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Welp, I've totally forgot to write up blurbs for these shows, probably because so many of them are just forgettable.

1. Monogatari - The Monogatari series is seriously going to win a season. I don't believe it. After how hugely overrated Bakemonogatari was, and how Nisemonogatari kept interspersing flashes of good stuff with pure SHAFTitude and bathtub Shinobus, this show is the best this season has going for it. The focus on Nadeko (who was always my favorite) has played a big part in that.

What I really think turned around the series for me was reading Medaka Box, and discovering the guy really could write an interesting story if SHAFT got out of their own way (hint: they can't)

Score: 8.6

2. Toriko - Toriko keeps on keeping on, with the four beasts arc mercifully over and the moderately better Cooking Fest arc on display. The current arc in the manga has been the best one in quite a long time.

Score: 8.2

3. Golden Time - Kaga Kouko may be a terrible person with serious issues, but if JC Staff finally figures out to put her in white high socks next week, my head will explode. Apart from that, it's still a very solid show. Yuyuko Takemiya knows what she's doing.

Score: 7.9

4. Blazblue: Not much to add, as I haven't actually played the games, but I've been sufficiently entertained by what I've watched to this point, outside of that weird Tao swimsuit debaclery.

Score: 7.6

5. Yozakura Quartet: I'm really disappointed with what's happened here, from the panty shots to the decision to reboot to the panty shots to the decision to reboot while still considering the OVAs (which I liked a LOT) as canon, without telling people that they need to watch them between episodes 7 and 8. Just... not a good effort all around by the production team. Still, they've got good material to work with, and that stops the score from falling too low. Also that nothing else is all that good, that helps.

Score: 7.4

6. Non Non Biyori: Komari would be adorable if Kana Asumi wasn't voicing her. Four characters really isn't enough for a school in this setting. If they just had those other two girls that stop by from time to time be series regulars, there'd be a lot more room for humor and more likely than not a successful series.

Hotaru's creation of Komacchi plushies is dubious, at best. Cree. P.

Score: 6.7

7. Magi 2: Out of the Aum Madaura arc, which was the worst one in the series, and onto Magnofhwqhgads, which trailed off at the end, but that's a while away. Manga-wise, Magi's been struggling for about 30 chapters now.

Score: 6.5

8. Little Busters Refrain: They haven't dropped the "EVERYONE BE SAD NOW" bombshell on us after 9 episodes, which is pleasant. Getting rid of Kud and Yuiko is very not pleasant. Riki absolutely cannot carry a show on his own. His weekly confrontations with Kyousuke have gotten old, I just want somebody to tell him the secret and be done with it.

Score: 6.2

9/10. Tokyo Ravens/Strike the Blood - I can't really decide which of these shows is more mediocre than the other. Tokyo Ravens has horrid CG overuse, but it also has Kanahanas, while StB is even more of a non-descript super-powers show. There's potential in both of these scripts, but they don't look like they're going to reach it this season. Oddly, they're both going 24 episodes so they'll stick around for next time... where MAYBE one of them will decide to be good.

Score: 6.1

11. Infinite Stratos 2: I just cannot get into this series apart from when Charlotte is involved (have I mentioned Kana Hanazawa is awesome? Three series this season where she's the most notable part). The episode with the disappearing panties was very Sora no Otoshimono-esque, and it might be better if IS was like that all the time instead of powered suit fights.

I'm quite tired of the kaicho's character, she's pretty much what I thought Cecilia should have been from the beginning. The show seems to be leaning heavily on Kubo's Maxim, "When you hit writer's block, add more characters." (And boobs, another one of Kubo's writers' block antidotes)

Score: 5.5

12. Kyoukai no Kanata - Now this show, this has just been mishandled from the very beginning. We were promised dark fantasy action (kind of like what Tokyo Ravens and StB are supposed to be delivering also), but instead Kyoani decided to turn Kuriyama into a mascot character and that's all the show has been about. Well, that and her angst and bizarre idol judge mishmash specials starring some side character I don't care about.

It's occurred to me that Kyoto Animation has struck out on 6 of their last 8 shows, with Hyouka being the best of the bunch since K-On 2 (and Hyouka was good but not great by any stretch). With another round of Chuu2 coming up in January, prospects for improvement do not look good.

Score: 4.7

So I guess there are only 3 weeks left until new stuff starts, already. Let's see what's on the docket for Winter 2014.

Continuations:
1. Toriko (what will this be, cour #11?)
2. Strike The Blood (I feel like this is more likely to turn things around than Tokyo Ravens)
3. Tokyo Ravens (please lower the amount of CG if possible)
4. Golden Time (projected winner)

New Stuff:
5. Mahou Sensou (know absolutely nothing about this show)
6. Nisekoi (could be hilarious, could get SHAFT'd)
7. Chuu2-2 (please just do comedy and no whiny stuff)
8. D-Frag (gag comedy + kanahanas, of course, BANANA BAKUDAN)
9. Saki Zenkoku-hen (PLEASE HAVE STEALTH MOMO CAMEOS SHE'S THE BEST)
10. Seitokai Yakuindomo 2 (why do I do this to myself?)
11. Gin no Saji 2: (why do I do this to myself?)
12. Space Dandy (projected Dandiest, so 80's...)