Can you believe I have been doing this for five weeks now? Jeez.
Anime discussed: Chaos;Head, Clannad ~After Story~, Code Geass R2, Hatenkou Yuugi, Honey and Clover s1 + s2, Hyakko, Kannagi, Kyo no Gononi, Library War, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Spice and Wolf, To Aru Majutsu no Index, Toradora!, Yami no Matsuei
-- Chaos;Head ep8: More Gigalomaniac Trio action! Yay! The big fight scene is really cool, and Norose is a good, hateable douche. Takumi also continues to be a hilariously ineffective hero. I can't be the only one who snorted when he was like, "Oh man, I wish I had stayed home and played Empire Sweeper!" right? Rei Ayanami!Ayase's grand entrance is awesome, too. The music cracked me up -- it is such an amusingly generic "Your party is completely formed!" tune. Add in some plot twists -- Rimi and Shogun are in cahoots!! Norose has captured either Nanami or Yua!! -- and you have a good episode.
-- Clannad ~After Story~ ep9: Seems the series is dispensing with the random character mini-arcs and concentrating on Tomoya/Nagisa. I'm a bit surprised the rest of Tomoya's graduating year is over with so quickly, but I guess there's a ton of story after that in the game, haha. I'm SO glad this episode is a lot less emo than the preview hinted at -- I was afraid Tomoya and Nagisa would get into a huge fight, and we'd have to deal with that crap for a few episodes. Thanks for swerving me, KyoAni!
-- Code Geass R2 ep4: hahaha @ Rolo. It's hilarious that the only way the show can make Lelouch in any way likable is to surround him with people who are bigger douches and losers than he is. I hate Lelouch, but I will thoroughly enjoy watching him use Rolo and toss him aside. Also, this season needs moar Pizza Hut, amirite?
-- Hatenkou Yuugi eps 1-10: Solid series. As Des writes, the storytelling method is quite strange -- it's basically a weird sort of in media res at the beginning, with the details filled in along the way -- but it's kind of fun being thrown off like that. I enjoy the chemistry between the main characters as well; my favorite character changed from episode to episode, until the end where I liked them all about the same. My only problem with the series is the end -- storylines are left unresolved, and it's clear the show is angling for a second season. Make it happen!!
-- Honey and Clover eps 9-24: Loved it from start to finish. Aside from being hilarious, I like that the show takes the time to make every character likable and understandable. For instance, in the Rika/Mayama/Yamada triangle, Rika could easily come off as the cold person who is breaking apart young love, but the direction this show takes it in is so good, and it works perfectly. Every character has moments where they act in a stupid and flawed way, but it never makes them unlikable because you know exactly why they do what they do, and you sympathize, even if you don't agree.
-- Honey and Clover Special eps 1-2: Very funny side stories to the main series. I preferred the second episode, especially everything with Lohmeyer-sempai. That guy is amazing.
-- Honey and Clover II eps 1-12: Just as good as the first season. At first I was slightly annoyed with the plot contrivance with Hagumi near the end, but what comes out of it is so fantastic that I can forgive it, haha. The only thing that really confuses me is the resolution with Hagumi and Shuuji. I always saw their relationship as a father/daughter kind of thing, but, unless I am REALLY misinterpreting it, is the show implying Shuuji has romantic feelings for Hagumi? That does not really make sense to me, because it is made clear that Hagumi is not the type of person who can function in that type of relationship, since it isn't what she's looking for in life -- it's the whole reason why she couldn't be with Takemoto or Morita. If he is in love with her (in more than a father/daughter kind of way), then I guess it's a one-sided thing? I dunno, it just seems strange to me because the thought of Shuuji/Hagumi never crossed my mind for even a second. My only other complaint is a criminal lack of Nomiya in the finale -- come on, give me my big Ayu x Nomiya moment!! lol
-- Hyakko ep8: Kind of a weird episode, haha. Fashion consultant!Torako is kind of funny, though; I like how she leaped full force into Inori's wish to change her look so that she could make more friends. Best part is Nene going crazy for Inori's changed look and then switching opinions once Torako pretended to be jealous. That girl needs to watch her hormones.
-- Kannagi ep9: Nice, an episode focusing mainly on Tsugumi. Her funniest moment is when she's flipping through Akiba's, er, explicit drawing reference, comments on the nice art, flips to the next page and is like, "!!!" Akiba and Takako's banter in that scene is also wonderful, as it is every episode. Those two need their own spinoff. The hullabaloo with the whole school thinking Jin and Daitetsu are gay is funny, and I like that Nagi is on the sidelines observing and making chirpy comments in this episode rather than taking an active lead in the insanity. And, gun to his head, Jin prefers Tsugumi to Zange. Good man.
-- Kyo no Gononi ep9: Don't really have much to say about this week's episode except that it is pretty funny. It's not going to come close to topping the OVA, though, because it's starting to stretch out a bit. Hopefully I won't be totally bored of it by the time it's through.
-- Library War eps 3-4: Good two-part storyline where Kasahara continues to prove her worth, and Dojo is like, "k sry for treating u like a kid lol." The action and prettiness is also enjoyable. Plus, I am pretty sure I won't tire of Kasahara going "EHHHHHH?!?!?!" any time soon.
-- Mobile Suit Gundam 00 eps 3-4: lol, I am starting to understand why Ryo fanboys for Graham so hard. I'll definitely look forward to him improving each episode and pushing Setsuna harder in battle. I like how bits and pieces of the pilots' personalities are coming out in battle and their interactions, like Lockon's impatience with challenges that are beneath him and Tieria's general loathing of, well, everything. Allelujah is the only pilot I'm looking at like "?" still, but he'll start coming through more in the episodes to come, I'm sure. Speaking of that, I caved and download all the subs. I am soooooooo weak. I'll still be watching the dub each week, though, since I like watching it with everyone.
-- Spice and Wolf eps 3-4: Haha, the first time I watched the series I stopped at ep3 for God knows what reason, and it figures that ep4 is where the story kicks into another gear. The chemistry between Horo and Lawrence remains awesome, and every time I think I have Horo figured out, she shows off another layer of herself that really surprises me, and I love it. Seriously, people, if you've not seen this before, watch it with us in Anime Club.
-- To Aru Majutsu no Index ep9: Touma is CRAZAY. Nothing like fighting through the pain of having your arm lopped off. Kind of funny that the main villain in this arc turned out to be such a doofus. Reminds me a bit of Zant in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess -- he talks a big game, but when you finally fight him, he's just a pathetic doof.
-- Toradora! ep10: Kitamura and Minorin are so tricky. Oh, those two. I love how the show has built Ryuji's relationships with the women; in a lot of shows of this type, this sort of thing feels obligatory because you're absolutely certain who the main character will end up with, but with Toradora! it's a legitimate possibility Ryuji could end up with Taiga, Minorin or Ami (although less likely Ami than the other two). Just when I think I have things figured out, the series sweeps the rug out from under my feet and allows Ryuji a deeper look into Ami and Minorin, and it works all too well. I don't even know myself who I'd prefer him to be with, haha. Aside from that, there's lots of funny stuff with the crew continuing to frighten Minorin (with the highlight being Kitamura's purposefully lame traps), Ami teasing Ryuji some more and grumpy!Taiga defending Kitamura's honor.
-- Yami no Matsuei eps 6-7: Is it weird to say I am glad Muraki is back? Haha. The whole Devil's Trill storyline is kind of weird, and the lame devil voice kept me from taking it seriously in any way. Best part this week is Muraki putting the moves on Tsuzuki after their poker game; how could a guy be so hilarious and so creepy at the same time? Ick.
