#yas reviews anime

[notsp1derman]

an uneasy review of "perfect blue", directed by satoshi kon

[may contain spoilers]

"How do you know that the person you were one second ago, is the same person that you are right now?"

To be quite honest, I don't even know how to begin this. I wish I had some profound wisdom to open a very smart and eloquent review, but I just don't think anything would do this film justice. There's just so much happening in Perfect Blue, such a kaleidoscope of insanity and moments of startingly sober despair, that I had to stare at the ground for five whole minutes after watching it, just to start processing everything.

How do we separate our personal lives from the personas we show to the world? At which point does one end and the other start? Which one is the real you? The struggle of the artist is the price to pay for visibility, and how it can lead to very real problems.

Perfect Blue is all about the paranoia being seen and the dangers of the entertainment industry, which creates countless victims by preying violently on fragile individuals, and profiting from it. I had chills watching Mima slowly become unhinged from her personal disappointments and the peer pressure of her work environment, and even more so to see the lack of interest everyone around her had for her safety and well-being. It's a brutal reminder of how we're constantly being watched, how we as artists are stripped of our identities and autonomy in exchange for mass success, and it's nothing short of amazing how this movie is still so relevant to our modern times, even though a lot has changed over these 20 years in the industry.

With its unconventional realistic style for a 90s movie, along with a brilliant cinematography, it's even harder to distance ourselves from the screen, and it's what makes its violence even more jarring. We feel the pure terror along with Mima in her rape scenes, feel dirty and unsafe through the lenses of multiple cameras, experience her loosing grip with reality with sadness and distress. And just as she becomes unhinged, we also see reality blend more and more, and loose any idea of what's truly happening. And that's completely on purpose.

No matter how much you try to argue that something or other was what truly happened to Kirigoe Mima, nobody can actually know the answer. Was it all a figment of Mima's imagination? Was it an effort from the ones around her to ruin the girl's life to further their personal beliefs? Who knows, and honestly, who cares?

Perfect Blue is a terrifying experience to be felt, a cold-blooded work of art elaborated to make you disturbed, but a welcome reminder to the cruelty of the world and the real problems we deal with beyond the screen.

★★★★★ ♥

[butchvamp]

i need sapphic vampire authors to STOP with the retellings. enough. original characters NOW

[piratekane]

i got an ask in my email that never showed up in my inbox that was basically looking for book recs and since only one person asked for my opinion and because this was the year i fell back in love with reading, i'm going to do a myspace Top 8 books i loved this year, in no particular order:

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein this is basically a love story. it's a love story and you won't change my mind. i don't mean romantic love except that i mean best friends loving each other to and through the end of the world can be romantic and we should say that more often. because this a book about war and its terrors but it's also the love story between two best friends and what they'll do to get back to each other. it has probably one of my favorite protagonists ever - actually, two of my favorites. Wein tells a devastatingly perfect story and i promise your heart will swell and sink and tie itself into tiny knots. kiss me, hardy! kiss me quick! 5 stars, i cried at the end

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo i was late to the SoC books and boy am i glad i finally showed up to the party. this book was perfection. i immediately fell in love with each crow and spent the whole book screaming that if nina and matthias didn't kiss ASAP that i was going to throw something. i also was yelling about kaz and inez, do not think i was not doing that. kex brekker you deserve love you street rat. @dealanexmachina had to deal with the screaming through this. and i think it's going to be a repeat read in 2024 just so i can experience the care and craftsmanship that went into each character, their nuances, and how it wove perfectly together into kaz's brilliant plan. 5 stars, i immediately read the sequel like a hungry jaugar hunting down a person wearing that calvin klein scent

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson brando sando is... prolific. and it was overwhelming to jump in, but i started with tress and not any of his other books (a problem i have rectified) and what a bang it was. this book is, in a word, hilarious. the narrator is a fantastical being with an aversion to linear thought and a predilection for hilarity. the humor in this book is unlike any of sandos other work and really shows that he has the ability to stretch. the premise is very clever and very cool and just very fun. tress is brave and smart and that's celebrated, not punished. plus who doesn't love a talking rat? i'm looking forward to his other secret projects 4.5 stars, the narrator is my favorite sando character

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak okay, this is billed as horror, but i wouldn't really say horror and would lean more into the mystery billing than anything. maybe thriller. and it's outside my usual genre and is definitely more suited to my wife's tastes but she finished this book in three days (and usually takes 3 weeks-to-months to finish books) and when she said i had to read it, i said yes dear and picked it up. i'm glad i did. it's an illustrated mystery and as the author writes in the notes, those who pay attention will be rewarded. the ending was a twist i didn't see coming, like, at all. and it was clever. but once the ending started to unfold it was a mad dash to the finish. 5 stars, my wife recommends this

The Nevernight Chronicles by Jay Kristoff now, i know. this is actually 3 books, not 1. but hear me out - they must all be read. it's nonnegotiable. these books were recommended by tumblr user @fiddleabout and am i so very glad they were. mia is unhinged. there's no other way to put that. the girl is fucking off. her. rocker. and no one in her life is any better. they're all just as freaking crazy. but they're my crazy comfort killers. i went on for hours about mia and ash, to the point that my wife shut the bathroom door in my face because i tried to follow her in there talking about them. this series is bloody and more than once i was like, he can't possibly make this any bloodier but he CAN and i think this book is better for it. found family, check. unhinged teenage protagonist, double check. endless fun, check in triplicate. 4.5 stars, i am never not thinking of ash and her vision of a house on a lake and softness

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon obviously i read priory first and obviously i loved it but ADoFN was... mind-blowing. maybe because priory enriched the world of ADoFN and i was already familiar with all the intricacies of it (though there was certainly more to learn) but reading this just... the bridging Shannon did, the connections she made between priory and ADoFN and how we ultimately saw the way ADoFN threaded some of the loops we saw closing in priory, it blew my mind. the utter romance of it all, my god. i read this monster book in a single day, i couldn't put it down. i emerged from my ADoFN cocoon like andy samberg in that one SNL skit where he plays a teenager who just woke up. i was changed(TM) 5 stars, i was a changed man

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo i immediately jumped into the rest of the Leigh's work (i went through SaB first but she's so strong at the end of this Grishaverse) and while i love all my SoC babes, nina was a favorite and honestly i'd recommend both King of Scars and this book. tumblr user fiddleabout was blessed to follow along with my completely unhinged livestream of this book and when (spoiler) zoya and nikolai finally got over themselves and K I S S E D, i put the book down and took a lap. then i picked it up and screamed again as nina's arc unfolded. 5 stars, i have a lot of thoughts about the kind of man nikolai is (peg)

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty i'm a bit of a sucker for a pirate book. even more of a sucker about a woman pirate, and amina is a woman pirate of the highest caliber. this book is either intentionally funny or unintentionally hilarious. amina's biggest flaw is that she's constantly ogling her demon ex-husband's cute butt - honest to god. otherwise, she's perfection. badass, scrappy, jacked. amina is all of those things and then some. so she has a bit of a past that winds up coming back to bite her in the ass and then she's thrust back onto a ship where she has to chase down an old crewmate's daughter - can you blame a girl for being the most kickass pirate in all of the seas? no! should you? absolutely not! just let amina live out her life ogling ass and sailing leisurely, please. 4.5 stars, i want to sail on amina's ship even though i'm afraid of boats. and the ocean. and things living in the ocean. and generally the water.

( ͡❛ ᴗ ͡❛)👍 and now you know, cause it's mike's pirate's super short show! ( ͡❛ ᴗ ͡❛)👍

[lotrmusical]

Like the rainbow after the rain joy will reveal itself after sorrow

'send me lines of poetry' ask game was a HORRIBLE MISTAKE because sometimes your EVIL FRIENDS will use it as an excuse to TORMENT YOU. watching these asks arrive one by one and trying to figure out how i was going to reply sincerely took literal years off my life. this is my elijah wood wigs interview moment. thanks @ultravioletness

[ladyloveandjustice]

My Top Seven Anime I Watched in 2022

Here are the best of the best, alongside a few bonus good, good anime. Please note that I’m only including premieres I actually watched in 2022, and there are a few ones I haven’t gotten to yet. I only started watching Bocchi the Rock! this month (and I’m enjoying it) and I’ve heard good things about Raven of the Inner Palace, so I’m planning on checking that out.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury

Suletta Mercury arrives at her new school with a mech named Aerial and a checklist of friendship milestones she wants to achieve after being homeschooled for years- only to immediately get involved in giant robot duels and engaged to a prickly heiress. Unbeknownst to Suletta, she’s a tool in her mother’s revenge scheme against the terrible corporation that destroyed their family, and things will only get more complicated. Sometimes a fun romp, sometimes an action-filled thriller, and saving its best twist for the very end, this might just be the anime of the year for me. The romance between the two girls at the heart of the series always has you rooting for it, it introduces you to some great kids (and a ton of cool ladies) and as a bonus, it’s wonderfully inclusive. The only think holding me back is the fact it’s not over yet! I’m praying the second season keeps up the good work.

Read my full review here.

Spy x Family

The smash hit about a spy dad, assassin mom, and telepath child who all form a ‘fake’ family- but will they develop real familial feelings? Cute, funny, nicely animated and full of wacky fights and missions, it needs no introduction. It’s just a good time! The second season isn’t quite as strong as the first, but it’s fun to watch throughout and there’s more good material coming!

Read my full reviews here and here.

Akiba Maid War

A fun genre mashup that depicts early 2000’s maid cafes engaged in violent battles over territory (similar to yakuza movies). Features a lot of outrageous comedy and the world’s most loveable terrifying murder maid in Ranko. One of my favorites of the year.

Read my full review here.

Kaguya-sama: Love is War Season 3

The romantic comedy offers some slick animation and bombastic humor as always, while featuring some truly satisfying relationship development.

Read my full review here.

Mob Psycho 100 Season 3

The final season of one of the best anime of the last decade, it offers a perfect resolution to the offbeat relationship of young psychic Mob and his con-man mentor Reigen, while making a strong final statement on the series’ themes of power, identity, self-acceptance and deception.

Read my full review here.

The Executioner and Her Way of Life

In Menou’s world, kids dropping in from Japan and gaining incredible superpowers is a common occurrence. This rarely ends well, so it’s Menou’s job to murder these teens before they can become threats. But her latest target, Akari, has powers that make her unkillable- and she has feelings for Menou! What’s an assassin to do? A darker take on the isekai formula, the show is uneven in parts, but it’s a fun ride and most importantly, full of flawed, murderous women getting in cool fights and having romantic attention for each other. I gotta love it. The world has a ton of potential, so I hope this yuri action romp will get a follow up someday.

Read my full review here.

Birdie Wing: Golf Girls’ Story

A tough teenager is embroiled in an illegal golf ring run by the mafia- you heard me- and while navigating ridiculous obstacles and dirty tactics, she becomes smitten with a rival Japanese golfer named Aoi and wants nothing more than to see her again…

I debated on whether to include this because the second season is really going to dictate how I feel about it, but it made a hell of an impression, so I had to. After all, in the first episode alone, Eve hits a golf ball through a moving train while up against someone in a clown mask. A gloriously stupid and ludicrous take on golf that only anime could do, Birdie Wing makes the most of its low budget to give a unforgettable experience. Just please don’t do a “Eve and Aoi are secretly sisters” twist in Season 2.

Read my full review here.

Bonus anime I really enjoyed:

Aharen-san wa Hakaranai (Aharen is Impossible to Understand) is a very adorable, funny anime about two ridiculous kids finding each other and has a nice trans-positive treatment of one character,

 Shikimori’s not Just a Cutie (review here) is a cute anime about a soft-hearted boy and a very cool girl who date,

Ya Boy Kongming! is an anime about famous military strategist from the Three Kingdoms era suddenly finding himself in modern Japan. He comes across a talented but unknown singer and decided to put his gift for strategy to use in managing her singing career and helping her to the top. This is just plain fun, and has a really sweet (and shippable) female friendship at it’s core by the end.

And finally, Sasaki and Miyano (review here) is a slow paced but sweet romance between two boys.

[ladyelainehilfur]

I am preemptively forecasting reviews of DreamWork's "The Wild Robot" that say it's ironic that the studio created a movie about an AI for us to sympathize with in a time where many in the creative industry consider AI potentially disruptive to their careers.

[animechick2015]

Anime I watched in 2022 Part 2:

11. Rising of the Shield Hero Part 2- 3/5

Where do I begin with this? It started off strong but by the 3rd or 4th episode I started to question if this was the same shield hero that I watched before. Don’t even get me started on how many times I watched Ost die only for her to come back to life. Thank goodness for the banger opening and ending. I briefly read the manga a while back so I knew that content was left out. After this season ended I reread and yup A LOT was left out. Hopefully the next season can redeem this show.

12. Spy x Family 10,000/5

Ahhhhh I was so excited for this one. I read the manga so I knew the plot well and was a wee bit nervous when I saw Cloverworks was one of the studios doing the production (they basically cut 90% of Horimiya content) but much to my surprise they kept all of the original content, plus added some to really flesh out the show and it’s characters. This will be one of those shows that people will be talking about for years to come. The animation, the characters, the opening and ending were all spectacularly done. Anya deserves all the happiness in the world. Loid is the best fake dad and fake husband (all for the mission of course) and Yor is the new waifu, I don’t make the rules. God I really love these characters and seeing them animated so wonderfully brings a smile to my face.

13. Ya Boy Kongming 5/5

This was a underrated gem for this year. I need to thank tik tok for showing me clips for this one otherwise I wouldn’t have know it existed. And that opening: A BANGER!! Seriously, if anyone skips the opening, they need to be arrested immediately! All the characters were so likable and you were cheering on the ‘rivals’. If you’re a fan of music, I highly recommend this anime.

14. The Case Study of Vanitas 5,000/5

Ahhhhhh! Ok ok. I’m calm now. But seriously this anime has turned my brain into goop. I had serious Vanitas brain rot when I finished watching this one. From opening to ending this one hooked me. Alllll the characters were interesting, even the minor ones; you just wanted to know more about every one and everything. And I know, I KNOW Vanitas and Jeanne are endgame but whyyy is the chemistry between Vanitas and Noe sooooo good. Like holy guacamole their chemistry was off the charts (and that first ending didn’t help either) I can’t wait to know more about these characters and see what shenanigans they get up too.

15. Misfit of the Demon King Academy 5/5

There’s just something about overpowered characters that gets me so hyped. Now don’t get me wrong, I like to follow the journey of a character from rock bottom and see them rise to the top. But sometimes you just want to see a Main Character just go nuts from the get go and that’s the main character from this series. “Did you really think killing me would stop me?” will never stop being epic. Like damn! This was such a refreshing anime and the ending I didn’t expect. Really can’t wait to see more of this universe.

16. The Millionaire Detective: Balance Unlimited 4/5

Listen, there was so much hype around this anime that I went into it expecting a lot. Especially the chemistry between the two male leads but alas I was severely disappointed. While the story and other characters were good it just felt like something was missing. And I know everyone loves Kambe but I was more into Haru and I just wanted him to one up Kambe in some way (don’t ask me to go into detail because I can’t even explain it myself). Maybe I need to read the manga to get into this one.

17. Love After World Domination 5/5

This was such a cute, dorky romance. If you were a Power Rangers fan as a kid, I think you’ll appreciate this one. It’s a nice spoof of that universe with the main characters trying to navigate their love life, school, being a hero and being a villain (is she really a villain though). I went into this one with absolutely no expectations but every week I was continuously surprised by this story. Really hope we get a second season to this.

18. Skeleton Knight in Another World 5/5

I know a lot of people kept comparing this one to Overload but can I just say that I enjoyed this one wayyy more than Overload. Arc and Arianne are much more enjoyable characters to me and I just adored their chemistry. And Ponta was just the cutest addition to this series. This anime only has 12 episodes but it was enough to hook me in to that universe. I’m really hoping we get another season.

19. Overlord Season 1 3/5

I really tried to like this one. Honestly I tried my best to like it but I couldn’t get past the first season. The characters felt bland and overdone for me. Maybe it’s because I watched so many isekai anime’s prior that this one didn’t wow me. Maybe if I’m bored I’ll give this another go.

20. Komi Can’t Communicate Part 2 5/5

Ahhh cuteness overload. I really love Komi and seeing her progress slowly but surely is always a wonderful sight to behold. Chadano will forever be best boy. This season had so many laugh out loud and wtf moments that I really hope we get another season.

[biblioshark]

Book Review: Howls Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5 stars) Review: This was a fun read and just as whimsical as the movie. Which brings me to the point that I believe the movie is just beyond being able to top, it takes away from the book (which I know should be the other way around since the book came first). The book follows basically the same storyline as the movie however, certain things happen differently and there…

[lzsylovesanime]

Anime Spotlight - Ya Boy Kongming

This has to be one of the most upbeat and feel good animes I've watched in a while.

The plot is Zhuge Kongming earned a reputation as one of the greatest tacticians of the Three Kingdoms period of third-century China. Having led his army through countless grueling victories, Kongming falls gravely ill during the Battle of Wuzhang Plains. The weariness and regret stemming from the seemingly never-ending war catch up to him, and as he draws his final breath, Kongming wishes that if he were to reincarnate, he would be reborn in a more peaceful era.

His wish comes true, and Kongming wakes up in modern-day Tokyo with a younger body and his memories intact. Thrust into an unfamiliar world, he finds his way into a nightclub and meets Eiko Tsukimi, an aspiring singer whose performance immediately captivates him. Pitying his confusion, Eiko takes Kongming under her wing and teaches him about the current world, which leads to Kongming's interest in contemporary music. Seeing Eiko's immense musical potential, Kongming vows to make the world recognize her and soon takes on the role of her manager.

Unsurprisingly, the music industry is unforgiving to those who make even the slightest mistakes. Still, Kongming is determined to accomplish his goals—even if he must utilize the war stratagems he famously used in his previous life!

This series is just bright and fun with a lovely spirit and wonderful characters. It looks great and has great music and just such a feel good vibe. Its touching and I love the tactician angle bringing a bit of history and a fun premise to watch playout.

[rinledraws]

I made the horrible mistake of deciding to watch Ya Boy Kongming a few days ago and now

my brain

is stuck on

CHAN CHAN! AI CHIKI CHIKI BAN BAN!

(what a great show btw 10/10 will wage warfare for EDM songstress again)

[kitsuneheartreviews]

Graphic novel: "Saving Sunshine" by Saadia Faruqi

Twins Zara and Zeeshan have been having problems arguing for ages. This time, though, they might have taken things too far. On the plane to a weeklong vacation, their parents confiscate their phones and tell the kids that they are to spend the vacation TOGETHER, and have to GET ALONG.

There's no way this is going to work. They have NOTHING in common...right?

This book deals not only with sibling animosity, but also racial discrimination. The parents were born in Pakistan, their children born in America, and Zeeshan ESPECIALLY hates it when he is asked where he's "from." Zara, as a hijabi, faces her own challenges, made all the worse because she feels her brother doesn't stand up for her.

The action between these two conflicts is in counterpoint to the titular problem, that of a beached sea turtle, whom Zara names Sunshine. The kids bond over the creature, allowing Zeeshan to appreciate Zara's love of nature (and prompting Zara to embrace her brother's special interest of space).

Overall, a cute story, not too high-stakes, but covering some very tough issues. The racial profiling and discrimination--both outright aggression and microaggressions--isn't waved away. It's acknowledged, and worked upon, and we get the impression that most of the repeating characters outside the family have improved by the end of the book. But, more importantly, we can see that the twins have regained one-another as allies, and will be stronger together in the future.

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

[bookishlyvintage]

The Depths, Nicole Lesperance

read my thoughts here | book sleeve here

[corvidcall]

if any of you use goodreads, please feel free to add me!! my goal is to read 12 books this year and this time i think im really gonna do it

[mechazushi]

Bartender: Glass of God. The manga, the Show, The Reboot.

TL:DR; A review about some rando's take on a little known bartending manga that got turned into a show and just released a reboot of the same show.

F*ck it, I'm doing reviews now and I just wanted to shout out a great slice of life anime about the one thing that weirdly tickles a random cluster of neurons in my skull: Aesthetically pleasing looking drinks.

Lets kick this off by getting everyone on the same page about a few things. The manga is called Bartender and its a finished series. The first run of the anime was in 2006 and lasted 11 episodes. Today, as of April 5, 2024, they are reproducing an updated version called Bartender: Glass of God. There is only one episode (obviously) so this review will only cover differences I've noticed between the three and how I feel about this. (also I haven't finished the first show and I just read, like, The first three chapters and skipped a volume/ read some chapters from that no less that 2 minutes before writing this. the next review I make of this, I will probably be reading more to make this more credible.) The story is about a man named Ryu Sasakura. As far as I can tell, he doesn't really have a resound, Earth-shattering goal for himself. He's just there to make cocktails and give advice/fix relationships. Bartender is accompanied by a somewhat steady cast of reoccurring characters, mainly one woman in particular named Miwa Kurushima.

Got all that. Good. Here we go.

The Manga (spoilers)

While this is the material I have previously admitted not to have studied the most intensely, It is the basis from where these shows originate from and should be given center stage at the moment. The first chapter starts with Miwa in a bar fretting over a task from work, she argues with the guy behind the bar about her drink, then gets interrupted by Ryu. She pieces together that Ryu is a bartender and manages to convince him to show up at a testing and interview at a newly built hotel that's trying to open a bar inside. He shows up, aces the test, then rejects the offer to work there, saying he wants to try other places first.

Having this be the last thing I looked made everything else I was about to watch a bit of shock to me. Most people read the book before watching the movie/series, which causes most people to compare the two. In most cases, in a negative light because people tend to really attached to the source material and get fussy when something gets changed. Not to say that someone going in the opposite direction like I have couldn't act the same way, but it also helps that I haven't had the time or the well aged, rose colored glasses to view everything through.

So when I saw that Ryu doesn't immediately start out working in his famous Eden Hall. It gave me an odd platform to (hopefully) objectively compare the shows to. Also, a lot of the major story points that get touched on in the first episodes of both of the shows, are not present or given different context in the manga. There are things that remain consistent between all three. That being the two phrases "What two professions should you never betray the customer?" and the speech about "why is a bartender called a bartender?". What I found to be the most decisive creative difference between all three was how they portrayed the first drink served in all three first episodes/chapters. In all three, is a whiskey/ water mix with a higher ratio of water to whiskey ( In the reboot, they changed it to a High ball, which is just sparkling soda instead of water, but I think that's because a water cut is more of a Japanese thing.) The drink and how he comes at the presentation of the drink reflects his personality for the rest of the series. To be honest, I think a lot of people would be surprised at how the creation and the aftermath of the High ball scene definitively sets up just how different Ryu's personality is in each iteration.

In the manga, Ryu is smart, but not right off the bat. Given time to prepare and he can come across as amazing and otherworldly. But catch him off guard with something can cause him to fumble. He is also portrayed as impulsive, running off to steal a specific type of ice and staging (At least one that I know of) happenstance meetings. The man knows what it takes to impress someone, but through it all, he's still human. Albeit, it doesn't show through normal human behaviors like a clear expression of goals or bad habits, This doesn't make him come across like a robot, but as a man wiser than his years whose had time to perfect his perception of people and how to cater to a distraught stranger. This is helped by the fact that this story has actual plot that is subcontextual in every chapter with a slow, but not a slow-burn level of progression. That last bit is absolutely no where to be seen in the 2006 iteration of Bartender.

Bartender: The 2006 release (Spoilers)

The 2006 version was the one I had stumbled upon first. Thought it was interesting, watched two episodes and didn't pick it back up again for several months. Not because it was bad, mind you. but the thing about the story Bartender is that... its not meant to be binged in one seating. The show is meant to be savored slowly, like an actual cocktail. The way the original anime variation is set up like this; Ryu already has Eden Hall, and the lore acts like he's always been there, where in the manga he was actually living in France for years before he decided to come back to Japan and start his own bar. And Ryu didn't even start with Eden, he worked somewhere else as a new guy before befriending Miwa's grandpa and gramps (gifting? convinced? not sure haven't found the chapter yet) Ryu the Eden Hall. So the story the show sets up ends up acting like Eden Hall just... grew out of a side street and there was Ryu behind the mahogany.

This isn't helped by how they depicted the doorway in the show verses the manga. The entry is down a set of stairs and off to the left, hidden underneath a deceptively simple sign in the manga; while in the show its just... in the wall facing the street. Its framed by three square stone pillars set in the wall around it with a small, lit potted tree sat beside, making the entry feel more like you're stepping into an underground temple than a bar.

The show then continues like a abridged and condensed rendition of the manga. The b*tchy personality that was given to Miwa was given to her supervisor. She meets Ryu at the Hall and he correctly guesses the drink order she always had when she got off work when they both were in France several years ago, He wasn't asked or even showed up to the bartending test, and the setup to the water-cut whisky scene was way different. Instead of making the drink at the test and then later giving the supervisor a taste of Ryu's Sherlockian level deduction skills at a different bar; the events leading to the drink, the making of the drink, and the key speeches that define the core of the first chapter were shoved into a scene that lasted probably less then 10 minutes and it never left Eden Hall.

Having the show frame it like this, left me with the impression that Ryu... was some sort of God. Like a benevolent being whose sole purpose of existence was to make drinks and help others emotionally. It isn't helped by how the show is presented. Its episodic, prioritizing facts and answers to relatable situations over chaining lore beats. Unintentionally making Ryu feel inhuman; he's helpful, sure, but comes across as vaguely omnipotent, and there's also no scene where Ryu is outside of the bar, making it feel like he only exists to serve. This could just be Japanese work style mannerisms at work, but if that isn't the case, then him acting with no changes in demeanor like that just tacks on to the whole not human allegations.

The reason why I feel like this is comes out in one particular scene. In the making of the water cut whiskey, there's another speech that is given. The two of them talk about why Eden Hall was named Eden Hall. Turns out it relates to an English Folk tale about a group of fairies leaving behind a glass and a note saying "You break this, bad luck comes to Eden Hall. (paraphrased, of course)" After the speech is given, Ryu walks over to a glass cabinet that contains an ice sculpture recreation of the famous Eden Hall glass... and promptly BREAKS IT IN FRONT OF THE GUY! He uses the ice from the sculpture for the drink and that becomes part of the reason the drink is so good, its because of how special the ice is.

Having not read the manga before hand, I didn't know at the time that this was the show writers way of introducing the so important ice sculpture needed to make this Glass of God, but without having Ryu being all the way at the hotel for the test. Not knowing this, I think, unintentionally made Ryu feel like he viewed anyone that walked through his door, was just a toy to him that he could fix or break emotionally, and that he only helped as many people as he did was because he felt like it. Seeing Ryu break the sculpture after giving that speech and serve the drink to a man that had been openly hostile to him gave this whole scene an unintended shock factor that I didn't see coming. And the thing is, the origin of the name for Eden Hall speech takes place in like, midway through VOLUME 2. It was never supposed to be in the first episode. Having everything unfold like that was a deliberate choice of the writers, so it makes me wonder if they were doing this intentionally. Again, having not read the manga first and seeing Ryu portrayed like this had me unprepared to meet the Reboot variation of him

Bartender: Glass of God (Spoilers, duh)

Having only one episode to draw from for this part makes me hopeful that this will be shorter than what I have written so far, (God, what have started). I think this will be more of a description of what changes were made and hopeful expectations since there isn't much to stack up, material wise.

Starting off, this looks like its going to be more lore based than its earlier counterpart. We get to see Miwa actually interacting with her supervisor and a friend that appears only occasionally in the first run. Miwa was a bitch before and then had next to no personality in the show, but now seems to have regain a little of the b*tchyness and is now more...judgemental? Definitely a reads book covers first kind-a person, but is paired nicely with her bubbly and eager friend. We still have the bartender test, but instead of the reason behind it being that the supervisor is stingy and judgemental (or outright hates bartenders) him, Miwa, and her friend are all on a mission to find the bartender that makes the Glass of God, and this is on orders from above the supervisor. Honestly, the writers did a really good job with everyone that makes an appearance across all the media, because they even took their time and gave the three bartenders that show up for the test their own personalities. They didn't have to do that and I love them for it.

After the test fails they meet Ryu in the park. And this is where the show kinda slapped me in the face a little. Again, the only other reference to Ryu that I had seen was the earlier 2006 run, and (hopefully) you saw how I felt about him. So to see Ryu act as this forgetful, awkward, goofy goober of a person really threw me for a loop. He leaves behind a book from the library and Miwa ends up holding onto it. The two of them meet two more times and because Miwa's whole mission is to find the maker of the Glass of God, finally finds Eden Hall. Again, the show decides to have Ryu have Eden Hall to start off with instead of him working somewhere else and then earning the right to have Eden Hall. I'm not going to have a strong opinion on which direction is better yet because there's a shot where Ryu is looking dramatically at a fenced in, empty lot, that and crossed with this being more lore heavy so as to tie in better with the original manga, it seems like a better plan to let this play out and see where it goes first.

Anyway, Miwa and friend show up and realize its Ryu. (If you can't tell by now, we're about to hit the High Ball sequence.) This time, Ryu has more customers in the room with him, setting it up to be what I thought was the best iteration of the whole "realization that Ryu is d*mn good at his job". The test from earlier actually becomes important this time around because it sets up two scenarios that a good bartender should be good at if they want to be considered good. And of course, Ryu passed with flying colors. We now enter the High Ball scene. And honestly, nothing really stands out about this version, but I think that's because its blending in with the momentum kept from the previous drinks, making it that from the moment they enter the bar, the High ball itself doesn't stand out specifically until after Miwa comments on it, drawing out what so special about it. She asks for hers after seeing the other two get made and gets hyped for the drink as she sees whiskey being brought out, thinking shes going to get something fancy... only to get handed the (infamous) High ball. Miwa writes it off, thinking that nothing special could come from something so simple...only to have a Studio Ghibli level blast to the senses. Which is here we tie into the voice lines about how Ryu knew that a water cut whiskey would be perfect for her at the moment, going into the same spiel about how observant he is and makes the viewers know that Ryu is that guy. This episode so far has been a wonderful take on a lesser know story and I'm glad that the lore is getting a turn in the spotlight this time around.

This is a whole different take on the characterization of the bartender named Ryu. Going from unusually wise but young bartender, to possibly omnipotent God of cocktails and relationship advice, to a socially awkward and unashamed of it human who's just a beast behind the counter with a cobbler shaker in his hands. There isn't enough footage of the Reboot variant of Ryu being a free therapist or being a relationship solver yet so this is where I leave this review of Bartender: Glass of God for now. Again, I haven't finished the 2006 run or the manga yet, so take everything I've been saying with a grain of salt

If you have managed to make it this far, I applaud your tenacity, or severely pity your level of boredom, but nontheless greatly appreciate you taking time out of your shitty sleep schedule and joined me on my first review. I don't think I'll be doing this too often. And if I do, there will be an attempt to condense it all down much more succinctly. Here's hoping that a brief glance ( cuz' lets be honest, no one is going to read this whole thing) might of convinced you to check out an amazing slice of life that just focuses on taking advice and swallowing down the bitterness of life with a chilled and well crafted glass (of god).

THANK YOU EVEYBODY! ILL BE HERE ALL WEEK!

[ismahanescorner]

January Wrap-up 🩵 | 2024

well, i did end up reading some of the books i posted on my tbr list, and i consider that a success!!

Books:

Daughter of the Moon Goddess: 4.5/5 🌟

this coulda been a perfect five star read, but the flippty-flip-floppity between the boys till the last page was too much for me, so i deducted a half star!! still, this was a great read!

Check & Mate: 3.5/5 🌟

read my review in the post below!!

Komi Can’t Communicate (Vol. 19): 3.5/5 🌟

again, i live, love, laugh komi, rumiko, and tadano!

Fixed on You: 4/5 🌟

this was my first reread of the year, and the first time i reread this book since 2014. i was pleasantly impressed by the fact that it stood the test of time and my vastly different reading taste!

Squire: 3.5/5 🌟

i loved everything about this book: the art style, the story, the characters!! i especially loved the fact that the authors decided to explore a story inspired by ottoman ruled levant as that’s a period we don’t have many stories from!

With the Fire on High: 4/5 🌟

what can i say? i’ll read anything acevedo writes, narrates!!! 😍

Between the Lines: Facial Tattoos and the Chaouia: 4/5 🌟

this didn’t offer me any new information as i am a chaouia and my nan has similar tattoos to the women featured in the article. however, it is a very informative and short read if you’re uneducated on facial tattooing practices by the indigenous people of north africa!

Shows & Movies:

One Piece (Live-Show): 7/10 🌟

you mean yo tell me Taz Skyler (Sanji) is an arab man!!! *swooon*

Marba Al-Ezz: 7/10 🌟

Mahmoud and Seif are hot!! that’s all i got to say!

Habs: Ep 13!

The Apothecary Diaries: Up-to-date

Rain Over Beirut: 7/10 🌟

a Nour/Assi edit made me watch this!!! (i did end up falling in love with nour and assi!!)

[ya-world-challenge]

Book Review - What Elephants Know (🇳🇵 Nepal)

[image 1: book cover: a silhouette of a boy riding an elephant in a yellow-green gradient. The elephant's trunk is upraised and the boy reaches for it; image 2: map showing Nepal, just north of India; image 3: an elephant with traditional riders in Nepal. The elephant is decorated with white paint and wears a richly patterned saddle. source: wikimedia]

What Elephants Know

Author: Eric Dinerstein

YA World Challenge read for 🇳🇵 Nepal

Review

The book follows Nandu, a young boy who was found living with wild dhole dogs and adopted by the head of the elephant stables. Nandu encounters various challenges, the biggest of which is the king of Nepal's threats to close the stable.

I found it hard to stay interested in this book. The plot jumped around a bit and the characters spoke in stilted speech like a translation. I found it hard to get much personality from the main characters.

The author was a conservationist in the area for years around the time of the book's setting, so I trust that the environment and characters may have come from real-life experience in Nepal.

Some middle-grade books are a great read for older adults alike. I think this book would be more appreciated by the younger, intended audience. Younger readers who love animals and adventure might better identify with Nandu and enjoy this elephant story.

★  ★    2.5 stars

Other reps: #adopted

Genres: #friendship #adventure #conservation #historical 20th century