Anime

Chris Walden

Hunter x Hunter Episode 33

Even more crazy nen shenanigans! Gon and Killua get to training now that everyone is in a fit state to do so, and they study Hisoka's fight to try and understand what the guy is capable of. There's a lot that can be said regarding the ability to view nen as a recording on a television, but I'm just going to roll on with the assumption that the television has nen powers too.

I quite enjoyed the evil outcast trio using Gon and Killua to arrange more fights, even if it's just for silly reasons like seeing that beast of a wheelchair. Still, seeing Killua get angry is also a bonus, though it's kind of a shame we have to wait a little longer for another fight! I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants to see how Killua fares against the 200 club!

[Hunt for this show over at Crunchyroll!]

Kristina Pino

Fairy Tail Episodes 130 and 131

These two episodes focus on the Earthland versions of the adversaries from the Edolas arc, which is pretty interesting character recycling. It's cute that Coco has an athletic ability and that in most ways she's like her Edolas self except, the Earthland version seems to have no problems with violence and dislikes cats. Ah well...

As it turns out, Lucy isn't the target here so much as the clock hand, which is kind of a relief because it would have been a little too much to have her as a repeated center of conflict on the show. It was also cool to see Gildarts in action, but it sucks that the fight was against someone that he could stand up against but not defeat due to the nature of their magic. I was happy to see Erza join in the fight, only for this other girl to light the beacon and end all conflict. Will they get their fight in the next episode?

I guess I'll find out next week. It looks like I'm a bit behind, which probably isn't too big of a deal considering we're watching fillers, but either way I'll be back with another double recap next week to get all caught up on the story concerning Legion.

I wonder, though, why didn't Loki come out while Lucy was in trouble? Of all the spirits, he's usually the one that'll come up in a pinch, with or without her power backing him up, to help her out of trouble. He probably could have eased the situation and prevented the clock arm from being stolen. Then again, there wouldn't be much conflict to fill the rest of the arc with if they prevailed over Byro and these chumps.

[Watch it on Crunchyroll, Hulu and FUNimation]

Josh Tolentino

Naruto Shippuden episode 265

Armies clash this week as Kakashi's division encounters a bunch of special ability zombie ninjas, most notably Zabuza and Haku. Unfortunately for viewers, despite the duo's importance to the crew's past, the series has seen fit to spend half its time reminding us just who they are and why they're important, and from the looks of next week's preview, the entirety of that episode will be spent recapping the Zabuza/Haku v. Team 7 fight.

To paraphrase some immortal words, "ZABUZA FORMATIVE INFLUENCE CANNOT BE BEAT"

Manga

Josh Tolentino

Naruto chapter 588

It's about time for the zombie jutsu to end (barring unforeseen complications), but clearly, it won't end before the Kages vs. Madara fight reaches dramatic resolution. And boy, does it! Fighting off an army of Susano'o clones, Tsunade getting on with her immortality jutsu, and the Tsuchikage giving his second impassioned speech of the war. If that isn't some kind of death flag, I don't know what is.

Then again, maybe I don't, because I'd have thought he'd be done months ago, after his first impassioned speech ended up between a pair of giant rock testicles.

Bleach chapter 494

Oh Kira! Killed as part of a measly power level demo!

And hilariously, a ton of sub-characters named and introduced, only to be slaughtered before the core fighters reveal their faces. Sorry, Togakushi Riku, Asuka Katakura, and Gori Taketsuna!

At least we get a look at the new people. There's the Old Guy, the One With The Crazy Outfit, The Psycho Guy, The Big Guy, The Punk Guy, and The Spunky Girl.

Since they're dressed in white and coming out of Hueco Mundo, I suppose it's fair game to compare them to the Espada, yes? Now we can only speculate which Soul Reapers get paired up with which Quincys.

Picked any favorites, dear readers? I like the chick's hat.