Apprentice Mages Lounge.

Man, procrastination and lack of attention to the calendar…  Bites me in the butt every time.  However, I’m only really anticipating three shows this season, so this will be pretty quick.

Love Live! Superstar!! Season 3

Superstar, so far, has been a more than worthy successor to the OG.  (I’m just going to pretend Sunshine never even happened.)

One the best parts was the introduction of an actual villain, one with the skills to back her nastiness up.  And now, Margarete Wien is twice humbled.  First, by losing the Love Live.  Second, by becoming Kanon’s kohai. I’m grinning in anticipation.

However, I mourn the passing of Nicholas Dupree, who reviewed the first two seasons.  He was a honest-to-Honoka fanboy, well versed in the show’s lore and tropes, and utterly unafraid to call them on their bullshit.  The anime community has suffered a great loss.

Ranma1/2 (2024)

Currently kind of a fad to remake older shows, and it’s been a mixed bag.  Fruits Basket was flat out outstanding.  OTOH, Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF, was at best just ‘above average’ other than the final arc.  Still, I can’t resist checking it out because, as you know, weird harem romances are a Very Derek Thing.

Still, the bastards better keep their money grubbing paws the ef off of Nana and Angel Beats.  Everyone probably has their own list, their own lines in the sand, and those are mine.

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II

Last, and yeah it kind of deserves to be here, a second season of SAO’s odd cousin.  Other than the finale, I like the first season well enough, so I’ll check out this one just because.

If that sounds like it’s verging on the edge of damning with faint praise, yeah.  I meant to do that.

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Usually, at this point, I’d delve into my more speculative shows…  But they’re all pretty much speculative this season, with none really standing out for me.  And it probably doesn’t help that I’m still in a weird mental place after unexpectedly losing a close RL friend (not the Nicholas, who I mentioned above) of many decades.

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A note on the next few weeks…  I anticipate getting my first impressions posts out on time.  My 3rd episode reviews will be delayed because I’m out of town in mid Oct, flying home for my brother’s wedding.  Will catch up as soon as possible when I get back.

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That’s pretty much all I’ve got.  As usual I will keep an eye on my mutuals on Twitter (X) and Bluesky, as well as ANN’s Preview Guide.

And of course, I’ve gotten more than one good suggestion from y’all’s comments on my posts.

Anyhow, a full list of what’s available can be found on the Live Chart Seasonal Guide…  Take a gander, and drop a comment telling us what you’re looking forward to or let’s chat about whatever else is on your mind!