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death note is the show that properly got me interested in anime (we do not talk about tokyo ghoul lol) and i have rewatched the series/episodes more times than i can remember.

this wasn't anything too exciting or different, but it was nice having something “new” related to death note that i could see. i'm still kind of amazed at how this series hasn't bored me yet, i keep coming back to it - but it just goes to show how compelling the story and characters and intrigue is :)

- part one -

i do like the theory that light is the shinigami at the start who ... goes to meet ryuk - he's even wearing some form of a suit and shows curiosity beyond that of the other shinigamis so that is cool

L and light's first meeting in this version is a little underwhelming. light accepts that L is the one calling him and goes to meet him without much question, which felt out of character. it also takes out all the internal conflict light had about acting on L's reveal, him saying his name is ryuga hideki and all that. but i like his red blazer look so am i really that mad

i actually kind of love the scene of light at L's grave. it's a very dark scene, and it gives me chills, literal chills, seeing the start of light's descent into fanatacism.

but but! i wish it showed the raye penber scenes in more detail, those episodes were some of my favourites. and they didn't show light's gradual smirk as he watched L die, i mean come onnnn

fitting 26-odd episodes into 2 hours obviously means not everything can make it in, so the tension isn't as well-maintained, and it can feel like a compilation of scenes rather than a coherent story in its own right

- part two -

L as a narrator was so corny dear god let the poor guy rest. but that intro to the characters with the little montages was kind of hilarious

this part was more rushed, it was a shame. no real introduction to mikami or takada and their involvement, and the timeline of near forming the SPK and what the task force has been doing for 4 years is a little more unclear in this. it helps having the knowledge of the series to fill in the gaps.

also mello is SO much more interesting than near, so of course they make the decision to hardly include mello in this film. smart. skipped all the cool mafia scenes, sayu's kidnapping, soichiro's death?????? instead this was near-central which was a little disappointing

the second half of the show is generally thought to be weaker than the first, a sentiment i agree with as well, and this film didn't really help clear things up much. had i not seen the show, i would have been very confused at what has happened and what is going on.

and near sucks xo

--- watched 06/02/2022 ---

honestly? don't ask me why i watched this, i don't even know myself. i guess i was in a bit of a rut and this show is pretty infamous for its "shocking" twist ending so i thought why not just power through and see how it is

it's a shitshow

god girls, men ain't shit!! get some self respect!! that dude wasn't even all that, why was everyone lining up to screw him? the girls in this show were either thirsting over a guy with less personality than a wet blanket or then they were manipulative and mean. i mean, accurate.

and where were ANY of the authority ... figures in this show? teachers?? parents?? anyone with any common sense??

totally not worth it but the ending was kinda satisfying, i have to say. but katsura honey, if you wanted head, there are ways of asking for it

--- watched from 22/12/2021 to 25/12/2021 ---

- some plot spoilers in here :) -

gosh this was such an enjoyable read, i can't believe it took me so long to finish it! i love love love the show and reading the manga felt like the biggest "welcome back" hug :)

in a way, it was kind of the oddest time to read this when my mind is still totally buzzing with attack on titan, but it was also so nice to come back to this, to something familiar. the story is so expansive and yet you can still follow all the different threads and it's absolutely brilliant. also i forgot how funny this ... is! not necessarily laugh out loud funny, but there are plenty of moments that elicit a smile and, while i know a lot of people don't entirely appreciate the humour in this, i quite enjoy it. and god i love how characters from totally different arcs end up interacting and working together!! and it all makes sense!!! it's SO good and SO fun

one specific thing i picked up on was that the ishbalan conflict was done really well in the manga!! i think in the show, they condensed it all into one ep? but here it was a good few chapters, and it was very engaging to read. kind of on the flip side, with no disrespect to the manga, i felt like envy's death was better in the anime. but i did like the detail in the manga of envy confessing that edward was correct and did understand envy's true nature, which didn't occur in the anime. it added another layer of almost-but-not-quite sympathy for envy and showed how perceptive envy was of humanity. what a great character. as is everyone! :) (except you shou tucker, i hate you)

i'm definitely not an art expert, but there were some things i did notice. firstly, the faces were quite expressive, i was quite impressed with that. however, sometimes it was difficult to tell exactly what was happening in panels, especially during fight scenes and especially those with lots of alchemy. it makes sense, you can't draw each and every movement of each character, and luckily i have the show to clear it up for me :) - reading this has made me appreciate how well-animated the show is, especially in the final 20ish chapters (i.e. the big final battle)

so yeah, in conclusion, this was a really fun read! but i don't know how much of that was because i already knew the story and was reading this as a "welcome back" for myself because i love the story and characters, but this has definitely ignited a desire in me to read more manga. still, i think i am more of an anime watcher - the combination of the story and huge breadth of characters from the manga plus the music/sound and animation of the show elevates it to a whole new level <3

this is not really a review, this is me rambling and there will probably be spoilers in here so be warned thanks

i finished episode 16 a few days ago but my mind is still racing, i can't think, there are so many ideas and theories and predictions running through my head and i have no idea if any of them are even close to what will actually happen in part 2 but oh my goodness am i excited!!!!!!

this show is really one of a kind. it's endlessly engaging and the action is fantastic and the characters are so distinct, and the direction the plot is ... moving in is one i could have never ever predicted when i first started season 1

the plot???? it has become more intricate and darker than i could have expected. there were so many things that i just did not see coming and it increased my enjoyment so much because i essentially had to reset my brain to follow what was happening rather than what i thought would happen

the characters are such a big strength of the show as well, and so many characters were given such an opportunity to shine in this season, i loved it.

eren!!! who would have thought the angry little kid who had the most fierce determination and spirit would grow up into someone so grim and dark. i love it, i love this eren because it's such a stark contrast to how he used to be and yet it makes sense, with everything he has learned about titans and the world. his character development has been stellar

LEVI <3 <3 <3 my number one my favourite my main man i love him so so much, he's humanity's strongest in every way and he's just an incredible asset to the show. he's a quick thinker, he's incredibly strong physically but also emotionally, he can compartmentalise like nobody else and has a powerful sense of duty and taking action when necessary, but he also cares about everyone so much. HE BETTER BE OK

hange :( i miss the old hange who was overexcitable and wanted to learn everything they could about titans and the world. and now they are starting to realise that things are not as exciting as they once thought. like eren, hange is another character who has developed so much and changed a lot due to the situations that have arisen around them. it's a shame but it totally makes sense in the context of what is going on

sasha :( :( :(

i love the trio of jean/sasha/connie, they were hilarious and adorable and so close and made a really great team in all aspects. but seeing jean taking up more of a leadership role and seeing how everyone trusts and looks up to him is so satisfying, like a confirmation and continuation from earlier seasons but now even he accepts it as well which is so satisfying.

i like armin a lot more too (i liked him before!) - he was always realistic and pragmatic but it shines more now because he has more responsibility and respect, and honesly he has the best approach to so many of the situations that are arising. mikasa has improved a lot as well (i think because she is having less direct contact with eren so she is getting a chance to develop on her own oops) and her entrance scene vs the warhammer titan was one of my favourite moments of the season!!

there were also the characters from marley as well (gabi = annoying brat, falco = sweet kid who deserves better, pieck = clever and funny and warm, yelena = intriguing! hard to get a read on her sometimes, and yeah the others who i can't remember right now) but i'll admit that i'm far more attached to the paradis people and i was really fully engaged once they showed up again

i know a lot of people have some gripes with the animation and art style - and i admit it took me a few episodes to get used to it. but i like the fact that it's unique and different to WIT's style, and people would have complaints about it regardless so who cares what the negative comments say. the action sequences were animated so dynamically (the raid on liberio???? FANTASTIC. i watched those episodes SO MANY TIMES, they were heartstopping!! LEVI VS ZEKE). and there have also been so many visually stunning shots, with gorgeous detailing in the backdrops. i enjoyed it a lot, just as much as earlier seasons

my one and only "complaint" was with the non-linear storytelling. i totally accept that it adds another level of intrigue and layering and leaves it more up to us to figure out what happened when and where, which is great. but there did come a point where i was having to look up exactly what was happening when because i had a bit of trouble piecing it all together. maybe that was just me woops

(also in a couple of scenes the CGI did seem a bit too noticeable and out of place - like levi vs zeke in the forest, zeke looked very separate from the rest of the animation, if that makes sense, i don't know the right technical words. but i'm very willing to overlook it because i know how overworked the animators were and i would feel like a massive jerk for criticising them when i know they worked super hard on this)

(also also zeke's plan is NUTS, like what.)

anyway i can't wait until part 2 - i might just read the manga because my curiosity will probably get the better of me and i really really want to know how the story culminates :)))))

(i have a strong feeling that eren is going to do a lelouch, it makes sense to me because the storytelling has not been convincing enough to make me think eren has done a full 180 and changed character completely and has gone against everyone so strongly so suddenly. i'm convinced he's faking it and will do a big sacrifice a la lelouch. but let's see!)

as long as levi doesn't die <3

- watched from 06/12/2020 to 28/03/2021 -

- spoilers -

i didn't even realise it but i've gone and marathoned another season overnight. this show doesn't want me to sleep.

but WOW what a show this is. and what a (half) season this was!! packed to the brim with tension and drama and suspense and such detailed world-building, i love it so much. there is a constant threat looming over the characters; no matter what they achieve and who they defeat, they are still not free

i'm very attached to a lot of these characters now, with levi being my absolute favourite (shock of the century i know). he's such a badass (his fight vs ... the beast titan???? INCREDIBLE) but i love seeing his gentler moments and also his pragmatic side as well. and hange is another standout for me, she always has been, with her unique balance of wackiness and warmth that doesn't feel forced. also armin!! i didn't realise it that much until this season but he has stepped up!! i like the trio of jean, connie and sasha as well, their interactions and also the way they keep things grounded for everyone. and although erwin was not amongst my top favourites, i appreciated his steadiness and calm demeanour throughout, and his final scenes were incredibly emotional to watch

even eren has been through some interesting development - he started out hotheaded and with a drive like no other to defeat the titans and prove himself to himself, and now he has mellowed down a lot. almost become resigned. it's an interesting angle to take and i think it adds more to his character, that despite his motivations and all his efforts, the threats against them keep coming, and he is reaching his limits. and good old mikasa, she's SO badass and seeing her in action is great because she's so focused and skilled. her personality is still eren-centric but i think it has toned down a bit which is nice.

the action in this series is amazing, it has been since the beginning. it's always been one of my favourite things about the show and this season was no different. there were so many intense action scenes and they were so dynamic and fluid and heart stopping and left me almost breathless by the end of them but i didn't want any of them to end. levi vs the beast titan, levi squad vs reiner and bertoldt, the cavalry charge. all brilliantly memorable scenes and all really well done

there were a few other things that really stood out to me too. the first is the music, i thought it was really effective both when it played and when it didn't - there were some scenes with silence/very muted music in the background that worked wonders in creating atmosphere. another is the voice acting, it was FANTASTIC. all of the voice actors did a great job in conveying so many emotions, it really elevated the scenes. also i have to mention that the artwork of the backgrounds was very intricate and beautiful as well

i have no idea how i expect myself to wait until december for season 4, and how i will wait a week between episodes. i'm also curious to see how the new studio tackles it. i want it all and i want it now. i wouldn't be surprised if i go back and rewatch this all because i just can't get enough of it

--- watched from 14/11/2020 to 15/11/2020 ---

- some spoilers ahead -

FANTASTIC ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC I LOVED IT

this season was so so so so good, i enjoyed so much!! just everything about it seemed to be a step up from the previous season and it met every expectation i had, and more

so in terms of the plot, this season was more focused on historia and the reiss family, and in turn that led to more information about eren, his father and the true nature of titans, all of which was part of the quest to discover how to retake wall maria and return to eren's basement. i really appreciate how the plot is ... starting to tie together more, in my opinion it flowed really well - even though there are things still left to be answered which i can't wait to see, like who the beast titan is, what is in eren's basement. and although this is a show about titans, this (half of a) season contained very little of them but still managed to be incredibly dramatic with its political intrigue and squad missions that were like a cat-and-mouse game, a theme which i LOVE

also the action was PHENOMENAL. totally mindblowing in its detail and insane pace and artistry. really brilliant to watch, i could not get enough. levi vs kenny's squad is seriously one of the best scenes i have ever seen ever, just brilliant. they really stepped it up in this season and i really loved it.

it's a shame eren spent a lot of this season kidnapped or then feeling rather maudlin (as usual) (even though it is a change from other protagonists i've seen so it's certainly interesting), and mikasa spent all her attention on eren (as usual), but the other characters showed a lot of personality and growth! levi i love you so much my number one guy you're the best <3 i love characters that have a cold exterior but are actually really soft hearted and concerned for everyone else inside so of course he's my favourite. plus the fact that we got to understand more about his youth through the introduction of kenny, who could have been a really interesting character had he been featured more in the show. also hange and sasha and jean i love you guys too

really really great stuff

--- watched from 11/11/2020 to 13/11/2020 ---

- spoilers! sorry -

i marathoned this all in one night so my head is totally buzzing right now. but i don't know how to explain how i feel about this season. it feels like a bridge between season one and three without resolving anything in a satisfying way to me.

don't get me wrong, it was fun, really fun to watch!! the fast-paced dynamic action scenes were GREAT and where the show really shines for me (yes i am an action junkie), and the world-building is also so interesting and extensive. there were lots of ideas that were introduced and i can't wait to see where ... they take them! not to mention some great uses of music and a lot of tension interspersed with quieter moments that acted well to throw you off.

my issues are more to do with the plot - i think because this season is so short compared to season one, there was less time to develop things at a steadier pace. there were either lots of cliffhangers or then too much time was spent with characters that i really didn't care too much about (krista, ymir and bertoldt i'm looking at you. at least we knew a bit more about reiner but i still don't care about him a lot either). or then the characters died. rip.

and not all the ideas that were introduced were addressed, a lot has been left for season three - hence the feeling that this is like a middle point rather than a complete season in itself. we still know nothing about the beast titan, how people were turned into titans, what the titans want with eren (i can't help but feel that i missed something about this? maybe they mentioned it and i didn't realise because i spent a lot of time confused as to why they kidnapped him). and there is also the matter of eren's growing powers and the fact that just about anyone could be a titan, plus the titans in the walls as well

i have to mention the oh-so-big reveal halfway through as well - the way it was approached was kind of underwhelming to me, it was such a throwaway thing, i genuinely thought my subtitles were broken haha. but what an odd way of approaching such a huge reveal??? i was hoping for something a lot more dramatic and tense, instead it was just "oh hey it's us! lol jk it's not! no actually it really is"

also can mikasa PLEASE get more lines that don't include the word "eren", i genuinely like her but this is getting a bit annoying now

finally, and most importantly, the audience has spoken and they want more levi thank you <3

--- watched from 08/11/2020 to 09/11/2020 ---

a super entertaining show with great world building and INSANE action and animation, really dynamic and fast-paced. the characters are generally just diverse enough to be distinguished from each other, but it's another case of there being soooo many that honestly sometimes i forget who is who (woops)

eren seems interesting enough, he has good motivations and man is he driven! armin is the ever scared clever guy (relatable) and mikasa is so badass, it's a shame most of her lines are just "eren" "where is eren" "eren are you ok". and the levi hype? TOTALLY WITH IT

the only things keeping me from giving it a ... straight 10 are the pacing issues in the middle during the expedition episodes and the lack of explanation about annie i mean why on earth did any of that stuff happen i need to knowwwwwww (i'm guessing they will address it in s2? i hope?)

but really enjoyable and intense and did i mention the amazing action sequences because WOW great stuff! can't wait to continue :)

--- watched from 02/11/2020 to 08/11/2020 ---

weird as FUCK but i couldn't take my eyes of it and my mind is still reeling a little bit and i can't think succinctly so i don't think this will make much sense but i want to get something down

the combination of the art style, robots, psychological themes and religious imagery is great, i love how much there to think about and unpack in this. i'm probably going to spend the next few days/weeks/months/years wondering about all the different ways this could be taken and what everything represents and probably watching every video and reading every theory out there - how is that not ... exciting??

i do think the first half was a lot stronger than the second half; when it gets overly psychological and experimental, the flow does suffer as does my understanding (woops). i LOVED asuka vs the eva units, it was dynamic and my heart was racing and the animation seemed so fluid and almost loose? i don't know the technical words for it but it was so thrilling. and the third impact was incredibly dramatic and on such a huge scale (i had read that the finale of fullmetal alchemist: brotherhood was similar to this and i get it now). it was breathtaking and apocalyptic and eerie, i was kind of in awe.

something that i think really lended itself to the atmsophere of the film was the music as well, there were some interesting choices and i loved the dissonance of the song that played during the third impact, i know it will be one that gets stuck in my head

to go into the negatives for me, one thing throughout this series that i haven't appreciated at all is the (over)sexualisation of asuka and rei. it makes me incredibly uncomfortable and it was honestly not necessary, and so i definitely found the opening scene of this film gross. and the experimental style, especially with the "real life" scenes of people in the streets and cinema, was jarring, i didn't understand their purpose? and it throws you off, disorients you as to what exactly is happening. it isn't as big a problem as i thought it would be for me but i am still sat here thinking huh did that just happen in an evangelion film? bit weird

anyway misato best girl <3 also maya! maya/maia solidarity, i love it <3 and gendo sucks i don't care if there was an attempt at redemption because i hate him <3

--- watched 01/11/2020 ---

i needed this as a recap of the series because i just haven't been able to sit down and FINISH this series... life is kind of kicking my butt right now and all i've watched lately is masterchef lol

but i do really love this show, the art style and the robots and all the different interpretations and the grey characters. it's fab and i'm so glad it matched the hype in my head!! i love misato and even kaworu (i don't know why but i'm really attached to him even though he was there for such a short time) and shinji isn't that bad, he's ... just lonely with the weight of his own expectations and what he thinks everyone else expects of him on his shoulders. i do like the fact that the series took the time to show the psychological impact of being a pilot on the kids, it adds more depth and interest to the already really interesting idea and great battle scenes

just end of evangelion left to watch, i hope i get the chance to see it soon because i am also very excited about that!! (and the 1.0+2.0+3.0 films but let's not get too hasty here maia)

:)

--- watched 29/10/2020 ---