Summary
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off’s big twist caught fans off guard, but it was actually hinted at from the beginning. The anime’s title foreshadows Scott’s disappearance as he literally “takes off”. Satya Bhabha’s third billing as Matthew Patel suggests that his role will be much bigger than the comics or movies.
Warning: MAJOR spoilers for Scott Pilgrim ahead!!! The biggest turning point in Scott Pilgrim takes off has literally been hiding in plain sight this whole time. The latest adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s hit Scott Pilgrim series is finally available on Netflix. It was highly anticipated by fans because it not only used the comics’ iconic art style but also brought together the entire cast from the 2010 film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. However, there’s one moment that’s been discussed more than any other in this series, and it’s the game-changer that completely changes the story.
In the very first episode, titled The Precious Life of Scott Pilgrim, the show seems to follow every beat of the story. Scott finds himself in a difficult situation after being dumped by Envy Adams, dating Knives Chau as a way to forget her. When he met Ramona Flowers and began dating her, he was suddenly ambushed by Matthew Patel, the first member of the League of Evil Exes, in a challenge to fight for Ramona’s heart. However, things turned out to be far different from what fans imagined as the series deviated from the original story as Matthew Patel was shown to have defeated Scott and not the other way around.
It was a shocking moment that caught fans completely off guard. One could argue that this isn’t what the series suggested would happen based on promotional material hinting at a new adaptation of the same Scott Pilgrim story. The problem is, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
The title of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off essentially foreshadows a major twist
What’s interesting about the secret behind the big twist in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off’s story is that it actually hinted at the anime’s biggest changes right from the start with the title. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off seems like a normal, discreet title to give the series a defining name different from previous adaptations. However, after watching the movie, it actually tells fans exactly what’s going to happen: Scott Pilgrim quite literally succeeds. He’s gone and that creates an alternate reality where Scott’s story never happened. It’s a small detail that really comes in handy after knowing what’s coming. However, the title isn’t the only thing the series foreshadows about Scott’s fate.
Suggest Matthew Patel’s actor billing in a larger role
Before the film’s official release, Netflix shared the anime’s official opening to get fans more excited. However, what fans did not expect was a genius clue in his happy casting list. Michael Cera and Mary Elizabeth Winstead understandably have the highest billing since they play Scott and Ramona, but Matthew Patel’s Satya Bhabha voice actor follows them as the third credited actor. This is a big hint at what’s to come because typically the higher someone is on the cast list, the more prominent they are in the story.
When looking back at the opening credits of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Bhabha is placed quite low on the bill, next to the Katayangi Twins (played by Keita and Shota Saito) because he only appears in one scene. However, in Takes Off, he plays a much larger role as he not only believes he has defeated Scott, but also uses his confidence to become the new leader of the League of Evil Exes.
These little details are a clever way for the anime to hint that the series won’t be what most viewers expect from a Scott Pilgrim adaptation. They may seem rather mundane at first, but eagle-eyed fans of the series will quickly realize how it will tell this type of story from start to finish. Scott Pilgrim takes off may not have been what fans were expecting when it was first revealed, but the fact that it hid the obvious twist suggests it’s not as out of place as everyone thought.
Watch now on Netflix
Scott Pilgrim takes off
Release date: 2023-11-17
Cast: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Satya Bhabha, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, Brie Larson, Alison Pill, Aubrey Plaza, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman
Category: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy
Rating: Not yet rated
Seasons: 1
Story by: Bryan Lee O’Malley
Writer: Bryan Lee O’Malley, BenDavid Grabinski
Streaming service(s): Netflix
Franchise(s): Scott’s pilgrimage
Director: Abel Góngora
MC: Bryan Lee O’Malley, BenDavid Grabinski
