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Attack on Titan - Episode 9

After the shocking (well, somewhat shocking) revelation at the end of last week's Attack on Titan, this ninth episode of the series serves up something of a distraction to kick things off, as we join the Recon Corps as they hack and slash at the Titans within Wall Maria just before the start of the latest Titan assault on humanity.

Once we've had our fill of the slick action and coolness which ooze from this group as they go about their business, our focus naturally returns to Eren, as we accompany him through the nightmare which followed his "death" at the jaws of a Titan.  As Eren finally comes around (while unhelpfully commenting "I'll kill you" as he awakens), it's rather a shock to find himself surrounded by former comrades as they point all manner of weapons at him.

It quickly becomes clear that Eren has no concrete memory of his time as a Titan or anything that happened subsequent to his "death", and despite having seen a lot of went on even Mikasa and Armin can't really make an argument for Eren's humanity at this point in time.  With terror in their eyes, it seems as if the only answer to assuage this fear is to terminate Eren's life before he comes a Titan once again - a prospect that Mikasa simply won't stand for, of course.  Even she doesn't have what it takes to tackle a collection of artillery however, so fortuitously the pressure of the moment has awakened some deep-seated memories within Eren's mind which might just be the key to their short-term survival...

Having landed such a moment of insanity upon us last week, Attack on Titan really has no choice but to go full-on down that path now, and thus this week's episode serves up some reasoning for Eren's survival and transformation that feels... well, a little flimsy, if we're being honest.  Set against this, the military's decision to eliminate Eren feels far more believable, if a little too much of a knee-jerk reaction for my liking.  Still, as I mentioned last time out my suspension of disbelief is already turned up to 11 for this series, so I'm more than willing to go along for the ride no matter what ludicrous places it might take us; even if this isn't one of the show's stronger episodes, I'm still happily on board.

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2 - Episode 9

After a seemingly perfect summer, Kyousuke's dream has suddenly turned into a nightmare - not only has Kuroneko dumped him, but she's also transferred schools and moved out of her home without a word about where she's headed.

Unsure what to do or who to turn to, a distraught Kyousuke looks towards the only person he can think of to trust in this situation - Kirino.  Surprisingly, Kirino's reaction to her brother's plight is an entirely reasonable one, as she comforts him and takes charge of the situation to at least attempt to put things right by tracking down Kuroneko and finding out exactly what the hell is going on.

Although Ruri herself refuses to divulge her location, it seems that she's still easy enough to track down, and before we know it Kirino and Kyousuke are taking up the hunt for her in a hot springs town.  Although their search proves to be fruitless, the tables are turned as Kuroneko ends up finding them, giving Kirino a chance to vent her spleen on her brother's behalf.  It's here that Kuroneko's "destiny" is revealed, as she forces Kirino to be honest about how she felt about Kyosuke getting a boyfriend while trying to sidestep her own feelings about the matter.  After lots of frank discussions and admissions, it seems that all is well again, albeit with no sign of an immediate rekindling of Ruri and Kyousuke's romance...

Having managed to largely sidestep the pseudo-incestuous aspects of Oreimo up to this point, this week's episode leaves me torn - as a whole I enjoyed it, as it actually managed to portray Kirino in a favourable light for once while the episode's drama, as overblown as it was, actually had a decent emotional impact to it.  However, for all of that positivity, I can't help but feel.... "icky" about the episode's undertones, as it gleefully throws other relationships under the bus to keep Kyousuke and Kirino "pure" for one another.  It's bonkers, crazy, and pretty creepy, and it's the one aspect of this series that I'd really rather keep at arms length - even the tail-end of the first season could be explained away as a more reasonable level of sibling love, but this story arc can't really be explained without going to places that I'd really rather not.  Hopefully normal service can be resumed again next week, so I can go back to ignoring the fact that a big chunk of this show is horribly incest-driven.

Chihayafuru 2 - Episode 21

The team tournament has made way for the individual event, and in spite of a hand injury Chihaya is insistent upon playing, even if it means doing so left-handed.

The trouble is, although her senses have been anything but dulled of late, actually using her left hand to claim cards is another matter entirely - her centre of gravity and movements are completely off, and her fired-up opponent from Akashi Girls School is making the most of matters to open up a commanding lead.  However, as the game progresses Chihaya begins to find at least some benefits to operating left-handed when placed against a right-handed opponent, and the more she things about it the more she edges closer to a moment of clarity regarding the placement of her own cards on the field which turns the tide markedly.

With that first round match done and dusted, and with Arata watching on having destroyed his opponent in no time at all, it's on to the second round - here, our focus switches to Nishida as he finds himself drawn against wannabe tournament winner Arata.  After a strong start, Arata soon gets serious and looks all set to blow Nishida away with his pure speed of movement, but with a sense of guilty that he simply doesn't try as hard or care as much as his Mizusawa team mates Nishida still finds the reserves required to make a game of it, even if victory proves to be beyond him.  So, it's onto the final eight we go, and how's this for a match up, as Chihaya faces off against Shinobu once again.  It's time to get serious for our protagonist, and off come the bandages...

Having enjoyed the team national tournament so much, I was expecting to find it a little harder to get excited about the individual event, and while this is true to some extent that didn't stop this being another great instalment of Chihayafuru - Ayase's left-handed revelations were a lot of fun in their own right, and this second season as a whole continues to really spread its wings when it comes to delivery proceedings with just the right comedic touches to keep things light-hearted.  It perhaps says everything about my love for this show that I was all-but jumping up and down with glee at the prospect of a Chihaya versus Shinobu rematch next week - if proof were required as to how invested I am in this show, surely that must be it.

A Certain Scientific Railgun S - Episode 8

Misaka is finally nearing the end of her mission to tear down everything associated with the Sisters project, but the trouble is that the closer she comes to shutting down every facility involved with said project the easier a target she becomes.

With just two facilities left to be put out of commission, enter ITEM into the fray - a group of female guns-for-hire who are hired by the masterminds of the project to put a stop to the intruder who is on the brink of ruining all of their hard (and not to mention expensive) work.  With those two facilities remaining, the group splits up to cover both bases, leaving the installation that Misaka chooses to target next under the watch of a decidedly explosive foe.

Thus, much of this instalment sees Misaka doing her best to fend off and defeat her ITEM opponent in a cat-and-mouse battle with plenty of twists, turns and bluffs as these two highly skilled individuals have at one another while conveniently (for Misaka anyway) destroying large swathes of the facility anyway.  While all of this is going on, Shinobu Nunotaba is doing a little extra-curricular work of her own by using her former employment on the project as cover to take independent action against those responsible.

To be quite honest, this is the portion of the A Certain Scientific Railgun manga adaptation that I've been waiting the most keenly for, and it certainly doesn't disappoint in allowing Misaka free reign to make full use of her powers, or in giving her a skillful (and entertaining) opponent to test her mettle against.  We haven't really seen this series dive into all-out action before, but the result was immensely satisfying and there's still more to come.  Quite frankly, I can't wait...

Kotonoha no Niwa (The Garden of Words)

After striking out from his comfort zone with Children Who Chase Lost Voices, 2013 sees Makoto Shinkai return to what he arguably does best - a love story, in the form of The Garden of Words to use its English title.

Of course, cut and dried tales of romance can be pretty dull, so instead this short film introduces us to two characters who are struggling to fit into their assigned roles in the world.  On the one hand we have Takao Akizuki, a high school student who has little interest in following the well-trodden paths of others, and instead desires nothing more than to learn how to design and make shoes.  On the other we have a mysterious woman who prefers to spend her days skipping work so that she can drink beer and eat chocolate in a local park rather than do... well, whatever it is she does.

Despite maintaining that sense of mystery about her, the region's rainy season sees Takao and Yukino, the woman in question, meeting ever more frequently, and as time goes by a connection develops between them - although Takao knows little about this woman he can't help but fall for her, while Yukino is racked with guilt and worry due to her own circumstances.  As time goes by and the rainy season comes to a close it seems as if the world has conspired to keep these two individuals well and truly apart, but sometimes love is a little stronger than that, even when such a romance seems to be simply impossible.

Let us being by saying this - The Garden of Words is one of, if not the, most visually sumptuous anime every created.  Taken as a whole, the entire short film is simply beautiful - making raindrops and greenery look gorgeous is one thing, but taking the clutter and minutiae of everyday life and giving it a similar treatment deserves high praise indeed, and as a result this movie is too beautiful for words alone to convey.  Of course, visuals are only one aspect of a story, and in terms of the film's wider narrative The Garden of Words is less of a lesson in perfection - at times its pacing seems rushed, and at others its hard to get into the head of its characters.  However, as a whole The Garden of Words is as satisfying emotionally as it is visually - the dynamic between the two main characters is believable throughout, and the guilt and worries which come from the age gap between those two individuals is strikingly authentic.  Heck, we even get something approaching a happy ending by Shinkai's standards, leaving just enough up in the air for the viewer to make their own mind up without feeling like a disappointment.

Given his body of work, it would be harsh to single this out in particular as a masterpiece, but nonetheless Kotonoha no Niwa is a superb work that deserves a viewing in the best circumstances possible visually, while also delivering a story that has just the right balance of emotion, realism and entertainment to be immensely satisfying.  It's a tough call to label this Makoto Shinkai's best work, but it certainly runs his previous efforts close in that regard.

Devil Survivor 2: The Animation - Episode 9

Now that Alcor has showed his hand and revealed his relation to the Septentrion, it is perhaps fortuitous that he's decided to stick around to watch the progress of our group of human survivors, and in particular Hibiki.

If nothing else, it seems as if Alcor is rather taken with Hibiki, to the point of championing him to "do the right thing" in the struggles to come; a stark contrast to his disappointment in Yamato and the decisions that he's made up to this point.  Making the right choice is clearly the theme of the week here, and the pressure to do just that is only going to get greater henceforth.

As if to illustrate this, another Septentrion attack means that we return to battle stations once again, with Airi and Hinako chosen as the best suited to stand at the forefront of this particular face-off against a stratospheric, airborne Septentrion.  In comparison to previous skirmishes, taking out the enemy in question seems shockingly simple, and lo and behold it also proves to be deceptively simple - yes, defeating the Septentrion is simple, but preventing it from crashing down on Sapporo and the massive death toll which doubtless results from this is another matter entirely.  Is this further evidence of Yamato's selfishness, or was the decision made for the greater good?  As he lays down the facts of how things will progress a few short days from now, Yamato certainly isn't shy of laying his philosophy on the table.

After all of those Persona 4 comparisons early in the series, this week's Devil Survivor 2 felt more like Neon Genesis Evangelion Super-Lite, with an Angel-esque enemy dropping from the sky, the fallout of said enemy's drop from a great height, and all sorts of talk about the future of humanity and the diverging paths and choices that mankind must decide between to survive and prosper.  Of course, this series isn't Evangelion - it doesn't even come close - but I am continuing to enjoy what the show is trying to do, and to at least some extent it's succeeding even if it's having to squeeze a lot of content in tightly.

Hataraku Maou-sama! - Episode 9

Hero she might be in her own world, but here on Earth poor Emi finds herself being dragged from pillar to post by friend and work colleague Rika Suzuki, who is determined that her friend is ensnared in some kind of love triangle over the mysterious Maou.

To that end, Rika takes Emi and Suzuno to Maou's workplace, before deciding to stop off at Sentucky Fried Chicken for a "strategy meeting", which brings the group into contact with Ashiya in the midst of his undercover mission to find out as much as he can about this new fast food joint.  Faced with joining in Emi's attempts to explain herself to her friend, Ashiya concocts a hugely impressive allegory for the conflict between Maou and Emilia, portraying them as rivals in two construction companies to explain their strange rivalry and the reason for Maou (and to a lesser extent Emi) falling on hard times.

While this certainly works in cowing Rika's assertions about Emi's romantic inclinations towards Maou, it also serves to make her even more keen to meet him as some kind of hotshot entrepreneur - a vision which proves to be rather disappointing for her when she actually comes face to face with the man himself.  Nonetheless, Rika wants to see what Maou can do to turn the tide for McRonalds against SFC, and after a few abortive moves our favourite overlord finally shows his mettle by producing a masterstroke which brings the customers pouring in.

Even in an episode that doesn't shout from the rooftops in terms of its over-arching plot, Hataraku Maou-sama continues to be effortless amusing and entertaining as it throws out great setups and dialogue between its growing cast of likeable characters who bounce off one another with ease.  There's a confident straightforwardness to the show's writing that makes for easy viewing, accentuated by the animation and attention paid to facial expressions that continues to mark the series out from the pack.  Put simply, nothing else has made me laugh this long or hard this spring anime season, and sometimes that's all you can ask for from a show.

Red Data Girl - Episode 9

It's school festival time in this week's Red Data Girl, with the theme of choice being the Warring States period - a period which too much thinking about seems to do Izumiko very little good...

This isn't really the best time for our protagonist to be feeling the exertions of her summer however, as the school festival also means that the academy will be open to the public, in turn meaning that any barriers erected around the premises will be lifted throughout the duration of the event.  With Takayanagi at large again and the potential for threats which come from that lifted barrier, Sagara in particular is feeling rather nervous at the thought of someone using this opportunity to get at the Himegami.

These nerves are only frayed further when Izumiko is press-ganged into modelling some traditional clothing from the Warring States period, which also entails her removing the braids which (supposedly) keep the Himegami in check - although this seems like it could be a perfect setup to cause trouble, everything goes without a hitch... at least, until after the bevent when the Himegami suddenly puts in an appearance to cause Sagara some hassle and a difficult decision to make between assisting the Himegami and following Izumiko.

In fairness, this was an improved episode of Red Data Girl, in that it was only mildly dull for the most part - its humour still lacks any bite more often than not, and the plot and the way it develops remains incredibly unsatisfying to the point where it almost feels cobbled together on a whim.  As a whole, it's still hard to feel anything to hold onto as an example of what the series does well - this isn't to say that it's getting anything horribly wrong, but it doesn't seem to know how to make you sit up and pay attention, be it visually or in terms of its narrative.  Still, only three episodes to go...

Flowers of Evil - Episode 8

Having laid waste to their classroom in an orgy of self-destructive, and indeed self-obsessed, insanity, Kasuga and Nakamura find themselves returning home in what can only be described as a "walk of shame" of sorts.  Not that there seems to be much shame involved, particularly on Nakamura's part...

With that long, silent traipse through down as sunlight breaks across it taking up almost half of the episode, the rest of the instalment brings us to the inevitable fallout of the pair's moment of madness, as the next morning sees classmates and teachers shocked at the havoc that has been wrought upon class 2-1's room.  Inevitably, Kasuga is left feeling more than a little uneasy at the prospect of investigations and being found out (having fortuitously had his name scrawled on the blackboard blocked from view by the paint thrown around the room), but perhaps there is something even worse than being confronted by the teachers - having Saeki herself realise that Kasuga is involved in both this wanton vandalism and the theft of her gym uniform.

When an episode spends eight full minutes allowing two of its characters to walk around slowly hand-in-hand, it becomes hard to verbalise just why it's so great, but having been reminded of the madness of the previous week's instalment that time was well justified as an opportunity for us to try and get our heads around Kasuga and Nakamura, both as individuals and in terms of the relationship between them.  Given Kasuga's inscrutable personality it's genuinely hard to tell whether these events really are his mask slipping to reveal his true nature, or simply a weak personality exploited by someone with malicious intent.  Regardless, it makes for a continuation of the show's superb blend of drama and an unwavering focus on the manifestations of teenage angst, and no matter how uncomfortable it might become I simply can't tear myself away.

Attack on Titan - Episode 8

Mikasa may have lucked out in the conclusion to the previous episode of Attack on Titan, but is the mysterious giant that is more interested in attacking its fellow Titans thank chowing down on humans the answer to all of the problems currently blighting the forces trying to fight back the latest Titan attack?

Certainly, Armin seems to think so as he sees the potential of this newcomer to the battlefield to be used to fend off the other Titans currently swarming their headquarters, and thus Mikasa leads the charge in terms of luring this particular Aberrant to HQ - and not a moment too soon, as things are starting to get decidedly dangerous for those massed inside the building.

With a decent fighting force now amassed and some old military police rifles at their disposal, the next problem is taking back the storage depot which has a clutch of "small" Titans wandering within it - cue Armin to come up with another ingenious plan to rid the building of these pests and thus allow the remaining forces to resupply at their leisure.  All the while, the area is being kept safe from further Titan incursions by this mysterious Aberrant, but even this powerhouse can only last so long against concerted opposition, and when this Titan finally falls it has an even more shocking secret to reveal...

Yes, those final scenes of this week's Attack on Titan are absolutely batshit crazy, but hey - this is a series about massive humanoid giants running around eating people and appearing in flashes of lightning, so if you've managed to suspend your disbelief that far why not swallow a little more insanity to top it off?  It's this feeling in my mind that somehow manages to keep this series ticking over even though parts of my brain are screaming "this is bonkers and makes no sense!" - well, that and the continually kick-ass soundtrack and sense of satisfaction that comes from seeing this ragtag batch of humans fighting against the odds.  We might be moving closer to a point where I can suspend my disbelief no further, but at the moment there's still enough gas in my canister to keep said disbelief suspended fifty foot in the air.

Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet - Episode 8

With Fleet Commander Fairpoint breathing his final breaths in the midst of an alarming split within Gargantia, things are looking decidedly fractured as we enter this eighth episode of Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet.

Even as the former commander's funeral begins, his elected successor Ridget has all sorts of worries to cope with as the scale of the exodus from Gargantia becomes clear - it seems that the prospect of potential prosperity and relative safety is too much for many to resist.  Joining that exodus is Ledo, who has been lured into leaving by Pinion by the possibility of being taken to the whalesquid nest with an opportunity to destroy the entire colony of the supposed Hideauze within, in return for Pinion taking whatever treasures also lay within that nest.

With the broad lines between those remaining and those leaving drawn, the rest of the episode gets to focus on the fallout of these decisions, as all and sundry have to consider their own personal desires and the importance of the people around them when it comes to deciding upon their own futures.  In those terms, there are few more awkwardly placed than Amy, who finds herself torn between staying to look after her brother and following her heart and with it Ledo, who continues to insist that, if anything, his decision is to protect those who he has befriended upon Gargantia rather than betray them.

In spite of being arguably the most slow-burning episode of the series so far, this was another top-notch instalment of Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet that continues to fascinate - even though it was Ridget who was the centrepiece of the instalment, it remains Ledo who fascinates as a counterpoint to all of those around him as he insists upon working to his own set of morals and value judgement even when they fly in the face of others.  It's his capacity to be both potentially correct in his own convictions yet blind to what those convictions mean in the short-term for others that is worthy of much analysis, while the current situation has also moved the show's narrative into new areas which I'm keen to see the payload from.

Saki - Episode of Side-A - Episode 16 (Completed)

After taking what might have been a million years, we finally reach crunch time and the final rounds of the national mahjong tournament semi-final to bring Episode of Side-A to a close.

As things kick off in this instalment, it's Awai Oohoshi who is the real threat as she rolls out double riichi win after double riichi win - a particularly problematic set of circumstances once she becomes the dealer and attempts to set herself up for a seemingly never-ending stream of victories.  It takes the best that Shindouji's Himeko Tsuruta has to offer to put an end to this run, while Himeko also has some powerful hands up her sleeve thanks to her symbiotic relationship with Mairu Shirouzu to give herself a fighting chance of ensuring her team to progress to the final.

With Ryuuka channeling Toki's ability to see into the future, it seems as if Shizuno is about to be overwhelmed by the talent and assembled oddities facing her, but that would be to assume that Shizuno doesn't have an ability of her own, which manifests itself around the "mountains" of tiles which make up the wall in mahjong.  From the seeds of a small victory grows something far more substantial, as Achiga come from seemingly nowhere with a view to marching on towards the final...

As per my complaint with all of the previous few episodes, it's really tough to warm up to Episode of Side-Aafter a long break between instalments, as you find yourself forgetting who is playing, what they're capable of and (perhaps more importantly still) even the score.  Once you're settled back in to the show's rhythm however, it's a whole lot of fun, and although at times this final episode felt liable to run away with itself on account of its break-neck pacing it managed to summon enough tension and fascination to be enjoyable as it took us through to the climax of Achiga (and their tutor) achieving their dream.  Taken as a whole, Episode of Side-A has never managed to match mainline Saki in any way, shape or form, but as a side-story it still served up a sufficiently delicious snack to leave me smacking my lips for the main course of a full second season of Saki itself.  It might not be Chihayafuru by any stretch of the imagination, but who says it even wants to be?

Space Brothers - Episode 59

Having set out its stall last week, our dive into the back stories of Pico and Vincent Bold continue in this week's Space Brothers to teach us an important life lesson.

Put simply, the story of these two characters revolves around their friendship with fellow space-lover Rick - after all of their failures working on homemade rockets, it seems as if the harsh realities of life are about to be brought to bear on them as thoughts of careers and the future loom large.  At least, this is the case for Pico and Bold, whereas Rick refuses to have his dreams cowed - a decision that leads to friction and ultimately a fracturing of this previously close relationship.

Of course, this being anime Rick dies soon afterwards in an accident, leaving Bold and Pico to live with a lifetime of regret, yet simultaneously the realisation that there is no time in life for simply getting by and doing whatever you feel you have to do rather than what you want to do - motivation that ultimately has led them both onto their current paths.

With this evening of drinking and socialising done, it's back to the Comeback Challenge, and even with Azuma about to take over from Hibito on the Moon there's little time for excitement as this challenge offers up an unexpected and potentially hugely problematic issue for Mutta's team.

Overall, I'm a little torn on the flashback which has dominated the past couple of episodes - while I absolutely love the sentiments and philosophy it discusses, it brings them about via a narrative that is a little too heavy-handed for my liking; I'm sure Pico and Bold could still have found their motivation without the death of their friend.  In the grand scheme of things, this is perhaps a minor gripe for a series that absolutely has its heart in the right place, and with a return to the present day it seems as if we can enjoy our fascination with Mutta and his team's current challenge again next week.

Chihayafuru 2 - Episode 20

The team national karuta tournament has been won, and one of Chihaya's most fervent dreams fulfilled - between that and a reunion with Arata, it seems like everything is going swimmingly for our protagonist on the cusp of the individual tournament...

...at least it would be if Chihaya's hand injury from that team final wasn't proving to be more problematic than initially expected.  Come the end of the match and the dishing out of medals and the winner's flag, Chihaya's finger has swollen alarmingly, and so it's off to a nearby clinic to get it checked out.  While Chihaya is being informed that the staff at said clinic really aren't too sure what the problem is while advising her to avoid anything which may be strenuous to her finger (like, y'know, competitive karuta), the reunion of Taichi and Arata is bringing up mixed emotions for the former amidst a blurring of the lines between their friendship and rivalry.

Of course, the second half of the episode turns into a "will she or won't she" story regarding Chihaya's participation in the individual tournament, and just as she's about to admit defeat and stand down up pops motivation after motivation to keep her playing in spite of her injury, to the point where she even decides to play as best she can left-handed.  With another Class A player set to face her in the very first round, it seems as if there is no hope for our heroine given her handicap - we shall, of course, have to wait until next week to see if she can pull something out of the bag.

Although it was frustrating to see this episode delve into montages on a couple of occasions where they really weren't necessary (with the second of the two covering events that had only happened in the past week or two!), thankfully what new material there was to be found was satisfying enough in serving as the preamble to the individual tournament - there are so many delicious rivalries and friendships on difficult ground amongst those taking part that it's almost disappointing to think that we only have five episodes to go.  Hopefully those remaining instalments will be as rip-roaring as everything that we've seen up to this point to ensure that, if nothing else, Chihayafuru can claim a place as one of the champions of sports anime.