majestic

Wouldn't be surprised, Utena's anime writer was part of the NGE team at Gainax after all. Currently still only at episode 17. Nanami focused episodes seem to take place in a different universe all together. Except for the one where she challenges Utena to a duel, that one is part of the regular narrative, but the others? Not so much. Moooo. Moooooooooooo. Mooooooooooooooo! Nozomi is the one doing the assaulting, Nico (whose name is actually Nicocchi) was the one who was assaulted. And no, nobody comments on that. It seems to be somewhat uncomfortable for them, but it's passed off as fun. Or something. It's meant as playful teasing or something like that, but it's totally... dunno. It's the worst thing in the show, by far, because she could just give others noogies or whatever else would not have a sexual assault connotation, really. That is really just there to have Nozomi fondle boobs because girls fondling breasts is hot. Or dunno. Really. The other fanservice I can deal with, but that thing regularily takes enjoyment out of the anime. Not that it would be great otherwise, but without that in particular it would be a fun experience. Most of the episodes are thankfully free of that.

I'm guessing that running gag will never end, right? Currently watching episode 4 of Love Live! season two, and it was already more interesting than most of Clear Card. I think I'll just stop comparing the two, because that's pointless. I never expected to really like Love Live!, then I kind of liked the first season and thought the second one would be bad, but no. It's been pretty good so far. Shocking, I know. Nozomi also stopped grabbing boobs. Could be she'll start again at some point, but for now that's fairly ok, all in all. It's also always good for a chuckle or two. It could look better, but hey, what couldn't in this day and age. edit: Guess what Nozomi is doing to Nico right now? The hell show, I was just thinking you put that behind you. Sigh. Moments like these prevent me from actually recommending this to anyone. Really. edit: The episode is otherwise a riot. Nico acts weird, and the other girls find her little sister who keeps referring to them as Nico's background dancers. This is really some goofy fun, or would be without the boob fondling. Yeah well. No use complaining... edit some moar: Yep, that was actually a really nice, even heartwarming episode about the goofy "mascot" of the group that otherwise never really gets to shine, or contribute anything of note. She has two little sisters and a little brother called Kokoro, Kokoa and Kotaru, and she currently needs to take care of them.

I didn't expect HORU HOSU to meet a dignified end after the way he ran away last time, but that was kinda bad, even for him. Good job creepy old woman.

Episode 17 dealt with Jury and her falling out with her best friend. I might have no idea what's going on most of the time, and the both implied and somewhat explicit incest themes are pretty squicky (ugh, Anthy, why?) but the way Revolutionary Girl Utena ties the duels to more information about the characters is really well done. Not sure why Saionji was expelled for an unsanctioned duel, but the brainwashed Black Rose zombies can challenge Utena nilly willy and not face any consequences. Granted, the show is certainly better off without Mr. Slaps-Anthy-For-Fun, but it could also do with less Toga, voiced by Dio or no. Hohumm. Utena keeps giving the shadowplay characters advice. It's... baffling and hilarious.

You got a Miki and Kozue focused episode coming up too. That also goes places... just not as far as the others. Yet? I really wonder if there's a point to this, or if either the writers or Ikuhara just had bad experiences with his own family.

You don't like Anthy's brother then?

Well, goodbye Clear Card, it was not very much fun knowing you. People weren't kidding when they said this just ends. It's not even a cliffhanger. It just... ends after some story reveals. Good job team. At least that's out of the way, and I can watch something more fun. Like paint dry, or Love Live!

Clear Card, final episode (for now, and finally). Kero and , who finally learned what is going on last episode (and the audience with them) decide, it's a good idea to start douchewaffling Sakura to. Nobody has the idea that maybe someone should tell her what's going on. What the hell, guys? The flimsy excuse the two come up with is beause MTS #2 decided not to tell her, there must be a good reason for it. Sure. Let's see just how much worse this can get. Sakura has an English lesson with a teacher that's actually not that bad at English. He calls out Sakura and she knows an answer just because she has a Hope card (or had, wherever they are now - still guessing Shaoran has them). The teacher enthusiastically replies with EXACTRY. Hahahaha. Well, at least Engrish is never not funny.

Kill la Kill came close by volume of sheer insanity at times. It's not quite the same, but Nonon and Nui wouldn't be that out of place in JoJo's, if they were a bit less bubbly and more dead serious. Anyway, Clear Card just decided to have a long conversation between Toya and Fujitaka. Whenever the show recalls its past strengths, it suddenly becomes good. Sakura's father reveals that he has an idea of what Sakura is up to, but knows he has no choice but to her that she'll do the right thing. Everything about this scene, except the god awful animation, is (almost?) as good as the original. Maybe there's hope yet for a second season, should there ever be one made. On episode 2 means you haven't finished it yet? Or has Violet found her, uhm, true calling yet (and messed it up as only she can)? edit: Great, now Sakura's great-grandfather has given her a key that once belonged to her mother. Really show, is this where you're going? Let's hope this is just a stupid key, not... a key key. God dammit Clear Card. edit 2: Look at MTS #2 confirming that the continuity errors are most likely related to Mr. Creepy Butler's magical time manipulation powers. Assuming he erased the seond movie entirely so that they can live in the house that's torn down right at the start of said film, that also explains a few things that were really weird between the characters and the way they interact(ed). That does reveal a level of care that went into planning this out. Misguided as that entire storyline is, it was planned out. Doesn't make it better. At least, not much.

There's a lot of things Violet Evergarden can make you do, but laugh is usually not amongst them. It's definitely the wrong material if you're in the mood for something funny. How far have you gotten, anyway? First episode? Because the first two are really slow, and the third one takes a long time to get anywhere, and then it suddenly... dunno. There's something about the ending of episode three that makes all the setup worthwhile. Although nobody's getting almost burned to death by a car that shoots gasoline like bullets. Heh.

I was close to posting "not even Clear Card can mess this up" because the episode was really coming together nicely until... it decided to spend the last five minutes or so of the episode on that ridiculous storyline of this arc. That might be, but Sakura's great-grandfather featured in two really great episodes of the first anime. @Bartimaeus called the first one a mini-Ghibli movie, and that's pretty much spot on. Got any futher with Violet Evergarden perhaps?

Next up, an episode called Sakura, Rainbows and Grandpa. I can't wait for Clear Card to ruin that too. Well, let's see what it brings...

In a fun coincidence, this next epsiode has Yukito reading from a children's book called Night on the Galactic Railroad. Heh. That's funny on a meta level. Shaoran had a phone call with Wei and his sisters crept up and wanted him to turn on video. That was fun, at least. The rest of this is still so Clear Card. It feels like this Star Trek and Star Wars fan fiction written by Jar Jar Abrams, except it's from the author of the original. Which makes this so much worse. I guess Ms. Okawa was abducted and replaced by shapeshifting reptiloids or eaten by body snatchers at some point between 2001 and 2016.

Right at the start of Clear Card, all of Sakura's old cards became inert. Or rather, completely free of magic. Shaoran on the other hand suddenly had a massive power upgrade, and in this episode now summoned a wind based binding attack that looked suspiciously like Windy. I'm just going to consider this non-canon from now on, because if Shaoran has Sakura's cards, then... honestly, I hope she blasts him back to Hong Kong. Toya keeps on refusing to tell Yukito what he's up to, even though it clearly disturbs him. Let me put this bluntly: F*ck this douchewaffling. You're all worse than Mamoru ever was, and I hate you. And f*ck you too, Clear Card, how can you be this bad? How? Why?

@KP the meanie zucchini I see, that sounds totally awesome. Might be the next thing after Utena, Clear Card and JoJo's is wrapped up. Or maybe I'll finish Love Live! first.

Any tumors that grow into weird JoJo punching stands? To answer your question from a couple of posts ago, yeah, I did get to see the Empress. This just keeps getting weirder.

You know that makes me curious, you devil you. Anyway, what's going on, based on your reaction I'll be expecting something supremely weird. Does it dip into Devilman Crybaby territory?

The apocalypse is coming and going outside, and has done so for the past week. It alternates between being awfully hot (even for summer) and torrential rainfalls that come, last for a minute or two, and then disappear again. Should they at some point start lasting any longer we'll have the same issues that parts of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands have right now.

Look at that, now we're officially the Sailor Moon brigade, huh?

There's also Santiano, who do a, uhm, schlagery old wife sea shanty version of that stuff: I can't listen to any of that because lyrics, but that most likely won't bother you.

You might like this then: Assuming you don't know them already, anyway.

I said that I expect Revolutionary Girl Utena's nature to change now that the Black Rose Saga has started. If you thought this was a weird surrealist fever dream, wait until you get to to episode 14 where it goes into HAMON OVERDRIVE, and adds an extra deep layer of squick on top. Separate spoiler for the squicky part: late edit just to not make more posts by my lonesome: Nanami really is a nutjob. Utena and whoever else is around the shadowplays have started to talk to them when the shadows are doing their, uhm, shadowplay.

We have a rule in place when using services, especially when they necessitate close contact, that you need to have a current PCR test, a certified vaccination or a certificate that you were infected in the past six months and recovered, i.e. when going to the barber shop for instance, or the nail salon... I'm pretty sure Bruce will need that vaccination for his dates with the hookers and strippers, so that kinda makes sense...

Oh, and also, because I forgot, you should perhaps make an exception to your slow enjoyment and get the next episode done soon(tm). It's... a rather important one.