RJ Writing Ink

*The following was originally published on FANDOM. Due to the FANDOM Contributor Program being shut down, it has been copied and moved to my blog. Thank you!

No matter how good a show is, it needs to come to an end, lest it ends up like The Simpsons. When that end finally arrives, it’s essential that the finale gives viewers a sense of closure. With that in mind, here are five cartoons that perfectly illustrate how to wrap up a show. The writers of The Sopranos and Lost should take notes!

PHINEAS AND FERB

The writers of the hit Disney show Phineas and Ferb end summer with a bang in the series finale, “The Last Day of Summer.” On the final day of summer vacation, Candacefails to bust her brothers for the final time. When she activates Doofenshmirtz‘s Do-Over-Inator, though, it causes the day to repeat itself. The resulting time loops erase things from existence, so the gang works to fix time before it’s too late.

The plot is reminiscent of Groundhog Day, with a twist. It also serves as a reminder that, as fun as some points in our life can be, we need to move on from them. Still, it can make for good memories, as in the final moments of the show, the cast sings a final song recapping the show. Seeing the cast sing about their adventures with clips of old episodes was the best “thank you” the show could give its fans.

ED, EDD N EDDY

Cartoon Network’s longest-running show, Ed, Edd n Eddy, got its send-off in the film, “Ed, Edd n Eddy’s Big Picture Show.” When the Eds‘ biggest scam ever goes wrong, the trio flees for their lives. The entire cast then goes on a road trip in pursuit of the Eds, while the Eds look for Eddy’s brother to ask for safety.

Two things make “Big Picture Show” the perfect send-off for the show: staying true to the series and character growth. Even though the film takes the Eds beyond the Cul-De-Sac, it remains true to the slapstick comedy that defined Ed, Edd n Eddy. It also shows the Eds actually developing as people and moving past their faults. By the end of the film, the trio’s bond has grown, and, in a happy ending, they win what they’ve always wanted — the friendship of the other kids.

REGULAR SHOW

How does a show that deals with crazy and surreal adventures end its run? By having the cast take part in an epic fight to save the universe. In Regular Show‘s series finale, Mordecai, Rigby, Pops, and all the park regulars battle Pops’ evil twin, Anti-Pops. The fight is filled with plenty of callbacks to the show’s run and leaves viewers guessing to the very end.

While we missed out on seeing Titan Pops fuse with the Hyperduck Mecha, the finale’s climax makes up for it. Its final minutes return to the first episode as reality falls apart. The icing on the cake, though, is the montage we get of the cast moving on with their lives set to David Bowie’s “Heroes.” Good show, Regular Show. Jolly good show.

GRAVITY FALLS

Dipper, Mabel, and the residents of Gravity Falls face Bill Cipher in Gravity Falls‘ finale. While “Weirdmageddon 3: Take Back the Falls” does stumble for a moment by wasting the potential of the zodiac, the rest of the episode makes up for it. From the Shacktronfight to Stan sacrificing his mind to destroy Bill, there’s plenty of action for all.

Like most great finales, Gravity Falls ties up most loose ends. Unlike most finales, though, the end credits reveal one final surprise for fans in the form of a scavenger hunt. Fans took to the road and social media to find clues leading to the location of a real-life statue of Bill Cipher. Way to throw the fans a bone, Alex Hirsch!

AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER

For three years, Avatar: The Last Airbender built up to this moment. With the arrival of Sozin’s Comet, Aang would finally face Fire Lord Ozai and end his war of conquest. No one knew what to expect from the finale. How would the final battle play out? Would Aang have to kill the Fire Lord? The answers exceeded everyone’s expectations in the four-part finale, “Sozin’s Comet.”

Almost everything about the finale was in perfect harmony. Every major character got a moment in the spotlight, the humor mixed well with serious moments, and the fights were amazing. While some called the way Aang defeated Ozai a cop-out, it was the only method that didn’t involve killing, and it was true to Aang’s character.

“Sozin’s Comet” may not have been perfect, but it is as close to an ideal finale as a show can get. Critics and fans heaped praise on it, with one review saying it deserves an Academy Award. Even the questions that it didn’t have time to resolve get dealt with in the graphic novel sequels. “Sozin’s Comet” is an example of how to do a series finale the right way, and shows should use it as an example of such. Plus, Aang and Katara finally become a couple — #KataangForLife.

*The following was originally published on FANDOM. Due to the FANDOM Contributor Program being shut down, it has been copied and moved to my blog. Thank you!

Summer’s in full swing, and do you know what means? Aside from going to the beach, it also means more time to catch up on our manga reading! Amazon Kindle covers all your manga needs with some of the best titles ever written. Whether you’re new to the medium or a hardcore fan, these six manga titles are some of the must-reads Kindle offers.

DRAGON BALL

Among Kindle’s manga library is Akira Toriyama ’s legendary masterpiece, Dragon Ball. The manga follows the life of Goku, a young boy who dedicates his life to becoming the best fighter he can be. As the manga progresses, Goku faces enemies that continue to increase in strength. By the manga’s end, he’s fighting opponents capable of threatening the entire universe; in short, he’s strong.

What makes Dragon Ball an essential read isn’t the media franchise it created, but its impact. Goku became the gold standard for the shōnen hero and an iconic character worldwide. Moreover, Dragon Ball has been an inspiration for some of the greatest manga in history. See where the legend began in the original Dragon Ball manga on Kindle!

RAVE MASTER

Better known for Fairy Tail, Hiro Mashima got his start in manga with Rave Master. Rave Master tells the story of Haru Glory, a teenage boy who’s chosen to become the next Rave Master. Armed with a magic sword, Haru must find five mystic stones of light, called Raves, and use them to defend the world.

Rave Master is a very entertaining read, filled with memorable characters and fights. Plus, if you’re a fan of Fairy Tail, you’ll notice how he carried over characters and concepts from Rave Master. Unlike Fairy Tail, though, Rave Master never became as well-known in the West, partly due to heavy criticism of the English dub of the anime. Terrible anime aside, Rave Master is worth the time to read and something that you will love.

ROSARIO + VAMPIRE

Do you think it would be awesome to have a bunch of beautiful girls fight over your affection? Try feeling like that when the girls are actual monsters, like in Rosario+Vampire. Ordinary human boy Tsukune Aono gets enrolled in a school for monsters disguised as humans. As scary as that is, Tsukune decides to stay after befriending several girls who end up falling for him, and hilarity ensues as he tries to keep his human identity a secret.

Don’t get fooled by the premise, though: when it’s not about the comedy, Akihisa Ikeda’s work is about the fights. Tsukune and friends get into conflicts with various threatening supernatural foes. By the end of the series, the heroes even face off against a legendary vampire bent on wiping out humanity. This careful balance between the comedic moments and the high-stakes fights make Rosario+Vampire worth your time.

JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure has been around since Dragon Ball’s run, and is still going strong. The manga tells the story of the Joestar family as they use supernatural powers to fight evil. What’s important to note is Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is split into several parts, each with its own main protagonist connected by their family and the shared nickname “Jojo.” Though preferable, prior knowledge is not necessary so you can start on any part you want.

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure lives up to its name, featuring some of the most bizarre fights one can find in manga, with the protagonists fighting everything from zombies to a man who can stop time so that he can crush them with a steamroller. These pulse-pounding fights will leave readers on the edge of their seats, enjoying every bit up until the last “Ora!”

MY HERO ACADEMIA

My Hero Academia is a rising star in the anime/manga community, and with good reason. In a world where most of humanity has superpowers, Izuku Midoriya dreams of being a superhero, though he has no powers. All that changes, though, when he meets the world’s greatest hero, All Might, and impresses him with his selfless bravery. As a result, the legend taps Izuku as the one to inherit his powers and become the next Symbol of Peace.

At its heart, My Hero Academia is a coming-of-age story set in the popular superhero genre. While it offers all the fights you’d expect of a superhero story, the manga goes deeper to ask serious questions about heroes. Most notably, what does “hero” mean when it is now a paid profession? If you’re a fan of all things superhero, then My Hero Academia is the manga you need to read.

BATMAN

Yes, you read that right: Batman has a manga version! When the Batman TV series premiered in 1966, Batmania hit Japan. That year, Jiro Kuwata created a shōnen manga based on the show that ran for a little more than a year. Once the craze had faded, the manga stopped serialization and faded into obscurity.

Kuwata’s Batmanga remained unknown in the West until the release of Bat-Manga!: The Secret History of Batman in Japan in 2008, with all three volumes of the series currently available on Kindle. Aside from the classic manga look, the manga’s biggest highlight is that it draws from enemies outside of Batman’s traditional rogue’s gallery, making it all the more interesting. Whether you are a hardcore Batfan or grew up with the show, this is Batman like you’ve never seen before.

*The following was originally published on FANDOM. Due to the FANDOM Contributor Program being shut down, it has been copied and moved to my blog. Thank you!

These days, one significant factor in a video game’s success can come down to whether or not it’s worth replaying. No matter how good it may be, some games aren’t worth coming back to after a player completes it the first time. Other games, though, leave players hooked with anticipation for the next time they can play it. Whether it’s the different endings to the story or the freedom for creativity, these five PC games are the kind that will leave you saying “just one more turn.”

KERBAL SPACE PROGRAM

Getting to space has never been as easy or as fun as it is in Kerbal Space Program. Developed by indie game developers, Squad, the secret to this space flight simulator’s high replay value boils down to the freedom of creativity it gives players. While your primary goal is to get your plucky aliens, the Kerbals, into space, the game lets you decide what you use by constructing spaceplanes and rockets from scratch.

If the base game doesn’t have the parts you want, no reason to worry — it’s supported by a thriving modding community that’s continually adding new mechanics, skins and spaceship parts for players to use. The passionate modding community, in addition to regular updates, ensures that Kerbal Space Program will keep players reaching for the stars for years to come. That or they blow up ships in a hilarious fashion.

FALLOUT 4

Bethesda raised the bar on the open-world RPG with Fallout 4, and it has enough content to keep players busy until the bomb drops. The base game itself is massive in size and scope, with developers loading every portion with items to hunt, locations to explore and legendary enemies to kill.

In a first for the Fallout series, Bethesda added a base building feature, allowing players to build the post-apocalyptic settlement of their dreams. Combine that with several factions-based endings, the game’s modding community, and the DLC packs adding more places to explore, and you’re liable to ignore the plot and wander the wastelandsfor eternity.

CIVILIZATION IV

Of the many PC games that developers have released over the years, Sid Meier’s Civilization series stands near the very summit, and Civilization IV is possibly the greatest out of them all. On the gameplay level, Civilization IV and its major expansion packs contain numerous scenarios based on historical events or historical fiction that players can immerse themselves in for hours on end.

What makes this game so addictive, though, is the sheer level of customization available, with the world builder tool letting players design a world from scratch and build it as they see fit. Throw in a theme song so good it won a Grammy and narration by Leonard Nimoy, and little wonder why people keep coming back!

SID MEIER’S PIRATES!

Another creation of Sid Meier’s, Sid Meier’s Pirates! is the pirate game that refuses to grow old. A 2004 remake of the 1987 game of the same name, this is the go-to experience for those dreaming of life as a pirate. Sailing the waters of the 17th century Caribbean, the appeal of the game lies in its constantly changing scenarios.

While players can decide the difficulty, nationality, and starting era, the game randomly generates different situations involving a war between the four nations in the Caribbean for players to profit from, ensuring that no two games are alike. With the constantly changing variables, deep gameplay, and graphics that still look amazing even 14 years later, this is one game that you’ll want to replay dozens of times over.

JURASSIC WORLD: EVOLUTION

A recent release meant to coincide with the new Jurassic World film, Jurassic World: Evolution is the business simulator dinosaur lovers have wanted for years. The goal of the game is like the Zoo Tycoon series, only instead of lions and tigers, you have to worry about velociraptors and T-Rexes eating people.

The primary campaign on five unique islands presents a fun challenge as you adapt your build style, but its the sandbox mode on the original island of Isla Nublar where this game flexes its muscles, with unlimited funding leaving you free to make your dream dino park. When you’re bored with that, let the dinosaurs out and go nuts; that’s part of the appeal of the franchise, after all.

One Piece Chapter 934 Review/Recap

The last chapter of One Piece dealt with a whirlwind of events in such a short amount of time. Robin’s mission was compromised leading to Nami, Brook, and Shinobu to rescue her, an amnesiac Big Mom’s helping out the Alliance, and Komurasaki was seemingly cut down by Boss Kyoshiro. My gut tells me that she’s not really dead, though.

As with a lot of cases in this arc, this chapter’s all over the place. As in, it splits between five separate locations. I think that this shows just how ambitious Eiichiro Oda is with the Wano Arc, but it could end up backfiring on him. Dividing the focus of the story between several locations means giving each of them the right amount of focus, and that’s hard even for the best writers. I think he can pull it off, though.

The chapter first shows us that the Big Mom Pirates that came with Big Mom made it out relatively intact. Some of their Devil Fruit users did drown, though. With King in the skies, they have no way of getting inside the country. They know Big Mom’s alive thanks to her Virve card, but that’s about it.

Speaking of which, Big Mom’s headed to Udon Prison with Momo, O-Tama, Kiku, and Chopper to bust Luffy out. Oddly, it seems her hat Homie’s been quiet the whole time. Losing her memories means she doesn’t know about her Soul-Soul powers, so that could explain it.

The biggest highlight of this chapter, though, the one thing I think is more important than anything else? We finally have a map of Wano Country!

I’ve been trying to figure out where everything is in Wano, but can’t think of anything. This map will help make sense of everything!! Thank you, Oda-Sama!

Going back to the group that busted Robin out of Orochi’s Castle, they’re all in shock at Komurasaki’s apparent death and how Kyoshiro could kill her like that. Kanjuro notes that he wasn’t in power in Oden’s day. The head of the Yakuza was called “Hyogoro of the Flowers”.

The important thing is, they’re all safe, though they’ll need to lay low for a while. And Robin managed to learn a lot of information.

Brook also confirmed that while there was a Poneglyph in Orochi’s basement, it wasn’t a Road Poneglyph. The only likely place it could be is at Onigashima. Guess we’ll have to wait.

As for the Flower Capital…

State of Mourning

They’re all mourning Komurasaki’s death, while I still don’t think she’s dead. Even Sanji’s crying.

More importantly, back at Udon Prison, it’s revealed that Kidd managed to escape.

He still has his Seastone Cuffs on him, so it’s not like he can get far. So much for a second Impel Down. Luffy (yes, Luffy’s in this chapter!) has bigger problems. The old man he befriended and gave food to is being beaten by the guards who want to know who’s been feeding him. The old man refuses to talk even with the threat of death, revealing who he really is.

So this old man’s Hyogoro, the former head of the Wano Yakuza. In Japan, the Yakuza are known to provide aid to those stricken by disaster and provide protection for the people living under them. They’re still capable of being murderous thugs, though, so take their actions with a grain of salt. Hyogoro seems to represent the more honorable aspects of the Yakuza, so I like him. He could be a huge help in the coming battle against the Beast Pirates.

However, the Straw Hat’s plans to break Luffy out may have hit a roadblock: Queen showed up at Udon Prison. Great.

I don’t want to sound optimistic, but this could be an opportunity. If the Alliance (Big Mom included) shows up, Luffy could rally the prisoners and they could take down Queen. They’ll follow Hyogoro, which makes the odds even better. That would be a major blow to the Beast Pirates’ strength. It could also attract more attention, though, so they will need to be careful about this. Guess we’ll find out in two weeks time!

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Eden’s Zero Chapter 32 Review/Recap

The following chapter contains disturbing images of people being tortured inside the confines of a virtual world. Viewer discretion is advised.

…………. holy cow, Xiaomei wasn’t kidding about this story being sadistic.

Recap

Picking up the morning after the last chapter, Rebecca has learned a valuable lesson: never let the other crewmembers sleep in the same room.

In Mashima’s last series, Fairy Tail, there was a running gag involving the main heroine, Lucy. Her guildmates would continually show up at her apartment uninvited, something that drove her nuts. I got the same, comedic vibe from this scene. Remember, though: breaking into a friend’s house is a serious crime. Mashima’s only did it for Lucy’s hilarious reactions.

Now, *gulp*, picking up in the real world, Sister informs Witch that there’s an abnormal data stream running through the Edens Zero. They’ve been hacked.

It drives the point home that Hermit is needed to provide digital security for the ship.

Back in Digitalis, the gang continues admiring how lifelike the digital world is, to the point where it can replicate the five senses. If we have VRMMO’s in the future like SAO and Ready Player One speculate, I really hope they meet our expectations. But then Shiki had to wish for something to fight!

That’s when a giant monster shows up.

It’s not actually an evil monster, it’s an event boss for a quest in a nearby cave, but that doesn’t make it evil by default. It’s not there to fight, though: it ‘s running away from a psychotic player who just leveled the nearby town of Krysta. Yet despite breaking the rules, said player’s not banned.

Since the boss monster says that Hermit was spotted outside of Krysta, that’s where Shiki and the others are headed. Knowing Shiki, he’d head to Krysta anyway just to beat up this player.

Jamiroff the Monster

When they get there, though…. just see for yourself.

I’m lucky that this is taking place inside a digital world. If it was in reality, the blood and gore would be too much for a shonen manga.

As I predicted, the man we saw at the end of the last chapter is Jamiroff, a man who lives to kill other people. If what he did to the NPC’s wasn’t bad enough, look at what he did to a group of players.

Dude, that is messed up. This Jamiroff is Joker level sadistic: doing these horrible things just because he can. That, and he gives this flimsy excuse:

That’s the name of the man that was released when the Chronophage turned back the clock on Guilst. I had hoped that we would wait a little longer to get involved with this “Drakken Joe”, but it would seem that that’s not happening. As for Shiki, he’s not letting Jamiroff get away with his atrocities.

Elsewhere, we finally get a glimpse at Hermit’s digital form. Mirroring the way that the crew of the Eden’s Zero found her body, she’s just sitting on a hill, looking depressed and declaring that human beings have no souls.

Review

I don’t know what is going on, but if I had to guess, then I would say that sometime between Ziggy and the original crew of Eden’s Zero splitting up, she went through or saw some traumatic event that led her to abandon all faith in humanity. Having read a lot of history books in the past and seen plenty of stories, I can attest that mankind is capable of great good or great evil. Hermit seems to have seen too much of humanity’s dark side, though, leaving her like this.

I wonder, does her current state have anything to do with Jamioff and his actions? I know it can’t be a coincidence that he shows up right when Hermit turns out like this. Hopefully, the next chapter will shed some light on this subject for us, and sees Shiki kick Jamiroff’s butt

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Sword Art Online: Alicization, Episode 2 Review/Recap

When I said that I would be doing every single episode of Sword Art Online: Alicization last week, I meant it. Someone who saw my post on LinkedIn said that I was a mad man for doing something like this. Well, maybe I am crazy. But some of the most important people in history did things that were crazy, so I see no reason why I can’t. On to the Underworld. Now: Link, START!

I never talked about this in my first post, and I regret that. One major yet potentially overlooked quality to a good anime is the opening song. Often sung by J-Pop idols or bands, the opening song’s job is to get people ready for what’s to come. Some of the greatest anime of all time can even be associated with an iconic opening song. For Dragon Ball, it’s “Cha-La-Head-Cha-La”. One Piece, it’s probably “We Are”. For Sword Art Online, it’s “Crossing Field”. That said, I think the new opening, “Adamas” by LiSA is my second place.

Recap

After the horrific events of the first episode, Kirito wakes up in a field in a forest with no memory of how he got there or even where he is. His memory of what Johnny Black to him will take some time to come back, but he’s quick to realize that he’s now in Underworld.

He also realizes that unlike the last time, he remembers everything about the real world. After some walking around, he then comes across the Gigas Cedar shown in episode 1, and a certain young man continuing to chop away at it, Eugeo.

Over the course of the episode, certain key plot points are gradually revealed.

• First: despite having met during Kirito’s first dive into Underworld, Kirito has no memory of Eugeo. Likewise, Eugeo has no memory of Kirito.
• Second: Despite this, Eugeo remembers what happened to Alice and how she was unjustly taken by the Integrity Knight. Which means all that happened.
• Kirito has the vague feeling that he’s heard Alice’s name before.

After confirming that Eugeo’s not an NPC, Kirito keeps the fact that he’s from the outside world a secret. He goes along with Eugeo’s idea that he’s an amnesiac with no idea where he is, and takes Eugeo up on his offer to come back with him to Rulid Village.

There, they run into the village bully and chief guard, Jink.

Kirito takes an immediate dislike to Jink and his snobbish attitude (and so do I). So he decides to tell the two that he’s a swordsman, and demonstrates his skill.

This leads Kirito to discover the one advantage he has over everyone else in Underworld: he has all his skills from the VRMMO’s he’s played over the years. So cool.

Thanks to Eugeo, Kirito gets set up to stay at the local church, and as the sun sets, he decides that he needs to learn more about Underworld, how he got there, and how to get home, bringing his first day in Underworld to a close.

Review

Let me make something clear: from the moment I saw this episode, I had a realization about this season. This is going to be one of those seasons that’s a slow burn. That is, not as much action’s going to happen in the episodes as some would like, thus leading to problems with the pacing.

I would like to point out, though, that this is adapting the longest arc in Sword Art Online‘s history. It runs a total of nine volumes, and it’s gonna be broken up into 50 episodes. That’s about the number of episodes as the first two seasons combined. So, we should be in this for the long haul. I know I am!

Despite the slow pace of this episode, I ended up liking it, but not for the reasons you may think. I have played a lot of RPG’s and JRPG’s in my time, and I felt the opening to this was similar to a classic setup found in some of them: a mysterious young person wakes up in the middle of nowhere, has no idea who they are aside from their name, and discovers they inexplicably have skills that set them apart from everyone else.

It’s slightly subverted, though, as Kirito remembers who he is, but has no clue why he’s back in Underworld. Since he can’t find a way to leave, he decides to just roll with it and see what happens. He’s going to have to do a lot of that this season.

If I had to best describe it, I’d say this episode is like the prologue to a JRPG, meant to serve as exposition and ending at the point where the player would save their game for the first time. It’s a weird analogy but roll with it. I’m looking forward to seeing where this will go next week.

I Give “The Demon Tree” A 3/5

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One Piece Chapter 933 Review/Recap

To no one surprise, the first thing that this chapter of One Piece reveals is that Orochi ate a devil fruit, a mythical Zoan fruit. It’s the Snake Snake fruit: Model Yamata No Orochi. Quick recap: it’s similar to the Hydra, having several heads. He does not seem to have full control over them, though.

Will of A Samurai

Komurasaki continues to demonstrate she has the will of a Samurai, because she refuses to beg for her life, even when Orochi’s trying to crush her.

Meanwhile, Robin’s trying to escape the Orochi Oniwabanshu, but when that doesn’t work, they have to resort to tricks. Brook uses his ghost form to make the ninja think he’s this supernatural ghost, “the Starving Skeleton Spirit”, and is trying to curse them.

I liked this scene, not only because it is funny, but it’s also a reminder to the limited knowledge the people of Wano have of the outside world. Most aren’t aware of the Devil Fruits, and thus attribute their powers to other supernatural phenomena. Even so, the mission has been compromised, so Robin and Shinobu decide to get Robin and Brook and escape. Too bad another one of Orochi’s shinobi, Hanzo, found them. If he’s anything like the legendary, historical ninja, or the one from Naruto, then he could be trouble.

In a funny twist, it is revealed that in her prime, Shinobu was actually known as the “enchanting man-killer” and was the spitting image of Nami. She’s not “man-killer” because she’s beautiful, though (I think). At least they managed to stun Orochi for a few seconds by dropping in on the banquet.

A Samurai Death

Before anyone else can react, though, Kyoshiro proceeds to cut Komurasaki down to the horror of everyone present. Kyoshiro says it was mercy for a Samurai, but I’m not so sure. Take a look at what Kyoshiro has in his hand , and you’ll understand:

There are three possibilities that exist at the moment.

• Komurasaki is loyal to the Kozuki Clan
• Kyoshiro is loyal to the Kozuki Clan
• Both are loyal to the Kozuki Clan

If it’s the last option, then that may have been in order to keep Komurasaki from being uncovered. My gut’s also telling me that she’s not actually dead. Doesn’t matter, though: the women of the Alliance escape the castle, courtesy of a massive thunderstorm spawned by Nami and Zeus.

Back in Leftover Town, Chopper and the others have taken Big Mom to Tsuru. It looks like she really has lost her memory. What’s more, her personality has reverted to the well-meaning, kind one that she had as a child. She even thanks Tsuru for giving her Shiruko.

A New Opportunity

Big Mom was once a good person, but since she was never taught any morals or how to control her strength, that led her to becoming the monster we see her as. Maybe this could be her second chance.

I don’t know, though. That seems like too much of a cop-out so that we forgive her for all the horrible thing’s she’s done. Plus, there’s no guarantee that she won’t go back to her nasty self when she regains her memory.

Be that as it may, I’m glad she’s on the Alliance’s side for now, because they are headed to bust Luffy out of Udon Prison! Finally, we’re going to see Luffy again!

Nine days remain until the coup to overthrow Orochi and Kaido takes place. If the Alliance can stay under the radar and not do anything stupid, they may pull this off. Combine the allies they’ve been making across Wano, they have a greater chance. But if Big Mom were to fight for them, that could be the decisive factor! I hope it is. Luffy may not be strong enough to beat Kaido the way he is now.

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Eden’s Zero Chapter 31 Review/Recap

Before we get back to the story, there’s someone I may or may not have mentioned in my recap: Xiaomei

Our Narrator

Introduced back when Rebecca, Happy, and Shiki went to Norma, and she explained that time had little meaning in this story. She also has a fourth-wall breaking awareness of what is going on, hence why she’s the narrator. Xiaomei hasn’t shown up since that time, though, so I almost forgot about her.

That makes me dread what may happen or where Mashima is taking this story. But let’s get back to the action!

The Eden’s Zero crew’s dive into Digitalis continues right where we left off: with the appearance of that horse thing from Rave.

In-Game Avatars

One by one, the crew meets up after choosing their avatars. To be honest, I couldn’t help but laugh a little. Homura chose to play as a guy.

In online games, it’s not unheard of for people to create characters opposite of their gender. MMO’s are a fun way of reinventing oneself, so they may want to try playing an idealized version of themselves, opposite gender included. So I wasn’t too surprised to see Homura’s choice.

Next, we see Weisz’s avatar, and it becomes clear that he’s one of those players.

Yeah, Weisz is playing as a girl just so he can oogle himself. Sad to say, but people also do this stuff, too. They either want to oogle at themselves or like making people that they’re the opposite gender and mess with people.

I’m getting why Weisz has so much trouble with girls.

At least Pino’s avatar looks like her.

When I saw Shiki’s chosen avatar, I found it hard not to laugh.

They get Shiki to settle on how he looked when he first met Rebecca and Happy, and they head out.

RPG World

They arrive at this town populated by the former NPC’s. Since they’re all sentient now, though, they are capable of properly expressing their thoughts and feelings. They are no longer restricted to saying the same dialogue over and over again.

That is a nightmare! The gang then splits up to look for Hermit, but all they can find is that she was spotted heading north. They decide to stay logged in overnight, but that might be a big mistake. Why? Because of this guy, that’s why.

His name’s Jamilov, and I think it’s safe to say that he’s going to be one of the sadistic things that Xiaomei warned us about. He’s also part of a group of MMO players that a lot of people don’t like: the kind who try to break the game and do whatever they want, regardless of the rules. Whoever he is, I can tell he is going to be bad news. I’m looking forward to seeing where this story goes, though!

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Ed Edd n Eddy’s Hanky Panky Hullabaloo

Ahh, Valentine’s Day. The day of love and romance, of Cupid and Eros and candied hearts and couples! As a kid growing up, though, I was never really that into Valentine’s Day.

Perhaps it’s because for the longest time, longer than most boys, I held on to the notion that girls were “bleah”. Maybe it’s because I never had the time to form a meaningful, romantic relationship with someone. It could be a lot of reasons, but I’m still not that into it. Once I find that special someone, though, that might change.

Until then, though, I can always cheer myself up by watching some Valentine’s Day Specials. And next to the Spongebob Squarepants Valentine’s Day Special, the one I remember the most is (drumroll)… Ed Edd n Eddy’s Hanky Panky Hullabaloo!

If you saw my post on it, then you know that Ed Edd n Eddy was one of my favorite shows as a kid; and that my folks banned me from watching it. But when I saw that they were doing a Valentine’s Day Special, I decided to watch it anyway. I still got in trouble, but I’m not sorry and I don’t regret it.

Basic Plot

It’s Valentine’s Day at the Ed’s school, and they’re celebrating it in their own ways. Eddy tries to use the holiday to get attention from girls; Double Dee’s handing out science-themed Valentine’s Day Cards to his classmates. As for Ed, he’s doing his best to avoid “yucky, squishy, mushy girls”. Which is bad for him, since May Kanker asks him to be her Valentine. Here is Ed’s response:

Normally, I wouldn’t blame Ed for running away from a Kanker Sister, but I can’t help but feel bad for May this time. You can tell that she was making a heartfelt effort to reach out to Ed, and he trampled over her. Both metaphorically and very literally.

Feeling sorry for her despite the trouble the Kankers give them, Double Dee gives May one of his Valentine’s Day Cards, leaving her confused. Then, things get weird.

Unknown to most of the cast, these two little cupids that resemble Jimmy and Sarah are flying around to spread love for Valentine’s Day. They hit May with an arrow, and bam! She’s in love with Double Dee. Soon after, Double Dee gets hit, too, causing him to fall for May. Hilarity ensues as the unlikely couple enjoys the holiday while the remaining Eds and Kankers almost go to war over what’s happening!

Review

Two things made this special so memorable to me: the comedy and the way it portrays Valentine’s Day.

As a kid, I loved the comedy in Ed Edd n’ Eddy. The over-the-top slapstick that can range from faces burning up from hot sauce to Ed dropping a house on Eddy, it always made me laugh. This special is no exception. Aside from Ed trampling May, another great slapstick moment is the confrontation between the Eds and Kankers. I’ve rarely seen food fights that epic.

The other half of the comedy comes from the characters dealing with Valentine’s Day. Rather, it comes from two character’s refusal to have anything to do with Valentine’s Day: Ed and Rolf.

Ed pulls out all the stops to keep girls away from him: Eating raw onions, bags on his head, spiders, the works. He wants nothing to with the holiday, and he avoids it in a manner that a kid would, with comedic results. He represents the people in life who will avoid this day like the plague, with humorous results.

While Ed’s reactions to Valentine’s Day are hilarious, Rolf just looks at the holiday with disgust. He can’t stand how overly mushy and affectionate everyone gets on February 14th and it grosses him out to no end. Sad to say it, but at times, I am in Rolf’s boat. I appreciate the value of love, both to friends and family and to a romantic partner, but there’s a limit to how much I can take. Especially when it’s coming from a couple that, by all accounts, shouldn’t even be possible!

Just looking at how lovey-dovey they makes me wanna puke.

Which brings me to the other thing I liked about this special. Rather, what I liked to hate: the cupids, or as I call them, the Stupid Cupids.

As a kid, I hated these two because they represented romance. I still hate them, but for entirely different reasons. Despite my disdain for them, I think that they were a really great touch. Having two supernatural creatures to explain how Double Dee and May suddenly fall for each other is a creative way of getting the plot to make sense. It’s made even funnier, though, when you think of how they used Sarah and Jimmy to play the Cupids. Jimmy is sweet enough, but Sarah? Ed’s rude, obnoxious, spoiled little sister?!? The irony is hilarious.

As for why I hate them now, though, it’s simple: they are the worst cupids I have ever seen! They choose to pair up Double Dee and May in the hopes of spreading love, but it brings about chaos!

Their solution is even worse, though. They decide to simply hit everyone with love arrows, resulting in everyone pairing up in couples straight out of fanfiction. I just looked it up on TV Tropes, and they call it a “crack pairing”-

Shipping beyond all bounds of sanity. There are official couples, there are couples drawn from more-or-less subjective subtext, and there are clearly non-canon pairings that still kind of make sense… and then there are pairings that make you go “What?”

Crack pairings range from the making-you-scratch-your-head-in-puzzlement weird, to the gouging-your-own-eyes-out-with-a-fork weird. But they always leave you asking “WHY WOULD ANYBODY THINK THESE TWO BELONGED TOGETHER?!”

Thankfully, the day is saved thanks to the efforts of one brave boy, the savior of Peach Creek Jr. High, the one guy who was smart enough to stand up and say enough is enough: Rolf. I’m not going to even write anything. I’m just gonna play the clip and show his heroism in action:

And thus, the stupid cupids were defeated and sanity was restored. That was one of my favorite moments from the show, hands down.

In the end, the spell is broken thanks to Rolf, and life returns to normal, but with a few happy memories for Double Dee. As the Eds deal with the aftermath while cleaning the hallway, Ed manages to make a surprisingly insightful comment about love. Well, I thought it was insightful:

Love is like an onion, Double D. The more you peel away its layers, the more it stinks.

Yeah, love does stink at times, there’s no denying that. It may not always last, or even lead to any positive outcomes in the end. But if you keep trying, then maybe someday you’ll find that person you care about the most. I know I am: there’s a girl out there that loves anime and pop culture as much as I do! Even if you don’t have a lover to share the holiday with, though, you can always share it with family. I liked this special and I think it’s worth re-watching! Now then, let’s close this out with a message from Ed himself:

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Sword Art Online: Alicization, Episode 1 Review/Recap

As I established last blog, I like Sword Art Online. If you don’t agree with me, you’re welcome to say so. Free Speech is a two-way street. That said, I am moving forward with my plan to review each and every episode of Sword Art Online: Alicization as the dub becomes available. I will try to keep spoilers to a minimum for those who haven’t watched it. Also, I know the entire plot from the light novels, so I may know things that the anime-only fans may not.

Part 1 Recap

The first half of the one-hour premiere starts off with a younger looking Kirito inexplicably in a medieval fantasy world, Underworld, with not mention how he got there or the outside world. He spends his days hanging out with his two best friends in this world, Eugeo and Alice. One day after they finish working, they decide to go on an adventure that ends up taking them close to the edge of Human Territory, and Alice accidentally, barely, touches the soil of the Dark Territory, where humans are forbidden to go.

The next day, one of the holy knights, called Integrity Knight, comes and tells their village that since she broke the rule, she is to be arrested and then probably executed. For breaking a dumb rule. Kirito tries to stop the knight from taking Alice away, but no one else helps him.

Okay, confession time: I didn’t watch this through because A.) I knew what happened beforehand, and B.) the whole angers me beyond belief. Sounds dumb, I know, but I want to explain.

The “no touching Dark Territory” rule is part of a larger set of rules called the Taboo Index that everyone has to follow. Not because they want to or choose to, but because they have literally no other choice. If they even think of defying the Taboo Index, their eye will turn red, and the Taboo Index will try to stop them from breaking the rules. Like with Eugeo:

Look at him. He’s got that “deer in headlights” thing going on, and he can’t do anything about it even if he knows its wrong. Anyone who breaks the Index anyway will meet Alice’s fate.

Maybe it’s from years of reading up on history or watching too many films about fighting against oppressive groups, but the Taboo Index is a concept that I hate with every fiber of my being. It’s basically saying “follow these rules, or die”. Do you know how many people were unfairly treated throughout history because of that mindset? Too many to count! Thus, it offends me on every level possible.

Okay, rant over. Back to the show. Kirito then wakes up in a machine somewhere in a cold sweat, with no memory of what has happened. Which leads us into Part 2

Part 2

The setting shifts to GGO, where Kirito and his friends are fighting against a mysterious group of players that have been appearing recently and only seek to hunt other players. They get their butts kicked by the group, so the mystery guys retreat at their orders of their commander, who says this is “practice” for some big mission they have coming up.

Like I said before, I know the Light Novels so I know what happens, and who these guys are. Not telling, though, since that would ruin the fun. I will say this, though: this was a nice way for them to make an early-bird cameo. Good job, animation people.

At the Dicey Cafe, Sinon, Kirito, and Asuna hang out and they agree to enter the next BoB tournament. Kirito also explains how he’s working for this company called RATH, and how what we saw in Part 1 was part of his work. He was diving into a new virtual world, the most advanced ever created, to help them develop their new tech. It’s all about learning about the secrets behind the human soul; it’ll make more sense as time goes on.

Kirito and Asuna walk home and start talking about their future plans. Kirito has decided to go to America see the advances in immersion technology, and Asuna decides she’ll go with him. Her exact words were “it doesn’t matter you (Kirito) go. As long as it’s with you, then I’ll be okay”.

This is why I like Kirito and Asuna so much as a couple, despite the flaws in the show at times. Their relationship is built on years of mutual trust and respect in each other; they’re partners and equals, both in-game and in real life. That’s the kind of relationship I’d want to have with people, especially someone I love.

Their romantic moment is ruined, though, when an old enemy from SAO/GGO shows up: Johnny Black, the last member of the murder guild, Laughing Coffin. He’s been on the run ever since the “Death Gun” Incident, but now he’s back for revenge against Kirito.

Before Kirito can do anything or Asuna can help, Black injects him with the drug Death Gun used to stop people’s hearts! The final scene of the episode is of Kirito lying on the ground as the drug begins to take affect.

Review

This is going to be the biggest arc in the franchise’s history. That’s not just because it’s important, either: at 9 light novels, it’s the longest arc in the series. Ergo, they had to start it off with a bang. For all intents and purposes, they managed to do that. The hour-long special manages to set up the premise and plot of the season fairly well and even throws in some foreshadowing for fans who know what to look for.

That said, I think the pacing could have gone better, especially in the first half. That’s one of the reasons why I blew through it: it was going too slow for me, and since I have made my hatred for the rules of the Underworld clear, I didn’t want to linger. I’m weird like that.

What I did like, though, was getting to hear all the voice actors again. I have made it no secret that I think Bryce Papenbrook and Cherami Leigh do a great job as the leads. It’s why I chose to wait to watch this season even though the subs are close to the halfway point of the arc. I wanted to hear their voices.

If this is any indication, then Sword Art Online: Alicization is going to meet my expectations, and I have some high expectations. I want to see the show improve on the source material and give fans the epic they deserve. The second half of the arc is going to be on a scale that you would see in Game of Thrones or Hollywood, so I want it to be good.

I give the first episode of Sword Art Online: Alicization a 4 out of 5 stars.

Pros

• Good voice acting
• Nice animation
• Nice foreshadowing of future plot points
• The new opening song is the best since the original

Cons

• Pacing’s a little off
• I hate the Taboo Index and everything about it

Side Observations

• Did anyone else think the app Asuna has to monitor Kirito’s health was a little creepy? Like Yandere creepy?
• There are references to “Alice in Wonderland” than I thought.
• Did you guys catch the remix of “Swordland” when Kirito and Asuna were fighting the PKers? That was awesome!

Check back next week for my review of episode 2!

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