Shin Sekai Yori - Episode 13

Copycat!

Okay, so Mamoru didn't die... yet. Instead of quietly disappearing like the others before him, he's now dragged the other three into his problem. Then again, you can't have an interesting story without some good 'ol drama and suspense. As the group further strays from the path that upstanding citizens of the community walk on, things are undoubtedly going to get tougher for them—whether it be persecution at the hands of the Ethics Committee or mental strain from the stress of the situation. Given Mamoru's recent experiences, I think it's safe to say that his time is almost up. As the "weakest link in the chain", getting rid of him will most likely make the remaining three stronger, although none of them would like to admit that. The preview further increases the chance of Mamoru's end arriving soon as he can be heard screaming "I don't want to die."

Zetsuen no Tempest - Episode 12

Logic = Defied

On one hand, I'm glad that the series is probably not going to end this season. However, if it were to be, say, 25 episodes long, given that the current situation is seemingly the climax of the story, I'm worried that the later episodes might become pointless or boring. And while the last few episodes have barely resolved anything, but yet were entertaining, I highly doubt this can continue for another whole season. Anyway, this episode, like the past few, required lots of thinking on the part of the viewer, with the main question being, "What is part of the Tree of Genesis logic and what isn't?" And because of the thought-provoking nature of the situation, countless possible situations can arise in the minds of viewers ranging from "Hakaze killed Aika" to "the mage of Exodus killed Aika", or even "Aika may or may not actually dead and is behind all this". But focusing on the present situation at the moment, I'm going to have to lean towards the first point (it doesn't have to necessarily be Hakaze; it could be the Tree of Genesis) since both Yoshino and Mahiro are the only people who still care about Aika's death; getting rid of them would render Aika's death insignificant.

Shin Sekai Yori - Episode 12

Must be a painful way to die...

In this week's Shin Sekai Yori, we are presented with a nice little lesson on Fiends and Karma Demons (as per UTW's translation). To put it into perspective, the two can be comparable to murderers in today's world—the former are those who kill with malicious intent (e.g. serial killers) while the latter are those who are unfortunate enough to have accidentally taken another person's life (e.g. an automobile driver involved in a serious accident). And although this might be a distasteful example to some, I found myself drawing a link between "K", the Fiend in the episode, and the killer of this past Friday's tragic shooting that occurred in Connecticut; both K and the shooter's murderous rampages were random acts of violence that arguably resulted from the lack of attention, in regards to their psychological health, that they received. Like how many are quick to blame one's Juryoku (Shin Sekai Yori) and guns (Connecticut) for the tragedy, only some realize that the problem might lie elsewhere, like in the communities' obliviousness to the killers' mental states.

Zetsuen no Tempest - Episode 11

Whee~

In hindsight, I find it amusing how I was quite close to dropping this series early on because of how boring it was. At this point, I'm really glad I didn't. Despite two consecutive dialogue-filled episodes, I was thoroughly immersed in the debate between Yoshino and Samon. To me, the whole scene reminded me of a courtroom, with Mahiro as the judge who has the final say on who he thought was "right". As a viewer, the exchange forced me to think about it myself too, analyzing each party's claims and determining if they were logical or not, which I found to be quite enjoyable. Right now, I wouldn't mind if next week's episode was more or less the same format given how much I liked this one.

Jormungand - Episode 22

It's time.

The time has finally come. Whether you were anticipating or dreading it, the inevitable conflict between Koko and Jonah has arrived. Before I begin talking about it, I'd like to note that this was probably the best Jormungand episode yet. First off, the Navy SEALs did a nice job of not getting annihilated—they were even able to evade Lehm and Lutz's epic sniping skills—making the battle more entertaining than usual. And while the Night Nine ended up losing in the end as expected, the fact that they did so not because of their firepower or marksmanship skills, but because of Koko's strategic brilliance, made the whole clash a lot more enjoyable.

Sword Art Online - Episode 17

Cheating on your wife with a loli, eh, Kirito?

The inevitable has finally happened. After a full episode of fawning over her brother's cousin's return to the real world, it doesn't come as a surprise that Suguha "coincidentally" meets him in the virtual world. If she hadn't, Episode 15 would've been all for nothing. Personally, I still can't get over how unexciting ALO is compared to SAO. The lack of tension and anxiety in the players makes watching the characters play the game slightly boring. I think the only amusing thing about this arc thus far is how both Kirito and Suguha are oblivious to each other's true identities. I simply can't wait for the moment when they find out, especially if Asuna's also in the picture; the love triangle-type conflicts that would arise are definitely things to look forward to.

Shin Sekai Yori - Episode 11

Yuri Group Hug!

And up we go again on the Shin Sekai Yori rollercoaster. Compared to the previous episode, this one was epic. I absolutely loved the suspense involved with the four slowly remembering things about Shun. It even got to the point where I was hoping for some big moment where they defy the odds by remembering everything that they were meant to forget. Alas, it's unfortunate that Mamoru ended up bringing their momentum to a halt. On one hand, I don't really blame him since sometimes the truth is better off not knowing as the responsibilities and/or consequences that come along with it aren't worth shouldering. However, as a viewer, I really would've liked to group to have went against the Ethics Committee by continuing to pursue the reason behind their fuzzy memories, even if it meant that they would face trials and difficulties. Luckily, the turn of events at the end might just be what I'm looking for.

Zetsuen no Tempest - Episode 10

om nom nom

Mahiro, why didn't you pull the trigger?! Given his "act first, think later" personality, it was very odd to see him analyze the back and forth verbal exchange between Yoshino and Samon. When Yoshino first proposed his seemingly valid theory of which Mahiro seemed to acknowledge, I expected him to activate the talisman right there. But I guess with the story's end nowhere in sight, rushing along would do no good. Instead, a nice little debate (and some humorous reactions courtesy of Samon) is presented, which I did enjoy for the most part. At the moment, I can confidently side with neither party as both offer valid reasoning for their claims. However, Samon's reactions are indeed suspicious, leading me to lean towards believing Yoshino; his status of "main protagonist" also played a role in my choice. With that being said, Samon's proof of the time gap was concrete and convincing, which is why I'm hesitant to count him out just yet. I find it amusing how the only time Mahiro decides to think things through is also the only time where his decision truly matters; he essentially holds the key to the world's fate with that talisman.

Jormungand - Episode 21

What a clever slogan.

Interesting. For the first time in season two, there's an arc that lasts longer than two episodes. It must be significant then, right? Despite yet another dialogue-filled episode, I still found it to be entertaining. As "Jormungand" (the plan) continues to move towards its goal, strategy becomes more and more crucial, to the point where it can be seen as a deadly weapon itself. When it comes down to it, the quality of a group's artillery become insignificant once tactics and strategy come into the fray. And thus, with Bookman and Koko leading their respective groups into the battlefield, the one who has done their research and taken necessary preparations beforehand will most likely be victorious, regardless of the weapons or people involved. While I'd like to say that Koko will surely end up victorious, the fact that Bookman is still present and active in his scheming makes me not want to count him out just yet. That, and there still hasn't been an opponent worthy of challenging Koko's group, so a final boss-like villain in Bookman would be nice.

Shin Sekai Yori - Episode 10

Subaru?

Another episode of shoddy artwork and confusing storytelling—Shin Sekai Yori has truly been a rollercoaster of a show. After last week's decent build-up to what looked to be an intense episode, we are instead presented with what the world might look like to someone that's on hallucinogens. Lots of distorted background details and random colours; not really something I was too impressed by. Saki's character also looked absolutely abysmal, with every scene of her bringing me that much closer to closing the video. Sure, I may be exaggerating in regards to how eyecancerous the visuals were, but they were by no means good. On the bright side, next week's artwork looks to return to "normal".

Zetsuen no Tempest - Episode 9

Just one of Kusaribe Samon's many priceless reactions in this episode

At this point, I wished I had only paid more attention in English class back in high school during the study of Hamlet and other Shakespearean plays. As the series is nearing its climax, I feel that the only viewers who are truly enjoying the story are those who are familiar with Shakespeare's works, particularly Hamlet and The Tempest. While I have read the former (and subsequently forgot all about it soon after) and heard of the latter, the fact that I am not familiar with either deals a big blow to the episode's entertainment value for me. That said, I can still say that this was probably the best Zetsuen no Tempest episode yet; Yoshino finally comes out from behind Mahiro's shadow and takes matters into his own hands after a sudden epiphany. What he has in mind is beyond me, but I initially thought that it would have something to do with the story of The Tempest's... that is until I saw the next episode's title.

Shin Sekai Yori - Episode 9

What will you do now, Saki?

Rejoice! The disturbing scenes in the last episode were seemingly just a one-time thing. Even better, the pace of the story picks up once again. At this point, I totally take back what I said about dropping the show; this was one of the best Shin Sekai Yori episodes yet. Although the first half wasn't that interesting, what happened in the second half really captivated me. Firstly, the conversation between Saki and her parents reminded me of those serious family conversations in which the parents feel it is the right time to tell their child about something that might have been too difficult for them to comprehend in the past. Although that isn't exactly why I took note of it, what did amuse me was Saki's mother falling victim to the classic slip of the tongue in the midst of her frustration during the conversation. In the same way an accidental "you're adopted" can render a child speechless, Saki's realization that she used to have (an)other sibling(s) (whom is/are now presumably missing or dead) was one of pure shock (with a bit of horror).

Jormungand - Episode 20

Dat face~

I do realize that the build up to the "big event" in the near future is necessary to increase suspense and tension, but I can't help but express how I bored I was with this episode. True, the dialogue was essential in giving viewers a sense of what was to come, but like I have said many times before, I don't believe Jormungand is the type of show that one watches for an intricate storyline or complex character conversations. Instead, episodes like this one are what generally haul in positive responses as far as I can tell. Nonetheless, this episode was successfully able to get me curious as to what happens the next. The return of a bunch of old faces was a plus as time-wasting introductions aren't necessary this time around, allowing for more plot-focused development.

Zetsuen no Tempest - Episode 8

Seems like something straight out of a horror movie

And yet another series utilizes the idea of time travel as part of its story. But the thing is, in this particular situation, it seemed to me like it was only used as a failsafe approach—when there wasn't any other logical reason for Samon to not bring Hakaze back. Depending on how you look at it though, the use of time travel here can be either beneficial or detrimental to the story. For the former, it adds a new twist and shows that, despite her unworldly powers, Hakaze too is vulnerable to something almost every living being fears: death. However, on the other hand, the confusion and paradoxes that time travel brings with it begs the question of whether it's worth using in the story. Will viewers have a tough time wrapping their heads around the situation? Or will unintended plot holes be created as a result? Personally, I found the whole paradox to be slightly confusing at first so I would've preferred it if time travel wasn't used in the story.

Shin Sekai Yori - Episode 8

I don't know what to say.

First off, take what you want from it, but my review is by no means intended to be homophobic in any way. With that being said, I was left speechless at the explicit shōnen-ai and shōjo-ai relationships portrayed in this episode. Even the narrator's (presumably Saki) note at the beginning regarding the degree of change that can take place in two years for a teenager was not enough to prepare me for the impending shock. For a community norm to change from heterosexuality to homosexuality in a mere two years was far beyond unexpected. But I think the worst aspect of all this is the fact that it involves the characters whom viewers have started to or have already become familiar with. All past conceptions you had about a particular character were essentially shattered with this episode. And don't even get me started on the bad artwork—arguably the worst of all the episodes so far. When even a artistically-indifferent person like me notices a decline in animation quality, you know it has to be bad.

Jormungand - Episode 19

Lovely headshot

I'm slightly disappointed that this ended up being a one-episode arc. I thought Wilee was a very interesting character, especially with his surprising past. On the surface, he doesn't look very intimidating, but as Jonah soon realized, this was definitely not the case. In a show dominated by bullets and guns, bombs and explosives didn't really strike me as a weapon of choice for the members of the HCLI. However, I think that's exactly the reason why Koko chose to recruit Wilee—a humble expert with explosives who, along with herself, are on the FBI's most wanted list. Being placed on the same threat level as Koko definitely says something.

Zetsuen no Tempest - Episode 7

The sunflowers are watching.

Alright, I'll admit that this episode made me see Aika in a better light. However, this doesn't mean that I like her character. I still dislike her sadistic and deceptive personality, but I'm now more curious about what went on in her head while she was alive. There were many hints that she knew more than she let on—including the possibility that she had a feeling she was going to die—since she often iterates her belief that "everything happens for a reason". So this begs the question, just what reason does her death serve then? Bear with me as I explain my plausible but probably unlikely theory.

Jormungand - Episode 18

Castle of Lies

Realism is an attribute that Jormungand greatly lacks. That's not to say it makes the show bad though. In fact, I find that the logic-defying firefights are what make this anime enjoyable. Case in point: Tōjō's showdown against the member of the SR squad brandishing a sub-machine gun. Realistically, when someone unloads a full clip on you at near point-blank range, it's safe to say that the chances of only two bullets hitting are extremely low. But if Tōjō were to have died then and there, I don't think I would've enjoyed the rest of the episode as much. What makes it even more amusing is that the two are supposedly "professional" soldiers. Throw in the bullet-wasting battle in the tunnel in which the HCLI took no casualties and you've got yourself a typical Jormungand episode.

Shin Sekai Yori - Episode 7

Such amusing faces

Luckily, there was a lot more good than bad in this episode. As a whole, the episode was enjoyable and the reunion of the five in the end was very heartwarming. Although it felt slightly rushed—mostly because of the constant scene changes—the end result was desirable so I chose to overlook that. One thing that did bug me was how despicable of a character Squealer is. Sure, he ended up helping Saki and Satoru, but who knows if this is yet another one of his cowardly betrayals. He also reminded me of the brown nosers in society—sucking up to people solely for their own benefit. Because of this, I have a feeling that he might have been involved in the cliffhanger at the end, possibly being the one who contacted the Ethics Committee and told them everything in return for a reward of some sort.

Zetsuen no Tempest - Episode 6

Significant nature shot

We're at the halfway point now and I can say that I'm actually disappointed with the way things have went with this series. The direction of the story has gotten somewhat blurred; it's unclear whether the main focus is to identify Aika's murderer or to stop Samon from awakening the Zetsuen no Ki. Right now, the latter seems to be the topic at hand, but flashes of Aika in this episode beg to differ. Personally, I'd prefer it if Aika herself didn't show up this often. Then again, it's essentially only because of her that Yoshino and Mahiro continue to work together—the former for the sake of his girlfriend and the latter for the sake of his sister.