Senki Zesshou Symphogear XV

Overall Rating 6.7 out of 10 - Best season of flawed in many ways Symphogear

I recommend watching.

By the 5th seasons Symphogear creators finally understood what they are doing and how to make a waifu show. 

This season begins with best story premise so far: mysterious ancient civilization custodians who are behind many events that happened in the show. An intriguing plot for a change. It is a partial return to the original story premise that got me interested in this series to begin with, but it feels surprisingly fresh.

There is more. Three new antagonists are much more interesting than many of those who came before them. They use clever tricks to fight and overall, their story is more interesting than of those who came before them. They have regrets and self-consciousness instead of desire to serve humanity and sacrifice themselves to help others that often unites both protagonists and antagonists of this show.

Finally, they began sexualizing gear users properly. How they have transformation sequences, just like in Sailor Moon, where they show their bodies in revealing way. Kirika doing a pole dance on handle of her scythe is by far best and Shirabe is second close. Once again, these two carry the show.

Also, there is more Miku in this season, however they do not show her as her usual soft and gentle poor man Haruka, but rather as someone as driven by the ideological drivel as Bikki.

Closer to the end we sadly go back to usual Symphogear themes or sacrifice for others, struggle and willful suffering. These themes are like a spoonful of Marmite in what could have been a nice cake.

Final battles are as flashy as always, but about as much hollow. They substitute flashy action for substance, tactics and ideas. It,s the opposite of Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto could make movement of shadows feel tense and intriguing as one wrong move could easily mean death in Naruto universe. Here an explosion that eliminates half of the city feels like another Tuesday.

Overall, it's the best season of Symphogear.

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu Review

Overall Rating 6.7 out of 10 - Mediocre romantic comedy, entirely carried by its female protagonist.

I recommend watching.

Yet another romantic comedy, most of them are bad. Here however I saw that cute poster girl with her large warm trusting eyes and immediately wanted to watch it.

I will be being with Haruka is she is the only reason to watch it. Haruka combines many of the qualities I like with some that I do not. On one hand she is well mannered, polite, gentle, friendly, warm, calming, soft, passive, caring and supportive - the things I like in women. 

Haruka is almost perfect but there is one problem. Haruka reminds me of Chintanda Eru from Hyouka, whom I also liked initially but grew wary of how she drags male protagonist around for her curiosity bouts.

On the other hand, she is far too dependent on Yuuto and other people around. Something upsets her and she just stops functioning. Yuuto then has to figure out how to fix her. The delicate flower far too delicate. She cannot find her own ass without Yuuto or her maids. 

In contrast Chise from Saikano, despite being slow and weak, handles all her shit herself and does not burden Shuji too much. Also, in contrast to Haruka who has little to now extra responsibilities, Chise has a huge war to fight, and she does not complain.

Aside from Haruka that for the most part makes it worthwhile; the rest of the cast are not likable. Maids and Haruka's little sister are part stalkers part trolls. Maids do have redeeming qualities, but Mika does not. Then there is Yuuto's alcoholic sister and teacher who only serve as an example of unlikable women to make Haruka look good. Then Haruka's parents with hotheaded psycho dad and unlikable dominant mom. Finally, there is that redheaded girl that was somewhat of Haruka's rival for Yuuto affection, but they just made her a friend in the end. Then there is posse of snobbish rich kids who harasses Yuuto for being poor. I think authors were out of ideas and were just adding stuff to fill episode count.

Yuuto himself is not relatable at all. He clearly crosses the somewhat fine line that divides politeness and fancy manners from submissiveness and self-deprecation. He is more concerned with following rules for rules sake rather than because he finds purpose in then. He seems wants to help Haruka with her problems more than interested in her for her feminine qualities. To reference Saikano again, wise and cynical Shuji much more like me and Yuuto is nothing like.

Overall, however Haruka is nice, and the show is enjoyable around half of the time.