Sword Art Online II – Episode 19

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So this episode was one part reasonable character drama in the real world, one part possibly the best fight scene SAO’s ever had. I figured last week’s exposition-fest meant the show was holding back, but damn. The show’s already inherently better when it’s not revolving around Kirito, but this episode really did bring its own strengths to the table – for once, I have basically nothing bad to say about it. I know the good times never really last, but I wouldn’t be watching friggin’ SAO if I weren’t eternally optimistic. Please hold together, Mother’s Rosario!

Sword Art Online

Log Horizon II – Episode 7

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Training montage time! We’re still on the Akatsuki/Lenessia narrative, which is finally kicking into character-development overdrive. I felt Akatsuki’s stuff was a little overplayed this episode, but really liked the Lenessia bits… but this is me, so you really shouldn’t trust anything I say about Lenessia and Log Horizon. What with all the narrative-tidying the flavor text reveal managed this week, it’s looking like all the pieces are in place to wrap this story up next time. Bring on the fight scenes!

In other news, this guy’s shirt:

Log Horizon

Parasyte – Episode 6

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Parasyte’s obviously been a solid show all this season, but it somehow felt like this episode was the moment when it really kicked into high gear. The pacing has accelerated, Migi and Shinichi’s relationship is gaining complexity, and Shinichi himself is becoming a more ambiguous and compelling character. Even the music was good for once! Hopefully the show maintains this standard going forward.

Parasyte

Fall 2014 – First Half in Review

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It’s that time again! Forget earnest textual critique, emotional reflection, or thematic exploration, it’s time to PUT SHIT IN A LIST WOOOO. This season has offered us a ridiculous bounty of shows, and I’ve responded in kind by ruthlessly punishing anything that fails to continuously dazzle my senses. I dropped Garo, I dropped Grisaia, I dropped Inou Battle… at this point, it’s pretty likely I’m even dropping Psycho-Pass (I’ve stalled on watching the latest episode, so I left it off the list). In spite of that, this season continues to offer a hefty pile of top-tier shows, all of them jockeying for that storied number one spot. Who gets the spot? Why, it’s motherfuckin

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Nadeko Medusa – Review

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THAT’S RIGHT. I’m now ANN’s resident Monogatari specialist. I was really excited to write this one, and am really happy with how it came out – I feel like I finally got to stretch a bit in my writing at ANN, and am looking forward to doing big damn riffs on the rest of the season. I already covered Nadeko to a degree in both my season two episodic posts and final essay on the series, but it’s nice to have a full piece to dedicate to both her character and the really compelling ways this arc portrays and develops it. Fun times with our favorite crazy snake girl!

Monogatari

Sword Art Online II – Episode 18

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We returned to exposition hell this week, but at least the stuff the characters were talking about was less boring than Alfheim worldbuilding lore. I guess it’s time for an Asuna arc? I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing a chapter of SAO that Kirito sleeps through entirely.

Sword Art Online

Log Horizon 2 – Episode 6

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This week wasn’t as strong as the last, but it actually paid off a bunch of the work the show’s been doing so far, and its big setpiece scene was wonderful. I feel like Log Horizon 2 isn’t always hitting the mark it aims at, but it’s at least trying to do things – it’s attempting to rise to a level of drama and character development that the first season never really engaged in. I can respect that, even if the show isn’t as good as it’s trying to be.

Log Horizon

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders – Review

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Aw shit, started on my full show reviews! First up is Stardust Crusaders Part One, which in my expert opinion is pretty good I guess. It took me a while to get set up for these posts, but I’ll probably be posting reviews on a near weekly basis from here on out. CHEER FOR ME, SENPAI.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

Parasyte – Episode 5

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Yep, it’s finally time for that scene. I really enjoyed this episode, and am loving how consistently and intelligently this show is hammering on Shinichi’s simplistic morals. The brutality of animal nature doesn’t need to be expressed through the actions of the parasites – the humans are doing all that work for them. And hey, always good to see Miyuki Sawashiro again.

Parasyte

Fall 2014 – Week 5 in Review

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Not much to report – this season is very easily the best of the year, pretty much every show I’m invested in is putting out stellar episodes, and I’ve dropped almost everything I’m not enjoying. At this point, the only real hanger-on is actually Psycho-Pass – I feel kind of committed to finishing it, but I’m not really enjoying the stuff it’s doing. On the other hand, KimiUso, Bahamut, Shirobako, Parasyte – any of them could comfortably be the best show of another season, and none of them show any sign of falling apart. It’s a good time to cartoon.

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