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Finally!!!

After Fate/Apocrypha, my expectations from the Fate franchise had dwindled. Then came the brilliant "Heaven's Feel" trilogy and I found myself lamenting the end of the story when the credits rolled for the final film. Fast-forward to the MLA notification about Fate/Strange Fake. I dared to think that maybe, just maybe I'll be treated to another Fate extravaganza which would remind me of the likes of Fate/Zero. (I should add that I haven't seen Fate/Grand Order so do forgive me if I'm not giving it the praise it may deserve)

The story behind (not of) Fate/Strange Fake is quite the amusing one. What began as ... an April Fool's joke soon blossomed into this wonderfully original idea. Well, not exactly original but the introduction of the servants, their respective masters and a general foundation of what is to come is one that I haven't seen in the other stories.

My appetite for Fate has well and truly been revived. And I look forward to seeing if the story matches the prologue.

"Yer not a Wizard Saitama"

And that's about the best thing I can say about this show. Watch it for the cliched and tropey comedy. Watch it for the animation. Watch it for the sheer pleasure of witnessing arrogant bad guys eating humble cream-puffs (you'll see what I mean when you watch the show)

Is the best parody out there? No. Is it rather dull and carries a "old wine in a new bottle" quality? Yes. Is it entertaining? Hell yeah.

So if you're looking for something to fill in the gaps between shows that need a whole lotta commitment of time and cerebral energy, then Mashle ... should do an adequate job of filling in said gaps.

***SPOILER FREE***

Allow me to state at the beginning that I am currently going through a Isekai, power-fantasy phase. And as such, stories like "Sekai Saikou no Ansatsusha, Isekai Kizoku ni Tensei suru" cater to a craving which defies rational and objective thought. So, if you're looking for a show that brings something that hasn't been done before:

Do not read this review. Do not watch this show.

However, if you are someone who (like me) is spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting which shows to binge-watch and after an exhaustive hunt, decide that what you're looking for is something that's comforting, enjoyable, not very ... cerebral and a dead cert in delivering a viewing experience that leaves you feeling warm n cozy, then:

Read this review. Watch this show.

I know I said at the beginning that the show doesn't bring something that hasn't been done before, but it would be remiss of me if I didn't mention that the basic premise of the show viz-a-viz the eponymous Assassin, and his function/task is quite unique & off the beaten path. In fact, of all the characters in the show, the Assassin is the only one worth any kind of development and interest. The rest are quite generic and the harem elements tend to get a bit annoying. Be that as it may, the show is a breeze to watch and I'm certain that those of us who enjoy power-fantasies cannot wait for Season-2.

P.S. If you can, do read the Light-Novels.

<<<SPOILER FREE>>>

Blurb: A worthy expansion for an entertaining universe.

My review for The King's Avatar Season-1 says most of what I want to say about the show as a whole. It's essence, why I enjoyed it and why I'll continue to watch it. Those views remain unchanged and I see little point in reiterating them there. So, I'll just stick to what I further enjoyed from Season-2, and in a word it was the 'leveling-up' of the plot and the side-characters.

Ye Xiu's story is more than just a rise-after-a-fall narrative. In essence, it tackles the big question that players in E-Sports face today. That ... question being: "Do you play for the money? or do you play for the game?". Given the stature and popularity of E-Sports today, it's hard to imagine that during the early days, E-sports were generally regarded as the provenance of maladjusted, awkward, and reclusive individuals who found more meaning and solace in 2D Pixels than they did in real-life. Today, they are (or have to be) very open, outgoing, and as a necessity possess a charisma by which they can attract more fans and more importantly, more sponsors.

The character of Ye Xiu is for all intents and purposes the embodiment of ' the old-days'. When players played from a place of passion and not from a place of commerce, and it this this thematic exploration coupled with a few hilarious character introductions that have made viewing The King's Avatar an ongoing pleasure.

<<<SPOILER FREE>>>

Blurb: A wholesome power-fantasy for the long winter-evenings.

Imagine you're in that zone where you wanna watch something that's exciting, new and unseen and at the same time you want a guarantee that you're gonna enjoy yourself cuz surviving 2020 is enough of a reason to never wanna feel shitty again. Welp, King's Avatar or Quanzhi Gaoshou has got you covered. Because it keeps to the fundamentals and it keeps to them very well.

The core story of the show is predictable. You have your amiable, soft-spoken protagonist who gets booted out of his own e-sports team for being an idealist rather than someone ... who's hungry for commercial-gain. He begins his journey back to the top from scratch and along the way he makes new friends, gets in touch with a few old ones and in general is a pain in the ass for the guys who booted him out in the first place.

Like most other power-fantasy shows, our hero is a guy who seems to attract good-fortune and pretty-girls like chum attracts Sharks. And his avatar in the game is so damn OP that he basically runs over anyone and everyone who attacks him. However, the show is written in a manner that doesn't make him look like a douche. The character of Ye Xiu is the embodiment of the 'pure-gamer', he eats, he sleeps, he plays, he repeats. Anything and everything he achieves in his life is based on his prowess as a gamer and the show is all the better for it. Does his character conveniently encounter great friends n subordinates? Yes. But after a time you just want things to go Ye Xiu's way regardless of logic and the randomness of life.

In summation, The King's Avatar is that show you watch where you know from episode 1 how episode 12 is gonna end. It doesn't surprise, but it doesn't bore you. And the action and animation more than make-up for the lackluster quality of the story.

**SPOILER FREE**

9.5/10

Blurb: Another piece of the puzzle falls into place?

One Piece fans have a hard time of it when it comes to fully expressing their joy and passion for One Piece. Mainly because after listening to us, the inevitable question that is asked is, "So, how big is it?" and it is at that moment when we realize that the conversation has reached its end because upon hearing the answer, we can see the expressions change from one of curiosity to one that is a mixture of disbelief and awe. We are saddened because our passion isn't enough to initiate the uninitiated.

One Piece: Stampede ... however, is certainly a film for the initiated. It is quite simply a canonical film set after the events of Wholecake Island and before Wano and as such, the film can well and truly be enjoyed by people who've been reading/watching One Piece for a long time (at least from the Fish-Man Island Saga). The animation is obviously wonderful and Toei has done an excellent job of bringing to life a film which Oda wouldn't have allowed to be made if it wasn't for the fact that the film commemorated 20yrs. of his creation. And as a commemorative piece, the film certainly delivers.

The standout however, is the story. The "?" in my blurb is for reasons that most fans will understand. Oda has a habit of answering questions that were never asked and in consequence he raises a series of new questions that may never be answered. Stampede introduces a nugget of information about Monkey D. Luffy's quest which might seem trivial (and almost inconsequential), but it certainly makes you wonder, "Ok, so what else has Oda got in store?" and there is no one answer to that question. And so, while it may seem on the surface that a new piece of the One Piece puzzle has been unearthed, the jubilation soon gives way to feverish speculation. And that's just par for the course with an Eichiro Oda story.

My obvious fanboying aside, One Piece: Stampede for me is simply a masterpiece in a series of masterpieces. While it doesn't hold the same emotional weight as "Z" or has the flamboyance of "Gold", it is unique because for the first time we have a post-timeskip film that can not only be placed in canon but also provides information that pertains to the main-story. Just a little information. Just the One Piece.

****SPOILER FREE****

The following review is for all 3 Volumes of Feng Shen Ji.

Blurb: An age-old epic for the modern-times.

It's difficult to improve perfection. And in my opinion, when one tries to reinvent something that doesn't need reinvention, they must take care not to lose the qualities of the original in the pursuit and fascination of the new. Feng Shen Ji thankfully manages to balance (for the most part) the old tropes of the genre with nuanced innovations when it comes to characterizations.

The standout character by far is the eponymous Hero and Legend himself, Wu Geng/Ah Gou. He stands out because over the course ... of the story he oscillates from being a survivor, to a savior, to a hero, to an arrogant prat, to a monster, and by the end of the story he manages to embody all of these qualities simultaneously and still retains the ability to surprise you just when you think you've got him figured out. Aside from Wu Geng, the supporting cast of characters have also been developed adequately. And I tip my hat to the writer for giving each of them their own moments in the sunshine and not keep the story solely focused on Wu Geng. I would also like to take this moment to thank the translators, who've done a brilliant job with providing text that is not only appropriate but also followed the context of the various scenes and battle-sequences perfectly.

My only criticism, when it comes to the writing, is the lack of development of its female characters. For certain there are more than a few strong female characters in the story, however, as the story progresses they are reduced to being little more than mediums of information exposition and play very limited role in the pivotal moments. The sole exception to this would be the character of Bai Cai, who is perhaps one of the most intriguing characters in the story and yet her role has been confined to being the Yang to Wu Geng's Yin. Whether this was done as a nod to the Chinese Folklores of old, where the story was primarily male-centric or whether the writer merely wished this to be the case is anyone's guess.

Be that as it may, Feng Shen Ji captivated me partly because of its story but mainly because of its art-style and the fact that the whole thing is in color. Which was welcome refreshment. I thoroughly enjoyed the world-building and in particular the action-sequences, of which there are plenty. Overall, I was immensely satisfied with my first ever Manhua experience. The bar has been set high and I can only hope that I come across stories in the future that can equal, if not better the likes of Feng Shen Ji.

>>>>SPOILER FREE<<<<

Blurb: Siriusly?!?!

Ok, the rather corny blurb aside, I'm rather glad that MyAnimeList doesn't have this anime listed as "Sirius: The Jaeger" because having the term 'Jaeger' in the title made about as much sense as the overall story. Despite the term being of German origin, the entirety of the show takes place in Japan and Russia, and there isn't anything remotely German about anything or anyone in it.

The anime tries to combine several Gothic/Paranormal tropes and add an element of Steampunk into the mix. The result being that despite some very entertaining fight-scenes and good animation, the story fails to deliver on anything ... even remotely Gothic or Steampunk.

What IS given is a the classic Hero-Monomyth and a coming-of-age story for a naive brat. And to be honest, he doesn't age well. The 'Jaeger' team of which our protagonist is a member consists of characters who are drawn and clothed in a manner that gives them an initial aura of intrigue and power, but as the show continues, we realize that their only real talent is being loyal to each other and knowing how to shoot guns. One character in particular makes a stellar contribution by merely throwing her sword. And she's present for almost every episode.

All in all, it was rather a waste of time having to sit through this. The only reason I watched it fully is because by the time I realized that the show is bad, I had already put myself through 8 episodes. And if I was going to trash this show, I wanted to make sure that I trashed it after watching it completely.

***SPOILER FREE***

After the sublime experience that was Fate/Zero and the entertainment extravaganza that was Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works, I went into Fate/Apocrypha with high-expectations and also to quench my thirst for a Fate story by the time Heaven's Feel would be released. Sadly, while Apocrypha began on an enjoyable and intriguing note, the story really lost steam after the first 10-12 episodes or so.

While I appreciate the underlying theme of the story (a person getting his/her desired wish), it is the execution that I have a problem with. The selection of historical/mythological personalities who act as servants are varied and entertaining, however, their ... powers and abilities are a bit incongruous especially the Assassin of Red who's talents and abilities lean more towards that of a Caster.

As the series drags on you are gripped by a sensation of fatigue and annoyance and yet you have invested too much time into the series to leave it half-way. I frequently found myself skipping through scenes upon scenes of predictable emotional turmoil and existential crisis just so that I could advance through the main-story. There are a few things however that keep things interesting, namely the Lancers of both factions along with the Caster of the Red faction who deserved a bit more screen-time in my opinion. Other than that, some Servants were reduced to being comedy-reliefs with little else to do than make cute faces and provide awkward moments for the lead characters.

The Soundtrack deserves mention because the title-track was especially fitting for the epic-scale battle sequences as well as the one-one fights. The Art and Animation too was a treat to watch but not throughout the series. In some episodes the art was a bit too stiff and 'Trigger' like for my taste.

All in all, it was an experience that was as my rating suggests 'Fair'. It could easily have turned bad were it not for the characterizations of a few of the servants and some genuine moments of emotional depth displayed by the masters.

***SPOILER FREE***

Blurb: The Beginning of something promising.

As so often happens with shows that aim to be intelligent, they introduce concepts, characters, riddles etc. at various stages but forget to fully explain and/or explore their existence by the end of the story. Thankfully, B doesn't suffer from the same flaw.

Overall, the story is a Supernatural/Fantasy 'Once upon a time' tale which comprises of ancient civilizations, vendettas, political intrigue and good ol fashioned psychopaths. What is admirable is that the show gives each of these elements it's due importance and doesn't get carried away by any one of the elements. Sure, the narrative stumbles from ... time to time but manages to get back on track just as quickly.

The criticism I would place on the show is the deluge of information the viewer is bombarded with when characters begin to deduce things. I found myself hitting the "stop'' and ''replay'' button more than once in order to fully understand the direction the scene is about to take.

With all it's flaws B:The Beginning was a show that prompted another bout of Netflix/Anime binge watching. Something that I had been missing for a while. So, watch it if you're into the mysterious, the paranormal and the psychotic. You won't be bored.

P.S.: There's a post-credit scene after the end of Episode 12. I'm not very crazy about it, but, I'm willing to give it a chance.