Haibane Renmei E1: "Cocoon — Dream of Falling from the Sky — Old Home"
It's like one of those really weird dreams that you wake up from immediately wanting to tell people about, but then within seconds realize that it's too nonsensical to even communicate to someone. But somehow works anyway, at least so far.
Texhnolyze S1E5: “Loiter”
I'm not really sure what to make of this one. It was...something, alright. There were thematic threads running through it, but I'm not sure what they actually were. I might be better able to understand in retrospect. I hope.
Texhnolyze S1E4: “Synapse” (continued)
The pain, horror, and hopelessness of life under a kleptocracy.
Texhnolyze S1E4: “Synapse”
Fucking hell this guy gets raped a lot.
And dismembered a lot.
And orphaned a lot.
Texhnolyze S1E3: “Texhnophile”
Honestly, the weakest part of this show for me is how hard it leans on its aesthetics and style. I don't *dislike* the vibe it goes for, but the show spends way too much time setting the vibe with long silent shots, scenery montages, etc without doing much else, and I find the story more engaging than the scenery.
Texhnolyze S1E2: “Forfeiture” (continued)
His city turned into a hostile desert wasteland around him, leaving him to parch and die and leave his bones on its sandy bedrock.
Texhnolyze S1E2: “Forfeiture”
Losing two limbs in a world where prosthetics are this goddamned hard to talk or write about.
Texhnolyze S1E1: “Stranger”
The minimalist approach to storytelling makes it a little hard for me to get into the characters, since I don't understand much about what they're doing. It also feels like it's struggling to fill its 22 minute runtime without biting the bullet and having people talk. On the other hand, I do like the urban exploration sort of aesthetic, and while I only understand a few bits and pieces of the story it seems like it at least *could* be interesting.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes - Die Neue These S1E8: “The Castrop Rebellion”
Empire-focused episodes seem to be head and shoulders better than FPA ones so far.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes - The New Thesis (S1E7): “The Capture of Iserlohn Fortress, Pt. 2”
Did they really not know this? HOW could they have really not known this?
Legend of the Galactic Heroes - The New Thesis (S1E6): “The Capture of Iserlohn Fortress, Pt. 1”
Oh well spoil the resolution right there in the fucking episode title why don't you.
Fate/Zero S1E12: “The Grail Beckons”
Type Moon is very good at being popcorn entertainment, but every time it tries to directly engage with big ideas or philosophical themes it faceplants hard.
Fate/Zero S1E11: “Discussing the Grail” (continued)
Easily and by far the worst episode of Fate/Zero so far.
Fate/Zero S1E11: “Discussing the Grail”
If you've seen this show and he isn't your favorite character, we can't be friends.
Fullmetal Alchemist Analysis (final)
I can only speak for myself. And, for me, despite its many flaws and missteps, Fullmetal Alchemist was literally a life-changing story. Moreso than any other I've ever been told, and probably more than any I ever will be.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes - The New Thesis (S1E5): “Birth of the 13th Fleet”
This cluster of episodes had higher highs than the first couple, but also lower lows.
Fullmetal Alchemist Analysis (part two)
Does that situation sound familiar? Maybe not. You were too young to remember most of it, at least consciously.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes - The New Thesis (S1E4): “The Unbeatable Magician”
Tactful as always, Yang.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes - The New Thesis (S1E3): “An Indomitable Prodigy”
It seems to me that this story is much better at doing character work and political drama than action or military thrills. This is kind of bizarre, because Legend of the Galactic Heroes is usually described/recommended as "two brilliant space admirals developing camaraderie in their repeated battles." A description that puts way too much emphasis on the war aspects (which so far seem to be so-so at best) and not nearly enough on the characters' social contexts and relationships.