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Jun 20, 2023
The resolution to the main conflict of this season can be summarized in a single sentence: The king of Europe's largest country at the time disbanded his militarist policies and ceased in his harsh rule in all his dominions because one dude from his past made him laugh on a random farm.
This season adapts the entirety of the 2nd of the 4 arcs of Vinland Saga, the Slave Arc. Personally I would say that I liked the season more than I disliked it, but there was a severe downgrade in character complexity if your name isn't Thorfinn. MAPPA for their part did an excellent
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job adapting what they had: the main issue lies in the weakness of the plot and message.
Unlike many, I think the lack of "action" or brutality that was present in the first season was handled alright considering the material of this arc. The first half of the farm setting saw Thorfinn reevaluate himself as a human being as he sought to find new purpose in his life in a post-Askeladd world. Einar and the other side characters served their role adequately as he navigated this internal battle, and by mid season I was satisfied with the product despite it lacking that grit that drew many people in.
That's where the praise stops for me. After building up Canute to be this new antagonistic foil to Thorfinn, we are teased with an invasion of the farm that the king instigates for... political reasons (the justification sort of made sense given the laws/norms of the time). We as the viewers are then blue-balled repeatedly as we waited for that main conflict to start but instead were given the Arnheid and Gardar mini arc that honestly felt like filler. I'm certainly biased because I couldn't care less about either character, but you cannot tell me that the Slave Arc would have changed drastically without the presence of Arnheid and ESPECIALLY Gardar. I don't care if Arnheid's fate motivated Thorfinn and Einar to seek out Vinland; you could have strengthened their resolve in any other way that was less cumbersome.
But admittedly that wasn't the worst that the season had to offer. Once Canute's invasion finally occurs, we see the culmination of the young king's resolve as he traverses in his father's footsteps as a iron-fisted ruler. Yet all that time spent on building up Canute's part in the season was undone in half of an episode. Simply because Thorfinn spoke to him and made Canute laugh, the king decided to simply withdraw as if nothing had happened. I wouldn't have been as dissatisfied with that abrupt ending if we actually saw the fallout of their conversation, but instead Canute's army de spawned and the conflict was "resolved" just like that. Needless to say, the buildup that the entire season was working towards was by no means worth it.
That takes us to Thorfinn's idealism. Finally the dream "Vinland" is the forefront of the plot, yet this pacifist approach that our protagonist adorns comes across as hopelessly naive and utterly improbable given the cultural and historical background at play. I'm not saying that Thorfinn needs to remain an edgelord murderer to remain interesting; all I'm saying is that this 180 in character personality isn't doing anyone or anything favors. A part of the issue is that this anti-war rhetoric that the author insists on pushing is not only cliche but consequently dumbs down the message of the story to something that is completely foreign to the intrigue of the first season.
I think that the main issue with Vinland Saga S2 is that it lacks an "Askeladd" character. That is, someone who is so morally complex and, even at his demise, shrouded in mystery as to his true feelings and opinions. I thought Canute could be that character, until I realized that he served simply to be a one-dimensional foil to Thorfinn who was easily thrown away once his purpose was served. Einar experienced no development at all outside of his attachment to Arnheid, and even Ketil and his sons were cucked out of any significant development despite showing immense promise early on. This part hurts the most because I think exploring Ketil's perspective and internal struggles would have strengthened this arc immensely.
In summary, it's easy to point out the bad in a season without mentioning the good. I speak as a fan of Vinland Saga, and truly believe that this story could have gone a much healthier route had the focus not been exclusively on Thorfinn's growth at the expense of EVERY other character, and if the author kept the spirit of the "moral gray area" that he set up in the first arc.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 4, 2023
Romantic Killer did something special here. Not only did it shatter my perception that all Netflix originals (except Violet Evergarden) are trash, it also reinforced the claim that reverse harems are SO much better than "normal" harem anime. Romantic Killer joins the likes of Fruits Basket and Yona of the Dawn as romance shows that prioritize wholesome and genuine moments/story-telling over fan service and blind horny.
Starting with the protagonist, Anzu is easily one of the best characters that I have seen in anime. The main reason being that, while she admittedly does not change much throughout the course of the story, her presence impacts the
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world around her in a healthy way and moves the plot forward. She is the type of person who is extremely likable, because she looks out for her friends in a non "holier than thou" kind of way and is a very genuine person. She's got her quirks and turbulent moments that make her come across as a realistic character as opposed to a fictional, "perfect" one.
Another refreshing take on her character is that, while she is modeled after the shut-in neat archetype that doesn't socialize and simply plays video games all day, she is not a complete social outcast and still retains a presence in the classroom. Perhaps it is simply a double standard (the idea that introvert girls have an easier time being accepted by their peers as opposed to boys), however it nevertheless comes across as a nice change of pace to this genre. In a way it normalizes the existence of "gamer girls" in a non-fetishized way, which is an interesting concept to think about.
As for the other characters, they all have a clear purpose in the story and are honestly all likable in their own ways (save for the obvious antagonists of the last arc). The way that they end up gravitating towards Anzu and develop a desire to look out for her is done in a very wholesome manner, because they are repaying the kindness that they received with their own forms of kindness. The viewer is encouraged to cheer for each and every one of them as they go through their personal battles, many of which are relatable. Even the talking magic potato had a "real one" moment towards the end that made me reconsider my opinion of them in a positive manner. The three main love interest also have their moments and appropriate screen time (considering it was only 12 episodes) that developed them into complex characters, and honestly I would not be angry with any of them "winning" the romantic polygon.
If I had to pick a negative for this show, its that the last arc felt a little too serious for what was up to that point a goofy and comedic show. Not that the plot material was bad or irrelevant, just executed in a manner that seemed too drastically different. Nevertheless, the last arc resolves adequately and leaves the viewer with a satisfying conclusion while teasing for the possibility of a season 2.
P.S. I highly recommend that you watch this in the Polish dub. It was thoroughly entertaining and a lot better than I was expecting.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Mar 10, 2023
[OVERVIEW; NO SPOILERS AHEAD]
While this movie has clear issues (in terms of plotholes), I am not surprised to so many viewers moved by the message and overall package that this film shares with its audience. If you are like me and are a big fan of non-isekai fantasy settings, you'll likely be impressed with the world-building that this two hour film manages to accomplish. Now, of course it isn't perfect and it leaves a lot to be desired, however this movie clearly knows what it wants to be.
What do I mean by this? Well, for starters the story opens up with a very common trope
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found in the fantasy genre: the "protagonist's" peaceful home or village is assaulted and destroyed by the "bad guys," which causes the protag to flee for their life. However, unlike most fantasy stories that focus on the protag getting revenge for that awful event and teaching the world about the villain's evil deeds, this story does none of that. Instead, our "hero" is a teenage girl who flees persecution, immediately becomes an adoptive mother, and simply tries to live in peace with her new son despite owning nothing. There is no retribution, no feelings of hatred, no blaming those around her. There is just life.
That concept may not appeal to some, as in many ways Maquia comes across as a passive protagonist who accepts her fate. That being said, while she does not have the power to avenge her fellow Iorph, she devotes herself to protecting what she can. The beautiful yet difficult dynamic between the mother and son is undoubtedly the main focus of the movie, and the world building (including their dire circumstances) work around and with this precious core concept. The various time skips allow us to experience the full course of their lives, and the emotionally charged scenes culminate wonderfully in the final acts. Sometimes time skips too much between segments, and the viewer is left scrambling to piece together context clues, but overall it is a smooth transition in the grand scheme of things. The various side characters that the two leads encounter manage to find their role neatly in later arcs, giving the viewer a sense that the story is well fleshed out and easy to immerse oneself in.
[NITPICKY CRITIQUES; MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD]
Now, with all this praise comes critique about the "bad" parts of this film. Most if not all issues stem from the side characters, particularly the decision to include Barlow. I don't particularly dislike his character; I just think his presence complicates the narrative unnecessarily while adding very little to it. Firstly, the fact that he is half-Iorph leads to confusion as to why Leila's daughter (Medmel) with the prince is effectively disowned because she did not inherit the longevity of her mother. Barlow did however, meaning that it is possible to inherit it with only one Iorph parent. As for why Medmel did not, it is not addressed at all. It may seem like a minor point, however this plothole harms Leila's and Krim's entire portion of the story (which is sizable) because too many questions arise of this awkward situation, and it takes focus away from the main story line. Barlow also makes a comment at the very end to Maquia about "seeing other people she would have to say goodbye to as well," leaving a sour implication that she was living a double life and that her relationship with her son Ariel was not as significant to her as the movie seems to suggest. Again, a one-liner that adds little to the scene but damages a lot in terms of the movie's buildup. Go away Barlow.
[CONCLUSIONS; NO SPOILERS AHEAD]
I believe this is a must-see movie because 1) good non-isekai fantasy anime is unfortunately very rare, 2) the mother-son dynamic is a well told story that is likely a tear-jerker for most audiences, and 3) it remains a very unique movie/anime in terms of what themes and tropes it chooses to focus on, and what tropes to ignore completely in an artful way. I also firmly believe that this is a type of experience that you will never be able to replicate elsewhere, simply because of its unique composition and its style of writing. Hope you enjoy it, and call your mother to thank her if you are able.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 15, 2022
TLDR: This story is very obvious and "unoriginal" in hindsight, however it is the buildup and intricate planning on the author's part that keeps the reader invested and craving more. Despite the cover art of the novels and Season 1 of the anime, this series is not trashy or "fan-servicey" at all. Whatever your perception of this series is, I promise you that you are wrong.
I first came across Classroom of the Elite in its anime form a couple years back, and while I enjoyed the first season it was not anything overwhelmingly special that made me remember it. I passed it off as another
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high school tropey show with an overabundance of fan-service and an overpowered protag that did not seem particularly interesting. Consequently I completely forgot about the series until Season 2 came out, which made me revisit the show and made me remember the things I liked about it.
Then I came across a thread somewhere that said that the light novel was a million times better. Now, I am used to manga/light novel elitists always complaining and whining about poor adaptions and what not, and as someone that doesn't read a lot of this stuff I was reluctant to give it a try. Needless to say by my score, the light novel is really well crafted. Objectively it is not a unique or "special" story in a traditional sense: 9 times out of 10 the OP protag comes out on top and sort of forms an unofficial harem around him. In hindsight, the major plot arcs are all very obvious, but the reader nevertheless experiences a massive "AHA!" moment once it all comes together time and time again.
This is the magic of this light novel. The author subtly drops hints to future developments in his story, in many cases setting up for events that happen 7 or 8 volumes ahead. Currently I have just finished year 1, and I already know that certain hints/events have already occurred that aren't significant now but will be later. Personally it was very satisfying trying to "one up" the author and try to predict Ayanokouji's plans, only to realize that I never had a chance of comprehending the sheer intellect that goes into every decision. It never feels as if the author is reaching with plot holes either, for as I already said, in hindsight the pieces fit very snugly. I just wasn't big brained enough to piece them together myself.
Honestly everything about this light novel is big brained: the characters themselves obviously, but also the intricate rules of the school and the varying complexities and uniqueness of the exams that the students compete against one another in. For a story without any death, it plays the high stakes genre VERY well as tension and stress is conveyed masterfully even in a "simple" math quiz. The drama between the students naturally spices up the "geopolitical climate" as I call it as well.
Without a doubt the best aspect of this light novel (in my opinion) is how massive and vibrant the cast of characters are, and more importantly how the story balances everybody's part so well. As someone who prefers anime over manga, I find it difficult to remember Japanese names if I do not have a face to match it with, but I never had that issue with this cast of roughly 30+ significant individuals. While many end up being one-dimensional (as of year 1), most are very complicated individuals that commonly shatter their initial stereotypes and/or affiliations. As for our protag himself, 11 volumes into the story we the readers still don't really know much about him, and yet he has had a profound impact on how we understand the plot-line (to understand what I mean by this, you really need to read the light novel). Ayanokouji is one of the few OP protags that has never made me feel bored when learning about his story. His ability to tackle four to five major plot points all in a single blow is truly remarkable, but its also done in a way that seems plausible (sounds crazy, I know).
Perhaps I am just a stubborn anime-first individual, but I don't think that the anime adaption is as bad as people say when compared to the novel (in fact, I still prefer the execution of the anime in certain arcs such as the boring Sakura/Sudou arc of Volume 2). That being said, overall I do give the novel the edge as Ayanokouji's internal monologues really do help round out his character and doesn't make him as edgy as the anime does. Even if you don't like to read, I believe that this story will more than catch your attention.
If you made it through these long paragraphs, thank you for your time.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Oct 23, 2022
Quite frankly, these teens are really awkward and I just wanna give them all a hug.
As other reviewers have already mentioned, this is not a show that is for everyone, and not everyone is going to understand it (specifically season 2) because it is very cryptic. This is not me trying to say that only some "enlightened" or exclusive population of anime watchers is capable of enjoying this show; quite the opposite actually. SNAFU is for the broken; people who looking back are not satisfied with their past selves or are utterly incompetent at expressing what they are going through.
The 3 main characters are
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frustrating yet endearing for me. Hachiman in particular does things that make you cringe and dislike his style, until you realize that you once acted in similar ways in your youth. Maybe that scenario doesn't pertain to everyone, but the fact remains that he is begrudgingly relatable for many people (specifically young adult males I'd say considering that this is a Seinen). For female viewers, I can imagine a similar scenario when comparing themselves to the 2 main girls and their awkward story lines. Truth is, these three "friends" suck at communicating, yet it is very clear that they appreciate each other's company and don't wish for their time together to end. It doesn't sound like a particularly unique premise, yet somehow it sets itself apart in the way it's delivered.
Perhaps my favorite thing about this show is that it isn't clear who the antagonist is, which in my experience is uncommon for this type of genre. Of course, I have my own ideas as to who it is, however you could make an argument that every character is in some way contradicting themselves and thus impeding the progression of the plot. Sometimes this situation simply means that it is bad writing on the creator's part, but I'll let you decide that for yourself if you decide to watch this.
In summary, this show has me thinking about many things. Some people don't enjoy "thinking" and instead prefer the story or plot to be handed to them. Stories that "show" and don't "tell" often hold more weight, and if you agree then maybe SNAFU can get the same reaction out of you.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Aug 19, 2022
My advice is to not take this show seriously. Like at all. Turn your brain off, relax, and enjoy.
I mean that in the most positive way possible, for I cannot count the number of times that I was struggling for air because I was laughing so hard. Japan is known for its bizarre sense of humor, but I have never encountered anything quite like this (it definitely is something that would not be published in this generation of seasonal anime). In other words, if you plan to watch this, know that it is chiefly for the gags. And the references too (Gintama, Naruto, Bleach, Voltron,
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DBZ, etc.) if you are into searching for Easter Eggs.
Yes, Beelzebub as an anime has plenty of issues. The pacing isn't the worst I've seen but its still pretty bad, there are numerous plot-holes/inconsistencies, and like most longer shonen of its time Beelzebub has fillers in odd places and it fails to fully flesh out side-characters. The animation is nothing spectacular (it is Pierrot's backup studio after all) and the music was mid, although the EDs were very enjoyable.
So why is this recommended? Besides the elite level of comedy, to me every character in this show is likable even when they are not supposed to be. They all have their niches purpose within each arc and it is easy to keep track of their personalities/interests. This is because the characters are delinquents who are very dumb (funny dumb!) with dramatic irony working well here. Watching Oga the main character be a permanent guest star on the Maury Show ("You are the father!") was both hilarious and wholesome. Seeing Toujou work every part-time job Japan has to offer was as highly anticipated as waiting for Al to ruin Furuichi's love life with his homoerotic ways. Naturally the best girl wars between Hilda and Aoi kept the audience on the edge of their seats, with their fan bases being roughly similar in number as far as I could tell (will YOU tip the balance?).
In sum, as someone who prefers dubbed, it took a lot of self-convincing to actually pick up and start the show. Once I got rolling I couldn't stop. In the end I am glad there isn't a dub because I don't think even Holllywood's elite actors could top this absurd performance. Watch this if you need a good laugh, you won't regret it (at least until Lord En and Koma are introduced).
P.S. Aoi >>>>>>>>>> Hilda. Cope.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jul 2, 2022
My review style is a little unconventional, and is probably more useful for people who have already seen older long shonen series like Naruto and Bleach. If you decided to read through this rambling of mine, hopefully I managed to persuade you on something.
TLDR: Don't watch this for the plot or story; watch it for the character depth and impressive world building.
After 4 1/4 years and multiple hiatuses, I have finally completed Black Clover and, wow, what a ride its been. This show is not perfect (in fact at certain points I despised it) and it truly is a copy and paste "long shonen"
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in many ways. However, Black Clover as an anime has had a unique history developing underneath itself as the story found its way and continuously improved (ironic given the genre). It has improved to a degree/quality that I never believed it capable of. Yes, I was once a hater.
Most people are aware of the turbulent reception Black Clover had in its initial 50 or so episodes. It garnered lots of hate and many people dropped it. Consequently, despite this show being a lengthy boi meant to mimic the Big 3 Era of shonen, not as many weebs talk about it today as you might think (at least in comparison to shows like Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, etc.). For reference, I've seen merchandise in various stores for literally ALL the big shonens, both old and new, EXCEPT for Black Clover stuff. One could argue that the show flopped as it failed to meet expectations, and as all the haters left Black Clover early on, it gathered an overwhelmingly negative reputation that caused many to avoid it.
Personally, I am grateful that it turned out this way. Once Black Clover was "left alone" and no longer heavily scrutinized, it was allowed to mature at its own pace under the radar as new titles caught the mean critics' eyes over time. In addition, the fan base that remained (however biased they may be) were the opposite of toxic and perhaps is one of the few that I could see myself getting along with without losing the majority of my brain cells.
As an anime-only reviewer, I initially found the concept of "Anime Canon" episodes to be nothing more than glorified fillers. Naturally a long shonen was going to outpace a manga's production, so I begrudgingly accepted that some of the arcs were going to be pointless and boring. To my surprise, they were not. I'm not sure how much contact Pierrot had with the manga author during these segments, but somehow they managed to provide meaningful episodes in between the meat of the story.
What does this mean? Basically, they were able to flesh out the side characters to not only make them more likable and memorable, but also to provide a rational way for them to remain relevant to the plot (I'm looking at you, Naruto and Bleach). Often these episodes were ripe with fan service and comedic spoofs that don't seem to have much weight, but Black Clover's unique way of delivering humor really helped to keep the characters' tropes fresh and enjoyable. Personally I found myself rooting for these side characters that I initially disliked, because I was given the opportunity to witness them as more than just one-dimensional plot devices. In my opinion, this is the key reason why Black Clover is able to thrive in an age dominated by seasonal anime: yes, it has an outrageous amount of episodes, but it aptly gives the viewer time to fully explore and truly appreciate well-thought out characters, however cliche they might be at times.
Seeing the half-naked fan service character Vanessa receive her own arc and a genuine plot line was a nice surprise for me, as well as seeing Magna the goofy hype guy face the harsh reality of his juniors surpassing him. Somehow this show managed to give (almost) every Black Bulls member an impressive amount of depth without ever breaking with their character's main gimmick. Even Noelle, whose traditional "hyper tsundere" trope is something I quickly get annoyed with, became one of my favorite characters in this show after seeing her backstory and fighting spirit (seeing competent and active female characters in shonen is refreshing).
As someone who has major nostalgia goggles on when reminiscing about my beloved Naruto and Bleach, I have to admit that Black Clover is objectively better (strictly talking about the anime, idk about the manga). The latter's pacing and willingness to flesh out the world and sidekicks around the main character is something that I REALLY wish Naruto and Bleach took to heart (not that they didn't, just not to this degree of complexity). I'm not sure if the author took inspiration from these two giants, but he (and Pierrot for that matter) seem to learn from the mistakes of older shonen and acted proactively to improve on the genre that is quickly becoming stale, if not already.
Point is, Black Clover is not perfect, and sometimes the story seems to stumble as if it's not sure where it's going. It absolutely will frustrate you at times and it might even seem boring at others. However, there are plenty of areas of this show that shine brightly and will leave a positive impact on you. Trust these Black Clover stans when they insist that the show gets MUCH better. If you won't take their word, take it from an ex-hater: this anime is really frickin' good.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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