FLCL’s sequel seasons are certainly living up to their names. Where Progressive showed what felt like the next logical step in the FLCL canon, Alternative offers a fresh take on FLCL with a more casual demeanor and less zaniness. Musings about teenage life and giant robot battles still find their way in, but for the most part, Alternative’s premiere seems more interested in the mundane. This change of pace makes Alternative a bit hard to read, and I couldn’t get a good impression of exactly what the show hopes to achieve beyond once again exploring the challenges of growing up.
Per usual, FLCL: Alternative tells the story of a troubled teen. This time around our subject is Kana, a run-of-the-mill high schooler with a penchant for long-winded monologues. Her pessimistic outlook on the world around her is reminiscent of other FLCL protagonists Naoto and Hidomi, but her bubbly exterior sets her apart from her predecessors. She jokes with her family, crushes on boys, and works as a waitress at a cafe. It will be interesting to see how the show explores her internal angst later on, but for now it is nice to see the series take on a less broody main character.
Source: IGN.com "Flying Memory" is a fun premiere that lacks a clear direction