Second Week of Anime Talk: Week 2

Holy crap can you believe I'm doing this again? Well not really, I did that for the other Anime for two weeks. So the holy crap point should be next week.

I wrote more words this time, so it's more in detailed. No specific order as usual.


 Senki Zesshou Symphogear

The show kicks off right where the first episode had ended with Hibiki in same gear as the two Idol signers. She fends off some Noise and then Tsubasa shows up to clean house. The rest of the episode was used to explain a bunch of stuff (none being what Noise are). For one, the suits Hibiki and Tsubasa wear are called "Symphogear" which is created from sort of ancient crystal that when the right person sings, creates said suit. Which also turns out to be the only thing that can fend off the Noise. So Hibiki must lead a double life hiding the fact that she will now fight the Noise, which is explained in a rather generic "Everyone you know will be in danger" way.

The show is a lot like the main character: Half and Half. In one way, I really like the ridiculous idea that they sinG while fighting (which leaves a lot of awful lip synching), it's kind of awesome. But on the other, it's been kind of generic so far. Hibiki is doing to her best to impress Tsubasa who she idealizes since she not only saved her life, but also loves her music. While Tsubasa is the cold hearted character who doesn't care about her because, well the suit she wears and the crystal Hibiki uses belonged to Kanade (the one who died). Which is understandable, but, well, do we not know where this is going? Am I not to believe Hibiki won't make a believer out of Tsubasa?

Also, I'm not sure where I stand on Hibiki, she just seems so generic, from design to character type, I can't really click with her. She's the "fish out of water" this show needs, but hell if she doesn't look generic. I'd be leaning more on the side of Tsubasa but her character is played out. Honestly, I was more interested in seeing the story play out from a pop duo's perspective. But they went off and killed that option fast. The only real saving grace of Hibiki is her voice actress Yuuki Aoi who is awesome. She has made me a believer out of her time and time again but this role is a bit different. Maybe it's a lot of the generic lines fed, to her but she doesn't really stand out when she speaks. The only time she does is when she get's to play Hibiki in more of a conversational laid back way. Yuuki has played a lot of interesting characters that would challenge others, but maybe it's best to keep her doing those characters rather then the generic super hero.

High School DxD

This episode was pretty crap. Boobs were left to a minimum and I'm not sure if Issei is the kind of person I want for these kind of shows. See, I like guys who are kind of passive to the idea of having bobs in their face. Issei, is the kind that just wants it all. Which makes it boring to watch. The interest is in constantly teasing the character and him avoiding seeing lots of boobs. it keeps the viewers wanting to see the boobs. But if the character gets to see boobs all the time, well where's the interesting in continuing to watch?

Anyways, Issei learns the boob demon that originally killed him was a fallen angel who found out he has an object in him called the "Sacred Gear". Rias saved him and the gear and he is now a Devil. We are introduced to more characters and Issei just kind of does menial tasks in the hopes of getting his own slave in the future. Eventually, he's attacked yet again and is able to spawn the Sacred Gear (which is some sort of magic armlet thing) and fend off the attacker. And that is pretty much how the show ends. Oh and some other girl is seen at the end.... I think she's an angel.

I'm  interested to see if there will be any solid action in this show. The idea of Angles (be them fallen or not) against devils is kinda cool. Also, the idea of Issei having this magical armlet thing certainly leads one to think so. But I've seen shows like this that kept it to a minimal. That aside, not a lot of great boobs in this episode, I kind of don't like it when a girl is naked and talking all casually. Just kind of takes the idea that her boobs are showing out of my mind.

Nisemonogatari

I sure hope there's more to this then just talking to girls from the previous season. Last episode we got to hear from Senjogahara (Koyomi Araragi's Girlfriend), Tsukihi (youngest sister) and Hachikuji (A wondering spirit that is a child female that Araragi likes to bad touch). This episode reintroduced Sengoku (A moe girl that has a thing for Koyomi) and Kanbaru (best friend of Senjogahara) and the elder of the two younger sisters Karen.

The big thing to take way from this episode is that Tsukihi and Karen are up to something but Koyomi doesn't know what it is. Everything else was pretty much fan service. Sengoku likes Koyomi so it was interesting to see her flirt with him and the Koyomi/Kanbaru dynamic has always been fun. But that's it really. Since the Senjogahara conversation wasn't exactly a reintroduction of her, I'm expecting to see a full on episode between the two. If that is the case, then these guys are certainly taking their time with the story.

In the first season you knew what was up by the end of the first episode. Here, I'm not sure what to expect other then Araragi's sisters being involved. While I usually like the endless banter between all the characters, it usually had a story behind it that made everything kind of flow. Here they're just yapping away. The third episode has got to bring it. Or, at the very least, having really good banter between Senjogahara and Koyomi.

Bodacious Space Pirates

I'm not sure what was going on in this episode. Marika still isn't captain of her dad's ship. That's kind of all I know. Well that and some other stuff. Like Marika's mom making her shoot laser guns and then her yacht club about to take off into space. Oh and mysterious new comer Chiaki Kurihara seems to know a lot more then she leads on. And then there was this part where they were being hacked so Chiaki and Marika were defending it and are about to cyber attack back or something, I don't know.

After letting out that big bomb drop about Marika's dad being a pirate, the show sure slows down the pace. Hell, at the end of the first episode the restaurant where Marika works was crowded with unsavory people. Making it seem like Marika was public enemy 1. Here, nothing happens. Aside from the hacking thing. I expect a lot of it is probably going to be her dad's crew testing how Marika handles certain situations, but if you're going to put a bulls-eye on her, keep it on.

Lagrange -The Flower of Rin-ne

Why is it that in almost every Mecha show, they do the typical person "pilot's robot in the first episode but then later regrets it in the next"? Well this one does it as well... but at least it explains some stuff. Stuff like how Madoka's robot thing is known as an Ovid with its name being Vox Aura. It seems something happened in the past where Madoka nearly drowned and met said Ovid. But all is not sure.

Anyways, when Madoka comes back from defeating the other Ovid (via German Suplex), she is in shock when she finds out there's more to do. Thinking it was a one time deal (kinda cute). But now that she's formally part of the group (group being organization that is tying to stop bad people from doing bad things), she feels the weight of the world on her. So when she engages a new enemy she starts to get sheepish and feels unworthy. Blah blah blah, she snaps out of it and Madoka must fight two Ovids now. Also a new girls was introduced. No name, but she was naked for a little bit.

I get the feeling that this is going to be K-On but with Mechs. The all-girl team is starting to form up (Madoka, Lan and new girl) and there attitudes just seem so moe. Now I liked K-On, but I dropped it sometime around the second season because nothing was happening. They played music for ten episodes. I get the feeling that Lagrange won't be like that, but I'm kinda all moe'd out at this point. Hopefully the Mecha stuff will keep me compelled.

Brave 10

I think I dropped the ball with the overall premise of the show. So yeah, it's about Yukimara's 10 warriors or whatever but it's only used as a backdrop. See, there's this priestess named Isanami who was attacked at her temple and fled to Sanada's place. On the way, she met up with Saizou (the main character) who acts all cold hearted towards her but helps her anyway. Through some stuff that's not worth mentioning, Isnami gets help from Yukimura and Saizou somehow starts serving him but still doesn't like Isanami all that much.

This episode introduced a new lady by the name of Ana (Anna?) and a new enemy who I actually know as the bad ass Ninja Hanzou Hitari. He's totally bad ass just so you know. The episode was pretty much Isanami getting jealous at Saizou for hanging out with Anna a lot, and Saizou starting to fall for Isanami (Isnami already likes Saizou). The big twist is she's a priestess, so no sex for her or something. Then there was a snake, a big snake actually, some rival clan who wants Isanami and some other stuff.

This Anime seems like on a track of sorts. It knows where it's going and has carefully planned a route. Whether that route is a good one is still left to be determined. But comparing to a show like, let's say Symphogear, I'm more then happy to see where this is going.

Another

More and more hints lead to Kouichi believing Mei is dead, while the class still continue hiding a secret from him. At some point, Kouchi is in a doll store looking at scary dolls, meets up with Mei and she is about to show what's under her eye-patch.

THIS SHOW KEEPS TRYING TO SAY IT'S SCARY WHEN NOTHING SCARY HAPPENS! STOP TRYING TO BE SCARY!

I'm really trying hard to see where this is going with it's constant atmosphere. No matter the situation, the show keeps trying to keep a constant eerie vibe. I wouldn't surprise me if there's some sort of twist and Mei isn't actually dead. Or, well, the show becoming something else entirely. Like opting out the eerie for some harem?

Waiting in the Summer

These people are dumb. Really dumb. It used the "well that's weird but whatever" story-telling twice in this one episode.

So at the end of the first episode, Kaito faints and Ichika heals him by kissing him in some sort of shield thing while Kaito's sister (Nanami) and lady friend (Kanna) catch her in the act. Instead of asking what the hell the bubble shield was, they ask her about everything else. Like why she's there, kissing Kaito, all that stuff. I don't even think they asked about the bubble shield. Even if they did, they did the cliche of the character (Ichika) acting timid by not answering and then they move on to the next point. I'm sorry but if I see a person in a bubble shield, regardless of the situation, I'm asking about the bubble shield.

The show continues from there with Nanami agreeing to let Ichika stay since she'll be out of town with Kannna getting jealous. The rest of Kaito's friends find out, and set up a meeting for the film at his place the next day (Cause that's still happening). Lemon (Ichika's class mate) secretly let's everyone drink alcohol and everyone has a fine time. When Kanna presses Ichika about how she feels about Kaito, some weird alien thing pops out and everyone starts laughing, with Ichika claiming its her pet (I guess since everyone is drunk they just don't care about an alien). Sometime latter Kaito is about to confess to Ichika but she tells him not to say it.

It's revealed in the beginning that Ichika is from space and is looking for "that special place". Of course, nobody knows where and neither does Ichika... I think? Other then that the most interesting thing going on is Kanna and Kaito. See, Kanna likes Kaito but Kaito doesn't know (Original, I know). But Kaito likes Ichika and possibly the other way around as well. The thing that I don't like about Ichika and Kaito is that both just seem real timid. Kanna is more full of energy and plays off the timid Kaito. But Ichika and Kaito? well it's like looking at two rocks and your friend saying "You know those two really like each other.", but when you look at it yourself, it doesn't look like anything. It's just too forced. Yes, we know these two like each other, but they don't show any reason too. I'm rooting for you Kanna!

Aquarion Evol

A bunch of stuff is clarified in this episode which is a god send for me. First off, certain people have a thing called elements that they can use (like flying, digging or seeing into the future) and are called Elemental's. Each Elemental has the power to operate a Aquaria (ship/robot thing) and three can form into a Aquarion. Amata (the Main Character) has the ability to combine both sexes into an Aquarion called Evol and that's pretty much all I know so far.

The rest of the episode has Amata joining said group (it's a school really) and training for a bit all the while looking for his love interest Mikono Suzushiro whose brother (Cayenne) is one of the best at the school. Also Mikono isn't an Elemental, which is weird considering her whole family is. The school tries to probe Amata's brain (in a very flashy way) to figure out why he knows the name "Aquarion" but all is lost and the machine breaks. Also, bad dudes are coming.

I am really enjoying this show. There's a mystery around Amata as to why he can do what he does, Mechs are awesome, and my god do I love it when an Aquarion is being formed. The opening music plays, and everything just feels awesome.