Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s - Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s

Flowers of Evil - Episode 4

After his outburst in front of the entire class defending Nakamura against accusations of stealing, it seems as if Kasuga's stock amongst his peers really couldn't sink any lower - neither, indeed, could his self-esteem.

However, it seems that his moment of unexpected bravery has struck a chord with somebody - Saeki no less, who commends him for being brave enough to stand up for Nakamura in such a situation.  Of course, these brief words of praise from his "angel" send Nakamura into rapture, so much so that even Nakamura's continued insistence that he abide by their "contract" doesn't particularly phase him.

Although that outburst has seen him ostracised by the rest of the class, another chance meeting with Saeki after she does her bit to show her support for him once again leads to the two chatting and, ultimately, arranging a date for that Sunday.  A joyous moment that nothing could spoil, surely... at least, not until Nakamura hears of the date.  Of course, our antagonist wants to put her own unique spin on this situation, and thus arranges to meet up with Kasuga before said date to force him into another uncomfortable and potentially compromising "dare"....

As if Flowers of Evil hasn't been uncomfortably enjoyable enough already, this week's instalment of the series really steps things up a gear by shifting Saeki from unobtainable angel to potential girlfriend material - a little too fast one could argue, but understandably so for taking us into another realm of Nakamura's twisted thinking and the abject discomfort that comes from it.  Cringing at what's developing on-screen has never been so much fun...

Attack on Titan - Episode 4

As Attack on Titan hits its fourth episode, we reach the cusp of graduation for the military recruits we saw in the previous instalment, as they face up to their final round of training and tests to decide who will cut the mustard.

More specifically, these individuals are all being scored to decide upon the top ten graduates who get to enjoy a life within the city's inner walls as part of the military police, serving the king and enjoying the security and relative plenty that comes from that particular environment.  Thanks to some comments to Eren served up the group's "lone wolf" Annie, our protagonist suddenly realises just how ludicrous this situation is, with the most skilled fighters battling to be kept as far away from the action as possible, leading to an environment where everyone is struggling not to do their part to defeat the Titans, but for their own security and safety.

Of course, Eren himself if having none of this, and despite scoring within the top ten students when graduation time comes he instead opts to drop out of the military police and join the Recon Corps.  While those around him think that he's nuts, his impassioned and stirring rebuttal of their questioning of his sanity has a surprising effect far beyond simply convincing Mikasa and Armin to join him (as if there were any doubt that they would), and as their new careers start Eren finds himself confronted with a lot of familiar faces.  Not every recognisable face is a welcome one come the end of the episode though....

After a short, slick and punchy introduction to the characters that we'll doubtless be following closely from now on, this was another hugely enjoyable episode of Attack on Titan which mixed up its action, socio-political story-telling and comedy nicely before dropping a decidedly juicy hook to bring us back for next week's episode.  This latest instalment also made me realise just how superb the show's soundtrack is, as it did a great job of pushing the episode along as required while accompanying it perfectly.  It's time for things to get serious within this series, and I really can't wait to see how it pans out.

Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet - Episode 4

In seeing off the pirate threat last time around, Ledo has certainly proved his usefulness for the time being, allowing him a place to stay and everything he needs to get by for the time being.  However, the question of such usefulness still seems to be very much playing on his mind throughout this fourth episode of Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet.

Although Ledo continues to do his best to help out when it comes to moving cargo around and the like, it's really Chamber that is doing all of the legwork, and once someone else takes over control of Chamber to do this more efficiently he's left with literally nothing to do - a rarity for a man from a culture entirely geared for war and nothing else, and where anyone who has no use in helping to win that war is simply cast aside.

Against that backdrop, Ledo cannot even begin to comprehend why Gargantia allows its kids to roam free and play, or why sickly individuals such as Amy's brother Bebel are provided for when they add nothing to the "greater good" of the fleet.  It seems that no amount of explaining from others amongst the fleet, be they doctors or even Bebel himself, can really bring home the difference in attitude exhibited here, although it's Amy's brother who brings back a memory for Ledo that perhaps suggests even to him that this is the right way for life to be lived.

Overall, this week's episode of Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet was far more like the kind of thing I was expecting from the series - digging in to Ledo's expectations and past and setting it against the very different values of his new home.  Even without any of the action of previous instalments, or perhaps even because of that lack of action, this made for enjoyable fare with a surprisingly impactful emotional pay-off towards the end that made the whole endeavour well worthwhile.  No doubt the series will have to keep mixing it up to remain compelling, but I'm definitely on-board for more of this kind of content, which is satisfying despite being rather obvious in its nature.  

Space Brothers - Episode 55

After all of his recent endeavours, Mutta has come down with a fever at the worst possible moment, with the final day of their survival training about to get underway.  I suppose that's the price you pay for all of those recap episodes...

With Mutta laid up and seriously in need of some rest, there's no sign of NASA going easy on them, instead giving them a simple choice - give up and drop out, or ensure that the entire group finishes the course.  Needless to say, there's really no choice to made there, and after being provided with some medication Mutta joins the rest of the group in heading off on their final day of walking, allowing them to complete the course but at a pace which means that they finish dead last.

Unfortunately for the team, this performance also has a knock-on effect on their next text - the so-called "Comeback Challenge" which involves launching a small rocket to deliver a rover created by the group before said rover automatically finds its way to its destination.  Each team is offered a choice of engineer to act as support to the group, and coming in last Team E are left with only a solitary choice - the unkempt, lazy and disinterested Pico.  Are there hidden depths to this man, however?

I'm sure most would admit that the whole "survival training" arc of Space Brothers hasn't been the best, so I'm excited to see the series move on to a seemingly more cerebral and fascinating challenge, complete with an equally fascinating character in Pico, who will hopefully come into his own as things progress.  If nothing else, it's nice to see normal operation resumed after that trio of recap episodes that have deprived us of new Space Brothers for a few weeks now. 

Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2 - Episode 4

As we reach this fourth episode of Oreimo's second season, Kirino is looking to allow a friend of hers from her time in the US stay over while she visits Japan, which can mean only one thing for poor Kyousuke - trouble!

So it proves, as the visit of the energetic Ria sees Kyousuke getting blamed for all sort of shenanigans which aren't even his fault by Kirino, while Ria seems more than happy to wreak havoc and play "little sister" to Kyousuke's big brother.

After a little sightseeing which takes the trio to - where else - Akihabara to give Ria a taste of Kirino's interests, we come to the crunch of Ria's visit - an opportunity to pit herself against her former roommate in a race, to get revenge for Kirino's single victory over her before she returned to Japan.  With Kyousuke present to cheer her on, can Kirino ensure that the status quo remains, or will Ria's natural talent allow her to go home on a high note?

After a first half to this episode that couldn't have been any more generic a fan service-led comedy if it tried, the second half of this week's instalment did at least improve somewhat by offering up a little emotional meat to its panty shot bread and butter.  It's still a far cry from the Oreimo I know and love (heck, it doesn't even look as good at this juncture), and I'm seriously starting to fear that those halcyon days simply aren't going to return at this point, but maybe this show is finally making some baby steps in the right direction.  I can hope, can't I?

Chihayafuru 2 - Episode 16

With the national team final about to get underway, we have to sit on our hands for this week's episode of Chihayafuru as it instead decides to recount the story of this second season so far.

To be honest, most of the show's subject matter really doesn't compress well into this format, and aside from one or two moments that serve as enjoyable reminders of some of the highlights of the series a lot of it feels far too brief to derive any enjoyment from, and if (heaven forbid) you haven't been keeping up with the series this most certainly isn't the best way to try and enjoy it.

Thankfully, regular viewers are at least regaled with some mildly amusing and self-referential comedy skits scattered throughout the episode, which comment on the show's lack of budget while generally having the cast poke fun at themselves or one another.  It probably isn't enough to make this instalment worth watching even if you're a well-versed Chihayafuru fan though, so I guess we'll just have to take a deep breath and wait a little longer to see how the grand finale turns out for Mizusawa.

A Certain Scientific Railgun S - Episode 3

Misaka might have ignored and written off the rumours swirling around a Level 5 cloning project carried out within Academy City, but the reality of the matter seems determined to meet her head-on as her chance encounter with Nunotaba Shinobu suggests that there is more than a grain of truth to the stories.

Although Shinobu refuses to say anything specific on the matter beyond the fact that her cash card deployment scheme was set up to stop some experiments, moreover suggesting that Misaka simply isn't strong enough to attempt to do anything about it, our protagonist is still determined (at least outwardly) to laugh off the ridiculous premise.  However, with her concerns nagging at her, some digging into Shinobu's background soon suggests that she's telling the truth and that there is more to this cloning "urban legend" than she might want to acknowledge.

With the location of Shinobu's former place of employment secured, it's time for a little breaking and entering for the Railgun, as she enters the laboratories where it seems that some of these experiments were taking place by using all of her skills and a little fortune to find the deserted lab at the heart of the cloning project.  Lo and behold, the documentation still stored there acknowledges that there was indeed a project to mass-produce Railgun clones - however, with none of those clones sporting anything close to Level 5 powers the project was abandoned.  This is music to Misaka's ears as she heads off home in relief, unaware that the information she has uncovered is only part of the sinister story unfolding within the city...

As its first major story arc continues to build, A Certain Scientific Railgun S certainly feels like a top-notch production - the animation quality and aesthetic of the show is a cut above the original series, and you can't help but feel the confidence of the story-telling as it builds up its premise slowly but surely.  The best is still to come, of course, but three episodes in this certainly feels like everything you could hope for from a second season of this franchise.  

Hataraku Maou-sama! - Episode 4

In the wake of the previous episode's not-so natural disaster, a now safe Emi finds herself thinking back upon her past - in other words, it's time for us to be regaled of her back-story; of how Emilia became a hero and the true depths of her hatred towards Maou.

Along these lines, much of the first half of this episode is filled with thoughts on how people can be faced with a choice between doing good and evil, and how their circumstances at that exact moment can influence their decision to take a path of light or dark.  In spite of this, Emi still can't really wrap her head around Maou's change in attitude since arriving in the human world, and ultimately she breaks down and demands to know from him why he's suddenly running around helping people and being diligent as opposed to his previously nefarious behaviour.

Unfortunately for all concerned, that question is never fully answered thanks to the appearance of Chiho, who immediately mistakes Maou and Emi's discussion in the former's apartment for a sign of their relationship before running off crying.  This in turn leaves her vulnerable to the same forces which caused the subway collapse previously - a danger which Maou's landlady seems to know far, far too much about...

Although it's actually managed to pull it all off in a reasonably satisfactory manner, I have to admit that I much prefer this series when it's playing its premise for laughs rather than dealing with the serious business of what makes a person good or evil or instigated supernatural rebellions against the main cast - maybe I'll warm to this aspect of the series as it goes on and becomes more overt, but I worry that it runs the risk of becoming too predictable and self-serious, which could well drain a lot of the entertainment from the show.  Hopefully it'll at least be able to balance this against its light-hearted fare, as if nothing else this episode has made me realise that I'm already actually rather attached to the main cast of characters, so I'd really rather like to spend more time watching them goof around over the coming weeks. 

Devil Survivor 2: The Animation - Episode 4

If a reminder were needed that Hibiki and company aren't playing a game in their current roles with JP's, the fatal ending to their previous skirmish was surely it.

As Hibiki laments his inability to protect or save Keita, there's little time for reflection as an Angel... sorry, Septentrion... heads straight for the JP's base.  Although Kuze is keen to go and tackle it, he's instead told to take his place as the last line of defence against this behemoth as others go to tackle it head on - a decision which leads to a bloodbath as it crushes everything in its wake.

Eventually Hibiki simply can't take any more, and breaks ranks to head out and face-off against the Septentrion directly - another decision which looks to be ill-advised, as it becomes clear that for all of Byakko's power it's effectively useless against this particular enemy.  Not that Hibiki is the only one wielding any kind of notable power, as he finds himself replaced as the last line of defence by Nitta, who seems to have exactly what it takes to stop the Septentrion in its tracks for Byakko to finally do it some damage and win the day.  But our these school kids even fighting for the right team?

Once more, Devil Survivor 2 works well largely because of its break-neck pace - there's little time while watching to process whether the show or its plot is being stupid, as there's death, destruction and an ever-changing situation on the ground to keep track of instead.  The result is a pretty entertaining one, that admittedly rolls through a lot of cliches but still proves enjoyable in spite of them with its blend of action and drama, especially now that the stakes have been raised and it's clear that death is always just around the corner.  Again, there aren't any signs that this will be a memorable show in the long-term, but for throwaway enjoyment it's hitting the right notes.  

Red Data Girl - Episode 4

It's off to high school we go for this fourth episode of Red Data Girl, and even before classes begin at Houjou Academy it seems as if Izumiko has made herself some friends in the form of twin siblings (and two of three triplets, the other being deceased) Mayura and Manatsu Souda.

However, it seems that not everybody at the academy is quite so friendly - although top student Takayanagi seems aloof but otherwise harmless, Izumiko soon finds herself noticing those tell-tale menacing black shadows which are always a sign of trouble in her eyes, and as a result she struggles to keep her composure in their presence, especially when one of them is situated in her very class.

When the foreign transfer student who is the "owner" of this sinister black figure (which even Izumiko knowingly worries is simply her own prejudices coming through) tells our protagonist to meet him after school, it's clear that this isn't going to be some kind of love confession, and luckily for her Sagara tags along to protect his charge when things go south.  With the two Souda siblings also revealed as having powers of their own which fit into this world's supernatural elements, it seems that Takayanagi might be about to get his comeuppance.

Even four episodes in, I continue to be unsure in my feelings for Red Data Girl - I appreciate some of what it's trying to do, and it continues to build up some reasonably interesting constructs around its broader narrative, but that doesn't really stop the execution of those constructs from being kind of bland.  All of the characters are so matter of fact, and take everything so seriously (exploding web sites and all), that there's no feeling of joy to be had while watching the show, while conversely and moments of tension are quickly drained before gaining any real power.  Thus, the potential remains for Red Data Girl to explore some interesting avenues, but for now it seems to be doing so in a forgettable and mediocre fashion. 

Flowers of Evil - Episode 3

To Kasuga's immature and inexperienced eyes, his life is pretty much ruined as this third episode of Flowers of Evil begins - his reputation with Saeki is dirt, Nakamura has enough dirt on him to hold him hostage to her whims, and even his attempts to dispose of the evidence of his misdemeanour prove unsuccessful.

If he thinks the talk about the missing gym clothes are going to go away, then he's also mistaken, as it remains a hot topic thanks to reports reaching the teaching staff that a suspicious character was seen in the area around the time that said clothes went missing.  Of course, Nakamura is having a ball with all of this, and when Kasuga fails to write an essay on his feelings that she demanded of him she seeks to abuse and embarrass him yet further, despite still wanting him to hang out with her after school.

Thus, this episode is really a look in on the decidedly weird relationship shared by Kasuga and Nakamura - one of hatred and distrust (for themselves, each other and the wider world in general), but with an odd and almost inexplicable sexual undercurrent running through it.  Come the end of the episode, Kasuga is even standing up for Nakamura in front of the whole class in the wake of another possible theft - is this love, friendship, or merely the Stockholm Syndrome at work?

It's this aspect of the show which ensures that Flowers of Evil remains decidedly fascinating - our two main characters are a psychologist's dream, and the rapid, lunatic twists and turns in their relationship is the kind of thing that you could dig into an analyse for hours.  For now though, I'm more than happy to just sit back and watch them play out against this enduring atmosphere of reality with surreal tinges; even when I find myself internally criticising a character's actions, part of me is both willing to accept and glad that they are the way they are, as it's this which lends the show its compelling nature.

Attack on Titan - Episode 3

It's time for military training to begin in this week's Attack on Titan, and that can mean only one thing - the introduction of a belligerent drill sergeant!

Thus, our groups of new recruits find themselves getting a verbal, and occasionally physical, bashing - at least, most of them do, with only those who have clearly already seen plenty of the horrors that the Titans can serve up being spared a tongue-lashing.  Even the toughest of military minds can be rendered speechless in certain scenarios though - enter "Potato girl" (she has a proper name, but who cares?  Potato girl it is), who hungrily chows down on a spud in the midst of this dressing down of all and sundry, with her only reaction being to offer half of said potato to her mentor as he tries to wrap his head around what the hell she's doing.

With these early introductions out of the way, it's on to an aptitude test to see if the group are up to using the innovative 3D manoeuvre system used by the military to combat the Titans.  Although most of those still at the camp (with a number having left at the end of day one) have little trouble getting to grips with the harness and the balance required to make use of it, Eren is having a nightmarish time and simply can't figure out how to stay upright.  Of course, this leads to much mockery from his peers - especially given his bragging the previous day about how he plans to kill or Titans - but this soon turns to help and advice from some of those around him as they realise how earnest he is.  Not that any of this seems to help, although it appears that there's a rather more fundamental problem that had been standing between Eren and passing this particular test.

Having been assuaged with scenes of gruesome violence, depression and misery throughout its opening act, it was actually really refreshing to see this episode of Attack on Titan add some levity to proceedings, proving that it has a pretty sharp sense of comedy when it needs to and offering a change of pace for some of the episode as a result.  With this training episode proving to be just that, a single episode, rather than risking outstaying its welcome, it seems that we're already moving on to the next stage of the series - given its promising final scenes this week, I simply can't wait.  

Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet - Episode 3

In defeating a band of troublesome pirates, Ledo has certainly shown what he and his machinery can do - however, if he's expecting his current hosts to be pleased at this show of strength he's going to be in for a surprise...

Needless to say, nobody is too thrilled at the fact that Ledo has annihilated a whole bunch of people, enemies or otherwise; not only from a moral standpoint, but also in the knowledge that this will simply stir up a thirst for vengeance against other pirates to boot.  Of course, this theory proves to be entirely correct, with a fleet of pirates from the area headed up by a particular notorious character known as Lukkage.  This leaves the fleet and its leadership in a tough spot when it comes to what to do with Ledo, but in the end it's Bellows who suggests that perhaps the best course of action is to further engage the help of this newcomer and his technology.

Thus, the scene is set for a face-off between Ledo, his hosts and Lukkage's pirates - a conflict which seems to be incredibly one-sided given Ledo's abilities even if he's operating under strict instructions not to kill or injure the enemy.  However, this particular group of pirates are not to be underestimated, as they look to gain an upper-hand by deploying submersibles, innovative Yuboroids (which, quite frankly, look like Sharkticons - not that this is a bad thing) and... errr... a surfing lobster.  Ultimately none of this is a match for Ledo and his flying machine however, meaning that the fleet is once again safe from pirate attack.

Although this series still hasn't quite managed to get its hooks into me entirely (it feels like there's a piece of the puzzle missing that could be the difference between me enjoying the series and loving it), it continues to be accomplished in building and utilising its world, while also making for some impressive set pieces and bursts of action without entirely ignoring the crux of Ledo's struggle to understand and begin to fit in with those around him.  Okay, some of the machinery at the pirate's disposal seemed a little too outlandish in comparison to the wider world the show has built, but if you can put that to one side this was an entertaining episode that hopefully gives us some breathing space for more thoughtful fare to come. 

Space Brothers - Episode 54

At last, we come to the end of our triumvirate of recap episodes in this week's Space Brothers, meaning a return to normality from next week forward.

Rather oddly, we actually take another step back after last week's instalment detailing Hibito's near-lethal misadventure on the Moon, instead focusing upon the remainder of Mutta's path towards becoming an astronaut to this point.  To be honest, it's the kind of content that doesn't really work that well shrunk down and stuffed into a single episode, and thus one or two fond memories aside there really isn't anything much of note going on here until we reach the very end of the episode and receive our setup that will create some more drama for the end of Mutta and company's survival training.