#and one of the kids is voiced by gokus va!!! that should be fun

[clownkiwi]

ive been watching both votoms & vifam at the same time because i like to think theyre both contrastingly different sides of the same 1983 anime season by sunrise

unfortunately for vifam heads, i think votoms is winning me over </3

[kayomielatoro]

Saiyuki Livewatch: Episode 2: A Guide To the Netherworld

....Okay yeah, the title this go round makes no sense whatsoever. Hello, guys, welcome to the blog and today’s Livewatch. Today we watch episode 2, easily one of my favorites. Let’s get started.

Startin' off with probly the only plot summary I think we get in the series. Aaaaand then into my absolute favorite goddamn scene in this whole fucking show.  It starts off sorta normal with Gojyo and Goku fighting, as per usual. Seriously these two might as well be fucking blood brothers with how often they argue and bitch at each other.  And then Sanzo's immediate response once he’s sick of it. "Your little unrequited love affair is starting to get on my nerves! Get a room!" BEST. LINE. EVER. Seriously if I EVER make an asshole character and DON'T use this line or something close at some point? You have my permission to kick my ass. It's that damn good.   And then Hakkai, little shithead that he is, follows up with the line "Awful quiet back there guys are you making out?" ROFL Look, Hakkai might be the nice one but he can burn your ass just as easily as Sanzo and probly quicker if he's paying attention to you. And then the lamest response from the accused. Look, if you guys ship Gojyo and Goku because of this moment, go for it. Not my ship but hey, ship as ya may. Not my job to police you people.

Wow. Thanks for insulting Hakkai's cooking Goku. Although now I kinda wanna eat Houmei's cooking. At least I ASSUME Hakkai's a good cook. It’s....not exactly made clear aside from the fact he is the only cook in the party which might not be saying much.  Aaand the first step for informing how the average human feels about demons who have killed loved ones. I think this really sorta sets it up although I don’t remember too much of a pay-off? But the sentiment is nice. 

Gojyo's pretty jaded when it comes to humans as is obvious by the line that humans are "stupid and judgemental. What's the mystery" We'll  get more into that once Gojyo's past gets brought up. Which I think is in a few episodes? Give or take?

Poor Goku. Stuck between a rock and a hard place with this girl. On the one hand, he wants to make her feel better. On the other....he probly feels like he should correct how she feels about demons but doesn’t know how without outing himself.

....Gojyo. SERIOUSLY. KEEP THE PERVY THOUGHTS TO YOURSELF. Also I REALLY wish Hakkai's TMI whistle was a running gag. I love that bit so. Sanzo you sarcastic asshole. It wouldn't kill you to be thankful that at least one of you assholes thought ahead with booking rooms.

...I'm....not entirely sure how I still feel about Vic Mignogna as Kougaiji. He does well in the role but.... I dunno. It doesn't age great. I dunno if it's because the role itself could use some more gravitas in the voice or at least an older sounding voice. I'm just not as in  love with that particular bit of casting anymore. I DO like Yaone's VA although she also takes a little bit to settle into her role. And we've got why we actually LIKE some of the guys on Gyumaoh's side. They're clearly only doing it for someone else....Goku interrupting aside.

Oooh, Sanzo prepared for once. I'm impressed. ....This doesn't happen often. Normally because they don't do traps very well. Or often. I believe this is our first look at Sanzo without his robes. ENJOY guys gals and nonbinary pals. ...Yes I have the hots for it too. Relax, I’m not kinkshaming.  Aaaaand now Sanzo's trap got flipped on him by a....spider woman. .....Have I mentioned spiders freak the fuck outta me? Yeah kinda hate this particular fucking group of assassins. Ah, Gojyo and his pickyness of partners. Supposedly. Not by much. ROFL And Goku taking out his opponent in his damn sleep is GOLD. Aaand the first of Sanzo being in weird bondagey shit. Yeah this is kind of a trope? Probly because he's the only human and a tad more vulnerable than the others. Unless he's got the Maten scripture ready or his gun's fully loaded. Yeah we'll see part of what the Maten scripture can do shortly. Hold yer horses. 

    First things first, Gojyo stages a breakout with his weapon, the shakujo. I believe it's also called the monk spade but I'm not 100% sure since I haven't taken any kung fu classes since freshman year of college YEARS ago. For those wondering what Goku's is called and don't know already, it's the nyoi-bo. Or just bo staff. Which can become a sensetsukon. ....Which I might have misspelled. Would not surprise me. I still wanna know how Hakkai's Qi Gong works.

And two back-to-back food puns. Seriously, SALTY is the term you're looking for Gojyo. Not sour.

UGH I FUCKING HATE SPIDERS. SERIOUSLY. And this one in particular is FUCKED. Because after she takes a shot to the eye, she heals herself by eating her buddies. Aaaaand she outs Goku as a demon. Great. More of a reason to hate this bitch.

  Poor Goku. He didn't deserve to be called a monster. Seriously the kid is basically walking sunshine. I adore this kid. Oh, I love this line: "Stop looking at them like they're different or we're better. We're all the same, all of us." ....Ignoring his cooking comment immediately afterward. 

So....is the guy with Houmei really her dad? I've....never been a hundred percent sure.

"You're young. Be careful of blanket judgements" Still a teacher as always, huh, Hakkai? Although I'm not sure why he's so quiet here. Mixing problem maybe?  Seriously I adore this episode even if it doesn't really add anything save maybe a little bit of depth to Goku and how people may start viewing the demonic parts of the party later in the story should their identity be found out. Which I don't think is often.

Now we've got the Maten scripture binding the spider lady in place while Goku impales her ass with his bo staff. Nicely done guys.

You didn't think she'd hold a grudge after you saved her and said those things about treating people the same, did you, Goku? Seriously, kid. I dunno how someone could hold a grudge against you. You're too sweet. It's got a nice little lesson. A little schmaltzy but it's sweet and I like it.

XD And Hakkai and Sanzo continue to be driven bonkers by Goku and Gojyo arguing. Yeah it's gonna be a long journey guys.

And that wraps up episode 2 in a neat little bow. Hope you guys had fun and I’ll see you all next time!