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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jormungand - Episode 17

I question the effectiveness of such a flimsy katana...

I've come to notice a trend when it comes to Jormungand episodes. If an arc is split up into two parts (or "phases"), the first one is generally heavy on the dialogue and low on the actual battles, and the second one is the opposite. Now, depending on which you prefer better, one's perception of these "halves" may vary greatly. For me, I personally prefer the latter halves of the arcs as they present exactly what I expected upon deciding to watch Jormungand. In this episode particularly, the over-excessive explanation by Tōjō had me in the same state as some of the other HCLI members—bored and uninterested. And while I'm not saying that this information is unnecessary—in fact, it's far from that—I do believe that it doesn't have to be this detailed. Regardless, we've now got a good idea of who this Hinoki guy is. How he matches up with Tōjō's depiction of him will be interesting.

Jormungand - Episode 16

That mouth :3

Lots of unnecessary flashbacks in my opinion, but overall, this episode was a nice build-up to the upcoming action in this new arc, in which the antagonists appear to be a possibly insane (well that goes for just about anyone in this show) girl with the ":3" face and her subordinates. After what happened with R, I guess having one episode to slow down the pace and let his death sink in was a good idea. On top of that, the majority of the episode had a positive feel to it, so all the negativity and positivity end up balancing out.

Jormungand - Episode 15

R.I.P. Renato

It's episodes like this that I expect from Jormungand—action-packed and not too one-sided. Although R's death was inevitable, it was still tough to see him go the way he did. However, in the end, it was nice to know that he was someone who stood by his own ideals instead of mindlessly following the orders of his superior, despite the fact that he had sworn loyalty to the very same individual just recently. In terms of the story, the death of an HCLI member (or any significant event, for that matter) would have been essential in drawing out a glimpse of Koko's true nature. Those bouts of insanity she displayed afterwards are just a fraction of the extent of her power—a scary thought indeed. Seeing her overkill Hex and her men so viciously and mercilessly proves the already well-accepted fact that Koko is loco.

Jormungand - Episode 14

Decision time!

That last order from Bookman to R alone sent chills down my spine and really pumped me up for what is to come. Torn by his loyalty (to a certain extent) for both parties, R will undoubtedly struggle with having to make a decision soon. Act as clueless as she might, but I think Koko already knows all about R's relation with Bookman. And given that he's been spending so much time alongside her, R should also know this too. Nonetheless, in the field of arms dealing, deception is key and it's not uncommon for people to hide their true knowledge, playing the role of ignorant individual instead. It's only the beginning of the second season, but both Hex and Bookman appear to be extremely elite opponents.

Jormungand - Episode 13

Looks can be deceiving.

And the second season picks up right after the end of the first, albeit at a slightly slower pace than I would've liked. That said, the pace did pick up quite nicely towards the latter half of the episode, with the set-up leading to the Operation Undershaft arc now complete. With a new season comes new opponents, and I hope that this time around, they'll actually pose a challenge to the HCLI, something that I really thought would've made season one better. But given that R is acting as an undercover, the pressure both from both internal and external sources may just be what needs to happen in order for Koko to be challenged. Her soon-to-be opponents (Bookman and Hex) already seem tougher than her season one foes so this is a good sign. Obviously, there's almost no doubt in my mind that Koko will make it out of this alive, but the question is, will all her men be able to follow in her steps?

Jormungand: Perfect Order - Preview

To be honest, the first season of Jormungand was underwhelming. Going in, I expected mindless bloodshed, guns galore, and diabolical annihilation each and every episode; a show that you can just sit back and enjoy. And while there were a few episodes that did give me that, it wasn't as much as I had expected. That being said, it was still an enjoyable twelve episodes for the most part. With character introductions and backstories having been dealt with already in season one, I hope Jormungand: Perfect Order will focus more on the story now. Either that, or more action-packed missions would be fine with me.

Fall 2012

Unlike the Summer 2012 season where there weren't really that many interesting titles airing, the Fall 2012 season appears to be quite promising. Currently, I'm planning on watching 16 shows, five of which I will blog about; these numbers would've been higher except I fear not being able to keep up with everything while juggling a full-time job that takes away twelve hours of my day. Like always, my picks are subject to change, more so during the first month of airing.

Jormungand - Review

I'm slightly bored right now so might as well start working on my series review backlog.

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In a world of violence and bloodshed—where the sounds of blaring firearms and steel clashing is an everyday occurrence—being an arms dealer is neither an easy task nor laughing matter. It is not a position where honesty and justice prevail, but one where deception and cruelty run rampant. But despite the bad reputation and dangers that come with the occupation, there is one individual who has made a name for herself in the business. Her name is Koko (Hekmatyar)... and she is loco. With the help of her talented comrades, the story of Jormungand follows Koko and co. as they travel around the world doing their work. Now, let's see how big of a splash this series has made in the vast body of water that is the world of anime.

Jormungand - Episode 12

See you in season two!

I know quite a few people who liked this episode. But as for me, this wasn't so much the case. What looked to be the end for Ugo turned out to totally be the opposite. Instead of being the first ones capable of outsmarting Koko and co., Boss Dominique and his group ended up just like the others in the past who dared to confront the HCLI—in other words, they got owned. While this is technically good and all, it didn't meet my expectations for a fight that's of season finale calibre.

Jormungand - Episode 11

Nice troll face you got there, Jonah.

It looks like I was right. This time around, Koko's got her hands full with her three new opponents. Together, the trio are diverse and each of their specialties complements the others' very well. The leader of the three seems to be a strategist whose skills are on an equal level with Koko, while his two subordinates take care of the strength and stealth of the group. Unlike Koko's previous opponents, Dominique and co. didn't recklessly rush into the line of fire and get themselves killed but instead had strategized and found the perfect time to carry out their ambush. Maybe it's because Koko has been too laid back lately given that she has faced wave upon wave of weak and easy opponents, but I think it's time that she gets down to business, showing her true skills.

Jormungand - Episode 10

Rawr~

Another typical Jormungand episode here. Nothing out of the ordinary; just lots of good 'ol guns blasting, bullets flying, and people dying. The expected utter annihilation of the Dragons was a pleasure to see, especially seeing how bent their leader was on killing Koko and co. All his words amounted to nothing as he ends up getting humiliated by the HCLI. But if one were to look at it critically, the way everything went according to Koko's plan does seem a bit unrealistic. I mean, just the gunfight in the beginning alone should've resulted in some casualties but this wasn't the case. Looking back, there actually hasn't been any real "challenge" for Koko. However, with the last arc of the season coming up, maybe this will change.

Jormungand - Episode 9

Jonah, stop hacking.

To be honest, the majority of the first half was quite disappointing. First, there was that random comedy/fanservice swimming in the ocean scene which I found to be an utter waste of time. In fact, I can't get the image of Valmet's disgustingly ripped abs out of my head. Secondly, even though Mao's backstory was kind of interesting, I felt it dragged on for a bit too long. It is only after Koko and co. landed in the airport and came face to face with the Dragon that the episode started getting interesting. The clever dialogue used by Koko to subtly hint that she refused to have the cargo (i.e. the smuggled persons) checked really got me smiling, especially when it rendered the opposing party speechless. But as much as I love those conversations, the firefight that broke out at the end is what I'm looking forward to the most in the next episode.

Jormungand - Episode 8

This is me trying to understand the episode.

Was it just me, or did the episode move at such a fast pace that everything seemed over in an instant? To be honest, I barely understood what happened. I knew that the episode was about the selling of UAVs and that Koko and Madam Tolokhovsky were competing to see who could get buyers. And like in all episodes, Koko ends up coming out on top in the end, although I really had no idea how she did it. I'm assuming it's something about the need to act and be deceptive in the business of arms dealing, something Madam Tolokhovsky was familiar with, which is why she was the only one (?) who caught on to Koko's plans. However, she still ended up being outsmarted.

Jormungand - Episode 7

Mmm... Chinese food

Well, that was underwhelming. After all that tension created at the end of the last episode with Valmet's insane face, you'd think the fight between her and Karen would be one of epic proportions. That didn't turn out to be the case, unfortunately. In fact, it was way too one-sided for my liking, considering how skilled of a fighter Karen is, as shown during her utter annihilation of one of Scarecrow's men. What's worse is that Mr. Chen got utterly humiliated by Koko (although I didn't really understand why beyond having his proposal to work together rejected and finding out that Karen got owned by HCLI's troops). On the bright side, the new character, Schokolade, has an interesting personality, similar to that of Koko when she's not serious, so I'm hoping she shows up again soon.

Jormungand - Episode 6

Shut up and take my money! Those guns looks epic.

With an episode title like "African Golden Butterflies" I didn't expect it to be as intense as it was, particularly near the end. It didn't help that Doctor Miami was someone who's so carefree and has such childlike innocence. It's almost like her character doesn't fit into the show. I mean, this is a show about the business of arms dealers; trickery and deception are what's expected. However, I do hope that there ends up being more to her than meets the eye and that she's not just a doctor who's obsessed with butterflies.