Spring 2018 – Week 5

Well, here we are for another week of fast hot takes on what I’ve watched this week, along with some links to interesting views elsewhere.  Hit the jump and let’s dive right in shall we?

The shows that I am watching are in bold, shows my wife and I are watching together are in bold italics.  Question marks denote shows not watched yet (during the premiere weeks), and strikethrough marks dropped shows.

Comic Girls

Not watched this week, will catch up next week.

Crossing Time Ep 4-5

Last weeks ep (SNS Children) wasn’t bad…  This week’s (Goth Ordeals) wasn’t the worst so far but that’s about the best that could be said.

Cutie Honey Universe Ep 5

What a mess…  They tried to be thoughtful and address issues, but chickened out from actually doing so.  Not that addressing issues is a good match for a fanservice/action show anyhow.  It can be done, but it’s not easy.

Also, once again, Danbei and Junpei show up and spend their portion of the ep groping statues…

Hinamatsuri Ep 5

For a show that still doesn’t seem to have made up it’s mind what it’s all about…  Hinamatsuri is certainly moving forward at a steady clip.  The first part of the ep, all about Anzu and money, formed a nice bookend to her segment last week.  She’s settled into and accepted her status, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting something more.  It’s not just about the money and having things, but also in wanting to share experiences with Hina and Hitomi.  Sometimes I think Anzu is becoming people much faster and more thoroughly than Hina.

Nitta I think has simply given up on even trying to figure out Hina at this point…  So long as she doesn’t break anything or make too much of a mess, he’s reached a state of resigned acceptance.

The second half of the ep…  I’m not sure how I feel about.  It certainly was one of the funniest bits so far, but didn’t do much to advance the plot or the characters.  It felt almost like a side story if that makes sense.

Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits / Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi Ep 6

Aoi finally opens her cafe…  But after a bang up opening night, she has no further customers and has now been called before Tenshin-ya’s accountant.  (Presumably to be chewed out and given a deadline or some other threat, we’ll find out in the next ep.)

Along the way a Mysterious Stranger tried to assassinate her, but was driven away by Tenshin-ya’s guard force.  (Where have they been in all the previous incidents?)  Aoi subsequently (once again) wins over the guard with her food.

My Hero Academia 3 /  Boku no Hero Academia 3 Ep 5 (Ep 43)

Though the League of Villains continue to press home their attacks, this was something of a transition episode…  Closing out the fight between Midoriya and Muscular (last ep) and setting up for whatever is going to go down next.  It was however nice to see Class B get some screen time.

• Well worth reading is Zeria‘s article at Floating into Bliss – The Road to My Hero Academia, an in depth look at the career of Kohei Horikoshi (the mangaka behind My Hero Academia).

Rokuhoudou Yotsuiro Biyori Ep 4

Well, after the promise showed in eps 2-3, we’re back to formula…  A customer having a problem, and the lads solving it for them with yummy food and cheap philosophy.

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online Ep 5

Well, here’s another fine mess as the saying goes…  First up, we learn that M really is something of a coward and convinced that Pito is going to kill him IRL if he messes up in the Squad Jam.  That’s why he was going to kill LLENN, because somehow killing her and then resigning will make things alright.  This pisses LLENN right the hll off, and she ditches him – and in a very Kiritoesque action sequence manages to wipe out a six person team and win the Squad Jam.  Yeah, SAOA:GGO falls right into line with it’s progenitor in having an insanely OP main character.  (sigh*)

In the closing scene, we see Karen IRL encountering a group of admirers…  who turn out to be a) the girls seen with her back in the first ep, and b) the opposing team that she single handedly wiped out.  This seems to be the first meeting (I.E. prior to the first ep), but they also seem to know stuff about each other they actually shouldn’t at this point.

And the less said of the talking P-chan, the better.

Tada-kun wa Koi wo Shinai / Tada Never Falls in Love Ep 5

Kaoru is quite the character isn’t he?  Yah, no doubt very impressed with himself…  But he goes to great lengths to support his friends.   Though the show has lost its way a little bit, I did enjoy this ep.  It was pretty comfy to watch the friends hanging out and interacting, even with the tragedy that was the root cause.

The ending was the interesting part – the Prince has finally put in an appearance.  Soon we’ll find out what the real deal is between him and Theresa-hime.

Uma Musume: Pretty Derby Ep 7

This week starts off as so many has, with the girls training…  followed by a race.  But it ends in “tragedy” when best girl Silence Suzuka is injured because a loose shoe strap causes her to loose her footing.  I say “tragedy” because though they tried pretty hard to sell it, it just didn’t work.  I didn’t buy the “falls at full speed can be fatal” line, not the least because she was already down to a walking pace by the time Spe-chan reached her.  The “rescue” struck me as pretty much unnecessary.

Two article of interest this week on Uma Musume:

• First, an ANN article covering background material and details of the world of the horse girls.  Some of them are…  pretty disturbing actually.  No real horses?  Do the horse girls fill that role instead?  I shudder to think about it.

• Remy posts an interesting article: In Defense of Uma Musume – Pretty Derby, which goes into the background of the show.  (Such as the real-life horses the girls are named after.)

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku Ep 4

Focusing mostly on the trials and tribulations of Tarou and Hanako…  this episode felt pretty forced.  Even though we’ve already been shown that their relation was a bit rocky, everything that happened in this ep felt like just too much being piled on at once.

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Man, even with 2199 off my plate I just can’t seem to hit my groove this season…  But I’ll keep plugging away.  Should get easier next week as it’s Mid Season Gut Check time and it looks like a number of shows are going to get the old heave-ho.

So place your bets now!  Which shows do you think I’m going to toss?

Speaking of 2199, I am planning on covering Yamato 2202, though probably every episode or two.  I am not going to try and hit it every week.

Also looking down the road, I’ll be on hiatus from roughly the 28th through probably the 6th as once again I’ll be taking part in the Kitsap Medieval Faire.  If any Seattle area folks make it out, I’ll be working in the Culinary Guild demo – stop by and say hi!

So, what are your thoughts this week?  Drop a line in the comments and let’s chat!