Summer 2021, and Fall

So, what have I been watching...

About the only thing I've really enjoyed so far (for small values of enjoyed) has been Tsuki ga Michibiku Isekai Douchuu. That's the isekai where the hero is the child of two adventurers who went to our world, and got called back by the goddess, who decided he was too ugly for her purposes and dumped him among the demihumans. Like most isekai, the plot is marginal, and success comes too easy for the hero. Early on he defeats two legendary monsters, a dragon and a spider. Once defeated, they transform into human woman and are contracted to him, but they admire him so much they want to be his harem, and like most isekai, he isn't really interested. The Dragon, yeah, I can see why her gung ho desire to model herself after a samurai (formed on the basis of his memories) would wear thin quickly. Her advantage is she has formed a sub-plane where he can relocate all the demi-humans, and they love him and put aside their differences so they can live in this paradise. The Spider, on the other hand, Mio - I kept watching because I liked her. Classy and generally soft-spoken, yet powerful enough to level city blocks. She manifested as a Kimono-wearing woman with a web motif and some modern touches (like some dainty black gloves with ruffled edges, and an Obi with leather belting). By the time we got to the final episodes, it looked like the entire season was just a set-up for a second season that would descend into pure Shonen battles. Seriously, who introduces antagonists in episode 12?

The OP though is pretty bangin'.

I've been watching Jahy, but out of inertia. Adult Jahy has lost her appeal. The series is episodic in a way that barely advances anything, and jokes about being poor and hungry, and her outsized Ego smashing against reality, went out in the early 90's.

I watched Idaten, Heion Sedai no Idaten-tachi, and I can't recommend it, which is sad for an Noitanima series. It had an unusual art style, and an interesting premise: a small group of god-like beings who were tasked originally with protecting the world from these "Demon" monsters, but once they were all sealed away behind a barrier, had little to do. Then it turns out that some demons have survived, by hybridizing with humans, but they are weak. The power differential makes you want to side with the "Villains." Just after halfway though, the demons are ousted from power in this one country they controlled, and driven underground, while the gods try to ferret them out and finish them off for good. The last half is spread out over years as the demons try to regroup and reconnect and try to find some way to save themselves. And then, after 11 episodes, it just stops. Apparently that's where the Manga may have stopped too. And that's it. No resolution. I have to wonder why it was made.

Made a meme of this scene from Idaten.

There were other shows I downloaded, but didn't get too far into. The second half of the new Madoka Magica, which I haven't watched yet because I didn't start the first half. Tantei wa Mou, Shindeiru, I started because of my love of white-haired characters, and which I do mean to continue with. I tried Cheat Kusushi no Slow Life - Isekai ni Tsukurou Drugstore, but it felt like reading way below my grade level. I should have gone one episode further because it seemed like they might have finally been about to introduce some conflict.

I watched Peach Boy Riverside, but I watched it in Chronological order rather than Episode order, so it actually made sense. I'm sure the director was spewing bullshit (covering for a production problem?) with this shuffling somehow improving the storytelling. Since most episodes faded into each other at cliffhangers, scrambling them didn't even work artistically. In chronological order, it was a fair to middlin' Fantasy Adventure. It also Stopped rather than Ending. Not abruptly, but clearly with a second season in mind, like so many anime these days, which it probably won't get.

I watched Kanojo mo Kanojo. Again that White-haired character fixation. And what do you know, she was the only sane one of the bunch. I think it works a little better if you regard the redhead as the main character rather than the guy. But while it's interesting in a world of Harem anime to have an actual romantic interest on three sides of the love triangle, this surely isn't the way to run a threesome.

Of the fall season, the only thing I've sampled so far is Shinka no Mi - Shiranai Uchi ni Kachigumi Jinsei, It promises another white-haired, dark skinned Haremette. That's probably the only thing going for it, since the hero again seems to have the unfair advantage that means he can't lose. The premise is that his whole class gets isekaied, but since he's the fat, hated loser of the class, the transporting god gives him an extra power that lets him perfectly harvest every resource and power from what he defeats. The rest of his class ends up in town, and the king makes them train with his soldiers, so so far their isekai experience has sucked, while he got separated, ended up in the jungle and the survival experience has caused him to level up (as well as eating some special "evolution fruit" that significantly upped his stats). He ends up with this pink Gorilla in love with him whom he can't escape from, but fortunately, after two episodes of that embarrassment, she's transformed into a girl, and the harem commences accumulating.

With so much disappointing anime, it's a wonder I spend any time on it, but I'm sure there are some gems out there (suggestions welcome). Besides, it's a hell of a lot better than anything produced in this country.

Posted by: Mauser at 09:04 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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