Crunchyroll

Behold, the Power of Anime Baseball!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Blogging, Crunchyroll, DBZ, Uncategorized , , , , , , , , , , ,

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You S2 Ep 6 Review

Next to its birthplace in the land of the Stars and Stripes, the country that loves baseball the most is Japan. Baseball is incredibly popular in Japan, and it has been for more than a century. Hence why Iku Sutou is obsessed with the sport and why she’s determined to keep the school’s baseball team running. Were this any other anime, it would treat the big practice game that Iku and the Rentaro Family has to win seriously. However, since 100 Girlfriends is a comedic parody that loves using meta-humor, this baseball episode winds up being equal parts silly and serious. But mostly silly.

PLAY BALL!

It’s the day of the big practice game to determine if the high school girls baseball team will survive. And, by the rule of funny, Rentaro’s stand-ins wind up sick, conveniently allowing Hahari, Kurumi, and Mei the chance to play. But this is not the first example of how silly the anime is treating this baseball game.

The second example stems from the fact that their opponents, the Jurassic High Team, are all based on dinosaurs. Right down to their names being puns on dinosaur names.

The episode makes it clear from the start that it’s not trying to treat this game seriously unless it has to. Thus, it has free reign to parody the over-the-top nature of sports anime. From the opposing team coming up with flashy names for moves to said moves breaking the girl’s bats, anime logic is in full effect here. Unfortunately, that also means that the relatively inexperienced Rentaro Family is unable to do much, especially after Iku injures her pitching hand. Before long, they’re at the bottom of the seventh inning and have yet to score a point.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

But then, the opposing team does the last thing they could hope to do. Their leader messes with Shizuka’s head, making her mess up so bad, the poor girl is reduced to tears.

To paraphrase Saruman from Lord of the Rings, “So you have chosen death.”

No one. Hurts. SHIZUKA

As saddening as it is to see Shizuka reduced to tears over the enemy’s dirty playing, the episode veers right back into the realm of hilarious with what happens next. Something that, with the Internet still recovering from the high of the end of Dragon Ball Daima, has to be seen to be believed.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Dragon Ball Reference in a harem anime 😭 <a href=”https://t.co/K5vqe705Pt”>pic.twitter.com/K5vqe705Pt</a></p>&mdash; Prince Vegeta (@SSGPrinceVegeta) <a href=”https://twitter.com/SSGPrinceVegeta/status/1891286768822943764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>February 17, 2025</a></blockquote> https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Say what you want about 100 Girlfriends, but if you’re a fan of Dragon Ball, you can at least appreciate the affectionate parody that this is. Right down to the iconic eye-catchers. The fact that they got this riled up because the enemy made their precious cinnamon bun Shizuka cry only makes this even funnier.

Anyone who purposefully makes Shizuka cry is deserving of death!

The Perfect Catch

By the time they end their rampage, the Rentaro Family is only four points away from winning the game. That’s when Iku gets up to bat, and when things turn serious once more. While the story has already shown Iku dealing with her masochism, the climax of this episode has her dealing with another fear. In this case, it’s her fear of hitting someone in the stands by accident.

Cue the episode’s CHADtaro moment!

And with that, Iku secured the future of the girls baseball team. The anime got to have fun with a sports episode. And the fans got to see Rentaro make out with a cool tomboy!

In a series that gives us plenty of funny moments and is all about enjoying its premise, this episode might be one of the best thus far. Top five episodes just for the Dragon Ball reference.

I Give “A Homerun Promise” a 4/5

Jin-woo is a Real Man Because He’s not Afraid to Cry

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Blogging, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , ,

Why Getting Upset over Sung Jin-woo Crying is Foolish

It was bound to happen sooner or later, but Solo Leveling, the hot, new anime on the block, has its first controversy. The ninth episode of its latest season received the most dislikes an episode has gotten to date. And the reason is enough to make someone shake their head and ask yourself why it’s a big deal. The reason for the dislikes? Because Sung Jin-woo, the Black Air Force Hunter, cried.

Mr. Sung Jin-woo, Our Glorious King

Based on the popular Korean manwha of the same name, Solo Leveling tells the story of Sung Jin-woo. Set in a world where people have gained the ability to use magic to hunt monsters, Sung Jin-woo was once the weakest Hunter of all time. Until one day, he almost died in a Dungeon and got chosen by the mysterious System to become its player. He gained the unique ability to level up his stats as a Hunter, and went from the weakest Hunter to one of the strongest in all Korea.

More importantly, he’s become one of the most popular anime characters of the last few years.

Ever since he got his black air forces, Jin-woo has been seen as the personification of cool. People either want to be him or want to date him. Anyone foolish enough to make an enemy out of him regrets it before they die. He’s so bad he can even revive the dead to serve as his army. People see him as the personification of manliness. However, a small minority of fans seems to have failed to understand a core part of Jin-woo’s character, and have made that known with their dislike with a recent episode.

WHY PEOPLE UPSET?

In Season 2, Episode 9, “It Was All Worth It,” Jin-woo fulfilled the goal he’s had since the day he became a Hunter: saving his mother. His mom has been in a coma for four years because her body can’t handle exposure to mana. Were it not for being on life support, she would eventually die. So when he manages to cure her and wake her up after all this time, the two have an incredibly emotional moment where they both cry tears of joy.

And some fans hated it—so much so that it became the most disliked episode to date, with over 2.4K dislikes and counting. All because they claim that they “ruined his Aura by showing him crying.” They don’t like that, for a tiny moment, Jin-woo dropped his stoic behavior to show a moment of vulnerability with his mother.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Now, the rest of the Internet is shaking its collective head in disbelief at the sheer ridiculousness. And it is ridiculous, and here’s why.

Exhibit A: This is a Drop in the Bucket

Firstly, it should pointed out just how small of a minority these dislikes are. The episode in question sits at 180K likes on Crunchyroll and counting. That’s around 75 to 1 in favor of the episode. It’s a small drop in the bucket, and thus does not represent the majority opinion of fans. The fact that the most disliked episode of Solo Leveling has so few dislikes only serves as a testament to its popularity.

Exhibit B: Who Said Jin-woo was Untouchable?

Secondly, where did people get the idea that Sung Jin-woo was untouchable? This small group of people must have a poor memory because Jin-woo is not untouchable.

At the start of the series, Jin-woo was a lowly E-Rank Hunter. E-Ranks are considered the weakest rank a Hunter could have, with them being only slightly stronger than the average normal person. And Jin-woo was considered the weakest Hunter of all Mankind. He was the bottom of the barrel at the bottom of another barrel, and everyone knew it, especially himself. He’d almost die every time he’d enter a Dungeon, and had to be regularly bailed out by his party members. Him becoming a Player for the System didn’t change that overnight. He had to put in the hard work and sweat to get to where he is today, which meant he had to put himself in even more life-threatening situations, some of which he still only came out by the skin of his teeth.

Case in point, there was his recent battle with Baran, the Demon Monarch. Despite how unbelievably strong he’d become, he still had trouble fighting Baran. It got to the point where, had his companion Esil not intervened, he likely would’ve died. That’s not much of an untouchable aura.

But that’s nothing compared to the most important thing haters fail to understand about Jin-woo. He put himself through hell for the last four years for one reason and one reason alone: because he loves his family.

Exhibit C: His Mom Was Cured of an Incurable Disease

Let’s summarize what Sung Jin-woo’s life has been like during his short twenty years on this Earth. His father became a Hunter and went missing close to ten years ago. His mother developed an incurable disease that would send her into a never-ending sleep and kill her if her life support got disconnected. He likely had to drop out of school as a teenager to become the sole breadwinner for himself and his little sister. He wound up getting the weakest rank a Hunter could possibly get. And everytime he went into a Dungeon, he’d wind up in the hospital.

In short: JIN-WOO HAS HAD A HARD LIFE!

Then he almost dies again, and when he wakes up, he’s got powers no other Hunter has. Instead of using them to become rich and powerful, though, his goal remains the same: taking caring of his mom and sister. Then, suddenly, he learns there’s a miracle potion that could cure his Mom, but the ingredients are kept in a nightmarish dungeon. So he has to keep getting stronger so he can make his way through the dungeon, forcing him to keep putting himself in harm’s way. Not to mention how he had to kill other people; even if it was in self-defense, he still had to kill them.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

So, with everything he’s gone through, the hell he had to endure to get to where he is now, he finally managed to save his mom. So, is it any wonder that all of those emotions he’s been bottling up for the sake of his goal wind up bursting out? Is it any wonder that he starts to cry out of sheer joy from being able to talk to his mom again because it just made everything he went through worthwhile?

Real Men aren’t afraid to Cry

There’s an unfortunate belief held by many that any man who’s willing to cry is no real man at all. It is a toxic mindset that encourages guys to bottle up their emotions instead of expressing them in a healthy manner, and it is complete nonsense. Crying is our body’s natural response to extremely strong emotions, most often sadness or joy; sometimes both! Crying helps us deal with these powerful feelings and can help us feel better afterwards! And considering what Jin-woo experienced in this episode, he earned the right to shed tears of joy.

Furthermore, here’s a question to all those who disliked the episode just because Jin-woo cried happy tears. If one of your parents was diagnosed with an incurable disease that, if it didn’t kill them, would leave them stuck in a hospital for the rest of their life. If they suddenly got better, like they were never sick in the first place, wouldn’t you want to cry your eyes out?

Just something to think about.

A Miracle Has Occurred! Jin-woo Got his Mom Back!!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Blogging, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadows S2 Ep 9 Review

From the day he became a Hunter, Sung Jin-woo had only one goal: to look after his family. Thanks to becoming a Player, the idea of curing his comatose mother no longer felt like an impossible dream. He’s fought, struggled, and risked his life time and again to gain the materials needed to create a cure capable of saving his Mom. Now, at long last, he’s done it. He’s managed to bring his Mom back. And it makes the absolute hell that he’s been through over his time being a Hunter worth it.

Miracle Cure, Acquired!

With the battle against Baran won, Jin-woo has the ingredients to make the medicine that could save his mom. And despite how much he’s managed to accomplish, the viewers can tell that he’s still nervous as he’s crafting it. He knows that if it were to go wrong, he’d lose his only chance to do so. The relief on his face is palpable as he sees it succeeds. And so, he returns to his world, his quest at an end! And he manages to revive Baran’s dragon as part of his army!

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

As for Esil, she has to walk herself back home. Unfortunately, she doesn’t appear again after this. Anyone who was a fan of hers that wishes she got more screen time can go play Solo Leveling: Arise, where she’s one of the recruitable Hunters.

A Heartfelt Reunion With Mom

At last, we arrive at the moment of truth. This was one of the most important moments in the manwha, and one that the anime couldn’t afford to mess up. Thankfully, not only did the anime rise to meet the emotional impact of Jin-woo’s mother waking up after four long years, it went above and beyond. Jin-woo, who we’ve gotten so used to seeing as a stoic man by this point, starts crying his eyes out in joy as he gets to talk to his mom again. And you can’t blame him! If you went through everything he has all so he could have a chance of saving one of your parents, you’d end up crying tears of joy and relief, too!

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

The next few days of Jin-woo’s life are joyous ones. For the first time in years, he has his family back together (except for his missing Dad.) However, now that his Mom is back, doubts begin to set in about his future. He doesn’t say it out loud, but he even questions the need to continue getting stronger as a Hunter.

The timing could not be worse.

The Jeju Island Raid is Coming

Since the first season, Solo Leveling has been steadily building up to the Jeju Island Raid Arc. There’s an army of giant, man-eating ants that’s made the island its home that’s getting ready to invade the mainland. If that happens, everyone in Korea will die. And since all previous attempts to retake the island have failed, Korea and Japan are teaming up to ensure this fourth attempt succeeds. To do that, they’re calling for all hands on deck. Most of Korea and Japan’s S-Rank Hunters will be taking part in this raid, and Chairman Go is hoping that Jin-woo will join in.

To be fair, having Jin-woo there would turn this dangerous mission into an absolute curb-stomp. However, before he can even decide, they get interrupted by the sheer aura of the S-Ranks training together!

A few months ago, the idea of Jin-woo stepping into a world like this would feel crazy. Yet here he now stands, with the strongest Hunters in Korea as they spar together. And then the Japanese Hunters show up, led by Goto Ryuji, the strongest Hunter in Japan.

Can Korea and Japan Work Together?

Japan and Korea have had a complicated history over the years, so the two countries aren’t exactly on the best terms. That enmity seems to bleed over into the Hunters as the two start wanting to scrap with each other. So, to ease the tensions, most of the S-Ranks decide to have some sparring sessions together! Which means that the next episode is going to see what the Hunting Elite are capable of doing!

While it is sad to see that the anime brought an end to the Demon Castle Arc so quickly (the manwha had it last longer), hopefully the season can stick the landing with the Jeju Island Raid Arc. And, despite some people complaining about Jin-woo crying (which will be addressed), the reunion of mother and son was genuinely heartfelt. Congrats, Jin-woo. You’ve earned this!

I Give “It Was All Worth It” a 4/5

Why is Jeju Island so Important to Solo Leveling

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Quick 411 on the Jeju Island Arc

In the original Solo Leveling manwha, the story opens right as Sung Jin-woo is facing certain death in the Double Dungeon. However, the anime chose to start things off differently. Instead, it begins with a scene on Jeju Island, where a group of Hunters is fighting for their lives against Monsters. This original scene was the first of several added throughout the anime, most of which would revolve around Jeju Island. There’s a very good reason for this: it’s the anime’s way of building up to one of the most important arcs in the entire story. And if you’re reading this, it means that the anime is making that arc into its season finale and not giving it the Demon Slayer: Mugen Train treatment or theatrical release, much to my dismay.

Personal feelings aside, this is meant to serve as a quick summary of what makes Jeju Island such an important location in Solo Leveling. And why what’s about to happen is going to be a speedrun of Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant Arc on steroids.

Four Years Earlier…

The story begins four years before the events of Solo Leveling. An S-Ranked Dungeon spawned on Jeju Island, the largest island in the Korean Peninsula, forcing Hunters to attempt to close it. However, due to it being the strongest possible Dungeon, and how weak Korea’s S-Rank Hunters were back then, they failed to close it in time. As a result, it underwent a Dungeon Break, AKA what happens when the Monsters inside can spill over into the Human world. In this case, it was legions of ants the size of your average human being, if not bigger.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Thousands of people ultimately died at the monstrous mandibles of the insects, and the Hunters and Korean Government were powerless to stop them. All they could do was get everyone left alive and get them off the island before they met the same fate. Thus, Jeju Island was left abandoned, a wasteland devoid of any human life while its buildings served as an eerie monument to the Hunter’s failure.

And the ants were free to multiply and make the island their own kingdom. But Korea wasn’t going to sit back and let things remain as they were.

Three Years of Failures

Over the course of the next three years, the Korean Government and its top Hunters made repeated attempts to take back the island. To say that they proved disastrous would be an understatement. Their third and latest attempt not only failed, but it cost the life of one of their S-Rank Hunters. Baek Yoonho, Guild Master of the White Tigers, had to watch as that man died and couldn’t do anything about it! And their mutual friend was so traumatized that he quit being a Hunter altogether!

After that failure, the Korean Government decided they couldn’t afford to risk more lives, especially with how few S-Rank Hunters they had. So, they decided to leave the island and its ant masters alone, hoping that once they ran out food, they would either starve or turn on each other.

It didn’t work.

The Chimera Ant Arc on Steroids

The Ant Queen that served as the Dungeon’s boss wasn’t a mindless beast; she was intelligent. Intelligent enough to realize that if things remained as they were, her children would die. Unfortunately, that meant evolution kicked into overdrive. The newer generations of ants started being born with wings and the ability to fly. Slowly but surely, the first scouts started making their way to the surrounding nations, all of them full of humans and animals upon which they could feed.

In other words, if those ants aren’t taken care of now, then they would overrun Korea, Japan, and even China. And the rest of the world could be next.

The earlier comparisons to the Chimera Ant Arc from Hunter x Hunter weren’t hyperbole. Both center around fighting a colony of incredibly powerful, super-intelligent ants. If left unchecked, said ants could spread enough to conquer the world and turn humankind into its food source. And if that wasn’t scary enough, the Hunters of each story have to face an opponent that is beyond their worst nightmares. The only difference is that what’s about to happen in the Jeju Island Arc is going to be speed-running through the entire story and look far cooler doing so!

Regardless of whether the Jeju Island Raid Arc is a movie or just the season finale, the coming battle will be Solo Leveling’s biggest to date. It’s the kind of battle that will make even the internet-breaking feats of Jin-woo vs the High Orcs look tame. For a series that seems to thrive on serial escalation, that should not be taken lightly! So make sure you are prepared and have snacks ready. You will need them!

Jin-woo Slays the Demon Monarch

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , ,

Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadows S2 Ep 8 Review

Week after week, Solo Leveling continues to shatter streaming records on Crunchyroll. It is currently the most-watched anime on the platform, and a big part of that is due to its constant escalation of conflict. For example, two episodes ago, the Internet lost it over Jin-woo’s fight with the High Orcs. But that fight manages to get topped by this episode’s climactic battle and introduce the second-best girl in the series. Not only that, but it continues to build up another battle that’s been coming since the start of the series.

A New Waifu Approaches

When Jin-woo came looking for the group that was beating his Shadows, he fully expected a fight. He got one at first, but as soon as his opponents were down to one left…she surrendered. Then she tried to pull of a sneak attack, got intimidated, and surrendered for real.

This cowardly woman is Esil Radiru, the daughter of the distinguished Radiru family of Demons. As she explains to Jin-woo, she and all the other Demons were summoned to this Dungeon from the Demon Realm and ordered to defend it from intruders. I.E. from Jin-woo. Any further attempts to learn more, though, are hampered by the System.

Esil is into Sung Jin-woo

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Between this and his failed attempt to learn from Beruka, it’s clear to Jin-woo that there are things the System does not want him to know. However, since he’s gotten stronger thanks to it, he gives it a pass for the time being. In addition, he also chooses to spare Esil and her house in exchange for two things:

1.) He wants their permit to head to the next level.

2.) He wants Esil to come with him as a guide/porter.

The Best Fight Yet

If it’s not obvious by the end of the episode, Esil’s fallen for Jin-woo for both his strength and his kindness to those weaker than him. This latter part proves important, as it shows that, despite his colder outlook on life, Jin-woo remains a kind and caring person to people like Esil and Jinho. As long as you don’t pick a fight with him, he’s a chill person. As a result of this kindness, Esil chooses to repay him by distracting the final boss during a critical moment that would have otherwise killed him.

As for the final boss of the Dungeon, Baram the Demon Monarch, it is as epic and as high stakes as you’d expect. Jin-woo pushes himself to his absolute limits to fight the anime equivalent of a Dark Souls boss. Even with all his power and army at his disposal, though, he only comes out by the skin of his teeth. Which is further proof that he needs to keep getting stronger if he wants to survive.

Especially since a threat that’s been looming in the background is about to rear its exoskeleton-covered head.

Wrath of the Mutant Ants

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Over the course of the two seasons, the anime has given viewers glimpses at a powerful threat brewing in the background. We prepared an entirely separate post better explaining it, but here are the basics.

  1. There’s an entire island overrun by giant Ant Monsters
  2. Even the common Ant Monsters are as strong as an A-Ranked Hunter.
  3. They’ve developed the ability to fly and reach other lands.

As shown in this episode, one of them reached part of the Japanese Islands, tore the place to shreds, and killed several Hunters before they could kill it. And there’s an island with thousands of them ready to leave to find more food.

In other words, if they get off Jeju Island, every country in the region will die. And the rest of Asia will be next.

Thus, the governments of Japan and Korea decide to do something about this and have agreed to form an alliance. The top Hunters from both countries will invade Jeju Island and wipe out the Ants before they can invade the mainland.

The Ant War is Coming

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

You can already tell where this is going. As the main protagonist, Jin-woo is going to be the lynchpin to making sure this operation succeeds. But now that he has the ingredients for the medicine for his mother, will he be willing to risk his life like this? He might want to take it easy for a while.

Who are we kidding? The plot will demand that he has to help fight the mutant ants. The sight of his Shadow Army fighting an army of killer ants is too good to pass up.

Now, who is the best girl?

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

I Give “”Looking Up Was Tiring Me Out” a 5/5

Sung Jin-woo, Our Glorious King, Awakens!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , ,

Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadows S2 Ep 7 Review

Anyone who’s read this blog’s reviews of Solo Leveling should know its stance on Sung Jin-woo by now: he is HIM! Some might say that’s glazing him and his series too much, but the Internet would argue it’s not enough. The last episode alone managed to not only crash legit streaming platforms but even piracy sites! The hype surrounding this show is the real deal. Therefore, it seems only fitting from a meta-standpoint that the majority of this next episode centers around people fawning over Jin-woo in his own story.

And he deserves every second of it.

Sung Jin-woo, our Glorious King

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

At the end of the last episode, Jin-woo’s 3-day waiting period for his new S-Rank status ended. All he had to do was pick up his new license and then get on with his day like it’s no big deal. What he didn’t count on was the fact that him becoming Korea’s 10th S-Rank Hunter would make national news.

Nor did he count on being bombarded by an army of reporters trying to talk to him.

Like in the manwha, this episode (at least the first part of it) is meant to be seen as funny, mostly due to Jin-woo. He’s gotten to the point where he sees being recognized as an S-Rank Hunter is purely pragmatic. It’s a means for him to get the gear he needs to conquer the Demon Castle Dungeon. He’s already been at S-Rank for sometime, so he didn’t consider it a big deal. For everyone else, though, it’s the exact opposite. And the anime does a good job of showing how everyone who knows him personally reacts to the news.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

I Laughed So Hard Seeing this

The funniest part, though? It’s not the fact that Baek Yoonho and Choi Jong-In, both try and recruit him to their guilds like he’s the new all-star football player joining the NFL. It’s the fact that the press wasn’t even there for Jin-woo. This pretentious actor who awakened as an A-Rank called them there to make a big deal about him becoming a Hunter. Seeing Jin-woo ruin this man’s plans without even trying is hilarious! And he deserves it!

It’s unfortuntate that the series doesn’t spare some extra time on Jin-woo dealing with his newfound fame, but since it doesn’t matter to him, it doesn’t matter to the show. To his credit, though, Jin-woo uses his summons to protect his sister and neighborhood covertly.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Also, despite it happening right away in the manwha, Baek Yoonho being the first person to realize Jin-woo can level up is accurate.

Jinho Leaves Home

As for Jin-woo’s brother, Jinhoo, there’s good news, bad news, and worse news. The good news is that, despite failing to get Jin-woo to join the guild his dad wants to form, his dad still offers him the job of guild-master. But he turns it down out of loyalty to Jin-woo. The bad news is that this means he has to move out of his home and stay with Jin-woo and his sister. To be fair, though, he leaves voluntarily rather than get kicked out like in the manwha.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Now, for the worse news: his Dad has Eternal Slumber Disease. It’s what happens when a person who’s body isn’t compatible for mana suffers from repeated exposure. The end result is a permanent coma that, without life support, will be fatal.

The worst part? It’s the same thing that Jin-woo’s mother suffers from.

Good thing that Jin-woo is already planning on getting that medicine!

Jin-woo Gonna Conquer that Dungeon

The final part of the episode revolves around Jin-woo returning to the Demon Castle to finish what he started. And thanks to his growing army, he’s now able to delegate farming for enemies to his subordinates. Until he realizes that someone’s picking off his Shadows one by one. And since they’re only going after the weaker ones first, he knows that this isn’t a normal Monster. They’re intelligent and capable of planning out a strategy.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

The episode ultimately ends with Jin-woo confronting the ones picking off his soldiers and killing all but one of them. Don’t be fooled, though. This is only the start of an arc that (hopefully) will last a few episodes. Given what’s coming in the future, this might be one instance where the anime would do well not to rush things.

I Give “The 10th S-Rank Hunter” a 4/5

Jin-woo Washes an Army of High Orcs

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , ,

Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadows S2 Ep 6 Review

This was one of the episodes of Solo Leveling that I was looking forward to seeing! When we last left off, Jin-woo had gone into an A-Rank dungeon so he could see what they were like. However, his plans to be a simple porter went south when the Hunting party got captured by an army of High Orcs. Now, they’re face-to-face with the boss of the Dungeon who’s ready to rip them to pieces. Little do the High Orcs know, but they’ve merely prepared their own execution, with Jin-woo being the one to carry it out.

Kargalgan the High Orc Lord

To clarify how bad this small army of High Orcs is, the Hunting Party members say that if the Dungeon breaks, they could flatten a few cities. Their mere presence is enough to make the women quake and the men want to wet themselves. Worst of all, their leader, Kargalgan, manages to keep the Hunters paralyzed with just his Haki.

As if to emphasize how dangerous the leader is, he uses the Force to throw the party leader Kihoon around like a rag doll! In fact, the only reason the Hunters were brought to them alive was so he kill and eat them for his army’s entertainment! He was playing with his food!

How does Jin-woo respond to this? He saves Son Kihoon, takes care of a High Orc that tries to attack, and asks him one question:

“Want me to take care of these guys?”

Kihoon says yes. And what follows is Jin-woo’s biggest flex to date as he summons his growing Shadow Army.

Kargalgan is a Victim

In the manwha, the fight between Jin-woo and Kargalgan was the biggest fight up to that point. While some criticisms can be levied against how the Shadow Army was animated fighting in the background (it looked pretty stiff), few, if any, criticisms can be found with the actual fight. Karglagan is an effective fusion of the best kinds of bosses in video games, complete with multiple stages and strategies for fighting opponents. Despite knowing that Jin-woo is inevitably going to win, he shows why he was the leader of the High Orcs. He’s the kind of boss that, were he in a game like Dark Souls, would make most players want to tear their hair out in frustration.

The real highlight this time, though, isn’t even the fight itself; it’s how those watching react to it. The other Hunters go from thinking they’re going to die to being utterly dumbfounded as Jin-woo single-handedly wipes out the High Orcs. While this isn’t the first time Jin-woo has flexed in front of others, the context makes this different. The public still doesn’t know that Jin-woo’s an S-Rank Hunter yet. Thus, seeing the man who served as their porter be stronger than all of them is absolutely surreal. It gets even stranger when Jinchul from the Hunters Association shows up and tells them not to speak of what they just saw. That alone is enough to tell them how important Jin-woo is! And while they don’t fully get it, they’re all happy to be alive and thank him.

Yeah, Cha is into Him

The character whose reaction is the most important, though, is none other than Cha Hae-in. Out of curiosity, she went back to the Dungeon on her day off, only to learn what had happened. She proceeded to run into the Dungeon, armed with only a pick-axe, hoping that she can somehow help. Instead, she gets a front-row seat to Jin-woo showing off his power.

Ultimately, Jin-woo kills all the enemies and adds them to his army, including Kargalgan, now renamed Tusk. Everyone leaves the Dungeon in one piece, and Jin-woo is happy. But his days of pretending to be an E-Rank are over, and he knows it. It’s only fitting that the episode ends outside the Hunters Association on the day Jin-woo’s status becomes official. Reporters are there for a celebrity getting his own Hunter Rank, but after they hear about Jin-woo, he’s the only one they’ll pay attention to.

Get some popcorn ready, because this next episode will be all about the hype of Jin-woo.

I Give “Don’t Look Down on My Guys” a 4/5

It’s Official: Daima is GT 2.0!!!!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Blogging, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dragon Ball Daima Ep 19 Review

There are only two words that can be used to describe these final episodes of Dragon Ball Daima: absolute. Cinema. And the fandom certainly seems to think so.

We are now in the final two episodes of Toriyama’s last gift to the world, and Daima has never been more popular. In-universe, though, things were looking dire for the Dragon Team. Goku and the others were unable to leave a dent in Gomah thanks to the Evil Third Eye. To make matters worse, Glorio chose this crucial moment to summon the Demon Realm’s Dragon on behalf of Dr. Arinsu. It looked like the betrayal that was teased earlier was about to take place, and the episode’s title didn’t help much.

Guess what? We got punked! Classic Toriyama!

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Glorio just Played us All!

The episode starts off with everyone, from the Dragon Team and their allies to the audience, watching as Glorio has summoned the Demon Realm’s Dragon (Red Porunga). It looked like he was about to make Dr. Arinsu’s wish to be stronger than Gomah a reality. However, much to everyone’s astonishment, he didn’t end up wishing for that! Instead, he wished for the Dragon Team to be returned to their adult selves!

This isn’t the first time that Toriyama decided to give us this kind of bait-and-switch; after all, he did it when Krillin chose not to shut down 18. However, the fact that the audience was just as in the dark about Glorio’s wish due to it being in Namekian was brilliant. Cliffhangers may not always be enjoyable, but when done right, the payoff is worth the wait.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

As for why Glorio chose to betray his employer, who had saved him from the Third Demon World, no verbal explanation is given. However, the look on Glorio’s face as he’s warmly greeted by the others says it all. He did it because he’s grown to like his traveling companions. Good on him for that! Even better knowing that Goku finally got his name right.

Besides, it’s not as if Arinsu has no other allies. Kuu and Duu remain loyal to her, and the relationship she has with them seems pretty positive. Even moreso when it’s thanks to Kuu that Arinsu learns how to get the Evil Third Eye out of Gomah.

Vegeta Gets his SSJ 3 Moment Yet Again!

Now that they’re back in their adult forms, the heroes can fight Gomah on more equal ground. Unfortunately, they fall back into the old habit of fighting the enemy one at a time, with Vegeta going first. Try as Vegeta might, not even his adult SSJ 3 form is enough to hurt Gomah. Or rather, it does hurt him, but the damage doesn’t stick, thanks to the Evil Eye.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

No wonder why that eye is considered so dangerous. It basically gives the user infinite health and stamina! But, like any good video game boss, it does have a weakness. And it’s something so simple, it’s actually laughable: hit the user on the back of their head three times, and the Eye will fall out.

That’s nowhere near as funny as the threat that Bulma gives Vegeta if he won’t let Goku and Piccolo fight, though.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Toriyama. He knew what fans wanted!

It may seem silly (and it is), but it’s moments like this that show just how much Toriyama understood his fans. He knew what would make us laugh, make us cry, and most of all, leave us squealing in joy. And if seeing SSJ 4 Goku as a kid was awesome, that’s nothing compared to what happens next. As Goku prepares to distract Gomah so Piccolo can get in the hits, we not only get a call-back to one of the most famous transformation sequences in the franchise, but a bonus.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

And on this day, manly tears were shed the world over as the Internet exploded from sheer joy.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

In all seriousness, though, these last few episodes have done wonders to help make up for whatever shortcomings Daima might have. It’s very bittersweet to think that the next episode will likely be the grand finale, but all good things must end. Let’s make sure that Daima gets the attention it deserves before we send Toriyama off to that great studio in the sky.

I Give “Betrayal” a 5/5

SUPER SAIYAN 4! SUPER SAIYAN 4 IS REAL!!!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dragon Ball Daima Ep 18 Review

Over the years, Dragon Ball GT has been a great subject of debate in the Dragon Ball community. Does the anime-original sequel hold up against its predecessors and successors? Is it even canon anymore since Super showed up? One thing that many fans agree on, though, is that Super Saiyan 4 was freaking awesome. From the shadow trim around the eyes to the red fur, SSJ4 gives off this wild, untamed look that was built for aura farming. While the canonicity of GT remains up for debate, it seems like Toriyama decided to give us one last gift: he made Super Saiyan 4 canon for us!

And the fans have been freaking out over it!

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Gomah is the Real Deal Now

If anyone doubted how tough Gomah would be when powered by the Evil Third Eye, that doubt has been thrown out the window. In the last episode, he managed to take every blow that the assembled party’s fighters could throw at him and shrugged it off like it was nothing!

Let me repeat that. The series broke the unwritten rule of fighting one-on-one by having eight fighters jump Gomah at once. And the best they could do was slow him down. Not even Goku is going to SSJ3, and Duu achieving a similar form is enough to pressure him for a long time. The Evil Eye is no joke!

To be fair, we cannot accurately assess how strong Gomah is in this form, as he’s not fighting Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, and Shin at their full strength. As strong as they are as kids, they’re still kids, and have to deal with the nerfing that comes with that. However, given everything that we’ve seen so far, and what he continues to accomplish in this episode, it might be fair to say Evil Eye Gomah is close to the level of Kid Buu. Considering the absolute menace Kid Buu was, and where this takes place in the timeline, that’s a pretty serious threat.

Things get so bad, in fact, that Neva has to go and pull a deus ex machina and give Goku a power-up just to save their hides. And what happens next is going to be debated among the fans for years to come: Super Saiyan 4 returned to Dragon Ball!

SUPER SAIYAN 4 RETURNS!!

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

As previously mentioned, fans have debated for years over whether or not Dragon Ball GT is canon. Some say the story is not up to par with its predecessor, DBZ, or its successor, Super. Others want it to be canon simply because of how cool Super Saiyan 4 looks. And some would prefer it would be scrubbed entirely. Regardless of what fans think, one cannot deny how the addition of Super Saiyan 4 is a big deal. Given how Toriyama himself wrote the entire story for Daima before he died, this is basically him giving the form his stamp of approval. And just listen to how the fans have reacted.

Granted, many of those same fans will now be questioning why this form never appeared during Super. And through that, they may question if Daima is canon at all. But you know what? Who cares? It’s awesome, and so was the fight that followed.

In a series that has preferred to keep the action on a level to the early days of Dragon Ball, the fight between SSJ4 Goku and Gomah is a fantastic return to the days of Z and Super. The animation is fluid and fast-paced, Goku’s fighting style really leans into the more primal nature of his appearance. The whole thing is just awesome! The only reason that Gomah even survives is simply due to the plot armor he’s wearing!

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Sadly, despite the huge power boost the heroes get, it turns out Gomah had been holding back the entire time. It’s unfair, but the story has to do it to justify the next plot twist as Glorio’s double-agent status finally comes into play.

I must admit, it’s a little disappointing to see that the Demon Realm’s Dragon is just a red version of Porunga. I know it’s supposed to keep with continuity, but come on, Toei. You could have had the dragon look like anything you wanted, and you chose to reuse Porunga? That feels like wasted potential! However, it was a good call to have the wish Glorio makes be spoken in Namekian. Since the audience doesn’t understand Namekian, we won’t know what he wished for until the next episode. Did he follow through with Dr. Arinsu’s wish to become the strongest in the Demon Realm? Or did he decide to turn on his employer and help the heroes? We won’t know until the next episode, and that’s the best kind of suspense the audience can be left on. Hopefully, the last two episodes of Daima will get the attention they deserve and end things on a high note.

I Give “Awakening” a 5/5

Gomah. He Looks Goofy, but is Dangerous

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Blogging, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dragon Ball Daima Ep 17 Review

Last time on Dragon Ball Daima, Goku and the other heroes made it to King Gomah’s castle. There, they managed to take down Degesu and rescue Dende, fulfilling one of their two goals of traveling to the Demon Realm. However, when they arrive at the final Tamagami, they realize that the Dragon Ball is missing! At the same time, Gomah manages to get his hands on the Evil Third Eye and places it in his forehead, unlocking a powerful new transformation. Will Goku and the others be able to defeat the Demon King in their current state?

Honestly, they’re in for a pretty rough go of it.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Duu and Goku Fight…

Since the beginning of Daima, this blog has said that Dr. Arinsu was working against Gomah. The signs were all there: she gave him the idea of trying to mess with Goku and his friends. She hired Glorio to bring them to the Demon Realm and retrieve its Dragon Balls. She created Duu and Kuu to get the last Dragon Ball. The writing was on the wall, and it should come as no surprise when this episode has her say it. She wants to overthrow Gomah, and use the Dragon Balls to turn the Demon Realm into her own empire. An empire from which she can conquer the rest of reality.

Again, none of this should be a surprise. Arinsu had “Starscream” written all over her face. What is surprising, though, is the fact that she doesn’t have Glorio turn on the others right away and give her the Dragon Balls. Instead, she has Duu fight Goku with the Dragon Balls on the line.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Only for Gomah to Crash the Party

The fight between Goku and Majin Duu is brief, but it also turns out that the two are pretty evenly matched. Goku does a good job, but Duu manages to tank most of his hits and give them back just as well. However, their fight soon becomes moot when the real threat shows up: King Gomah.

A few weeks ago, some fanart of what King Gomah’s ultimate form would look like wound up trending online. He was seen as this big, menacing figure akin to Frieza and Cell.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Imagine the disappointment fans must have felt when this episode reveals Gomah’s Third Eye form looks like this.

However, keep in mind that when it comes to the villains, Toriyama liked to subvert our expectations regarding their appearances. Frieza’s true form may look plain, but in truth, it’s downright terrifying. Cell may look more humanoid than bug in his perfect form, but his power is unreal. And let’s not forget the menace that was Kid Buu. So, as goofy as Gomah’s new form seems, the power he has is the real deal.

Don’t believe that? Here’s proof: Goku takes a moment to ask all the other strong fighters to help him jump Gomah. In a franchise famous for having the main heroes fight while the others watch, that doesn’t often happen. The fact that Goku is openly acknowledging that he cannot handle this on his own shows how serious this is!

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Let’s Kick Things Up a Notch

So, the climax of the episode has Goku, Vegeta, Glorio, Shin, Piccolo, Duu and Kuu, and even the Tamagami all rushing Gomah. And, in keeping with the Dragon Quest leanings, the fight feels like the climatic boss fight of a video game. It’s incredibly well-animated with some great, continuous shots. But, much like in the original Broly movie, not even jumping him at once is enough for the heroes. Gomah just tanks all their hits, and comes dangerously close to killing Goku. It’s only thanks to Duu and Kuu jumping in at the last second that he’s able to catch a break.

The episode ends with Goku powering up to the only form he has that can handle Gomah, Super Saiyan 3. He may. Or be at his full power as a kid, but this is his last resort. And judging by the previews for the next episode, this fight is going to be wild. Something that fans have been wanting to see from the very beginning!!!

This is the good stuff!

I Give “Gomah” a 4/5