Review

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Overlord III - Episode 11 [Review]

Last episode the Baharuth Empire made a pact with Nazarick to recognize it as a sovereign state. This episode that leads to using Nazarick's new claim on the territory near E-Rantel to conduct their annual invasion of the Re-Estize Kingdom, with some participation from Ains and (as we see at the end of the episode) his small army of Death Knights. While most of last episode was shown from the perspective of the Empire forces, this episode switches gears and instead looks at how Re-Estize is responding to this crisis. That makes for one of the slowest and mildest episodes of the season to date, with no action or flashy uses of power before Ains summons his army in the episode's final minute.

Granted, the series has repeatedly proven that it can handle this kind of pacing and is quite comfortable with it, and the episode certainly ends at a proper dramatic stopping point, with the Empire/Nazarick combined force mustered and ready for the assault. Also, revisiting some key players from the earlier Re-Estize arcs is also nice, as Gazef, Brain, and Climb all have prominent roles in this episode. Seeing Marquis Raeven once again show his acute acumen for navigating both political and military matters is also a treat, though the scene showing how doting he is on his previously-mentioned young son was overplayed. Seeing the strategy meeting for how the Re-Estize Kingom will respond to Nazarick's claims and provocation is also worthwhile and important, as it establishes that at least most of the leaders of the Kingdom aren't fools.

The one other potentially interesting plot thread to spin out of those scenes is Prince Barbro, the warrior-inclined first in line to the throne whom even the king seems to distrust as a successor, being sent on an information-gathering mission to Carne Village. He demonstrates on the way there that he has not the slightest notion about the depth of trouble that he could be getting into by doing so, and seeing how he reacts to what Carne Village has become has some possibilities. With how hotheaded he's been shown to be, I can't see that winding up in anything other than a bloodbath. I also can't see the situation with Gazef ending well. He clearly knows that if a fight can't be avoided then he's eventually going to have to face off against Ains, and he knows that's a fight he can't win. I do have to give credit to the one noble who recognized Gazef's uncertainty over the matter and suggested rating Ains' strength accordingly. Given that no one has seen the fullest extent of Ains' power, he probably underestimated. I do find it a bit curious that none of the adventurers are getting involved, however, as in RPGs major skirmishes are traditionally a great time to make money.

So yeah, a lot of nice little scenes, but the whole episode seemed lacking in oomph and energy. Thankfully all of the set-up and lead-in is done, so we should be seeing a potent push of action and big events over the next couple of episodes.

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My Hero Academia - Episode 60 [Review]

At last, the Provisional License Exams come to an end, which means that our baby bird heroes can slowly begin to leave the nest. Those who passed the test may exercise the authority of a pro hero in emergency situations, meaning most of our main characters shouldn't have to worry about jumping through legal hoops like Midoriya and company did in the fallout of the Stain fight. I say "most of" our main cast because a few choice figures didn't make the cut. Todoroki and Inasa failed because of their fight, and Bakugo flunked because he's Bakugo. Basically, the kids who'd normally be a shoe-in on talent alone are finally facing a wall, and their inability to be team players is putting them behind the rest. These past couple of episodes have done a fantastic job making it crystal clear what these exams have really been about in regards to the big picture.

All Might's retirement has emboldened these transitional exposition episodes considerably. This is world-building in a much more literal sense, where the future is so uncertain that how the heroes and villains develop from here will shape society as we know it, and so each successive piece of information becomes pivotal. It turns out that weirdo girl Camie was actually Toga from the League of Villains in disguise (perhaps I should have seen this coming) and All Might has a frank conversation with an imprisoned All For One. They're two men operating on the extreme opposite ends of the hero-villain spectrum, both having to leave their ideals in the hands of successors. Even with All For One defeated and locked up, his actions with continue to eat away at All Might, who feels powerless and helpless in retirement. Though, All Might's declaration to not succumb to Shigaraki is still completely badass.

The final piece of this episode sets up a rematch between Midoriya and Bakugo, at the site of their last fight from season one. This episode plays into the attitude problems developed by the top students, and Bakugo contrasts nicely with Todoroki and Inasa, who were ultimately humbled by their failure. It's hard to imagine that Bakugo could ever demonstrate that humility, even if there's clearly a voice in the back of his head being drowned out by the profound insecurity. This is the kind of character work that I love; Bakugo isn't being as outwardly aggressive as you might expect. He's turned quiet as he shifts his anger back at Midoriya. It doesn't feel like a lack of self-control this time, but genuine malice.

Something that really sets My Hero Academia apart from a lot of battle shonen is that the protagonists' good qualities aren't just a means towards making them likeable for the audience. Their end-game is to be heroes and public servants, and so being a good person matters quite a bit. These recent episodes go a long way towards highlighting how few people are truly able to be the total package that All Might was. All Might was not only strong, but caring and free of ego. You get a sense that some of these kids can learn and grow, either by getting stronger or learning to care and empathize with others more, but Bakugo's strength is so much a product of his arrogance and personal identity. We've already ruled him out as a villain, but can he truly be at home with the heroes? The kid's got issues, and he's fascinating to watch.

MHA's post-arc transitions are getting better each time around. Good and evil are competing for the future of civilization, and both sides seem ready to collapse in on themselves at any moment. This episode is filled to the brim with material to get you thinking. In the end I really appreciate how these exam arcs serve as measuring sticks for our heroes' development, because it's becoming increasingly important that they're doing their best at all times. There's a sober realization after spending the early parts of the Provisional License Exams begging for it to get big and exciting instead of genial and by-the-numbers, and then for it to to finally do so and remind us that the exciting characters are Problems™ in this line of work. I'm really impressed.

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Gintama - Episode 363 [Review]

The time skip hijinks continue this week as more characters' increasingly bizarre fates are revealed. As Donald Zarump announces his plan to introduce a Japanese constitution (which he intends to serialize in Weekly Shonen Jump), Matsudaira and some former Shinsengumi officers orchestrate a failed assassination attempt on the newly-minted prime minister. Never one to give up, Matsudaira then strong-arms Shinpachi (who's still being followed by Tamako) into meeting some black market merchants at the docks and obtaining a special secret weapon he intends to use in his next assassination effort. Shinpachi is shocked to discover that these pirates are led by Mutsu, who reveals that Sakamoto lost all of the Kaientai's money after investing in cryptocurrency and is currently riddled with debt and entangled in a Kaiji-esque death game. Additionally, the weapon being delivered is a miniaturized version of Kagura, who claims to have been born when the real Kagura ate too many bananas and puked her up. Before Shinpachi has time to fully process this, the group is surrounded by a battalion of former Shinsengumi led by Sogo, who insists on testing the merchandise as he lunges for Mini-Kagura.

Meanwhile, in the countryside, Gintoki makes his way to the charred remains of what was once Shoka Sonjuku, where he finds Takasugi lighting incense at a grave he built for Oboro. Following a brief skirmish that ends in Takasugi revealing Utsuro-like healing powers, the men are surrounded by a group of police officers led by the recently demoted Hijikata. Shinsuke makes a hasty escape, but Gin is taken in for questioning. At the station, Hijikata reveals that the Tendoshu are rumored to have returned and are intent on reclaiming the Altana they lost. Even though they had become barely-functional meat puppets, they still possess Utsuro's immortal blood, and neither they nor Takasugi have been seen since the war ended. However, this revelation is quickly brushed aside when a Robocop-esque android officer (who goes by “Mobcop”) malfunctions and remembers that's he actually a robotized version of Yamazaki, whom Gin and Hijikata admit to having forgotten about in the war's aftermath. (Yamazaki's actual body is currently undergoing treatment.) Before departing the station, Gin asks Toshi how the Odd Jobs crew is doing, to which Toshi replies, “Go see for yourself.”

Two episodes in, and nearly every major character has made an appearance in Silver Soul's third act. Despite the abundance of featured players this week, the proceedings never feel overwhelming, and the jokes flow at an organic (albeit rapid-fire) pace. There's no shortage of laughs this week, and in true Gintama fashion, viewers are frequently left to wonder how far certain jokes will be taken. The birth of Kagura's “daughter,” Katsura's allusions to the 45th U.S. President, and the reveal of Mobcop's true identity are hilarious WTF moments that are both perplexingly bizarre and perfectly in tune with this show's outlandish humor. Sorachi has always enjoyed mining comedy from toying with audience expectations, and so far, this portion of Silver Soul has been an extended exercise in this. In light of how plot-focused Gintama has gotten as of late, it's easy to forget that at the end of the day, this is a show in which very little can truly be taken seriously.

Now that we've rejoined the majority of the principle cast, there's room for the story to continue moving forward, and at present, this feels more like the beginning of a new arc than the series' denouement. Although Gintoki and Mini-Kagura have shown up, we still have only a vague idea of what they've been up to during the time skip, but this is likely to change once the core group is back together. Terrorist attacks occurring on planets with nationalized Altana, Takasugi's new healing ability, and the potential return of the Tendoshu all sound like promising mysteries to build a new story on, so at present, this feels like anything but a wind-down.

While Gintama's unique brand of shock humor has always been outrageous, episode 363 has moments that border on full-on surrealism, making it clear that Sorachi intends to go out with a bang. As good as it feels to have madcap comedy return to the forefront, it'll be exciting to see all these outlandish elements gel into a cohesive story. Fortunately, this type of thing is Gintama's bread and butter.

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Attack on Titan - Episode 45 [Review]

“All hail the Queen!” That's my main takeaway from “Outside the Walls of Orvud District”, which is largely a transitional episode, wrapping up the “Rescue Eren and Historia” plot while setting the stage for the upcoming battle against Rod Reiss, who Levi appropriately refers to as the “Big-Ass Titan”. I'm not using "transitional" as a pejorative here, to be clear; there's a lot going on this week, from Eren finally breaking out of his captive funk to Historia taking her first steps to possibly inheriting the throne. It's just that, given the ebb-and-flow style that Attack on Titan's story arcs tend to take, this kind of important table setting isn't as invigorating or impactful as the high watermark of action and drama we got from “Wish” last week.

The first half of the episode is what I would call the most traditionally “exciting”. With Kenny's forces in retreat and the Big-Ass Titan slowly tearing apart the crystal caverns beneath the chapel, Eren, Historia, and the rest of Levi Squad have nowhere else to go. Eren in particular is convinced things would still be better if Rod just ate him already and took back the power of the founding Titan, so it takes a touching tough-love speech from all of his friends to convince him that he isn't some lone tragic hero that needs to sacrifice his life; they're a team, and they'll live and die by one another's resolve.

For all of the show's perceived emphasis on spectacle and lore-heavy plotting, I really love how far this core cast has come as both a military unit and a surrogate family. With his friends by his side and his verve reinvigorated, Eren finally bucks up and swallows a vial of presumed Titan spinal-fluid goo labeled “Armor”, which gives him the very useful powerup of being able to generate the same crystalline material that forms the underground caves and the interior of the walls. So not only does the group escape with their lives, but they have also found a way to permanently patch up the hole in Wall Maria.

What follows is mostly an extended conversation between Levi Squad as they regroup and head to Orvud, which is where Erwin suspects the monstrous, worm-like Rod Reiss is headed. Eren briefly argues that he still might need to be eaten, if only to undo Rod's madness with the power of the Founding Titan, but Historia and Armin correctly advise against it. It's possible that the First King's will infects anyone given the power, and there's no proof that Eren sacrificing himself would even fix Rod up again in the first place. Historia, once again proving her newfound resolve and agency, declares herself more than willing to take down her father and forge a new path for the human race. She admits that she honestly considered killing Eren to please the elder Reiss back in the cave, but she also believes that Grisha Yaeger's attack on the Reiss clan was motivated by a desire to rescue mankind from its own ignorant captivity. I've been seen concerns from some manga readers that the build-up to Historia's climactic denouncement of the Reiss family line last week has been too heavily truncated compared to the source material, but as an anime-only viewer, I feel like her characterization has been handled excellently, especially given this season's breakneck pacing. She's quickly grown into a confident, complex, and dangerously capable young woman, and each passing week has me more convinced that she might be one of my new all-time favorite AoT characters.

I also love how quickly Historia has integrated herself into the rest of the squad, seeing as she was barely even a character until halfway through the second season of the series. Conny and Jean get an excellent little exchange where they try to stand up to Erwin's plan for Historia to assume the throne as the rightful Queen, arguing that it's literally been hours since she's broken free from the bondage of her bloodline, so to set her up as a new head of state would just be shackling her to another political agenda. Historia points out that she's technically the only one who can decide her plans for the future, but it's a great moment that shows how close these men and women have become since they graduated from training camp, which seems like it happened a million years ago (though I'm pretty sure in terms of the timeline it's only been like a few weeks).

So regardless of whether or not Historia decides to reign as humanity's new monarch, I'll still gladly proclaim her the Queen of Attack on Titan, at least until Sasha is finally revealed to be the true savior of the story, which I've been predicting for years now. Until then, I'll gladly watch this ragtag group of monsters, revolutionaries, and anarchic princesses do whatever they need to do in order to take down the Big-Ass Titan that is slowly slithering towards them.

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