Ep 2. I Said I'm Gonna Pilot That Thing!

In Gurren Lagann season 1 episode 2, titled "I Said I'm Gonna Pilot That Thing!," we follow our protagonist, Simon, as he teams up with his friend, Kamina, to take on the Beastmen and fight for the freedom of their underground village.

After Simon's success in piloting the mech, Lagann, in the previous episode, Kamina is convinced that Simon has the potential to become a great pilot and join him in his quest to fight for their freedom. Kamina, being the reckless and impulsive leader that he is, decides to steal a new and much larger mech from the Beastmen and put Simon in the pilot's seat.

Despite Simon's lack of confidence and experience, Kamina pushes him to take control of the mech, named Gurren, and stand up against the Beastmen. They both enter the cockpit, but it's Simon who takes the reins and activates the machine.

As they venture into the surface world, they encounter many obstacles and enemies, but they manage to push through with the power of their resolve and the spirit of rebellion burning inside them. Simon's lack of skill and the incredible size of the machine leave him struggling to keep control at times, but he refuses to give up, and with Kamina's encouragement, he manages to make it work.

Throughout the episode, we get to see more of Kamina's character and his style of leadership. He is confident to the point of being cocky, but he also has a genuine sense of loyalty and respect for his comrades. He sees the good in Simon and wants to build him up, even if it means putting him in harm's way.

As they continue to fight the Beastmen, Kamina and Simon encounter a new adversary, Viral, who pilots his own Beastman mech. They engage in an intense battle, and it becomes clear that Viral is a formidable opponent. With Kamina and Simon working together, they manage to outsmart and defeat Viral, but not without some damage to their mech.

Throughout the episode, we also see a subplot involving Yoko Littner, a skilled marksman who joins forces with Kamina and Simon. She helps them take down the Beastmen and gives them some insight into the world above ground. Yoko is a strong, independent woman who knows how to take care of herself, and she quickly becomes an important member of the team.

Overall, "I Said I'm Gonna Pilot That Thing!" is a thrilling and action-packed episode that sets the tone for the rest of the series. We get to see the bond between Kamina and Simon grow stronger as they work together to fight for their freedom. We also get to witness the emergence of Yoko as a key player in the rebellion.

The animation and character design are vibrant and engaging, and the soundtrack adds to the intense and emotional moments. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers eager to see what happens next and how our heroes will continue to fight against the Beastmen.