As I said on Twitter yesterday, I got some very bad family news…. And as a result, my motivation/creativity is right out the window. Do want to get at least a shortened post out this week, to keep some kind of momentum. So, hit the jump and let’s chat!
The shows that I am watching are in bold, shows my wife and I are watching together are in bold italics, strikethrough marks dropped shows and (*) marks shows that are watched but not regularly reviewed.
Magical Girl Spec-Ops Asuka / Mahou Shoujo Tokushusen Asuka Episode 9
Against my better judgement, not actually dropped. Verging on hate-watching though, which is not a good place to be.
Run with the Wind / Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru Episode 21
Interesting background on Nico-senpai. He’s pretty much the last one I figured that would harbor broken dreams of athletic passion.
That’s episode 21 of 23… One for Kakeru’s run, one for Haij’s? That’s how I see it.
Sword Art Online: Alicization Episode 21
The fight between Eugo and Kirito was the first time since the goblins in the cave that I actually felt there was any kind of stakes… And it was over all too soon.
(*) That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Episode 23
So, the regular series ends… not with a bang, but with a whimper. With a goodly chunk of the episode filled with re-cap montage. And another goodly chunk filled with a “where are they now” montage.
The Price of Smiles / Egao no Daika Episode 10
Felt like it was spinning it’s wheels…
THE PROMISED NEVERLAND / Yakusoku no Neverland Episode 9
I expected some kind of roadblock, but nothing quite so… insurmountable.
Scene of the week: Norman’s measured tread and breakdown when he went to fetch water for Emma… Matched by the deep breath and smile when he went back into her room.
The Quintessential Quintuplets / 5 Toubun no Hanayome Episode 9
Hmm… looks like Ichika is making her move?
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Seems like a bunch of one-liners this week, so it goes. I’m caught up through Tuesday though, so I’m good with chatting in the comments. Some of the best parts of this blog happen in the comments anyhow!
Apprentice Mages Lounge. 
I hope all’s well. About all I can offer is that when the dark overtakes me, sometimes writing helps me get through it. It’s not a defense, exactly; more like a quiet act of defiance. But it can help.
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Working on feature stuff (I.E. no deadlines) helps… Lets me go to another place.
But deadlines are stressful, so I took the cheap ‘n easy way out.
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Heh, my reaction to the cliff in Neverland was pretty much the opposite: that’s it? I was hoping for something more interesting. It’s an obstacle, sure, but at least beyond the cliff, there’s forrest as far as the eyes can see. It could have been a lot worse, not in the hard-to-escape category, but in the not-worth-escaping category. The wall could have been separating two plants. The environment could have been extremely inhospitable. Personally, I was disappointed with this episode – nothing to keep my interest here.
@Slime: Yeah, I didn’t know the show would end this episode, so I was quite confused when they started the montage. I suppose in a show with no clear direction, this is as good a place to end as any. I’m not going to miss the show (I know there’s still an exta episode to come), but I’m also definitely going to watch the (inevitable?) second season.
I can’t remember what happened last episode of Quintuplets for the time being. I have vague recollections of a trip, and having to stay at an inn. Probably not my favourite episode if I have this much trouble remembering it. (Could have been my personal constitution, too, though. Not in a good place, either, me. It’ll pass.)
I enjoyed Cat’s episode quite a bit. I can so imagine the awkwardness of a signing event, and I can very much relate being surprised at someone apologising, while thinking you should apologise yourself. Happened to me more than once. Luckily, none of our cats ever trashed our room like that. They did destroy occasional objects, but nothing on that scale.
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@Slime
I’m in pretty much the same place. For all it’s flaws, the show is darned addictive even though I know it’s not suddenly going to get better. I have no explanation for that.
I liked how they handled the encounter with Nana. That could have gone wrong in so many ways, but the mutual embarrassment seemed so natural. As far as cats destroying stuff… I often say that’s one of the reasons we have guinea pigs. My wife likes them because they’re cute and cuddly. I like them because they stay in their cage and will never chew on or poop in my shoes. A perfect compromise.
Hope things get better for you soon!
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Thanks. It’ll pass. I’m distracting myself with youtube videos, of all things. Since I prefer reading I’m surprised at myself, however I’ve found the one topic where youtube actually has the upper hand over written materials for me: music theory. A lot of things I’ve had trouble understanding become a lot clearer when you get a voice explaining things while you’re looking at the score and listenting to the track. I’m starting to understand stuff relating to the interplay of melody and chords, something I’ve struggled with a lot.
We’ve always had outdoor cats, so inside defecation was rarely a problem (though they tend to choose inaccessible places over shoes when they do). You’ll also not look forward to cleaning up half-eaten mice. At least, when they give you gifts they tend to be in one piece. One of our cats was convinced we like earthworms. As for destroying stuff: chewing’s not a problem. They jump onto things and push things from shelves, sometimes. If there’s a place where you think your cat won’t fit, think again. It’s the books, vases or stereo speakers that don’t fit. The cat fits pretty well, though.
Cats will walk over your homework, though, leaving inky pawprints all over it. Sir, my cat smeared my homework, you can read it right? (The good thing about paw prints is that teachers don’t think you’re making excuses.)
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So I got a chuckle out of your jab about free time in the post before this one, because “the spirit is willing but the clock is weak” pretty much summed up my whole week. At various points in the past 7 days I thought about starting a rewatch of K-On, starting a rewatch of Saekano, starting RahXephon, starting Zegapain, or even starting a rewatch of Saiyuki (which I haven’t seen in forever even though I own it, because just the first season alone is 50 episodes).
Now here’s what I actually watched this week: 2 episodes of Quints (9 and a third viewing of 7 – think that’s my favorite episode so far?), 2 episodes of Promised Neverland (and I’m still a bit behind on it), 4 episodes of Girls und Panzer (special circumstances: I have a co-worker who wanted to see it so we’ve been watching it together on lunch breaks at work – not a time when I’m normally watching anime), a few random episodes of Saki and Silver Spoon for relaxation/sleepytime purposes before going to bed, a rewatch of the Heaven’s Feel I movie on Tuesday night, and going to see Heaven’s Feel II at the theater tonight (which I just got back from, and it was awesome). I haven’t even gotten to Kaguya or Dororo’s episodes yet this week, let alone starting another entire full series. I did get through volumes 5 and 6 of Silver Spoon manga, though. Volume 6 ended with Hachi’s dad showing up at the hospital, so it’s well into season 2 territory at this point.
“Hmm… looks like Ichika is making her move?” Not sure if that was more on Ichika for taking an opening, or more on Miku for giving her one. But I guess it amounts to the same thing either way. Nino still got in the best burn of the week, though.
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That’s been me too… Especially since when I signed up for the photography class, I’d forgotten that I also have a bookbinding class – the same day. And both have homework.
It would never occur to me to watch Silver Spoon for relaxation… My current go-to anime for that is either select episodes of Yama no Susume, or any episode of Laid Back Camp.
Oddly enough, I just rewatched Girls und Panzer a couple of months back. No particular reason, just happened.
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Heh. Silver Spoon was an accident. I wanted to watch a certain scene again after reading the manga chapter, and watching a scene turned into watching the whole episode, then two episodes, and after that I was ready to turn off the light anyway. Although Saki isn’t exactly typical relaxation fare either, I’ve just watched it so often that I practically know the story by heart at this point.
If I ever felt like writing a post about “anime that have been a big hit with my friends and family,” Girls und Panzer would be top of the list. My co-worker is about the 6th or 7th person (not even counting my anime club) that I’ve either loaned my DVDs to or watched it together with, and so far every single one of them has enjoyed it.
Also forgot to say, but whatever your bad news is, my thoughts are with you, and I hope everything works out for the best.
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I chuckle because I’ve BTDT…
(And thanks!)
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