In my opinion, this episode starts what is the best arc in the entirety of Golden Wind: the Hitman Team Arc. In what can be summarized as something of a prologue to the arc, we’re not only introduced to the La Squadra di Esecuzione (better known as simply La Squadra), but we also meet another central character in Part 5. Truth be told, she’s the biggest reason Golden Wind goes any further than finding Polpo’s treasure.
There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s get started!
Team Bucciarati regroups at a public restroom, where Mista receives impromptu first aid. With Zucchero and Sale out of the way, the Team is safe to find Polp’s fortune. But before they do that, Bucciarati states that they need to wait. This leads the audience to two janitors outside. Narancia has a violent confrontation with one of them, and Bucciarati quickly stops it. The second janitor steps in, revealed to be a capo with Passione named Pericolo. Pericolo is on the island to collect Polpo’s ten billion lira fortune and to hand off some unfinished business.
After retrieving the treasure, which Bucciarati hid in a urinal, Bucciarati is formally promoted to capo. With his position secure, Pericolo gives Bucciarati and his gang their first direct order from the boss: protect the boss’s illegitimate daughter at all costs. We then get the second revelation: the other younger janitor is actually the boss’s daughter, a fifteen-year-old girl named Trish Una. That’s when Pericolo details the mission in full.
In a small town in the Calabria region, a dying woman named Donatella Una, Trish’s mother, searched for a man she only knew as Solido Noso. This Solido Noso, Trish’s father, is the boss of Passione. Word spread throughout Passione until it eventually reached the boss, who swiftly ordered to retrieve the girl and place her in Pericolo’s custody until a specific time. But this didn’t stop any impending danger. A group within Passione targeted Trish and made attempts to kidnap her. Pericolo believes the group intends to use Trish to overthrow the boss for monetary gains. And what’s worse, considering Pericolo was the original recipient of this order, it’s assumed this group after Trish consists of Stand users.
Pericolo advises the group to leave Capri immediately. He makes his own escape with the ten billion lira. Trish is also properly introduced, but she turns out to be a brat, already rubbing some group members the wrong way. Team Bucciarati then promptly leaves Capri.
Meanwhile, the group after Trish later revealed to be La Squadra, receives word of Polpo’s death. This sends the group into a mode of evasive action, where one of them decides to go after Team Bucciarati.
The scene then cuts to Narancia, who’s picking up groceries for the group, and Trish. But while en route, he’s stopped by a gentleman who mysteriously appears in the backseat of his car. The man says his name is Formaggio and that he’s with Passione. After some pointed questions regarding Polpo’s death and Narancia dodging these questions, he’s quickly attacked by Formaggio’s Stand. Narancia retaliates with his own Stand, 「Aerosmith」. But to his shock and dismay, Formaggio is nowhere to be found.
Formaggio reveals in a monologue that his Stand, 「Little Feat」 (called 「Tiny Feat」 in the dub), can shrink objects, including himself. Granted, he can shrink himself instantaneously, but the process is slow for others. As the episode ends, 「Little Feat」’s ability starts to affect Narancia.
This episode is crucial as it starts one of the most significant arcs in the Part, if not the most important. Trish’s introduction here is critical as she becomes a key player for the rest of the series, and that’s not just her being a target for La Squadra.
Trish is a pretty unique character, as she’s arguably the first female Stand user who isn’t a villain. I know I just gave away that one, but it’s a big move here. She’s not the typical damsel in distress; she can fight if she needs to, as shown by her tussle with Narancia at the beginning of the episode. She can be a drag sometimes from a writing standpoint, though I’ll get to that later. Still, she’s a unique character with a crucial role in the Golden Wind.
And, of course, I can’t ignore La Squadra’s introduction here, either. Well, if you could call it an introduction. Like I said in the beginning, this is more of a prologue to the group itself. But this episode gives a great preview through narration and simple shots of each member without revealing too much. It’s suitable for what the story needs at the moment.
Overall, it works well for what it is. This episode is actually one I love and go back and watch a lot.
I have very few problems with this episode except for maybe Trish. She is a brat at first, so it can be hard to like her initially. But she does get better as the story progresses. And if anything, her brattiness is underplayed. Regardless, it’s an underlier here.
This is an absolute must-watch episode in what’s one of my favorite episodes and one of my favorite arcs in Part 5!
Tomorrow’s episode continues the fight with Narancia and Formaggio, but tomorrow, I’ll be more focused on the star villains of this arc, La Squadra.
Until tomorrow, enjoy the rest of your duwang!
-Hanime on Anime
Hanime on Anime 