Platinum End – Episode 1-9 Impressions

I’m a huge fan of Death Note so naturally, I had to check out Platinum End.

Platinum End is a killing game in which the winner becomes the god of the world. Mirai Kakehashi is granted wings and red arrows that make people fall in love with him. He learns that his childhood friend and crush, Saki Hanakago, is also a god candidate. Things become complicated when a god candidate that goes by the name of Metropoliman begins killing other god candidates. Kakehashi and Hanakago team up with another god candidate, and they try to stop Metropoliman.

I didn’t go in thinking that Platinum End would be on the same level of greatness as Death Note. After all, it seems too difficult to make something at the same high standard. However, I couldn’t help but compare Mirai Kakehashi with Light Yagami of Death Note. Although I was not a Kira supporter, I prefer Light Yagami over Mirai Kakehashi any day. They are opposites. If anything, I felt frustrated watching Kakehashi’s behaviours and words in the show. He has no backbone, and he doesn’t act when he needs to. Does he want to stop Metropoliman or not!? I may be a bit harsh, but I also don’t understand his logic. He rushes in to stop Metropoliman, but then he hesitates in the crucial moments.

Hanakago does not stand out at all. She’s also unhelpful in stopping Metropoliman. I thought she had changed in episode 9. I was excited (even though I thought it was an unbelievable and dramatic change) but perhaps I was wrong.

The events in Platinum End are random. The characters have no plan when they try to stop the villain. Metropoliman, on the other hand, is intelligent. I can think of a long list of characters from other shows that can do a better job than Kakehashi and his group.

The characters feel so unbalanced. I’ve written about intelligence and ambition, but even the characters’ appearances seem so unbalanced. Kakehashi and Hanakago look so plain compared to Kanade Uryu (Metropoliman). Even the other villains so far have more eye-catching designs (e.g., Mimimi Yamada, Hajime Sokotani).

I’ve been complaining a lot. I don’t think I’m being nitpicky, though. I really enjoyed a certain episode, as it was exciting and intense. However, I finished episode 9 and have yet to experience that again.

The question is whether to continue this series or not. There are 24 episodes, so we haven’t reached the halfway mark yet. At this point, I’m reluctant to recommend this anime.

For those of you who are watching this show, what do you think?

Winter 2021 Anime Impressions

I thought I would try out a new format with bullet points.

Attack on Titan: The Final Season

• I think it’s great and don’t agree with the animation complaints on Twitter. It’s one thing to be unsatisfied with the show, and another thing to send hateful comments to the director and animators. I’m thankful that we have a final season.

The Promised Neverland Season 2

• I am enjoying it, but I liked the setting in Season 1 more. There’s something terrifying about being trapped in a place while knowing that you are livestock.
• I always feel that something bad will happen. Even when something good happens, I am unconvinced.
• You can read my Season 1 Impressions post here.

Horimiya

• I am enjoying it. I love Miyamura, both his looks and personality.
• I like both of Miyamura’s looks.
• Piercings are attractive.

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Cells at Work BLACK

• I watched the first episode, but I’ll probably binge it some time in the future.

Wonder Egg Priority

• Amazing animation.
• The first episode was strange, but I’ll probably continue it when more episodes are out.

Yes.

Dr. Stone: Stone Wars

• Plan to watch.

Jujutsu Kaisen (Continuing)

• I love so many characters, which is rare for me. I love Yuuji, Gojou, and Sukuna.
• My favourite character is obviously the villain, Mahito.
• I want to see Sukuna more.
• It’s like a mix of Demon Slayer and Parasyte.

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Mo Dao Zu Shi Q (Continuing)

• Since the episodes are only five minutes long, I will binge the rest of the series when it is completed.
• Speaking of which, I am so excited for MDZS Season 3. My favourite character, Xue Yang, will finally make his appearance.

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Of the airing shows, my favourites are Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan: Final Season, and The Promised Neverland Season 2. Let me know if there’s a Winter 2021 anime you recommend~

Great Pretender (2020) – First Impressions

Episodes watched: 3/23

First, can we talk about how pretty this anime is?

Episode 1

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Episode 2

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I don’t know of many anime that have such vibrant colours! The art alone made me want to continue the show.

Synopsis:

Makoto Edamura is a Japanese con man who is tricked into going to Los Angelos by a man named Laurent Thierry. There, he gets caught in an elaborate scam and needs to find a way to survive from the target, a mafia boss, and the FBI.

Thoughts:

As I mentioned earlier, I was deeply impressed by the art. It is by Wit Studio (Attack on Titan, After the Rain) which explains it. I thought the first two episodes were interesting but weren’t enough to “hook” me in. Things really picked up by the end of episode 3. I just finished episode 3 and am wondering what will happen next. If you’re looking for something to watch, I recommend checking out this series!

Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan 2 Episode 12 Impressions

Another amazing episode. Episode 11 impressions post here.

Synopsis: Saiki is a psychic. He can do pretty much anything, but there are limits to his powers. He hides his psychic abilities from his friends and his life is full of disastrous moments that he has to deal with. The English title of this anime is “The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.”

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Even though this was staged, I like the gyaru the most out of the girls in the show. I think that her and Saiki are cute together.

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Does this mean that Saiki was behind the recaps all along?

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Saiki looking cool.

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… Not creepy at all. That smile though.

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This is true. Saiki actually knows so much about people. High EQ.

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Pfft, this greeting… I love it. (Saiki is able to talk to animals.)

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What?? (For context, Saiki, Nendou, and their friends were stranded on an island in a previous episode. The hamster was there all along but we never knew.)

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Tsundere confirmed.

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Some context: Satou is an ordinary guy. I like how Saiki has Satou’s physical education scores.

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Uh… not creepy at all…

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UHH…

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SAIKI!!!

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This is the first time Saiki has wanted to be friends with someone! Usually, he thinks that people are too bothersome or too much trouble. I like how no one else notices Satou except for Saiki.

Thoughts: I adore Saiki but the stalking was… It was a little too creepy for me.

Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan 2 Episode 11 Impressions

Episode 1 Impressions here.

Originally, I was going to write about every episode. I’ve already made folders of screenshots from each episode. But I’ve changed my mind and have decided to only blog about my favourite episodes. Episode 11 was too good.

Synopsis: Saiki is a psychic. He can do pretty much anything, but there are limits to his powers. He hides his psychic abilities from his friends and his life is full of disastrous moments that he has to deal with. The English title of this anime is “The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.”

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I actually notice when shows do this.

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I knew he was going to talking about handholding. Still, it was a cute scene.

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Unpopular opinion, but I don’t like Teruhashi. Another unpopular opinion: I love Saiki’s brother, Kusuke. If you didn’t know, Kusuke is exactly the kind of character I like in anime. This scene was very satisfying.

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Saiki’s life is anything but ordinary. It’s disastrous. Seeing Saiki so excited about an ordinary guy is so funny and cute.

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Saiki is so nosy! Just look at him hiding behind the pole watching the ordinary guy. He’s a very caring and protective person though so I think it’s okay.

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A little context: Saiki wears thin gloves at all times. If he touches an object with his bare hands, he will see the history behind the object. If he touches a book, he will probably see a flashback of a previous reader spoiling the book’s ending. His glove tears and he sees a love story between two people who borrowed the same book. However, he only sees little snippets of their love story and it keeps ending on a cliffhanger. He has no choice but to keep touching the rest of the books in the series (which also means spoiling the books).

I told you Saiki is very nosy.

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He’s talking about the pacing of the love story between the readers, not the actual book plot hahaha.

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It’s all about the IRL love story now. Who cares about the book series?

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I left out screenshots of the love story on purpose, but it’s actually wild. You should watch the episode for yourself!

Yesterday wo Utatte Episode 1 Impressions

Yesterday wo Utatte (Sing “Yesterday” for Me) is an ongoing anime from this season.

Synopsis: Rikuo Uozumi is a recent university graduate who works at a convenience store. He does not have many ambitions and lives his life day by day. He is frequently visited by Haru Nonaka, an eccentric girl who has a crow as her pet. Rikuo is visited by another person: His former classmate and crush, Shinako Morinome.

[X] MC is self-deprecating.

[X] MC likes photography.

[X] MC is a recent university graduate.

Wow, all the things I like in a main protagonist, or can relate to, are in an anime!

While I do like optimistic characters such as the MCs in shonen anime (Naruto is a prime example), I can relate to self-deprecating characters a lot more.

Overall impressions: I enjoyed the first episode a lot. A self-deprecating main character and an eccentric character make the best combo. It feels relatable at times but I think there will be a lot to unpack later on. I am excited to watch the rest of this series. I highly recommend this anime.

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People hate liars, but people like them.

You lie, you play along with what people say, and live a BS life.

You have nothing to hurt people or be hurt by.

You become worthless and you become sick of being with other people.

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Liars don’t lose anything, but they don’t gain anything, either.

I’m a liar, but for the first time, I wanted to be liked.

Maybe I’m out of places to escape to.”

These lines were said by Haru Nonaka. Does being a liar = fitting in with the rest of society?

Not being a liar = being an outcast?

Escapism –> not being a liar.

Running out of places to escape to –> being a liar –> because you want to be liked.

Hm. Well, from my personal experience, being myself = being an outcast because no one shared the same interests as me –> was not liked –> but it was okay because I could escape from reality with anime. If I cannot escape from reality –> then I think I would like to be liked –> then I would be a liar in order to fit in.

(It’s okay if you don’t follow. I tried to analyze the lines in the anime…)

First Impressions: Babylon Episodes 1-3

Babylon is a currently airing anime from this Fall 2019 season. The premise sounded interesting on MAL, so I decided to give it a watch. I did not really have any expectations going in, but it blew my mind. The first episode left off on a cliffhanger, which made me immediately watch the second episode. Then the third episode. Now I’m impatiently waiting for the next episode to come out.

Synopsis: Zen Seizaki is a prosecutor and is assigned to investigate a pharmaceutical company that is suspected of paying universities to exaggerate the effectiveness of their new drug. While investigating the company, he finds a suspicious page covered in blood, hair, nails and skin. The sheet has the letter ‘F’ written all over it. He realizes that things are more serious than he originally thought.

Thoughts: The art style and animation are great. The mature art style suits the more serious atmosphere. I really like the protagonist, Zen, because he is reliable and has a strong sense of justice. Anything can happen in this anime. That being said, there were a lot of twists and turns that kept the suspense going. I think I’ve become quite good at predicting shows, but I felt a lot of surprise at the reveals. Each episode leaves off on a cliffhanger, so it might be wise to wait until all the episodes are out. It’s too late for me, so I’m just going to watch it whenever an episode is released, then wait in anticipation for the next episode.

I never thought that this one case about the pharmaceutical company would turn into this whole other mess. It’s a messy web that’s intertwined with so many different things and people. I’m curious as to where they will take this story. I definitely recommend this anime, especially if you like mystery and suspense.

There are some graphic scenes in this anime, such as nudity, sex, death, and drugs. That being said, this show is not appropriate for younger audiences.

The Rising of the Shield Hero Impressions: Episodes 8-25 [END]

Episodes 1-7 impressions post here. Spoilers ahead. 

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Episode 8 

Naofumi and his party had to clean up Ren’s mess. Ren is more likable than Motoyasu, but he’s not that great of a hero either. He believed the rumors about Naofumi too easily and is too arrogant to be likable. 

Episode 9

Filo’s friendship with Melty is so cute! I really like Melty. Although I knew that she was from a rich family, I was a little surprised to learn that she was Malty’s sister and the heir to the throne. 

Episode 10

The Church of the Three Heroes is sketchy. 

Episode 11

The heroes argue way too much. It’s a little sad to watch. 

Episode 12

Glass is so OP! I’m really interested in learning more about her. It was hilarious when she called the other heroes “Naofumi’s slaves.” I hoped it was a reality check for them, but that was expecting too much. 

Episode 13

Melty is now part of Naofumi’s group and things have become quite interesting. It’s unbelievable how Malty would go to such extreme lengths to kill Melty and the others (but not really unbelievable). 

Naofumi and his names…

Episode 14

Van Reichnott is such a nice nobleman! Idol on the other hand, is disgusting.

Episode 15

We learn about Raphtalia’s past and her experiences as a slave. Idol is rotten to the core. 

Episode 16

We meet Fitoria, queen of the Filolias. She is huge as a filolia and incredibly strong. In her human form, she’s adorable. I guess we can guess how Filo will look when she is over a hundred years old. 

Episode 17

Filo gets appointed as the next filolial queen! 

Episode 18

I always thought that Malty and the king were the main antagonists, but I see that they were led by the Church of Three Heroes. I knew they were a sketchy group, although I was a little surprised by this reveal. The fact that it took so much for Motoyasu to finally see the truth is concerning. 

Episode 19

I was happy to see Ren and Itsuki, even though I don’t particularly like them. I knew that they were still alive, and they came at the right moment. It was great to see all four heroes finally work together.  

Episode 20

The queen finally made an actual appearance! It was messed up how the Pope used the believers of the church like that. I don’t think the believers of the Church are bad per se, but the Pope definitely has twisted morals. This was my favourite episode so far because the fighting was incredible to watch. I enjoyed seeing the combo attacks and the heroes working together. The last move by Naofumi was awesome. The opening song played during the fight and it was so cool!

Episode 21

The queen of Melromarc is now my favourite character. She is ruthless, even towards her own husband and daughter. She doesn’t turn a blind eye to corruption and she does things without delay. I liked how she decided everything in the trial and how she made it so that everyone in the country could learn the truth. Unlike the king, the queen doesn’t get fooled by lies. Changing the church to the Church of the Four Heroes was a brilliant move. Naofumi is such a nice guy by letting them go. Whether you think the punishment was enough is debatable. It felt so good to finally have Naofumi’s name cleared. It was about time! It was nice seeing the blacksmith and tailor again! This was one of my favourite episodes because it was pretty satisfying to watch.

Episode 22

Raphtalia and Filo finally got to level up. I’m guessing that the person Naofumi bumped into in Raphtalia’s old village will be important later on (potentially an enemy?). The series is almost over so I’m curious as to how much more will be shown before the anime is complete.

Episode 23

We meet L’Arc and Therese, and they team up with Naofumi’s party. I’m glad that Naofumi found “acquaintances” because his journey has been so rough. He finally got to have fun with the others. I think that L’Arc and Therese are good people, but there is something off about them. I am still skeptical at this point. 

Episode 24

My suspicions about L’Arc and Therese were correct. Glass appeared again, and she’s on their side.

Episode 25 (FINALE)

A new person joined Naofumi’s party! The story is definitely not finished, so I’m wondering if we will get a second season. The finale was sweet.

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Closing thoughts: The Rising of the Shield Hero started off strong and episodes 18-21 were really fun to watch. Overall, I think this is a good isekai and recommend it!

The Rising of the Shield Hero Impressions: Episodes 1-7

Neha’s Attack on Titan Season 3 Part 2 post inspired me to do a similar format with this post on my impressions of the first seven episodes of Shield Hero. Spoilers ahead.

Other titles: 盾の勇者の成り上がり Tate no Yūsha no Nariagari

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Episode 1

Episode 1 of Shield Hero is 45 minutes long! That’s twice the length of a regular episode. I appreciated the lengthly episode because it showed Naofumi getting betrayed and outcasted. I saw the betrayal coming because there were a number of red flags.

I really enjoyed this episode because I’m interested in the theme of betrayal and it was interesting to see how Naofumi changed as a result of that experience. I liked seeing how Naofumi navigated the world by himself.

One of the things I like about this anime the most is the world, like the heroes’ technology, monsters, potions, and more. There’s a lot of world building and I think that’s fascinating.

Episode 2

It was about time for somebody to join Naofumi’s party. Raphtalia is so cute!

I did feel uncomfortable about the fact that Naofumi forced a little girl to kill monsters, especially monsters that killed her parents. I thought it was ethically wrong and was wondering why nobody really talked about it. I thought about dropping this series because of it, but decided to continue watching after a couple of friends encouraged me to continue Shield Hero. After this episode, it does get better and I am happy that I didn’t drop this series.

Episode 3

It was about time that we saw the other heroes! This was an action-filled episode which I enjoyed watching.

I wonder if the characters in the world know what ‘lolicon’ means.

Episode 4

This episode made me very angry. The king is so incompetent and I despise Malty so much. There really aren’t any likeable characters at this point besides Naofumi, Raphtalia and the blacksmith.

I feel like the spear hero is being pulled by strings like a puppet by Malty. I think that she pretends to be loyal to him and that she has an ulterior motive. This is just a guess, so I could be wrong about this.

The fact that Malty had to resort to cheating because she knew that the spear hero was going to lose the fight made me laugh. Then when the king and all his people turned a blindside to the cheating, I felt enraged. Let’s just say that I felt an array of emotions in this episode. I am glad that the other two heroes stood up for Naofumi, but I still don’t like them.

The ending of this episode was nice because it was a sweet moment of Naofumi and Raphtalia. It almost made me get over my rage over the episode. Raphtalia definitely matured a lot.

Episode 5

I really like Filo, the bird. I didn’t expect to see the spear hero and Malty so soon but it was sweet karma when Filo won against against the spear hero’s dragon. Again Malty resorted to cheating, but that’s not surprising.

Episode 6

Filo, the bird, turned into a cute girl! I guess anything can happen in anime. I liked Filo as a bird so nothing has changed. I do like Filo more than Raphtalia. I really liked Raphtalia in the beginning but she seems to be trying a little too hard to get Naofumi’s attention. Her feelings are valid, of course, but it’s getting a little annoying to watch…

I still think Naofumi is a really good person, especially when he helped the man with the sick mother. Although he did charge the man for 1 silver, Naofumi does need funds so I thought it was reasonable.

The tailor is awesome. I like her passion for sewing cute clothes and how she takes her client’s qualities and characteristics into consideration.

Episode 7

I think that Naofumi is very humble, as he does not openly tell the villagers that he is the shield hero or the person going around the villages healing people. Naofumi and his party had to fix the mess the spear hero created, which is not surprising because the spear hero is useless.

I felt more empathic towards Raphtalia because Filo declared that she wanted Naofumi to be her mate. I’m glad the two of them ended on good terms at the end of the episode because the petty drama was getting a little ridiculous.

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Let me know if you want me to continue with this format with Shield Hero or other shows! I’m definitely going to continue watching Shield Hero and it’s one of the shows I look forward to the most at the moment.

Impressions: My Roommate is a Cat

Japanese: 同居人はひざ、時々、頭のうえ。| Doukyonin wa Hiza, Tokidoki, Atama no Ue.

Episodes released thus far: 7

Genre: Slice of Life

My Roommate is a Cat is a currently airing 12-episode anime from this season (Winter 2019).

60% of the episode is told from Mikazuki’s point of view, while the rest of the episode is told from Haru’s point of view. The same events happen – it’s a retelling of the events but from the cat’s perspective.

Synopsis: Subaru Mikazuki is a writer who hates leaving his house and finds it overwhelming to interact with people. He encounters a stray cat and decides to take her home. He names the cat ‘Haru.’ Each episode portrays how Mikazuki’s life is impacted by Haru and his friends, and how Haru’s life is also changed upon meeting Mikazuki.

Thoughts: Two things drew me into this show: 1) the protagonist’s attitudes towards life and 2) the cat! I’ve been wanting to raise a cat for the longest time, but hopefully I will be able to in a few more years.

Mikazuki reminds me of myself in some ways. We both love reading, we don’t like going outside, and we don’t take very good care of ourselves. Some viewers might find Mikazuki to be unlikable because he isn’t interested in social conversations but I really like him. He loves reading books and enjoys being alone.

During the events of the show, Mikazuki is slowly starting to see that having company over isn’t so bad. We’re just a little over halfway through the show, and Mikazuki is already changing in small ways after living with Haru.

Personal story: I used to always say ‘no’ to my classmates when they asked me to study with them. I study best alone, so I thought it would be too much of a hassle to study with others. This year, I studied with a couple of classmates at a café and I was productive. We helped each other study and I found it really helpful.

Bottom line: There’s always room for personal growth. I don’t think that Mikazuki necessarily has to change, but meeting Haru is a really great thing that happened to him. It was also good for Haru as well.

We learn about Haru’s story and what her life was like as a stray. While Mikazuki won’t know her backstory or thoughts, we know Haru on a much more intimate level. She’s a really great character.

My Roommate is a Cat is an adorable, heartwarming story. Even if you don’t like Mikazuki, you’ll like the cat.