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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 09 Review

Episode 9, "Created Memories"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Edward regains consciousness in a hospital, scolded by Ross and Brosh for his recklessness. From there, he calls Winry to Central to repair his automail. Alphonse struggles with the implications of Barry the Chopper’s words, eventually leading to a confrontation with Ed. Winry yells at him for doubting his brother’s intentions, and the two make up on the roof, renewing their vow to keep going.

Comments:

It’s no secret: I’m a fan of the first Fullmetal Alchemist series. It’s how I was introduced to the world of FMA to begin with. It’s one of my favorite anime of all time. I even feel like it handled some of the manga’s material better than the manga did. However, in the case of Alphonse’s existential crisis, the manga, and this episode, handled it more naturally, with subtlety. The first series gave us a largely filler episode involving Scar and two Ishbalan children, which wasn’t bad, but wasn’t great, and certainly didn’t handle it as well as this episode did. Yes, I’m saying that Brotherhood, in this case, is superior to the first series. read more

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Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen – Episode 08 Review

Episode 8, "Be Born! Baron Ashura!"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Kouji teams up with Tsubasa and her crew to take on Baron Ashura, who is holding Sayaka and Aphrodai A captive in a giant Mechanical Beast. Dr. Hell recounts’ Tsubasa’s hand in creating Ashura. Viscount Pygman, one of Dr. Hell’s other subordinates appears to rescue Ashura. Tsubasa tells her subordinates to take Kouji and his brother into the Kurogane House.

Comments:

Tsubasa and her group continue to be the most (see: only) interesting characters in the series. New ones keep popping out of the woodwork, but they’re always colorful. This time we got introduced to the guy who made Boss and his two friends shut up in the previous episode (or was it the episode before?), the man with the crack shot. We even got a little background on Tsubasa. I’d be more inclined to enjoy the program if were simply about this group, but unfortunately, it’s about Kouji Kabuto. read more

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Dragon Ball Z Kai- Episode 08 Review

Episode 8, "Come Forth, Shenron! The Saiyan Finally Arrive On Earth"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: On the last day of training on Kaio’s planet, Goku practices the Genki Dama (Spirit Bomb) attack and contacts Master Roshi to tell him to use the Dragon Balls to ressurect him. Master Roshi summons Shenron and Goku is wished back to life. As he heads back to Earth, however, the Saiyans arrive.

Comments:

It looks like my excitement last week was premature, since we continue to set up things for most of this episode. This episode wrapped up all the preperation for the series of battles to come, with Goku testing his Genki Dama, Master Roshi and the gang summoning Shenron, and Goku heading back to Earth. I almost completely forgot that there was that scene of Goku testing his new attack on Kai’s planet. I’m glad it made the cut. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 08 Review

Episode 8, "Research Lab 5"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Edward and Alphonse are confronted by the guards of the Fifth Laboratory, Slicer the Homocide and Barry the Chopper, respectively. The guards turn out to be hallow suits of metal, who, like Alphonse, had their souls bonded to the armor. Inside the laboratory, Ed also discovers that Slicer is actually two souls, those of brothers, and barely manages to defeat them, using Scar’s technique of deconstruction. Outside, Barry fills Alphonse with doubts over the validity of his existence. Lust and Envy appear before Ed, with Envy knocking him out and taking him to his brother, Brosh, and Maria, as the lab collapses. Barry makes his escape, as does Envy. read more

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Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen – Episode 07 Review

Episode 7, "Legendary! The Mechanical Beasts of Bardos Island!"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Shiro realizes something is wrong when he wakes up in the police office and the officers are all dead. The Inspector Ankokuji that has been keeping Kouji in custody is actually Baron Ashura in disguise, with the real one recovering at the Kurogane House with the protection of Tsubasa Nishikiori. Tsubasa attacks Ashura at the police station, while Dr. Hell recalls his past involving Tsubasa and Dr. Kabuto. Kouji interrupts Tsubasa’s attack to get revenge for his grandfather’s death, but it allows Ashura to break free and summon a Mechanical Beast. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist Manga vs First TV Series – ROUND EIGHT

Fullmetal Alchemist Manga vs First TV Series – ROUND EIGHT

So, this is it. The final round of manga/first anime series comparisons. After volume 8 of the manga (actually during volume 8), the differences between the two versions of FMA expand into a large gulf. In volume 8, the Xingese characters are introduced. In episodes of the series, there’s a return to Lior, where Scar tries for revenge against those who destroyed his people.

It’s been fun comparing.

EVENTS:

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The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya – Episode 15 Review

Episode 15, "Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Haruhi is excited to participate in Tanabata activities, much to the chagrin of Kyon. After the SOS Brigade write wishes to hang on a bamboo shrub, Haruhi sinks into melancholy. Mikuru asks to meet Kyon after the club meeting, where she asks him to come with her to the Tanabata of three years prior via time travel. It’s there that Kyon meets with a younger Haruhi, helping her draw strange symbols on her middle school’s grounds. To return to the present, Kyon and Mikuru enlist the help of Yuki, who freezes them in time as three years pass. When they return, Kyon is concerned about any further time travelling adventures. read more

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Dragon Ball Z Kai- Episode 07 Review

Episode 7, "Battle with 10-Fold Gravity! Goku, Your Training is a Footrace"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Goku, wearing his weighted clothing, chases Bubbles across Kaio-sama’s planet, eventually catching him. Meanwhile, Piccolo trains Gohan in battle. Kururin, Tenshinhan, Chouzu, Yamcha, and Yajirobe continue to train at Kami’s palace. Back at Kaio’s planet, Kaio gives Goku a new test: to hit his grasshopper friend Gregory with a heavy mallet. Goku manages to complete this task, prompting Kaio to begin Goku’s real training. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 07 Review

Episode 7, "The Hidden Truth"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Edward and Alphonse are in a bind when the 1st Branch of the Central Library is burned down, with all of Marcoh’s reasearch in it. However, with the help of Maria Ross and Denny Bloch, their new escorts, they track down a woman named Sheska, who used to work at the library. Sheska has the unique ability to recall everything she has read, and copies what she read of Marcoh’s notes, which are encoded as recipies. Edward eventually deciphers the code and comes to the realization that the Philosopher’s Stone is made of living humans, and likely by using prisoners. The Elric brothers sneak into Laboratory 5, a supposedly abandoned lab next to the prison. They aren’t alone, however, and while Ed sneaks deep inside, an armored guard attacks Al. read more

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