Well, I shouldn't tell you this episode 'will be a bit shorter than usual'. In stead of making some insensitive joke about 'the damage not being as bad as expected', I will just have to say that I was pleasantly surprised to see the noitaminA shows and Star Driver did air this week. I can't just slack off like this.

The fact that this blog exists means that I have been able to relax a bit more lately, and that means I've also been able to play a lot of Pokémon. Having just stumbled trough the bug-ridden hell that is Pinwheel Forest, I have arrived in the stunning Castelia City. Oh, and Iro gave me a Tepig, an Oshawott and a Rufflet, which is kinda cool. Thanks, Iro!



Even with it's distinct lack of story, Hourou Musuko still seems to be building up to some sort of finale. I don't think we should hope for a romantic ending, as this episode quickly turned the wheel back in the direction of the transgender theme, facing both Yoshino and Nitori with the question of wearing the opposite gender's uniform to school. Yoshino takes a page out of Chizuru's book and asks Anna for advice, while Nitori gets dragged into it by Doi, who seems to have taken a curious interest to Nitori's habit as well as to Yuki, who is confirmed to be a transsexual.



Doi's introduction to the cast marked the beginning of the final arc of Hourou Musuko, even though I'm still in the dark about his true 'motives'. His erratic behavior vis-a-vis Nitori and his cross-dressing seems to be constantly floating between two extremes. I looks as if he is either in love with Nitori, as he seems to try to be some sort of protector to him in his own level-headed 'gotta keep cool' manner or setting up some massive asshole plan to coax Nitori into cross-dressing to school so he and his bully friends can torment him like never before. For once, I'm actually exited to see how Hourou Musuko's plot will turn out.



Another thing I'm wondering about is Kitty. After 8 episodes of gobbling up screen time with her angsting, she hasn't gotten a single step closer to growing the heck up or coming to terms with her feelings and now she's suddenly moved to the back of the stage. I just hope they bring her back and develop her a bit more before the end of the show.



Nessa loves love. Nessa hates hate. If there is anything that will remain when Fractale ends, it will be the legacy of a ten-year-old skipping clone/doppel/chobit/whatever hamming around and blabbing how much she loves things in Kana Hanazawa's voice. I'm sorry, I just can't handle it. I like Nessa.



'Cuz this is thriller... thriller night!

That aside, last week's 'cliffhanger' was indeed not much of a cliifhanger, as Clain, Phryne and Nessa are shown to be a-okay within the first second of the episode. The temple orders the immediate killing of all Lost Millenium members in order to retrieve Phryne and Nessa, so they can reboot Fractale to make it fully operational all over the world again like it was in the city Clain and Nessa ended up in two episodes ago. And it's here that Fractale is revealed to not be as complex as it wants us to think it is, at least not story-wise. But actually, that's a good thing. At least I can rest assured now nothing about the world of Fractale has been held back from us in favor of pervert jokes and Nessa blobbing around.



Not a single mistake... I think.

I'm a bit disappointed to see bits and pieces of the entire world, while the conflict only takes place in this one area with these five airships against this one temple, but at least we're getting somewhere here. Sunda and the other Lost Millenium heads decide to launch an attack on the temple and while Enri, who has gotten a sudden injection of likability, gets to join the forces, Clain is left with the women and children to babysit Nessa and Phryne. And then Phryne leaves again for what, the fifth time or something? Anyways, Clain and the read-headed choo-choo train go after her and... I'm geting the feeling I've seen all of this before... Hmmm...



"Now I remember how stupid this show is"

Irothtin was right when he summarized this week's Star Driver in these eight words. This was the final build-up episode leading up to the undoubtedly epic finale and it sure showed. The earthquake came at the right time for Star Driver, as this episode shoved so much crazy FABULOUSness up your throat it looked as if it was made to air after an hiatus. One deus ex machina after another popped up, Takuto gets his butt saved by some crazy stupid new ability once again, Sugata does at least three things for no reason whatsoever (asking Wako out on a date, falling in love with Keito and joining Kiraboshi), and the copious amounts of FABULOUS would make even Chuck Norris question his sexuality. I love this kind of stuff, but even if you don't like your anime heavy on the inane, there are at least still two reasons why you would enjoy this episode.



One, Takuto punching Head into that smug face of his was absolutely priceless. Two, Sugata's outfit. Just look at it. That low cut, those peacock feathers, those sparkling pants. Hail to the King, baby. Oh, and how the heck did he get Keito so far to be his babe? Takuto may have a harem, but ho needs that if you have your personal writhing tiger lady?

Okay, never mind that. I apologize to all woman in the world. And to Chuck Norris.

And that wraps up Aquagaze's Anime Weekend for this week! Make sure to drop your opinions, comments and suggestions in the comments section, check out my mini-blog (including Kore Wa Zombie Desu Ka?! coverage) on Tumblr if you think it’s worth your time, and follow me on Twitter, as well as my RP accounts for Mikoto Misaka, Madoka Kaname and Kuroneko

If you have a question for me, might wanna check out my Formspring.

(<ゝω・）☆ KIRABOSHI!