Manga

Hakari the Gangster Sorcerer Joins the Story

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

JuJutsu Kaisen S3 Ep 5 Review

The preparation for the Culling Game continues. Maki may not have gotten the cursed tools of the Zenin Clan and lost her sister, but she did wipe them all out. No more of their toxic influence and Game of Thrones scheming. Meanwhile, Yuji and Megumi have to go and convince a senpai on bad terms with the authority figures to help them in the Game. And this guy is a real rebel who believes in following oneโ€™s passion to the fullest!

Which is fine by me, as I like people who want to follow their dreams even if they’re crazy. And anyone on bad terms with the leaders of the Jujutsu world gets bonus points in my book. Plus, it helps that their seiyuu is the guy who plays Roronoa Zoro!

Those Old Geezers at JJ HQ are on my Hate List

If it hasn’t been made clear by my reviews of JJK, or some of my other writings, I hate toxic conservatism. By which I mean I hate dogmatic people who insist on maintaining things the way they are, even when changing with the times would benefit them. And the leaders of Jujutsu society that aren’t named Satoru Gojo all qualify as such. Not only did they try to kill Yuji and make it a crime for Gojo to be unsealed, but this episode opens with one of their most heinous crimes: the murder of Principal Yaga.

Yaga was the one who created Panda, the first self-sustaining Cursed Corpse. HQ wanted that secret technique to create their own army of puppets to enforce their rules, but Yaga refused. And he made sure that before he died, he only told his fellow Principal Gakuganji the secret because he saw that knowledge as a curse. And this actually manages to get to the old man! Even more so when Panda comes along only moments after Yaga died and says that he’s not mad at him for following orders.

This entire thing was genuinely heartbreaking for me to watch. This is the equivalent of Pinocchio coming home to find Geppetto dead because some jerk ordered a hit on him. It’s downright tragic to watch, and even Gakuganji is shaken by his fellow educatorโ€™s death. When Gojo is unsealed, those higher-ups shouldn’t even bother praying, because they already signed their own death warrants.

I Like Hakari Already

While all of this is happening, Yuji and Megumi are on their own mission: to find and recruit their senpai, Hakari Kinji. He’s a third year at Tokyo Jujutsu High, but he’s been suspended by the higher-ups for being a good-for-nothing, headstrong rebel. As the two first-years see for themselves, that’s not an unwarranted opinion; he’s running a fight club for Sorcerers.

Even before we meet him, it’s clear why the conservatives running Jujutsu society hate Hakari. They’re rigid traditionalists who hate any concept of changing with the times, while Hakari is the new blood chafing under authority and longing to break free. Heโ€™s the kind of guy who encourages people to indulge in what they love and find passion in, because without that, what is life even about? Hence, his main reason for clashing with the higher ups is because wants encourage everyone in Japan to follow their passions. And for him, that means wanting to legalize his fight club and gambling in Jujutsu society.

I have to admit, I was pretty sold on Hakari before we even got a chance to meet him. Firstly, itโ€™s because HQ hates him. Secondly, while I dont exactly approve of a fight club, I respect the hustle. Thirdly, he’s voiced by Zoroโ€™s seiyuu, which gives him bonus points for aura. And once Yuji meets him, his aura only manages to get even better.

The entire meeting between Yuji and Hakari has to be one of the best scenes in the entire anime. It’s just one continuous shot with no change in perspective, camera angles, or anything. It’s impressive, crazy, and somehow manages to work. Then again, chaos seems to be what this series is about to run on, so I’m not surprised.

Overall, this episode was big on both the tearjerking moments as well as the exciting ones, as something tells me that I’m gonna like Hakari. A lot.

I Give “Passion” a 4.5/5

OG Founder: Why I Like DJing & Producing, More Than Watching Anime in 2026!

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Hey…so in the words of Cody Rhodes…

I know it’s WAY to late to say “Happy New Year”, as this is an OG Founder post the night before Valentine’s Day. By the way, for those who celebrate it and have someone special, be sure you love them and take care of them. If you’re single, eh, watch some High School DxD with a bottle of lotion and Kleenex and call it a night. (Most of ya’ll know where I’m comin’ from with that one.)

Now with the dry jokes out of the way, I feel the need to bring this lil’ thing to your attention. It’s 2026, and next month will mark 29 years of me being an anime fan. Yes, I’m ‘Unc’ and old as hell, but in the almost three decades of being a fan, I’ve seen the anime community grow and become what it is today. Now, you’d think that the show that got me into anime would be the usual suspects; Pokemon, DBZ, Digimon, and Yu-Gi-Oh. Of course you’d be right, but those are ‘childhood anime’. The show that really got me into anime, was Tenchi Universe.

This of course came up as part of the Toonami lineup, preferably the ‘Moltar Era’. Its been awhile since I’ve watched it so I might do a “One-2-One” character analysis on one, or more of the characters in a later post. Now back to the real reason behind this post; in the upcoming 29 years that I’ve been an anime fan, I’ve gone through many changes in terms of my opinions and perspectives, of where I stand in my relationship with anime in the modern era. Do I have biases towards certain shows? Yes, especially if they’re guilty pleasures. However with seasonal anime, I find myself experiencing a ‘Love-Hate’ relationship with the hype behind the quality of the shows, that have come out.

With every season; there are some outliers that deserve more attention than it receives, but with every outlier, there’s at least ten duds that are straight BOOTY! That’s another topic for another post. So, DJing and producing music…why do I like doing that, more than watching anime…?

It’s funny that I find myself saying that, because anime is the reason why I started producing music and being a DJ. Back in 2008 when Otakon was still in Baltimore, I went to the raves and stood where the DJ was. After hearing a techno remix of Daft Punk’s “Faster, Stronger!” (ya’ll know the words better than I do), I knew I wanted to be a DJ. At the time I had a passion for creating things, and that passion has led me to create D&A Anime Blog; as you guys see it today. It also led me to create my own DJ & Cosplay Party Promotion known as Club BASSMODE. You’ll hear the REAL reason why it was shut down in a future OG Founder post, and how I bounced back with NEW Thursday and Saturday Nite Events.ย 

I believe it stems from creative freedom and artistic integrity; where the music that I produce is only as good as I want it to be, and what I’m feeling at the time. Not having or being on a deadline or an anime simuldub schedule, allows my imagination and creativity to breathe, and not feel rushed. If you haven’t noticed by now from the words of this post, I’m a BIG advocate for creative freedom, and creative control. The creators of your favorite anime have the same passion about the characters and the worlds that they’ve built; from the stories they tell, to the character dynamics that we see.

In my 29 years of being an anime fan, I never thought I’d see Vegeta become who he is today, and Toriyama (rest his soul) wanted to ‘kill’ him off in the first arc. That took time to create, and the payoff was the development of a well-written character going through his redemption arc.

I don’t know, guys. I guess maybe the novelty may be wearing off (probably because I’m still icky about the recast and script for New Panty & Stocking), or maybe I’m nostalgic for titles and shows that take me back to a time when the world wasn’t so damn crazy! So to cope, I channel what I’m feeling through DJing and producing electronic music, and that’s the one thing I can control. Anime will always have a special place in my heart, so I don’t really see myself leaving it any time soon, but DJing and producing music does allow me to take a break; and be creative elsewhere.

So, what cha’ll got? Let me know what ya’ll like to do when you need a break from anime. Type in the comments down below.

OG Founder.

Out.

All Hail King Norgalle!

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

Sentenced to Be a Hero Ep 3 Review

On the last episode of Sentenced to be a Hero, we got to see what Xylo and the hero unitโ€™s missions are like when theyโ€™re not basically going AWOL. Xylo, Teoritta, this madman called Tatsuya, and this guy named Norgalle whose convinced heโ€™s a king, all went on a mission to secure a mine. But when they discover demons infesting the place and a group of miners still trapped inside, what does Xylo do? Disobeys orders to rescue them, naturally. Which, to be frank, is a pretty heroic thing to do. And after this episode, I think that Xylo and the others deserve to be called heroes in the traditional sense, especially Norgalle.

Don’t Try to Die Nobly in Battle if you Can Avoid it

So, with the Holy Knights ordered to collapse the mines hanging over their heads, Xylo, Norgalle, and Tatsuya work to rescue the remaining miners. Teoritta is forced to stay behind due to Xylo refusing to unnecessarily put her life at risk. This ends up conflicting with Teorittaโ€™s own willingness to do just that, not caring what happens so long as she does a noble death.

The entire theme behind this whole episode seems to be about how we view war and death in battle. Teoritta and Norgalle donโ€™t seem to mind dying so long as they do so helping others live to see another day, which is an admirable mindset. That, and they think going out taking as many enemies as possible is a metal way to die. In contrast, we have Xylo, the weary war veteran who understands that once youโ€™re dead, thatโ€™s it. Barring unnatural methods like what the heroes are sentenced to, and unless thereโ€™s an afterlife or reincarnation cycle, thatโ€™s the end. Even coming back like the heroes takes a toll on them, so death is still something to worry about. And after seeing what he has, Xylo refuses to let anyone die a pointless death.

Which is why, when Teoritta eventually chooses to ignore his orders to stay behind, heโ€™s mad. But I can understand why she did it.

Never Abandon your Comrades

Anime has taught me a lot of things, but one big one is that if you have to choose between following the rules or breaking them to save lives, itโ€™s better to break them. Itโ€™s why Xylo and the others went to rescue the miners, and itโ€™s why Teoritta opts to do the same. But while Xylo is the one who agreed to this, itโ€™s actually Norgalle who steps up in this episode.

I donโ€™t know if Norgalle is actually a king or not, but even if he isnโ€™t, heโ€™s got the bearing of one. Whereas other monarchs would insist on staying behind the frontlines and act as if their life is more important, Norgalle is the kind of king who does the opposite. Je spends this entire episode putting the miners’ needs before his own, doing everything in his power to ensure they make it out alive and refusing to see them as expendable. Delusional or not, that kind of selflessness is endearing, and it inspires the miners to help fight back the demons. Which, by the way, were indeed created due to a Demon Lord brainwashing the other miners, much to Norgalleโ€™s fury. His majestyโ€™s best moment, though, comes when he chooses to cut off his own leg so he can stun the Demon long enough for Xylo to kill it. That is the kind of crazy that can get things done!

Thanks to the heroes and Teoritta, all the remaining miners are able to escape and return home to their families. And despite many still viewing them as scum, a small handful of them work up the courage to thank them. Scum or not, they saved people, and that is worthy of respect. Even Kivia stands up for them by saying they did the right thing. I donโ€™t know if this will end up sticking or not, but if Xylo was able to change a small group of peopleโ€™s minds, then maybe he can do it more and more until everyone sees him as the hero that Teoritta, and by extension, the audience, know he can be.

I Give “Sentence: Spearhead the Recapture of the Zewan Gan Tunnels 2” a 4/5

The Uchiha Clan Massacre 2.0, Brought to you by Maki

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

Jujutsu Kaisen S3 Ep 4 Review

The Uchiha Clan Massacre, one of the defining moments in the backstory of the Naruto series. In a single night, one lone ninja proceeded to slaughter almost the entirety of his powerful clan, save for himself, the guy who helped him, and his little brother. And he did it all under the orders of a man who had no authority to make him do that. It was a tragedy that could’ve been prevented, and in the long run, it caused more harm than good for everyone involved. Why am I bringing this up now when we’re talking about Jujutsu Kaisen? Because the anime just gave the Uchiha Clan Massacre 2.0. Except this time, it’s entirely justified, the one doing the killing is in the right, and the clan in question deserves everything happening to them. Maki did what she had to do.

F the Zenin Clan

So, after spending the last episode focusing entirely on exposition as Tengen, Yuji, and all their allies prepare to stop Kenjaku’s plans, this one is focused on the actual preparation. Their first order of business is to retrieve all the weapons and gear the Zenin Clan has locked in their storehouses. So Maki heads to their compound with the authority of her cousin Megumi, who is now the clan head, remember, to do just that. The Zenin Clan, though, has no intention of playing ball whatsoever.

Let me remind you what I said in my review for the preview movie: the Zenin Clan sucks. They are one of the three biggest and oldest clans of Jujutsu sorcerers in Japan, and a family of backwards thinking, ultra-conservative, sexist jerks. Not to mention how they’re convinced that they’re in a story like Game of Thrones where it’s all the intrigue and scheming. Because even though they are facing the existential threat Kenjaku is bringing to Japan, all they care about is their own power. They have no intention of letting Megumi be clan head, with their leaders using those dumb orders banning Gojo from being unsealed as an excuse to try and off him. And when Maki comes back, all they do is look down on her for having zero cursed energy and being a woman. Naoya even says she’s worthless now that she’s got all those scars on her. But that’s only the start, as Maki goes to the vault, and all she finds there is her deadbeat dad and her mortally wounded twin sister, Mai. And then her dad almost kills Maki and leaves them both for dead.

Time for a quick tangent, by the way. Gege, you are an absolute master of the art of making characters whose existence people can loathe with their entire being. Naoya was already a arrogant, sexist jerk that deserves a punch to the face. But the girl’s dad? All he does is whine about how he’s not the clan head and blaming it all on his daughters’ existence. He even says that “children shouldn’t hold back their parents,” with a straight face. This is the definition of a deadbeat parent, and while there are a lot of things I hate, there’s nothing worse than a bad parent.

Which only makes what happens next all the more satisifying.

All my Homies Hate the Zenin Clan

There’s a reason why Maki has no cursed energy whatsoever. The rules of Jujutsu treat twins as the same person. So when twins are born, they get restricted. In the girl’s case, Mai got all the cursed energy, while Maki should have gotten a superhuman body like Toji did to compensate. So long as one lives, the other can’t reach their full potential. Which is why Mai, who never wanted to be a sorcerer, chooses to let herself die so that her sister can unlock her full potential.

This is an absolute tragedy, and even though I wish that the anime could’ve spent an entire episode on just this, I think it manages to hammer that aspect home. All Maki wanted was to change the Zenin Clan so that it could accept her and Mai and give them the home they wanted. But the Zenin Clan was so rigid in their beliefs that they refused to let that happen, even when it would’ve benefitted them in the long run. Thanks to everyone’s stubbornness, Mai has died, and Maki has lost everything.

But thanks to their arrogance, the Zenin Clan didn’t kill the twins when they had the chance. Because now, it’s time for their own Uchiha Clan Massacre.

Toji Could’ve gone Full Kratos on the Zenin Clan if he Wanted

Fans of JJK know who Toji Fushiguro is. Born to the Zenin Clan with no cursed energy, he bailed on them and discarded his last name due to them treating him like dirt. They shouldn’t have, because the universe chose to compensate him for his lack of cursed energy by giving him a body as strong as steel, with superhuman senses and strength to go with it. That meant that he could kill Jujutsu sorcerers with hardly a scratch, and made him their absolute worst nightmare. He could’ve killed his entire clan for treating him like garbage, but chose to take the high road on it.

Maki, on the other hand? Let’s review everything all the crimes the Zenin Clan has committed against her:

  • A lifetime of emotional and physical abuse
  • Disobeying a direct order from the head of their clan
  • Murder of her sister
  • Multiple accounts of attempted murder

The verdict is guilty, the sentence is death, and the executioner is Maki, courtesy of the sword Mai made her before she died.

The Massacre Straight out of Kill Bill

What happens next isn’t just the Uchiha Clan Massacre for a new generation. It’s the Uchiha Clan Massacre fused with Kratos’ rampage against the Olympian Gods. And it is as close to perfect as possible…at least if you’re from the West.

It’s common to find anime fans from the West disagreeing with their Japanese counterparts, but there’s something special about how our reactions to this episode of JJK. Everyone I’ve seen stateside has been calling the best episode of the series. They’re looking at the scene of Maki wasting those mooks and are saying how it’s just like the Bride killing the Crazy 88 in Kill Bill. I looked up a clip of the scene on YouTube, and everyone’s commenting just that!

And the part where Maki tanks the hits from the Hei unit! That one guy dies thinking that he helped kill Maki, but she just walks away with the head of another Hei member and throws it into a pond!

And that fight with Naoya! Even if he gave us one of the first memes of the year, everyone agrees Naoya deserves to get his face caved in! And the anime didn’t disappoint as Maki absolutely embarrasses him! They repeated the clip of her breaking his skull four times, and it’s still satisfying! And her carnage didn’t stop at the compound! She hunted down any Zen’in clan members who weren’t there and killed them all! Is it any wonder why those with Maki stock are taking a victory lap?

So why are the Japanese hating on this? From what I’ve heard, cultural differences.

Japan Didn’t See this the Way Americans Did

According to what I’ve heard, a big issue they have with the episode is how it portrays the massacre. They don’t like the upbeat and energetic music and pacing. To them, this event is supposed to be a somber tragedy because of what happens to Maki and Mai. And I do agree with them on that part. What happened to Maki and Mai is indeed a tragedy brought about by Maki and her clan’s mutual stubbornness. Had Maki not tried to spite the family that didn’t deserve her and just walked away with her sister, Mai wouldn’t have had to die. And I do think that the anime could’ve made this entire thing more menacing to respect Mai. Remember, despite thinking it had to be done, Itachi hated himself for having to kill his clan and wanted to face justice for it, even if others might not see it that way. But while what happens is a tragedy, Westerners don’t see it like that.

We often consider getting revenge to be a costly, self-destructive act. At the same time, though, if we find the ones who are the targets of said revenge to be utterly reprehensible, we’re willing to justify it. And, admittedly, there’s something satisfying on a primal level in seeing the hero beat the snot out of a villain who greatly wronged them. Ergo, while we may mourn Mai’s death, I couldn’t help but smirk as I saw Maki bury the backwards, sexist, backstabbing Zen’in clan six feet under. Even more satisfying is seeing Naoya go out like a chump at the hands of Maki’s dying mother.

So, despite what the Japanese have to say about it, and despite me wanting an entire episode dedicated to Maki’s killing spree, I still loved this. I have been wanting to see this animated for a while now, and while it wasn’t quite what I expected, it’s already one of my favorite anime moments of the year. Maki, you have effectively solidified your place as THAT girl! All hail the Queen of Jujutsu Kaisen, Maki!!

I Give Perfect Preparation a 4.8/5

THIS IS THE YEAR OF DRAGON BALL!!

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

Itโ€™s hard to believe that itโ€™s been two years since the world lost Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball. Yet for the time being, his greatest creation has continued to endure across the world and in the minds of its fans young and old. With this year marking the 40th anniversary of the original manga, fans are expecting big things to commemorate it. And it looks like weโ€™re going to be feasting, because on January 25th, the powers that be dropped a few big pieces of news. A Dragon Ball anime is coming back, weโ€™re getting a remake of one arc, and there was some big video game news that is leaving fans drooling.

Letโ€™s start with the first big piece of news: the Beerus arc from Dragon Ball Super is getting a remake.

DB Super Beerus Remake

After the disaster that was Dragon Ball Evolution, the late Toriyama was so mad about his creation being mishandled that he came out of retirement to fix things. The result was the hit 2013 film Battle of Gods thrusting the series badk into the spotlight for a new generation. That eventually led to a sequel film, and both would lead to a new anime series in 2015, Dragon Ball Super. I never watched the first two arcs in the anime since they were just retelling the films, but I have heard that there were a few complaints about it not being that good. There were issues with the animation, pacing, and other things that fans didnโ€™t like. So, I guess I dodged a bullet on that!

It seems that things were so bad that Toei has decided to remake the entire Beerus arc with new animation, with the resulting Dragon Ball Super L: Beerus releasing sometime this fall. Again, I preferred the movie to the anime arc, so I probably wonโ€™t watch it. However, that doesnโ€™t mean Iโ€™m not happy for other fans. And I know that a number of content creators are going to be happy about this.

What Iโ€™m looking forward to, though, is something that weโ€™ve had to wait for years to see: the return of Dragon Ball Super.

Super is Coming Back!

In 2018, after the Tournament of Power Arc came to its legendary end, DB Super went on what we thought was a hiatus. This was so that the manga adaptation could have time to tell the next major arc, the Galactic Patrol Arc, which everyone has expected to be what Super would cover next. But it never came back, and some fans started to lose hope that it would. For those who had faith, though, itโ€™s about to pay off. Dragon Ball Super: Galactic Patrol Arc is coming!

The basic premise of the arc is that Goku and Vegeta are asked to temporarily join the Galactic Patrol, an intergalactic police force that tries to maintain peace throughout the universe. Emphasis on trying, as theyโ€™ve never been strong enough to stop Frieza, his family, or any minions like the Saiyans. And when one of their most dangerous prisoners escapes custody, they need the twoโ€™s help to save the day. Itโ€™s a pretty good arc, and one that a lot of fans have wanted to see made into an anime. Which means that the return of Super is a pretty big deal for fans. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing it get animated, even if we donโ€™t know when it will release.

As for gamers, weโ€™ve got a lot to look forward to, as well.

Sparking Zero DLC

Two years ago, the legendary Budokai Tenkaichi series came out of retirement with its first release in decades, Sparking Zero. The game proved to be immensely popular at first thanks to having the biggest roster of characters in the entire line of games, online multiplayer, and what-if stories in the main campaigns. It also seemed to quickly lose steam on Steam, though, as it lost 90% of its player base in less than a month, but it has retained a steady base since then, from what Iโ€™ve heard. And that player count might grow this year as we just got our first look at the new DLC. And thereโ€™s cause for excitement.

This upcoming DLC is going to add even more characters to the gameโ€™s already massive roster, including Super Android 17, King Piccolo, and Super Saiyan Bardock. As a big fan of Gokuโ€™s dad, that last is especially exciting for me. Iโ€™m actually tempted to start playing the game again to get ready.

But all of this is nothing compared to the biggest announcement: in 2027, we are getting a new Dragon Ball game. While we still donโ€™t know its name, the title alone is enough to get hardcore fans pumped: Dragon Ball: Age 1000.

Dragon Ball: Age 100

You might not know this, but in 2010, there was actually a Dragon Ball MMORPG, Dragon Ball Online. Released exclusively in East Asia, it takes place 216 years after the events of the Majin Buu Saga, and Earth has changed a lot since then. Most humans are now at least partially Saiyan, the Namekians relocated to Earth, Majin Buu started his own race, and best of all, the use of Ki is universally recognized, meaning everyone sees Goku and the others as the heroes they are. But the Earth is now threatened by the like of Towa and Mira as they mess with the timeline, leading many to join the Time Patrol led by Future Trunks.

If all of this sounds like the Xenoverse games, thereโ€™s a good reason. DBO shut down in 2013, but many of its concepts and characters became a part of Xenoverse and Xenoverse 2. That hasnโ€™t stopped fans from wanting an actual DB Online game again, though, and thatโ€™s why this trailer is a big deal. That, and this new character might have been designed by Toriyama before he died.

We wonโ€™t know more about Age 1000 until April, but Iโ€™m betting fans are already coming up with their own ideas about what this game could be like. I liked the Xenoverse games myself, but I do want to see something more like DB Online here in the west. Hopefully, weโ€™re finally getting what we want!

And that is everything that we know so far! Hopefully, Toei and Shueshia will release more info in the coming months, as itโ€™s got the fandom in a frenzy and eager to learn more. We will try to cover it as best as possible here, as we are massive fans of Dragon Ball and are eager to take part in the celebration ourselves. Until we meet again, guys!

LET THE CULLING GAME BEGIN!

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

Jujutsu Kaisen S3 Ep 3 Review

My fellow Jujutsu sorcerers, Jujutsu Kaisen is back! Well, it’s been back for about a week by the time I’m writing this, but I didn’t write about the first two episodes. There was no need to, since I had already covered them in my review of the compilation movie. But now that they’re out, I’m free to cover everything going forward as we get into the Culling Games. I’m going into this basically blind, but from what I’ve heard, and based on how crazy the new OP is, this is going to be absolute chaos!

What is the Culling Game?

So, where were we when we last left off? Yuji was a fugitive from the corrupt Jujutsu heads alongside his half-human, half-cursed spirit half-brother. Nagoya โ€œDbagโ€ Zenโ€™in tried to kill Yuji. Yuta showed up like an absolute CHAD and helped Yuji fake his death. And now all the good guys reunite at Tokyo Jujutsu High to meet Tengen, the immortal responsible for the barriers protecting the high schools in Tokyo and Kyoto. This brings us to this episode, which is more or less dedicated to exposition dumping on what the heck is about to happen.

Which is good, because I’ve always had a hard time understanding the power system in JJK, and I’ve had an even harder time trying to understand what the end goal of the antagonistโ€™s is for the Culling Games.

To sum it up as best as I can understand it, it’s like the Infinite Tsukuyomi from Naruto meets Fortnite.

No, really. The ultimate plan of Kenjaku, the sorcerer who has possessed Getoโ€™s corpse, is to force humanity to evolve by giving everyone access to cursed energy. His plan is to have humanity fuse with Tengen, who has evolved to become less a human and more an abstract entity, granting them all curse energy. To do that, he needs a massive amount of cursed energy be unleashed, hence why he’s been working behind the scenes for a thousand years trying to make the Culling Games happen. He made pacts with ancient sorcerers to have them participate in exchange for bringing them back in new bodies, which he did by feeding people cursed objects containing their souls. He also found people with cursed techniques who couldn’t use them and modified their brains so that they could, using the disaster curses and others to accomplish this. And since users of the Six Eyes like Gojo kept foiling him in the past, he made sure to seal Gojo so the technique wouldn’t pass on to someone else. All of this culiminated at Shibuya, where Kenjaku used everything to awaken thousands of sorcerers, both ancient and modern-day, and unleashed countless cursed spirits across Japan.

Da Rules

So, there a boatload of sorcerers who appeared out of nowhere, hordes of cursed spirits that have formed colonies across Japan, and Kenjaku is forcing them all to fight in the Jujutsu equivalent to Fortnite. All so he can merge humanity for the sake of transcending their current limitations. And to make matters worse, joining the Culling Games is non-negotiable for those picked. There are rules that even say so!

  1. Anyone who gets a cursed technique has to join nineteen days after awakening said technique by entering one of the colonies.
  2. Refusal to join will lead to players deaths by removal of cursed technique.
  3. Non-players who enter colonies become players by default.
  4. Points are gained by killing players and non-players
  5. Point values are determined by game master
  6. Players who gain 100 points can ask game master to add a new rule to the game. No takebacks!
  7. The game master must agree to new rule as long as it doesn’t mess with the game.
  8. Players whose scores haven’t changed after 19 days will die.

And to make sure that the game can’t end if he dies, Kenjaku made it so he isn’t the game master. This Shinigami thing called a kogane is!

Credit where credit is due; as someone who enjoys games myself, Kenjaku really thought this out. A pity that he’s doing this for the sake of evil. And with Gojo sealed in the Prison Realm, and the tools needed to free him destroyed or out of energy, there’s no way for him to stop Kenjaku.

Or is there?

One Chance

As fate would have it, one of those reawakened sorcerers, Angel, has a technique that can nullify other cursed techniques. Which means that she’s able to open the back door to the Prison Realm and let Gojo out. So, if they want to stop this madness, then they’re going to have to find Angel. But since this episode already gave us plenty of exposition, the anime decided to cut us some slack and give us this video explaining the good guyโ€™s plans.

Everyone has their marching orders now, and so everyone must get ready to play the deadliest game of their lives.

Now, some people are no doubt asking why Kenjaku decided to make the rules as they are, let alone give players the chance to alter them or provide an out. That seems counterproductive to his evil plans for forced assimilation. The thing is, he probably doesn’t care if he ends up failing. His only goal is to force humanity to evolve, and conflict has always been a surefire way of seeing this happen. Think of how many leaps and bounds in technology have been made thanks to war making them a necessity. Even if he fails and even if the game falls apart, that won’t change the fact that he’s shaken Jujustu society to its core. They have to change now.

Great Exposition

Personally, I liked this episode. It might have to do with growing up watching Yu-Gi-Oh!, but I enjoy hearing exposition so I can better understand what’s going on. And judging by the comments on that Crunchyroll video, there are plenty who are having a hard time understanding how this whole thing will work. But what I think is my favorite part of this episode has to be the ending as we get our first look at one of those awakened sorcerers. I read about him on TV Tropes, and from the sounds of it (and how he is in the OP), he’s going to be pretty funny. Heaven knows we need that considering what’s about to happen.

I Give “About the Culling Game” a 4/5

I’m Already Stuffed from Anime, and 2026 isn’t Here Yet!

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

All the Anime RJ Writing Ink is Looking forward to in 2026 (So Far)

Looking back on 2025, it was pretty much a golden year for anime. There were so many amazing series, both new and returning, that graced our TVs, smartphones, and computers. But with the new year upon us, that means new anime to appreciate. So much so that my poor brain is struggling to remember everything we have to look forward to. However, that will not stop me from going over all the confirmed series that I think most people will want to see.

Sentenced to Be a Hero, January 3rd

You would think that getting to be a hero would be a sweet gig, but then you remember all the peril that would involve putting yourself in. Then you have what’s going on in this anime, where being a hero is considered a punishment for criminals wjo are forced to fight against demons. Not even death can save them from this fate, as they just get revived and forced to go through it all again. What makes this anime stand out isn’t the story, though. It’s the animation. The directors behind this anime adaptation are the ones responsible for the best scenes from Mushoku Tensei. The first season of that isekai has some of the best animation you’ll find in an anime, so this could end up being one of the most beautiful anime of the year. I’m very tempted to review it myself!

Speaking of whichโ€ฆ

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3

One of the pinnacles of the isekai genre will be returning for its third season sometime in 2026, and I’m absolutely stoked for it. A lot has changed in the life of Rudeus Greyrat. He’s back home with his mother and the rest of his family, he’s now married to both Sylphie and Roxy, and to top it off, he’s now a father. All seems right with the world for Rudy, but as we see in the trailer, things are only going to get crazier for him. The return of his ex-girlfriend Eris is just the tip of the iceberg, as things will be revealed that will reframe the entire story thus far. And as someone who read ahead, I’ve been keeping my mouth shut about everything long enough!

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, January 5th

My Hero Academia may be over, but we still got the prequel spin-off series to look forward to as it returns for its sophomore. After the events at Narufest at the end of the first season, Koichi and Pop are surprised when Knuckleduster up and disappears, leaving them on their own. Nonetheless, they strive to continue their roles as Naruhataโ€™s friendly neighborhood heroes without their mentor. Anyone who misses MHA will be able to rest easy knowing that we won’t be leaving the world of MHA behind anytime soon.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, January 9th

Ladies and gentlemen, peak shonen is about to return. I already talked at length about what we have to look forward to with the third season of JJK in my review of the movie preview, but I just want to remind us that things are going to get crazy. Yuji is a fugitive from a corrupt Jujutsu society, Kenjaku has turned Tokyo into a warzone, and one of the craziest arcs in the story is about to begin. And that’s not even going into the sub-plot about the Zenโ€™in clan!

Frieren Beyond Journey’s End Season 2, January 16th

I have yet to watch the show for myself, but even I’ve heard about the fantasy greatness that is Frieren. And now that greatness is coming back for more. I think that’s all that needs to be said.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Season 4, April

We here at the D&A Anime Blog are big fans of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, and for good reason. It’s another example of what I call the Seven Summits of Isekai, and 2026 is looking to be a good year for Slime fans. Not only are we get a new film about Rimuru and the others going on vacation in February, but it’s reported that season four of the anime will be premiering sometime in April. In short, we’re going to be eating well this year.

Dr Stone: Science Future Cour 3, April

Another long-running Shonen series is returning for its final act in the form of Dr. Stone. Despite knowing how things would turn out, I more or less abstained from the second part of the final season because it was way too depressing for my tastes. However, considering how the ultimate goal of the Kingdom of Science remains getting to the moon, I cannot help but want to watch what comes next.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, March 19th

The legend returns, and that means it’s time for everyone to brush up on their JoJo poses and memes. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure will be returning for Part Seven, Steel Ball Run, this March exclusively on Netflix. Set in an alternate timeline from the one we’ve known, Steel Ball Run is Araki’s take on the spaghetti western as we see an alternate version of the original JoJo, Johnny Joestar, participate in a race across the United States that hides some deadly secrets. Steel Ball Run is the biggest shake-up to the long-running Shonen series since Stardust Crusaders, but JoJo is still JoJo. So, expect gorgeous artwork, epic posing, and plenty of memes to be made starting in the spring.

One Piece, Elbaph Arc, April 5th

It’s crazy to believe that One Piece will now be a seasonal anime, but it’s for the best. It means that Oda will not have to worry about keeping the manga ahead of the anime, and that the anime can focus more on quality over quanity. And given how the next arc is also the biggest yet, that is saying something. As the Straw Hat Pirates finally make it to the homeland of the Giants, fans will be in for an experience unlike anything we’ve seen up to this point. Having been reviewing the manga on my personal blog, I can say that Elbaph will be worth the wait.

And this is only the anime that I’m aware of and want to watch. There is going to be plenty more to look forward to in 2026. Happy new year, everyone!

So Many Fire Moments of Anime, So Little Time!

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

RJ Writing Ink’s Picks for Best Anime Moments of 2025

What a great year of anime that we’ve had! 2025 was filled with so many hits that there was no way I could possibly watch them all. From Jin-Woo continuing to slay as an aura farmer to Rentaro’s legendary yap about his girlfriends, there were a lot of anime moments that will live rent-free in my head for a long time. To celebrate the end of the year, I’m continuing my tradition of naming my favorite anime moments of 2025. Full disclosure: I will be limiting this to the anime that I managed to watch. This year got pretty busy for me, so I was unable to follow through on everything I wanted to see.

Super Saiyan 4 Returns, Dragon Ball Daima

Dragon Ball Daima was a bittersweet event for Dragon Ball fans, as it would be Akira Toriyama’s final contribution to his creation before his passing. However, he made sure to cook us up a feast before he died, culminating in the return of one of Goku’s most legendary forms, Super Saiyan 4. While Dragon Ball GT remains a controversial entry to the franchise, everyone agrees that SSJ4 was the best thing to come out of it. Needless to say, getting to see it re-enter the canon at the climax of Goku’s journey through the Demon Realm was like a blessing from the heavens themselves. Thank you, Toriyama.

Kuma Gets Revenge on Saturn, One Piece

If you remember my post praising the story of Bartholomew Kuma, then you also remember how offended I am by the mere existence of his mortal enemy, Jaygarcia Saturn. The monstrous member of the Five Elders of the World Government went out of his way to make Kuma’s life miserable, kidnapping and injecting the love of his life with a fatal illness, giving said illness to her daughter, and then forcing Kuma to give up his humanity to save her life. Needless to say, every fiber of my being wanted Saturn dead before the Straw Hats left Egghead. While that would end up happening, I found it way more satisfying when Kuma came to rescue his adoptive daughter from death at the hands of Saturn, and then repay him for a lifetime’s worth of pain in one cathartic punch. Guess good things come to those who wait.

Rentaro’s 2-Minute Monologue about his Girlfriends, The 100 Girlfriends

I know I like to talk about 100 Girlfriends a lot on this blog, but normally, I wouldn’t include something from it as one of the greatest moments in anime for the years. However, I think this should count as an exception. In the final minutes of season two, Rentaro proceeds to go on an entire monologue about everything he loves about his girlfriends. Besides demonstrating just how much of a CHAD he is, that monologue actually made the record books, earning the record for the longest speech in Japanese Animation at over 7,453 characters. The dub is just as impressive, coming in at more than 3k words! And all of it had to be sped up to fit it into that one scene. Earning a world record is more than enough to make it onto this list!

Jin-woo vs the Ant King, Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadows

I’ve called Sung Jin-woo the Black Air Force Hunter for a reason, and the second season of his show continued to demonstrate why he’s worthy of that title. There were plenty of epic moments throughout the season, but its magnum opus is, without a doubt, when Jin-woo faces off against the Ant King on Jeju Island. When the best Hunters of two countries are left at the brink of death, Jin-woo shows up to save the day. The entire country then gets to see firsthand why Jin-woo is the strongest as we get this visually spectacular battle between Hunter and Monster. And the music they used was just the icing on the cake!

Natsuko Rewrites the Ending, Zenshu

After getting isekaied into a world based on her favorite movie, A Tale of Perishing, Natsuko did everything in her power to change the story’s ending, only for it to seem to be for naught. As the world begins to be destroyed by the embodiment of despair, the Ultimate Void, Natsuko uses all her drawing skills to make one last attempt to rewrite the story, creating a version of Luke strong enough to destroy it. In doing so, not only does she confess her love for the actual Luke, but manages to recreate the entire world and bring back everyone who died in the process. Not only is this whole thing absolutely gorgeous to look at, but it ties back into the show’s overall message of hope over despair. And it’s a much better ending than the film’s creator could ever have made. Score one for fan writing!

Speaking of which…

Midoriya and the Heroes Defeat All for One, My Hero Academia Final Season

Speaking as a fellow Star Wars fan, I can’t but think that Kohei Horikoshi looked at the climax of The Rise of Skywalker and thought, “hey, maybe I can do better.” I don’t know if that’s true or not, but seeing all of the Heroes help Deku defeat the evil All for One definitely gave off those vibes. As Midoriya puts everything he has left into one final attack, we get a montage of all the Heroes still capable of fighting doing everything they can to help him, culminating in a final, gorgeous moment as Deku lands the blow that will ultimately seal the villain’s fate. To make it even better, the entire thing was played to the series most iconic song, the ever-memeable “You Say Run.” That song really does go with everything!

Mecha vs. Space Kaiju, DanDaDan S2

You know what’s better than giant robots fighting equally giant monsters. Absolutely nothing! There were a lot of standout moments in the second season of DanDaDan, but I think the gang turning the Ayase house into a mecha to fight a space kaiju takes the cake. But even more importantly was getting to see newcomer Kinta not only solidify his role as an ally of Okarun and Momo, but he got to live out his dream of piloting a giant robot. Every Gundam fan in the world has got to be jealous of that guy at that moment! He may have his flaws, but when push came to shove, Kinta proved he had that dawg in him!!

Chainsaw Man vs Storm Devil, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc

After waiting years for the story ofChainsaw Man to continue in anime form, the Reze Arc movie didn’t fail to disappoint. Denjiโ€™s fight against the likes of Reze was already crazy enough as it was. However, we all know that Chainsaw Man is one of those series that thrives on being as chaotic as possible. Ergo, instead of fighting just Reze, we get to see Denji fight her and the Typhoon Devil. All while riding atop the Shark Fiend. What is is crazier than riding a shark into battle?

The Whole Thing, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba-The Movie: Infinity Castle

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle was the kind of film that needed to be seen on the big screen. Anything less would be a great disservice, as would my attempting to pick one moment from it to single out. This entire movie was pretty much one big greatest anime moment of the year. The Demon Slayer Corps charging into their final battle against the Demons. Shinobuโ€™s ultimate fate fighting Douma. Zenitsu killing his former sibling disciple turned Demon. Tanjiro fighting and beating the Demon that killed Rengoku! There’s too much to choose from, so I’m choosing it all! I’m so glad I got to see it on the big screen!

So, what were your favorite anime moments from 2025? Let us know!

All Jujutsu Sorcerers, Prepare for the Culling Games

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

Attention, Jujutsu Sorcerers! The Culling Games shall commence in approximately one month! So if you could make your way to your nearest theater to see JJK: Execution, you may receive your briefing on whatโ€™s happened as well as what comes next.

Two years ago, Jujutsu Kaisen gave us one of the absolute coldest arcs in Shonen History, the Shibuya Arc. Or as I like to call it, the worst night of Yuji Itadoriโ€™s life. One mentor was sealed away, another died, many of his friends and comrades were killed or maimed, and worst of all, Sukuna was let off the leash. Needless to say, any lightheartedness that the series had was gone as Yuji had become a fugitive. After that, fans had to wait for season three to come out, and while we still have a month to go, Shonen Jumpโ€™s got us covered. I went to see the compilation film Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution, and not only does it recap the Shibuya Incident, it gives us a sneak preview of Season Three. And, boy, are we going to be in for a show come January!

You are my SpecialZ

Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution can be split up into primarily two parts: the first part is recapping the events of the last season, namely in Shibuya. Normally, I would gloss over everything to get to the previews for the new season. However, I want to make an exception in this case because the recap is just so good! It starts off with what is arguably the most important moment of the series: the capture and sealing of Satoru Gojo. Until that point, Gojo was basically the seriesโ€™ nuclear deterrent, allowing the main characters to relax a little since they had Gojo to look after him. He was so overpowered that they had to write him out of the story for the foreseeable future just so the stakes could be raised enough for us to worry. And the second he went inside the Prison Realm, all hell begins to break loose.

From there, we are treated to a greatest hits montage as we see the biggest moments of the first half of the Shibuya Arc take place, all to the song โ€œSpecialZ.โ€ Itโ€™s awesome, you guys. All of the fighting, pain, and suffering rolled into a single montage, all building up to the moment when Sukuna is let off the leash. We then get another montage showing his subsequent rampage, leading up to the moment when Yuji awakens to the sight of the black hole that was once Shibuya. I chose to see it in dub, and I have to say, Adam McArthur sells it when showing just how traumatized Yuji is. And then he has to see Nanami die and Nobara get half of her face blown off at the hands of Mahito. I almost forgot just how much of an insufferable jerk that Curse is. Of course, it only makes his defeat and death all the more cathartic. Itโ€™s not much comfort, though, considering how Kenjaku escapes with the Prison Realm and having unleashed an army of Curses on Tokyo. And then we learn that not only is Yuji marked for death by the corrupt higher-ups, but that his executioner is none other than Yuta Okkotsu, AKA one of the other GOATs of Jujutsu Kaisen.

If you havenโ€™t seen the movie Jujutsu Kaisen: 0, then I recommend you go watch on Crunchyroll. However, hereโ€™s the short version about Yuta. Heโ€™s a second-year at Jujutsu High, and next to Gojo, heโ€™s the strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer alive. Heโ€™s so strong, in fact, that when his best friend Rika, got killed by a car, she accidentally turned her into a curse that haunted him for the next ten years. And he was also the one who beat Suguru Geto. And now, heโ€™s come back from abroad to hunt down Yujiโ€ฆor has he?

With everything now in place, we get to the start of the third season of Jujutsu Kaisen with what I believe are the first two episodes. Spoilers are ahead, in case you wanted to wait until January.

Itadori: Fugitive!

The first episode opens on a moment that I thought was very surreal as we see Yuji trying to wash his hands clean of blood. I loved the symbolism behind this, as it demonstrates the guilt that Yuji is feeling. He thinks the blood of everyone that Sukuna killed is on his hands, and I get why he would think that, since Sukuna was using his body. However, I donโ€™t see what happened as his fault; he wasnโ€™t in control of his actions, so he shouldnโ€™t be held accountable. That was all Sukunaโ€™s doing, and he did it to hurt Yuji because of how much of a good person he is. However, that doesnโ€™t change the fact that Jujutsu HQ has reinstated his death sentence now that Gojo was gone, so heโ€™s now a fugitive. Heโ€™s continued to take down Curses running rampant throughout Tokyo, but he wonโ€™t risk going back to Jujutsu High. The only good thing about all this is that heโ€™s not alone. He has his older brother.

During the Shibuya Incident, Yuji met and fought Choso the Death Painting, one of these nine Human-Cursed Spirits hybrids Kenjaku created in an experiment in one of his previous hosts. Furthermore, a flashback to Yujiโ€™s infancy revealed that his mother, Kaori, had the same stitch marks that Geto now has as Kenjakuโ€™s host. In other words, Kenjaku is technically Yujiโ€™s mother, meaning that the Death Paintings are his half-siblings. Yuji and his friends had killed two of the Death Paintings before the Shibuya Incident, but after Choso learned they were technically related, he dropped all intention of killing him in favor of protecting him.

Admittedly, Choso is a bit of a creepy character, and I can understand why Yuji would be a little uncomfortable with him repeatedly calling himself Yujiโ€™s older brother. However, I could tell that heโ€™s a good person at heart, something that he demonstrates by constantly looking after Yujiโ€™s well-being like any good older sibling would do. He also acts as an anchor for Yuji, keeping him from going over the edge into madness over the guilt of what happened. If he werenโ€™t around, I donโ€™t think Yuji would have survived on his own.

This especially becomes apparent when Yuta and someone else come after Yuji. That someone else being one of the most vile, disgusting, and detestable characters in the series: Naoya Zenโ€™in.

The Zen’in Clan Sucks!

Itโ€™s backstory time: the Zenโ€™in Clan are one of the three strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer clans in Japan, and the clan that Toji, Megumi, Maki, and Mai belong to by blood. Like a lot of the leaders of Jujutsu society who arenโ€™t named Satoru Gojo, though, theyโ€™re also a clan of backwards-thinking, toxic conservatives who measure oneโ€™s worth by their skill as Sorcerers, not to mention being unbearably sexist. No joke, when we see Naoya at the Zenโ€™in Clanโ€™s mansion, heโ€™s making the twins mom walk behind him in silence while also hoping that his dad, mortally wounded at Shibuya, dies so he can become Clan Head. And then he calls Maki worthless now because of her ruined looks since he thinks the only things she had going for her were her pretty face and body. Itโ€™s disgusting. No wonder Toji took his wifeโ€™s last name after they banished him!

At any rate, the death of the clan head means that thereโ€™s a succession crisis. According to the Naobito Zenโ€™in, Naoya will be named the next clanโ€ฆis what would have happened! Secretly, Naobito had made a deal with Toji before they died about his son, Megumi. If Gojo were incapacitated when Naobito died, not only would Megumi be brought into the clan, but he would be made the next head. Needless to say, this pissed Naoya off beyond belief. So much so that he decides to flat-out kill Megumi, leading him to hunt down Yuji in the hopes of using him as bait.

See what I mean? Naoya is a piece of trash. The Zenโ€™in are trash outside of the people I mentioned. And to further prove that point, Naoya doesnโ€™t even come close to taking down Yuji. Instead, he gets bodied by Choso, who canโ€™t understand why Naoya would hate his own brothers so much. Extra points for the fact that Choso says how an older siblingโ€™s role is to show the younger what to be and what not to be.

The real highlight, though, has to be the fight between Yuji and Yuta. Both of them are powerful sorcerers, each of them has main character energy (Yuta was the original protagonist of JJK: 0). The fight is short, but epicโ€ฆand it ends with Yuta seemingly killing Yuji.

Except he didnโ€™t.

PSYCH!!

Like Yuji before him, Yuta had once been sentenced to death thanks to Rika being the strongest Curse ever, but Gojo stepped in and saved him. There was no way that Yuta was going to let HQ pull the same thing with Yuji, which is why Gojo secretly asked him to look after his junior if anything happened to him. He conned HQ into thinking Yuji was dead (again) by stopping then restarting his heart at the same time. A true Batman gambit if there ever was one. It wonโ€™t fool HQ for long, but it buys the good guys some time to think of a plan. More importantly, it gives Yuji a chance to reunite with Megumi. And despite still feeling guilty about what Sukuna, Megumi is able to talk him into coming back to Jujutsu High because the entire country has been plunged into complete anarchy thanks to Kenjaku.

Hereโ€™s where things stand right now. Thanks to the Shibuya Incident, Kenjaku has managed to awaken hundreds of new Jujutsu Sorcerers across Japan. Heโ€™s unleashed tens of millions of Cursed Spirits that are wreaking havoc on Tokyo. And there are a bunch of barriers that have created sealed off sections of the country to fight something that Kenjaku calls the Culling Game. Think of it as like PubG or Fortnite for Jujutsu sorcerers. Not to mention that they need to find Gojo and free him in case Sukuna gets off the leash again.

The film ends with Yuji, Choso, and Megumi regrouping at Jujutsu High with their remaining allies to figure out a plan, and that leads them to meet with the one keeping the Jujutsu world together: Master Tengen.

Let the Culling Game Begin

I donโ€™t know the specifics of what happens next in the story beyond a few things. What I do know, though, is plenty of people were upset with the way the series originally ended, so maybe the anime hopes to fix that. Beyond that, I only know one other thing: this season is going to be crazy. And Iโ€™m looking forward to covering it in 2026.

Also, this is a PSA to all Jujutsu Sorcerers: you donโ€™t have to follow orders from HQ when theyโ€™re acting like jerks. Fight the system!

I Give “Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution” a 5/5

Scarlet Finally Satisfies her Fist in Finale to Her Anime

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

May I Ask for One Final Thing? Ep 13 Review

Scarlet, when I do my annual list of best waifus for 2025, you are going to be on it. Because you are just built different. Even when having to face down your brainwashed ally, Prince Julius, do you give up? Do you hold yourself back while trying to get through to him? You do not. Instead, you go full bore so you can stop him because heโ€™s standing between you and Terenezza. The final episode of what might be one of my favorite anime for 2025, and Scarlet doesnโ€™t hold anything back!

So, Terenezza continues to prove how stupid she is as she watches with incredulity as Scarlet refuses to back down from fighting the mind-controlled Julius. She fully expected Scarlet to be wracked with despair from this turn of events. But when she isnโ€™t, sheโ€™s quick to call her absolutely heartless.

Then we proceed to get a look at what her life was like back in Japan before she got isekaiโ€™d. Even as a high schooler, she resented everyone around her for being happy when she wasnโ€™t, and she psychologically projected her insecurities onto others. She wanted to prove that everyone could be as shallow and petty as she could be and see them wracked with despair. To make them suffer the same way she has.

Terenezza Was Never Heroine Material

I normally sympathize with people who are suffering from trauma. I take mental health pretty seriously. But with all disrespect, Terenezza really is a b****. So she was ignored all her life and not treated as the center of attention like she wanted to be. And now that sheโ€™s in another world, she thinks that sheโ€™s owed adoration when sheโ€™s done nothing to deserve it? Does she know how many Isekai protagonists had to work to become liked and admired? Rimuru Tempest got the best possible build to start his Isekai life, but he had to put in the work to build an entire nation and loyal following. Naofumi was framed for attempted assault by some b**** and had to endure an entire country being out to get him before proving himself. And Rudeus Greyrat may have had his knowledge from his past life to give him a head start, but he still has to work on his personality flaws. Yet even with the power of an actual goddess on her side, Terenezza still wants to complain about things not going her way?

No wonder she canโ€™t be the heroine. Sheโ€™s just not cut out for the role, whereas Scarlet is. And to prove it, she does what any great heroine does in a time of crisis: uses the power of love to ruin the vilainessโ€™ plans.

True Love’s Kiss

Juliusโ€™ own blessing is actually something super embarassing: Heroic Tale, which only activates when the person the bearer loves the most is in danger. When that happens, they enter giga-CHAD God mode and are unstoppable. You can guess where this is going.

It should come as no surprise that the two end up kissing. Their dynamic, as strange as it may seem, has always had this romantic edge to it. Personality-wise, the two compliment each other so well. In fact, it makes me wonder why they werenโ€™t engaged in the first place instead of Scarlet and Kyle.

At any rate, Terenezza crashes out and is possessed by Palmia herself. But like I said before, even with an actual god in her corner, sheโ€™s still a *****, and it doesnโ€™t take much effort for Scarlet to send her blasting off like Team Rocket. Sheโ€™ll liveโ€ฆprobably.

All’s Well that Ends Well

And so, our tale of Scarlet the crash-out queen comes to an end. With Terenezza bested, the rank and file Palmians see her for the fraud she is and quickly return to Dianism. Especially since Saint Diana, or rather, Saint Sanya, saved them all. The leaders of the Palmians are arrested, and their religion is disbanded. The remaining foreign armies stand down. Dios becomes an agent for Julius in exchange for a pardon. And order and peace is restored as Sanya restores the barrier crystals. All is right with the worldโ€ฆuntil Scarlet realizes that Julius put himself in danger on purpose just to get her to do what she did. Punch time!

I have to admit, I didnโ€™t think that I would like this show as much as I have, but I was pleasantly surprised. The fall 2025 anime season hasnโ€™t had as many good anime that I can write about on this blog, but this kept me going. At least starting next month, we will be in for a feast.

I Give “May I ask for One Final Thing” a 4.5/5