Asides

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.

17 Girlfriends Down, 83 to Go

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

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season 3 Ep 12 Review

All right, 100 Girlfriends, you finished your third season, but it might be the most chaotic season to date, and you missed out on a lot of fun, one-off adventures. I plan to go over some of them later, but for now, it’s time to get serious. As you’ll recall, in the second half of the last episode, Shizuka’s mom took her phone away because she didn’t want her daughter to keep talking with it so she can be “normal.” Nano figured something was up and got Rentaro on the wire so that he can take care of business. And now, we get to see the thrilling conclusion.

LESSONS ON PARENTING

Look, I’m not going to beat around the bush when it comes to this since a.) I read the manga, and b.) we all know how this will end. Mrs. Yoshimoto tries the whole spiel about how Shizuka needs to act normal if she wants to fit in with society. That she will be seen as a freak if she can’t speak for herself. Honestly, though, I wasn’t even listening because I saw this for what it was: misguided parenting.

First off, why does Shizuka need to talk to communicate? People who are mute or unable to communicate verbally have been able to speak up for themselves for decades thanks to computers. Secondly, even if we don’t know exactly it is, it’s rather obvious that Shizuka has special needs. Fans of the series have even debated about whether she’s neurodivergent or not. Speaking as someone who has ADHD and is on the Autism Spectrum and who spent a lot of time around other special needs people in school (a friend of mine even needed a TTS device), I can tell that she is and people need to be respectful of that. Lastly, did her mom ever ask her daughter what she wanted?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, it’s that there is no universal definition of what’s right or normal. One person’s normal is weird for others. Not only that, but no one in the Rentaro Family has a problem with Shizuka talking the way she does. Far from it, they find it only adding onto her natural cuteness. And as we have seen before, making her cry is a surefire way to make them declare war. As far as everyone else is concerned, Shizuka’s mom is the only one with the problem.

And so, thanks to the CHADness of Rentaro, Shizuka is finally able to get through to her mother. And all is right with the world, with their relationship repaired.

And then the manga jumps back fifty chapters to where it should be: a day in the life of Rentaro.

A Day in the Life of Rentaro

The second half of the episode is basically a montage showing just what Rentaro does every day with the Rentaro family. It’s honestly one of the sweeter moments in the series, because it shows just how much care he gives each of them. It also reminds us once again just how amazing a boyfriend he is with all of the over-the-top stuff he does. Whether it’s helping Iku with her training, giving Yaku and Kishika piggyback rides, giving sexy polaroids to the Hanazonos, or writing entire books for Shizuka, Nano, and Karane…yeah this kid has to be superhuman. He’s lucky he’s in a gag manga so this can make sense.

He also ends wind up back at the shrine of the Love God that started this whole mess, and he makes it clear in no uncertain terms that he hates him. He hates him for putting his girlfriend’s lives in danger, and, it’s implied that he hates him for making suffer fifteen years worth of rejection until he met Hakari and Karane. Both valid reasons to not like the unlikeable Love God, if you ask me.

Ultimately, the season ends with Rentaro waking up in the prescence of his girlfriends, who, after finding him passed out from exhaustion, all gave him a collective lap pillow. Which is another callback to a manga chapter that we skipped over! And as the credits roll with the S1 OP, we are left wondering whether or not we will be getting a season 4. We had better get one, because the next girlfriend to be introduced is one of the most popular ones in the series. Until then, though, I’m taking matters into my own hands.

That’s right. I’m going to be covering all of the one-off adventures that the anime decided to skip over, and I will not be stopped!

I Give “The 17 Girlfriends Who I Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love (83 to Go)” a 4/5

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!

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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

We finally found someone dumber than Eris

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Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation S3 Ep 10 Review

You know, I used to think that Eris was the biggest meathead in the Mushoku Tensei series. I mean, it took Rudy a while to teach her how to read and write, and I’m pretty sure she forgot most of it after she went to the Sword Sanctum. When the two first met, Eris’ default solution to any problem was punching it. Not to mention how her letter to Rudy was trash. But after watching this episode, I think we’ve found an even bigger meathead. Like, someone who makes Eris look like a college professor in comparison. And thanks to this meathead, Rudy is almost kidnapped and forced to say goodbye to his family.

Now what?

Picking up where the last episode left off, Rudy, Cliff, Elinalise, and Zanoba’s search for a cure for Nanahoshi’s sickness has borne fruit: they found Kishirika! As thanks for feeding her, she tells them about the herbal tea that will help take care of Dryne Syndrome. The key is this plant called Sokas Grass. It’s original environment was destroyed long ago, but most of the Demon Lord’s castles have plenty of it. There’s just one problem. Her old castle in that very city is currently occupied. And the person occupying is the one who put out those wanted posters for Kishirika: Atofe Rybak, the Immortal Demon Queen.

Upon hearing all this, and that Atofe is mad at Kishirika because she drank her favorite alcohol, Rudy doesn’t hesitate to hand her over to the Demon Queen’s guards in exchange for the grass. That’s the good news. The bad news? He and Zanoba have to have an audience with Atofe.

She’s a Dumbass! Dumbass!

I’m just going to come out and say it: Atofe is dumb. Like, really dumb. Rifujin, the author of Mushoku Tensei himself, says that she Eris taken to her logical extreme. Look at what she does the second she meets Rudy and Zanoba to her own guard!

This is like looking at the worst-case scenario of what Eris could’ve grown up to be like if she hadn’t met Rudy. And not even he can keep her fully under control!

It gets worse. She starts demanding that, as a “reward,” Rudy join her personal guard and serve her. Now, the anime doesn’t cover it, but in the light novels, that means spending ten years enduring her training and antics, and then getting two years off to see family. That means that Rudy would have to miss the majority of Lucy’s childhood! So he naturally refuses…but Atofe doesn’t take no for an answer. There’s only one thing to do:

And so, the group had no choice but to get the heck out of dodge, with Atofe in hot pursuit.

Scratch that. She managed to cut them off at the portal to Perguius’ castle.

This was a Cool Fight

For the first time in a while, Rudeus is fighting a battle that he can’t win, and he is painfully aware of it. Worse, he knows that if Atofe beats him, he can say goodbye to his happy family life forever. But at the end of the day, what matters most is getting the sokas grass to Perugius. So while the others fight Atofe and her guards, Cliff makes a beeline for the portal. For a moment, it looks like they’re gonna make it!

But then we get tricked into thinking that Atofe’s guards had cut off escape, only to learn that they had set foot inside the portal. Which means they ran into Perugius.

Perugius Has been Waiting for this!

Now, interesting story about Perugius and Atofe. Back in the Laplace War, the two had fought on opposing sides and hated each other. But Perguius’ brother in arms, the first God of the North God sword style, managed to beat her. Then, he used that to convince her to marry him! So, Perugius and Atofe had to promise not to try and kill each other anymore, much to their dismay. And while Perugius has every intention of keeping his word, that won’t stop him from beating her up!

There are so many people in this world that are stronger than Rudeus, it’s crazy. But at least things worked out. They got the plant needed to save Nanahoshi’s life. So we can all breathe a sigh of re…wait a second. What’s the title of the next episode? Oh. Ohhhhhhh…Turning Point 4.

Oh boy…

Dang, I thought I had more time to mentally prepare myself for this. By now, you guys should know the drill. When there’s an episode called Turning Point, that means that something big is about to shake up Rudeus’ life. Something that I have had to keep my mouth shut about for the three years I’ve been covering Mushoku Tensei. I’m not spoiling anything yet, as I want to see how the anime plays out. All I’m going to say is that we are about to enter the best arc of the story. Please, anime. Please don’t ruin this for us!

I Give “An Audience with an Immortal Demon King” a 4/5

Hahari Got her Hands on Kishika

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The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season 3 Ep 10 Review

Doggone it. I knew that things were going to go south for Kishika the second Hahari got her hands on her.

But how did we get to this situation? Let me explain.

So, the episode opens up with the traditional introduction of the girlfriend to the Family, followed by the traditional ice-breaking activity. In this case, it’s a kendo fight. All of the girlfriends against Kishika in a battle royale with paper balloons. Pop your balloon, and you’re out. Winner gets a kiss from Rentaro.

Girlfriend Slayer: Kanojo Hametsu no Yaiba

Now, fighting 16 on one might not sound like a fair fight, but this is Kishika and an anime. Have you seen how crazy sword users are in anime? Let’s just rate how each person does.

Yeah, we should’ve thought that Iku would lose first on purpose. But Nano was unexpected. And I’m pretty sure at this point that Kusuri is a certified fan of Zoro from One Piece.

Mei and Karane went down faster!

Hakari and Yamame’s plan was great on paper but poor in execution.

The real fight, though, is against Naddy, Yaku, Mimimi, Meme, Momiji, and Kurumi. They turn the whole thing into a parody of Demon Slayer and the anime isn’t ashamed of it and give Kishika a run for her money…but she still wins.

…is what you’d think I’d say! Cue the punchline as the real winner is Hahari. It’s easy to forget just how devious she can be at times.

And once Hahari has won, she doesn’t hesitate to use her mommy powers on the poor girl. Which leads to…this.

And with that, Kishika has lost her cool image as a knight. But she gets a family of fellow weirdos.

COMEDY SKETCH TIME!

Now, with two episodes left in the season, I was left wondering what’s going to be covered. And I really want to know what they could cover in those episodes. Well, of all the things they chose to do, it was basically a comedy sketch: the Rentaro Family versus an eating challenge.

So, there’s this chapter right afterwards where the is woman who lost an eating challenge and got humiliated has made this impossible ramen challenge as revenge on the world. Unfortunately for her, every single one of her challengers is a member of the Rentaro Family.

What follows is pretty much one of those comedy sketches that relies on the absurdity of escalation to make it funny. Every time a Family Member manages to one up her, she comes up with some ridiculous new challenge, only for it to get progressively stupider. This pretty much everything that we want to see in a Japanese comedy sketch and I love it. And having Kurumi be the final boss is just the icing on the cake. I suggest that you guys just watch the episode for yourselves and enjoy the pairings of the girlfriends, because they are hilarious.

We only have two episodes left of the season, and I have no idea what they will be doing. If I’m lucky, we’ll get another baby episode. That was funny!

I Give “The Rise and Fall of the Proud Girlfriend” a 4/5

Oh man, Kishika is Awesome!

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The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season 3 Ep 9 Review

Hey, Bibury Studios. I want to know how you guys decided on what to include in the third season of 100 Girlfriends, because you are skipping out on a lot!

I wasn’t going to say anything about it until after the season ended, but at this point, I have to draw attention to how this season is being structured. They are jumping all over the place with the one-off adventures, and they are either cramming a girlfriend’s introduction into half an episode, or breaking it out over multiple episodes. It’s very inconsistent! They’re just lucky that this episode included one of my favorite one-off adventures and introduced us to one of my favorite girlfriends in the series.

HOT SPRINGS EPISODE!

In the first half of the episode, the Rentaro Family wins a free trip to this new hot spring before it’s opened (they’re wearing swimsuits). That sounds nice and all, except the hot spring is owned by this company called the Hardcore (or Serious) Group (and Iku is distantly related to them for some reason.) They are like the ACME Corporation from the Looney Tunes, making these weird products that are always hardcore, no matter how absurd. And it doesn’t take long for the Rentaro Family to get into trouble when the bath bubbles end up separating them.

The rest of the first half of the episode can, I think, be best described as an exercise in absurd slapstick. Which is good, because I happen to love slapstick comedy. And it just so happens that one of the biggest strengths of the series is its ability to pair each girlfriend off with each other. This allows them to play to their various quirks in fun ways. Like Shizuka and Nano’s close friendship enabling them to escape a waterspout. Or Mimimi and Meme trying to get out from underneath a jet faucet.

But I think my favorite moment was the bit with Hakari and Karane. Hakari finds Karane in a bath that somehow enlarged her chest, and she’s so enamored with it that she refuses to leave. Then we get this speech that is supposed to be emotional and heartfelt, but swings back into comedy when Karane sees what the bath did to Hakari.

Poor Karane! Even in her dreams, she keeps losing to Hakari!

The other great joke was how, when the Family reunites, they soak in the one hot spring that isn’t too crazy. Though it ends up being so good, their souls almost ascend to heaven from happiness. This company might have just invented the most humane form of execution of all time!

KISHIKA IS SOOO COOL!

In the second half of the episode, Rentaro is being accosted by boys who are mad at him for hoarding these rare keychains. And I’m kind of with them on assuming Rentaro was a scalper. Most guys don’t have 16 girlfriends! But then he is saved by what I can only describe as a female knight straight out of a fairy tale. Oh, and they zing!

Meet Girlfriend #17, Kishika Torotoro! She’s 18 years old, a classmate of Kusuri’s, and captain of the female kendo club at school. And she conducts herself with the nobility and steadfastness of one of those noble knights you read about in fiction. Or Erza Scarlet, if you’ve ever read Fairy Tail.

As a matter of fact, the moment I got to her in the manga, I looked at her swordsmanship and reddish hair, and was reminded of Erza’s. She’s just cool like that. But from the get go, there’s something wrong with her. When Rentaro tries to brush some dust off her head, she gets very upset about it. And this isn’t a one-time thing, either. Her own teammates say she gets like that sometimes.

Now, if this were a more serious manga, you would think that this is a sign that she had some sort of traumatic past that has left her averse to touch. But this is 100 Girlfriends, a gag anime. And this was just a way to build up to the joke about her character as we are led to witness…this.

BABOOO

As Kishika herself admits, being born the eldest of six siblings to busy parents meant that she had to take on a lot of responsibility while young. That means she never got to enjoy the stage of her childhood where most parents pamper and coddle their kids, leading her to secretly long for that. And she suppressed this desire for so long that when she lets it out, she mentally regresses to a childish state.

This is…honestly brilliant. In fact, I think that out of the gags for each of the Girlfriends, Kishika’s might be one of the best. The contrast between her normal serious self and when she lets loose makes it funny. And while there are going to be people who will cringe at this, we need to keep an open mind with this series. There are people who incorporate ageplay into their love lives. And since Rentaro is a CHAD, he accepts that Kishika needs the chance to enjoy herself. Plus, it’s funny seeing her act like this!

Just, just don’t let Hahari anywhere near her! Seriously, don’t!

And with that, we’ve got the last girlfriend of the season, and with three episodes to go! So I really hope that the anime is going to go back to some of those one-off misadventures but with the extra Girlfriends. I don’t want to have to go back and talk about every last one they missed!

I Give “Hardcore Hot Springs Hopping with a Chance of Heaven” a 4/5