Writing About All Things Pop Culture
Thanks to the intervention of Elsie Crimson, Ziggy and the Edens One have retreated. That’s small comfort to Shiki and the Shining Stars. They now have to accept the fact that Shiki’s adopted grandpa’s now his worst enemy. However, what could have brought about this change following his resurrection? In this chapter, Elsie Crimson gives us some clues and explains her past with Ziggy.
One of the downsides to shows that focus on serialized elements is that episodes is that there’s less room for events that don’t seem to move the plot forward. However, I’ve come to realize that even these filler episodes serve a purpose. When a show’s finished its run, we’ll look back on these fun little episodes in a much better light. Case in point, this week’s episode of Amphibia did little to advance the plot forward. However, it did give us two fun short stories.
It may have taken some hard work on both her and Eda’s parts, but it’s finally paying off for Luz. At last, she’s going to be attending Hexside and learn how to be a witch. But when the educational system wants kids to stick to a single path, can Luz really manage to do that? Or is she going to have to shake things up?
You know that moment in a story where you think things can’t worsen, and then they do? Well, I’m sad to say that SAO has officially reached that point, both in terms of the plot and the pacing. This episode sees hope begin to give way to despair as the boogeyman of SAO returns: PoH.
All right, I will be the first to admit that I may be wrong. Ziggy’s face-heel turn may be genuine and not just an act to see if Shiki’s ready to make the journey to see Mother. It doesn’t matter, though. What matters now is that Ziggy’s trying to destroy Edens Zero. This chapter pits Zero against One in a clash of the Cosmos!
If you guys haven’t seen the new season of Amphibia yet, then you’re missing out on quality TV right now. It’s not like we can do much this summer, anyway. Having hit the ground running last week, the show maintains its momentum with meme-worthy faces. Not to mention, we see Anne doing what I’m now dubbing as “The Anne Dance.” If that blows up on Social Media, I coined it!
Well, One Piece goes on break for two weeks, only to come back and pull off a big plot twist. One that, honestly, caught me off guard. In hindsight, though, I think I should have seen it coming in the end. This chapter sees the Wano Arc take a new turn with the unveiling of the New Onigashima Plan.
Okay, people, I will be the first to admit that I had mixed feelings about this episode. Which is not what I wanted to have, since I had been waiting for this moment since Asuna joined the war. On the one hand, this took the moment I waited for since the start of the anime and made it less cool than in my mind. On the other, they closed out with one of the best fights in Alicization, and one that showed us a pretty metal way to die.
Shiki’s grandpa Ziggy came back to life, only to attack Shiki and the others. Then he claims that he no longer sees organics as worth being friends with. And with the newly arrived Edens One, he plans to conquer the cosmos and have machines rule over all. And I don’t buy it for a second! I don’t think Ziggy is evil, but only time will tell.
Well, here we are at the apparent end to the first season of Close Enough. I don’t know what’s crazier: the fact that I binged it all, or that I wrote all these reviews in one day? Fortunately, my love for this show has kept me going, and the last episode may be one of the funniest ones Quintel’s done. I had no idea he was such a big fan of Jim Carrey.
So, remember a few posts ago about how I said I’m taking notes on how to be a good parent? Well, after this episode, I’ve added two new notes to my book. Firstly, when I get married, I need to make an effort to keep the romantic spark alive with my spouse. Secondly, I need to make time to spend it with my future kids. This is the Quintel guide to important relationships.
You want to know what I decided after watching this episode? It’s that I’m never getting any procedure like what Josh almost went through.
We are now past the halfway point for the first batch of episodes for Close Enough. So far, my love for this show has not diminished in the slightest. Especially since this next episode has to deal with two of my favorite subjects: technology and video games.
Luz and King enter a writing contest hoping to make it big, but will King’s Reach for power go to his head? Yes, yes it will.
You know what I’ve learned? That trying to force yourself to be cool or clinging too hard to your younger days can backfire on you. BIG TIME. Something that Josh and Emily both learn the hard way in this episode of Close Enough.
I don’t have kids yet, but I know what one of the great struggles of being a parent is. It’s the eternal struggle to bond with your kid and look cool to them. However, I do know what it’s like dealing with the stress of adulthood. Fortunately, Close Enough has me covered on both.
