost of the bus. While the group does get a convenient power-up at the end of the episode with the secured Humvee, getting away from Shido and the hopeless situation at the bridge was a definite priority. I’m sure that we haven’t seen the last of Shido and his cronies, but hopefully the group will be ready to face him when they inevitably encounter one another again. Along with them taking charge of their own fates, it was also nice to see some of the other characters getting development this time; with Kohta really stepping up and proving that he will no longer passively accept his lot, and Saya doing some of the long-term tactical thinking that will eventually help them get out of crisis mode, and away from larger battles like the one they fought here.

As well as making for a nice reunion, the big battle scene was a clear indication of how everyone has powered up over the day since the zombie outbreak, as Rei’s spear skills have definitely leveled up and Takashi is proving that he is capable with multiple forms of weaponry (even though he wisely hands the gun off to the almost scarily-accurate Kohta). Saeko is fun to watch as she increasingly appears to be enjoying her work, and Shizuka is awesome at being useless. The presentation may have been a bit heavy-handed, but the whole thing underscored the fact that when they’re all together they make a great fighting unit, something I hope that Rei will keep in mind in the future. And though it was nice to have everyone back together (the split-screen action was getting old), I’m starting to wonder if we’re seeing the edges of a love pentagon with Takashi at the apex. We already know that Saya and Rei have had their eyes on him the whole time, and while Saeko appeared to just want to keep her word earlier on, she was really glad to see Takashi, and there’s no mistaking the grip that Shizuka had on Takashi’s crotch rocket. Hopefully the situation won’t escalate into cat fights (okay, maybe I’m hoping for that), but it’s probably a good thing that Takashi is holding on to Kohta’s ammo for now…..

That bike ride before the credits was hilarious, and though the gg translation had a comment about the nice breeze, it looks like the folks over at Sentai Filmworks are having a bit of fun with their “official” translation. If next week’s preview is a content indicator, we could be in for the “Dirty Dirty Truth” part two, or perhaps an advertisement for “Earl’s Foaming Zombie Wash.” It’s hard to tell at this point, but I’m definitely looking forward to more “action.” Until then.

Related posts:

1. Highschool of the Dead 01
2. Highschool of the Dead 09
3. Highschool of the Dead 02