Aquarion Evol
The funny Engrish attack names is one of the best parts of the show. Absolute Seal is more correct, but not as fun as Absolute Clam.
The first three mecha shows (Guilty Crown has mechas, but it's not really a mecha show) that I'm following this season, Aquarion Evol is more of the flamboyant, over the top type of super robot show. We have crazy attacks with funny names, and literally orgasmic gattai sequences for the Aquarion. In other words, it's a fun show with pretty good decent quality to boot. I'm not really sure what to make of the story because there hasn't been much progress. We are introduced to the main set of characters and have around 1 battle per episode, but that's about it for the first 7 or 8 episodes. Some sub plots have been lay out such as Kagura's obsession with Mikono and the "bad guy's" true purpose for their actions, but it looks like we are still early in the series. I haven't watched the original Aquarion so there are probably references that I'm not getting. Even without watching the original though, Evol is a pretty enjoyable show. And yes, between Mikono and Zessica I'd pick Zessica hands down.
Guilty Crown
Can't say you didn't deserve that, Shuu.
After half a season, Guilty Crown was a show that had great production quality but not really living up to the potential it showed in the first episode. After one and a half season, Guilty Crown has turned into the biggest train wreck of an anime I have ever watched. The first episode where Shu pulled the Void sword out of Inori and sliced apart a mech while the awesome background music was playing is still one of the coolest anime scenes I remember. Guilty Crown has fallen a long way from the potential of that first episode. The production quality and action are still pretty good, but the story has become undescribably ridiculous and bad. The first part of series up to the "season finale" at episode 12 weren't great, but at least they were somewhat tolerable. And then all hell broke lose in episode 12 (Gai was Shuu's childhood buddy, Lost Xmas was caused by Shuu's sister... mind blown) and every episode afterward have gotten more and more ridiculous. There are two many outrageous details for me to list here, but lets just say that there were tons of out of nowhere changes, whether if it's in regards to the back story or the character personalities. Shuu actually tried to be a tyrant anti-hero for a bit but ended up getting owned and now he is the good guy... I think.
It certainly didn't help that most of the main characters are inherently unlikable, and this goes especially for our main characters Shuu and Inori. People say that Code Geass R2 was a huge train wreck, and I think Guilty Crown is getting really close if not having passed Code Geass R2 already. At least Lelouch was kind of cool for a while, but I can't really say the same for Shuu or his so-called friends. I think Guilty Crown is the first anime series for which I wish the entire cast would die in the end, hopefully in a glorious fiery death.
For those who are wondering why I don't just drop the show, the reasons are that I already watched one and a half seasons of the show, and that Guilty Crown has gotten to the point that it's so bloody awful that it's a must-watch show. It's entertaining just to see how nonsensical this show will get each week.
Mirai Nikki
Finally an official couple.
After 19 episodes, Mirai Nikki continues to make good use of its intriguing setup. The story is not overly deep or intricate, but it provides enough twists and turns to keep things entertaining. Most of the enemy diary wielders are killed off fairly quickly, but they are given some back story. Our protagonist Yuki has grown a bit and is not a somewhat useless coward anymore. Yuki is still far from your average stereotypical hero, but at least he has come to realization that he needs to win this contest, and to do that some people are going to have to die and that he has to rely on Yuno. Yuno, of course, has become crazier by the episode, but it's also increasing apparent that her insanity gives her and Yuki the edge against other diary wielders. The developments were pretty good overall, and it'll be interesting to see what Yuki will do now that he has vowed to win.
Mobile Suit Gundam AGE
Needs more high quality action like this, emphasis on "high quality".
The first generation featuring Flit Asuno lasted 15 episodes, and now the torch has been passed to Flit's son Asemu. Flit's portion of the series was okay, but there was nothing particularly impressive about it. The classic story of boy pilots a Gundam to fight in a war is retold in a more kid-oriented form and that was about it. It became pretty obvious that the series built up Yurin from the start to be killed by the Veigans so that Flit will develop some more hate. The finale with the attack on the Veigan base was a little weak by Gundam standards. The overall production quality is still pretty good given that it is a Sunrise production, but it's not quite say at Gundam 00's level. We'll see how things go now that Asemu has taken the reins. The battles between Asemu and Gundam AGE's Char clone Zeheart look to be promising, and hopefully this second generation will end with a bigger bang than the first.
Nismonogatari
Never knew toothbrushing can become so erotic.
The sequel to the much beloved Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari continues to feature the perverted but selfless Koyomi Araragi trying to solve problems of the supernatural nature for other girls and making them fall in love with him. Despite having the formidable and beautiful Hitagi Senjougahara as his girlfriend, Koyomi continues to flirt with the other girls and starts going after his own little sisters as well. The 'infamous' toothbrush scene between Koyomi and sister Karen was getting a bit erotic. It was also good to see Tsubasa getting a makeover and Shinobu finally talking as well.
By the look of things, Nisemonogatari is no longer hindered by the budget problems that plagued Bakemonogatari, and thus there is no issue with its production quality. The visuals are the same crisp, simplistic style and the action and fast and over the top on the rare occasion where that happens. Of course, like its predecessor, Nisemonogatari is not really an action heavy show. Rather, most of the content comes from the dialogue that takes up at least 80% of the show. I think the 'Talk vs. Everything else' ratio has gone up in Nismonogatari compared to Bakemonogatari. The dialogue can be funny, sharp and witty, but I still think the talking ratio is a little too high. I would probably have dropped the show out of boredom if the dialogue wasn't as funny or witty. Nisemonogatari is certainly not a bad show and it has its moments, but I don't enjoy it as much as some people do.
Rinne no Lagrange
Awwwww... group hug.
The third and final mecha show of my current line-up, Rinne no Lagrange has been alright. The mecha fights aren't half bad, but they don't happen often enough for my tastes. Instead, the primary focus of the show is the friendship developing between the three main female characters, so there are plenty of "friendship" moments such as arguments and girls trying to be cute and/or spunky. Sometimes it's amusing, but other times there is the feeling that the girls are better off doing something else. Madoka especially can seem like a bonehead at times. The most memorable part of the show thus far were the scenes of little Mugami trying to survive by herself on her harsh home planet. Little Mugami looked so cute and so tragic at the same time having to steal apples to keep herself from starving.
After half a season, I'm still not too sure what the story is other than some human-looking aliens want the three giant robots that the girls are piloting. Hopefully the story will actually lead somewhere.
Senki Zesshou Symphogear
Falcon PUNCH!!!
A show in the transforming magical girl genre, Senki Zesshou Symphogear had the most impressive debut episode of the season by the sheer fact that it killed off an important character right in the first episode and also foreshadowed the death of the main character. The first half season of the show has been entertaining, even though the story hasn't become clear yet. As far as I could make out, the two good Symphogear girls and their supporters are fighting against the Noise monsters that appear out of nowhere, and the Noise seems to be caused by some evil lady who speaks in Engrish and likes to walk around naked. There is also one other Symphogear that works for the evil lady for some reason but is on the verge of changing sides, and that's as far as we know for now. There are still too many things that haven't been explained yet. The action in Symphogear has been pretty good, while the singing elements that are central to the transformations are not quite as good, but at least they make the effort to sing. Overall, Symphogear has been good thus far. Not great, but good and not boring.
"And yes, between Mikono and Zessica I'd pick Zessica hands down."
ReplyDeleteI was going to ask. Glad that you are part of the resistance! I salute you!