Quick Thoughts on: The Eminence in Shadow Episodes 13-20: The Sonata of Mundane Mann

The Eminence in Shadow was a show that I have praised to high heaven and back. Those first 12 episodes were just fantastic, a great premise that it commits to, cute girls and so much good humor. It was my personal favorite of the year and something I suggest anyone watch. It was also a show that had a few more episodes in the tank. I wanted to take some time to go over my thoughts on this “second half.”

My thoughts on the first half of the series is right here!

1. The third story arc of the series does feel like it drags on for one or two episodes longer than it should. There were just a few times when I thought things were being extended more than they should. I did like Cid’s conversations with Aurora and Delta going absolutely batshit insane. Epsilon’s boob gag was also bloody fantastic.

2. The fourth story arc however is an excellent return to form. Cid wanting to be the ‘weakling that is actually super powerful” was hilarious and I loved seeing how Annerose kept trying to mimic his moves. The show is truly at its best when it is about people reacting to Cid’s antics.

3. Beatrix was a cute addition, and I enjoyed how she reminded me of Saber from Fate/Stay NIght. Her final throwdown with Shadow was bloody fantastic, and she has a great design. Hope she sticks around.

4. Rose had a solid story arc, and her falling in love with Cid just because he wanted to act out some stupid fantasy was comical as all hell. Her decision to kill her father and that entire story was not bad, and I was glad that it didn’t dominate the entire plot like in the Aurora-arc.

5. You know this show is having so much fun with its naming scheme. Perv Asshat is so fucking great, and Imatry Nottolose makes me snicker. This series is so confident in what is trying to be that it can have this sort of humor and make it work. Mundane Mann just might be the most powerful swordsman in anime history.

6. Iris’s breakdown and the pressure she has put on herself is a cool story beat that I hope we get to see more of. I do have a theory that Cid’s actions are creating enemies unintentionally and I wonder where the story will go from there.

7. The animation is pretty decent throughout and I was glad that that saved the money for the scenes that matter. There is a general sense of consistancy and no hint of corners being cut. That’s always good from a mid-tier anime like this.

Overall, The Eminence in Shadow is going to go down as one of my favorite anime I’ve watched since I started this blog. Absolutely a series I want to own on Blu-ray, and one I am dead set on collecting through the light novel. Everything I praise in my full blog post remains true, this is a gem of gems guys. Make sure to check out.

Sword Art Online Progressive: Scherzo of Deep Night: Attack on Titan

The anime adaptation of Sword Art Online Progressive continues! After a bit of a delay, the second installment of the ‘director’s cut’ of the Aincrad arc is here. I sung the praises of the first entry, but will that be the same for the second? Well after the cut let’s take a look at Scherzo of Deep Night and find out!

My thoughts on Aria of a Starless Night are right here.

My thoughts on the Aincrad Arc in the anime are right here!

My thoughts on the light novel version of Aincrad are here and here!

Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War First Cour: The Bronze Medal Shines

The era of the Shonen “Big 3” was a golden age for the genre and the anime world in general. Three massively popular series that were running side by side for well over a decade. They were the shows that influenced an entire generation of anime fans. Anyone who grew up in the fan-sub era knows those three shows, and their legacy is marrow deep. 

Yet out of those three, there was a clear hierarchy when it came to their strengths and weaknesses. For Bleach, it was always and forever the bronze medal, the distance third to the titanic One Piece and the beloved Naruto. Yet it was also the one most damaged by the era it was made and whose cancellation left a bad taste in many fans’ mouths. However a second chance has come with a new anime adaptation of the final arc. Will it serve as a rebirth for this beloved series, or would things have better been left in the past? After the cut let’s take a dive into the first cour of Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War and find out.

Chainsaw Man: One of the Shows of all Time

Right, well it’s time to talk about this show. One I’ve no doubt people are sick of hearing already but hey it came out and it deserves a fair shake like everything else. Now normally I have a little build up here, but I kinda want to save it for later, so instead let us just get right into it. After the cut let’s take a dive into the anime series: Chainsaw Man.

The Best and Worst of Anime 2022

Once again we have finished another year in anime. Plenty of amazing shows, plenty of shows that were good, and other shows that weren’t. I’ve hummed and hawed over my list, and finally come to my decision regarding what I think is the best and worst of the year. Have things changes since my last halftime look? Well sit down, relax and let’s find out right after the cut!

Super Crooks: One last heist, for dat ass.

Netflix’s track record with their ‘original anime’ have been hit or miss with the scale leaning more to miss these days. While I am glad that another company is trying to stand up against the Crunchyroll monopoly (with Disney waiting in the wings), I do wish their fair would be a bit better. Case in point is the show we are looking at today. One that does a lot good, but with missteps that are too big to ignore. Join me after the cut as we take a dive into Super Crooks.

On my Radar for Fall 2022: The (Mostly) Eight Episode Check-In!

Fall 2022 is reaching its climax and it has been an overall strong season overall! Plenty of good shows, some surprises and a few that weren’t as good as you would expect. As always I have my thoughts as we reach the last quarter and it’s time to get into them! So after the cut, let’s see where I stand after eight episodes!

Tune of the Week(ish): Akiba Maid War’s Medio Daikaten

This show is something else, and you get that right from the music. The Tune of the Week is the opening theme of Akiba Maid War: Medio Daikaten by the main cast!

Bi-Weekly Booty: Shigure from History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi

A booty in a ninja outfit is always a stellar one! The Bi-Weekly Booty is Shigure from History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi!

Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon: Arcueid Arc

This is a series I’ve been meaning to get to for years. When the news of the remake came out I knew that it would be something I wanted to check out. A series that so many fans adore, yet seems to have vanished into the annals of time. A part of the Nasuverse that has spawned a billion dollar franchise, yet has next to no name recognition. Now that it has come out though, does it stand up to expectations? Or should it have been kept where it was. Well after the cut, let’s take a dive into the first route of Tsukihime: A Piece of Blue Glass Moon and find out.