Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou Review

Overall Rating 5.0/10 - Somewhat alright

A somewhat more sophisticated shoujo romance. Mosty for female viewers

Back in the days I watched several shoujo/josei shows to better understand what this genre is about.

The biggest problem in this one is that male protagonist is completely unrelatable to me. Surely it is shoujo/josei genre so that is to be expected, but still, I would like to add my male view to it.

On the other hand, I think a female heroine is ok for the most part and even likable sometimes, she reminds me of someone I know but may be that is just nostalgia.

That said I watched this long ago so I do not remember it well. 

It mostly about conversations and dialogues, which is not a bad thing per se. However, in the show like this relatability of characters is or paramount importance. So many dialogues make little sense to me.

This show has overall melancholic feel to it, so it would suit people with melancholic temper.

All it all it is probably a better example of shoujo/josei genre. In Kaichou wa Maid Sama for example female protagonist is completely unlikable but here she is not. That one thing is very redeeming of it.

Hyouka Review

 Overall rating 5/10 - Mixed bag of good and bad.

This one is a real shame. Much like Accel World it gave me mixed feelings.

On one hand I very much liked Chintanda, she is almost a perfect girl. To top it up I find main protagonist very relatable as well. That was almost perfectly set for a perfect romance man can enjoy... until it was ruined:

The dynamics of relationship what ultimately made me drop it.

The whole show is written and driven by Chintanda and other characters constantly dragging Houtaro into more and more of their adventures. As show progresses Chintanda get progressively more and more assertive and exploitative of her charms. That makes her more and more unlikable.

The other two characters are rather unlikable as well, as are dynamics of their relationships.

Surely one may say that without someone provoking some action there would be no show, but that is no excuse to make any show, especially a romance one. They could have thought of something better.

Because of all that, I would not recommend this show if you do not like when main character is manipulated by a woman. Otherwise it is rather ok.

Naruto Shippuden Review

 Overall rating 6.5/10 - Overall good and enjoyable, rather flawed ending.

I recommend watching.

This is mostly a good sequel to the original Naruto. I would have given it 7 if not for disappointing ending and the whole Tobi retcon machine.

When I watched it continuously, as it aired, I did not noticed much difference from the original Naruto, however when I re-watched it I noticed some simplification almost immediately.

Awesome soundtrack of the original was lost as well.

For the most part this is as good as the original however. It continues 2 years after the original story wise and takes things a level further.

Akatsuki is an interesting antagonist. Many of their members are very likeable. I can particularly relate to Nagato(Pain) and like Konan. The whole 6 path of Pain concept is probably the highest point in this show.

Unfortunately it kind of goes downhill from there. After Pain and Itachi died, Tobi reinterprets many of the event of the show in a different light. I personally dislike this twist and prefer to think that Tobi is liar and just made that whole thing up.

That sours my opinion on the final ark of the show as well. Though overall it was very interesting idea to make them fight reanimations  of their fallen comrades. There were several disgusting bits that spoil the fun, among them are self-hating reanimated Nagato and reanimated Itachi, who were so ham-fistedly 'redeemed' left bitter aftertaste.

Final battle between Sasuke and Naruto also left to be desired. Instead of splitting the whole ninja alliance between two of them, based on who of the characters agree with Naruto's or Sasuke's idea of future ninja world. Followed by all out Ninja Alliance civil war, that would pit even people of same villages against one another.

Instead we got just 6 or so episodes of 1vs1, that somehow was more lacking than similar closing battle in the original Naruto. Final stage of the battle between 2 most powerful ninjas in the world was a simple fist fight, that is ridiculous. As if Kishimoto got bored and simply wanted to finish asap to retire to his island mansion full of Thai girls.

Despite bad ending I can still recommend it. A lot of good things happen before Tobi 'took over' the akatsuki.

Naruto Review

Overall rating - 7.5/10 Good and enjoyable overall.

I recommend watching.

Recently many have taken to hate Naruto. Ending of Shippuden and Boruto are partly to blame for it, however this is actually a good anime, a very good at times.

Kishimoto is good at writing characters, they are not as good as in Code Geass, but far not as one dimensional as in One Piece. Sasuke, Itachi, Garra, Pain, Kakashi even Minato are often found relatable by different viewers. Even I used to have Sasuke and Itachi avatars at various forums.

Not to mention everyone's favorite girl Hinata, whom so many adore. Sure there are many better girls in more sophisticated and obscure shows, such as CC or Ikaros. In fact Naruto Shippuden has Konan, whom I like more than Hinata. However Hinata is simple and everyone  can agree she is likable. She is your and mine entry level waifu.

Story is good as well, it has interesting plot twists as well as well written antagonists. Character's actions do make sense.

Both good and bad guys are not just simple hero or villain. They are mixture of various qualities, both positive and negative traits. This show masterfully blurs boundary between good and bad guys and causes.

Battles are one of the most favorite parts of these show, tactics and the whole ninjutsu system, simple enough to understand yet complex enough to allow tactical depth of battles.

Bad are some characters like Konohamaru and his crew. I do not like Tsunade either (Tsun is a bad word genrally), Jiraiya or Guy/Lee duo either. I might add everyone favorite punchbag of this show, Sakura. However, while not a waifu material, she is not as bad as the other people I mentioned in this paragraph.

All in all this show definitely deserves its 7, there are shows better than it, however there are many more way worse.

Music of Mawaru Penguindrum

I made a separate article about Grey Wednesday from Mawaru Penguindrum, that song is truly special. However, Mawaru Penguindrum has many other good songs as well.

In fact, I might have even dropped the whole show, if soundtrack was not as awesome at it is.

Rock over Japan is upbeat and fun.

The opening song, Nornir, offers dynamic suspense feel and perfectly sets the stage for the whole show.

 

There are also Toccata and Fugue style tracks such as this one.

This song if both sophisticated and slightly melancholic at the same time.

This one of methodical and mission focused. 

And one that is so heavily tunnel vision like focused, you can feel it just by listening to it.

Finally slow and mysterious Agar Tea

Two full openings, both music and animation

All these songs are very different from each other, but most of the are great in their own way. Full soundtrack here.

On Lelouch

There was a lot to think in this situation. How to get off the island. How that battle went. Where are Black Knights now.

May be he was wondering if he still loves her.

Well ultimately he probably decided to not get her involved in the whole thing. He was like that at that stage of his life.

Well he can try to make her join him, but that would just endanger her without brining much to him or Black Knights in terms of firepower. Actually it would be harder to explain other members why Britannian princess joined them.

Theoretically he could try to use her as an inside spy within Britannia itself. Lelouch as he matured by the end of second season would have done it. However at that stage he was still too young to do something so far fetched with a girl he once loved. 

Also he had not Deithard with him to suggest something like that.

He grows progressively more heartless and utilitarian as series progresses. From being depressed and doubting his cause because its killed Shirley's dad and got her sad. To geassing Nunnally and putting them all in chains for Zero's Requiem.

He himself said that if emotions get in the way he will just get rid of them just before first battle of Tokyo.

And ever since Black Knights betrayed him is kind of became whatever works. Suzaku also became like that just before Schneizel's coup'd etat. 

Events then teamed Lelouch up with Suzaku and he became Emperor.

By that time he became Emperor, he believed in nothing but power of his geass and power of his intelligence. 

From then on he was using this power to shape the world the way he sees fit and people truly became nothing but pawns for him.

He then faked his death to not take any responsibly for brutalities he caused in the process. A lot of people hated him by that point and he could fear assassinations and such. So disappearing in such cunning way was a smart move.

I myself grew up mentally in much the same way. That is why I can relate to Code Geass so strongly. In what other story you can find a character even remotely close to Lelouch.

On Pop Music and Europop

I do listen to some pop music.

However, something like Back Street Boys do not appeal to me. Neither is Spice Girls, in fact Spice Girls are probably even worse. They are not hot or whatever.

I prefer Europop such as Aqua or Vengaboys. I think it is more upbeat and entertaining compared to many English or Russian Language singers. There are some exceptions to that rule as well as I like some songs by Kylie Minogue and Madonna. 

First is Vengaboys - We Like to Party Nice easygoing melody from a band that does not take itself too seriously.

Paradisio has just one album, but it has several good songs in them. Here is one of them, called Bailando

Madonna has a few good songs. Here is La Isla Bonita, that has nice Latin American feel to it.

I also like her Beautiful Stranger; it appeals to my ego to have a girl completely on the ropes.

Modern Talking have nice sound and melody.

The unparallel Danish band Aqua. The most unapologetically uwu band of them all. 

Barbie Girl song is about girl who is like a doll and can be anything a man wants her to be. I like that in a woman. Sure, they are doing it somewhat ironically, but still.

However, when it comes to irony, then Perfect Exceeder surely satirizes pop music industry like nothing else.

For some more touching sound and lyrics there is Norwegian band, A-ha and their two songs: Crying in the Rain

As well as Summer Moved On

Finally, Army of Lovers with their iconic Crucified