Back to Gamefreak924's Profile Gamefreak924's Profile

GATE as a whole (let this be a review to cover both seasons) is a very neat show that fills this feeling of yearning I had after having watched the likes of Zero no Tsukaima (Familiar of Zero) and Black Lagoon. For the most part, the presence of guns has been a bit lacking when it comes to anime and manga as a whole. As a red, white, and blue-blooded American, this is unacceptable. GATE can be accurately summarized to "show where modern weaponry completely obliterates medieval society repeatedly while magical girls of questionable age and appearance affectionately join you". While to an outsider, this ... may seem like an unfair battle, the JSDF (Japanese military force to be reckoned with here) only acts in retaliation and for the best interest of their and the gate world's citizens. The narrative seems to be very pro-SDF, almost to a point of being an advertisement, which isn't surprising considering the author was a former soldier. However, that helps to get a lot of the action, weapon mechanics, sound design, and military protocols as accurate as possible. Although on the contrary, this background seems to assist in making part of the story, which deals with world power (US, Russia, China) reactions, a bit conspiratorial and farfetched at times. The whole harem thing does seem to sometime intrude a bit too much, but at other times it doesn't get in the way of too much and is a bit fun. In any case, if guns or military might in anime is what you want to see, give this a go. Swords and magic have been done to death, but guns? What could be better?

Better than season 2, still not even close to the magnificence of season 1.

I had very high hopes for this season. The teaser image implied that we would get more info about things like Trash's backstory and what caused him to think and act the way he does. We get basically none of that except more questions. A hope for more development with the other heroes is nuked by the stupidity that is the the free-willed presence of Bitch. Like, wasn't she supposed to be watched over? Also, weren't Ren and Itsuki privy to her deceptive and selfish behavior? Especially Ren. If Motoyasu was the ... only one to have fallen off a bit more, I wouldn't have been too surprised. However, they somehow managed to screw him over in terms of development. I went from seeing him as a punching bag to feeling creeped out, but yet also bad for his situation. Bitch should have been rarely seen. If she was doing back-alley stuff behind the scenes and MIA, that would have been way more interesting.

The inclusion of random sword lady (no, not the old hag or Rishia) is also in this season.. what was her name again? Don't know, don't care. Everything has been fucked since the start of season 2. Although I am very glad they fixed Rishia's voice. If I had to keep hearing her old whining voice, I would have gone insane even further.

The last episode is a mixed bag. Firstly, the whole thing of a character I don't even care for asking about his relationship with Raphtalia just felt forced and uncomfortable. Funny enough, we haven't even seen much of any close development between them since the last episode of season 1. Very cool that we will see some more meaningful action in the presumed season 4, but the catalyst of the plot for it is ass... Straight out of left field and makes basically no sense. I have re-watched season 1 of this show at least a dozen times, and endured season 2 only once. I am willing to give this season a re-watch and maybe adjust my review accordingly.

Anyway, it's alright, but I can't take half of it seriously anymore. They did everyone dirty this season... and the harem thing is getting out of hand.

Never have I ever seen a show go from an exciting against-the-grain experience to a demonically awful crapshow. Everything to like about the series disappears here in season 2. From the abruptly disorganized mess that is the first few episodes to the horribly written crackerjack box villain to the downgraded visuals and animation to the weird, uncomfortable, and out of place mess of lewdness. it is all downhill from here. No one truly feels in-character, the plot is (no major spoiler, I'm saving you here) basically 'chase bad guy, bad guy is doing bad thing because he's bored'. I regret paying Crunchyroll to watch this ... dumpster-fire diaper-hurricane. And wow, episode 13 is just... weird and.. perverse on some serious creeper levels. Who wrote all of this nonsense?? Anyway, 3 out of 10. Rest in peace, Billy Kametz. Perhaps it was fate that you didn't have to voice these scripts in the English dub.