#either way I binged s1&2 last year and forgot SO much of it

[typinggently]

the way this felt like the most genuine thing he's said to her this season, if not ever. 💀💀💀 pathetic little man.

[xabane]

Alright, I binged Stranger Things S2 today and I am ready to talk about it. I’m going to talk about what I liked about it first and then talk about what I disliked.

What I liked about Season 2 was mainly the character interactions.

Like Eleven and Hoppers. Watching them was really exciting and it felt really cool to see what strong personalities look like when they clash. You definitely see Hopper grow as a father figure as you near the season finale and it’s really great to see that. However, I was really frustrated that he didn’t call her Ellie. Why wont anyone call Eleven Ellie??? Hopper just called her “Kid” all the time. I can see why, any adult would find it weird to refer to a child as a number but he didn’t even call her El (I think I heard it once?). But now that he has documents, she’s just Jane now, so whatever, I guess. Oh, and How does Eleven still not know a decent amount of vocabulary? She’s been gone for a year and she’s still grasping the meaning of some words. Hopper mentioned teaching her but lol, bruh.

Next, I really enjoyed Dustin’s and Steve’s relationship. It was surprising and very fun to watch them grow as friends. I’m just glad they didn’t leave Steve alone to cry in a corner about Nancy.

Other than that, I really enjoyed the show, it’s effects, the action and how strong the characters were.

But like anything else in Sci-FI, Supernatural, and Horror, I find it really hard to enjoy some things when Romance is involved because the story and characters are so good but when Romance suddenly comes into the picture, it feels SO unnecessary and something I can do without. Even when I saw S1 where you see Mike’s and Eleven’s relationship becoming more, even I was kind of like, bruh, really, can’t they just be friends? Not to mention why there was so much time dedicated to Barb’s death. I felt like that was a good excuse to have Jonathan and Nancy get together, but they did take out Hawkins Lab, but that didn’t even come up until the end.. :/ It was very obvious and annoying and I honestly couldn’t care less about all of that. 

Also, I feel like introducing Max and her brother into the show seemed unnecessary, lol. I really hate how the show tries to help you sympathize with Billy’s character (Max’s Brother). He’s an asshole with an abusive father, and that scene was used to help shed light on why he’s such a mean guy but Billy is so shitty, I bet a lot of everybody was just hoping to see his ass get kicked in that scene. But why bring his character into the show? Is he supposed to challenge Steve’s character? If it was, I didn’t see it. Sure, Steve got to swing a few punches near the end of the season but no dice. For Max, I feel like Max was just there to be a love interest for Lucas, and I was not impressed. That, and it took a long time to even hear her backstory on why her brother is such an asshole, literally almost every scene is just her getting verbally abused by her brother. :u Don’t get me wrong, I really appreciate that there’s more strong women being introduced but...I don’t see why she was needed?? What was she there for, to replace Will when he’s busy being absent or knocked out???

Really, poor Will. I feel so bad for his character, lol. I’m pretty sure we can all agree on that. I feel like his character doesn’t really show much character development mainly because there’s always something happening to him. The only scenes we see is him seeing the Upside Down and the Shadow Monster. The only scenes where we see some character is when he’s explaining to Jonathan how he dislikes the way everyone treats him and the other scene when Bob gives him a ride to school, I just wish there was more of that because I feel like as much as he’s part of the Party, it sure feels like hes that kid who’s always forgotten about or invisible because he’s so quiet. Y’know? Even when he was with the Party, I forgot he was there, lmao. C’mon, Duffer brothers, write us a bad ass Will! 

Now, about Eleven. I feel like Kali, her lab sister (episode 7), was also unnecessary. I feel like when Kali was introduced, I feel like the show lost it’s “vibe.” I felt like I was watching Heroes, and the whole time I’m thinking, why?? It felt like I was watching some Runaways (Marvel) spin-off. Did they only introduce Kali so it could challenge Eleven? Sure, it made her realize that her home is with Hopper and her friends but honestly I just think it was just a push for her to control her powers so the finale would end smoothly. Not to mention Kali’s character isn’t so great either. Her character could’ve been so much better than just some thug who thinks they’re “cleansing” the world of bad people. I was really hoping Kali would join Eleven and follow her back to Indiana to build herself, but who am I kidding.

Also, a big fuck you to the Duffer brothers who killed off Bob. That was the highest level of uncool. It was like watching Glen (Walking Dead) getting beaten to death. Bob was awesome. I’m really grateful they threw in a Goonies reference, and I’m just glad he was able to die a hero. 

Oh, and slightly off topic, but I got a serious Last of Us vibe whenever it concerned the Upside Down. Mainly because as we learn of the Shadow Monster Mind Flayer and its army, it felt very similar. The Shadow Monster could control and dominate its hosts, much similar to the fungi-zombies in Last of Us. I couldn’t get it out of my head the whole time, especially because of Hopper and Eleven, the way they entered Hawkins Lab, Hopper with a rifle, Eleven with him. Even the air was that dusty, flakey, atmosphere. It felt really cool to watch.

But no, yeah, the show is great. Just the new introductions didn’t sit too well with me. Don’t get me wrong, the idea and their characters are great, but I just honestly don’t think they were needed, lol. If I’m being honest, though, Season 1 is still the best season.

[childofaura]

Rating the anime I’ve watched in 2019: A really short list

Kinda just felt like doing this, 2019 has been a REALLY interesting year in anime. I didn’t watch a whole lot of stuff, but I wanted to kind of go over what I did watch. So I’ll talk about what I thought and rate it 1-10.

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND: THEY’RE RATED SOLELY ON MY OPINIONS, IF I DON’T FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT ONE PLEASE DON’T GET MAD. ALSO ALL OF THESE WERE WATCHED IN SUBS. ALSO SPOILERS AHOY.

1. Dororo.

The OP was AWESOME. The animation in the first half of the series was really smooth, but there was a slightly noticeable dip in animation later on. Not huge, but still there. Actors were FANTASTIC, and the little girl who plays Dororo is so cute! Characters were incredibly well written and varied, Hyakkimaru still struggled despite his honed reflexes and training, and Tahomaru was so morally divisive, it was great. Somber tones really bring out the nasty forbidden underside of the Shogunate’s “lasting peace”. Though the ending with Tahomaru, Hyakkimaru’s mother, and his father figure all dying in the fire was rather... disappointing, Hyakkimaru forgiving his father and Dororo deciding what to do with the large sum of money left behind, to use it for the greater good, wraps everything up.

Dororo’s a solid 8/10.

2. Rising of the Shield Hero

I ended up checking this one out after hearing all the controversy it was stirring up, because I wanted to see what it was. Like always, the “controversy” was a big tepid pile of nothing, and I got to experience an isekai that operates under a different mood with different dynamics. Animation quality is consistent and good, and there’s a LOT of female characters that are well rounded and strong, like Raphtalia, Melty, the Filolial Queen, Glass, etc. Scenery is beautiful, and Naofumi’s growth into trusting again is nice to watch. Also the soundtrack is so enjoyable, Kansas is my favorite song. Cons, though few, are still there: the pacing can be a little funky at times (Mainly what comes to mind is that AWFUL filler episode where they fight the Church from the molten pit, and don’t move AT ALL. Worst episode ever), the physical growth of some of the characters like Filo is jarring (In two days she grows horse sized, after they had that montage of taking care of her) even with an explanation. The last thing that rubs me the wrong way (It’s not really a con in general, just a con for me) is Raphtalia’s crush on Naofumi. It’s simply that they spend the first few episodes building their relationship as a father/daughter, then they try to shift to romance after establishing that first familial relationship.

Rising of the Shield Hero’s an 8/10.

3. The Promised Neverland

AAAAAAAH HOT DAMN I LOVED THIS ONE. It was completely out of my range of what I normally watched at the beginning of 2019, BUT I LOVED IT SO MUCH. The animation is eerie, especially the facial expressions and how smoothly they move. The children are so darling and thinking about how they might have possibly died in S1 broke my heart, as well as me hoping they didn’t, lol. Every episode leaves off on this wonderfully tantalizing cliffhanger, so binging the episodes are a must. Characters like Mama and Sister Krone are terrifying, though in the latter’s case I love how clever she was, and was sad when she died. Her Japanese actress definitely blew it out of the water and had a lot of fun with the character. I’d say the only (not really a con, but) thing that weirds me out is how close the characters’ mouths are to their faces, but that’s a stylistic thing and I won’t fault them for that. The children are strong and resilient and I can’t wait for the next season.

The Promised Neverland’s a 9/10.

4. Demon Slayer

I got into this one late, and I hate myself for getting into it late. But nonetheless, I’m so glad I watched it and I can say with confidence it’s up there with FullMetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’s level of excellence. Tanjiro is such a kind-hearted boy who constantly puts himself through physical torture for his only remaining family; Nezuko’s “hypnotism” to see humans as family feels more like placebo because she just genuinely has compassion for people, especially when she looks at Ms Tamayo and Yushiro as family when they’re also demons. All the characters are deeply involved in this story with either known or hidden (Zenitsu) strengths that allow them to conquer their struggles. The style is unique and the character designs are pretty, and HOO BOY THE FIGHTING ANIMATIONS, THE STYLIZED TECHNIQUES. MWAH! MUCH LOVE! I love the soundtrack so much, it almost reminds me of the Pokemon movies’ orchestra pieces. The story is well paced, and no issues with filler. Showing how even demons deserve compassion is a beautifully unexpected twist in this show.

Demon Slayer’s a 10/10

5. To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts

I do love this series dearly, and while the good outweighs the “meh”, I still have to address the issues. BUT FIRST, THE GOOD THINGS: Characters in this show are incredibly in-depth, even the soldiers. The designs of the Incarnates are fantastic, terrifying and imposing. Schaal is a strong young girl who sets off with just a suitcase and a rifle and, after meeting Hank, decides to get inside his mindset to see why he’s doing what he does, and why he had to kill her father. Hank is a man in constant suffering who has to see his best friends losing themselves to insanity, knowing that they’re not the people they used to be but questioning whether he’s really doing the right thing regardless. All the soldiers have their own focal point in the episodes they show up in, showing their unique traits and attitudes, and how it links to the monsters they are now. The concept of Incarnate soldiers is parallel to veterans with PTSD. While Liza’s a bit of a ridiculous fan-service character, there’s really no complaints because the fan-service in this show is balanced; they show Hank unnecessarily shirtless a LOT (Though honestly I’d be fine if they let him wear his shirts more). But the cons. There are a decent amount of them. Animation is clunky and lower budget. Pacing is not easy to keep up with, as the split between Hank’s mission and the main conflict with Cain interrupt each other quite jarringly. Schaal’s father seemingly rises as a zombie again to serve no other purpose other than Schaal’s character growth, as we could assume that a LOT of the other monsters like Keynes, with the fire of justice, would also come back to life. Liza doesn’t really seem to do much or contribute much as a character; she came close when she volunteered to take up the Incarnate Extermination Squad’s equipment by saying she knew how it worked but she literally. Just. Held up a shield for the commander (forgot his name, Cain’s little bro) to jump off of. She needs to do more. Love the series and I love watching it, but it’s a mixed bag.

To the Abandoned Sacred Beast’s a 7/10.

6. Fire Force.

Well... this one is definitely gonna be tough to deal with, because I only got maybe 8 or 9 episodes in before I had to break away. So I’ll break it down simply.

Pros: Animation is SOLID. ABSOLUTE. FLUID AND DYNAMIC. It’s literally Midoriya vs Todoroki, but in EVERY EPISODE. Some characters are fascinating and enjoyable like Shinra, Maki, Joker, and Hibana. The concept of Infernals, people who just burst into flames without warning, are a solid idea to run on. The OP is a banger. The soundtrack fits the mood perfectly.

Cons, and a lot of them: There isn’t a whole lot going on in terms of variety, it’s mainly fighting Infernals in the city. It picks up eventually, but slowly. While some characters were enjoyable, others were either flat or downright unbearable to deal with; flat characters like Obi (He’s not a bad character, but he feels... generic) and Iris (Also not bad, she’s strong in what she’s had to deal with and being kind regardless, but it’s just standard quiet girl.). Unbearable character is really just two so far: The lieutenant, who gets borderline abusive (both mentally and physically) with Maki (Like I get it dude, you had trauma with fire and Infernals but you don’t need to be an abusive shit), and Tamaki, ESPECIALLY Tamaki. She’s rude, screechy, treated Shinra like utter shit when they first meet, and respects almost no one outside of her district for no real reason. And she also falls into the next con: The one-sided fan-service. Now I will defend the right to fan-service with everything I believe in, but I’m still allowed to have my opinion on it, and the way it goes in Fire Force is just... so awful. Fan-service jarringly interrupts what are supposed to be heavy emotional or important scenes (Iris sitting on the ground with nothing but a towel, Iris getting her clothes burned off by Hibana, Tamaki sticking her butt out after getting hurt by her district partner, Tamaki’s clothes being burned up and being against the wall with that weird-ass kitty pose with her wrists, etc.), Tamaki’s “lucky lechery” is supposed to be funny somehow but it makes literally no sense, and oh cool she ends up sexually harassing the dudes with it, too. I could understand this level of fan-service if it was like a harem anime or a cheese-cake-ish anime or whatever, but it’s- it’s a shounen. There’s nothing that really shows you there’s gonna be this weird level of fan-service.

I respect everyone who loves Fire Force, but it’s just not my cup of tea. That’s all.

Fire Force’s a 6.5/10.

7. Vinland Saga

THIS ANIME. THIS ANIME IS PERFECT IN EVERY WAY AND YOU WILL NEVER CHANGE MY MIND. The first OP PERFECTLY encapsulates just how much of a hellish live Thorfinn is about to live. The animation (Being from the same company as Attack on Titan and Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress) is SUPERB where the characters move with weight and purpose. Seriously, have you seen how the characters jump forward? With their legs and arms forward? It’s a little detail but it’s so great. Characters are multi-faceted and it gives me strong feelings about how awful they are but how clever or strong or brilliant they are. The pacing of the anime is perfect; something plot-important happens in each episode, the characters travel long distances to give you a feel of movement, and there’s not a single episode that could really be considered “filler”. Dynamics of these characters work in fascinating ways at times. The actors absolutely own their roles; Askeladd’s actor nails that perfect nonchalance where he seems surprised but you know he’s truly not, Thorfinn’s older actor knows how to scream his lungs out in anger. The main star, though? Thorkell, hands down. That guy is absolutely having fun with his character.

Vinland Saga’s a solid 10/10.