Chihayafuru – 08
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「たえてひさしくなりぬれど」 (Taete Hisashi Kunari Nuredo)
“Taete Hisashi Kunari Nuredo”
Romance takes a back seat this week, as it’s all about the club and the sport itself.
Mirai Nikki – 07
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「留守応答」 (Rusu Ōtō)
“Away Message”
It’s another triumph for gritty, hard-headed realism in episode 7 of Mirai Nikki.
Last Exile -Ginyoku no Fam- – 06
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「Over step」
Psychopathic, eyepatch-wearing commanders aside, I’m still wondering how seriously we should take the threat of an empire that has eight ships stolen by a little girl so easily that the thefts didn’t even make it onto the screen…
UN-GO – 06
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「あまりにも簡単な暗号」 (Amarini Mo Kantan na Angō)
“The Code Too Simple”
I ended last week’s post by wondering what the results of the first anime-original episode of UN-GO would be like. We have our answer – absolutely bloody brilliant.
Chihayafuru – 07
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「ひとこそみえねあきはきにけり」 (Hito koso Miene Aki wa Kinikeri)
“But For Autumn’s Coming”
For a game that seemed so simple when I first learned of it, I’m finding myself continually surprised by how many different ways there are to look at Karuta. It almost acts as a mirror held up to each character, revealing their true nature to the audience – and eventually, one assumes, to themselves.
Mirai Nikki – 06
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「マナーモード」 (Manā Mōdo)
“Vibrate Mode”
I can think of very few fictional characters that exemplify the old adage “double-edged sword” better than Yuno Gasai.
Last Exile -Ginyoku no Fam- – 05
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「Touch and move」
We’re five episodes in, and Last Exile is starting to settle into a comfort zone.
UN-GO – 05
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「幻の像」 (Maboroshi no Zō)
“The Phantom Statue”
UN-GO certainly isn’t the best new series of the Fall season, but it just might be the most interesting.
Chihayafuru – 06
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「けふここのへににほひぬるかな」 (Kefuko Kono E ni Nihohinuru kana)
“Now Bloom Inside the Ninefold Palace”
If you were worried that Chihayafuru was getting a little too melodramatic after episode 5, this week’s effort should be a welcome change. It’s a return to the innocent, childlike exuberance of the first three episodes – and damned if it didn’t actually get me interested in Karuta a little bit, too.
Last Exile -Ginyoku no Fam- – 04
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「Dubious move」
The fourth episode of Last Exile: Fam tries awfully hard to please. I think it would be well served to try a little less hard as it develops.