Hunter X Hunter – 07

Posted on Nov 15, 2011 in Hunter X Hunter

I decided to check out the Hunter X Hunter manga up to this week’s corresponding episode and came away with the conclusion I could not judge this show as I had used to anymore. Hunter X Hunter 2011 is a pretty faithful adaptation of the manga, with expected minor exclusions and changes in how the show handles depicting violence. The take home lesson was that for a series I had criticized for cutting out character dialogue from the 1999 anime run, which I love dearly, never existed in the original manga to begin with. I couldn’t nitpick anymore; the original anime was at fault to start with!

Chihayafuru – 06

Posted on Nov 11, 2011 in Chihayafuru

Oe is a great addition to the group. Compared to Chihaya, Taichi, and Arata, she’s certainly different but in her own good way. She’s enjoyable to watch and her unique perspective on karuta will serve as both a history lesson on the game and a sort of toning down of the competitive atmosphere of karuta so far. We’ll just have to see how successful she gets in the long run since apparently she doesn’t even know the basics to the game. I hope she won’t end up as a support type of character cheering on from the side lines. Here’s wishing that her greater interests in the history of karuta and wearing fancy kimonos won’t get in the way of her mastering the game.

Hunter X Hunter – 06

Posted on Nov 7, 2011 in Hunter X Hunter

This wasn’t that great in the original, but at least this time around they go through this exam fast. Cutting a lot of dialogue and scenes from the first version, what is left isn’t very redeeming. Comparing this to the original, Menchi then definitely did a better job of making herself remotely relevant as a hunter. A viewer watching this new version would just have to assume she’s a good hunter without any evidence.

In the original she showed the frustrated contestants her skills by returning to a remote section of the swamp by herself to get rare ingredients within an hour without a scratch. Not too terribly impressing but it was something at least. She also beat the crap out of Todo herself, a better case than showing off her knife skills.

Fate Zero – 06

Posted on Nov 6, 2011 in Fate Zero

Not a too terribly exciting episode as Fate Zero returns to its slow character building. I do love me a good dialogue dense anime (hello Crest of the Stars) but the long bouts of conversations so far have not been that absorbing despite how much better these characters are to their Fate Stay Night counterparts. The long periods of character advancing will be worth it, but having seen the brawl fest from before, I can’t be blamed for wanting more action.

Caster seems to have confused Saber for Joan of Arc. Whoops! The whole chick in cool armor fits both Joan of Arc and Saber’s description so we can understand where Caster’s mistaken identity blunder comes from. Guess those big eyes aren’t very good at discerning people apart.

Chihayafuru – 05

Posted on Nov 4, 2011 in Chihayafuru

This episode was gold, cheesy at the end, but none the less gold. Okay, okay, watching Taichi with his jealousy issue throughout the episode with his not so subtle actions to another guy who isn’t even remotely interested is so painful to watch. Someone slap him, he’s not here for the karuta! Didn’t like him as a jealous brat, sadly my opinion of him has not changed after the time skip. I see through your crappy intentions Taichi, forming the karuta club is only a means of sticking close to Chihaya. Please tone it down with the high school drama, pretty please!