Random Curiosity

「さようならニャル子さんW」 (Sayounara Nyaruko-San W)
“See ya Nyaruko-San W”

As with all good things in life, everything eventually comes to an end. But even if something’s ending, that doesn’t mean it can’t be super entertaining right? And true to form, the final episode for a show like this ended things on such a perfect note that I wouldn’t be surprised if another season randomly appears in the future.

For a final episode though I suppose we couldn’t ask for more. With a bit of humor thrown in with the usual butt-kicking that Nyaruko and company usually unleash, the biggest surprise for me was probably how much I enjoyed watching Cthune throw up and Bast lusting over lolis. But once you get passed all the jokes, I was really hoping for some sort of unexpected romantic twist that would leave us all wanting more! I suppose I’ll have to live with Mahiro finally eating something that Nyaruko has cooked. At the same time it drives me crazy when I think about how the writers could have used all that tension the beginning of the episode created. I mean, how much harm would have it done to actually deliver something substantial instead of leaving us hanging with such a lame punch line?

 

Final Impressions

I rarely make negative comments about a show but I honestly believe that this second season was nowhere near as compelling as the first was. Sure the elements that made the first season so fun to watch were all here — ridiculous scenes, stupid villains, and really derp moments — but something about the execution seemed a bit off. Maybe it was because the first season conditioned me or maybe it was just weaker material but there were moments during this second season that felt like they were completely dragging along.

Which drives me crazy because there were also some really good moments too! When the story dropped the stupid villains in favor of building or enhancing the romantic relationships between characters, it felt like this show could really reach new heights. With things like Nyaruko finally demanding some sort of answer from Mahiro about his feelings for her and Ctuhko discovering her true feelings for him, I’m sure that both of these avenues could have been explored and would have been really fun to watch! And don’t get me started on how badly Hasta got shafted after the first few episodes. Sure BL may not be for everyone but it doesn’t mean that he should have been completely excluded from all the fun!

All in all, I’m a bit torn between how I would rate this show. It definitely has its good and bad moments, but I really would have liked it if the second season took the opportunity to go down a different path than the first one did. That said, I think the good moments warrant at least a quick watch for those who finished the first season and want a little bit more Mahirosanium in their system. So in the end, even after thinking about all the slow and even boring parts, I believe this show still ended up being alright.

「翠の星の伝説」 (Midori no Hoshi no Densetsu)
“Legend of the Verdurous Planet”

I originally came into this post with a whole host of things to say, but nope. After watching this episode, it would be a complete and utter failure to not start with a discussion of the manAI of the hour… the godly kickass mech that made everything possible this week… CHAMBERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Indeed, with the culmination of Suisei no Gargantia’s run, we also get the culmination of what I noted last week: the completion of Chamber’s growth and change as a result of his stay on Earth. And gosh darn, what an amazing show it is, because even though I mentioned this previously, even I couldn’t have predicted just how much of the stage Chamber would steal in this final episode. Not only does he say a literal “screw you” to Striker by saying her and Kugel’s (and thus the Galactic Alliance in general) views are illogical, he adds insult to injury by saying that “it was regrettable” that she ended up this way, and then pours even more salt on the wound by saying “Go to hell, tin can!” at the end as well. For the most part, Ledo’s shock at these comments paralleled mine, and I was literally just mentally clapping for Chamber and his epicness the entirety of the episode… because he just stole the show in such a way that I think he’s likely risen to be one of viewers favorite “characters” this season (and maybe this year)—or at least, he has for me. To this end, the whole bit where he literally rejects Ledo’s suggestion to merge them together, accepts it later, then literally kicks Ledo out of the cockpit upon confirmation that the latter doesn’t wish to die just takes the cake, and it’s something that really makes this episode a truly spectacular one to end with.

Interestingly enough, I have to say that the bit about Striker’s views being illogical was quite ironic as well… because by all means, Ledo and Chamber are actually the illogical ones if you look at them from the context of how they’re theoretically supposed to be following the Galactic Alliance’s views, but it goes to show that a little perspective just goes a long way.

Moving on though, another big thing this episode was just how things have changed since Flange and the other ship captains left the Gargantia. Initially, we thought that the Gargantia was the group that lost the most, but what was lost behind all of this was the fact that Flange’s group also lost some protection as a result too. Again, it was a necessary separation, but it was one that made both sides weaker for it (at least, from a military point of view). However, if there’s one thing Flange showed, it’s that ultimately, while they might have been separated, it doesn’t change that their ultimately all very similar personality wise. All of them innately know what it means to take responsibility for your actions… what’s right and wrong… how to treat everyone and everything with the proper respect… and really, they’re the true representation of whose truly human in this battle between the Hideazue and the Galactic Alliance.

And to this end, there’s no better representation of the humanity—especially that of our propensity to fail, but succeed with later tries—than Pinion (you suave man!) in the last few episodes, as his shortcomings started this mess, but his technological prowess and additional chances later afforded him the chance to redeem himself as well. Suffice to say, he seizes this chance—and scores Lukkage as a romantic interest as a result, too—and it goes to show that humanity is all about the resilience we possess, the ability we have to learn from the mistakes we’ve made, and the responsibility we have as people with such capabilities. Pinion’s valiant efforts (and attempt to sacrifice himself to ensure the safety of his comrades) highlight this especially, as does Ledo’s (and Chamber’s) realization that he’s been essentially allowing the perpetuation of a flawed system (and logic) through his action and subsequent attempt to take responsibility by taking down Striker.

In turn, all of this just comes together (with Chamber’s aforementioned epic actions) to set up the reunion of Amy and Ledo… and the key realizations that I predicted would happen many episodes prior. The activation of the “heaven’s ladder” (or Gargantia Mass Driver System) follows shortly after, and while it no longer possesses the capability of launching ships into space, ends up giving the Gargantians an epic, long range projectile weapon from which to decimate the Kugel fleet. Granted, some of the developments here are a tad bit of a hit and miss in terms of how they were incorporated and developed, and some might’ve felt less or more than others at these particular junctions, but it doesn’t change the fact that what we get is a fairly good ending to say the least—

—one that ends up also with my alternative prediction from a while back coming true as well. It might not be exactly the “Hideazue” per se that it ends up involving, but as Ledo points out himself in the end, communication between them and the whalesquid seems like a realistic possibility in the end, and it’s something that just might lead to a peaceful coexistence between at least those on Earth. This development does make it notable that we don’t revisit the conflict in space again—which is a slight pity—but arguably, it’s something that doesn’t need to be revisited, because it essentially no longer matters to the people on Earth anymore. That and the fact their communications attempts just might help solve that too. And with that… it’s time for the final impressions, which you’ll find after the ED caps.

 

ED1.13 Sequence

 

Final Impressions:

Coming into the season, Suisei no Gargantia was a notable series for me due to sci-fi/mecha nature, UroGen’s involvement, and Murata Kazuya’s involvement as well. The latter two have combined to create quite a few of my favorite works (or at least, works I’ve liked), and it was very interesting to see the two work together in a production whose genres were also some of my favorites as well. To this end, UroGen’s involvement lead to a fair amount of hype for many viewers too—a hype that while not necessarily met in its entirely, feels at least mostly fulfilled from my opinion.

Essentially, what we got here with this series was Murata and Gen combining together in an attempt to create a series with many of the strengths from previous works. To this end, Murata brings his gifts with dynamic group interactions and experience regarding mecha and sci-fi to the table, while UroGen adds the fairly grim screenplay he’s been known for (along with the philosophical questions and concepts he likes to weave within plots as well). In this regard, this combination is something that really reeks of potential on paper—and was something that was really worth hyping in my opinion—but the ultimate result was something that fell somewhat short.

And well… it’s kind of interesting, because I’m not quite sure why I feel this way. On one hand, the final episode showed in particular that there’s a lot that this series ended up doing well (mostly the elements listed above)… but at the same time, the series as a whole seems to have garnered an emotional payoff that was somewhat less than expected. I suppose if I had to point out some reasons why though… it’d probably be because there’s a lot here that could’ve been expanded on—ranging from more details into the past and how it developed into the present to the potential resolution of the fight in space and the expansion of a universe that feels like we’ve hardly scratched the surface of. To this end, one wonders if the emotional payoff would’ve have been better off had they either had a few more episodes to work with (or perhaps had they truncated one or two of the episodes during the middle part of the series), but I guess there’s no real point to ponder that at this point.

Ultimately, I guess what Suisei no Gargantia ends up being is a series that is quite good overall, but lacked that extra oomph to push it to the elite tier. Basically, it’s not quite a masterpiece, but there was definitely the potential for it to be. Generally, I’d think most people liked what this series gave us (at least, most of what it gave us)… and it really makes me wonder if we’ll be able to get another Murata x Gen combination on a series anytime soon. Either way though, this finale brings us to the end of yet another series (and the season itself in many ways), and I’d just like to take this moment to thank everyone who’s tuned in to read my Gargantia posts and those who commented as well… so thanks(!) and hopefully you’ll join me for coverage of other series in the future. Until then, I bid thee a fond farewell.

 

It looks like the destruction of the Eclipse Gate is, indeed, the ultimate resolution of this story arc – aside from the utter speed at which everything wrapped up, I don’t think there’s any big surprises from this chapter. The conclusion stayed true to the core themes of Fairy Tail – it was blissful, reflective and unequivocally heartwarming, just the way the fans love it! The last few panels were, above all, beautifully portrayed – it appears that future-Lucy was transported back to her own time and the dreadful events that supposedly befell Fairy Tail did not occur! The sight of Lucy embracing Natsu from behind almost brought me to my knees in sheer delight and words can’t describe just how happy I am to see the tears of joy from her face – no one is more deserving of a happy ending than future-Lucy and the poor girl has certainly been through a whole lot!

Everything looked fine and dandy on the surface, but if there’s one thing that I would like to nitpick – it’ll most certainly be the precipitate departure of the Jade Dragon Zirconis, who you might recall, possesses a unique magic that allows him to strip anyone naked! I’m not going to lie – it’s highly regrettable that Lucy’s the only one who has fallen victim to his perverted tricks and now that Zirconis’ gone, my dream of seeing a bevy of beauties stripped to their bare skin is no longer coming to pass. Mashima sensei should have known better than to tempt us with such possibilities, especially when he’s clearly not going to live up to his end of the bargain. It was a vicious move on his part to say the least and I sincerely hope this is not the last time we see the Jade Dragon in action! Aside from Zirconis, another development worthy of note is future-Rogue’s words of caution – the fact that Frosch’s life is in perilous danger and it was the Exceed’s unfortunate demise that made him into the person he is! None of that is remarkably surprising – in fact, it fits into my prediction last week perfectly well. It seems like Future-Rogue’s role in the current narrative is, indeed, that of an admonition – a heads-up given to Natsu and his gang before the imminent showdown with Acnologia! As Mavis Vermillion aptly pointed out, none of the Dragon Slayers was able to defeat the mighty creatures and the latest showdown simply draws attention to the enormous gap in their powers! It’s hardly an exaggeration to say there are many questions that remained unanswered – not least of which is Ultear’s fate that was left hanging in midair! I’m excited to see what comes next and a Great Dance Tournament is definitely an excellent way to kick-start the next story arc – one that, hopefully, makes up for Zirconis’ premature exit!

Random tidbits:

• Awwwwww… – If only I can make a blog post with just one word!
• It looks like we’ll be having three chapters in succession in the next two weeks (126 pages in total) – This is probably not the great news that the anime fans want to hear!
• Gray’s not the one that Juvia’s hugging, that’s quite a surprise – Meredy’s probably a better hugger anyway!
• Now that Mavis has made her appearance, the only key character that’s missing from all this hoo-hah is Minerva!

tl;dr: @SeishunRC – #FairyTail 337: I’m gonna miss you, Zirconis! The sight of Lucy embracing Natsu from behind was beautiful #Manga
 

「原初的欲求 ―トロスト区攻防戦⑨―」 (Gensho Teki Yokkyu ―Torosuto Ku Kobo Sen ⑨―)
“Basic Needs ―Defense of Trost (9)―”

Weeks of reduced pacing has finally led to this climactic episode in the defense of Trost, and it’s arguably been worth it. Granted, it’s difficult to say anything’s worth the length of time it took to develop this, but the general thing is that people keep watching this series because they expect something epic to come from it all… and that patience has been rewarded this week as Eren finally responds and picks up the @#$%! boulder.

To that end, what commences is an all or nothing fight to ensure he survives to complete his objective… and it’s something that really makes things even more desperate than they were before. And as desperate times call for desperate measures, we got Jean salving (yes, this apparently means the same thing as salvaging actually) maneuver gear from a dead comrade, Connie kicking Titans to distract em’… and dozens upon dozens of soldiers literally sacrificing themselves via the use of themselves as lures to distract the Titans from Eren. Combine that all together and we get nearly 10 straight minutes of adrenaline rush induced carnage… epicness matched notably by the budget expended on this episode, which is likely the reason behind the slight, occasional decrease in animation quality in past weeks.

All in all though, Eren’s quote…

“When we’re born, all of us are free.
People who deny that, no matter how strong they are, don’t matter.
The burning water, the land of ice… I don’t care.
Anyone who saw such things would be the freest person in the world.
FIGHT!
Who would value their life over something like that?
No matter how terrifying the world is, it doesn’t matter!
However cruel the world may be…
It doesn’t matter!
FIGHT!
FIGHT!
FIGHT!”

…just captures this episode better than anything else, and I really don’t know what else to say here. The aforementioned quote, combined with all the death and destruction we get this week, just come to a head with humanity’s first successful operation against the Titans. To say that I got chills was an understatement (heck, I even teared up a bit at the end of the fight)… and again, while it’s hard to say the wait has definitely been worth it… it sure at least feels like it. The superb insert vocal in particular added even more GARRR to the moment and really, it was like humanity just screaming out that “WE’RE HERE, WE’RE ALIVE, AND WE’LL KEEP FIGHTING!” Indeed, their success goes to show that the many deaths that came before this moment were not in vain, and it’s a damn spectacular episode for emotional release… especially with the return of the Recon Corps (how about that epic Levi?)… and their exceptionally fitting Wings of Freedom (AMERICA, *** YEAH! < -- Not PG-13.) symbol highlighting the end of the fighting.

Still as it turns out, even with their first real victory… the suffering never stops. Marco is found dead, two days of corpse recovery still hasn’t recovered everyone, and there’s a realistic chance that failure to properly dispose of their bodies could start a secondary catastrophe via an epidemic. Talk about suffering. But that’s what this war is about. There’s no time to sit there and mourn. All you can do is continue pushing forward. Once you win, then you can sit back and survive. Until then, you fight for those that have fallen and those who have yet to be born…

…and that’s what Eren gets a chance to do especially, now that he’s officially been accepted as a part of the Recon Corps due to Levi’s help. To that end, it’s amazing how similar both of them are personality wise, and it’s just exceptionally fitting to see that both of their fates have crossed like this at this point in time. Beneath everything though, it goes without saying that there’s nothing like the twisted irony of relying on a Titan to defeat the Titans, but it looks like that’ll have to do—especially if they want to somehow find a way back to the Jaegers’ basement. Interestingly enough though… even though we’ve been told this before, I can’t help but suddenly feel like the fact that Eren’s dad being currently missing being mentioned again will play a key part in this (perhaps he was involved in some kind of Titan related plot?)… though it might just be me grasping at straws at this point.

Either way, it’s just a damn spectacular episode… which makes next week all the more disappointing, as it the recap episode makes its way in between the change in airing seasons. Notably, due to the nature of this episode, I likely will not be covering it at all, so it’s likely that the next Shingeki post will be in two weeks instead. Until then!

Author’s Note:

As usual, there will be a zero tolerance policy on spoilers. Spoilers should generally not be written in general if it can be avoided and any spoilers should have a comment detailing what kind of spoiler it is and should be in response to a query. Those found violating this will find their comment deleted and multiple violations (in the form of comment deletions) will lead to bans. Note though, when deletions of the offending comment are removed, so will accompanying replies. This does not mean that those whose accompanying replies are at risk of being banned, unless they also violate the rule in some way.

 

Preview

「樹形図の設計者(ツリーダイアグラム)」 (Ki Gata Zu No Sekkei Sha (Tsurīdaiaguramu))
“Tree Diagram (Tree Diagram)”

As we get into Railgun S’ twelveth episode, the gradual tightening of the figurative noose finally completes Misaka’s transformation from someone fairly innocent to someone whose views regarding the world have changed forever. Indeed, in a manner akin in ways to those entering society for the first time or say, getting taken advantage of for the first time in their lives, one of the big things that have been happening is the subtle change in Misaka’s personality. The world’s just not all fun and games anymore, and as she says so herself:

“Reality’s a harsh mistress.
It’s not like a miracle will happen, even if I begged for it.
There aren’t any heroes around to save me.”

Still, despite how this sentiment readily applies to the typical real-life situation, there are still cases where reality’s other side shows itself. Sometimes, there’s someone that just comes along at the right time and place. Sometimes, it may even turn out that the person who could help you has been right next to you the whole time. Heroes do exist, after all. They just might not come in the form or manner that you expected them to be. And in the case of Misaka, this proves especially true, because her hero’s arguably been right next to her this entire time: in the form of a certain… “misfortunate” character.

On that note though, this episode just continues the string of good episodes we’ve had with Railgun S lately (and through most of the season), as it’s quite notable how much of the story elements and events in this episode tie into the mindset of Misaka (who’s just adorable as a kid by the way) and the reality of her situation. For instance, the blimp flying above her ends up being a kind of literal symbol of the problem she faces: both in how it towers above her reach and how as Misaka puts it “represents humans acting in line with a machine’s calculations.”

To add to that, there’s also the twisted irony of the weather being sunny the whole day—which stands in stark contrast with the dark nature of the twisted experiments happening in the shadows. Furthermore, there’s the fact that Touma just suddenly ends up appearing once again in front of Misaka… as well as a particular MISAKA sister as well. In the case of the latter, it’s really kind of brilliant how it seemingly serves as both a sign to Touma that there’s something not right here, as well as a sign to us that he’ll likely play a large part in the future.

Generally, everything here is just geared toward supporting and developing the plot line. I noted it before in previous episodes as well (as the discussions between Kuroko and Co. regarding the “what ifs of cloning” was used similarly before), but this continues hammering that aspect in and shows just how well they’re doing things here in terms of both literally and figuratively setting things up in the background.

Interestingly enough, the added screen time of the MISAKA sister also seems to indicate some kind of emotional development in recent episodes, and it shows that Shinobu’s efforts might not have been for naught after all. MISAKA’s bit with the chest pains, and her question to the scientists (“What would happen if you saw a clone of yourself?”) adds further ammunition to this notion… and her latter question notably brings to the forefront the potential contrasting views regarding this question and just how emotionless the people working on this project are. To that end, the whole bit with Touma, MISAKA, and the cat plays a big deal in this respect too… but for me, the big thing wasn’t the fact they they were having such a nice, normal discussion, but the fact that MISAKA’s attempt at naming the cat Schrodinger was not only ironic to the cat, but to herself as well. Because in many ways, the whole poison in a contained environment experiment reeks of the Level 6 Shift, and it’s arguable that up until this point, MISAKA and the rest of her sisters were neither dead or alive—merely tools that are born to be killed, rather than living actual lives and possessing emotion.

On that note, one wonders though… Shinobu herself and the rest of ITEM have been conspiciously missing for a few episodes now, and it’s an interesting question whether or not they’ll even return in any real significant role… because it looks like there’s a lot of one way traffic from here on out with Touma’s impending involvement—especially so when considering that Misaka finds out that there isn’t even a Tree Diagram to trash. Sometimes, miracles do happen.

Either way, as we bring things to a close here, it’s also noted again how for those of us that have watched Index before, our prior knowledge of what’s going to happen here seems to play a large part in actually heightening our enjoyment of the series (although some of what happens here this week notably doesn’t happen in Index). As some of you noted in our podcast comments (where we discussed the concepts of spoilers and them potentially ruining the experience), Railgun S seems to be one of those situations where the knowing of what happens can actually result in the opposite case, and it’s both a testament to the way that they do things with the series, how well they have been doing it, and how memorable the characters and events are to fans of Index/Railgun. Then again, it is pretty hard to forget someone who slings along walls like this (Shingeki no Railgun anyone?)… and the obvious cat abuse.

Full-length images: 15.

 

ED1.12 Sequence

Preview

「起動する異端者」 (Kidō suru itansha)
“Rise of the Heretic”

There’s something to be said about ending a season with your best material ever – we have non-stop action, eye-opening revelations, intense character drama and yet another glimpse into the future! The show hit just about every high note in this episode, and it’s hard for me to pick and choose from such embarrassment of riches. One thing that really jumps out, though, is just how great it was to see Saki stepped up for herself and her rejection of Haruto’s guilt-driven proposal was hardly a surprise – not to mention very much in character! Say what you will about the fallen idol, but Saki is, first and foremost, a fiercely independent person. While her self-denial and abnegation are more than apparent, I don’t think there’s a snowball chance in hell she’ll take the easy way out in this romantic subplot – not when she might harbor true feelings for Haruto! What lies ahead for this complicated “love triangle” is anyone’s guess and I’m certainly not going to write off Saki just yet. The only thing that I’m remotely assured of at this juncture is that Saki is not going to take any half-hearted wisecrack as a resolution and Haruto most certainly has a tough choice to make when his day of reckoning comes – an answer that I am eagerly awaiting!

Needless to say, Saki and Shouko are both unique in their own ways, and I have utmost respect for the both of them. While the stark contrast between those two is nothing short of conspicuous, there are also certain similarities that the two female leads share – first, their unfailing love for Haruto, and second, the supreme fortitude that they have displayed in the face of difficulties. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that Shouko has no interest to play the finger-pointing game and the fact that she intends to hide her father’s unfortunate demise from Haruto was hardly unexpected – no doubt, Haruto would never forgive himself if he learned about the truth! Shouko’s interaction with reclusive Renbokouji was another highlight of this episode and the emergence of Akira as the next Valvrave pilot was pretty much set in stone the moment her wretched past was revealed. As it turns out, Akira is the victim of bullying as a kid and the severe trauma that she experienced has regrettably made her into a misanthrope. The brief insight into her past was unpleasant to say the least and I don’t think anyone could blame her for having such intense antipathy for the human race – or “fleas”, as she calls them! No question, it was Shouko’s inexhaustible faith in Akira that gave her the courage she needs to confront the dilemma head-on and her reputation as a genius hacker is certainly a perfect fit for “Hiasobi” (Valvrave VI) – which, of course, has the ability to control other machines using its picaroon-like “Hummingbird Equipment”! The unforeseen intervention of Akira could mark the turn of tide for this crucial battle and if there’s the slightest chance the remaining survivors can make it out alive, I suspect Hiasobi would be the one that makes it happen – hopefully, this would also put a cap on the death toll, which has been shooting up in a nerve-racking manner!

Speaking of the Dorssian’s most recent carnage, there was certainly more than a whiff in the air of anguish and despair for Module 77 – especially when three of the five Valvrave are already out-of-commission! It appears there’s life in the old dog yet and Colonel Cain has proven to be a more than capable a match for L-elf – the Dorssian war hero not only outwitted “The Prophet” easily, he also manhandled L-elf like a toddler in a physical scuffle. To say Cain has a few tricks up his sleeve would be an understatement and he certainly knows more about the Valvrave than he is letting on. His access to magical powers and the ability to activate a supposedly defunct Valvrave is merely a testament to his enigmatic origins – one that points to a certain connection with the mysterious organization known as the Magius! What the latest revelations mean for the overall narrative is hard to tell and your guess is probably as good as anyone’s at this stage – but it does seem like the Magius would be the ultimate antagonist of this series and we know for sure their presence remained ubiquitous well into the future! I stand by my belief that there’s bound to be more curve balls on the horizon and it’s hardly an exaggeration to say there are many questions that remained unanswered – not least of which is the nut-cracking cliffhanger that left the entire fate of Module 77 hanging in midair and perhaps more importantly, the romantic subplot that is far from being resolved!

Random tidbits:

• How can you say no to Saki when she makes such an adorable face – If Haruto doesn’t want to marry her, I will!
• Saki’s future-self looks absolutely stunning and while I’m at it, those are some pretty delicious thighs – Yes, I know perfectly well I have some pretty weird fetish. The “Valvrave imprint” makes them all the more suggestive!
• Yuuki Aoi‘s doing a bang-up job voicing Akira – the high pitch of her voice captures Akira’s intense anxiety and franticness extremely well!
• “Supermarket” charge! – and thus Akira’s days as a “Hikikomori” come to an end, with her dog shack completely in tatters!
• “I’ll win at all cost” – little did Haruto know that includes killing Shouko’s father. This world is truly a harsh place!
• “All I did was punch it!” – Hikaminari’s Machine Gun Punch was quite a sight to behold. He would make E.Honda proud!
• “Let your blood boil!” – I must say, the iron/sandwich attack is a pretty hot idea! Presumably, Akira’s Hiasobi will play a part in getting the trapped Valvrave out of this predicament!
• “Ouch!” – That’s not quite the graduation ceremony that L-elf had in mind!
• I’m so glad the first ED theme – angela’s “Boku Janai”, was played in this episode. As much as I like ELISA’s “Soba ni Iru yo”, the second ED is not nearly as catchy and it certainly doesn’t pack the same oomph!
• The finale of Season One was superb in just about every way. The only thing that’s missing is A-drei (Fukuyama Jun) screaming at the top of his lungs – “Eru Erufu”!

tl;dr: @SeishunRC – #Valvrave 12: There’s something to be said about ending a season with your best material ever – we have non-stop action, eye-opening revelations, intense character drama and yet another glimpse into the future! #Anime
 
Full-length images: 01, 02, 03, 06, 10, 13, 25, 33, 37, 41.

Epilogue:

Epilogue/First Season Impressions:

Kakumeiki Valvrave is not like any other series that’s airing this season and you wouldn’t expect it to end like one – in fact, the events in the epilogue were much more dramatic than the finale itself! If Season One was merely a set-up for the forthcoming confrontations, it’s safe to say the next season is going to be ever more intense, action-packed and mind-blowing! An incoming time-skip is probably inevitable and based on what we heard from Saki’s future-self this week, it seems like cross-planetary journeys might also be in the cards – one that spans across galaxies at that. To my greatest delight, the entire main cast has made it out of the first season pretty much unscathed – even Shouko, who has tripped on more death flags than I could count, managed to survive the latest ordeal. I suspect her role in the second half could be as important as the first, but it remains to be seen whether she’ll turn out to be next Valvrave pilot. If L-elf’s monologues in the final few seconds are any indication, there are indeed, seven of them – which means there’s either one or two spots that needs to be filled! My gut says she’s not going to become one – as a matter of fact, I am almost certain Haruto would not want her to tread down the same path, especially after the ill-fated incident that happened in Episode 10.

This, of course, brings me to the point at issue and the biggest question that remained unresolved is how will the “love triangle” evolved from here. Saki is obviously at the center of attention – her role in the second season could become even more prominent than it already is and it seems like she might find herself entangled with the Magius’ affairs – and by extension, the ever-so-imposing Colonel Cain! While it might seem like a long shot at this juncture, I wouldn’t be too surprise if the current triangle developed into a “love square” – after all, the kid that Saki’s future-self was in company with looks very much like a younger version of L-elf! Speaking of L-elf, the latest occurrence has certainly put a dent on his reputation as “The Prophet” – the fact that he failed to land a single hit on his former mentor is a sign of weakness and the prodigious soldier might not be as bulletproof as we once thought. Even with his extensive screen time, L-elf’s motives and agendas remained pretty much obscured – his affiliation with the Dorssian princess has been vaguely hinted at in Episode 8, but we still have no idea how their enigmatic relationship fit into the overall discourse. Then there’s A-drei whose complicated history with L-elf, will no doubt, be brought to forefront again in the second season. Similar to the fallen “Prophet”, A-drei seems intent to pursue a Dorssian revolution of his own and his connection with the pink-hair maiden could also have a part to play in this story – I suspect there’s more to that than meets the eyes, perhaps even a blood kinship!

Clearly, the Magius will be playing a role of utmost importance in the coming season, but there’s not a whole lot that we can say about them at this stage. Their association with Colonel Cain has been made apparent, and it looks like both ARUS and Dorssia might have a hand to play in this conspiracy. Kriemhild and H-neun evidently know more than they’re letting on and it seems likely that their characters could carry a more significant weight in the second half – the teaser that featured a blood-bathed H-neun certainly points to that direction! What comes next for Kakumeiki Valvrave is hard to call, but being a two-cour series, the creators has the time and opportunity to roll out the narratives in a seamless manner. I expect the character exposition to continue in the similar grand fashion, and there’s bound to be waves of drama and commotion before all the dust is finally settled.

For those of you who have read my walls of texts in the past eleven weeks, you would have figured out by now that I hold Kakumeiki Valvrave in very high regards – so much so that I wouldn’t think twice about calling it the best show in Spring 2013. Just like Okouchi Ichiro’s previous work – Code Geass, there’s noticeably a wide divergence in the verdict of this series – some rejoice at its complete lack of restraint, while others are genuinely perturbed by its sheer farcicality. As for me, all I can say is that the show is second to none when it comes to straight-up entertainment value, and this is truly a testament to what can happen when you go into a series with an open mind. I’m sure Okouchi sensei still has a trick or two up his sleeves and the day when the second season makes its splashing premiere can’t come soon enough. Needless to say, I’m really looking forward to seeing the many facets of Kakumeiki Valvrave again and I hope all of you will stick around for the next season, which I assure you, will receive the attention it deserves at Random Curiosity – from none other than yours truly, of course!

Random tidbits:

• Kakumeiki Valvrave is the second series that I’ve completed as a writer of RandomC – the first was Hyakka Ryouran. I would like give myself a pat on the back for a job well done!
• Episode 10 of Kakumeiki Valvrave is currently the most-viewed episodic post in June – I can never figure out why.
• I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of you – yes, even those who just look at the screen caps. My blogging experience wouldn’t be complete without your input and nothing gets me more excited than to hear from all of you!

Good Morning everyone! Takaii here, and I just wanted to make a quick post about how excited I am about this year’s Anime-Expo Convention at the Los Angeles Convention Center! Not only does it seem like the schedule for this year’s con is packed to the brim with crap to do, but with names like Porno Grafitti, Danny Choo, and George Wada attending I’m sure most of us will be busy running around back and forth between the Great Hall and the Panels. But in-between the mayhem of looking for cool stuff to buy and trying to meet all those famous people, I’d love to meet you!

If you’ve ever seen Divine in the comments, you’ll know that he’s totally against having any kind of meetup in real life. And if you remember my retort, you’ll know that I’m totally in favor of having some kind of crazy meet up! Seeing how I attempted to meet RandomC readers last year and completely failed (I did meet PockyG in person and Kim_Pine in spirit though) I’m going to attempt to set something up this time around. Seeing how both Kairi and Xumbra (Our Lead Technology Specialist) will both be at the convention on Friday, let’s see if we can’t somehow meet up right!? I don’t want to state any specific places just yet since things can get hectic during the con, but make sure to check out my twitter @randomc_takaii throughout the day for updates and stupid pictures! And if enough people care/show up on Friday, let’s try to take over the tables near the Starbucks on the second floor should all other plans fail! That way we’ll have somewhere comfortable to sit *__*.

Besides that, I don’t really have much else to say! For my own personal plans, I’ll probably be drifting around everywhere but mostly around the Great Hall or near where they setup the cool Mirai cars. So if you see someone rocking that awesome shirt Chappy designed a few years back that has RandomC written on it, feel free to come over and say hi!

But in all seriousness I hope that everyone who is going has a great time and if you aren’t, YOU TOTALLY SHOULD! Hope to see y’all next week!

「だから、彼らの祭りは終わらない」 (Dakara, Karera no Matsuri wa Owaranai)
“And Their Festival Doesn’t End”

For a bonus episode, I’m a little ashamed to say that this may have been my favorite episode out of the whole season. Amongst the stellar pacing, really good art at times, and reintroduction of some sorely missed characters there was still enough room for the Hachiman we all known and love to shine. It makes you wonder — why couldn’t have all the other single-story episodes have been this good?

Before we get started, don’t be fooled! Even though this episode occurs chronologically after last week’s episode, it doesn’t do anything about that giant hole last week’s ending left with us. That and what happened to the fact that everyone should have a shared hatred for Hachiman and the way he handled Sagami?

But brushing all that aside, this episode was just plain fun to watch. Not only has it been ages since we’ve seen Zaimokuza but when you pair him up with someone just as crazy as him like Ebina the two bring a whole new energy to the show. Chuunibyou or BL, the integration of their two passions turned the normally boring athletics festival into something totally awesome. From anime-inspired armor to dirty BL jokes, there wasn’t a dull moment in sight. But the kicker in this last episode was definitely watching Hachiman use Zaimokuza’s over-exaggerated personality to his own gain. I mean, a chubby guy who’s acting like he’s a power ranger getting beat up? Who wouldn’t be distracted by it?! But then to actually become the decoy while giving Zaimokuza the cover he needed to get passed enemy lines was probably even better. Sure Hachiman’s tactics may have been borderline cheating but you have to give it to him with how clever he was!

All in all though it was a great episode in my opinion. Even though there wasn’t anything too serious going on, I’m sure everyone got a laugh out of it somewhere. Be it Shirashi Minoru taking the role as an announcer once again, Saika getting guys left and right to fall for his looks, or Zaimokuza becoming one of the manliest guys in the series — the writers somehow managed stuffed everything you’d want into a single episode. Now where’s that OVA?

 

Final Impressions

Boy, where do I start on this? After a season of shows like Shingeki no Kyoujin and Railgun S2, who would have thought that one of my favorites would end up being Oregairu? While it may have had a rough start in the beginning — be it the derp pacing or the janky art during full body scenes — the series made a big comeback once it got passed all those basic stuff.

Enter, Hikigaya Hachiman, the hero we deserve but not necessarily the one we need right now. Corny batman quotes and gifs aside, he is probably one of the most complex characters I’ve watched in quite a while. While I wouldn’t go out of my way to say that he’s the most realistic character I’ve seen (because I don’t think even the most cold hearted of us can go to the lengths he does), I’ve probably sympathized with him more than anyone before. He’s been in all the awkward situations where he ends up the loser. He’s been the butt of jokes and the outcast that no one likes. He understands that the world is not a friendly place nor is it one that will reward you for simply getting results even though that’s all it asked for. All of which were things that I personally tried to foolishly hold onto when I was back in High School.

At the same time, he’s also shown that even after having a rough childhood and choosing to life a certain way, that he’s capable of still changing and adapting. Comparing his attitude toward everything from episode one to episode thirteen, it’s clear that he’s slowly opening up to those around him. Be it trying different things like acknowledging that nice deeds may not only be just out of responsibility or just plain asking someone to be his friend — it relieving to know that he’s grown somewhat throughout the season. Because even though some of the more cynical watchers out there may believe that him staying true to his original path would’ve been the best choice, I’m a firm believer in learning from your experiences. And if there ever was an example of someone continually learning from their past, Hachiman would be it.

But without a strong supporting cast, I’m sure that Hachiman wouldn’t have been as awesome of a character as he’s become. And while you could argue that almost everyone in the show has served a bigger purpose than just being someone to populate the background, I’m sure most of you would agree that Yukino and Yui are the two more important. While Yui may have been there just to make it feel like someone in the show still has some sort of emotion within them, she did play a huge role in helping Hachiman understand certain things that words alone would never explain. In Yukino’s case, you could say she’s the one who instigated everything. By being someone who could share his point of view yet still have a completely different outlook, she was like the guide who helped Hachiman escape the hole that his pessimistic thinking dug him into. And with the two of them serving as completely different ends of the spectrum, I whole heartily believe that together they have the ability to really enlighten Hachiman.

Seeing how I’m reaching close to a 1,000 words, let me end on this — you should watch this show if you haven’t yet. It’s not a show that’s going to change the world nor is it one that’s going to take the anime of the year. But it is a show that will really get you emotionally involved because of just how close it resembles that inner you who tries to keep you as safe as possible. And when you really start to think about it, how would your life be if you tried living like Hachiman?

tl;dr – Give this show a shot and you’ll make yourself and Takaii happy. Hachiman is anime’s Dark Knight. Yukino and Yui are awesome. Don’t fall for traps even if they’re beautiful. Imouto in this show is awesome even though she gets no air time.

tl;dr because the first tl;dr was too long – I want a season two! Hachiman is batman.

「ふじのたかねにゆきはふりつつ」 (Fuji no Takane ni Yuki wa Furi Tsutsu)
“On Mt. Fuji’s Lofty Peak, by the Drift of Falling Snow”

Oh my – where in the world can I possibly begin?

First things first. Kanade, you sweet, wonderful, kind, perceptive girl – I adore you. You have a heart as big as all outdoors and a soul that’s always reaching for the Heavens. What a shame we didn’t see more of you this season.

In fact, that thought leads me to a couple of other observations about this last episode. First, my favorite term for Chihayafuru 2 – "exquisite torture". This finale was all about exquisite torture. Exquisite torture for Taichi, and for fans who love the character. And for every fan of Chihayafuru who was presented with this emotional blockbuster, and now has to wait the better part of three years for more anime, if we get more at all (with one small but potentially important exception, which I’ll touch on shortly).

And second – this finale is a stark reminder of what this season could have been, if it hadn’t spent most of its time on one three-day Karuta tournament, and why the first season was on the whole the better. Chihayafuru is almost unmatched when it comes to really emotionally compelling character dynamics, and they’ve been few and far between this season. I love the way it portrays Karuta too, but I don’t love it as much. I understand that this is mostly a result of Madhouse and Morio-sensei following Suetsugu-sensei’s script faithfully, but the annals of anime contain many examples of directors who’ve made changes in adapting manga that made the anime better. Well over half the season on the High School tournament was not the best scenario for Chihayafuru, in my opinion.

Be that as it may, the finale was indeed a whopper – a WMD of emotions that cut right to the heart of what makes Chihayafuru such a wonderful (and agonizing) viewing experience. We started out with the afterword of the tournament, though it was surprisingly brief (I think a good decision, in hindsight). We’re reminded that Arata is 4-0 lifetime against Shinobu. Sakurazawa-san asks of herself whether anyone noticed who the only undefeated players at the tournament were, to which I answer – "Yes!" I most certainly did notice, Sensei. Taichi leaves Arata hanging on a high-five. Sadly, there’s no cut-in on the finale of Tsutomu and Tsukuba’s matches – only a quick notification that they’ve in fact won.

The impression that T2 and T3 have really been shafted is hard to escape, because in addition to their matches being completely ignored, in point of fact their victories are only really important because they set up the narrative needs to move the story to the next level – that Chihaya is the reason the team wasn’t able to fulfil her outlandish promise that Mizusawa would sweep every category. Mind you, what they’ve accomplished is still incredible, in winning every class but one and the team event, and the truth is that even uninjured it’s clear Chihaya would have defeated neither Shinobu or Arata. But still, this serves to further deepen the sense of frustration for Chihaya. She sees Arata and Shinobu on a level far above her. She sees her teammates winning their events, while she falters. She sees the "impassionate" serenity of Arata, and curses her own restless impatience.

This is a crisis of confidence of sorts for Chihaya, and it isn’t helped when her fourth (!) medical opinion tells her she has Enchondromatosis (I’m guessing that Wikipedia page has never been busier) a softening of the bone in the injured finger of her hand. For most people it’s no big deal, but for Chihaya as a Karuta player it’s a problem – and it necessitates surgery to implant firm material inside the bone for support. I’ve never heard of a week’s hospitalization for a finger operation (I suspect the existence of nationalizaed health insurance has something to do with that) but it’s clear the operation is not completely routine. And obviously, this also means Chihaya is cut off from playing Karuta at just the time she’d most like to be obsessively practicing (though this requires the full vigilance of her put-upon nurses).

Sakurazawa-san has proved to be quite an important character in these last few weeks, and it’s she who gives Chihaya a copy of the video of the Class A final, which provides something else for the restless heroine to obsess over in the hospital. The first of the big blockbuster moments comes as Chihaya makes a phone call to Arata after her operation (interestingly, it seems she doesn’t tell him about it). It’s a revealing conversation in so many ways, starting with Arata (who happens to be ogling a photo of Chihaya’s sister at the time – I like anything that shows off his human side). Arata confirms what’s been the dominant theme of his personal journey this season – he’s never felt as connected and at peace as he did during his time in Tokyo. Most especially, of course, the time he spent with Chihaya playing Karuta in his humble apartment. "No matter the match, I always flash back to that room."

This is a conversation that’s going to be analyzed to death, though there are parts of it that certainly speak for themselves. To me, it seems clear that it awakens a kind of self-awareness in Chihaya that’s been absent up until that point. She realizes that it was those moments that were the pivot-point in her life, and that started her on the journey she’s obsessively (yes, I’m using that word with her a lot, and it’s no coincidence) followed ever since. Once again, we see Crunchyroll make a curious translation choice, which has been a theme with Chihayafuru. They translate Chihaya’s thought as "I’ll always love Karuta, and I’ll always love Arata." In fact, Chihaya uses the word "suki" – which translates more correctly as "like" – but can also mean "love" in certain contexts.

I don’t want to make too much of this, but I think it’s a fascinating illustration of why Japanese doesn’t always translate well into English – and also a crucial one in the context of the moment. In Japanese, many times translation boils down to context – the same word can mean different things in different situations, and even then it isn’t always clear (as witness Taichi’s use of "teki" earlier, which could mean "enemy" but probably meant "rival" as he intended it). In terms of "suki", it generally means like – the only time it would normally be used to express love would be in directly addressing someone. In referring to someone in the third person "daisuki" or "ai" would usually be used to express love. Of course, it’s clear Chihaya loves Karuta, and she’s certainly expressing her love for Arata here. It’s also clear in this moment that she has romantic feelings for him. But I think the reason Suetsugu used "suki" here is to express the fact that Chihaya still cannot separate her feelings for Arata and her feelings for Karuta – which I think is a vital theme going forward. It isn’t so much that the CR translation was wrong, but that it – like the later line translated as “receive Arata’s passion” which is far more naturally translated as “respond to that kind of passion” – seems intended to convey something definitive when the author probably intended to be ambiguous.

Any way you slice it, this amounts to the biggest lurch forward in the romantic side of the story so far. While Chihaya saying she’s been working hard to get strong enough to "receive Arata’s passion" is another inexact translation that doesn’t tell the whole story, it has very broad implications, and reinforces the notion that Arata and Karuta are inseparable in her mind. During one of their visits to the hospital Taichi and Kana see some poems that Chihaya has been writing (having received scary instruction from Kana-chan) for a school assignment. Kanade, however, keeps reading after Taichi has tilted at how lame the first two were – and sees two poems that express Chihaya’s feelings for Arata in clear and surprisingly articulate terms. It’s a beautiful notion, that Chihaya, still so clumsy when speaking and clueless about her own feelings, finds her voice when using poetry.

Poetry, of course, speaks directly to Kana’s soul – and it’s in this scene and the ones that follow that she has her finest moments of the season. It’s been clear for a long time that Kana knew everything about Taichi’s feelings for Chihaya, and desperately wanted the two of them to be together. I lost it when she lost it – when she stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and pounded Taichi’s back, over and over, before exhorting him "You have to try harder – Chihaya won’t be clueless forever!" What a sweet, sensitive and beautiful person she is, and this is the conversation Taichi has needed to have for two seasons. Yes he does know, as he tells her – and this is the ultimate test of his continuing quest to be a person who doesn’t run away.

There’s an almost staggering brilliance in the way Suetsugu connects the big moments in the series the way Shinobu connects herself to the cards – there’s a red string of fate from Taichi’s moment on the train platform with Harada-sensei in episode 20 of season one that leads right to this moment with Kana-chan. This is the most visible and dynamic journey in Chihayafuru, and it hasn’t been a smooth one – there have been fits and starts and self-inflicted detours. But Taichi is progressing – he is moving forward both as a person and as a Karuta player. Now he faces the highest hurdle yet – to declare his love to Chihaya, knowing full-well he might be rejected. "Forward. We can only go forward." he says, and he’s correct – this is the only direction his journey can go, and this step can be delayed no longer. He’s finally reached Class A, and Chihaya has finally acknowledged him as a rival in Karuta. Now he has to step up and declare his love for her no matter how terrifying that is.

It says something about how incredible this three-way dynamic is that despite being largely ignored all season, it remains the most compelling romantic triangle in recent anime. Arata and Taichi could hardly be more different, physically and otherwise. Taichi is all turbulence and self-doubt and struggle, and Arata is forever the spinning top, moving so swiftly and smoothly that there appears to be no effort at all. In a sense Taichi is right to consider the moment Chihaya acknowledges him as a rival a crucial one, because it’s clear that the path to her heart is through Karuta. If Arata is indeed moving ever closer to being an object of her romantic love (as he surely is) it’s partly because he’s still the God of Karuta in her eyes. Arata’s move to Tokyo (Grandpa’s insurance policy seems to guarantee it will happen – sorry, Dad) is so crucial in every respect because at last, Chihaya will come to know the person and not the God – the reality and not the fantasy. And so, at the same time, will we – for Arata has remained for most of the series a distant presence, only rarely showing us his vulnerabilities. Nothing will ever be the same once that move happens.

This is a cruel time indeed to cut off the series, on the eve of a Karuta training camp Fujisaki is holding, and that Sakurazawa-sensei has invited Mizusawa to. It’s crucial because Kana has engineered it as a two-person trip for Taichi and Chihaya – a chance for Taichi to at last share his feelings, if he can summon the courage. The reality, as I’ve mentioned before, is that there simply won’t be enough manga material for a third season for a very long time – probably the better part of three years. By any measure Chihayafuru is more successful than ever – the manga remains a powerhouse (over 300K in the first two weeks for Vol. 21) and despite a shift to a more expensive format Blu-ray Vol. 1 outsold the first volume of the first season. But will the impetus to move ahead with a S3 still be there in 2016? We’ll see. The wild-card here is an OVA due in September. Normally OVAs don’t deal with heavy canon storylines, but the tea leaves seem to indicate that this one will – that training camp will likely be the subject of the episode, and with it a crucial moment in Chihaya and Taichi’s development.

And with the end of the season comes another dilemma for me. When S1 ended there was no decision about reading the manga, because there were (and are) no translations of the bulk of the chapters that make up S2, and a second season seemed like a better-than-even bet. Now, we’re looking at a long wait if we get another season at all – and the continuation of the storyline in manga form is very much available in English. Do I cave and finally read the manga, spoiling myself for a potential third season? Or do I remain a pure-pure boy, saving myself for a season that may never come? Agony, I tell you – I suppose I’ll take a few days to decide one way or the other.

In the meantime, I can look back on an astonishing year’s worth of anime from Madhouse. What an emotional roller-coaster Chihayafuru is, combining the most stressful elements of shounen, shoujo and josei into an impossibly compelling and frustrating package. I adore this show, even if I don’t love the second season as much as the first. I’e already been quite clear on why – the balance and pacing of the season simply haven’t been as spot-on as they were in S1. Too much Karuta, too much time spent on marginally interesting moments and preliminary matches, not enough focus on the core cast like Taichi, Arata, Kanade and Tsutomu. I would have been fine with Morio-sensei speeding up the tournament some and devoting the last few episodes to the chapters that follow – as I said, I don’t take it as holy writ that directors have to be letter-faithful when adapting manga (look at the wonders Watanabe-sensei achieved with Nazo no Kanojo X by making major changes in pacing and chapter order). But of course if he had, he would have been delaying any possible third season even further – so let’s be optimistic and hope he didn’t because Madhouse fully expects that season to become a reality.

Remembering just how great this show is, even with its inconsistencies, is probably a good way to finish. Watching a well-written show about fascinating and endearing kids you come to care about deeply is one of anime’s greatest pleasures, and moments like that scene between Taichi and Kana-chan can only come with the deep emotional buy-in Chihayafuru has. Thank you sincerely to Suetsugu-sensei, Mori-sensei and Madhouse for bringing us one of the greatest character arcs – and characters – in amime with Taichi. And for Arata’s nobility and class, for Chihaya’s shounen male-lead intensity and emotional vulnerability, Kanade’s beautiful soul and Tsutomu’s self-effacing courage and determination and Nishida’s everyman struggles. For supporting players and opponents and the wonderful coaches and adults like Harada-sensei and The Empress, and for bringing my attention to the strange and utterly fascinating ancient sport of Karuta. Chihayafuru is very, very special, and whether the OVA is the end of the anime or not, I’ll never forget the experience of watching it.

 

ED2 Sequence

ED2: 「YOUTHFUL」 by (99RadioService)

「LAST DAY – 結実の日曜日 II 」 (Ketsujitsu no Nichiyōbi II)
“LAST DAY – Sunday’s Fruition II”

At this point, I can only pity DeSu2A; as it has always seemed to me, it really did want to explore these themes in an intelligent way. By taking away the freedom of choice, Yamato’s ideal of humanity would be able to work together as a single entity towards a “correct” future. In the end, he was saving them from the stagnation that prompted Polaris’s judgment, and thus his philosophy was not entirely unjustified. The same can be said of Hibiki; he finally comes to understand Yamato’s purpose, but doesn’t feel that what Yamato proposes is truly living. Better to risk stagnation and the end of the world if the alternative means giving up his freedom of choosing his future- by extension allowing humanity to choose its own future. It is easy to quickly dismiss his stance as naïve, but isn’t entirely unjustified either. With both characters trying to “save” the world in their own way, this was fertile ground for a meaningful debate. But as I’ve said before, the lack of any explorative depth to these themes in episode really hurts its credibility. It didn’t help that at this very last moment, the meandering narrative takes the odd detour into a completely separate issue, as Hibiki challenges Yamato for taking on the task to save the world alone. Somehow, the grand clash of world-deciding philosophies devolved into a trite argument about the necessity of camaraderie and friendship.

Given the writing we’ve seen, was there any doubt that this semi-reboot was how DeSu2A was going to wrap up? I honestly don’t think so, not since we learned how the final survivors would get to dictate the outcome of the world. All this while, Hibiki struggled on in an attempt to save his friends; one should even say the decision was expected of him, given how his ideal survived to the end and is analogous to the “best hope” for mankind’s continued survival compared to any other, including Yamato’s meritocracy. And it’s not like I had any particular issue with such an ending, had its fundamental themes been better explored and given a stronger characterization in Hibiki and Yamato. In some ways, choosing this end was the boldest move for DeSu2A; nothing of consequence actually get resolved in the end even as freedom is retained, and mankind still faces the risk of “stagnating” and falling to Polaris’s second judgment. But as it stands, the ending feels fairly run-of-the-mill. All the characters return to their normal lives, albeit slightly better off than they originally were.

But enough trashing, because there’s one shining moment that absolutely can’t go without a mention. I was cheering (rather vocally, I’d add) when the show went absolutely bonkers with the demon fusion, given that I had basically forgone all hopes of seeing it in the animation by that point. Of all the moments in the show, this was the most unabashed fanservice moment of them all: watching Hibiki take all the demons of his fallen compatriots and chain-fusing his way to the ultimate of SMT’s demon roster, Lucifer. It’s a brilliant nod to fans of the series, and along with the epic spectacle of a showdown between Hibiki and Yamato, made for a glorious way to send off the show in style.

 

Final Impression

What a strange beast DeSu2A was. Looking at it as a whole, it’s hard to call it anything but lackluster. I’ve seen many discussions noting the anime’s flaws, even made a few assertions of my own; weak characters, questionable narrative decisions and poor execution of its better ideas are just some of the terms I’ve been throwing around in the past few weeks. That the writing got especially bad towards the end didn’t help at all; the dialogue fell to post-apocalyptic clichés, a parody was nearly made out of a chain of character deaths, and the narrative seemed to lack any kind of thematic consistency.

And yet, despite all this, I don’t think DeSu2A was entirely without merit. Early in the series, I strongly believed that DeSu2A had given us one of the best example of how a video-game’s narrative should be adapted, because of the various changes to the source material it riskily implemented. Fast forward to today, and I perhaps might want to retract that statement; but the fundamentals of my belief remain firm. Opinions on the faithfulness of DeSu2A‘s adaption at the time were highly divided because of these huge changes. Some saw these changes as debasing fundamental aspects of the game’s storyline. Others took it more positively as an attempt to streamline the narrative.

I fell into the latter camp; I saw those changes as ways the anime could tell a potentially better story out of its source material. What I saw in the early episodes showed me some of that potential, a display of subtle awareness regarding the overarching plot. Changes that were made were smart, made to play up the motifs of survival and the desperate plight of the world. It allowed us to see the disaster-stricken world in a way the game tried but so failed to convey, and in doing so allowed us to better see how the characters reacted to the disaster-striken world. And then there was the big game-changer; Keita’s death showed us all that the anime was going to take the considerably darker, more interesting route in the game’s branching storyline, where the very survival of the characters were put into question. It allowed them to play up the game’s survival motif to an all-new level, and I marveled at the possibilities this would bring for character development as the cast slowly dwindled down.

Alas, the show never could quite follow through on the promise of its changes. Inconsistent writing failed to carry through the implications of these changes meaningfully into the latter half, when events such as the absurd chain of character deaths took place. Poor character development in Hibiki and Yamato, as they meandered around shallow generalizations of their philosophies, meant that the significant additions to their backstories were never fully exploited to flesh out characterization. It’s especially disappointing when we shifted from a story of survival and desperation to one where the underlying clash of philosophies took precedence; inconsistent themes meant that the plot started making some very confusing narrative decisions in trying to bridge themes of survival, camaraderie and the philosophies of men. I don’t think the underlying idea was ever wrong; I liked that DeSu2A was willing to risk retelling its own interpretation of the game’s storyline in an attempt to better explore the missed potential of its source material; but its many flaws in the narrative ultimately meant it never delivered on this potential.

And so, our quest for a truly great video-game adaptation continues. But for what it’s worth, DeSu2A was an decently entertaining watch, consistently delivering on the spectacle of its Septentriones and demon fights. There was never any question that I had fun throughout; the presentation for the anime was solid, and the general plot, when taken at face-value, provides a decent romp as it moves day by day towards the apocalypse. Once it brought on character deaths, it was something of a thrill to see who’s next to bite the dust in DeSu2A‘s Russian roulette game. (At least, until the absurd chain of deaths occurred) And if anything, this series will tempt you to try out the game, and see whether all of the fuss over its adaption was worth it; which probably was its primary intention all along.

Random Notes

You won’t have to look too far for the next video-game offering; next week’s mystery-thriller Danganronpa is our new flavor of the season. And for better or for worse, it’s being produced by the same director/writer team of Kishi and Ueza. I’ll be covering the introductory episode for that, so look forward to seeing if they can make it right this time!

Full-length images: 24.

「魔王と勇者、真っ当に仕事に励む」 (Maō to Yūsha, Mattō ni Shigoto ni Hagemu)
“The Demon Lord and Hero Do Some Good, Hard Work”

It’s only been a few hours and I’m already missing this series in my life.

After last week’s epic conclusion, it is only fitting that the true closer for Hataraku comes in the form of a quieter reflection like this one. This isn’t the sort of series that requires the wrapping up of large plot questions or otherwise tries to create extra drama by creating a last minute dilemma; it’s the type of show that wants to prove it’s story is not quite done yet (which it looks like it might not be, we’ll see), but isn’t necessarily making the commitment for an immediate return. It’s a bit more reserved of an episode compared to the last arc, true, and I’ve already heard that the slow, easy pace of it all felt somewhat disappointing to some, but I personally found this ending quite satisfying, though perhaps not spectacular. It’s still Hataraku’s strengths playing through, and I don’t think the purpose of this episode was to close a door on the series at all; it feels more like it was meant to linger for some time, like waiting in the rain for someone to bring you an umbrella (AKA, the much-anticipated second season).

That doesn’t mean this episode wasn’t funny. I think this is one of the best collections of facial expressions since the earlier episodes for one thing, and while Emi’s are priceless as always, Maou gets quite the share of his own too. Urushihara’s screw-up is hugely amusing considering he’s supposed to be a NEET, but it’s also great seeing Maou and Ashiya treat him like the child they’re raising together (which they really are). Watching Maou and the rest dutifully do something about the evil Ashiya unwittingly goes to work for is equally fun, and I have to say that the solution was hilariously domestic, considering that scammer was dealing with the Demon Lord and two of his generals, not to mention the Hero in tow. Chi-chan too milks the comedy out of her love for Maou at every moment, while Suzuno seems to have taken over as the concerned neighbor who unwittingly makes the other girls jealous. Even Sariel seems to have found something to do now that Maou’s failed to send him home, much to the chagrin of the manager.

All in all, this is the sort of episode that gives us a window into the character’s lives; it’s a way for the series to say “life goes on”, the sort of thing you wistfully hold warm to your heart before a farewell. And though things seem far from over, at the moment this is a farewell, and I can’t help but be crushed to say good-bye to the Demon Lord and Hero, if only for a while.

 

ED5 Sequence

ED5: 「ツマビクヒトリ」 (Tsumabiku Hitori) by nano.RIPE

Final Impressions

Even after twelve weeks or so (whoa have I really been here three months now?), I’m still amazed at how lucky I am to have gotten the chance to blog Hataraku Maou-sama!. It’s one of the series this season that no one expected anything substantial of, and it surprised with the force of an oncoming truck for those of us interested enough to give it a go. The premise is nothing mind-blowing, nor is the series really anything new to the anime world as a whole, but it excels at one very important thing: execution. Everything that Maou-sama! does it does well, whether it be voice acting, storytelling, comedy, art, fanservice, or anything else that tickles your fancy. The characters especially are hugely likeable and perfectly wonderful to watch interact, be it Ashiya’s housewife role or Emi’s loveable tsundere-ing and facial expressions. This is a show that doesn’t half-ass anything; it sets out to do something and it does it, and that’s what makes it so endearing. There’s no single category the series really fits comfortably into, and even for a comedy it constantly has some way of making the tried better, making it one of the best balanced series I’ve had the pleasure of watching for a long time. I think we can solidly commend White Fox for this excellent adaptation, and I’ll be waiting with bated breath for that second season, whenever it comes around. See you all then, and thanks so much for seeing me through my first series at RandomC!

KATSUDUM!

Shingeki no Mio.

This season brought us wonders in terms of fantasy and sci-fi, with a dash of comedy on the side. The endings for this season are sure to be the talk of the town for awhile, with questions like “Where’s the healing!?” and “Are they going to hook up?” are surely in the minds of many. Meanwhile, a group of Random Curiosity affiliates decides to release a podcast right before those finales come out. Hopefully we serve as a snapshot of how the world was before these finales shook the world.

All joking aside though, we have a great lineup for you today! Joining us are our lovely regulars, along with our resident tech advisor, Xumbra! His laugh definitely adds life into our podcasts, so go ahead and give it a listen! Thanks to Stilts for hosting once again, as well as all the participants for making time (especially Enzo). Thanks to Xumbra for helping out with editing as I prepare to leave the country, and thanks to our listeners out there for lending us an ear!

• Kairi – @Okaeri_Kairi – MAL profile
• Guardian Enzo – @GuardianEnzo – Anime-Planet profile
• Stilts – @StiltsOutLoud – MAL profile
• Takaii – @randomc_takaii – MAL profile
• Xumbra – MAL profile
• Zanibas – @Zanibas – MAL profile
• Zephyr – @ZephyrRC – MAL profile

• 00:00 – 01:00 – Opening Song – 「紅蓮の弓矢」 (Guren no Yumiya) by Linked Horizon (Shingeki no Kyojin OP)
• 01:01 – 06:20 – Introductions
• 06:21 – 20:20 – Suisei no Gargantia
• 20:21 – 39:20 – Shingeki no Kyojin
• 39:21 – 56:00 – Kakumeiki Valvrave
• 56:01 – 62:20 – To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S
• 62:21 – 67:55 – Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko.
• 67:56 – 86:00 – Final Season Impressions
• 86:01 – 87:33 – Intermission Song — 「せーのっ！」by Ookubo Rumi, Taneda Risa, and Tsuda Minami (Yuyushiki OP)
• 87:34 – 114:54 – Discussion of director Makoto Shinkai
• 114:55 – 139:55 – Discussion of the Summer Season
• 139:56 – 143:22 – A Miscellany
• 143:23 – 148:13 – Outro – 「Rain」 by Motohiro Hata (Kotonoha no Niwa Insert Song)

~Special Random Bloopers Reel!~

• 00:00 – 20:48 – Bloopers

Spring 2013 Retrospective Podcast | Duration: 148:13 – 96 kbps

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Spring 2013 Retrospective Podcast – Random Bloopers! | Duration: 20:48 – 96 kbps

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Download 160 kbps (24 MB)

Download Transcript (txt file) – Thanks Isabel!

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (0.0KB)

Episode 12

「―禁じられた遊び―」 (―Kinjirareta Asobi―)
“―The Forbidden Games―”

This episode ended up going in a different direction than I thought it would. Rather than focusing on the battle between Emily and Kiri, we see the controversy behind the actual existence of Grayland. Everyone believes he existed, but whether or not he actually murdered hundreds of people is debatable. I think Kiri’s dream pretty much confirmed that Grayland was indeed a psychotic murderer and a pretty brutal one at that. It doesn’t show him being a mass murderer; although, I can see how stories like these get over exaggerated and passed down year over year. Not only that, but I still think being related to a murderer is not something that Kiri should be pride of.

Kiri makes a statement that he rather be a somebody (good or bad) than a nobody. I have a rough time agreeing with this philosophy because I think this just says you rather be known than invisible. It’s what a lot of teenagers or young celebrities suffer from and it’s sad to imagine that they rather be known for something bad (and possibly criminal) as opposed to just being average. Nothing wrong with being average, but I guess everyone likes to feel a little noticed and recognized. I do too, but not to that extent (and I definitely didn’t do anything bad in high school!). I feel as though Kiri’s desire to feel connected to Grayland (especially after Yamane said that she can see her ancestors in her dreams) had to be quite strong too for his killer instincts to kick in.

There’s also the secondary cast that’s getting a bit more screen time this episode and I’m afraid of how this is all this is going to end and tie together. There’s a lot of new concepts (like “created” killers and Kiri’s ability to inflict pain) and characters being introduced that won’t have time to serve any real purpose. It’s more of a teaser of what’s to come if Crime Edge got a second season.

Full-length images: Getting lazy with full-lengths =(

 

Episode 13

「―グレイランド・イズインザハウス―」 (―Gureirando ・izu in da Hausu―)
“―Grayland is in the House―”

That finale was rather… anticlimactic for Crime Edge and I was a little disappointed that there was no epic confrontation or battle. I thought the impact of Kiri meeting Grayland would’ve led to some form of epiphany for Kiri or inner struggle, but it seems like he’s just going to embrace it instead. The scene between Kiri and Iwai (and the hair cutting) looks like it’s supposed to create a drift between the two in terms of trust. The ending proved otherwise though and it seems like everything is back to normal. Kiri still cuts Iwai’s long hair and why was it that her hair stopped growing in the first place? Is it because she finally found peace with herself and now it’s grown back because she feels threatened again? I never quite understood that piece. However the ending was very abrupt and looks like they tried to tie it up neatly in case a second season doesn’t arise.

The scene in the bathroom seemed a little unnecessary for Emily/Iwai development. I understand that it’s supposed to be their bonding moment and a clear indication that Emily is no longer a threat to Iwai and Kiri… but it still feels out of place and rather toned down for a finale. The only part that hit a sweet spot had to be when Emily got to read her father’s diaries. I always figured that their father loved them both equally and I knew that Emily couldn’t have been jealous of Iwai for long (Iwai is too cute!). It would’ve been more beneficial (and probably more of a cliffhanger) to reveal the other “made-to-order” authors in the game. My understanding is that although Killing Goods can be passed down in the family (and through genetics), “made-to-order” authors are just as dangerous because they’re trained and handpicked to be the best by Gossip. What a scary controlling group; it reminds me of wealthy, bored, old people who have nothing better to do but toy with humans because they don’t see humanity in them anymore.

Speaking of Gossip…
My jaw hit the ground when Violet forced her lips onto Kiri! Why?! What does this even mean?! Okay, I know what it means… but that just isn’t acceptable. This isn’t a harem game! And if the author is headed down that path, I am very disappointed in the romance that has developed so far. I can understand the third wheel; Kashiko being the childhood friend route, but what does Violet see in Kiri? It must be the whole bada** persona (which I also fall for so I shouldn’t be a hypocrite) and now she’s the forth wheel. Seems like Violet’s definitely more of a contender for Kiri’s attention though… if a second season ever came around. It’s okay, Iwai still has my heart.

And what is this… a season two teaser?! I was pleasantly surprised that they would even suggest a second season since my impressions were that this anime didn’t garner a large following and ratings were pretty low. We’ll have to see how sales go. As for the very brief teaser images, there’s a lot of suggestive scenes with Kiri and Violet, as well as Houko and Kanae (not that no one saw that coming). I’m sure the old man will get some more screen time as well, although I’d like to guess that he’s related to Violet (grandfather perhaps and mastermind behind Gossip?). For a show about murderers and killing, I wish more authors were actually shown and defeated. There’s a lot of idle candidates that have yet to be revealed so it’d be interesting to see them and how they interact.

Full-length images: So much censorship! And why are Violet Witch’s boobies always so unproportionately large?

 

Preview

Final Impressions

Dansai Bunri no Crime Edge in a nutshell is an entertaining show that doesn’t take itself seriously. It follows the same tried and true formula and doesn’t have a lot of standout plot twists or story arcs, but it’s the characters that really bring the story to life. Each individual character has their own quirks and style that make it more memorable. Keep in mind though – this is a story about murderers killing each other so you can’t expect any of them to be very sane. The story can be funny, romantic, action-packed and awkward in one episode so don’t be surprised when certain scenes make you wonder how that came about. It’s hard to generalize Crime Edge into a certain genre since it touches a bit of everything. I loved seeing the romance develop between all the authors and their insteads; it’s different because of the circumstances that bring them together. I can’t say that it’s an epic story that’s dying for a second season, but there is a backstory that’s just surfacing and I think that’s where it becomes less formulaic and arc based.

Crime Edge wasn’t an anime that I had high expectations for, but it turned out to be worth the ride and the general consensus that I’m hearing is that everyone’s surprised by how it turned out. Keeping in mind that this isn’t going to be mind-blowing or life-changing, but it’s simply entertaining. The plot is easy to follow, and there’s not a lot of “thinking” involved because the answer’s usually handed to you within the same episode or the next. The animation also has quite a bit of censorship given that there is a lot of fighting and could be way more gruesome. Luckily there aren’t a lot of cheap scares and I would hardly label it as horror (thank god!). In the end, all I’m trying to say is – Kiri and Iwai are a cute couple that were brought together by a strange fetish, but don’t let that deter you from watching because things get way more complicated and interesting (and yes, possibly in a kinky way).

“I will never question a lady’s tears” – is it really possible that Sanji can be even more “GAR” than he already is? Not for the first time have I found myself man-crushing on Sanji for the crazy things he says, and his interaction with Violet this week was yet another fine example of his unrivaled machismo! I’ve always had a soft spot for the Straw Hat’s “Black Leg” – he’s not just a badass and a great cook, Sanji also has some of the best lines in the entire One Piece universe, “Men who can’t wipe away the tears from a woman’s eyes aren’t real men”! The fact that Violet turned out to be a Donquixote family assassin – and a Devil Fruit user at that – hit me as somewhat of a surprise, but Sanji’s response was pretty much in character and his resolution to the dilemma facing him this time is no different from before – he’s a courteous jack-a-dandy who is truly one of a kind! No question, it was Sanji’s supreme fortitude that ultimately succeeded at swaying Violet’s heart and now that she has betrayed Doflamingo, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for the Giro Giro no Mi user. Violet’s circumstance is quite similar to that of Nico Robin’s and I suspect there’s a good chance she might emerge as the next Straw Hat nakama – along with warrior dwarf Leo, who is in my view, another strong contender!

There’s no doubt at all that Doflamingo is a fearsome opponent – he is widely regarded as the most powerful Shichibukai, and the fact his influence extends beyond that of the World Government is simply a testament to his dreadful reputation. Aptly pointed out Trafalgar Law, the only ones capable of pulling such an imposing stunt are the Tenyruubito, and the most recent bombshell certainly suggests a connection between the Heavenly Yaksha and the odious World Nobles! The Joker’s complicated past has been vaguely hinted at by Vice Admiral Vergo – who is of course, one of Doflamingo’s most trusted subordinates – and what’s unfolding in this chapter is merely an extension of that, something that points to bigger conspiracy in play! In fact, even the Marines were caught off guard by Doflamingo world-deceiving scheme, and it seems like Admiral Fujitora has played right into the Joker’s plan, without any prior warning. What Issho does at this juncture is crucial in setting the stage for the ultimate confrontation – he is a wild card who can swing either way and his mild temperament – and concern for civilian safety, is certainly in stark contrast to Akainu’s “Absolute Justice”! I don’t expect Trafalgar Law to go down this early in the game, but the Surgeon of Death is obviously in a tight spot, and whether he makes it out alive could very much depend on the blind Admiral’s judgment – my gut’s telling me Issho’s going to switch sides and I hope I’m right!

Random tidbits:

• I like that Nico Robin materialized her entire upper body and not just her head – I’m sure Trafalgar Law and Ceasar Clown got a pretty good view!
• Violet was tsun-to-the-max, but Sanji was able to tame her down just fine – I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they’ll be the first official couple in the Straw Hat ranks!
• The Giro Giro no Mi is pretty cool – It’s not just a peeping device, Violet can also make whales out of her teardrops!
• That bastard Caribou is making grandma fight – I wonder what crazy moves does granny have, Hi-Ya!

tl;dr: @SeishunRC – #OnePiece 712: “I will never question a lady’s tears”! Doflamingo just punked the entire world #Manga