The Akatsuki Reins Supreme

Just finished off watching two series. One anime, one non-anime that one being Veronica Mars (VM). Hafta say i'm fairly disappointed about the end of season 2 of VM. Yes its an intelligent series, almost too much so for its own good. Makes you think, and like I say thats always a good thing.

Ordinarily the show goes by a 'mystery of the week' premise. Meaning 'self-contained' episodes. The format that I LEAST LIKE. After the 5th such show in a row, its difficult to remain interested. Which is why i got so bored at around the middle eps.  8-16 (out of 22) from both season of this show. Its the epic, series-long storylines that i'm into. Thankfully the format got back to that at the end, and i was enjoying the sereis until... they started to make inane revelations that is.

The major problem is that nothing ever gets resolved with these longer storylines. There’s issues that you figured were long dead and buried by the end of the 1st season when it suddenly turns out there not. The main character (Veronica) spent almost the entire 1st season trying to figure out who killed her best friend. After exploring many theorys and countless leads she finally got her guy in the end, nearly getting herself killed. Only to see this dude get declared innocent at the trial towards the end of season 2. This despite the formidable amount of evident against him. And then lastly, in the final scene of the series, the guy gets killed off. Like what the heck was the point of freeing him just to have his character killed off a eps. or two later? For the shock factor? If thats what they were hoping for thats not what they got, its more like the CONTRIVED factor! >_<

I mean this is Veronica mars right? A story about  high-school private investigator, NOT 24! Someone remind the producers please. On top of that, they raised more doubt unto whether or not this guys was even the real killer... Theres never any finality to it and that pisses me off.

But then they pulled another proverbial rabbit out of the hat (or should i say rabbit out of the ass, cause this just stinks) in regards to the other major plot line in the first series, that being Veronicas supposed rape, which after much angst, had turned out to be a complicated series of events (Veronica getting drugged at a party, accidentally i.e. wasn't meant for her, doing crazy things, and then her ex-bf who she still loved got drugged too and they ended up meeting and sharing  room together) case closed right? Oh no, nearly a year later, the produced changed their mind in an attempt to create a villain in the final eps cause they realized they didn't want to mke any of the show's popular bad-boys into a killer. And so the previous meek, and sex-shy/afraid Cassidy gets the part. Turns out, not only did he blow up the bus full of kids in the beginning of season 2 (season 2's major storyline) but he did it cause he didn't want some other students who were on the bus at that time to reveal that they were all being abuse by their former little-league baseball coach when they were little, who is now the mayor. OK so he killed 6 ppl just cause of his shame. Not only that, turns out HE WAS THE ONE who raped Veronica, apparently before she hooked up with her ex at that party so long ago. Might as well blame him for the WORLD TRADE CENTER ATTACK while your at it. Though, he has a gf now, and he can barely bring himself to touch her... (cant be cause of guilt, cause the dude is apparently evil re-incarnate). Turns out he also had a bomb on the plane that was bringing the mayor back to town after he tried to run away to avoid prosecution for the child molestation charges(where'd he get all those explosives? plus the dudes only 16 >_>).  So the plane blows up with Veronicas dad in it. But wait, turns out Veronica dad wasn't actually on the plane at that time! =O Shock! He manages to avoid his dead for like what? the 4th time this season!? >_< and the second eps. in a row. (after having a gun pointed at and having the trigger pulled at him in the last eps, which turned out to not be loaded)

Then Cassidy conveniently commits suicide. Not that i have a problem with that, cause he had no other way out in that situation and wasn't willing to go to jail, thus thats at least realistic. But there isn't much else that is realistic with the show. It wasn't as bad in the 1st season, but in the second season they make Veronica out to be not only the best investigator in the town, more proficient at solving cases then her father or the police, but she's also the smartest student at her school, just about teh most beautiful, and capable at just about anything you can imagine. She's also got dirt on everyone apparently and manages to find time for her bf's. Hello its either one or the other, you can't have it all, Earth to VM producers! Its just too unbelievable especially considering shes ONLY 17. But i can understand why this show is so popular with girls, because Veronica is everything that many girls strive to be. Funny, smart, confident, beautiful. Essentially flawless, except for the minor fault of just about everybody around her dieing or being accused of being a murderer.

Also i can't believe that she would fall for the bad-boy Logan for a second time! As if once wasn't enough, but even after seeing him behave like a player, and messing around having sex with older women and being so casual about it, she'll go back to him just cause maybe he saved her life. IRL, the girl would be grateful for that but she wouldn't jump all over him the very next day. Cause i mean any normal guy (with guts) would of done the same thing, its doesn't mean your soul mates of something! >_< I do not find that situation romantic at all.

A show without any conclusions is not a fun show to watch. And theres to many lose ends, storys that get started but aren't finished. Just move on please and end things now before they get anymore contrived.

I seem to have painted a very negative picture of the show, but don't get me wrong its not ALL bad. Otherwise I wouldn't be watching it at all right. It is a half decent show. The writing is superb and downright hilarious at times while the acting is professional. If only the producers had decided to end things properly instead of trying to 'milk' the series for all its worth in a blatant and shallow attempt to draw more viewers, (which i might add back-fired) I ouldn't have had to bash it so much =) Oh well, i'll still watch the show from time to time, but not religiously. No longer is it 'must see tv' et al Lost & 24.

Here are some lines from the show;

Troy: Flat?

Veronica: Just as God made me.

____

Veronica: Hi, Dad. Their case is fuzzy and circumstantial.

Keith: (to Cliff McCormick) You know the odd thing? Those were also her first words.

____

Veronica: Wallace, if you do this for me, we'll be best friends forever. Come on! Don't you want us to be BFF?

(Wallace gets burned doing Veronica's favor.)

Wallace: About this secret mission.

Veronica: What'cha got?

Wallace: A reputation as a jock-sniffer. You can B your own FF. I'm retired.

____

Veronica: You wrote "slut" on my car last year at Shelly's party. Why?

Madison: Because "whore" had too many letters.

____

Alice: The fact that you helped me… even though I was awful to you, you’re a very decent man.

Keith: I’d like to think that. But really I just like tossing people out, its kinda a hobby. ^_^

Alice: I dunno if you’ve heard some of the things they say about you.

Keith: Oh I kno trust me, they barely let me socialize with myself, I’m a bad influence. :S

____

Keith (to Veronica, who did something behind her fathers back for about the 20th time this season): What the hell were you thinking? That’s gotta be the worst decision I’ve ever seen by someone who wasn’t literally brain damaged.

____

Veronica (to herself): As a rule people who don’t like you most likely wont help you. There were 100 ppl at shelly party, 98 of them would walk over my corpse for a free gum. o.o

____

Veronica: I can’t believe after a year of working here you don’t kno the make and model of the filing cabinet.

Wallace: Yeah... it is hard to believe, usually memorizing that information is the first I do when I enter a room containing a filing cabinet. >_>

____

Veronica (to herself): Are you crazy Duncan, leaving this out in the open? Do you leave heroin out when Iggy Pop spends the night?

____

Logan: Hey listen I need you to do me a favor.

Dick Jr.: Its not that favor that Bobby Brown does for Whitney is it?

____

Dick Jr: The one they call bootys told me no and went on to suggest i perform sexual intercourse upon my own person.

Logan: Doesn’t he undertand, if you could do that, you’d never come to skool.

Dick Jr.: Whew', boy is that the truth.

____

Investigator: What did you mean by it smelled?

Dick Jr.: Dude, it smelled, like the ass of something that died.

____

Veronica: So hows your dad doing?

Wallace's gf: Fantastic, so good in fact they took him off suicide watch the other day.

____

Dick Jr: Uh, does this assignment come with 'pot-sticka'?

Mr. Woo, Physics teacher: This experiment is a major test grade. For some of you it means passing this class or not...

(looks at Dick Jr.)

Dick Jr: Dude, is Mr. Woo hiting on me?

____

Dick Jr. [to Veronica who's investigating him]: Just cause you wiggle your finger doesn’t mean Dick’s gonna come.

____

forgot who: Just let me wash up before hand, unless you want grease around your throat...

__________________________

And the best new (old) show is.

Infinite Ryvius is the best, coolest and most interesting show i've seen since Gundam Seed Destiny, which only makes sense since many members of the production staff for Infinite went on to be involved in the production process for Gundam Seed/Seed Destiny. Its got a great array of characters and it has a wonderful complexity to it. The average 15 yo probably wouldn't be able to follow the show very well. Which coincidently explains both why I like it so much and why the show never had too big of a following. Despite being first shown in 1999 (in Japan, don't kno if its ever been air in NAmerica) it stands up well against newer anime series such as FMA, Bleach, Trinity Blood, etc. And in my opinion it tell its story better then all of those aforementioned animes. Its the kind of show that i try to limit myself from watching too much of too fast. I mean i could probably watch 13 episode strait and still want more. But that would be half the series! I definitely don't want such a good thing to pass me by so quickly. So in order to fully appreciate and enjoy the series as much as possible i'll only watch a few episodes a week. Its well worth the wait.

In other anime news...

Naruto's become a bit of a joke. Years ago when its first came out I could watch 10 eps. in a row, easy. But now watching 2 epsiodes in a row is just about as much as I can take, before i start falling asleep that is -_-zzz. Thats what happens when you run 60 consecutive eps. of filler (and counting...) Most anime series don't even last that long.

The show's barely even worth watching anymore, honestly I don't kno why i even bother. Its just so inane and childish at time. You'd think the show would grow as its audience has. But nope, they only seem interested in getting more young teens into it. Pff, if it wants to be a kids show so be it. You wont catch me watching it anymore.

Though perhaps once all this filler crap is done with, it might become a decent show again.

1st 135 eps.        > 9.1

eps. after 135      > 7.5 (and i'm being generous with this score, cause these eps. are barely worth watching)

overall avgerage drops to > 8.6  (i.e. decent/fairly good, but no longer great)     

TRINITY BLOOD

1 – 9.5

Nice intro, with a compelling story & creative character designs. Not to mention the absolutely gorgeous animation. I’m looking forward to seeing more of it.

2 – 9.1

The best part of this eps. was the action sequences, all 500 of them lol, yeah there were many. Also the introduction of Tres's character. Though the beginning of the eps. seemed to be misplaced, almost as if the first 5 mins were missing. Also it had a filler eps feel to it. Still, luff the beautiful & fluid animation.

3 – 8.6

Gosh this show is starting to make a bad habit of jumping into a new story and not explaining things clearly. It hasn’t been very smooth to say the least. Luscious animation like usual though.

But its quite disconcerting that each eps seems to beginning with a part of the storyline missing. This is becoming a bad trend for the series.

4 - 8.7

2nd part of a two-part story. Gotta luff the action sequences, very fluid. But they could of done a better job of explaining exactly whats going on.

FULL METAL ALCHEMIST

3 - 9.8

A very good & touching eps. We learn of the trials and tribulations that Ed & Al had to face while growing up and just how they got to this point. It gives the series a strong foundation to build on.

4 - 8.8

A decent enough episode, going back to the format used in the beginning of the series, that is the one or two episode long story/saga. Which to be honest I don’t really enjoy, even though in a way the episode was part of Ed & Al’s journey it had too much of a filler eps. feel to it.

I’d much rather prefer seeing an epic storyline that spans at least a dozen eps. if not the entire series and evolves constantly but yet manages to stay true to the bases of the tale.

5 - 8.9

A bit of an improvement over the last episode, though not entirely that memorable. Ed and Al save the day and prove themselves to Mustang.

6 - 9.1

A cute fell-good kind episode. Ed & Al helping to delivery a baby lol. Good character development.

7 - 9.2

Some interesting political intrigue… to go along with the tragic end. This series has suddenly taken a rather dark and foreboding turn. I’m curious to see where it’ll go.

8 - 9.3

Things are moving along quite nicely now. I like how Ed is so vulnerable in this eps. Because all real hero’s have flaws. Its there ability to overcome them that makes them truly strong.

9 - 9.0

Ed saves the day. A more light-hearted eps. almost completely opposite from the last two. Thought not completely out of place. Looks to be a filler eps. though their is some character development within.

10 – 9.0

Hmm, this series certainly has some alluring females. As Ed combats a thieving vixen and her manipulating ways, though she might actually be a hero of the people, Its proving to be a li’l bit more adult orientated then I figured. Like that, since I’m not exactly into kids stuff :P

11 – 9.2

Another duo of alchemist work under the guise of the Elric bothers in an attempt to create the elusive philosophers stone. Lust makes another appearance. Ed stands his ground dispute getting a face full of fist.

INFINITE RYVIUS 

1 – 8.9

The beginnings of a very complex story, cool setting, though the storyline was a bit hard to follow. Also I found that I couldn’t relate to the characters that well (i.e. I didn’t especially like anyone of them). Aside from that, I enjoy series like this that makes you think instead of just watching eye-candy.

2 – 9.2

Getting Better, they slowed things down a bit, which is good because too much happened and it happened all too fast in the 1st eps. Plus the extra time spent on having the characters interacting with each other helped me to understand them better.

3 - 9.7

This eps. was literally a ‘classic’ to quote a phrase from it lol. (must see to understand =p) hilarious, intense, combative, scheming, et al, everything I hoped for this show to be.

4 – 9.5

Love the romantic development taking place in this episode. For a while I thought that Kouji was a bit of a geeky character. But I’m starting to respect him more as the show goes along. It helps his image that 2 female characters are interested in him.

5 – 9.0

Real interesting stuff, though I don’t understand why the whole brother infighting thing is a major plot-line. Aside from that, the Ryvius is prolifically powerful. Never seen a ship its size this strong in any anime. I mean the thing can alter gravity waves as purely defensive mechanism, I’m duly impressed. Aside from that it may be difficult to follow the show, as the viewer has no idea what exactly is going on in the bigger picture. And it’ll probably be much further down in the series before everything is made clear.

6 -

7 - 9.4

Woa, I’m truly impressed yet again, this is not your ordinary anime. There so many different elements going on bordering on total crazyness.

Though at the same time, it can almost be a bit too much. So I can understand why some people would be turned off by the series, but not me, its my current fav =)

TRIGUN

12 – 9.4

Finally, this episode shows why Trigun was so popular. Up until this point it was a smart, humorous & crafty series, however it was also tedious and even boring at times. Thankfully the introduction of a Legato as a rival to Vash spices things up and is just what the series was missing to this point.

13 - 8.2

Review episode. We do see that Vash hasn’t emerged completely unscathed though all his tribulations. He’s human afterall.

14 – 7.6

Pretty Lame filler eps. This series DOES NOT need any more of these… >_<

15 – 9.3

Back on track again with the main storyline. Legato ish da man. Best Anime villain I’ve seen in a long time. This dude has some serious screen presence.

Looks like Trigun is becoming another series where my fav character is the main bad-ass-dude ^_^;