Manga

Turning Point 4 Changes Everything about Mushoku Tensei

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

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S3 Eps 11 & 12 Review

Three years. That’s how long I have been covering Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. I don’t regret spending so much time focusing on this one series. Nor do I regret the fact that I kept my mouth shut about spoilers from the Light Novels all that time. Because while I may not mind spoilers, this was an exception. It’s the moment that light novel readers have been waiting, and also dreading, to see for years: Turning Point 4. I mean, every Turning Point in the series has changed its trajectory, but this? When I say that this moment changes everything about the story, I mean it. It will reframe everything that has happened in Rudeus’ life since the day he turned 10 in a new light. The best arc in the entire series has begun, and once it starts, we can’t stop.

It’s actually funny. I went into this season knowing full well what was going to happen and eagerly awaiting it. Yet when the time came, I waited almost a month before actually watching the episodes. Some might call it procrastination; I might call it cowardice. But, knowing myself, I think it was because I knew that once I started, I had to have the chance to see everything at once. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to function for the rest of the week.

So it Begins

“Turning Point 4” starts off with Rudeus having a nightmare of himself and his friends being tormented by Atofe and her guards. The whole incident seems like a cool story, but Rudeus, perhaps rightfully, is afraid of what almost happened. He almost lost the family that has kept him going in his second life. On the plus side, though, the whole thing managed to get him into Perugius’ good graces.

Quick backstory: back during the Laplace War (TL:DR Demon God tried to conquer the world), Perugius and Atofe were bitter enemies. The Dragon King has been itching to settle the score with her for good, but after his best friend beat her, and then married her, he made them promise not to kill each other. In other words, Rudeus gave him the perfect excuse to get some anger out. More importantly, he was impressed by Rudy’s magical feats and the figurines he and Zanoba make. He even gives them his blessing to start selling those Ruijerd figurines, because while he hates Demons, Ruijerd saved his life in the final battle with Laplace.

But while Zanoba and Rudy become friends with the hero, Ariel is stumbling. She knows that having his support will guarantee her the Asuran throne, but Perugius isn’t interested in the game of thrones. Although, he does at least test her by asking her what makes a true king. She doesn’t get it, but this will be an important plot point in the future.

I should mention this: Cliff now has his own Demon Eye, the Eye of Identification. When he got it from Kishirika, I don’t know.

Nanahoshi is Fine, by the Way

In any case, Nanahoshi is fine. She has to drink that tea from the grass every day from now on, but she is going to live. And thus, Rudy and Sylphie return home to their family with their heads held high. It looks like a happy ending for all involved.

Which only made knowing what happens next all the more heartbreaking.

For the first time in years, the Man-God appears to Rudeus in his dreams, ostensibly to congratulate him on how happy his life is. That, and he dumps exposition about something we already should have known about in the light novel: Touki, or Battle Aura. It’s where people use mana to enhance their bodies to become stronger, and it’s why the swordwielders in the series can do such superhuman feats. Rudy can’t use it, though.

The Man-God also makes it a point to tell Rudy that if he had followed his advice, Paul would have still managed to save his mom and lived. Meanwhile, like I said, Linia and Pursena would have married him come the next mating season. And all that the Man-God wants from Rudy…is to go into the basement and check for something strange.

WARNING! WARNING!

I really like just how subtle the series is at times. Normally, Rudy would be suspicious about such a random request from the Man-God. But the Man-God makes him more receptive to listening to him by saying that his dad might still be alive if he wasn’t with him at the time. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but if it is, that is very devious, using the truth to convince someone to do something sus. And, even if I didn’t know what happens next, which I do, that “slasher smile” that the Man-God has at the end should set off plenty of alarm bells.

And so, we get to the actual moment. The most important moment in either of Rudeus’ lives. The moment where the entire story changes direction. And since I didn’t want to wait any longer to talk about it, I made the decision a month ago to review both of these episodes together. Because once I started, I don’t think I would be able to stop.

YES, THAT IS RUDEUS

To begin with, yes. That old man (the fandom calls him Oldeus) is Rudeus. Yes he is from fifty years in the future. And yes, everything that he tells himself (Rudeus) is true; all of it is true. And I also want to give respect to the studio for this entire episode, because, even though it’s only adapting a single chapter from the light novels, it doesn’t feel stretched out for the sake of runtime or feel slow. Far from it; this episode gives the story the time it needs to breathe as Rudeus, and by extension us, grapple with what we hear.

Second of all, to those of you who never read the light novels or avoided spoilers online and still thought the Man-God was sus, you were right. You were right to think of him as a creep or someone up to no good. Because after hearing what we do from Oldeus, you are going to want nothing more than to punch him into oblivion, revive him, and then punch him again.

Had Rudeus done what the Man-God had said, a rat would have escaped from the Greyrat’s basement. A rat infected with a rare terminal illness that is deadly to one group and one group alone: women who are with child. Should we be surprised, though, that Roxy is already pregnant? How cruel is it, then, that something that should be a cause for celebration becomes the catalyst for a tragedy that rivals Future Trunks’ timeline?

Everything would have fallen apart for Rudeus after that. He pushed his remaining family away, including Sylphie. Luke would be duped by the Man-God into convincing Ariel to return to Asura to stage a coup that gets them and their followers killed (which is why the fandom considers Luke a bitch.) But the real nail in the coffin? It’s hearing Oldeus tell Rudeus that not only do he and Eris fail to reconcile, but the misunderstanding from the way she left turns them into hated enemies. And then…she dies too.

EVERYONE DIES.

Roxy. Sylphie. Eris. The three most important women in Rudeus’ life all die because of the mistakes he makes, and Oldeus is the result. The way he just makes the entire room shake in rage as he curses the Man-God is just heartbreaking to watch. And again, I knew that all of this was going to happen well in advance, and I was still left speechless. I can still feel the tears start to well up as I’m writing about this as I remember when Oldeus passes away in his past self’s arms, thinking about Sylphie and Roxy.

And the scene where Rudeus has to cremate his future self’s remains. It didn’t register with me as I was reading the light novel, but he wasn’t just cremating someone like his father, which was already bad enough. He was cremating his own broken body and watching it turn to bone and ash. That is all kinds of existential horror!

Sure enough, though, Oldeus was right. There was a rat in the basement infected with the virus that would’ve killed Roxy. And that is why everyone in the fandom considers rats abominations to be killed on sight.

Yeah, I made the Right Call

As disappointed as I am with myself for waiting for all the episodes to come out, I think that I did the right thing. It’s given me almost a month to prepare for what we are about to see, and from what I’ve heard, even that might not be enough. Still, like I said, I promised that I wouldn’t stop, no matter how painful what comes next might be. And I doubt that I will get through it with dry eyes. If you haven’t already seen the next episode, then I recommend you do not jump right to it. Take some time to mentally prepare yourself. This is not a joke!

I Give “Turning Point 4” a 3.5/5 and “An End and a Beginning” a 4.5/5

STANDS HAVE RETURNED!!

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

Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Ep 3 Review

Oh yes! I know that the Spin Technique is supposed to be the new gimmick or power for Part Seven of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, but it’s nothing compared to the sheer creativity of a Stand! They have been an integral part of JoJo since Part Three, and seeing how bizarre and esoteric their powers can get is amazing. I knew it was only a matter of time before we saw the return of Stands in this new continuity, and we’ve already seen our first Stand. And now things have only gotten harder for Johnny and Gyro.

CAMPFIRE AMBUSH

It’s nightfall on the second stage of the Steel Ball Run, and Johnny and Gyro make camp for the night. As Johnny is trying to practice his Spin technique, he ends up seeing some interest in Gyro’s belongings: a book with a royal crest and a newspaper about a boy sentenced to death. Gyro isn’t talking about it, though. I can expect that this will become a plot point in the future.

Things, however, begin to get bizarre when another jockey shows up, Andrew Boomboom, saying he got bitten by a venomous lizard and needs help. But then, he tries to…choke himself out while trying to cut the poison out. That was weird enough, even if I know some people are into that. But then, two more people start riding towards them: his brother and dad, the Boomboom family! They were the ones who killed those people in the first stage.

Then things start to get even weirder as Gyro’s leg gets perforated by metal. Almost like it’s being drawn to his body like a magnet.

STANDO POWER RETURNS!

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that what we’re seeing is the power of a Stand. They’re the only thing capable of defying the laws of reality. In this case, the Boomboom family has Stands, or a Stand, that can manipulate metal. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a Stand that can manipulate metal; Risotto’s Metallica could do the same thing back in Part Five, and that nearly killed Diavolo! All the Boomboom family needs to do to use it is get their blood to touch their victims, and the iron will take care of the rest. I also appreciate the fact that Johnny and Gyro don’t question the supernatural events and immediately accept what’s happening; it’s a good part of the plot. Plus there’s also the fact that Gyro sees a Stand attached to Andrew, but doesn’t understand it. Thankfully, they’re not as smart as Risotto, as Gyro and Johnny manage to escape.

Or maybe they are smart. Somehow, Daddy Boomboom uses his Stand to disguise himself as Johnny and tricks Mountain Tim into thinking that he’s the murderer he’s hunting. Now the cowboy is after our protagonists. However, the big surprise is the reveal that Mountain Tim is also a Stand User! In his case, he can separate his body parts and control them remotely! Pretty handy for getting into tight spaces or catching criminals.

STANDS RULE!

The real question isn’t the fact that we’ve got Stand Users in the game now. The real question is how they get their powers. I know that this new continuity has different means of giving people Stands, but I either don’t understand them or don’t want to spoil things. The big clue, though, is that all four Users visited a place that the Native Americans consider cursed: the Devil’s Palm. That certainly sounds like something that would make people feel afraid. Something tells me that it won’t be long until we see this place pop up in the race. I don’t know when, though, as I only know the basic details of how Part Seven goes and I don’t want to spoil myself.

This is getting good, you guys. Now Johnny and Gyro have three killers after them as well as a lawman! Not to mention the fact that one of the jockeys they’re racing against is DIO BRANDO! I can’t wait for the next episode!

I Give “The Desert-Born Outlaws” a 4/5

YEE-HAW!! WE RIDING IN THE WEST NOW!!!!

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

Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Ep 2 Review

Saddle up, pardners! We riding cross-country on this one, JoJo style!

Remember when the premiere for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run came out earlier this year on Netflix and everyone was excited about it? But then Netflix screwed us over by holding off on the next stage all the way back to the fall! That probably wouldn’t have happened if Toonami was airing! But now that is fall, I’m ready to hop back in the saddle as we go on a trip across the USA in the Old West! And already, things are starting to get bizarre!

By the way, this is likely going to be the only series I’ll be covering this fall for D&A Anime Blog. Both because there are no other series that I particularly want to cover weekly this season, and because, after covering four shows a week for months, I’m tired! Now, cue the intro and get ready to make some memes!

Mundane made awesome

The first stage of the Steel Ball Run is over, but in JoJo’s, even the most mundane of moments can become epic. Case in point, despite crossing the finish line first, Gyro didn’t win the first stage. He got penalized for using his steel balls as weapons on the downhill slope, so Sand Man wins! Which is a load of baloney, because he wasnt even aiming at anyone! He was trying to clear a path to get by! Now, Gyro could have taken it on the chin, but…he got even with Steel by ruining his champagne.

The next stage of the race is going to be a mammoth task. It’s going to be crossing 700 miles of desert in the American Southwest. I’ve only ever been out that way twice in my life, and I can tell you that it’s very hot, dry, and harsh. If you weren’t prepared back in the Old West, you could die. So, it’s best not to go it alone, which is why Gyro and Johnny decide to team up for the next leg of the race. That, and Johnny wants to keep learning more about the Spin to help him walk again.

It’s a good thing that they do. As they break off from the rest of the pack and head into the deep desert, it becomes clear that Gyro doesn’t have the best sense of direction. I think he was even reading the map wrong at one point! Plus, as becomes apparent, despite the rules in place prohibiting violence against competitors, violence will still happen. Either people will do it when the officials aren’t looking, or they will find clever workarounds. Case in point, the pair are attacked by this racer who uses bugs and cacti that shoot out their needles to try and kill them. This wasn’t made up, either. I looked it up, and that type of cactus can shoot out its needles!

I thought for sure that their attacker was a Stand User, but it turns out that he was just a freak! The man had insects nested in his eye socket! But Gyro outsmarted him in the end!

A Killer in the Race

There’s a bigger problem, though. The day before the second stage, the authorities reveal that several of the contestants have been murdered. Gruesomely! The culprit was one of the other contestants, and since they can’t stop the race, they brought in someone to investigate. Mountain Tim, a true cowboy and gentleman if there ever was one, and a skilled detective. He’s able to identify a clue based on the hoofprints left by the killer, and he’s already in pursuit. The bad news? The killer is following Johnny and Gyro.

It looks as though the next leg of the race will continue to heat up, and I am looking forward to seeing what happens next. There are 700 miles to the next stage, and America is vast! Plenty of strange things can happen!

Cue the outro!

I Give “The Sheriff’s Request to Mountain Tim” a 4/5

The Devil has Come to Elbaph

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

One Piece Episode 1180 Review

We finally made it. The moment that I’ve been dreading seeing in the One Piece anime has come. Imu, the Devil who sits atop the world and calls himself God, has come to Elbaph.

I had mentioned it at the end of my review of the last episode, but there is no other way for fans to describe the likes of Imu other than calling him the Devil. Oda has made it no secret that those were his intentions with the mysterious being who rules the world from the shadows. From his direct servants being summoned by a reverse pentagram, a symbol commonly associated with demons and the occult, to the fact that we saw the Five Elders become demonic creatures, the signs were all there. However, what happens at this point in One Piece pretty much confirmed that Imu was meant to be the Devil, and he had come to take Elbaph.

Want to know the scariest part? Some of us started thinking that Imu might be an actual demon.

Imu is the DEVIL

From the moment he chooses to possess Gunko, Imu shows that he is a no-nonsense kind of enemy. When the kids start crying to the adults trying to save them, he simply tells them all to “be silent,” and hits them with one of the strongest blasts of Conqueror’s Haki I’ve ever seen. The scariest part, though, was seeing how Sommers and Killingham react to the presence of their dark master. They are terrified and in fear for their lives! These guys have been running roughshod over Elbaph, the strongest nation in the world, and they are terrified of Imu. I don’t blame them, either. Do you know what happened to the last guy who failed Imu, Saturn?

And then we get to see the moment that sent shivers up fans’ spines. Imu summons a grimoire and, right before our eyes, he turns Dorry and Brogy into demons. Actual demons! And Toei doesn’t pull any punches with how terrifying the process is, either. It shows what happens in all its unholy glory as Imu utters the spell that the fandom has come to fear: Domi Reversi.

And then, he turns all of the Giant Warriors into demons.

I was starting to sweat at this point in the manga

Guys, I can’t even tell you just how terrifying this was for me when I was reading it in the manga. I have seen a lot of tight spots on One Piece before, but this? This might have been the toughest one to date. Not even Wano or Marineford got this bad! And do you know what the worst part was? The fandom had no idea how Imu was even doing this! His powers were so otherworldly, we weren’t even sure if they came from a Devil Fruit or if Imu was an actual demon. And this guy is supposed to be the ancient enemy of Joy Boy, someone that Luffy was going to have to fight in the future!

The episode, and by extension, the series run in 2026, ends on the bleakest note possible. The kids are being kidnapped, the Giants are injured or have turned into Demons, the school and library are on fire! It looks like everything has gone to Hell! I was ready to throw my remote at the TV in frustration when I saw it end on that! It was only thanks to a post-credits scene reminding us how the strongest players on the good guys side, Luffy, Loki, Sanji, Zoro, and more are still in the Underworld, that kept me from crashing out.

THIS. ISN’T. OVER.

At the moment, we don’t know when the anime will return beyond it being sometime in 2027. When it does, though, you can expect it to focus on one of the longest and most important flashbacks in the series history as Loki tells us the truth of what happened the day his father, King Harald, died. What we do know is that one of the most important portions of said flashback, the God Valley Incident, are going to be covered by its own movie. To be honest, that is exactly what fans were hoping for. If you’ve read the manga already, then you know just how important the God Valley Incident is to the lore of the series. If you’re an anime-only person, then you can expect some of the most intense action we may ever see in the entire series. Plus, it’s not like One Piece is going completely dark in between now and then.

At the time that this episode premiered, we were just two days away from a two-part LEGO One Piece special premiering on Netflix. Framed as stories that Usopp tells Chopper of the Straw Hats adventures before he joined them, it’s a comedic retelling of the first two seasons of the live-action series. A series which, I might add, will be returning for its third season sometime in 2027. In addition, the remake anime from WIT Studio will be dropping all seven episodes in February 2027. Not only that, but next year will mark the series 30th anniversary, so we can expect to see a lot of cool content to celebrate. Plus, the dub for this season is due to come out this fall.

In other words, don’t worry about One Piece, you guys. I think we’re going to be good for a while. It will be worth the wait!

I Give “Elbaph in Despair – Diabolical Covenant, ‘Domi Reversi'” a 5/5

EVERYTHING 100 Girlfriends Missed in Season 3

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

All right, 100 Girlfriends! Since you guys decided to skip over a bunch of the story so that you could focus on the main beats in season 3, I’ve taken it upon myself to pick up the slack. So here’s everything that the anime either chose to ignore or didn’t get to cover! And for extra insurance, I’m adding links to scanlations.

100 Girlfriends Merch (Chapter 53)

This is exactly as it sounds. The manga got its first round of merch the week this chapter came out, so the Rentaro Family decided to promote the heck out of them to get more merch. The manga will end up doing this to promote stuff every now and then, including the anime.

Chiyo’s Kissing Ban and Return of Kissing Zombie (Chapter 54)

So remember that chapter in Chiyo’s intro that the anime skipped? After Chiyo finds the family kissing Rentaro like crazy, her OCD kicks in and she somehow bans them from doing it on school grounds. Because apparently, excessive PDA is cringe in Japan. And since Rentaro is so respectful, Kusuri takes matters into her own hands and ends up using that “kissing zombie drug” that girls aren’t supposed to take and Chiyo became a kiss zombie. So everyone had to distract her while Kusuri made the antidote.

Lap Pillow Battle Royale (Chapter 56)

That group lap pillow at the end of the anime was a nod to this chapter. When the girls see Rentaro is tuckered out from caring for them, they all decide to give him lap pillows. And so we get a delightful montage of each dream Rentaro has in their laps. Here are my thoughts!

If Mimimi doesn’t become a beauty queen in the future, Rentaro is going to riot.

Rentaro and Nano’s stargazing nap was adorably efficient.

Iku is just what I was expecting.

Mei is a puppy that can turn into a jet, and is adorable.

But the one with Karane was just so sweet!

I also had no idea that Shizuka could have such dirty thoughts. Then again, we saw how she reacted when she saw him in the bath.

The less said about Hahari’s, the better.

Less than a second with Hakari!

Kusuri’s just made me realize something: if Kusuri finishes that immortality drug and shares it with everyone, where are they gonna live when the sun goes nova?

Poor Kurumi. Rentaro will always be with you.

Chiyo’s was weird.

And Meme’s? Yeah, I wish we could have gotten that Evangelion joke.

Trapped in a Photo Booth (Chapter 59)

The family takes a group photo at the mall one day, but there are so many of them, they get trapped inside like sardines. Hilarity ensues as they try to find a way to get out (or at least get Kusuri out) or call for help, only to fail. It’s also discovered that Chiyo is particualrly fond of Kusuri’s adult form, as it reminds her of her late mother. In the end, the Gorilla Syndicate finds them and pulls them out.

Iku’s Girly Date With Rentaro (Chapter 60)

Iku and Rentaro go on a movie date, but because she’s feeling insecure about being a tomboy, she ditches her shorts for a skirt to impress Rentaro. After that, they try out a batting cage and try to win a bat signed by Iku’s favorite player (and I googled the name, and it’s a pretty nice joke), but end up competing with this other couple. It’s a very heartwarming date, and while they win the bat, they give it to the other couple because the girl’s sister is getting surgery.

Also, let me remind you guys that I believe in tomboy supremacy!

Shopping Day with the Lolis (Chapter 61)

Rentaro, Shizuka, Chiyo, and Kusuri all need stuff at the market, so they all go on a shopping date. This is yet another example of why the series works, showing how the girls interact with each other as friends and comrades, making their bizarre relationship work. Rentaro gets to bask in their combined cuteness. And when these two jerks start yelling at them, we get to see them have each other’s backs.

Sleepover Hot Pot turned Sumo Wrestling Match (CHAPTERS 66-68.5)

The anime hinted at it in the OP, but this little mini-arc was pretty fun. Hahari decides to invite the family over to the Hanazono’s mansion for a sleepover hot pot party where everyone has to bring a secret ingredient. It starts out innocent at first, as we get to see what each girlfriend added and how it reflects their personality and quirks (Naddy put in a Big Mac!) But then we learn what Hakari added: beef soaked in an aphrodisiac she had Kusuri make. You can guess what she’s up to.

So to keep everything wholesome and wear them all out, Rentaro challenges them all to sumo wrestling: himself vs all the girlfriends. The winner can make the loser do whatever they say. What follows is a gauntlet of sumo wrestling as the girls keep trying to beat Rentaro, only to fail against his wholesomeness. Well, there are a few near wins. Especially with Karane. In the end, Rentaro just uses the whole thing as an excuse to kiss everyone like crazy.

Chiyo and Naddy’s Epic Team Up (Chapter 71)

Miss Naddy learns that Chiyo has a problem: these two delinquents in her class keep smoking in the park, and she feels compelled to try and get them to stop. But they keep refusing because they want to be rebels and pissing her off is the biggest way to rebel that they know. So Naddy takes it upon herself to try and scare them straight by lassoing them with her “justice rope.” So Chiyo has to stop her. Then they get into this heartfelt talk about how Chiyo being allowed to live for herself, because Naddy doesn’t want to see her end up having a miserable childhood like she did. Then the cops come and they have to bail.

Oh, and Rentaro was going to be a DJ to teach them not to smoke.

Rentaro Family Fairy Tail (Chapter 77.5)

This is one of those extra chapters that comes at the end of some of the manga volumes. In this one, the girls take on the roles of various heroines in fairy tales, complete with everything bad that could happen to them. And then Prince Rentaromeo sees that they’re in trouble, goes around the land like a runaway train and beats up everyone giving them problems.

Hakari Teaches Yamame about Feminine Charms (Chapter 78)

As thanks for all the help that Yamame gives them with her flowers and gardening, Hakari tries to teach her how to use her feminine charms to seduce Rentaro. Easier said than done, though, since Yamame is so pure and wholesome that it’s hard for her to be deliberately sexy. But when Hakari has a wardrobe malfunction, she actually manages to save the day. Also, we learn

Hiking Date (chapter 80)

The gang goes on a hiking trip to some hills and are trying to get to the top, but then the weather goes crazy and splits them all up into pairs. So now they have to work together to make it to safety. Once again, the entertainment from this chapter stems from the pairing off of the girlfriends and how their quirks play off each other. Well, at least the pairs that we see.

BABY EPISODE PART 2 (Chapter 84)

Hahari has made some more baby clothes, this time for all the Family Members that weren’t part of the incident last time. And thanks to Kishika, all of the girlfriends who have joined since the last baby chapter (plus Hakari) have been turned into babies. So the rest of the family has to look after them until then.

I know the baby chapter was super weird, but I couldn’t help but find it funny. And that extends to this chapter as we get to see the babified girlfriends show off their personalities even as toddlers. Hahari gets to enjoy her daughter being a baby all over again at an age where most people would expect her to be a mom (no judgement. She knew what she was getting into and could financially afford it.) Baby Mimimi runs to the most dazzling thing she can find in the form of Nano. Shizuka tries to protect Yamame from danger, only to get dragged along and having to be saved by Nano. Karane is overwhelmed by baby Hakari’s sheer cuteness. Everything’s going great until poor Chiyo sees her glasses and starts crying for her mom, and all the other babies start crying for mom. And then Rentaro gets upset because they’re upset and starts crying. And the babies just stop crying and take pity on him!

By the way, this is only the second part of the baby chapters. By the time this goes up, there are already two more chapters. And I’m betting that the mangaka and artist will be making more when there are more girlfriends added.

Hahari gets the High School Date She Wanted!

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

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season 3 Ep 11 Review

Okay, 100 Girlfriends, you have two episodes left in the season, and all the girlfriends have been introduced. There are a lot of one-shot adventures that can be covered, so it’s not like the show is lacking for content. And while there are plenty of stories that I would love for the anime to adapt, I’m surprised at the ones that they chose. Well, mostly the second one.

High School Date for Hahari

So, Hahari was walking down the halls one day when she overheard one of the students talk about how the manager at his job asked him out. Which is fine, except she’s 29 and has a kid, which makes things awkward. Sensing that this is bothering her, CHADtaro decides to take her out on a date. Not just any date, though: she’s going on a date as a high schooler!

Remember how Hahari admitted that she would’ve liked to be a high schooler again, and got that cosplay of her daughters uniform and pulled it off even better than Hakari? Well, Rentaro decides to have her fulfill her dream. Which is, honestly, way more adorable than weird, if you ask me. Don’t forget, Hahari had to give up on her teen years to have Hakari, so she never got to enjoy her youth like she should’ve. It’s why she’s acts more like a teenager or kid than most of the people who are actually teens; she’s making up for lost time. Needless to say, she deserves this treat. That, and I wasn’t joking earlier. Hahari manages to pull tbe high school senior look better than her daughter, and I know there will be fanart of her in that getup.

The date itself is also super sweet, as they go to a museum dedicated to this teddy bear toy her family sponsored that she adored. It’s cute to see her get so passionate about it. What is concerning, though, is the revelation that she gave her teddy French kisses before bed as a kid. So, she’s always been this affectionate, it seems. Not that I don’t blame her. I still have the stuffed baby doll I loved as a kid in storage.

The date is pretty cute as a whole, and I really like how Hahari got to enjoy a taste of what could’ve been had she been younger, like Hakari’s sister instead of her mom. But I think it’s for the best that she is the family mom. It’s thanks to her that the Rentaro Family can even afford to do all the things they do. Heck, I’m pretty sure she’s secured positions at one of her companies for all of them when they graduate, so they’re financially secure.

Well, that was fun! So what will the second half of the episode be-wait a second? What do you mean it’s not another baby episode? But that is supposed to be the next chapter! Oh…oh, they’re doing this little story arc.

They just skipped 50 chapters!

So, you know how one of the best parts about 100 Girlfriends as it continues is that the girlfriends start to do activities that don’t necessarily involve Rentaro? It’s a way for the series to play them off each other and show how their quirks can interact, and one of the best pairings is between Shizuka and Nano. Nano is super protective of Shizuka, seeing how fragile she can be as a sign that she needs to be protected at all costs. And as the good book says, “If thou shalt make thine angel Shizuka Yoshimoto shed tears, thou shalt be smote with supreme wrath by the Rentaro Family.” And when Shizuka shows up at school one day without her phone, Nano immediately senses something is wrong.

Again, it must be said that when it comes to cuteness, Shizuka is the most adorable member of the Rentaro Family. Even the logic-driven Nano is enamored by her cuteness. But she’s right. Something is very wrong.

Shizuka’s Mom vs Rentaro

So, I’m not sure if you remember this, but Shizuka’s mom is one of those misguided parents who wants her daughter to be “normal” when she clearly displays signs of some kind of anxiety, not to mention her stammer. So she took her phone to get her to talk, but that only causes more harm than good. I should know. I am on the autism spectrum, so I had to spend my years in public school around people who needed other ways to communicate. I myself do a better job communicating by writing than by speaking at times and nobody has questioned it. So now, it’s up to Rentaro to get through to her mother. Oh, and to highlight how serious this is, there is no zing. So I guess the series draws the line at women who already have a living spouse.

The crazy thing about this, though, is the fact that the anime does this. This arc doesn’t happen for another fifty chapters in the manga. Why is the anime jumping to this out of nowhere? Do they really need to have a serious arc at the end of every season! Not to mention how I was hoping that the anime would cover the second of the baby chapters! Yes, there are more of them! Four, as of the manga!

Give me my expectations, you guys! This season has been all over the place with the stories and it’s starting to get on my nerves. At least I’ll still have the dub to watch .

I Give “Of Children, Adults, Ladies, and Mothers” a 3/5

GABAN FUMBLED SO HARD IT HURTS!!

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

One Piece Episode 1179 Review

Oh man, I hated this part of the Elbaph Arc! After eeeing things just keep going wrong for the Giants of Elbaph and the Straw Hats! And then we got a glimmer of hope when Scopper Gaban, one of the Roger Pirates, showed up to save the day! I thought that this was when the Straw Hats would begin their counterattack. But I was a fool! Not only do we see Scopper fail to do anything substantial, but things get worse. If you thought that was bad, though, then prepare yourself. One of the two people I count in the running for the final villain of the entire series is about to make their move.

RESPECT YOUR ELDERS IN ONE PIECE

If you’ve been following One Piece for as long as I have, you’ll notice something about the elderly characters: they’re all insanely badass. Whether it’s Garp, Rayleigh, Vegapunk, Whitebeard, or Big Mom, some of the strongest characters in the series have consistently been those considered getting up in their years. Now, if you’ve watched a lot of Shonen anime as I have, then you know that there are plenty of elderly people who can beat you into the ground. However, I think Oda might have some of the best examples of badass old folks in manga, and that is 100% intentional. It’s his way of fighting back against ageism. And honestly, I respect him a lot for that. If I live to be that old, I think being able to do the things that Garp and others do would make it worthwhile. Why am I bringing this up? Because we just saw Gaban make Sommers look like a chump!

It’s important to note that what Gaban did to Sommers goes beyond simply attacking him. He managed to actually hurt him and make it stick. Even if it was only for a moment, Sommers was in actual pain, and it was enough to make the psychopath panic and go on the defensive. It just goes to remind us of just how much of a power gap there still exists between the Straw Hats and the Roger Pirates, and that they still have a way to go if they want to surpass them.  Because as I, and many fans at the time, suspected, Gaban was able to make his attacks stick thanks to the power of Haki. AKA, the power of one’s will made manifest. Because for Oda, willpower can be an actual superpower.

So close. SO CLOSE!!!

It was awesome getting to see Gaban waste Sommers, but unfortunately, that moment gets by three bad moments. Firstly, we have to watch as the library and school are set on fire, which breaks my heart as much as it breaks the Giants’ hearts.

Secondly, Gaban’s attempt to rescue the kids gets derailed all because Colon had to call out for his dad! And then Gunko uses him as a hostage to strike a deadly blow on Gaban!  And I liked how the anime drives home how Gaban couldn’t make it in time. His Haki told him exactly that. It’s every parents worst nightmare come true and I don’t blame him for hesitating. The two saving graces are the fact that Chopper uses the chance to dive down into the Underworld and save Gaban. That, and hearing Colon cry out for his dad has Gunko go through another flashback to a memory that she shouldn’t remember.

If you’re caught up on the manga, then you’ll already know this: Gunko and Brook do know each other from the past. They have a shared history that is beyond tragic, and will make you think twice about who Gunko is. For the anime-only folks, I appreciated how Toei dropped more hints about this connection in their version of the flashback. It will take us time to get to the meat of it, but it will be worth it. Sadly, though, Gunko’s moment of clarity is brought to a halt by the third bad thing to happen this episode: Imu takes the wheel.

Oh no…

They say that the greatest trick that the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn’t exist. However, ever since we learned about the existence of Imu, I don’t think that’s accurate. The greatest trick that the Devil could ever pull was t making the world believe he wasn’t real. It’s doing that AND disguising himself as God to those who know of him. And that is the case with Imu.

I don’t remember how much I’ve discussed Imu when I’ve talked about One Piece on this blog. However, if I have mentioned him, or you read my blog where I’ve reviewed new chapters of the manga since the Wano Country Arc, then you know how seriously I take Imu. His very existence exposes the fact that the World Government is built on a lie. And I really love how Oda has been dropping hints throughout the story that Imu is meant to be his series’ counterpart to the Devil. Whereas ol’ Scratch must wallow in Hell and plot revenge on his creator, though, Imu managed to storm Heaven (Mariejois), overthrow god (Nika or Joy Boy), and take their place. The fact that he managed to do all of that whilst keeping his existence a secret for centuries is a testament to how dangerous he is. And now that he’s getting involved in what’s happening in Elbaph, things are about to get a lot more dire. I still get goosebumps thinking about what we’re about to see!

I Give “One Do-or-Die Second – Gaban vs. the Knights of God” a 4/5

The God’s Knights are not as Invincible as you Think

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

One Piece Episode 1178 Review

We’re about to whip somebody’s ass! And that somebody’s name is SOMMERS!

So, the downside of watching the One Piece anime is that I have to watch as things just keep going from bad to worse in Elbaph. I mean, I’m a longtime fan of the series, so I know that things are going to get worse before they get better, but this? This is one of the worst scrapes the Straw Hats have been in since the timeskip. And that includes having to escape from Big Mom and all the stuff they went through in Wano! But, I’m also being reminded of just how much I am offended by the existence of Sommers. He is so evil, i was pretty much onboard with Robin’s plans to take him out of the picture from the get-go.

No one hurts innocent kids or books on Robin’s or the Straw Hat’s watch!

TIME TO WHIP SOMEBODY’S ASS

So, if you thought that the God’s Knights couldn’t get any more despicable, then you clearly haven’t been paying attention to the series. I don’t know how Oda does it, but he’s really good at making some of the most disgusting villains you can imagine. Case in point, Sommers and Gunko threaten to kill one of the kids they have hostage. And they’re doing it in the cruelest way possible.

They take one of the Giant Kids, Ronja, and have her stand on a platform above the branches. Right below her, hundreds of feet below, is the Underworld. If she falls off the edge…she’s gonna die. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Even most of the Giants would have a hard time surviving a fall like that. And unless the grown-ups agree to burn the school and library, and everything with it, down, then she will be forced to walk over the edge.

I had to read about this in the manga months ago, and even now, it just sickens me. Now, I wasn’t exactly what you would called attached to school growing up, since that involved homework (which I despise). But libraries? Those were my sanctuary when I couldn’t watch TV or play video games! I looked it up, and it turns out that the deliberate destruction of a library is considered a war crime. These false god’s are committing war crimes and they are laughing about it!

Not on Robin’s watch.

GET HIM, ROBIN!

If you have any inkling at all about what Robin’s life was like before we met her, then you know the HELL she went through. She had to watch as her home, her mentor, her mother were all wiped out by the World Government. She only just now found out her oldest friend and the knowledge of Ohara still existed. And she is not going to let anyone take them away from her again. And this is when Robin locks the f in.

You know, it’s pretty rare for us to see Robin get genuinely angry. Most of the time, she’s the most logical of the Straw Hats, always keeping a cool head or offering some darkly humorous remark. Or being like a mom to Chopper. But if you have seen what she is like when she is angry, then you know why it’s a bad idea to push her to that point. She can, and will, kill people if she thinks they deserve it. And as Sommers finds out for himself, she’s the smartest of the Straw Hats for a reason.

I have to admit, it was pretty clever of Robin to figure out that Sommers powers had a range limit attached to them. Not to mention just how gutsy it was to drive him off the branch into the Underworld, with her along with him. But the best part is seeing how that was just a clone, with the real Robin already making for her captured friends. Now that is how you use your brain!

Which is why I only got even angrier when I saw that Robin’s gambit didn’t work. Damn it, Oda! The bad guys shouldn’t be getting plot armor like this! And then we had to listen as the grown-ups order the destruction of the school and library.

SCOPPER RULEZ!!

Karma’s a b****, though, because guess who comes in clutch to save the day? Scopper Gaban. He jumps in out of nowhere and slices Sommers in half, and unlike the other times, he doesn’t pull himself back together.

Even before it was revealed how Gaban did this in the manga, it didn’t take a genius for me to figure out how this happened: Haki. That spiritual power that has become more and more important ever since the time skip. Through the strength of will, Haki lets even someone without powers fell the mightiest of opponents. And apparently, that also includes the likes of the God’s Knights. So, clearly Gaban is strong enough to actually put a dent in Sommers. And the best part? Sommers knows Gaban. They actually met many years ago at a little place called God Valley. And it looks like Sommers isn’t happy seeing him again.

Things aren’t going to begin going the Straw Hat’s way right off the bat, but this episode did the next best thing: it showed a crack in the Knight’s armor. That’s all we need to know that they can be beaten. Just wait until next year when Luffy and the others make their move. They’re going to whip their asses back to Hell.

I Give “Protect History and the Future – Robin and Gaban Go on the Attack” a 4/5

You Better Save Chloe and Hinata, Rimuru!

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

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime S4 Ep 23 Review

Okay, I know that this is going to sound rich from me since I’ve had no problems seeing it happen, but the power of friendship is BS! Well, at least when it’s done due to lazy writing. But at least in this case, it didn’t lead to a deus ex machina, because the person on the receiving end didn’t win. And that’s a good thing, because the person in question was Granville Rosso. So, as Rimuru puts his insane plan to save Chloe and Hinata in motion, Shion steps up and locks the heck in. You can say a lot of things about Shion (she’s not that smart, her cooking is bad, no shirts can fit her), but when she steps up, she gets things done.

Shion Gets it Done

So, I don’t know if I had said it in my review of the last episode, but I was really hoping that we dive right into, well, Rimuru’s dive into Chronoa. This entire arc has been building up to finishing the story of Chloe; the fact that she is prominently shown in the OP and ED is proof! But instead, we are expected to sit through the last of the fights going on between Granville’s, frankly, suicidal plan. It’s a fight between Shion and Ranga against Razul. He’s an Insectoid, a species of bug-people from another dimension that are extremely powerful. Granville and his wife befriended and named him after a failed invasion centuries ago, and he’s served as his right-hand bug and ultimate weapon. And if you have seen the Chimera Ants from Hunter x Hunter or Cell (who we call a bug man), then you know how strong bug-people get in anime.

Now, we all know that Shion is no pushover. She’s one of Rimuru’s top subordinates. Sure, she may not be that smart, but we’ve seen how strong she is. She was able to go toe-to-toe with Clayman back at Walpurgis! However, the fight between her and Razul is the classic case of the unstoppable spear vs the unbreakable shield. In her case, Razul’s exoskeleton is as hard as steel, making it impossible for her to strike a killing blow. Well, at least at first. She knows just how much is riding on this fight, and she has no intention of dying again, because she refuses to worry her beloved Rimuru like that. So she locks the heck in, and uses her unique skill, Certain Outcome. Which basically translates to her being able to get whatever results she wants from doing something. In this case, a single crack in Razul’s armor is enough of an opening for her to finish the Insectoid off.

If there’s ever an Isekai fighting game like Smash Bros, they better put Shion in it.

The Heck?!?

But then we get to the whole “power of friendship” bs coming in. His soul goes to Granville to give him a power-up in his fight against Luminous. The man is literally powered up by the spirit of his friend! Not that it doesn’t do him any favors, because he still loses to Luminous!

And that is why only the protagonists can use the power of friendship!

So, with Yuuki and the clowns in the wind and Granville’s dumb plot foiled, all that is left is to save Chloe and Hinata. And to do that, Rimuru has to do the riskiest thing that he’s ever done. He has to get close enough to touch Chronoa, dive into her soul, find Chloe and Hinata and pull them out of there. Which, if things go sideways, could end up killing him for good. But Rimuru is HIM, so he does it anyway.

GO SAVE CHLOE AND HINATA

And so, Rimuru enters the mind of Chloe Aubert, a beautiful field of flowers, and is met by an unexpected guest in the form of Shizu. Whether it’s actually her soul or just a mental guide, nobody knows. She’s just there to help Rimuru calm Chronoa down, which he does with no problem. However, this is where things get complicated: Chronoa says that Chloe’s soul is lost somewhere in their shared heart. But Hinata’s? She’s disappeared.

Well, it looks like Rimuru is about to face his toughest battle yet: saving his student and his…friend? Are he and Hinata friends? He’s not going to let something like death stop him from pulling this off, and we know that he’s going to do it. So why are we even questioning that fact? I’m just glad that we don’t have to deal with Granville’s stupid plots anymore.  

I Give “Granville’s Hope” a 4/5

Rimuru, time to save your Student!

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

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime S4 Ep 22 Review

So I just want to make sure that we are all on the same page about Chloe and Hinata. Chloe got sent to the past with Hinata’s soul hitching a ride, they became the hero Chronoa, and Luminous sealed them away until Rimuru could take care of everything. All of that was made clear in the last two episodes of the series. The real question now is how the heck are we going to fix this?

Sadly, it seems that part will have to wait until the next episode. This one is mostly just about setting us up for Rimuru’s toughest battle to date.

Chronoa’s gone nuts!

So where were we? Oh yes: grown-up Chloe, or rather, Chronoa in control of Chloe’s body. And…dang. When they said that Chloe had the most potential out of all her classmates, they weren’t kidding. She is the kind of person who could single-handedly stop a war. And as we see for ourselves, even the Demon Lords might not be enough to stop her, as Luminous is in the process of freaking out at the sight of Chronoa breaking free. And that’s before she equips her armor and sword. That sword of hers is as strong as his, which is very, very concerning. Add in the fact that Chronoa likely has the combined experience of Chloe and Hinata’s two thousand year odyssey, and is it any wonder why Granville wanted to free her? She could kill the Demon Lords, and then torch the rest of the planet.

https://twitter.com/otaku_lord21/status/2098433895314145486?s=20

So, now is not the time to hold back. As Luminous explains everything we already know to Rimuru, he decides that they need help. So he summons Veldora, and, surprisingly, he realizes right away that Chronoa was the hero who sealed him away. And, I don’t think the anime shows it, but seeing her again actually makes her nervous. Which makes sense, considering how he strongly reacted to Chloe’s future self in Ramiris’ old labyrinth. Also, he claims that the only reason he lost was because he saw how pretty she looked underneath her mask. Awkward.

Time to Journey to the Center of Chloe

So, even with the combined power of Luminous, Leon, and Veldora, Chronoa is just too much for them to handle. So, Rimuru has to do what might be the most reckless thing that he’s ever done. He’s going to have to travel inside of Chloe’s body, find the souls of Chloe and Hinata, and somehow pull them out. Well, he just needs to wake Chloe up. He has to find a way to pull Hinata out and get her back in her body. Either way, it’s’ insane, reckless, and crazy. And you know what? It’s also something that only Rimuru can hope to pull off. Otherwise, Lubelious is a goner.

I have to admit, I didn’t really like this episode. Especially considering how it was coming off the heels of two bangers, it felt like it was just reiterating everything that we had already known. But at least it’s setting us up for one heck of a finale.

I Give “Where the Soul Resides” a 4/5