Reviews

Posted in

Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen – Episode 10 Review

Episode 10, "Iron Wall! The Kurogane Five!"

 

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Kouji is eager to take off in the Pilder to pilot Mazinger Z and fight the Mechanical Beasts ravaging Japan, but Tsubasa deems him unready. At this time, Baron Ashura’s android women, the Gamia Q, arrive at Kurogane House to kill Kouji. As they chase him through the resort, Kouji recieves protection from Tsubasa’s subordinates, who pick off one of the androids at a time. Kouji manages to get in the Pilder and take off, despite Tsubasa’s wishes to the contrary. read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Dragon Ball Z Kai- Episode 10 Review

Episode 10, "Wait, Chaozu! Tenshinhan’s Screaming Kikouhou"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Kuririn attacks, killing all but one remaining Saibamen (who is dispatched by Piccolo), but not harming either Vegeta or Nappa. Nappa charges up and attacks Tenshinhan, punching his left hand off. Chaozu decides to sacrifice himself, exploding on Nappa, but to no effect. Piccolo and Kuririn attack Nappa, but Gohan is too afraid to. Tenshinhan uses his last ounce of strength to fire an attack at Nappa, but it doesn’t harm Nappa, and he dies from exhaustion. Before Nappa can attack the remaining fighters, Vegeta suggests they wait for Goku’s arrival. The two Saiyans wait for three hours.
  read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 10 Review

Episode 10, "Seperate Ways"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Edward describes his experiences at Laboratory 5 to Major Armstrong and Lt. Colonel Hughes. Fuhrer King Bradley visits and warns the group not to investigate any further. The brothers get on a train to Dublith, to go see their alchemy teacher, though the thought of it frightens them. While reading the paper, Hughes is inspired to do some research into the massacres around the country, but is confronted by Lust. Hughes tries to contact Roy via an outside pay phone, but is killed by Envy, in disguise as Maria Ross. After Hughes’ funeral, Roy begins investigating his death, vowing to find his killers. read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen – Episode 09 Review

Episode 9, "Initiate! Operation: Invade Japan!"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Kouji becomes increasingly irritable as he adjusts to the Mazinger, frustrated by the Robot Corps holding him back from gaining his revenge on Baron Ashura. While Akokuji and Shiro relax at the Kurogane House, Tsubasa gives Kouji a seemingly simple test, which proves impossibly difficult for him. Meanwhile, eager to prove his/herself, Ashura takes the subfortress Saluud and releases Mechanical Beasts all over Japan. read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Dragon Ball Z Kai- Episode 09 Review

Episode 9, "Yamcha’s Hard Struggle! The Terrifying Saibamen"

*****SPOILERS*****
 
Synopsis: Vegeta and Nappa, now on Earth, use their scouters to find the two strongest ki on the planet- Piccolo and Gohan. Kururin joins them just as the Saiyans find them. Nappa plants strange creatures called Saibamen. Tenshinhan, Chouzu, and Yamcha arrive, and they decide to each go one-on-one with the six creatures. Tenshinhan easily defeats his opponent, which Vegeta finishes off to motivate the others. Yamcha seemingly defeats his, but it recovers and grabs onto him, self-destructing. The blast kills Yamcha, angering Kururin, who prepares an attack of his own. read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

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

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

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

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

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

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

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

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

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

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•