Witch Watch – 03
The nature of this season is such that the ballot – and bubble – are going to be crowded. Witch Watch is a show I had relatively low expectations for. I expected to have dropped it by this point, probably. But it’s definitely outperformed that, even if I’m not sure on coverage. It’s nothing brilliant or anything but it has that Shinohara goofy charm to it. And it’s clearly getting a very solid adaptation, likewise better than I expected it to.
That said, I didn’t find this episode quite as charming or funny as the first two. Is it starting to wear, or was this simply not as good? Once again we get plenty of gags surrounding Nico’s attempts to entice Moi into her teenaged girl romantic fantasies, and her general incompetence at magic.The bit with the backless outfit (well, transparent) and Moi being an otaku of old French clothes (seriously, I bet there are circles for that at Comiket) was the best of the episode. The thing with the boxes and the splitting spell didn’t do so much for me, by contrast.
The major development of the week is the arrival of who I presume is going to be a regular character, Kazamatsuri Kanshi (that’s the second Kazamatsuri this season). He’s a tengu, and introduces himself as Nico’s “crow familiar”. He’s also apparently her Osananajimi and thus a potential love rival for Moi., so I hope he can pull his weight. The teen ensemble is a staple of Shinohara’s style, so it seems we’re at the first stages of one starting to coalesce around the main pair here. I’ll certainly be keeping my eyes on Witch Watch for the moment, but no decision is imminent.
Shoushimin Series 2nd Season – 03
“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire” seems an especially apt way to sum up my feelings on Shoushimin Series’ upturn this season. Three episodes does not a season make, but there’s no denying this is working better for me than the first season did. Things are just overall zippier and more interesting. The spreading of wealth among a wider cast of characters definitely helps, as they’re a much more varied group than S1’s dominant trio (who work better as part of an ensemble themselves).
Lots of developments are happening here, by this series’ standards practically dizzying. Nitta-sensei (scumbag advisor for the newspaper-bu) has been transferred (which is certainly interesting timing). Takahiro has gone with his “continuity” article as a result, which has Monchi-kun furious – though it should be noted that Monchi-kun is always furious about something. Monchi, as it turns out, is a mole for Usanai-san – who’s also manipulating the club through mild-mannered Itsukaichi-kun. She’s dipping her fingers in every pot, as you’d expect.
I think Urino-kun is a sort of everyman character here. Smart enough but not brilliant, bullheaded and straightforward (the Billy Mumphrey of the cast). He’s putty in Yuki’s hands, and his hands are straying way too close to the fire. As for Kengo, he chooses this moment to leave the club to study for exams – leaving Urino as the new president. One gets the sense that things are going exactly as Yuki wants them to. But Jougorou has decided to get directly involved himself now, which means we’re once more headed for a battle of wits between he and Yuki (I know who my money is going on).
Jougorou has been a sort of forgotten man this season. His “romance” with Nakamaru-san seemed hollow even before Yoshiguchi-san told him she was triple-timing him. But the lure of Osanai is too strong for a natural busybody like him, whatever his personal or romantic feelings about her are. He doesn’t suspect her of setting the fires for exactly the reason I don’t – that’s way too broad for her style. But he knows her fingerprints are on them somehow, and that’s impossible for him to resist.
Shin Samurai-den Yaiba – 03
This one is in that same mix for sure. It’s an interesting show – very much of a product of its time, but with a throughly modern and flashy update. I don’t know if it’s going to hold my interest but there’s enough original going on in these three episodes to suggest it’s at least possible.
After the second episode, my sympathies were firmly with Onimaru. Yaiba was a total dick to him for that whole episode, after all. Things have certainly taken a turn here – he’s gone full oni, forget the -maru. When he comes for Yaiba-kun it’s with his new blade in-hand and his intentions are clear. So much so that he has no qualms about innocent bystanders getting caught up in them. Yaiba barely manages to escape with his life, but then his deadbeat father shows up and mentions another legendary sword – the only one that can stand up to the one Onimaru now wields.
The twist here is that the “Miyamoto” guarding the blade is none other than Miyamoto Musashi himself, the most legendary among all legendary samurai. He’s getting on a bit but resigns himself to be part of a training arc, as it’s Yaiba who’s able to Excalibur the blade in question. What I’m wondering is whether this is going to be a simple sword vs. sword, good vs. evil battle. Or, in fact, if it will be about saving Onimaru – who in fact is clearly a victim here too, as his oni blade has taken over his soul. And he didn’t seem like such a bad guy before that happened.
