![[Commie] Shakugan no Shana III - 04 [BCAD3D73].mkv_snapshot_02.07_[2011.10.29_23.13.30]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vyKf3V2YcrQ/Tq3VqG_lB-I/AAAAAAAAYJY/lvi7cycrYmk/s1600-h/%25255BCommie%25255D%252520Shakugan%252520no%252520Shana%252520III%252520-%25252004%252520%25255BBCAD3D73%25255D.mkv_snapshot_02.07_%25255B2011.10.29_23.13.30%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "[Commie] Shakugan no Shana III - 04 [BCAD3D73].mkv_snapshot_02.07_[2011.10.29_23.13.30]") |
![[Gimme] C3 - Cube x Cursed x Curious - 05 (H.264 1280x720 AAC) [16809B79].mkv_snapshot_03.42_[2011.10.30_11.43.56]](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vhAf5jakQVU/Tq3VrUYltRI/AAAAAAAAYJo/b3dpaA_Gfn4/s1600-h/%25255BGimme%25255D%252520C3%252520-%252520Cube%252520x%252520Cursed%252520x%252520Curious%252520-%25252005%252520%252528H.264%2525201280x720%252520AAC%252529%252520%25255B16809B79%25255D.mkv_snapshot_03.42_%25255B2011.10.30_11.43.56%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "[Gimme] C3 - Cube x Cursed x Curious - 05 (H.264 1280x720 AAC) [16809B79].mkv_snapshot_03.42_[2011.10.30_11.43.56]") |
![[sage]_Mobile_Suit_Gundam_AGE_-_04_[720p][10bit][493EE9A1].mkv_snapshot_06.08_[2011.10.30_15.23.41]](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kk1qZsxQxes/Tq3VsuR6IzI/AAAAAAAAYJ4/Y6rZXaaBo2Y/s1600-h/%25255Bsage%25255D_Mobile_Suit_Gundam_AGE_-_04_%25255B720p%25255D%25255B10bit%25255D%25255B493EE9A1%25255D.mkv_snapshot_06.08_%25255B2011.10.30_15.23.41%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "[sage]_Mobile_Suit_Gundam_AGE_-_04_[720p][10bit][493EE9A1].mkv_snapshot_06.08_[2011.10.30_15.23.41]") |
![[Commie] Shakugan no Shana III - 04 [BCAD3D73].mkv_snapshot_07.46_[2011.10.29_23.18.17]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3V51XUBIFow/Tq3Vt4l0IpI/AAAAAAAAYKI/nwB05hgeM2k/s1600-h/%25255BCommie%25255D%252520Shakugan%252520no%252520Shana%252520III%252520-%25252004%252520%25255BBCAD3D73%25255D.mkv_snapshot_07.46_%25255B2011.10.29_23.18.17%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "[Commie] Shakugan no Shana III - 04 [BCAD3D73].mkv_snapshot_07.46_[2011.10.29_23.18.17]") |
![[Commie] Shakugan no Shana III - 04 [BCAD3D73].mkv_snapshot_12.17_[2011.10.29_23.22.48]](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BdaR71S8Heg/Tq3Vu0q1fGI/AAAAAAAAYKY/8WHHZHAKLY4/s1600-h/%25255BCommie%25255D%252520Shakugan%252520no%252520Shana%252520III%252520-%25252004%252520%25255BBCAD3D73%25255D.mkv_snapshot_12.17_%25255B2011.10.29_23.22.48%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "[Commie] Shakugan no Shana III - 04 [BCAD3D73].mkv_snapshot_12.17_[2011.10.29_23.22.48]") |
![[Commie] Shakugan no Shana III - 04 [BCAD3D73].mkv_snapshot_18.50_[2011.10.29_23.29.21]](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7igd0jyNzIg/Tq3VwOiKCKI/AAAAAAAAYKo/puLuecmrgIg/s1600-h/%25255BCommie%25255D%252520Shakugan%252520no%252520Shana%252520III%252520-%25252004%252520%25255BBCAD3D73%25255D.mkv_snapshot_18.50_%25255B2011.10.29_23.29.21%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "[Commie] Shakugan no Shana III - 04 [BCAD3D73].mkv_snapshot_18.50_[2011.10.29_23.29.21]") |
Well, that’s more like it. After a couple of frankly pretty sleepy episodes, Shana finally kicks into high hear with a fast-paced, well-animated episode that was very reminiscent of the first season. The throwdown between Yuji and Shana was interesting, but really only the tip of the iceberg for the episode. It’s still not completely clear just what Yuji has become and how much of the boy remains inside the Snake of the Festival, but some things did become clear. First, he can pretty much kick everyone’s ass, as the combined efforts of Shana and her allies were no match for him. After reducing poor Margery to a gibbering blob by revealing the ugly truth (or was it?) about The Silver, he snatches Shana and reclaims the Haridan as his own. And we know from Alastor that it took the efforts of every flame haze in existence to banish him to the abyss when he tried to become ruler of all creation. Second, we know that the Snake retains Yuji’s emotional attachments at least in part, certainly when it comes to Shana. As badly as things went for Shana – beaten and abducted – it was an even worse day for Yoshida, who finally learned the truth of Yuji’s feelings and what happened that fateful snowy night. I’m still not totally clear on just who or what Yuji is now and what his aims are, but now that the prelims are over my level of interest in finding out what happens next is substantially higher.
C3 – 05
![[Gimme] C3 - Cube x Cursed x Curious - 05 (H.264 1280x720 AAC) [16809B79].mkv_snapshot_09.28_[2011.10.30_11.49.43]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FbaBJe28GWA/Tq3VxEJXrgI/AAAAAAAAYK4/4MLUvqHEyJc/s1600-h/%25255BGimme%25255D%252520C3%252520-%252520Cube%252520x%252520Cursed%252520x%252520Curious%252520-%25252005%252520%252528H.264%2525201280x720%252520AAC%252529%252520%25255B16809B79%25255D.mkv_snapshot_09.28_%25255B2011.10.30_11.49.43%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "[Gimme] C3 - Cube x Cursed x Curious - 05 (H.264 1280x720 AAC) [16809B79].mkv_snapshot_09.28_[2011.10.30_11.49.43]") |
![[Gimme] C3 - Cube x Cursed x Curious - 05 (H.264 1280x720 AAC) [16809B79].mkv_snapshot_12.14_[2011.10.30_11.52.29]](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Gyomxvr3xCo/Tq3VyqX0p_I/AAAAAAAAYLI/Ihu93qGi3fk/s1600-h/%25255BGimme%25255D%252520C3%252520-%252520Cube%252520x%252520Cursed%252520x%252520Curious%252520-%25252005%252520%252528H.264%2525201280x720%252520AAC%252529%252520%25255B16809B79%25255D.mkv_snapshot_12.14_%25255B2011.10.30_11.52.29%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "[Gimme] C3 - Cube x Cursed x Curious - 05 (H.264 1280x720 AAC) [16809B79].mkv_snapshot_12.14_[2011.10.30_11.52.29]") |
![[Gimme] C3 - Cube x Cursed x Curious - 05 (H.264 1280x720 AAC) [16809B79].mkv_snapshot_17.15_[2011.10.30_11.58.23]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tej1fVR6pHQ/Tq3V0SdGhTI/AAAAAAAAYLY/IsAVJzoblh4/s1600-h/%25255BGimme%25255D%252520C3%252520-%252520Cube%252520x%252520Cursed%252520x%252520Curious%252520-%25252005%252520%252528H.264%2525201280x720%252520AAC%252529%252520%25255B16809B79%25255D.mkv_snapshot_17.15_%25255B2011.10.30_11.58.23%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "[Gimme] C3 - Cube x Cursed x Curious - 05 (H.264 1280x720 AAC) [16809B79].mkv_snapshot_17.15_[2011.10.30_11.58.23]") |
This is one of the harder shows of the season for me to figure out. I really want to like it, and there’s a lot of interesting elements about it. But I just can’t shake my impression that the total is somehow less than the sum of its parts – the total package just doesn’t measure up to what it should be for me. I’m ready for Peavy to be gone for starters – her caterwauling has just become grating for me at this point. It was interesting to discover that Kirika was not only a cursed-item user herself, but had actually impersonated Peavy during the last fight as a way of getting the measure of Fear and Konoha. I didn’t expect that, and I’m mildly curious to find out more about the organization she belongs to. But whether it’s a question of pacing or the quality of the dialogue, I just don’t find myself caught up the characters or plot of C3. There’s a self-aware falseness to it that rubs me the wrong way, and that applies to the language and fanservice as well – maybe “contrived” is a good word for it. I’m very struck by how much this show is reminding me of Kore wa Zombie – a little bit visually, even more in terms of plot and character, and most of all in tone. That was a decent series – I blogged it wire to wire – but I grew increasingly disinterested in at as the series progressed. Maybe, hopefully, C3 will take the opposite course.
Gundam AGE – 04
![[sage]_Mobile_Suit_Gundam_AGE_-_04_[720p][10bit][493EE9A1].mkv_snapshot_00.41_[2011.10.30_15.19.35]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qndHQ4pp7FU/Tq3V1ZY-oVI/AAAAAAAAYLo/LIEHg7f7PyI/s1600-h/%25255Bsage%25255D_Mobile_Suit_Gundam_AGE_-_04_%25255B720p%25255D%25255B10bit%25255D%25255B493EE9A1%25255D.mkv_snapshot_00.41_%25255B2011.10.30_15.19.35%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "[sage]_Mobile_Suit_Gundam_AGE_-_04_[720p][10bit][493EE9A1].mkv_snapshot_00.41_[2011.10.30_15.19.35]") |
![[sage]_Mobile_Suit_Gundam_AGE_-_04_[720p][10bit][493EE9A1].mkv_snapshot_14.01_[2011.10.30_15.31.35]](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gdq6cKibOuw/Tq3V2uJ8N1I/AAAAAAAAYL4/3nMlGU2ci90/s1600-h/%25255Bsage%25255D_Mobile_Suit_Gundam_AGE_-_04_%25255B720p%25255D%25255B10bit%25255D%25255B493EE9A1%25255D.mkv_snapshot_14.01_%25255B2011.10.30_15.31.35%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "[sage]_Mobile_Suit_Gundam_AGE_-_04_[720p][10bit][493EE9A1].mkv_snapshot_14.01_[2011.10.30_15.31.35]") |
![[sage]_Mobile_Suit_Gundam_AGE_-_04_[720p][10bit][493EE9A1].mkv_snapshot_21.03_[2011.10.30_15.38.36]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-F6vGzcQ9mR0/Tq3V3nrHo7I/AAAAAAAAYMI/pMKnLHQGaNs/s1600-h/%25255Bsage%25255D_Mobile_Suit_Gundam_AGE_-_04_%25255B720p%25255D%25255B10bit%25255D%25255B493EE9A1%25255D.mkv_snapshot_21.03_%25255B2011.10.30_15.38.36%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "[sage]_Mobile_Suit_Gundam_AGE_-_04_[720p][10bit][493EE9A1].mkv_snapshot_21.03_[2011.10.30_15.38.36]") |
UNIVERSE!!!
The big news in episode 4 is the arrival of The White Wolf, Woolf Enneacle (the always dashing Daisuke Ono). He’s a former mobile suit racing champ and pilot just awoken from cryogenic sleep, and he’s looking great. Naturally, The White Wolf thinks he should take possession of the Gundam by rights, and what follows is a very predictable but amusing pissing contest between he and Flit that leads to an encounter with the UE, this time with their warship in tow. Among other things, I’ve decided I like Yurin much better than Emily, who’s hoping Flit loses the Gundam to Woolf so he won’t be able to play soldier anymore, and seems restricted to doing very little besides standing around looking worried. The new revelation about the UE this time is that they apparently possess some sort of cloaking device, which is enough to convince Grodek that he knows who they are – but he’s not sharing till next week at least. I’m not sure about Grodek – he still seems like a dodgy character to me.
Fencedude
October 31, 2011 at 1:39 amIt will be very interesting to see what Kazumi does now. Her pendant-of-plot-relevance has been very prominent in the OP and ED, so I'm assuming she'll use it at some point, despite what Pheles said would happen if she did…
admin
October 31, 2011 at 3:55 amWell, Khamsin gave her that little bauble if I remember right, so hopefully that means he'll be making an appearance soon. He might be the only flame haze powerful enough to make Uber-Yuji mind his Ps and Qs.
Anonymous
October 31, 2011 at 7:28 amThe Shana anime hasn't cleared things up as much as i would like. In the novel this scene makes it clear that Yuji and Snake of the festival are working together, as an equal partnership (at least for now).
The reason Yuji is doing this is because as the world is now, eventually the people they love will be eaten, no matter how strong they get. In the novel he uses his dad as a prime example of this; his dad travels all the time. what if he were attacked while traveling? As he points out, they can't protect everyone, can't send a flame haze to guard every person. He wants to change the worlds rules, literally alter the world, so that people wont be eaten anymore, and Shana wont need to keep fighting till she kills herself one day. Snake of the festival also wants to change the rules so that his Crimison denizen brethren can come to this world without needing to eat.Thus, they work together to accomplish that goal
elior levi
October 31, 2011 at 7:55 am@gurdian enzo let me explain first about the organiztion kirika belong to you understend they reaserch cursed items or also the cursed object she have cannot be removed or she will die and the many discs they will get and put in fear she will be less violent and this anime will be a little less gore.
elior levi
October 31, 2011 at 7:57 am@guardian enzo so what do you think they did explained few things about the plot in this episode or not?
elior levi
October 31, 2011 at 8:00 amand one final question why it remind you kore zombie?
Fencedude
October 31, 2011 at 8:50 amHe wants to change the worlds rules, literally alter the world, so that people wont be eaten anymore, and Shana wont need to keep fighting till she kills herself one day.
Sounds like Yuuji needs to go find Kyuubey and make a very well thought out wish.
deafvader
October 31, 2011 at 8:59 amI believe all explanations are clear. I have read neither novels and I get what is happening. Wanted to pick up C3 sometime last year but the art was just too repulsive. Sorry
elior levi
October 31, 2011 at 9:08 am@guardian enzo from this episode we finally know what the plot of c3 they need to fight and defeat this knight in order to get the disks and remove fear curse.
elior levi
October 31, 2011 at 9:09 amfrom this episode we also finally know what the plot of c3 they need to fight and defeat this knight in order to get the disks and remove fear curse.
deafvader
October 31, 2011 at 1:38 pmJust watched age. Think UE identity would take a while. Think the captain is a double agent.
@Enzo: What is UNIVERSE?!
Finally this is going somewhere [a space station?]
belatkuro
October 31, 2011 at 1:53 pmUh, Haganai I guess.
And I like Woolf despite how arrogant and proud he is. He's cool. Give him a better suit and he's all set.
But how the hell did the Captain figure out the UE with only seeing that battleship? Questions, questions. Getting better now.
admin
October 31, 2011 at 6:04 pmYes, Haganai, just a little joke.
elior
October 31, 2011 at 9:05 pmthe plot of c3 is very easy then you think they just need to defeat the knights orgnization and gain the disks to remove fear curse why it hard to figure out this plot enzo
admin
October 31, 2011 at 10:16 pmIt's not the plot that's hard for me to figure out – I actually think it's pretty predictable and conventional. It's why I don't find the show very interesting that's hard to figure out.
It occurs to me that the dialogue style is somewhat similar to Isin Nisio, which I know is very popular but I've always found sort of too clever and forced. Maybe that's part of the problem.
elior levi
November 1, 2011 at 10:50 amenzo the battles in c3 will become unpredictable soon becouze with every disk they gain and put inside fear she become weak and cant use some weapons. so it wont be predictable like you think.