Land of the Lustrous’ ninth episode concludes with Phos effortlessly dispatching a Lunarian, and in the process rescuing the twin Amethysts they were previously helpless to assist. Such an accomplishment would have registered as a stunning victory for the Phos of several months ago, an affirmation of the strength they were so desperate to possess, and their suitability for the role they craved above all else. But having lost Antarcticite and acquired the strength to fight, Phos has only found a fresh sense of emptiness on the far shore. Looking down at this fresh kill, Phos simply laments that this Lunarian is one of the old models, and thus cannot help restore their friend.
The Legend of Vox Machina S2 – Episode 9
Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I’m eager to dive back into the adventures of Vox Machina, who most recently secured a fresh vestige for Vex in their search for fantastical superweapons. The vestiges have so far proven a highly efficient binding agent for Vox Machina’s rambling journeys; not only do they give the group a Dragon Ball-style incentive to explore this world’s diverse landscapes, they also serve as a natural fusion of narrative drama and mechanical payoff, with each victory offering the tangible reward of a character-specific signature weapon in the wake of that character resolving some aspect of their emotional journey.
Last episode concluded one of those trials while setting the stage for another; Vex has now asserted her value outside of her father’s recognition, while Grog is on the way to answering the question “what does strength mean in the absence of physical power?” Mercer’s setup is so convenient that I’ll probably be stealing it for my next campaign (except maybe hunting down unique enemies instead of weapons?) – as for my current campaign, I’m happy to report that my Bridge Over the River Kwai mission went over fabulously. My players successfully infiltrated a city under occupation, met up with an old ally to discuss strategies (I basically stole the Inglorious Basterds bar scene for that), and then sabotaged a critical bridge while riding off into the sunset. It’s a little hard to schedule sessions with all of us scattered in temporary lodgings, but I’m determined to carry this campaign through to the end. In the meantime, let’s see what nonsense Grog and the gang are getting up to!
Thunderbolt Fantasy S3 – Episode 5
Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I’d like to hop back into the ongoing theatrics of Thunderbolt Fantasy, as our heroes find themselves drifting far and wide in their variable adventures. From an initial cleanup job tracking down the Seven Blasphemous Deaths, Shang and his companions’ quest has evolved and splintered in all sorts of nasty directions, incorporating both old nemeses and onetime friends in a conflict of national and multiplanar scale.
While Shang is finding all these new complications a bit much to bear, Lin is unsurprisingly in his element, delighting in both the general chaos and the delectable righteousness of Wan Jun Po. Lin delights in either toying with the earnest or toppling the arrogant, and Wan is actually both – a man driven by earnest love of country into a dangerous certainty regarding the Sword Index’s proper use, and one who promises to lead Lin towards an even more tantalizing prize: the leader of the Divine Swarm. With evil cyborg monks, cursed sword-bearing demonesses, and murder princesses also in the mix, the ultimate clash of these forces promises to be spectacular indeed. Let’s get to it!
Summer 2023 – Week 6 in Review
Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I write to you from the midst of a furious thunderstorm, which I’m hoping will at some point calm down enough for me to get on with some apartment hunting. But whether I am swept away by the torrential rains of August or not, I will at least have left you all with another collection of ramshackle film reviews. This week our cinematic journey carried us from a heartbreaking classic to the latest One Piece film, with a couple unexpected detours along the way. We’ve also been churning our way through Dragon Ball Z Kai, and in the process discovering that if you pare down the original Z’s interminable pacing, the show’s actually pretty darn fun. I’ll likely have more coherent words on that next week, but for now, let’s check out some films!
The Honesty of Magic in Witch Hat Atelier
Across its first two volumes, Witch Hat Atelier has articulated a philosophy of magic that’s quite distinct from your usual fantasy adventure, wherein practice, caution, and discretion are lauded as the key prerequisites for becoming a great mage. That is because, as any great craftsman or artist knows, there is no further secret. With careful study and diligent practice, anyone can create marvels that seem like magic to the untrained eye. Magic is no different than carpentry or painting in its method of mastery – the only thing that does separate it from any mundane craft is the profound danger of its misuse, meaning any large-scale act of magic must be initiated with the greatest of caution.
Spy x Family – Episode 23
Editor’s Note: I initially skipped past episode 22 and right onward to 23, resulting in this writeup’s somewhat lopsided perception of events. My apologies!
Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. It’s been a rather chaotic week so far on my end, so I’ve decreed it’s time to chill out with another cozy episode of Spy x Family. Though I was initially nervous about last episode’s formal introduction of a rival for Loid’s affections, Frost’s visit to the Forger home actually ended up serving as an affirmation of how close our family have become. Frost’s condemnation of Loid’s softening instincts as a spy was simultaneously a validation of his growing bond with his new family; just like with Yor’s brother, every attempted division of this family has only proven how close they’ve grown.
Alongside the simple pleasure of seeing these characters come to care for each other, Loid’s transition is also facilitating new venues of comedy, as his panicked mediation of the Pengy-versus-Bond crisis illustrated. I’ve mentioned before how Spy x Family’s inherently propulsive conceit sets it apart from fully episodic sitcoms, and while that fact adds a certain tension to its long-term viability, it also means Tatsuya Endo is consistently able to exploit new comedic dynamics, like Loid using his now-exhaustive understanding of Bondman lore to comfort Anya. Endo’s clear confidence with this evolving platform makes me feel confident in it as well, and I’m eager to see what new calamities are approaching. Let’s get to it!
Bocchi the Rock! – Episode 9
Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today seems like a fine day to check back in on the trials of Bocchi and her Kessoku Bandmates, after an episode that proved a resounding triumph for both Bocchi and this show’s production team. After stressing about the group’s Starry performance all the way up through their first song, Bocchi finally took matters into her own hands, and led her friends through a riotous performance that undoubtedly earned them some new fans. And what came after was possibly even more validating, as Nijika confessed that it is Bocchi she has come to rely on, an admittance topped off by what I must begrudgingly confess was a well-earned title drop.
Though Bocchi has been growing in social competence and confidence throughout this series, it has generally required an instigator like Nijika, Kita, or even Kikuri for her to push herself beyond her own antisocial instincts. But here, having undeniably led her friends to a glorious final performance, Bocchi is learning that her presence is not something to apologize for, and that she has made a meaningful positive impact on the people she cares about. That in turn has altered the scope of her dreams; just as Nijika wants Kessoku Band to be a success for her sister’s sake, so Bocchi wants her friends to triumph alongside her. Buoyed up by voluminous storyboards courtesy of show director Keiichiro Saito, and further elevated through remarkably intimate animation for the performance itself, last episode was a clear peak for this generous production. Let’s see what comes next!
Summer 2023 – Week 5 in Review
Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. This week we took part in what has unexpectedly become the cinematic event of the summer, taking in both Oppenheimer and Barbie in a rush of cinematic splendor. There have been few reasons to feel hopeful about the future of cinema lately, and even fewer regarding the fate of theaters specifically, so I was happy to indulge in this bucking of the downward trend. Even though it’s already clear that the lesson our asinine media overseers are taking is “more films based on toys” rather than anything genuinely relevant to Barbie’s excellence, these twin successes nonetheless demonstrate a hunger for genuinely interesting new films, and (god willing) a fatigue regarding endless franchises. Let’s munch through those two and more besides in the latest Week in Review!
Land of the Lustrous – Episode 9
Again and again, Phos has been told that they must change in order to exist within this world. In order to be a proper member of their community, they must change their personality and embrace diligence and propriety, abandoning the core of their identity in order to better fit a static mold. In order to succeed as a defender of their land, they must replace their physical body, incurring any manner of degradation or transformation in hopes of better facing the Lunarians. In order to save Cinnabar, they must reinvent the very fundamentals of gem culture, carving out a place for their friend while somehow dispelling the sense of disjoint and isolation that caused them to recognize Cinnabar as a fellow outcast in the first place.
The Demon Girl Next Door S2 – Episode 11
Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I’m delighted to be stopping back in with The Demon Girl Next Door, after an episode which saw Shamiko accomplishing the last thing I expected: actually committing to a magical training regimen, and earning some clear results. Having already defeated her first magical adversary during her mountain spring date, Shamiko continued to improve her mastery of magical mayhem, taking another clear step towards becoming a shadow mistress worthy of Momo’s allegiance.
Although this is a first for our demon lord, it’s not exactly a surprise. Though Shamiko has frequently (and humorously) been defined by her incompetency, that incompetence was largely just a result of starting from zero understanding of this world with next to no magical energy. Though there have been many setbacks along the way, Shamiko has nonetheless been consistently exercising and expanding her powers, maintaining a positive attitude in spite of her anxieties. And with the committed support network of her family, ancestor, Momo, and Mikan behind her, it’s little surprise that consistent effort has at last borne meaningful results.
It is very in keeping with Demon Girl’s focus on the gradual process of improving yourself for the person you love that Shamiko’s training would follow a similar pattern. Just like attempting to shift your mindset or personal habits, attempting to master a new skill is a practice you must commit to, not simply a choice, and Demon Girl is all about illustrating the active practice of personal growth. With her magical powers clearly developing, let’s see if Shamiko’s earned a reward from Momo as we return to The Demon Girl Next Door!