An accurate depiction of myself after several viewings

↩[LWC 57]

I haven’t posted anything – anywhere – in a while. Yeah, so I’m making up for that, I guess. Although, like, ten days doesn’t count as that much, maybe.

(All of these rants will have spoilers)

1. Kannazuki no Miko

Thanks to this post, whose title I took at face value a little too bluntly and without preemptive investigation, I decided it would be a good idea to improve upon my dutiful sense of holistic viewing and occupy four [wasted] hours of my life with the alleged “greatest love story ever told” [in mecha].

Well, serves me right for just diving right in without reading peer reviews or whatnot. I mean, hell, it’s yuri, all mecha aside, those of which I was definitely not fond of at all… .If there was one definite problem I had with this show was Souma’s Infinite Works Mamorumentality: “I Will Protect You.” He needed to stop. He needed to die. I’m saddened that the lovely sadist and lesbian quasi-rapist Chikane (better than the perfectionist idol one) did not kill him as the less-than-reset end necessitated his survival.

On that note, the end was alright. After the 11^th episode I was expecting a Mai-Hime-esque reset but I was graced with a “clever” reincarnation end. Are reincarnation ends common? I haven’t seen many, so my hats off to them for this, I guess.

There were like, two yuri scenes. The kiss in the first episode, and the forced de-clothing (very unspectacular) somewhere around episode 8-10. Those two scenes didn’t justify anything! Not that I was watching this show for that purpose alone or anything…

The Glare

Being slightly perturbed at the convenient use of the ditzy blonde, I couldn’t but help dislike the character designs altogether. Their bangs were too big. Too long. Too wavy. Too in need of cutting.

At some points I don’t know if the show was taking itself seriously, though I did like it’s uncommon self-satire, what with the lunar boob joke (hilarious) and whatnot. Mamiko’s appearance as a manga-ka was pretty funny, mostly because I couldn’t take it seriously at all. There was even one point where she says “I’m pissed”…as if she were actually, you know, pissed. Or maybe that’s poor translation?

I am kind of glad that Souma had his own flaws, and that he wasn’t an entirely suave bastard akin to Fruits Basket’s Yuki, not coincidentally, Souma (Sohma?) whose cool, calm, collected Eric Vale-ishness simply drips in effeminate promiscuity.

The climax of the romance story was good, I’ll admit, it did strike a chord within – particularly the one scene where the door slams shut on Chikane’s face. That was powerful; she’s forbidden from earth, left on the moon to rot, exiled, isolated, stranded, deserted until death. The fact that it was a willing sacrifice did make it that much more potent. I just couldn’t put up with all the “ungh…” for 11 episodes – thus it was not justified.

2. 08^th MS Team

This was a really damn good show.

I don’t suppose that Gundam 00 really counts as a part of or within the typical “ideology” of the Gundam franchise – it just isn’t old enough? To be Gundam means to be at least three years old, or this might as well be my amateurish rappel into the depths of one of the largest alternate universes established in animeography. To peer into the depths, I’d probably have to watch the original (I think?) Mobile Suit Gundam, but for now, 08^th will suffice.

In some ways I am impressed and in others puzzled. IKnight points out how and confirms my belief that the Gundam franchise pervades throughout every nook and cranny of its self-definitive genre (hence Gundam probably is a genre in itself) – supposedly F91 has a crap story but doesn’t fail to deliver quite the dosage of shallow adrenaline. In this case, 08^th is probably high on the seat of “The Realistic” Gundam segment, the polar opposite of and antithetical fanboyism of, say, SEED Destiny. Mentally juxtaposing these two conjures up images of Moore’s Law (not in a very strict sense) in action.

But that’s exactly why I enjoyed 08^th so much – for its realism: or so I’m tempted to call it realism; I guess, me having not seen much Gundam, shelled weapons playing the perfunctory role of main armament over godlike beams (beams seem to be military luxury here) is much more in tune with the dramatized war movies I’ve seen (all giant robots aside). Thus the Giant Cricket near the finale did an exemplary job of performing the [obligatory?] dues ex machina or similar function.

“Realism” then may not be so fitting a word due to my lack of knowledge in the world of military arts (it is Gundam, after all), although I did appreciate the diversity of the cast and their development. The cast matched the scenery too, ranging from space to jungle, desert, glacier, grassland. So, right, cast: Sanders was a jazz pianist. Eledore was a rock star. Karen was badass. Michael was the singular receptacle for angst provoked via military noobery. Shiro was a righteous bastard. Aina was hot. Her knight was as GARingly loyal as Orange-kun. Her bother was crazy…yeah. Kiki was just tight as hell.

”I thought I told you to take long A…”

I also enjoyed how there was an “extra” episode. While at first the “early” ending elicited a huge “WTF” from me, I was pleasantly surprised by Michael’s epic “TAICHOU!” catharsis at the sight of his long lost commander complete with pregnant Aina and log cabin. Did I mention the soundtrack helped dearly? It was stellar. Though I’m in no position to directly critique polyphony on such a level, it was pretty damn epic.

Michael’s development was well done too, I’d say; his gradual resistance to sending letters and the elusive BB somewhat reminded me of Holden’s abstracted and less-than-real Jane Gallagher as an idealism more so a person. It probably goes deeper than that buy I’m too lazy to think about it.

3. Shigurui

Blissmo records her thoughts; this is a tasteful series. “Tasteful” may not be a proper word here considering the amount of readily flowing brains, intestines and generalized entrails, but the flow of the story I did like. I had to end up marathoning it (sorta) just because I was waiting for the last episode to conclude the final battle between Irako and Fujiki. Of course my vice was suspended, which makes me consider the importance – the priority – of more subtle themes as opposed to the “aesthetics” (if that’s what you’ll call it…) of the visceral experience itself. Honor? Betrayal? Face? Warrior’s Code? Women? Bloodline? Hell if I’d know – or care. I watched it for the blood, and unto myself blood was surely delivered.

“Hai Guyz!!!!1”

4. Blue Drop

Dropped after the first episode. One big “…” due to mentally corrosive concoction of hyper-excessive Shinjiism and rich prick syndrome. Is there future yuri action? I think I heard somewhere there was rape in this?

5. Kaiba

I don’t get the ending, not after a good two to three weeks or so between each episode. I’ll have to marathon this sometime and blog the hell out of it.