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Parenting is Hard, By Rudeus Greyrat

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

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2, Ep 16 Review

It’s been said that one of the hardest jobs in the world is being a parent. Even if they’re  good at it, a parent can still make mistakes and do things that will make their kids hate them, sometimes forever. And even though they’re his sisters, not his kids, the fact that Rudeus was tasked by their dad to look after them makes him and Sylphie their guardians. And, as Rudeus realizes, they’ve both come with some emotional baggage. 

Rudy and Ruijerd Reunited!

The episode starts off on a rather positive note , with Rudeus more than happy to have reunited with his old friend, Ruijerd. The feeling is mutual as the two spend time talking and reminiscing about their travels well into the night. However, things get awkward when Ruijerd addresses the elephant in the room: where’s Eris? And Rudy simply explains how she ran out on him.

To his credit as a person and a fictional character, and as someone who looked after them for three years, Ruijerd demonstrates how well he knows Rudy and Eris. Even without him going into all the details, Ruijerd deduces that Eris’ departure is a mutual misunderstanding. He knows that Rudy can overthink things, while Eris isn’t good at using her words. Combine the two things, and a disaster was going to happen. Nonetheless, Rudy does take Ruijerd’s advice into account if Eris ever comes back.

That doesn’t change things for Rudeus, though. Intentional or not, Eris broke Rudy’s heart and put him into a depression that lasted years. If Eris comes back, and we know she will, she’s going to have to do a lot of apologizing. The kind that a single night can’t fix. 

Rudeus is a Parent Now

After Ruijerd leaves the next morning, Rudy and Sylphie begin their lives as guardians for Norn and Aisha. And as smart as he is, Rudeus isn’t prepared to be a parent. 

As Rudeus quickly learns, being a parent to her sisters is hard, especially when said sisters come with emotional baggage. 

Aisha Doesn’t Need to Prove Herself to Anyone

First, we have Aisha. On the surface, Aisha seems to have no issues. She’s self-sufficient, extroverted, and rivals her brother in brains. When Rudy tries to enroll her in Ranoa U., she proceeds to get perfect marks. The girl not only proved school was a waste of time, but she got her GED! 

It’s when it comes to Norn that her issues come to light. While Rudeus was going on his odyssey, Norn and Aisha stayed at Zenith’s mothers house. And they didn’t take kindly to having a bastard child outshine Norn. That only led Aisha to work even harder to become better than Norn, which only made things worse. Rinse, repeat, family drama ensues.

She doesnt get as much focus this episode as Norn does, but it’s great that the anime didn’t skip out on Aisha’s own problems or how Rudeus tries to address them. He knows how easy it could for her to let her talents go to waste, and that he needs to discourage any notion of her being inferior because of who she is. 

Aisha is the easy one, though. It’s Norn that is Rudeus biggest concern. 

Norn Still Doesn’t Like Rudeus

Let’s cut to the chase: Norn doesn’t like her big brother. Given how the first time she met her brother, he was beating the daylights out of their Dad, you can’t blame her for having a negative impression. It didn’t matter if Paul told her that he’s the one who started it. Many kids don’t get the nuance to it at that age. And seeing him to a girl she doesn’t know (she doesn’t really remember Sylphie) doesn’t help matters. Coupled with how her sister keeps outshining her, and the first chance Norn gets, she wants to live in the dorms at Ranoa U. She wants her space from her brother and sister. And Rudy gives it to her, thinking respecting her space will help her open up.

It doesn’t.

One month later, Norn’s still distant from Rudeus. Then, Lilna and Pursena make things worse. They steal the panties from every first-year girl at Ranoa U and give them to Rudeus as an offering! And while the anime doesn’t explain further, their troll logic is this:

  • Boss keeps panties as holy relic and prays to them.
  • Boss worships panties
  • Bring boss panties=happy boss!

I know they meant well, and that Rudy should’ve explained that he worships the person those panties belonged to, not the panties themselves, but those two idiots went too far. And, it may not say it out loud, but it’s heavily implied that one of those girls was Norn. 

They should count themselves lucky that Rudeus isn’t a violent person and cleared things up with Ariel. Otherwise, they might have had to deal with another inquisition. 

For these reasons, and for ones that will come to light next episode, this episode ends with Norn shutting herself off in her room. It’s too much for her! 

Parenting 101 is a Hard Class to Pass

Being a parent is never easy, something that Rudeus has had to come to terms with this episode. If he wants to have any chance of repairing the bond with his sister, then he needs to get through to her. Now. That being said, it’s these slower moments that really make Mushoku Tensei a cut above most Isekai. This series takes the time to flesh out its characters, to great success. Now, get ready for the next episode. It’s going to be…emotional.

I Give “Norn and Aisha” a 4.5/5

Nanahoshi Needs Help. NOW!

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

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S2 Ep 15 Review

You know what I love about Mushoku Tensei? How it’s never afraid to shy away from serious topics. Conflict between parents and children, depression, lingering trauma, and the importance of bonds to keep us going in bleak times. Rudeus has experienced all these before, and he will again, so he knows how serious it can be when someone they know is going through the same thing. When Nanahoshi’s attempts to go home hit another roadblock and pushed her to the breaking point, Rudeus knew he had to step in and do something. No one should go through life alone, after all.

Nanahoshi Almost Loses it

Life is going well for Rudeus right now. He’s got a giant house, plenty of friends at school, is married to his best friend, and plenty of money to spend. To top it off, he gets a letter from Paul saying they’re going to find Zenith, so they’re sending his sisters to live with him. Life is going well for him. But while he’s happy as a clam, Nanahoshi is falling further and further into despair.

Nanahoshi has been working for years now to find a way to return home to Japan, wanting nothing to do with this other world. She’s poured everything into learning how magic circles work to get home. She’s worked so hard trying to get it to work, only to keep coming up short. And…she snaps from this.

Like I said, this show doesn’t pull its punches on serious issues, and it does a great job of portraying Nanahoshi’s breakdown in a realistic manner. Her destroying part of her lab was disturbing enough. Seeing her pass out from exhaustion is concerning, as is her disheveled state after waking up. What makes things straight-up nightmare fuel is when Sylphie finds a dagger on Nanahoshi’s person. 

The look on Rudeus’ face says it all. He knows what Nanahoshi might do with that dagger if left alone. It’s a haunting reminder of how bad things got for him after Eris left and Sara dumped him. 

Intervention time. Now!

No One Has to Do Everything Alone

Knowing how suicidal Nanahoshi is right now, Rudeus has her stay at his place while he works with his friends to figure out a solution to this roadblock. And while they don’t entirely understand what she’s trying to do beyond getting home, sometimes one doesn’t need to fully understand the finer details to come up with good ideas. Taking inspiration from their research on the doll they found, Cliff and Zanoba manage to come up with a few ideas on what to do. After that, they show them to Nanahoshi, and it seems to do the trick. She gets that fire back in her eyes. Not long afterwards, her second attempt manages to pull something over from Earth! 

As exciting as this small victory is, what matters more is the message the story is trying to convey: trying to do things alone, no matter how good you are, can eventually end in failure. In addition, one shouldn’t shut themselves away from everyone, especially when they’re in pain like Nanahoshi. It’s only thanks to Rudeus going through similar experiences that he realized how bad things had gotten. If he hadn’t intervened, Nanahoshi might have killed herself. 

One Crisis Averted…Another One Shows Up

Real talk, though: Nanahoshi’s breakdown can hit very close to home for some people watching this. Maybe they’ve gone through something similar, like what they do won’t amount to anything or keep failing at something. Or maybe they know someone who’s been through something like that. They’re not alone, nor should they think that they are. There are people who care about them and will help them, if they’re brave enough to reach out. 

Ultimately, it looks like the lesson sticks with Nanahoshi. She still may hate the world she got pulled into, but at least she knows that she’s not alone there anymore. Crisis averted, Rudeus! And just in time for another one to pop up.

Remember the letter from Paul about Rudy’s sisters coming to live with him? The episode ends with them finally arriving, and while Aisha is overjoyed to see him…Norn still doesn’t like him. So, he’s going to have to deal with that soon. The one silver lining is that the person who escorted them there is an old friend: Ruijerd!

As great as it is to see Ruijerd again, it will also make things awkward when he notices Eris is absent. This will happen sooner or later, though. Good luck ripping that bandaid off, Rudy!

I Give “Afar” a 4/5

Spy x Family: Code White-One Crazy Vacation

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

Spy x Family: Code White Review

For a series that’s only been around for five years, it’s impressive how fast Spy x Family has earned its spot in pop culture. Set in a fictional world locked in a Cold War of West and East, the hit anime and manga follow the Forgers, a seemingly ordinary family on the surface; they’re a cover. The Dad, Loid, is a western spy trying to stop a potential war. His fake wife, Yor, is an office worker by day and a deadly government assassin by night, and neither knows the truth. And the only one who does, their adopted daughter, the meme-worthy Anya, is a five-year-old who can read minds but barely understands what’s happening. Oh, and their dog can see the future. 

You can see how easily anime can become so popular. Between Yor and Loid being top-tier waifu and husbando, respectively, and almost everything Anya does being a meme, the series is meant to make people laugh and know how to do it. And while I am only interested in it, I appreciate Spy x Family’s comedy enough to see its first foray in theaters, Code White. And after seeing it, I can confirm what one review I read said: you’ll either like only one half of the film or enjoy all of it. That is the beauty of the duality of Spy x Family.

One Part Comedy/Slice-of-Life

Despite being written as a single film, Spy x Family: Code White is 

two shorter films fused into one. For the first half of the film, the Forgers go on a weekend trip north to learn how to make the favorite dessert of the person judging a cooking contest at Anya’s school, with the winner getting one of the Stella Stars needed to become an elite scholar. AKA, the most essential part of Lois’s mission to meet the man the West suspects might be planning…something. They really don’t know, hence why they’re doing this. And with the higher-ups looking to take him off the mission for not moving fast enough, Loid needs this win. Hilarity ensues as the Forgers struggle to get everything they need.

To make matters worse (I.E. funnier), due to a misunderstanding, Yor thinks that Loid might be cheating on her with another woman. This is in spite of the fact that both of them know their marriage isn’t real, and they’re only pretending to keep Anya in that school. But Yor is so socially awkward and prone to worrying about standing out that she gets gaslit by her gossipy co-workers into thinking that’s what happening. Again, they’re not really married!

This is what makes Spy x Family so funny, though. Even though they both know what they have is fake (for now. I ship them,) Loid and Yor do care about each other and they care about Anya. Loid can claim he’s doing this for the mission and Yor to protect her identity all they want, but everyone knows they care about their found family. And even though not all of them are aware of what’s going on, they’ll all go to great lengths to protect this.

That is the first half. The second half is where the action ramps up. 

…One Part Spy Thriller

By sheer coincidence or rule of plot, a group of soldiers are in the area carrying a microfilm that could start a war between East and West. And Anya manages to accidentally eat the chocolate that it’s hidden in, making her a target. Now both her adoptive parents have to race to save her life and the world. And they have to do it without letting the other on about what’s happening. 

In any other setting, trying to keep each other in the dark about the truth about everything would be played for drama. Instead, Code White plays it up for laughs, especially when it should defy common sense! At one point when Loid has to land the airship they’re on, he passes it off as something he learned as a student. And Anya gives her this deadpan look that screams “Really, papa?” It’s pretty funny. And there’s also a running joke about Anya having to avoid going to the bathroom to get rid of the microfilm. Because if she does, she’ll die. (She never even ate it, though.)

A Really Fun Film, and Great Way to Kill Time

All jokes aside, once the film does focus on the action, it does a good job at it. There’s a reason why Loid and Yor are so popular with fans beyond their looks, and it’s because when they get serious, they get stuff done. The entire second half of the film is one big action sequence that would make John Wick, James Bond, and Eggsy Unwin proud. It’s not as intense as some fights in the Shonen genre, but it’s still fun.

As far as going to see it in theaters, you can either take it or leave it. If you love Spy x Family for its action, espionage and comedy mix, go see it. If not, then you could afford to wait until it’s on one of the many streaming services out there. At the very least, it helped me to kill time on Friday night, and I’m happy with that.

I Give Spy x Family: Code White a 4/5

There’s a Party Here in Ranoa!

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Mushoku Tensei S2 Ep 14 Review

There’s a party here in Ranoa, there’s excitement in the air! People pouring in from near and far, ’cause Sylphie and Rudy, they’re gonna have a wedding! Well, they’re skipping the wedding and just going straight to the reception. However, that’s beside the point. After reuniting with each other at Ranoa University (and healing him of his depression), Rudy and Sylphie are getting married. Sadly, like the source material, it’s never shown if they had a ceremony or filled out some forms. That doesn’t detract from the fact that Rudy is happy for the first time in years. In addition, this episode also reveals that Sylphie still has blood relatives left in the world. 

Before anything, though, lets discuss the new OP for Mushoku Tensei. I have some mixed feelings regarding it. On the one hand, the song is good, as is the animation. On the other hand, though, I dont know how to feel about how action-oriented it is, as well as all the spoilers. Mushoku Tensei didn’t even bother with an OP in its first season, using that time to focus on the story. When we did get an OP in season two, it was slower & more emotional. This feels like the anime is trying to emulate a contemporary like Sword Art Online. It feels a little jarring when you look at it like that. But what do you guys think?

Sylphie Still Has Family Left

Given its title, the majority of the episode revolves around Rudy and Sylphie’s wedding reception. Everyone they know and care about is there ready to celebrate and bless their marriage. However, the two most notable interactions are with Nanahoshi and Elinalise. Nanahoshi covers for Rudy about his past life, but it’s the moment when Elinalise tries to bless the couple that things take a turn. When Elinalise breaks down crying, Sylphie tells everyone what she’s already suspected: Elinalise is her grandmother.

For the record, I knew about this already from reading the light novel and manga. The anime had also dropped a hint when Elinalise recognized the pendant that Sylphie made for Rudy, so the clues were there. In addition, given how long Elves live as well as her curse and lifestyle choices, Elinalise having kids makes sense. Conversely, because of that same life, she’s never gotten the chance to enjoy having a family. It can be hard to imagine. 

I’ve seen and heard of a lot of people who have had to cut ties with their family because of their choices and things out of their control. Heck, with the rise of some content creator sites, I’ve seen people who have either had to resort to doing things they might consider embarrassing years from now, especially if they have kids. However, few things are more powerful than the bond between family, and Sylphie doesn’t reject Elinalise regardless of her choices and curse. 

As for Cliff, knowing his girlfriend has grandkids or had to sleep with a lot of men doesn’t change his feelings for her at all. If anything, he loves her even more for being so kind despite everything. Respect, Cliff!

Rudy Promises to Keep Sylphie Happy

The one thing that did surprise me about this episode, though, was how it moved a key moment from the story to the reception: Luke and Rudeus’ duel. In the source, that duel happens shortly after Rudy declares his intentions to marry Sylphie. The outcome remains the same, as is Luke and Ariel’s motivations behind it. For a moment, it felt like they weren’t going to do it at all. But the show surprised me. 

This was a quiet episode, no doubt about it. But that’s the beauty of Mushoku Tensei. It’s the kind of isekai that doesn’t rely on non-stop action, comedy or drama. Its not afraid to stop and look at the slow moments that make life worth living in the end. Also, Rudy is happily married now, and after all the hard work he’s put into being a better person, he’s earned this. 

I Give “The Wedding Reception” a 4/5

Our Boy Rudeus is Getting Married!

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Mushoku Tensei S2 Ep 13 Review

After going on hiatus for the fall and winter seasons, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation is back with the second half of its sophomore season. And the above song can accurately describe the current emotional state of Rudeus Greyrat. He’s reunited with his best friend/love, Sylphie, and thanks to her, he’s cured of the last two years of depression and impotence! Not wanting to lose her like he thinks he lost Eris, he straight-up asks her to marry him. Regardless of his faults, there’s little denying that Rudy has earned this chance to be happy.

One problem, though. He has no idea how marriage works in his new world and no home to live in. What he does have is friends who have his back.

Rudy Got his Game Back

Now Rudy has his confidence as a man back, it shows. All his friends at Ranoa University notice it. He’s smiling more, carries himself with greater confidence, and even gives Lilna and Pursena that trademark, lecherous grin of his, though nothing comes of it. His heart belongs to Sylphie. And while he still doesn’t explain what he was suffering from in the anime, it makes up a little for this. The comments from people like Cliff and the Beast Girl duo imply that they put two and two together. 

There’s one problem, though: now that Rudeus has asked Sylphie to marry him, he’s realized he has no clue what to do next. He’s not lacking money, but he’s been homeless since he was ten. Thus, the first thing he does is find a home. Though, given its size in the anime, it’s less a house, and more like a small mansion!

Who You Gonna Call?

No, seriously. It’s bigger than the home he grew up in. Big enough for at least a dozen or more people to live comfortably in. It’s the perfect place to spend the rest of his life with Sylphie. There’s one problem, though: it’s haunted by something that kills anyone who sets foot after sunset.

The majority of the episode centers around the trio of Rudy, Cliff, and Zanoba trying to clear the house a la Ghostbusters. Sadly, while it does its best to build up tension due to their unseen foe, it doesn’t stick due to who the group is. One is a guy who can cast spells without incantations, another is an elite healer in his own right and the final member has super strength and can tank anything thrown at him. Zanoba pretty much manages to handle the monster all on his own. However, the big surprise is saved for when they catch it. As Rudeus and Zanoba discover for themselves, it’s not a monster. It’s a magically-powered doll capable of moving on its own. In other words, it’s the magical equivalent of an automaton, robot, droid, etc.

It’s never explained in any version of Mushoku Tensei who made the doll, so the anime didn’t skimp on that. In the end, it doesn’t matter. After finding it, Zanoba and Rudy realize if they can reverse-engineer it, they can make their own line of doll bots to do anything (including robot maids.) And since he can’t really help with anything else, Zanoba begs Rudy to let him handle the research himself. It’s touching to see how dedicated the man is to dolls as an art, even if others find it weird. It makes you want to root for him.

The New Greyrat Household

As for Rudy, he gets a small mansion for himself and Sylphie. And, having read the light novels and manga ahead of time, I can say that it’s not too big for the two of them. When the time comes, it’s going to be home to a large family and pets. And despite Sylphie worrying that she’s being selfish by continuing to protect Ariel, Rudy reassures her that she’s anything but. If she wanted it, Rudy would give her the moon and the stars for what she did for him. 

This was another slow episode, but I can’t complain. Not every Isekai is all about the action. It’s the slower moments that people tend to remember, and it’s in this area that Mushoku Tensei has always excelled. It goes out of its way to build its cast in a believable manner, hence why it’s one of the best Isekai out there. The sole complaint I would have is that, unlike in the source material, their new home is set up in a more remote area outside Ranoa. That’s just a nitpick, though. 

Next episode, we’re going to have a wedding reception!

I Give “My New Home” a 4/5

Arise, HIM-Woo! Shadow Monarch of the Dead!

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Solo Leveling Ep 12 Review

This is the moment that I’ve been waiting for since I read the Solo Leveling manwha. Sung Jin-Woo has stepped into his own with his black air forces, but he’s getting stronger. And as his battle with Igris last episode showed, he needs to keep getting stronger. However, there’s only so much one person can do alone. That’s why Jin-Woo is going to need an army to back him up. And the army he gets makes the White Walkers and the Night King from Game of Thrones look like nothing!

Jin-Woo Shouldn’t Rely on Luck Anymore. He Needs his Black Air Forces

At the end of the last episode, Jin-Woo was in dire straits. Exhausted from fighting Igris, outnumbered by elite-level mooks, and missing the teleportation stone to leave, Jin-Woo is near his limit. To make matters worse, a vision of his past self appears as he starts remembering how weak he was. All of his fears, insecurities, and trauma come flooding back, almost making him falter. However, he gets a lucky break: having neglected to finish his daily goals, he gets teleported to the penalty zone. Unlike the dungeon, though, that place lets him use potions and items, so he abuses it to its limit.

There’s no sugarcoating this: Jim-Woo only survived because he got lucky. Luck is useful, no doubt, but relying on it to get by in life can be disastrous. Luck can fail you when you need it most. Jin-Woo knows this all too well. Had things gone differently in the Double Dungeon, he would be dead. That’s why the vision of his past self galvanizes him to never leave things up to chance again. Thus, by the time he gets back, he’s more than prepared for the fight.

And the reward he gets is nothing short of awesome. 

A King of Shadows is Crowned

To Jin-Woo’s dismay, he learns that he can’t choose his new class. The System chooses it based on his performance in the quest. And the Systems choice is that of Necromancer. AKA a mage, AKA a job that requires high intellect, which Jin-Woo has not focused on. Jin-Woo does get mad at first, but then he realizes how this could benefit him. Since he can fight in the front, he will be just as strong as the undead he raises. It’s a positive feedback loop: he gets stronger and an army of minions to do his bidding. Thus, Jin-Woo gets a new Class: Shadow Monarch. 

While the manwha’s art style makes the formation of Jin-Woo’s initial shadow army look cooler, there’s no denying the anime retains the sentiment. And if you’ve read the manwha, then you know that the small group that Jin-Woo starts with is only the beginning. When I say he’s going to build an army, he’s going to build an army. An army of undead shadows that makes other Necromancers jealous. When the show continues, it’s only going to get even cooler. 

And he will need it for what’s coming.

What is Jeju Island, Anyway?

For a good part of the season, the anime’s been bringing up location over and over again: Jeju Island. There’s a good reason for it, too, and while I can’t remember when it’s explained in the manwha, the fact that they’re bringing it up now means it might be coming sooner than the source material. So I’m just going to rip the band-aid off now and save everyone the trouble.

Located south of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island became the sight of an S-Rank Dungeon several years prior to the start of the story. The Hunters failed to close it in time, and the end result was a dungeon break. That’s when the monsters in a dungeon spill over and invade the human world. In this, giant, killer ants! Thus, South Korea had to evacuate the island, put it under quarantine, and send expeditions in every now and then to see how bad it’s gotten. And the ending shot to the first season has a group of S-Rank Hunters return with disturbing intel: the Ants are learning to fly and swim.

For reference, look up the Chimera Ant Arc from Hunter x Hunter, then imagine something worse. It’s that bad. However, if the anime makes it to that point, the fights will be legendary. 

The first season of Solo Leveling is over, and while I wish it had put more into the final scenes with Jin-Woo and touched on Jin-Ho, the season wrapped itself up on a pretty solid note. Sung Jin-Woo is no longer the weakest Hunter, but is on the path to becoming the strongest. And with his Shadow Army behind him, he’s going to become HIM. This was one of the best anime of the Winter 2024 season, and I hope that it comes back soon. I want to see more fights and more intrigue as Jin-Woo continues his Solo Leveling journey.

I Give “Arise” a 5/5

Jin-Woo, Time for a Class Change! The Hunter’s Strongest Test Yet!

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Solo Leveling Ep 11 Review

In many RPGs, there comes a time when a player’s character’s base class no longer cuts it. They need to advance to the next class and unlock new strengths and abilities. In some cases, that involves the player undergoing some quest to change their class. If Jin-Woo wants to survive any of the threats coming his way, he’s got to class up himself and his Black Air Forces. 

Jin-Ho’s Older Brother and Jeju Island’s Threat

While Jin-Woo remains the episode’s main focus, the anime continues building its overall cast with original scenes. While some might take issue with anime-original content, these scenes enhance the story by giving insight into the supporting cast. This week, the two main draws are Jin-Ho and Jeju Island.

From the outset, Jin-Ho’s goal has been to prove himself to his dad that he can lead the guild the latter plans to create. However, while the manwha mentions him having other siblings vying for the same thing, they’re never seen. The anime fixes this by showing Jin-Ho’s older brother and his attempts to recruit S-Ranked Hunters. Despite failing, the older brother makes his plans to try recruiting abroad known at a family dinner. That, and he threatens Jin-Ho to stay out of his way. It won’t stop him but shows how serious this competition is. 

As for Jeju Island, the anime again needs to be more specific on the details. However, it only adds to the overall dread surrounding the place. If there’s a place that makes the guild master of one of the strongest guilds in Korea scared, then everyone should be scared. And, having binge-read the manwha, I can say this: they’re right to be scared. It is legitimately terrifying. 

The Third Big Moment I’ve Waited For

Onto the main event, the episode’s focus remains, as always, on Jin-Woo. To undergo his job/class change, he starts a particular quest. He has to fight through a dungeon of powerful, elite-level enemies that will test his versatility. Knights for his speed, assassins for perception, and mages for intellect. And he can’t use healing potions or full recovery. In other words, it’s a war of attrition and conservation. 

While Jin-Woo handles the normal enemies fine, all that changes when he faces the boss, Igris the Red Knight. Jin-Woo is fighting at a disadvantage for the first time since fighting the giant snake monster. Every time he tries to fight Igris, the silent knight manages to steamroll him! It’s like watching an under-level player take on a boss they’re not ready to face! The knight starts ruining his black air force energy! 

This is what legendary boss fights are like.

This was painful to watch as someone who’s gotten curb-stomped by bosses in video games countless times before. It also shows why advancing your character’s class can mean life or death in an RPG. This was the third big fight I’ve been waiting for the anime to adapt, and it didn’t dissappoint. It shows that he needs to keep leveling up his black air force energy for how strong Jin-Woo is. It’s only thanks to dumb luck that he manages to win.

The job/class change isn’t over yet, though. There’s a bonus round. Jin-Woo has to fight a mob of elite mooks at once and survive. If he does, he can win even more resources and abilities. But even though they’re weaker than Igris, their numbers, and his fatigue, leave him on the ropes! Things don’t look good! Worse, there’s only one episode left in the season.

I already know how this is going to end, but getting to see this in animated form is going to be awesome. And trust me when I say this: if Jin-Woo wasn’t HIM before, then by the end of the next episode, he will be HIM! His job/class change is going to make him a monster!

I Give “A Knight Who Defends an Empty Throne” a 4.5/5

Jin-Woo Doesn’t Let Anyone Take Advantage of Him

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

Solo Leveling Episode 10 Review

It’s official now: Sung Jin-Woo is a badass, and he knows it. More and more people are starting to learn about it. So far, he’s managed to keep his slaying of Dongsuk’s party and defeating Tae-Shik quiet. However, sooner or later, people will start connecting the dots. An E-Rank Hunter keeps surviving these catastrophes he shouldn’t. And that’s not something that Jin-Woo needs to deal with right now. Thankfully, he now has the power of black air force energy, and he will make sure it keeps getting stronger. And anyone who figures out what he can do will keep their mouths shut.

The Black Air Force Continues to Grow

Once again, Jin-Woo has survived a catastrophic dungeon dive, though not without its scars. Two Double Dungeon survivors are dead, and one of them, Jee-Hoo, flat-out decides to call it quits. As sad as it is to see her give up on being a Hunter and return to her parents, this seems for the best. Jee-Hoo tried to recover from her PTSD, but this last dive only reinforced that she’s not cut out for Hunter’s life. And that’s alright. Sometimes, it’s better to quit when you’re ahead. Only some people can be Goku or Luffy and push their limits until they surpass them. 

Unfortunately, Jin-Woo doesn’t have that option. Ignoring the System forcing him to fight, Jin-Woo’s life is already in danger. Remember how I talked about Dongsuk and how he has a super-strong younger brother? To recap, Dongsuk’s brother is an S-Rank Hunter, and since he (rightly) assumes Jin-Woo is responsible for his brother’s death, he vows revenge. Thus, Jin-Woo has two options: either get stronger or run. 

Jin-Woo decides to get stronger and level up his Black Air Force energy. Thus, he and Jin-Ho begin their scheme to make Jin-Ho a guild master.

I like how the show faithfully portrays the two’s plan as well as it does. Having the two hire other Hunters to loiter around gates while they go in and do all the work is the kind of plan that’s so crazy, it works. Better yet, the shock on the other’s faces when they see how fast they take care of business is hilarious. Jin-Woo has black air force energy, though. And it’s only going to get stronger as time goes on. There’s one downside to it, though: the attention.

Jin-Woo Doesn’t Need the Publicity Right Now

Traditionally, someone with black Air Force energy is aggressive and wild and shows contempt for rules and authorities. At the same time, Jin-Woo can be the former, often not the latter. Leave him be or promise not to tell anyone how strong he is, and he’ll be reasonable. It looks like you’re going to mess with him or his family, though, and the energy comes out. Unfortunately (and I say this as someone who’s read the manwha), it’s only a matter of time before he attracts attention. 

As a prime example, we have a scout from one of the top Hunter’s guilds in the country. He sees all the disasters that Jin-Woo has survived, disasters that should’ve killed an E-Rank Hunter. He also realizes how he and Jin-Ho are buying up all the C-Rank dungeons and completing them in record time. Thus, he puts two and two together and realizes that Jin-Woo is stronger than an E-Rank. 

Much like in the manwha, this man tries to recruit Jin-Woo into his guild, only for the man to put on his black air forces. Not only does he turn the man down, but he orders him not to tell anyone else about him. The cut on his face makes it clear that his response will not be friendly or diplomatic. Then, just to mess with him, he scams him into buying some of the dungeons from him for more than they’re worth. That is what being Black Air Force is like!

Don’t Mess With Jin-Woo

This episode was another quiet one when compared to the previous episode, but that also has its own charm. It shows how deep and complex the politics and people of this Hunter-dominated world can be. More importantly, this episode shows how Jin-Woo doesn’t take kindly to people who see him as a meal ticket. That seems contradictory since he’s helping Jin-Ho, but their relationship is mutually beneficial. Jin-Ho can become a guild master, Jin-Woo gets stronger, and they both make money. In other words, treat him right, or Jin-Woo will mess you up.

There are only a few episodes left in the season, but trust me, the last few are going to be bangers. Jin-Woo gets a new quest that will let him change his class. And if you have read the manwha like I have, you know how hard this is going to go. I can’t wait for the next episode.

I Give “What is This, a Picnic?” a 3.5/5

Sung HIM-Woo Continues his Black Air Force Campaign

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

Solo Leveling Ep 9 Review

Ever since I started (and finished) reading the Solo Leveling manwha, I’ve looked forward to seeing many moments. And most of them involve Jin-Woo making victims out of his opponents. He now radiates Black Air Force energy, and every time he takes down an enemy, it’s incredible. Seeing it go from being still images to being animated by people who worked on SAO and Jujutsu Kaisen is flat-out spectacular. And in this episode, we get to the next moment that I wanted to see in the anime. Sung Jin-Woo might call himself Sung HIM-Woo because he is HIM. 

Psycho Killer, Qu’est-ce que c’est?

The episode tries to start off by acting like nothing’s going to go wrong. This would be a simple dungeon dive for Jin-Woo and the other Double Dungeon survivors. But even if they didn’t read the manwha, savvy viewers should notice the red flags from the previous episode—the extended focus on Kim and his family. The prisoners joining them, and the shady meeting with that unknown person? Things get set up to be a disaster from the start. And they are.

Ripping the band-aid off, Kang Tae-Shik isn’t just working for the Hunter Association. He’s also an assassin. The father of a woman who was assaulted by those same prisoners and later killed herself hired him to kill them. And when Kim and the other Double Dungeon survivor stumble across him, he kills them both, too.

The red flags for Kim’s death were pretty obvious. The last episode focused on his family, and he talked about apologizing to Jin-Woo after this dive. So, his death shouldn’t be a surprise. It doesn’t make it any easier to watch, though. 

The story also makes it clear that, even if those prisoners deserve their fate, Tae-Shik doesn’t do this out of altruism. He just likes killing people, and this gives him the best excuse.

However, Tai-Shik makes one mistake: he tries to kill Jin-Woo, Jee-Hoo, and Sung in front of him. And we all know what that means.

Another Day, Another Victim

The fight between Jin-Woo and Tae-Shik is a foregone conclusion, but that doesn’t make it less exciting to watch. Sung makes a good effort before fighting him, but it isn’t until Jin-Woo steps up that the real boss battle begins. The animation is superb, but what cinches is the reactions that everyone else has to Jin-Woo. Sung and Jee-Hoo have trouble processing his Black Air Force energy. Tae-Shik, on the other hand, goes from being cocky as they come to looking ready to wet himself. And the absolute death glare that he gets from Jin-Woo. I could practically hear Jin-Woo thinking how worthless Tae-Shik was at that moment for trying to kill him. 

It should be noted that Jin-Woo only has the moral high ground here because he’s doing this to protect his comrades. Beyond that, though, he’s just like Tae-Shik. He has killed before, and will kill again. But unlike last time, where the System did force him to kill, he didn’t even need to be told that here. He didn’t care about it anymore. Anyone who stands against him is his enemy, and that means they’re liable to become victims. 

Sung Jin-Woo is HIM, indeed.

In the end, Mr. Sung covers for Jin-Woo by saying he killed Tai-Shik with Jee-Hoo’s help, so his secret is safe for a little longer. However, that doesn’t change the fact that the two other survivors of the Double Dungeon incident are dead. At this point, though, I don’t think Jin-Woo even cares anymore.

Thus, the episode ends with yet another example of Jin-Woo exercising his Black Air Force energy, and this will only be the start. The question is, though, is as he gets stronger, what’s to stop him from becoming detached from humanity altogether? We’ll just have to keep watching and find out. 

Also, it’s sweet that people think that this moment was a tribute to Toriyama, but that’s just a case of unfortunate timing. 

I Give “You’ve Been Hiding Your Skills” a 4.5/5

The Need to Be a Hunter

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

Solo Leveling Ep 8 Review

After the recap episode from last week, Solo Leveling is back. Sadly, anyone looking forward to more action will be disappointed with this episode. Instead, this episode takes it slower and focuses on the characters. To be more precise, it focuses on why people want to become Hunters. Yes, there’s the fact that it helps keep humanity safe from what’s lurking on the other side of the dungeons. As we’ve seen, though, people have their motivations for risking their lives as Hunters. The fame and wealth it brings, the power it gives them, or the thrill of living out a real life fantasy RPG. Everyone has their reasons. Sooner or later, though, they have to question if their reasons are worth it. 

Exhibit A: Jin-Woo Needs to Help his Family

The first and most obvious example is Sung Jin-Woo. Even before becoming a Player and leveling up, he kept risking his life in dungeons. All so he could provide himself and his sister with money. More importantly, though, in the hopes of finding a cure for his comatose mother. And thanks to his experience in that special dungeon, he now knows about the Elixir of Life. AKA, the Holy Grail of medicine, AKA something that can cure any illness. The bad news is that he still needs to be stronger to get far enough to get the components for it. And when you’re weak in a video game to do something, you either A.) keep trying and hope for a miracle, or B.) go on the grind until you get stronger. 

Jin-Woo goes with option B, which means returning and accepting Jin-Ho’s offer, but with stipulations! They’ll be the only ones doing the work. Jin-Ho can hire people to show up to meet the required number of party members. They do that until they’ve cleared enough for Jin-Ho to become a Guild Master. Jin-Ho happily agrees to his bro’s terms. 

The rest of the episode is mainly exposition and Hunters discussing their reasons for their jobs. And while it’s not as cool as the fights, I like it. The slower moments help reveal more about a character’s personality. 

Exhibit B: the Yoo Family Needs the Resources

One of the big draws of the dungeons is the resources they can provide people with; the kind of resources society has come to rely on to maintain itself. Thus, dungeon diving can be very lucrative, hence why the best Hunters and strongest guilds are celebrities. And as of now, five guilds are at the top of South Korea’s food chain. 

Jin-Ho’s father, though, hopes to establish his own guild for his construction company. That way, they can gather the resources themselves without having to pay a middle man. That way, they’ll stay successful. And while it wasn’t shown in the manwha, additional scenes show that Jin-Ho isn’t the only one of his brothers vying for the right to lead this potential guild. Another one reached out to an S-Rank Hunter and got show down.

Jin-Ho is a loyal man, and will follow Jin-Woo to the ends of the Earth for saving their lives. However, he’s still trying to vie for his Dad’s favor, which means using every advantage he’s got. That’s why he’s a Hunter, and why he’s betting it all on Jin-Woo. It’s a mutually beneficial friendship. 

Exhibit C: The Guild Masters Need to Prepare for the Worst

One of the more interesting moments of the episode involves a conversation between the guild masters of two of the strongest guilds in South Korea. The thing is, both of them were survivors from a dungeon-related incident on Jeju Island. The anime has yet to go into too much detail, but when dungeons started appearing, things got so bad that the Hunters had to retreat. For reference, I read ahead in the manwha, and it’s better than it’s implied. It’s worse. To that end, they need more people to become Hunters—strong Hunters who can be ready for the day when what’s lurking on Jeju Island breaks free. 

None of this is important to the story now, but it will be down the line. Thus, this is some good foreshadowing.

The Double Dungeon Survivors Reunite

It might surprise some people, but this episode also marks the return of the other people who survived the double dungeon incident that made Jin-Woo a Player. And each of them is shown to be scarred by the experience, either physically or mentally. It gets to the point where each of them questions whether they should keep being a Hunter altogether. However, Jin-Woo’s friend, Joo-Hee, is the most notable example, as she’s still traumatized by the whole experience. However, despite her mother wanting her to retire, Joo-Hee tries to keep being a Hunter. She doesn’t want to give up the financial independence it provides her, even if it’s dangerous.  

It seems like fate when all the survivors of the Double Dungeon incident reunite as part of an urgent dungeon dive the Hunters Association needs done. Seeing how they each react to Jin-Woo’s new look/continued survival says a lot about who they are. I especially like how Kim Sangshik, one of the people who abandoned the others to survive, can’t look at Jin-Woo without feeling guilty. 

This episode was a slow burn, but I did enjoy the anime-original scenes that it added in. They are doing a good job of fleshing out the supporting cast of the series. And while many of them aren’t important now, they will be in the future. For the moment, though, we get to see the Double Dungeon survivors, a group of convict Hunters, and that purple-haired guy dungeon dive. 

Prepare for bloodshed. People are going to die.

I Give “This is Frustrating” a 3.5/5