Biblical allegories and autonomous Patlabor's abound in the series first feature outing. We discover that while a bigger budget lets the animators shine even more brightly, the film doesn't lose sight of what makes Patlabor special: the way it values both human life and the inevitability of bureaucratic politics.

Song: Heavy Armor by Kenji Kawai, from the Patlabor: The Movie OST.

Show Notes:

Ultraman's Catholic Connections

Going into this episode we were all wondering, how would Patlabor follow up it's 2-part thrill ride and cap off the OVA with it's seventh and final episode. Do we found out the aftermath of the nearly successful nuclear-armed military coup mentioned? Nope! Could this episode have conceivably taken place all most any time after the first season? Probably! But we do get to go out on a perfectly executed tag-team clothesline. WRESTLING MENTIONED.

Show notes:

WWE and Organize Labor - https://grantland.com/features/wwe-hell-cell-john-cena-history-wrestling-real-scripted-labor-movement/

Working Stiff: Extending the Statutory Labor Dispute Exemption to WWE Wrestlers - https://jipel.law.nyu.edu/working-stiff-extending-the-statutory-labor-dispute-exemption-to-wwe-wrestlers/

After the previous episodes simmering political tensions and noir tone, it was really an open question if Patlabor could top itself. Well guess what!? It did! The SV2's Longest Day (Part 2) is Patlabor at it's very, very best, mixing together the series trademark obsession with bureaucracy and logistics, the rag-tag nature of SV2's crew, and the beguiling history of their leader Goto.

Show notes:

Wildcat Strikes

"Strike Authorization" example