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May 21, 2023
Numbness like a ginger. That’s how I feel about this one.
I watched this because I have Crunchroll. And unfortunately, it seems that if there is ever an anime I want to watch, it’s not on Crunchyroll. Sports isn’t my genre; it’s actually my least favorite genre. But it was, however, on Crunchyroll.
I was pleasantly surprised by the first episode. It ended with a twist that turned shounen on its head. And again, this is a sports anime, so all for one and one for all isn’t just a trope, it’s the core principal. The episode was spent building up the importance of the secondary
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character; and then immediately tossed him away forever. It was compelling!
Nothing really topped that moment, but the first 11 episodes were fresh. The problem became that it wasn’t sustainable, and it reverted back to just being a sports anime. And sports anime are boring. The show became less about ego maniacs in a pressure cooker, and more about adding super powers to one’s growing repertoire.
Team V was the best soccer team; they were unbeatable. But after Team V was vanquished, it turned out that there was a Big 3 we didn’t know existed. The Big 3 were actually the best. Oh, but then there’s the World 5. But before we get to the World 5, there’s still the 3rd selection and the Japanese U-20. Yeah, the same plot line of every generic shounen anime.
I think that if this show stayed true to its egomaniac pressure cooker self, it might have become the second good sports anime: the anti-Haikyuu.
It didn’t; but it was on Crunchroll.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Oct 23, 2022
I gave Dr. Stone a 6 and this a 3, so you can probably deduce quite a bit from that. More so, my first take in Dr. Stone was how the first 5 episodes were incredible. You really could graph how I feel about this show in its entirety as a steady downward slope.
I was disappointed by the ending of season 1. I came into this excited that Tsukasa would finally be relevant again: because the show was at its best when he was on screen... And that still didn't pan out. The writers just didn't know how to make him relevant again. Opting instead
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to just have a continuous stream of minor villains who were neither interesting nor important.
Not only this but the show somehow became even less "science" the whole premise of the show. It just went full science fiction... which is fantasy and not science.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Oct 23, 2022
The first 5 episodes were some of the best that I have ever seen in a shounen anime.
Giving initial narrative control to someone who isn't the protagonist was intriguing. When Tsukasa was "the show" the show was among the best anime. It's always fun when a villain is principle based and not just anti-the-hero. It's even better that Tsukasa is actually right about how the downfall of society was property over people. And his willingness to achieve anarchs-primitivism by morally dark grey means makes him all the more compelling.
How did the show go from good to bad? I'm not entirely certain. Said another way,
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when did Dr. Stone jump the shark? I think someone could argue it was with the introduction of Tsukasa, and there probably is some merit to that. Defeating a tiger in hand to hand really removed the show from any serious contention that it was about science (and not fantasy).
I think the show started on a downward trajectory once it got comfortable with itself in the village. I hung onto hope that it wouldn't just fall into the general formula for shounen, but it did. But the biggest mistake was taking Tsukasa off screen after just 5 episodes... never to return.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Oct 23, 2022
It’s been a while since I’ve watched anime. Ok, that’s not entirely true. (I watched Salaryman’s club a couple of months ago, and it was the most average/ formulaic anime that I’ve ever seen).
It’s been a while since I’ve seen good anime.
Is Sk∞ good or bad? I don’t think I can answer that with a simple yes or no.
The show has an interesting premise; it’s about fun. What does that mean? How can a show be about fun? I think that’s a great question. And I hope that by writing this review I get a little closer to understanding that question.
What’s the plot?
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Well, uh… There’s this downhill, S-shaped, offroadish skate track, and people race on it. There’s a little more to it, but that is mostly it.
Can skateboarding down the same exact course over and over again be fun? Surprisingly yes. In fact, other than when Reki and Langa are just aimlessly skating around town, it’s the only time the show is fun.
Not only is the plot not memorable, generally none of the characters are either. Except Adam. When Adam is on screen the show is fun.
Whether he’s making a surprise, acrobatic, pyrotechnic grand entrance welcoming “bitches, and bros, and non-binary hoes,” or doing some hypnotizing tapdance / ballet hybrid while slaloming at the speed of light… I couldn’t look away. I was totally captivated by Adam. And while he has a seemingly endless number of completely absurd antics up his sleeve, he doesn’t need to continuously go bigger to be compelling. Adam is compelling just standing there. He can stand in front of a TV screen, or tenderly smoke a cigarette while
The show has flashes of brilliance: I can’t think of many more shows where I’ve had more, intense bursts of fun. But for whatever reason, the show just can’t put it all together; for every impressive feat, there’s a baffling writing/ directorial choice.
Why is there a C-plot about Adam having a Bruce Wayne type alter ego who is embroiled in a corruption scandal? Our heroes tango (literally) with the villain, the most absurdly entertaining thing I’ve ever seen (episode 5 at 15:30 – 17:00), it’s cut short by a plot device, am I supposed to pretend that this isn’t just filler until they meet again?
The show is about fun. That is, if you’re skateboarding and you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong. And because this is a shounen anime, the protagonists have this epiphany.
But the thing is Adam also has fun while skating. The show tries to convince us that Adam isn’t having fun, and that’s just silly. So, whatever message they were sending on fun is completely lost on me.
Nonetheless, I had fun, and that was much more than I expected from this show.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jun 9, 2022
I don’t know about most people, but I try to know as little as possible about a show before diving in. So, I thought I was going to get a cute, heat-warming show about friendship, but actually got a scary, somewhat gory, yet fortunately still a heart-warming show about friendship. I’m not sure I would have knowingly watched something premised around teenage girls’ suicides. But I’m glad I did.
The animation, music, characters, and their development were all fantastic. Some of the best I’ve seen in any anime, ever.
I know there are people out there who are “character development” people – like that’s there thing. It’s
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not my thing; but I liked it here. 3 of the 4 girls were carefully crafted. (There’s a reason for the exclusion for the 4th girl, and it’s my opinion; its integral to the story). The girls were interesting from the beginning, and stayed interesting as the story progressed. And while each individual gets plenty of dedicated, individual screen time, the show was at its best when all 4 were on screen together. Their burgeoning friendship was so much fun to watch. I told you it was heart-warming!
As I watched the show, I kept thinking that I had it all figured out and that it was going to get boring and formulaic. But I was wrong, and every time I felt the show was idling the show would do something shocking. (And yeah… they’re shocking).
There were definitely some aspects of the show that I disliked, some of it downright cringy. Although all the content on earth is phenomenal, most of the “egg world” content is somewhere between awkward and cringe. What were the point of the SeeNo Evils? Their evolution to haters? Their animation was clunky. I don’t know how they survived the first editing cut. Parallel universes always feel like a cop out. And worst of all, recap episodes. Yeah, that’s right there’s 2 recap episodes in a 13 episode show.
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I perused some of the top reviews before writing my own. They are predominately negative which surprised me, because I only became aware of this show because it monopolized r/anime’s weekly post. It seems like a lot of people didn’t like the resolution of the show. I can’t say that I liked it either, but I hardly think it ruined the show.
I think a lot of people wanted this to conform to the formula of everything else on TV: an epic, nail biting boss fight against some sort of manifestation of pure evil… and then teenage girl suicide disappears from the world. But that’s not this show; and I’m glad that’s not this show.
I also saw people suggesting the show’s ending is what it is, because the studio wants a season 2. I hope they’re wrong. I enjoy open endings that are subject to interpretation. And really, I didn’t feel like this ending was that open or that subject to interpretation – I think it just wasn’t the ending that the reviewers wanted.
However, this does lead me to my most pressing critique of this show: I expected this show to have “something to say” about teen girl suicide. And it didn’t. Well, at least it didn’t do it expressly. So, if it did say something, it was implied. My best guess is something about “true friendship.” What makes it true friendship? Well sure, the girls do cute girly things together, and that’s great. But they also have very real friendship that isn’t superficial. They talk about things that matter, they look after each other, and the process trauma together.
It's recently come to my attention that because I’m such a critical person that even when I like something, it comes across as me not liking it or being frustrated with it.
[Obama voice] So uh… Let. Me. Be. Clear:
I REALLY ENJOYED THIS SHOW, and more shows like this, please!
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 18, 2020
Season 4 Part 1 was a disappointment. But Part 2 begins with Inarizaki's band silenced by Tsumu's serve... and Haikyuu finds its return to form.
The season premiere, Rhythm, showed us that Haikyuu still has something novel to say. Haikyuu grafts in the tertiary characters, the spectators, into focus.
Tsumu and Samo are more than entertaining, more than captivating, but in a way that only Haikyuu can... you find yourself rooting for the opponent as much as you do for Karasuno.
I understand that Hinata is the protagonist. But what really differentiates Part 1 and Part 2 is how much of the show he monopolizes. Similar to his
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play style, the show is at its best when he is out of the spotlight and lost in the crowd.
But there was just so much good narrative this season. Nishinoya struggling for the first time in his life. Tsuki talking trash. Inarizaki's captain. But it was Tanaka's honest, internal monologue about recognizing his limits, accepting/ not accepting his genius, confronting failure, and going through the grind that has me tearing up just typing this.
Last, Haikyuu is big on setters. The analogy is apt for one thing they do better than everyone else, the set up for the next act. Just like Ushiwaka loomed eerily and heavily in S2, S4 Part 2 (and probably land vs air as well)... HAS ME HYPED FOR S5!!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Nov 22, 2020
Before Arata commits to ReLife, one decisive factor is that he will be forgotten. Although that does not turn out to entirely be the case... it is a great adjective to describe this anime.
I think I'm a sucker for any show based on the premise of getting a redo on life. (I'm scared to analyze that any further.) The premise is squandered. The show finds a way to take promising expectations, and with a twist, return to mediocrity.
1. NEET:
- Expectation: I anticipated this show was going to have some incisive commentary on neet-hood.
- The twist: Arata is atypical. He isn't a NEET, because of the
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system. And because he isn't a NEET because of the system, there is a dearth of any meaningful commentary. Arata's neet-hood is just a mere plot device.
2. Slice of Life:
- Expectation: Because the genre lacks the flashing lights and histrionics of other genres, the narrative will be interesting.
- The twist: This is a male solving female problems narrative.
3. OVA
- Expectation: There is a reason to watch 4 episodes after the ending.
(The show likes to remind you of the rules of ReLife. I think an interesting drinking game would be drinking every time you are reminded of the rules. While all the rules are repeated frequently, there is no rule more repeated than, "you will be forgotten.")
- The twist: to quote Whose Line is it Anyway, "the points are made up, and the rules don't matter."
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Nov 16, 2020
I want to like this show.
I gave it a 7/10. Which is higher than my ~5.5 average. So, obviously I like it in some semblance. What bothers is me is that I can't put my finger on what is preventing me from emotionally immersing with this show.
[I pressed submit with the just the above written portion, but MAL told me to write a longer review. But I really don't think I have anything else to say.]
I found Sakuta and Man to be interesting characters. The show was at its best when both characters are on screen. And I thought the animation quality was relatively high.
I
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didn't find the plot, itself, or the silly plot device of puberty syndrome intriguing. But I know that I value these things much lower than the average consumer, so that alone shouldn't affect my ability to immerse.
Just can't put my finger on it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Nov 16, 2020
I think some people are abashed to admit they like to "turn their brain off" and have mindless entertainment. But The God of High School (TGHS) was some of the best mindless entertainment that I have watched this year.
I think TGHS knew what it wanted to accomplish, and it did just that. I think generally, TGHS didn't take itself too seriously. And when it operated in that mode, it was enjoyable.
I binged it last night. I couldn't tell you a single character's name. And I'm sure there are plot holes in the "real plot" (in fact, I couldn't tell you what that "real plot"
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is. I don't know what either the "good guy" organization or the "bad guys" want.) But that didn't stop me from watching.
I think there are just a few minor tweaks that could have raised this show from forgettable to maybe recommendable:
1. Less backstory. Not just the expendable tertiary characters, but everyone. These are one-dimensional shonen anime characters.
2. Pacing. I'm not invested enough to read anyone else's review. But I would guess (besides an ineffable plot) that pacing was reviewed harshly. I enjoyed the break-neck pace. I think it could have been faster. Which leads right into point 3:
3. Please tell me there won't be a Season 2. I think incrementally "going bigger" is probably an inescapable trop of the genre. I just can't imagine how you go bigger than the 22 minute denouement finale.
Is it memorable? No. Did it change my life? No. Would I watch a season 2? No.
But I won't be ashamed to admit that I had fun for a couple hours.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Jul 16, 2020
In fiction, a MacGuffin is an object, device, or event that is necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant in itself.
What is the MacGuffin here? The murders, the conspiracy, the ensuing detective work. If these are insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant in themselves, what matters?
1. Friendship. Real friendship. Until about episode 9, Ishikawa lives a life of total self-indulgence. While his Epicurean lifestyle creates genius-level poetry, it comes at a cost. This cost is burdened by Kindaichi.
Is Ishikawa a bad friend for consciously using Kindaichi? Is Kindaichi a little groveling bitch for deluding himself that Ishikawa is going
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to change... giving him limitless chances?
Kindaichi understands that he is being "used" for his deep pockets. Although Kindaichi admonishes Ishikawa, cuts him off financially, cuts him out of his life... he always comes back. Is Kindaichi a sucker, or is Ishikawa's friendship worth whatever the cost may be. The 21st century American view would be to "cut that negativity out of your life." But maybe true friendship is worth any cost.
2. Raison d'être. (Or as it was translated in my subtitles "Reason for being born".) Existentialism crises are always interesting; I don't know why.
To be honest, I'm not sure I picked up on any conclusions the characters made. (Sorry!) This could be because I binged the show, or because I am a slow reader. Or maybe its because purpose is always just outside our grasp.
Does the show have anything novel to say about Friendship or Telos? No. But if someone wants to explore these genuinely, I'm not only going to watch it but love it.
(Caveat: I don't know anything about poetry. I'm a person who loves prose; I "don't get" poetry. I know nothing about Japanese poetry. Nor do I know anything about the real people these characters are based upon. I'm not sure the show is any more or less enjoyable being informed, contextually.)
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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