cdevill

[cdevill]

A review of Omniscient Reader.

I have caught up completely to the Manhwa or the web comic. Therefore, the review will be based on the web comic. I'm currently debating on if I should read the web novel but I have seen a few chapters. It is mostly the same from my experience. Therefore, I'll keep it strictly to the web comic version only.

Characters, it has a interesting premise and it tries to present Dokja and Joonghyuk as foils to one another. Yet, both are very secretive of their plans to their allies. If he was an actual foil. Dokja would actually be more open with information. He may not have to say, "I read the entire book." However, "I had a prophecy of the future but I have come to change it."

Dokja should be charismatic. You can have a charismatic hero that is confident, outgoing, and a thrill seeker. Yet, still has mental hang ups. It doesn't always have to be, "socially awkward guy/girl!" Remember, a foil. Joonghyuk is anti-charismatic, harsh, blunt, and cold. Therefore Dokja should counter this by being charismatic, fair yet firm, nurturing, and warm. This can be used to work on Dokja's character. There is a time you must be cold and blunt.

Constellation asking for help? Dokja shouldn't have been.

"Don't try the 2,000 coins trick on me again."

He should have been.

"Thank you for letting me know that my friend is in danger. I don't need a reward. I just need to save my friend. That's worth more than anything that you can give me."

I can't help but feel that Dokja is like Joonghyuk 2.0 but just has all the information of what happens during the events and characters of TWTS.

The story tries to focus on characters but it does little to develop them and their relationships with one another. Instead, we keep being yanked back to scenario after scenario with little to no break to develop everyone's relationship with one another. I'm bringing this up because, Min is quite happy to defend Dokja despite a pretty bad move on his part. Remember, public thinks he made a bad move because he no shares his secrets. Regardless, Min not having any knowledge of his plans, having only interacted with him at least once. Is slightly attracted to him. Since he wasn't a man that bended to her will via her beauty. This is still not enough to have her lay her life down on the line for him not once but twice. Yet, she shrugs her shoulders and is like, "we got you." It be different if they had more time devoted to establishing a very meaningful relationship. Where we see that he saved her from going on a dark path. She being indebted and grateful, doesn't know why he did that but because Dokja saved her. She knows he is doing the right thing without telling her or him just telling her that the thing is bad. Why? He had kept his word before and she is saved by keeping his word. Therefore, she puts her trust in him because of their connections.

Yet, we lack these interactions because the author wants to show us, "look at this cool fight/scenario!" There were times I stopped reading the comic and wished they slowed down to promote a deeper friendship.

The power system is just all over the olace. You're telling me that other beings can have better stats all the time but our limit for the scenario is only 50? What is the point of a flashy sword skill or incanation. If the other being speed is doubled mine? Either have a limit for everything or don't have a limit at all. As you level the cost to increase your stats staggers to where the price is too high to level them any further. This solves the problem of people being too powerful at everything. You can be as strong as a demon but lack their magical abilities.

It seems like I have nothing but bad things to say about the web comic. However, it's not all that bad. I do like the mysteries of characters and the world at large. I'm dying to find out more of their past. The two best relationships I have seen is Dokja and Joonghyuk and Dokja and his mother. Those are explored much more better than everyone else's.

The fights are okay. It seems power scaling suffers from the aforementioned restrictions and the author rushing forward to get to the next fight. If proper context was established, fights would hold more weight. Image if the author made Dokja more charismatic to his group and helped him group handle some or all of their mental hang ups. Instead of just, "next scenario, next scenario, next fight, next fight." The current near end of the manhwa would be a much more emotional gut punch.

Manhwa has a lot of mysteries that leave you wanting more but with poor time given to characters along with their developments to themselves and one another. The power scaling all over, improper foils, and Dokja feeling like Joonghyuk is what makes this Manhwa suffer heavily for me. I can't give this any higher than a 4/10.

[cdevill]

I don't own Rwby and spoilers ahead for Volume 1. This will be a review/impression of the first volume.

The story in this volume could have been done better.

I feel like the team was trying to do too much but with very little time. In my opinion, they only should have focused on the girl's because they're the main characters and how they've been marketed to be the four leads. Sure, we could have Pyrrha, Jaune especially during the exam process. It shows we have other people that we can come back to but later when we have more resources to make episodes longer. We do have to sacrifice Jaune's arc for the moment but in exchange, we get more screen time for the girls. Ruby and Weiss could have had more time to flesh out their relationship instead of wrapping everything up in a few minutes. Yang can also get some development or even have her and Blake warm up to each other. It felt like they were trying to cover too much. When in reality, they should have been more picky.

Now, I'll give a pass to the animation because it is fairly back in the day and while it's rough. I can understand their restraints on animation.

I do like how Ruby is trying to prove herself and show off because she is two years younger than everyone else. We know it's because no one can take her seriously. Which is why she does her best to impress Weiss. Whom she already annoyed and had a bad first impression earlier in the volume. It's a nice touch that I can understand. Even if it caused more problems, it's an understandable fault.

However, I don't like what they did with Jaune nor with Cardin. I'll get into them both in another post because that's quite the explanation.

Blake does get some development with how she is so quiet and off putting because of her past. It's justified and it helps with her goal to improve Fanus stance in the world. Speaking of the Human and Faunus relationship, Blake's and Sun's past actions only further Weiss's negative stance on the Faunus. Blake being secretive and Sun evading the law. We know Weiss doesn't like the Fanus and let's use it to make her have a character flaw. She's racist, because all her life. She has heard nothing but bad things about the Fanus. It doesn't help that they stole from her Family's Business.

It could be a fault that Weiss has to acknowledge and work on, she has many reasons to not like the faunus but she needs to learn that the actions of a few does not represent the whole. Therefore working on her racism.

Weiss just going, "I don't care." Is not an adequate reasoning to openly accept Blake with such open arms. Weiss has been shown to dislike Ruby for quite a while and Blake should not be exempt from the rule.

If we had more time, Ruby and Yang would try to convince Weiss to give Blake a chance. Weiss obviously refuses because of her negative experiences with the faunus and doesnt search for Blake. Weiss is alone at school while she let's Yang and Ruby search for Blake. Weiss is questioned by Ozpin on why she is alone and Weiss speaks about Blake. She expects Ozpin to discharge Blake but he doesn't before explaining to Weiss on Blake's perspective. If all you do is say that someone is a monster and keep hurting them. They will become that monster. He tells Weiss to think it over and she begrudgingly does. Weiss, doesn't want too but she has to do it because of her own selfish reason. Thus, it's not a, "I don't care" but, "I need to be the best and that requires my team to be the best. I'll give you a chance but only because of what I want."

This helps to let Weiss have character development and motivation. She may not trust Blake or any faunus but we have seeds be planted for that eventual dynamic.

Weiss is not buddy buddy with any faunus including Blake. Indicating that Weiss still has a cold outlook about the faunus. This tells the audience. That despite working on her flaw, not everyone can be perfect. That they will still have issues in the future. It will take time for Weiss to work through this flaw.

Yet we lose something like this because of...Jaune and his arc.

Heck, we can even have Ruby and Yang have development. Yang trying to get Ruby to not only rely on her big sister is trying too hard to push Ruby away. This can further their relationship as Ruby realizes that the job she wants, will not always allow Yang to be by her side. It'll help Ruby become more independent and realize that as the leader. She can't look to other people for help or for comfort.

Yet the plot has to keep being pulled back to Jaune's unnecessary long arc.

I do like Sun, as to show that Im not all up in arms about new people. His introduction and screentime is where Blake screen time is and doesn't take away from Blake. Sun tries to get Blake to accept help and contributes to her arc. If Jaune could have been used like this more often than I wouldn't hate his character as much.

For example, when Ruby is looking for Blake. Jaune comes to Ruby's aid this time and says being a leader is tough. As everyone relies on them to fix their problems and the problems with the team. The two can mutually bond about the situation and Ruby knows that she can rely on Jaune. As a emotional pillar and they can be good friends because of their circumstances. This helps establish Jaune as a kind individual willing to help or even just hear his friends out. It didn't take four episodes to establish him but just two minutes of screen time. As someone Ruby can relate too and vice-versa.

Instead, Jaune serves to just take time away from the girls with 4 episodes dedicated to him. Who still need development and to be fleshed out a lot more.

Blake is quite enjoyable at least in my opinion. I might be in the few who do like her but I can see why others don't like her.

Ruby and Yang need more time dedicated to their sibling relationship. As it would develop both characters, two birds, one stone and mentioning of possible Weiss development is above. This would help to improve the first volume somewhat as Jaune and the side characters would be sidelined. However, since Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang are the main characters. It is imperative that the entire first volume be focused on those four. We can add other characters later.

Overall, I'll give this volume a 5/10. It's not the worst I have seen but the unfocused nature of the volume with its characters does drag it down. Dubbing down Jaune and Cardin to a simple bully relationship also hurts the show. However, Blake and The Fanus situation serve to add life to the world. At least in my opinion, and Ruby is a pretty nice character for this volume. However, more could have been done with her.

[cdevill]

How I became a Natsu x Erza fan.

The part that sealed the deal for me on this pairing is during the Oracion Seis Arc. Natsu wasn't taking any orders on how to deal with Jellal. He vowed to make sure Erza would not meet him and showed that even despite time passing. Natsu still held a grudge against Jellal. Gajeel hurting Lucy? Natsu was begrudgingly able to work with Gajeel to try and take down Laxus. Jellal hurting Erza? That's a no sell. Even with Brain proving a harsh match up against Natsu. Natsu would rather fight Jellal than team up with same individual to beat Brain. An indication that Erza holds a more precious place in Natsu's heart than Natsu will ever admit or allude too. What further proves this is at the end of the Arc. Natsu isn't fighting for Jellal to rescue Jellal from The Council because he wants to help Jellal. He does it exclusively for Erza. The woman being weak and Natsu seeing this forces himself to fight on her behalf.

Now, Gray is a younger brother to Erza and as everyone tries to point out. Natsu is in the same boat. Gray doesn't lift a finger nor incite the fight to try and free Jellal. It's Natsu. Gray was perfectly fine with the situation but not Natsu.

If the arguement is that they're siblings. That means Gray should have incited the rescue with Natsu. Yet, it took Natsu stepping up for everyone but Erza to jump into action.

Natsu in this moment and only this moment put aside his grudge with Jellal not because of the values and themes of Fairy Tail. He put them aside because he thought it would be better for Erza's sake.

That's what sold this ship for me.