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words-at-lost · 3 years

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black clover EPISODE 1 (review)

spoilers ahead

my rating: 6/10

summary: i’m hesitant to full dedicate myself to this series, and might not even really continue this. it has similar footing to blue exorcist, in which the plot feels flat and more like a downward spiral of an annoying character. the world is interesting, but asta won’t stop screaming and the exposition is extremely, unnecessarily heavy and placed in awkward dialog. not super gripping so far, but the ending of the episode was fine i guess.

summary of the episode

and my small thoughts on it

starting off, i already jokingly mentioned earlier that it begins with children crying. which, by the way, it does and it did annoy me. i nearly ended the episode right there and chose to go start something else, i probably should’ve, then i probably would’ve found something far more interesting. but, nonetheless i did, to my misfortune, (pun not intended but a happy accident), continue.

our main character, asta, a powerless moron, who won’t stop screaming. like for the love of god, shut the fuck up already, yes i am also saying this because i vaguely relate to his personality. but he begins his actual introduction with,,, flirting? with a nun, who, i can only assume is less than thrilled that she, who most call “sister” and even he calls her “sister”, is being proposed to. we don’t even know their relationship with each other, this is completely out of the blue and we hardly know these characters yet.

and soon enough, out come some children mocking this desperate teenager. i hate them already, and everyone who follows begin to make fun of asta for not having magic. of those people include his adopted brother, or rival? who, rather than outwardly mocking him, opts to show off his magical skill. sure you can say it was unintentional but yuno, a pretty, talented, to-be wizard, doesn’t even tell the kids to stop.

the duo both proclaim their wants to be the wizard king, oh i wonder why this is so important. cough, cough, inferiority complex, cough, cough. jesus i think i had something stuck in my throat there, i think it was disdain--

anywho, we can see asta is clearly actively trying to train physically to make up for his lack of magic that everyone uses in their daily life. so he, without magic, relies on the possible fact he may gain a grimoire, a book which increases powers that can only be granted and used by one person each. but we see even children and those who aren’t mages use magic without a book so i’m not even sure what the point of them are really? i guess they amplify abilities but i think that’s as far as they go…

with this funny group of orphans bullying another orphan, we also see their adoptive father, some guy who owns a church. they always own a church. and guess what, he also berates and degrades asta for his weakness. wow what a likeable cast we have here, protagonist mcscreamy, pretty petty bitchboi, sister >w<, orphans, and favoritism father, what a crew.

after we meet our color cast of characters, the day after, the teenagers receive their books they don’t have to return to the library. everyone gets one! you get a book, and you get a book! and you don’t get one because hA LOSER. but you get a glowy one, congrats it has a four leaf clover, now you’re destined to be king, and be lucky. have fun with that.

asta screams more about how unlucky he is, how he’ll still be king, declares how he’ll still be yuno’s rival, and then runs away while more people bully him. i hate everyone in this group.

after running away, yuno gets bullied by not orphans, seemingly prestiges people who make fun of him for coming from a small unknown village when,,,they live there too? i mean, okay i guess, but aren’t you insulting yourselves too?

their twitter canceling and assault quickly turns into some shady guy with chains trying to rob them for their library books from god. or at least, he tries to take yuno’s book. the robbery soon comes,,, sort of to a stop when pokey pomeranian (not bakugo) comes to save his shitty brother--i mean. rival. save his rival. i swear to god people better not ship these two, i will scream louder than asta, don’t even dare try--.

asta gets chained by the chain man, not in a kinky way, and gets berated by both the robber and his rival. he almost gives up, when yuno screams “you aren’t a loser, you’re my rival”. or something like that, and boom, it’s demon time. and that when the episode ends.

wow… what a ride to explore here.

review time

okay,,, okay. okay. where do i even begin? well. okay. this episode, was so heavy on the exposition, i swear they’d be shitting bricks of unneeded bricks of information that you could build a who damn skyscraper out of it. the world is really cool, and i am very intrigued by it, but there was so many facts and sort of inserted points about the universe, i was not having the greatest of time hearing “oh yeah, he’ll never get a job because magic and being sucky at it.” “wow i can’t believe you’d say that after being brothers and being so close as children.” “things haven’t been the same since that night you came back home bleeding and broken with your brother at your side.“ meanwhile i’m over here looking and being like “,,,weren’t you just washing clothes, why did you say that?”

there’s so many character interactions that are just so,,, nonsensible i can hardly believe any of these people are actually close with each other. yuno is supposedly close with asta and the two are assumably brother-like in their relationship, but they never act like it. the asta’s father just walks out, and scolds asta along with the other children.

there is no care or meaning behind any of their words, i just don’t understand how this is considered “family”?

as far as i’ve seen, asta is just getting bullied over and over again, and there’s no reason for it besides the fact he can’t use magic! and even if that’s a big part of the world, we haven’t seen a single reason as to why they’d be like that towards him for anything else. yes, i understand that sometimes people will get bullied for one sole reason, but these kids were just so unwarrantedly assholes to this guy who has to work with hands tied behind him while everyone else scales the mountain.

okay, in that situation i think it was reasonable to scold asta as he was basically harassing a nun who clearly did not want or could accept his proposal. but even then, they went as far as to say he’s useless and will never have a place in life as being magicless. then his brother comes along, hopefully to his rescue, joins the children in putting him down. then goes on to show off, like… what? why? i--why?! salt in the wound much?! what is your motive here? to push him forwards, to make him better somehow? by what, bullying him into getting stronger? we clearly see he tries his best to work out every day and get stronger, but even then, he is hardly a match for these other magic users. even children toss him around with barely a flick of the wrist.

i’d say something about his father. but it’s basically the same as all this.

even when he fails to get his grimoire, his family look on as if expecting it, no sympathy, only pity. while his rival holds with high esteem an extremely powerful gift, seemingly destined to be wizard king now. while the whole rest of the chamber laugh at asta for his lack there of a grimoire.

to gain some sort of dignity back, asta proclaims himself yuno’s rival and it’s so sad to see. he’s trying so hard to be acnowledge and only gets scolding and bullying in return, there’s no comfort, no care for this adolescent who is just attempting to fulfill his dream. yuno even adds to the wound by looking down more so on him and scoffing, saying it’ll never happen and that only he will become wizard king. he even says this when asta and he are in mortal danger.

and ya’ know, i will never understand or get how or why others seem feel warranted to cast down more on others when they’re already low enough.

this is only the first episode by the way, my feelings may change, and i may come along to re-explain my feelings for these two, but really at this moment i do not care for anyone in this cast, maybe besides asta who i just. i really wanna give him a win but all he’s been doing is screaming, and all i am is exhausted by this. hopefully later on he gets better, soon at least.

the animation? eh, it was fine. not incredibly unique, a bit heavy on the 3d but i don’t mind, the artstyle too is pretty standard for shounen anime and not that unique. kind of boring a bit, but it’s fine for the most part. but it does impress me how asta actually looks like a 15 year old, comparatively to a lot of anime in which 15 year olds do not look so at all.

that pretty much concludes my review of the first episode. if i continue to watch, i’ll do a mid series summary, or if i decide to drop it entirely i’ll put my thoughts down on why i dropped it. but for now this is all i really had to say.

this is just my opinion on the first episode and i am quick to change my mind if i find likeable or understandable aspects of the series.

if you have any of your own thoughts you’d like to share go on ahead, i’d love to see how others see these aspects of black clover and why. my only ask though is that you be courteous in your comment, as i mean no hate in this series. merely just my own thoughts on this, which again, likely to change if i find any other parts appealing or opinion moving.

that’s all for now

have a good rest of your day/night crew!

#black clover #anime review #anime #shounen #black clover first episode #black clover review #episode review #review #asta black clover #asta #yuno #yuno black clover

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words-at-lost · 3 years

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black clover begins,,,

first episode, literally the first five seconds: children crying

me: i’m not watching this.

#black clover #black clover first episode #anime #anime review

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words-at-lost · 3 years

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bungou stray dogs DEAD APPLE (review)

spoilers ahead, obviously

tw: mentions of suicide

my rating: 7/10

summary: all the pieces were there for a good story, but it think it got a little too big to fit into where they wanted at some point. got a little confusing too, but I wouldn't say it was terrible. just could've been better.

summary section

you can skip this part if you really want to--

for those who don't know, bungou stray dogs is anime/manga about a detective agency who fights frequently against crime in the city. part of that crime is what's called the "port mafia", a group of neutral figures who work the undergrounds of the city. both departments tend to clash in terms of ideals and goals, but in the end always seem to band together to face the same enemies.

the series follows the growing atsushi and his never-ending goal to seek meaning to his life of trouble and mania. along the way, a suicidal mentor guides him through his new life, that mentor being osamu dazai. one of the most valued people in the city, known for his ability canceling power. these two feature as the main character duo (in quite an interesting way I'd say).

and now to the movie, while I do expect the good majority who actually read this have probably possibly watched it, I'll do my best to describe the plot. no matter how confusing it may be--

and by confusing, I do mean it. the DEAD APPLE movie was very, less then sensible. though I will admit I kind of half watched it, meaning I was drawing while watching so my focus was kinda not there always. but once, I'll do my best.

the movie begins with a fight between the port mafia and an unknown organization. to which dazai and chuuya (an executive at the port mafia and my beloved), manage to pin down the leader to. a man, unnamed as far as we meet him, counting jewels. he taunts chuuya who demands for him to release his friends, when the man responds he'd already killed them. which then sets off chuuya who destroys the area with his corrupted form.

after this, being revealed to be a flashback, we go back towards the armed detective agency, to where we discover various gifted (people with special, magic like abilities) have been killed by their own abilities with seemingly no real reason besides speculated suicide. after no leads have been revealed, but recent victims coming near the city (I am not naming because I forgot the name of) the agency is. they move to act, their only hint to its appearance is a mass of fog. the next day comes and suddenly the whole of the city is engulfed in fog, seemingly no person in sight. atsushi and our secondary lead for the movie, kyoko, are stranded and search for anyone around when suddenly one of the members of the agency appear, kunikida. being hunted by his own ability, he reaches the two and drags them to the agency headquarters where they get instructions from "ango". the government head of the area, who says to seek the group behind the fog.

kunikida opts to stay behind and fight off his ability, meanwhile, astushi and kyoko take off, and are eventually cutoff and chased by their abilities. joining them is akutugawa, and I won't expand on this part of the movie. honestly it was just, a large action sequence with a tiny bit of character growth. it was, honestly one of the most boring aspects.

next, we have our,,,, B plot? that being, dazai, some rat guy who I forgot the name of, and silver bat over here. all seemingly important in their own way, but really it's just three guys all there for their own goals. no singular one despite one the silver bat makes it seem so. the movie eludes to dazai being some sort of villain when really we all know he's obviously not, and whatever reasoning they made us think he had it still wouldn't have worked because for as much as he wants to die, he doesn't want those around him to die as well. especially when they don't want to. anyways, side rant.

the B plot mostly features those three staring vaguely in the background while two cackle and the other blankly looking while pressing buttons. it's shown that the silver bat is collecting abilities, but again, it's not really ever explained how he does this. he just does. and for some reason his ability causes the fog? again, never explained. but by collecting the abilities, the silver bat thinks he can become god.

now the c plot, okay the c plot. also. highly, kinda, irrelevant. if anything I think it was there because they needed a reason as to where or what chuuya was doing. also every scene he's is just y-

any who.

in the end we find out silver rat's whole goal is to find out who he is, and in order to do that he needs all the abilities to do so? and atsushi is involved because he was there when he died I guess?

oh and dazai and rat man save the abilities, chuuya takes down the dragon that the abilities turn into? okay, once again. no idea why the fuck this happens. and then rescues dazai, who rescues him, *they hug and kiss to save each other. then the movie ends with ango having to cover everything up.

*I am half joking about this

the end

to the movie

now my thoughts on,,, all this

the actual review

okay so the movie overall,, uh. not. terrible? I mean, I wouldn't call it horrible. the animation and effects were beautiful, and purely amazing truly. the beginning action sequence, please, I would kill for my art to look like that. everyone looks beautiful in the whole movie. their interactions too are amazing as well, though, would've liked to see more odasaku and chuuya talks, even if it didn't quite fit in the movie.

what I liked? well, I already said the animation is great, and so was the character interaction, even if the main three sorta bored me a bit. also the concept of abilities turning on each other was so interesting ! I loved it, absolutely fantastic, and the rat man--for as much as I don't care to remember his name, he was cool as hell. I liked how he had control over so much with so little need to do anything.

more so, this is literally about to become a chuuya simp page, but hear me out.

his scenes, specifically with dazai, were so much fun to watch. the way his actions are just so easily taunted and how dazai is able to tease him so casually. I love that so much, their character chemistry is so interesting. how much faith too in little actions they have with each other is amazing as well, they may be rivals but it's clear to see they trust each other. the fact chuuya went into his corrupted form knowing the chances of him being able to get out of it were low, every time he goes into it there's always a chance he could die. but he goes into it anyways because he knows dazai will save him, and if that ain't trust and friendship right there I don't know what else is.

also how chuuya allowed himself to be vulnerable around dazai, once again, trust. after he was so worn out by the corruption, dazai protected him from getting attacked by his own ability and that was nothing but fantastic. truly, these two made the movie for me and I purely love their actions together. freaking amazing, I love 'em.

ango, gonna be honest here. not sure, completely how to feel about him in this movie. but he's a sketchy dude, also one of my favorite characters too. but really I think him being sketchy was just, exactly what's fantastic about him, so his character featured here? nothing but amazing! so I give him a gold star, for being the third most amazing in this garbage fireworks movie.

ALSO THAT INTRO SEQUENCE. BEAUTIFUL. YES. PLEASE. THE SONG WAS AMAZING, AND I WOULD DESTROY SEVERAL THOUSAND DIMENSIONS FOR IT.

alright, and now what didn't I like? well,,, okay. there was. a lot. I didn't quite enjoy about the movie. I didn't want this to get so negative, as the movie is still great in it's own right but there was just so much confusing aspects about it. it just got too big for it's own good storytelling. this was honestly the plot that could've been good as an arc, to take it's time and not be as rushed as this movie was, but I suppose that's just how it goes. I guess?

the main three were,,, honestly kinda boring, I mean it felt really unrelated and unnecessary for atsushi to be the main in this story as he was barely even related to the main villain. I guess he killed him? but really, that feels more like a throw in excuse. it's too big to not be mentioned earlier, thus making it need to have been more relevant. sure the human psyche forces out trauma but really how could he have never once been eluded to in the main story? that was just. sloppy. if it had followed the older members, like dazai, odasaku, chuuya and ango I think it would been more meaningful especially considering their past connections to the guy actually matters.

then the abilities turning on the others subplot, that was. interesting? I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would, but maybe I just didn't like the execution. it wasn't,,, clever, enough. I guess? using the demon slayer mugen train as an example of good character trials, I find that putting them into delusions of inner thought works well. facing their own challenges as such, but just fighting copies of themselves felt lazy and underwhelming. it makes sense for atsushi and the other two, and mori (the port mafia head) to fight their own abilities that way. but for the others it was just so boring, the red head could've just been trapped in his own illusions forced to figure out fiction from reality. what reality actually means to him. the president of the agency could've become an amplifier, forced to run then face his overwhelming power. the doc could've become a wellspring for her own power, become so drained by her invincibility she goes seeking for pain or death to stop it.

them fighting those trials would've been-- a whole lot I know, but that's just, why I think this didn't work as a movie. it would've been better as an actual arc, if they wanted to do it in the way they wanted.

also dazai's affiliations with the main villain felt really pointless. I guess he could've been an inner mole, and the rat man could be involved too? I don't know, those two are just issues onto themselves.

overall the movie was. a little everywhere with too many unexplained aspects that, frankly, I think was put into the wrong context with the wrong characters. but it wasn't unenjoyable. it was still an interesting watch, and, while I wouldn't see it again on my own, I still would force all my friends and then my partner to watch with me while I complain very loudly about it like I am now. so, yeah. that's about all.

if you enjoyed it let me know, and if you didn't, you can also let me know.

but that's all for now ! next review? uh, who knows, might be on a series next haha,,,

anyways

have a good day/night !

stay safe crew

#bsd #chuuya #dazai #dead apple #bsd dead apple #anime #anime review #bungou stray dogs #atsushi #akutagawa #kyoko #nakahara chuuya #osamu dazai #bsd chuuya #bsd atsushi #bsd dazai #kunikida #soukoku

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words-at-lost · 3 years

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josee, the tiger and the fish (review)

my rating: 6/10

summary: good animation, could’ve done more, but still pretty. the story was a bit lacking, and so was the pacing and characters, but there were parts that i very much enjoyed.

let’s see. my overall review of it, hm. spoilers ahead to those who plan to watch it, so caution for that ahead.

i think it was good, a little slow for me, and kinda. kinda boring, but i think that’s just how some slice of life movies are like. i liked josee, she was interesting as a character but i don’t know, sometimes it seemed she was a little demeaning and unnecessarily rude to tsuneo. it was a sweet movie, i probably wouldn’t recommend it as one of the best ones, but definitely wasn’t bad. ’little boring to be honest, and it just, kinda moved a little too quickly in some bits.

there were parts in which, i kinda wanted them to just. be a little more. or have a little more build up, but i think there was a little time constraint (even though there were plenty of parts i felt were unneeded). but i could empathize with some aspects, like josee’s wonder of seeing new places, or tsuneo’s faint area of doubt. wouldn’t call either of those kins since i find both characters a little bland and slightly boring, but their interactions together were okay. pretty hit or miss for me being completely honest, but the montage of their time together exploring i’d say was the best part.

the worst part? hm,, i‘d have to say was when the grandmother died. which, not to say i’m being disrespectful or intentionally trying to put her in a bad light. but it was so sudden, but i mean, so is all death. you never really know what to anticipate with it. but her death, i don’t know, there just. wasn’t enough to it. once tsuneo got hurt, it was completely forgotten, and then. then the whole movie kinda turned upside down with it. i wouldn’t mind if the movie hadn’t even gotten tsuneo hurt or having the grandma be apart of it at all.

if i could fix it i probably would’ve made it move a bit faster, enhanced some of the character traits of the two mains and given the side characters some spotlights to shine rather than just be some gossip pals for exposition. there wasn’t quite enough interaction for that to feel believable,,,much at all really. i’d keep the grandma in and maybe throw in some more lead up to her health issues, some emotional baggage there between her and josee. then her sudden death, she could be distant for some time. then tsuneo could’ve shown he wasn’t there just because of guilt but because of genuine care. which, i’d like to point out, much of his appearance there felt more like he had to be. not a great basis for a relationship in full clarity, and there wasn’t. much i could tell as to why he loved her so much.

theoretically you could keep the movie the same, but cut out some bits and then add in some more character interaction and thoughtful insight.

but really, still a good watch. wouldn’t see it again really, but i think it still is a beautiful piece. the music score as well is top tier, eve is a great band, though i’m a bit biased because they made kaikai kitan from jujutsu kaisen. anyways, that’s the end of my review.

i don’t expect anyone really to read this fully through, or have even seen the movie, but i do enjoy making this.

no hate on the work! just think there are parts that could’ve been better, still, everything works better in hindsight and in a way, the movie is plenty wonderful as it is. i may be the wrong person to watch it, since my attention span is lacking. but in the end, it’s still it’s own beauty.

that’s all for now folks, i hope you have a good day/night!

#josee the tiger and the fish #anime review #anime #review #slice of life #josee to tora to sakana tachi

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