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Edens Zero Chapter 102 Review/Recap

Okay, let’s review what happened at the end of the last chapter. 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.

Recap

As everyone looks on shocked, Ziggy commands Pino to join him. He’s her creator and master; she serves him. The others still can’t believe that Ziggy has turned into what stands before them. As if to prove a point, though, Ziggy uses his powers to destroy the Granbell Kingdom.

Shiki’s able to save Rebecca, but Pino just stands stock still, unable to defy her programming. Shiki pleads with her to decide what she wants out of her life. Ziggy doesn’t control her, and he never will. Her life belongs to her. Regaining her senses, Pino tearfully says she wants to go with Shiki and be human.

Frustrated, Ziggy then chooses to leave on the Edens One, forcing the others to escape on the Edens Zero as Granbell crumbles around them. Face to face with the Edens One and Captain Connor, Shiki and the others get one more shock. Ziggy introduces them to the his successors to the Shining Stars: the Fours Dark Stars of the Demon King.

Review

Look, I’m well aware that Ziggy could be serious about his face-heel turn. He could, in fact, have become as evil as he’s acting. But given everything I know about Mashima’s style of writing, this just seems too far out of character for him. I don’t think he’s actually evil now.

Think about it. Based on everything we’ve seen, Ziggy did care about Shiki and wanted him to grow up strong. Every one of the Shining Stars took his ideals to heart when they parted ways. It just seems too out of character for Ziggy to do this! Unless, he was playing into his role as Demon King. That was his original purpose, after all: to be the last boss of the Granbell Kingdom. The only reason he could be doing this is to test Shiki. To see if he’s strong enough to make it outside the Sakura Cosmos.

Only time will tell if my theory is correct. Either way, though, I think that this will make for a heck of a finale to our time in the Sakura Cosmos.

I Give “Time to Say Goodbye” a 3/5

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Close Enough Episode 8 Review

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.

Not So Psyched Anymore

Every year for the last fifteen years, Josh and Alex have gone to Medieval Times to drink ale and spout Jim Carrey quotes. However, this year Alex chooses to bail on it in lieu of meeting a publisher for his sci-fi Viking story. Josh doesn’t take it very well, so he goes alone, gets drunk, and winds up befriending this talking dog in an alley.

I’m not joking about that. Josh does, in fact, find a talking dog in an alleyway. His name’s Tory, but everyone calls him Dogboy. He’s a genetically engineered human-dog hybrid running from his creator. The two end up bonding over Jim Carrey and Josh decides to make him his new best friend. Then Alex ends up befriending him after getting pointers on his book, and things get even weirder. The scientist lady comes and kidnaps Dogboy for her crazy plans, and the two have to reconcile to save him.

Another Friendship Problem

While of this is happening, Emily and Bridgette have their own friendship problem to deal with. Bridgette wants them to write a new song, but Emily’s too focused on Candice to pay attention to her. When she tries taking them to a cabin in the woods, that also fails and tension starts to rise.

Really, the whole episode is about two friendship problems between two pairs of adults. One member wants to connect with their friend like they used to, but gets mad when the other doesn’t want to focus on it. Yet another example of the tribulations of adulthood: drifting away from your friends.

As fate would have it, though, both pairs end up getting some great advice from unlikely sources. While Josh and Alex get it from Dogboy, Emily and Bridgette get it from Weird Al Yankovic, guest starring as himself! His advice is that they should both accept their differing views and values, as that’s what will create harmony. That, and to summon a demon song god. Al Yankovic, you’re a national treasure. don’t ever change.

Why Jim Carrey

What I’m puzzled the most about this episode, though, is how it amounts to basically a love letter to Jim Carrey. I get that the guy’s a really great actor, and I think that The Mask is one of his best performances ever. However, why is this episode so fixated on him. Is it supposed to be a jab at his career in the 90s when most Millenials grew up? A nostalgic look at what we loved as a kid?

Ultimately, I don’t think that it detracts from the episode, but seems to enhance it. Especially since it’s Josh and Alex’s re-enacting of that famous “most annoying sound in the world” that saves Dogboy from that crazy scientist.

Speaking of which, her plan was to make dogboy into a movie star to cash in on the demand for more practical effects. Guess people are sick of CGI now.

A Hilarious Finale

While this episode doesn’t reach the same heights as some of the season finales to Regular Show, I still think that it’s a strong finish to the first outing of Close Enough. I loved it, and I think fans of Regular Show will, too.

The one downside to all of this, though? We have to wait who knows how long for more episodes to drop.

I Give “The Canine Guy” a 4/5

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Close Enough Episode 7A/7B Review

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.

First Date

After a fortuneteller comments on her marriage’s lack of spice, Emily realizes that she and Josh have lost that romantic spark they once had. As a result, the two are determined to rekindle their love by re-enacting their first date at a haunted house. However, the haunted house in question goes way beyond what I can assume is legal to scare them. I mean, I know they signed waivers, but they made them think they were dead at one point! That’s not cool.

As scary as it was, the episode brought up a good point. Love isn’t something that will last on its own forever: it’s something that takes time and effort to maintain. If both parties aren’t careful, they risk losing it forever. While I don’t think I’d go for something this extreme, I can understand where Josh and Emily are coming from. If love could last on its own forever, we wouldn’t have divorces, would we?

Speaking of which, Bridgette winds up on a double date with this guy named Ron (voiced by Chris Parnell) who she thinks she may have a good chance with. However, things don’t go as planned for three reasons: first, Ron won’t stop talking about his trip to Machu Picchu. Second, he’s sewn to his ex-girlfriend. Third, when she calls Alex for backup, he ends up hitting it off with Ron’s ex and makes Bridgette jealous. It’s a very hilarious take on sitcom romances. While the sewn together part does weird me out, though, it did lead to Alex and Bridgette making a connection with each other in the end.

Snailin’ Time

The second half of the episode focuses on Emily’s strained relationship with her daughter. All Candice wants to do is play with her mom, but she’s overwhelmed by the duties her boss gives her. Things come to a head when her boss makes her plant an entire garden at Candice’s school by herself, keeping the two from bonding at all. Frustrated, she takes this magic hat from a giant talking snail that slows down time for her so she can spend more time with her daughter. But then she ends up using it too much, and Quintel shenanigans ensue.

Working full-time can be stressful enough as it is, but doing that while raising a kid can make things even harder. And unfortunately for Emily, she doesn’t know how to stand up to her boss and just say no, and that’s hurting her relationship with her daughter. In my experience, though, family comes before work, and if the boss can’t respect that, then that’s a good sign that you need to work elsewhere. Thankfully, Emily learns to put her foot down once things end, and her boss seems to back off. At least a little.

Relationships Require Work

When you’re an adult and caught up in the hurricane of life, it can be easy to lose sight of what’s important. But you can’t let that happen to you. You need to learn to prioritize what relationships are most important to you and how you maintain them. Otherwise, things may fall apart without even realizing it. At least, that’s the lesson I got from this episode of Close Enough.

I Give “First Date” a 4.5/5, and “Snailin’ Time” A 4/5.

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