Reviews

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Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen – Episode 11 Review

Episode 11, "Pincer Attack! Operation: Mechanical Beast"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Baron Ashura tries to prevent Kouji from docking the Pilder with Mazinger, but despite even having Boss and his lackies stowing away, Kouji manages to dock before Mazinger can be taken into the fortress Saluud. Kouji engages Ashura’s Mechanical Beast minions underwater, even managing to stop the fortress sub with Mazinger’s hands. Meanwhile, Tsubasa has one of the wrecked Gamia androids looked at by the scientists at Photon Power Labs, where they’ve already prepared a new module for docking with the Mazinger. Back on the surface, Kouji encounters more Mechanical Beasts, one of which has taking Sayaka hostage. Kouji has no choice but to surrender to Ashura and go into Saluud. read more

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The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya – Episode 16 Review

Episode 16, "Endless Eight (Part 1)"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Two weeks before the end of summer break, Haruhi calls together the SOS Brigade to cram in as many activities as they can before school starts again. These events include going to the public pool, attending a festival, shooting off fireworks, cicada catching, working part time, and stargazing. Kyon, however, has still not completed his summer homework by the end of the two weeks, but decides not to bother. Exhausted, he goes to sleep early for school the next day. read more

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Dragon Ball Z Kai- Episode 11 Review

Episode 11, "Will Son Goku Make It In Time?! The Fight Continues In Three Hours"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: The Saiyans wait three hours for Goku to arrive. Nappa keeps himself busy by killing onlookers. Goku arrives at King Yemma’s station and Kami spirits him back to Earth. The three hours pass and Vegeta and Nappa prepare to continue the fight. Goku, back on Earth, heads off to the battle. Piccolo tries to take advantage of a Saiyan’s natural weakness- their tail- but it doesn’t work. Kuririn tries out a new attack, Kienzan, but Nappa dodges and takes him out of the fight. Gohan manages to fight back himself, but it only angers Nappa, who fires a finishing attack. However, Piccolo puts himself in between the attack and Gohan. read more

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Episode 11 Review

Episode 11, "The Miracle at Rush Valley"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: On the way to Dublith, Edward, Alphonse, and Winry make a detour to Rush Valley, a town full of automail engineers. While engineers gather to admire his automail parts, Edward’s State Alchemist watch is stolen by a pickpocket, Paninya, with two automail legs. The three follow her into the mountains, where her automail mechanic Dominic lives. Winry asks for an apprenticeship, but he denies her. While there, Dominic’s daughter-in-law goes into labor, and Winry helps deliver the child while Ed and Al wait, powerless. Dominic reccomends Winry apprentice to an automail engineer he knows. Ed and Al continue onto Dublith. read more

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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