Well, a new season is here and despite the fact that some previous Selections are continuing (namely Scarlet Nexus and 86), it’s time to pick one of them up. This time it’s Shikizakura, an anime-original (or mostly so) power suit action show. How’d the first episode go? Well, the CGI is… I’m going to sayContinue Reading... Seasonal Selection – Shikizakura Episode 1Continue Reading...
Oct 11, 2021 • Subscribe
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Seasonal Selection – Shikizakura Episode 9
So, I misread things last week – the smooth talker from Black Team wasn’t the big monster; he was in the scene already. In the first couple of…
Seasonal Selection – Shikizakura Episode 10
This episode is again a very needed beat in the story, serving as the hero’s darkest moment before turning things around at the climax, and it comes at…
Seasonal Selection – Shikizakura Episode 3
I won’t say that Shikizakura exactly did well, but it did display a basic understanding of the facts I was talking about last week. To its limited credit,…
Seasonal Selection – Shikizakura Episode 5
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Seasonal Selection – Shikizakura Episode 6
All things considered, this show can be kind of charming. True, just about anybody who’s engaged with any sort of media has seen this plot a million times…
Seasonal Selection – Shikizakura Episode 11
Because it wouldn’t be a traditional action climax without a big twist and a moment when it looks like all hope is lost… here’s all those things I…
Seasonal Selection – Shikizakura Episode 4
What the hell? So, in this 3D CGI Anime about people fighting demons by using power suits that may also be demons, we have this episode, fully 2D…
Seasonal Selection – Shikizakura Episode 8
So, for those who wanted a darker and more serious episode out of Shikizakura, we have this one And, compared to the bits earlier in the show that…
Seasonal Selection – Shikizakura Episode 7
So, after the big turn of last episode, it’s time for downtime! Actually, I think it is kind of the correct time for this… or at least, a…
Seasonal Selection – Shikizakura Episode 2
“The one where we actually integrate the main character into the setting” is an important plot beat for a lot of shows, particularly ones in the Urban Fantasy…
Seasonal Selection – Shikizakura Episode 12 (End)
While by no means one of the all-time great climaxes, I will credit the ending of Shikizakura this: it’s exactly the sort of end you’d want to see…
Seasonal Selection – 86 Episode 1
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Seasonal Selection – Metallic Rouge Episode 1
Our story takes place in the grungy, noir-ish cityscape of Mars, where humans and robotic persons live side-by-side in a setting that simultaneously evokes 1920 and something more…
Seasonal Selection – KamiErabi God.app Episode 1
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Seasonal Selection – Scarlet Nexus Episode 1
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Seasonal Selection – Chainsaw Man Episode 1
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Seasonal Selection – Hell’s Paradise Episode 1
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Seasonal Selection – Sabikui Bisco Episode 1
Well, I can’t say that this show doesn’t just throw you right into things. In one episode we’re introduced to a post-apocalyptic Japan with loads of details and…
Seasonal Selection – Kaiju No. 8 Episode 1
This one is going to be from the perspective of a Manga reader, be warned.
Seasonal Selection – The Gene of AI Episode 1
Thus, we embark upon a show for which I can say this: it really wants you to think Isaac Asimov had a hand in it somewhere.
Seasonal Selection – 86 Episode 5
So, to an extent, I was wrong. Shin’s brother got a more detailed address than I was expecting, even if, no, it wasn’t the crux of another transformation.…
Seasonal Selection – 86 Episode 4
86 continues to impress with its humanity, but to an extent much of what was had and needed this episode was highly predictable from the last. That’s not…
Seasonal Selection – 86 Episode 10
No Lena this week. For much of the episode, not really much talking either. This one is very much on the artistic end, trying to convey an experience…
Seasonal Selection – 86 Episode 7
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Seasonal Selection – 86 Episode 8
So, this episode is all pretty much ‘gearing up’ for what would seem to be a final confrontation. The Spearhead is down to five, and they’re being sent…
Seasonal Selection – 86 Episode 3
I hope you enjoy slow burn drama over any general expectation of action. Frankly, I kind of appreciate the approach… at least when there’s been a second cour…
Seasonal Selection – 86 Episode 11
The final episode of the cour (special pending) and if you told me this was the absolute final episode of the show and anything related to 86, I…
Seasonal Selection – 86 Episode 9
The time for the great battle against Shin’s brother’s Shepherd form has come. The episode “feels” short, consisting essentially of two extremely powerful scenes rather than a lot…
Seasonal Selection – 86 Episode 6
We spend most of this episode with Spearhead, oddly enough including an extended flashback scene to when the formation was first formed, having a fun cookout together. One…
Seasonal Selection – 86 Episode 2
Plot 101: Introducing some more of our main story. Honestly, one thing I’m enjoying about 86 is how it’s been building up the world. In the first episode,…
Seasonal Selection – Management of a Novice Alchemist Episode 1
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Seasonal Selection – Shine On! Bakumatsu Bad Boys Episode 1
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Seasonal Selection – Metallic Rouge Episode 3
Let’s build the world while we let Rouge fly solo for a bit.
Seasonal Selection – 86 Episode 21 (S2E10)
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Seasonal Selection – KamiErabi God.app Episode 6
The long-awaited debut of Goro’s Idol, Iyo, appears to be slightly posthumous.
Seasonal Selection – Ex-Arm Episode 10
A decent fight sceneSome needless complicationsNo impact at heart So, today’s episode of Ex-Arm had two major lines: Akira versus Beta and Alma versus Soma. Second one first.…
Seasonal Selection – Scarlet Nexus Episode 25
Anticlimax time! There’s no final boss for you. Karen deleted. On paper this is a fine resolution to the problems the show faces, but in practice, it’s kind…
Seasonal Selection – Ex-Arm Episode 2
Reaction of the episode (Paraphrased): “Blink. Blink. BLINK! Blink already, you soulless Barbie Doll!” So, for this episode, we’ve decided to record live reactions. Fair warning, it’s mostly…
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Seasonal Selection – Chainsaw Man Episode 5
Denji cops a feel and we get the proper introduction of the big plot. We start out this episode right where the last left off: Denji getting his…
Seasonal Selection – Sabikui Bisco Episode 11
I would be so frustrated right now if this world had ever pretended to heed any sort of logic or reason beyond “It’s cool, therefore we’re going with…
Seasonal Selection – 86 Episode 19 (S2E8)
After another recap break in the action, we resume 86 with the hunt for the Morpho. Uncharacteristically for this show, the episode is mostly dedicated to the action.…
Seasonal Selection – Scarlet Nexus Episode 24
It all means nothing This episode’s a smoke screen Think we won’t notice? Did you want to see an esoteric mess that does very little to advance the…
Seasonal Selection – 86 Episode 15 (S2E4)
There’s an interesting contrast between 86 and another show I’m tracking episode by episode right now, Scarlet Nexus, and it has to do with the pacing. Specifically, both…
Seasonal Selection – 86 Episode 14 (S2E3)
And here we see Shin rejoining the battle. Not really anyone else; even his fellows are rather scarce this episode, but it’s time for the return of Undertaker…
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Seasonal Selection – 86 Episode 18 (S2E7)
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Seasonal Selection – Hell’s Paradise Episode 10
Two episodes left out of this and we still largely feel like we’re in the setup.