Sorry about this post being up so late. As always, real life and divine intervention got in the way. Does this happen to you too? Just kidding. Anyways, this week has been the episodes of set ups for much bigger plot lines for many series. Others surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. Check them all out!
MONDAY
AKAGAMI NO SHIRAYUKI-HIME EP. 6 | Are older anime brothers just irredeemable or something? This episodoe of Akagami, we meet Zen's brother, Prince Izana who immediately dislikes Shirayuki and tries to force her to leave under the pretense of Zen's irresponsibility as a prince. This episode was meant to just place the first impression of Izana, but by the next episode, we'll find out why Zen really dislikes his brother and just the history behind their relationship. With that said, Shirayuki is growing more and more conscious of her feelings for Zen (if that was even possible since each episode seems to be a grand revelation of how much they adore each other) and her desire to be an equal by his side. We get the comedic relief of Prince Shenazard and while he was a major obnoxious and arrogant idiot in the first episode, you can't help but find him a little bit endearing as he tries to keep his promise and weasel his way out of the awkward party. I'm more interested in the next episode, so I'll leave Shirayuki and the gang here.
JITSU WA WATASHI WA EP. 6 | Just as we're told the wolf man exists in the last episode, in the same day, we meet the wolf man. Unlike the fabled grotesque animal transformation, we get a man transforming into a woman who's animalistic in a more sexual nature. Honestly, this episode was just pure laughs. Though, what I was glad developed from the round about comedy was Shiho making Shiragami more aware of her feelings or at least the importance of Kuromine versus everyone else. I can already guess the wild shenanigans that will occur now that Shiho and Shirou are enrolled in the school now. Hopefully a moon poster is nowhere around campus either.
WEDNESDAY
JUNJOU ROMANTICA 3 EP. 6 | While last episode was too real to comfort with Misaki's job hunt and all, this week, we're back to the nonsensical comedic plots. A couple of things are hanging above Misaki's head right now: his worry about not having enough credits to graduate, and his relationship with Usagi. While it's a repetition of plot in some ways (Usagi gets jealous and kidnaps Misaki somewhere), this particular episode was refreshing in that Misaki is owning up to his feelings, something we haven't seen in the past 2 series. This episode basically set the theme for the entire season, granted we're halfway through. Still, any progress is better than no progress.
ORE MONOGATARI!! EP. 19 | I say it with every round up I feel, but I'll say it again. I LOVE ORE MONOGATARI!! SO MUCH! While sixty percent of that goes to our charming leads (Takeo, Yamato and Suna), the rest is given to the supporting characters who get some personality, charm and story for their own. This episode, we are given the opportunity to see Takeo's mom than more of the unconventional background housewife/mother that we've seen her for the most part of the show. We see her selflessness (but also a subtle hint of her own insecurity in her younger days before she fell in love and realized how someone could love her too). We also see her stubbornness and her figure as a true pillar of the family. Takeo being in distraught with his mom being anything but healthy and fine is a clear indication of that. I've written a 14 page research paper on the importance of the mother figure in anime shows and this just reinforced it. They truly are the backbone of the family.
HIMOUTO! UMARU-CHAN EP. 7 | This show is just so cute and so funny. Episode 7 in particular shows more of the relationship between Umaru and her brother. While they annoy each other to the ends of the universe, you can tell that they really do love each other and have been together long enough that they actually need the other's presence to feel some semblance of normalcy. I think what I appreciate about this show versus other shows that are similar in the aspect of brother-sister relationship is that the sister is not sexualized, and they have a very realistic and very healthy relationship with one another. With this said, I kind of want the series to expand to perhaps the parents. Why is Umaru living with her brother? How close are they all with their mother and father if at all? While that may be a bit too deep for what the show has offered, I'd still enjoy it.
THURSDAY
RANPO KITAN: GAME OF LAPLACE EP. 8 | Ranpo's back to being dark again and this time, it's the continuation of the Twenty Faces case. More and more "Twenty Faces" have been cropping up, taking pure justice into their own violent hands. While much of the episode was slow, it gave a deeper character insight into Akechi, something we haven't seen for the past few episodes which is strange given that he's essentially the main character. We see how he thinks and a few glimpses into his past. Having much of the dialogue or information be processed through his mind on screen for the viewers to witness harked very much to BBC's series of Sherlock. I'm not sure how much that show might have influenced the animators or if it had any at all, but it was very reminiscent of it. I think the unique contribution to this particular episode is having Kobayashi as a prominent presence in his mind, one that understands the case (while not fully as he has) that it has enough of an impact to click the answers in Akechi's head. I really hope we get to see more of Akechi's past since we were only granted that small imaginary scene of him as a studious child. With the original Twenty Faces appearing too, I'm sure that'll unfold very quickly and I can't wait.
GATE: JIETAI KANOCHI NITE, KAKU TATAKAERI EP. 7 | Gate's plot development has consistently kept me pleasantly happy. While Itami and gang might have had a minor set back where Itami got punched by the Order of Roses and taken to Italica again after he literally just left, everything is resolved rather smoothly and so endearingly as everyone interacts with the maids in the castle. I liked their cultural exchange. It was truly two different cultures of different worlds, bonding and sharing despite how everything started with war. But, the show picks up its pace as Pina is frightened that the JSDF might try to turn around and attack after their violation of the treaty they set up. This also leads to the medieval world inhabitants crossing over and seeing modern day Japan which will definitely be a shock. I'm giddy with excitement as I think what their reactions will be, how they will interact with our world and what consequences will come out of it.
SATURDAY
DURARARA!!X2 TEN EP. 7 | It happened, y'all. It finally happened. Kida and Mikado finally meet after forever and a life since the Yellow Scarves/Blue Squares incident. Everything that had developed led to that point in time and it was so brief and so unfulfilled that it was in its own way perfect. Mikado has grown disillusioned, and psychotic as he tries to purge the Dollars and essentially create a world filled with just good people. Of course, this will end horribly because people cannot be divided into just good or bad people. Kida, unlike Anri, has been gone for so long that he hasn't witnessed this gradual change in his friend. He can see the distinct difference and I think what set the nail in the head was when Mikado actually set the stalker on fire. That was ground zero. Mikado is not Mikado anymore. It's perfect. The other plot points just pale in comparison to what will happen between these two and what Kida will do to get his friend back. I AM SO READY! ARE YOU?
WORKING!!! EP. 7 | Episode 7 was purely devoted to Yamada and it paid off. While Yamada's backstory was certainly rushed, condensed into the beginning of this episode, the way the problem was resolved between Yamada and her mother felt very satisfying. While Yamada isn't my top favorite character, you realize how central of a character she is to the Working!! family. The episode also fleshes out in a rather eccentric lesson: the miscommunication between family members. Communication is key to all relationships and every one just needs to sit down and try to express their feelings and talk out their thoughts in a way that the other can understand. I felt a tear creep in the corner of my eye with that final shot of Yamada telling everyone she was going home. Hopefully it won't be her last appearance. (OH MY GOD, OTOO AND HARUNA ARE FINALLY REUNITED. THE FIRST FINALLY OF WORKING!! FOLKS. Who's hoping the next finally is between Satou and Yachiyo?)
ROKKA NO YUUSHA EP. 7 | This episode, we get more insight into Flamie and more backstory into what happened to Adlet that pushed him to want to be one of the Braves. I enjoy the parallel of their stories and characters. While there's this distorted love triangle between Flamie, Adlet and Nachetanya, I have a feeling that the first two will develop a closer bond to one another. With that said, we still have no idea who the mysterious seventh or eighth fake brave is. My money will still be on Maura despite the show trying to have us convinced that it's Hans. I see what you're doing show and I will not be fooled.
SUNDAY
ARSLAN SENKI EP. 19 | Episode 19 is more of a run down/update of what we missed while Arslan and company were busy in Shindra. I like giving the balanced view of Hermes versus Arslan and the legitimate questions that we should also be asking about which is truly the more right king of Pars. At this point, Lusitania is basically defeated with both princes attacking the invading nation internally and externally. This has and will be purely a fight between the two princes. With Hermes, you understand his desire to reclaim the throne but a good question was asked during the episode. Which thief is he stealing from and does bloodline matter when it comes to ruling a kingdom? Arslan is proving to be the more righteous potential, putting forth concrete laws and decrees that serve the good of the country without the empty promises of those before him. However, Arslan is more idealistic and less practical--but it is an issue that can easily be improved with the aid of Narsus and the others. While the question of his bloodline remains, everyone finds him the better fit to rule the nation if they want a prosperous and just one. We see these questions develop with the generals such as Sam who despite his loyalty to Hermes, still has his doubts. I like these doubting questions. The more doubt the better.
GANGSTA EP. 7 | Every episode, it seems I tend to compare the animated series to the manga. So, this week I'll try my best to not do that. Luckily, this episode was better than the last few. Worick and Nicolas' past certainly became the main focus of the episode and it reinforced the two's relationship that is incredibly unstable and unsteady. While this review space wouldn't be the right fit for me to go in depth, one of my large appreciations for Gangsta and Kohske's work is the creation of the Twilights. It's a great fictional but realistic representation of discrimination and racism present in society. If I ever want to buckle down and write a post for it, I will, but just appreciate this camaraderie between Doug and Nicolas who were from different areas of the country who probably experienced the destruction of the Anti-Twilight factions that spread throughout. Shifting back to present day Benriya, I'm loving Alex slowly weaving herself into both of Worick's and Nicolas' lives--healing one and trying to understand the other. I hope she gets more screen time because Gangsta is very much about Alex as it is with the two male leads. Also, Nicolas and Nina's relationship is fantastically cute and cavity inducing. I need more!
*Do you guys like me reviewing all the shows I watch or would you prefer to only read reviews of episodes I found really good or really bad? Since this is still fairly new, I'd be more flexible with changing stuff around. Please, let me know!
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