And… I’m baaack! Life went sideways and I missed a week, but save one show, all caught up now. Hit the jump and let’s run ’em down!
The shows that I’m 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.
Akiba Maid War
Akiba Maid Sensou
Episode 3
An underground maid fighting tournament, and an illicit trade in rare anime figures… Yet, somehow Maid Sensou makes it all work. Because, of course it does. And also, we see Ranko as something of a smooth operator rather than just initiating violence. Man, I hope they get more into her background. On the other hand, a Woman Of Mystery works too.
Episode 4
This episode… did not work for me. I mean, it just didn’t make sense. Everything pointed towards the status quo being broken, yet in the end it was restored “just because”.
And WTF is up with that person-in-a-panda suit? More than meets the eye? Or just a running joke?
Episode 3 status: Solid keeper.
Bocchi the Rock!
Episode 3
Introduces Ikyo – a girl who, on the surface is popular and has it together. Underneath, she’s a ball of anxiety. She’d previously bailed on Kessoku because she felt like a fraud and like she wasn’t holding up her end. She’s like that, she dives into things without much thought. (And then regrets it afterward.) She’s kind of the anti-Bocchi in that way.
My wife had actually dropped the show after Ep 2, but I prevailed upon her to watch Ep 3 because Ikyo brings a lot to the party. She agreed and picked the show back up.
Episode 4
Basically, a two-parter. The first part, the girls trying to be “like a [real] band was almost cringe inducing… But it was also so very realistic. I just can’t explain how, if that makes sense. The girls want to make it, haven’t quite figured out the proper order of cart-and-horse.
After that we swing back to poor Bocchi. She signed up to write the lyrics, but lacks the self confidence to actually write something she thinks is good enough. Good on Ryou for bucking her up… Will Bocchi accept the take-home: that it’s OK to be weird? To be an individual?
I kinda hope they haven’t dropped her alter-ego (the Tuber – “Guitar Hero”). I almost expected it to become a plot point when they were talking about social media accounts. Or does being a Tuber not quite count?
Episode 3 status: Yeah, this one is good. No question keeper.
Do It Yourself!!
Episode 4
Is it just me, or is Purin lonely too? That tsundere act towards Serefu certainly seems like she’s covering up or hiding something. I don’t think it’s just her intelligence or thirst for education. Something happened between those two.
Episode 5
I think Shii is just what this show needed – a self confident, competent, little bundle of energy. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the other girls, the club just needed a little shaking up is all.
Also, Treehouse Attachment Bolts are an actual thing. And in looking them up, I found some cool adult sized treehouses – and now I want one.
Encouragement of Climb: Next Summit
Yama no Susume: Next Summit
Episode 4
A fairly nicely done summary of the main (Aoi/Hinata) plot line of S3… I’ve said my piece about what’s not being covered in these clip shows, and I’ll let it rest at that.
And NOW the real anticipation begins – for the first all new episode airing next Tuesday. The little side stories have been nice, but they’ve only served to whet my appetite.
Episode 5
At last! New YamaSu! A little weak, but I liked it. I loved how the club prez wasn’t the overly pushy type that’s all too common in anime. She’s perfectly cool with Aoi simply being Aoi. I hope they don’t get too tied up in the “why do I do this”… That’s simply overdone and Yamasu doesn’t really need any justification.
And mom? I get the feeling she knows something that the audience doesn’t, at least so far. She’s definitely pushing Aoi – where? Back onto Fuji?
Management of a Novice Alchemist
Shinmai Renkinjutsushi no Tenpo Keiei
Episode 3
Once they introduced “Sarasa the invincible, unstoppable badass”, I lost all interest in the show… But really the warning signs were there in Ep 2 when she magically renovated her shop.
Dropped at 3 episodes.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury
Kidou Senshi Gundam: Suisei no Majo
Episodes 4-5
– How many duels has Guel lost now? Three in a row? Was he really that competent and has now hit an unlucky streak? Or is his reputation built on his father’s manipulations?
– Speaking of parents. It’s now pretty clear that Suletta is pretty much a pawn in whatever game her mother is playing. She’s really no better off than Guel or Miorine in that respect. In some ways, she’s worse off because she’s not even aware of what’s going on.
Speaking of Suletta, Saw this on Twitter and can’t find it to credit the original author:
Let’s put Suletta and Bocchi (The Rock) in a closed room together and see which one’s social awkwardness vibrates them into subatomic particles first.
– Back onto the topic of parents, Elan. Who or what created him, is pulling his strings, and what part are they playing? Unlike Suletta however, he knows what his is and has a bad case of self loathing over it. (And does the world at large know he’s artificial? Especially a world that for all it’s other faults, objects to killing Gundam pilots.)
– What the f*ck is Aerial, really? There’s a fan theory floating around that she’s actually built around Ericht – the child in the prologue. That they’re not detecting the “GUND format” or “Gundam storm” (whatever they are) because she’s so deeply integrated into the mech. Elan’s existence hints that such things are technologically possible. But, again, the society of Gundam Mercury seems to take it’s cues from Dune and disapproves of human modifications…
My Hero Academia 6
Boku no Hero Academia 6
Episodes 4-5
Only two comments this week…
– Dabi is a real piece of work. Shigaraki is a messed up dude, manipulated and mind f*cked by All For One… But Dabi is a flat out psychopath and sadist.
– Like everyone, I lived through The Snap. But somehow, Shigaraki’s awakening still hit like a ton of bricks. How are they gonna come back from this?
Play It Cool, Guys
Cool Doji Danshi
Episodes 1-3
If you had to ask me why I love these three (so far) dorks, I just couldn’t tell you. But I do. I was just so engrossed the episodes were over before I even realized it. Yes, I know they’re shorts, but that’s not even the reason.
Week 3 status: Keeper.
Episode 4
Watched, but it’s still dorks being dorks. It’s going to be really hard to say much about this series… because I really want to. It’s pretty darn good SOL and not getting the buzz it should.
SPY x FAMILY: Part II
Episode 4
Two side stories, neither particularly bad nor particularly good. I will say that sticking them in between arcs is a much better choice pacing wise. Sticking them in at the end of the first cour is what ultimately let Ya Boy Kongming! take the AOTS crown in Spring 2022.
Episode 5
Back to school, not as in the start of new year – but back to Anya’s bumblefingered attempts to win over Damien and complete her “mission”. Anya was charming as usual, even if the plot and episode was kinda meh.
(*) Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! W
Uzaki-chan wa Asobitai! W
Demoted to “watched but not commented” because, well, there’s just not going to be much to say each week. It’s simply the nature of the show.
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Well, last week was a total bust. Between side effects of vaccines, actually getting sick, and then insomnia… You get the picture.
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The weather has finally turned here… Cold and gloomy and rainy, prototypically Northwest. And I’m loving it after our long, brutal, summer.
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World Godzilla Day was yesterday, and me an a friend went out to a local theater house and saw Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002). Good cheesy fun, exactly what I signed up for.
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Note: I have not had a chance to see the KanColle premier yet – so, no spoilers!
Other than that, how’ve y’all been these last couple of weeks? What are your thoughts on these or any other anime? Drop a comment and let’s chat!
Apprentice Mages Lounge. 
Didn’t expect a Bocchi-the-Rock lead-in pic. I quite like the show; unlike a lot of “music” shows this one takes it seriously. I, too, wondered about her youtube-persona when social media came up. Hm. I don’t think they’ll forget it, and I sort of get why they didn’t bring it up. It’s one thing to upload pics; it’s another to maintain a comments section, or comment on stuff on twitter. The former allows Bocchi to hide behind her music; the latter not so much. So her anxiety firing on all gears made sense. If I were to guess, at some point someone will mention that youtube guitar hero’s not been posting recently (which I think might happen when Bocchi’s busy with the band). That’d be one way to bring it in. Not sure, though.
Not surprised you dropped the alchemist show. I have to admit, the bear slaughter had me roll my eyes hard. It’s not what I hoped it would be. I’m still fine with it, but substantially less so than I’d hoped. It reminded me a lot of the atelier games, initially (after the first ep) – not so much now. It feels more like a generic power fantasy. It’s a disappointment to be honest.
I have little to say about Spy X Family. It’s doing its thing and is fun and that’s about it.
Akiba Maid War is okay. The main character doesn’t work for me. She works better than I thought she would, but for a straight man to the madness she’s too accepting, and for a straight-up ganbatte-character she’s not accepting enough. She’s somewher in an uncomfortable middle. They should have removed her; she brings nothing to the table. It’s the Ranko show anyway. I suppose stereotype suggests you need some innocence in the show, but that could have been better handled.
I really do love Do It Yourself. It’s the perfect feelgood show for me.
As for Gundam; as far as I remember from the prologue, Aerial was developed from Gundam tech, and at the point of the cancelling of the product (due to the anti-Gundam coup) they didn’t quite know yet why Aerial worked with Suletta. I doubt she’s modified herself, but someone in her lineage might be. Mum might know (she’s not easy to trust). As it is, I’m not really thinking this through myself; I’m watching this more like a brainless adventure show than a mystery. Might not be the optimal way to watch it.
And finally, I’m enjoying Cool Doji Danshi. I was expecting a more straightforward comedy (in the vein of, say, Sakamoto), so I was a little worried I wouldn’t like it much. I’m really happy we got this instead. I totally agree; it’s a nice dorky slice of life show full of likable boys. Curious what direction the show will take now they introduced everyone from the opening. The small-animal café introduced at the end of ep3 felt suspicious, maybe? (Also, the show reminds me of some other show, but I can’t figure out which one, and it’s bothering me.)
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I didn’t either! I was planning on something from YamaSu or Mercury, but the Bocchi pic just kept talking to me… So I gave in. Yeah, your comments about how being a Tuber is different makes sense. The other social media are more personal and participatory – something that Bocchi can’t handle.
We are pretty much in agreement there… But Ep 5 (next week’s review) does put her in a little different light. Still, it’s all about Ranko (and I’m perfectly fine with that).
Lfrith, the Gundam in the prologue, was developed from Gundam tech. How much of Lfrith remains in Aerial is open to speculation… But Suletta seems to think/feel there’s a continuity, so there’s that.
Yeah, I don’t trust Mom further than I can throw her. And I’m a fat old man with a bum shoulder.
re: Cool Doji Danshi The OP, and bits and pieces in the show, makes me thing it’s shifting towards SOL centered around the cafe (from ep 4) and possibly friendships between the MC’s. Maybe about them all thinking the others are cool and they’re the imposters?
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