mangaman74
Akatsuki
Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple Episode 5
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IncendiaryLemon
Captain Karen
The Future Diary-Episodes 24 and 25
Episode 24: "Why are we here?" asks Ninth, very much echoing the sentiments of the audience at this point.
Episode 25: It's weird, at first I thought the time travel stuff was kind of out there but I think I'm kind of enjoying it. I think I would have been more impressed with it if I hadn't seen Madoka first as that does pretty much the same thing (Although I think Madoka did it better). I know it probably wasn't the first but it was the first I saw.
Episode 26: Once again, I am not completely sure exactly happened here. *sigh*
I am going to have a field day writing about this one.
Episode 24: "Why are we here?" asks Ninth, very much echoing the sentiments of the audience at this point.
Episode 25: It's weird, at first I thought the time travel stuff was kind of out there but I think I'm kind of enjoying it. I think I would have been more impressed with it if I hadn't seen Madoka first as that does pretty much the same thing (Although I think Madoka did it better). I know it probably wasn't the first but it was the first I saw.
Episode 26: Once again, I am not completely sure exactly happened here. *sigh*
I am going to have a field day writing about this one.
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Gemsy-chan
Shrine Maiden
Eps 1-6 of Samurai Flamenco
Buzz201
Mad Scientist
Concrete Revolution - Episodes 03 & 04
03. The episode was very "meh". The story wasn't particularly interesting, and the entire episode reeked of "we're trying to say something", but it never quite succeeds. Would be nice if they could actually say something for once, instead of announcing their going to say something and then being so ambiguous/secretive that it adds up to not saying anything at all. Maybe it would mean more if I knew more of the reference points (I've heard talk about how it is so referential and so intelligent, and how Westerners just won't get it because it's operating on levels we can't even comprehend :roll
, but knowledge of reference points should be the icing on top of the already sweet cake, rather than the jam that holds the layers together.
04. Holy ****, could it be? An episode that has something to say and is willing to let the rest of us in on it?! Clearly the staff were not feeling well during the production of this episode.
In all seriousness, this episode is probably the second best episode yet (most would probably call it the best yet, but Fuurouta's episode was so much better for me), but it does feel hamstrung by the show's continued pointless insistence on non-linear storytelling, that seems to exist purely to cover gaps in the storyline and/or to make people feel stupid when they can't quite follow it. It's also still screwed by the fact it tries to cram far too much into 24 minutes every week, as well as a distinct lack of care towards it's characters; Why do we care about Jiro and Ms. Ukyo's relationship, they flirted it a bit but it was hardly worthy of the emotional moment it was given? CR seems to just assume you automatically care about it's characters instead of giving you a reason to, and whilst it may have worked to an extent with Fuurouta, nobody else in the show is charming or interesting enough to pull it off. I literally could not give less of a **** about any of them, especially Jiro, so his big emotional moment with Ms. Ukyo fell flat on it's arse which ruined the climax of the episode for me.
03. The episode was very "meh". The story wasn't particularly interesting, and the entire episode reeked of "we're trying to say something", but it never quite succeeds. Would be nice if they could actually say something for once, instead of announcing their going to say something and then being so ambiguous/secretive that it adds up to not saying anything at all. Maybe it would mean more if I knew more of the reference points (I've heard talk about how it is so referential and so intelligent, and how Westerners just won't get it because it's operating on levels we can't even comprehend :roll
, but knowledge of reference points should be the icing on top of the already sweet cake, rather than the jam that holds the layers together.04. Holy ****, could it be? An episode that has something to say and is willing to let the rest of us in on it?! Clearly the staff were not feeling well during the production of this episode.
In all seriousness, this episode is probably the second best episode yet (most would probably call it the best yet, but Fuurouta's episode was so much better for me), but it does feel hamstrung by the show's continued pointless insistence on non-linear storytelling, that seems to exist purely to cover gaps in the storyline and/or to make people feel stupid when they can't quite follow it. It's also still screwed by the fact it tries to cram far too much into 24 minutes every week, as well as a distinct lack of care towards it's characters; Why do we care about Jiro and Ms. Ukyo's relationship, they flirted it a bit but it was hardly worthy of the emotional moment it was given? CR seems to just assume you automatically care about it's characters instead of giving you a reason to, and whilst it may have worked to an extent with Fuurouta, nobody else in the show is charming or interesting enough to pull it off. I literally could not give less of a **** about any of them, especially Jiro, so his big emotional moment with Ms. Ukyo fell flat on it's arse which ruined the climax of the episode for me.
mangaman74
Akatsuki
Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple Episode 6
ilmaestro
State Alchemist
Concrete Revolutio e.5&6 - As kind of a final piece of the puzzle, the student protests and the Beatles appearance at the Budokan confirm that the calendar in the show lines up with the Showa calendar pretty much precisely. We're moving steadily into ground well covered by some prominent X-Men storylines with the covert Superhuman "cure" in episode 6, but the themes this explores are timeless enough to stand up to almost infinite use.
Jiro's role has come to a head somewhat in that he is how we are being shown who the real "bad guys" are, and it turn out the "bad guys" are... everybody? Certainly we're not supposed to think highly of the establishment and their seemingly iron-clad grip of information control, but the anti-establishment faction(s) are also not doing anything to suggest they're working for the greater good.
It's particularly fascinating to watch this show alongside Young Black Jack, and to compare and contrast their use of real historical events to frame their stories. YBJ on a personal level, and CR on a wider thematic level. It's still not fully clear how CR is going to thread back together the specific beats of its own narrative, but I don't think that's something we need to know until the time is right. Much like knowing whodunnit from the very beginning of an episode of Columbo, the journey is what's important here, not the destination.
Jiro's role has come to a head somewhat in that he is how we are being shown who the real "bad guys" are, and it turn out the "bad guys" are... everybody? Certainly we're not supposed to think highly of the establishment and their seemingly iron-clad grip of information control, but the anti-establishment faction(s) are also not doing anything to suggest they're working for the greater good.
It's particularly fascinating to watch this show alongside Young Black Jack, and to compare and contrast their use of real historical events to frame their stories. YBJ on a personal level, and CR on a wider thematic level. It's still not fully clear how CR is going to thread back together the specific beats of its own narrative, but I don't think that's something we need to know until the time is right. Much like knowing whodunnit from the very beginning of an episode of Columbo, the journey is what's important here, not the destination.
BanzaiJedi
Pokémon Master
Anti-Magic Academy: The 35th Test Platoon ep 11. This series is utterly generic and unimaginative from start to end. At least it's nearly finished.
Beautiful Bones -Sakurako's Investigation- ep 11. What kind of villain name is 'Sphenoider'? :lol:
Kokoro Connect ep 6-9.
Beautiful Bones -Sakurako's Investigation- ep 11. What kind of villain name is 'Sphenoider'? :lol:
Kokoro Connect ep 6-9.
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mrclt1994
Hunter
Young Black Jack episode 12 (COMPLETE) - I hope this anime continues, I really enjoyed it.
The Asterisk War episode 12 (COMPLETE) - fairly average anime but I like the visuals the animation in episode 12's final fight scene was amazing, I want to see this kind of stuff from A-1 when they do series like Nanatsu no Taizai. I hope the 2nd season will be better.
The Asterisk War episode 12 (COMPLETE) - fairly average anime but I like the visuals the animation in episode 12's final fight scene was amazing, I want to see this kind of stuff from A-1 when they do series like Nanatsu no Taizai. I hope the 2nd season will be better.
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ilmaestro
State Alchemist
Young Black Jack e.12 - This wasn't quite the best series I've watched this season, but it might be the one that I'm the most pleased not to have missed. Sure, it was a little heavy handed at times, and in traditional Black Jack style it walks a very fine line between the sublime and the ridiculous - but it's rare to find a series that has this sense of place, this sense of time, woven so neatly into what would still otherwise be perfectly entertaining stories from week to week.
Black Jack is a legendary character, and I don't think this "prequel" does him a disservice in any way. Highly recommended.
That it provides such an interesting contrast with Concrete Revolutio is just a bonus, but certainly one that can't be overlooked.
edit: Rakudai Kishi e.2 - 90s in, we're pretty close to dropping this one. 120s in, they pull it back by their fingertips. This is still on a short leash.
edit2: Err, we might be done here. It's possible that Ikki and Stella actually get together and have a proper relationship which would semi-save what's going on at the end of this episode, but let's file that under "unlikely".
Black Jack is a legendary character, and I don't think this "prequel" does him a disservice in any way. Highly recommended.
That it provides such an interesting contrast with Concrete Revolutio is just a bonus, but certainly one that can't be overlooked.
edit: Rakudai Kishi e.2 - 90s in, we're pretty close to dropping this one. 120s in, they pull it back by their fingertips. This is still on a short leash.
edit2: Err, we might be done here. It's possible that Ikki and Stella actually get together and have a proper relationship which would semi-save what's going on at the end of this episode, but let's file that under "unlikely".
Buzz201
Mad Scientist
World Trigger - Episode 41
Concrete Revolutio - Episode 05
I keep complaining about this show, so I want to make absolutely clear that I am really enjoying and I would definitely recommend other people watch it. I this is a case of show being good, but squandering it's potential. So instead of focussing on what makes the show good, I've focussed on what could have been (which is not really a good way to review it).
I think I'm finally starting to crack what the series is about too, which led to me working out what (I think) episode 3 was actually trying to say. In retrospect maybe I was too harsh on it. That said, on it's own, without the rest of the series, the episode was pretentious, meandering and most annoyingly, boring. When viewed in conjunction with the rest of the series maybe it's a little less ambiguous, but not enough to make up for it's flaws.
Episode 5 however is great and somehow just about manages to nail everything it tries to do, which is kind of annoying as I now having nothing to say about it.
Ushio and Tora - Episode 20 - 25
I had forgotten how good this series was, and episodes 20-23 are it's strongest yet, with the show excellently juggling it's standalone episodes with a story arc. Prior to these expisodes it has been the most consistently good show of the year, but always stopped short of excellence, but with the Kirio arc it full on smashes it and easily becomes one of the best shows of the year. Shame it was massively overlooked and didn't sell too well, but I'm very excited for the next season (although the probability of me keeping up with simulcasts seems to be lessening by the day as more and more stuff I want to watch gets announced).
Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans - Episode 06
More of the "let's make the princess feel like **** for actually trying to be nice to people" schtick, yay. She's a princess, she could just marry herself off. She doesn't have to try and get you independence. Maybe you could be a little bit more appreciative, even if she is ignorant.
Concrete Revolutio - Episode 05
I keep complaining about this show, so I want to make absolutely clear that I am really enjoying and I would definitely recommend other people watch it. I this is a case of show being good, but squandering it's potential. So instead of focussing on what makes the show good, I've focussed on what could have been (which is not really a good way to review it).
I think I'm finally starting to crack what the series is about too, which led to me working out what (I think) episode 3 was actually trying to say. In retrospect maybe I was too harsh on it. That said, on it's own, without the rest of the series, the episode was pretentious, meandering and most annoyingly, boring. When viewed in conjunction with the rest of the series maybe it's a little less ambiguous, but not enough to make up for it's flaws.
Episode 5 however is great and somehow just about manages to nail everything it tries to do, which is kind of annoying as I now having nothing to say about it.
Ushio and Tora - Episode 20 - 25
I had forgotten how good this series was, and episodes 20-23 are it's strongest yet, with the show excellently juggling it's standalone episodes with a story arc. Prior to these expisodes it has been the most consistently good show of the year, but always stopped short of excellence, but with the Kirio arc it full on smashes it and easily becomes one of the best shows of the year. Shame it was massively overlooked and didn't sell too well, but I'm very excited for the next season (although the probability of me keeping up with simulcasts seems to be lessening by the day as more and more stuff I want to watch gets announced).
Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans - Episode 06
More of the "let's make the princess feel like **** for actually trying to be nice to people" schtick, yay. She's a princess, she could just marry herself off. She doesn't have to try and get you independence. Maybe you could be a little bit more appreciative, even if she is ignorant.
bailey1985
Vampire Ninja
Gintama ep 265 - 270
Fairy Tail ep 264
Beautiful Bones Sakurako's Investigation ep 11
Young Jack Black ep 12
Is the Order a Rabbit ep 11
The Asterisk War ep 12
Haikyu ep 12
Fairy Tail ep 264
Beautiful Bones Sakurako's Investigation ep 11
Young Jack Black ep 12
Is the Order a Rabbit ep 11
The Asterisk War ep 12
Haikyu ep 12
ilmaestro
State Alchemist
Concrete Revolutio e.7 - As the in-story focus shifts more towards Kikko, it feels like we're being challenged once again to shift our focus towards a slightly different set of themes - even if propoganda and information interpretation still look likely to be at the heart of the matter as they have been all along. This makes it difficult to trust some aspects of what we're being told as well as what the characters are telling each other, but I like how this plays into the snippets of storyline we have from before and after the "present".
Speaking of which, the ending of this episode was quite effective. They haven't abused the potential for "cliffhangers" like that as often as they might have been tempted to.
Speaking of which, the ending of this episode was quite effective. They haven't abused the potential for "cliffhangers" like that as often as they might have been tempted to.
Gemsy-chan
Shrine Maiden
Eps 7-11 of Samurai Flamenco
ilmaestro
State Alchemist
Concrete Revolutio e.8 - a nod to Edogawa Ranpo by way of Marvel's Cable, this was probably the most straightforwardly "enjoyable" episode of the show yet. Something of a distillation of the questions the show has been asking to this point, you almost sense they were worried about people needing a bit of a breather - it has certainly demanded hard work from its viewers in every other episode.
Maybe I was indeed right to question my earlier conclusion of the bad guys being "everyone", as this episode impresses on you that the real answer is often "everyone... and no-one". This should be explored even further as the details of Jiro's story continue to be filled in. I also wonder if his "future" predicament is tied into the tension that has developed between the Bureau and the EDF.
The ending was again hot, hot fire.
Maybe I was indeed right to question my earlier conclusion of the bad guys being "everyone", as this episode impresses on you that the real answer is often "everyone... and no-one". This should be explored even further as the details of Jiro's story continue to be filled in. I also wonder if his "future" predicament is tied into the tension that has developed between the Bureau and the EDF.
The ending was again hot, hot fire.
BanzaiJedi
Pokémon Master
If only my OCD allowed me such freedomsilmaestro said:
Once I commit to a series I see it through to the end, unless it's really bad or outright offensive.Attack on Titan: Junior High ep 12 (complete). An action packed ending to an uneven series. Some episodes had a few decent laughs, some fell flat, so average overall. Could be much better, but could also be much worse.
Chivalry of a Failed Knight ep 12 (complete). A very predictable ending to the series (mainly because they showed it every week in the OP) but I'm happy enough to have watched it. And there was actual romantic progress as well, which makes a nice change for a shounen style show.
Owarimonogatari ep 1. I think Monogatari works better when watched in bulk over a few days, and now that Owari is finished (for now at least) I can start doing just that. And this first episode.... Hnnnnnggghhhh it's sooooooo good, I actually caught myself grinning at the tv like a loon at several points. I'm going to thoroughly enjoy the next few days.
The Perfect Insider ep 11 (complete). What an utterly satisfying end to a wonderful series, I wish more anime had a proper ending/epilogue like this. In fact I think this is probably my favourite anime of the season (other than Owarimonogatari, naturally). I feel that I need to rewatch this at some point as I didn't give the early episodes the attention they were due, and also having a week between episodes made it tough for me to keep track of everything being discussed throughout the series, so I'm hoping for a UK BluRay announcement soon.
Young Black Jack ep 12 (complete). This series does go over the top and silly every so often, but that doesn't take anything away from the truly fascinating stories which have explored so many themes and issues related to the '60s setting (many of which continue to resonate to this day), along with a cast of wonderful characters. I'm so pleased that I chose to watch this series despite only having seen the movie previously, and I'm now thinking about tracking down the original series, or at least buying the manga.