In the interest of posting this on time (I had to pack last night and I’m taking a flight today), I’m going to skip the long recaps and just talk in broad strokes about this week’s two-part Nephrite Finale.
Ah-hem.
So.
What the SHIT, Sailor Moon?!
Anime + Manga Titles
Sailor Moon Newbie Reviews: Episodes 21-22
So when do Zoisite and his boyfriend get to take over as the Bad Guys, exactly?
While there have been a few high points this arc, I noticed that I’ve enjoyed the last nine episodes quite a bit less than the first thirteen. There are some (pretty glaring) issues with the growing romance between Moonsagi and Tuxedo Mamoru that play into this, but I think the main problem here is that Nephertiti Nephrite is just so…
Well, if you’ve been reading my recaps (or if you read the ones in this post), you have a pretty good idea how I feel about him. I know Jadeite didn’t have much in the way of a personality, but his schemes were so elaborate (pet shops! amusement parks! buses to Hell!) that it made the story a lot more fun and the plots seem much less formulaic. I’d give Beryl’s right arm for a good old fashioned Love Boat of Death right about now.
Rule of Three Review, Digest Edition: Space Dandy 2, Akame ga Kill!, Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun – Episodes 2-3
“Easy like Sunday morning,” my ass.
In addition to our many new shows, I’ve also got my sports show carryovers to watch (Baby Steps and Haikyuu!!), plus Sundays are usually my translation days, to say nothing of the cleaning and grocery shopping and annoying Adult Stuff I should be doing, so… Yeah, there’s a lot happening. You’ll have to forgive me if I cluster these, but sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures. And so…
Rule of Three Review: Tokyo Ghoul – Episodes 2-3
The Hero Appears! “Ping Pong” and the Asobi Spirit
In which the Josei betrays her English major background by writing a nice long essay about Ping Pong the Animation, the so-good-it-makes-me-angry anime based on the manga by Matsumoto Taiyou (Tekkonkinkreet) and directed by Yuasa Masaaki (The Tatami Galaxy).
Probably it goes without saying, but Here There Be Spoilers. I’m assuming anyone reading this has watched the entire series – so if you HAVEN’T seen it yet, you should go to Hulu or Funimation and watch it all right now, then come back when you’re finished.
The rest of you can hit the jump and read on. Go go ani-crit!
Sailor Moon Newbie Reviews: Episodes 19-20
Yep. Sailor Moon definitely works better as an ensemble show.
Man, but I like this series so much more when it shifts the focus even just a little bit away from Usagi. When it comes to favorite episodes, they all seem to be the ones where she helps other people out (both episodes with her brother have been great), or the rare times when the show becomes a true ensemble, either balancing the screen time for the scouts equally or focusing on a different Moonie altogether. Usagi’s good qualities are easier to see when we aren’t also constantly seeing her falling down, crying, getting scared, or mooning over Tuxedo Mask. (And yes, pun intended. Pun ALWAYS intended.)
Panning the Stream: Sabagebu!, Tokyo Ghoul, Shounen Hollywood
And now for something completely different…
Yesterday’s trio had similar threads, but this group couldn’t be more disparate if it tried. An all-girls’ airsoft gun club, an urban horror story, and a boy band in the making. Any worth watching? Hit the jump and all will be revealed!
Panning the Stream: Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, HaNaYaMaTa, Blue Spring Ride
If you heeeeear any noise, it ain’t the boys – it’s ladies’ night! ♪
This trio features three shows with female leads, and while I’m only giving one of them a Gold Nugget Alert, all three were good enough to convince me to come back for more. After several (several!) seasons of high-quality shows packed with male characters, could this be the season when well-written female protagonists make a comeback? In the name of the moon, I sure hope so.
Hit the jump for the full meet ‘n’ greet.
Sailor Moon Newbie Reviews: Episodes 17-18
And then, every so often, Usagi gets shit done.
I was worried when I started this adventure that blogging a show meant for young teens would never work–that I had waited too long and the Sailor Moon bandwagon had left the station for good. But in some ways I actually think I enjoy it more now than I would have as a kid, because now I can watch Usagi and, instead of wanting to shake her, I can appreciate her for the flawed but spirited kid she is.
Panning the Stream: Sailor Moon Crystal, Locodol, Aldnoah.Zero
In the name of the moon, you will be nostalgic!
I’m working to catch up after the long weekend, so here’s your second trio of the day. This bunch has one shiny remake, one riveting original, and one icky adaptation. Well, two for three ain’t bad.
Premiere Reviews below the jump!
The Josei Next Door 