RJ Writing Ink

Amphibia Season 2, Episode 3A/3B Review

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.

Truck Stop Polly

The Plantar’s are only halfway to Newtopia right now, and Polly’s already feeling the heat from being so far from home. She does what many young kids do when they’re in strange and unfamiliar settings: seek comfort from family members. However, her attempts to play with Anne, Sprig, and Hop Pop cause problems for them, and they vent about it behind her back at a truck stop. Angered by the fact that no one seems to want her around, Polly swaps herself out for a stone. Except it’s not a stone, it’s a Roc’s egg. So now Polly has to save her family.

I’ve seen my share of these kinds of stories on TV before. A character feels out of their depth and tries to compensate for it, only to get everyone mad. Said characters then try to isolate themselves, which makes the others worry themselves sick. Finally, this leads to the group reconciling and admitting their faults. It’s the fact that it’s happening to the self-assured and tough as nails Polly that makes this a good story. Plus, we get a return of Swampy Joe but see Polly’s fears get picked apart by a group of truckers. Stereotypes would leave people thinking they’re the last people who would come up with that stuff.

A Caravan Named Desire

While traveling through a desert one day, the Plantar’s come across a caravan of traveling actors putting on Hop Pop’s favorite play, Fear the Desert Swamp. Having dreamed of being a successful actor in his youth, Hop Pop leaps to play the lead role in the troupe’s production. For a while, it’s a dream come true for him. But when he discovers the troupe has some unsavory plans afoot, he has to question if his goal’s worth it. Meanwhile, Sprig tries to get in with a group of method actor kids, and Anne sits the whole thing out. 

I liked this segment, less for the story itself, and more for the impressive people they got to guest star. The leader, Renee Frodgers, is voiced by Susan Egan. I know her as the voice of Meg from Disney’s Hercules. These days, though, people will remember her as the voice of ROSE QUARTZ from Steven Universe! This Disney veteran gives off a lot of energy and sass in her performances, and I like her. 

The funniest thing about the episode is seeing Max Mittleman play child method actor Francis D’arncool. Anime fans will know Max as Saitama from One Punch Man, and that guy doesn’t care about anything since he’s crazy powerful. I don’t know why, but the contrast between that “I don’t give two cents” attitude and the serious and always in character Francis is funny. 

Good Filler Episode

So I won’t lie, I was a little dissappointed that we didn’t get to see more serialized elements in this episode. However, we can’t expect every episode to advance the plot of the story. That said, these small stories do serve a purpose in the grand scheme of things. They help develop our characters and make them more well-rounded. In the long run, that’s far more valuable.

Also, given the fact that next week, we’re getting our first glimpse at Sasha and Grime in Season Two, I think I can handle this stuff.

I Give “Truck Stop Polly” a 3.8/5 and “A Caravan Named Desire” a 3.5/5

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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?

When The System Fails Someone

Who’s at fault when the educational system fails to help its students? Is it the students for not trying hard enough, or did the system itself fail them by not accomodating their needs? In this case, I’d say the educational systems at fault. On her first day at Hexside, Principal Bump puts her in a random track, and when she tries mixing other magic, she gets thrown in the detention track. Which, by the way, now consists of actual detention and not that monster thing from before.

Like Luz, the detention students got put there because they wanted to focus on more than one track. As a result, they can’t even learn magic. Not that that’s a problem for them, though. They’ve got a secret hideout a-la Hogwarts “Room of Requirement” that lets them spy on all the other tracks. Despite at first seeing herself as better than detention, Luz realizes that she’s more at home with the other detention students then in just one course. And in a twist of irony, they end up saving Hexside from a monster that feeds on magic. As a result, Bump agrees to let them study more than one track, with Luz getting the chance to learn from all of them.

Finding your Place in the World

Since it’s start, The Owl House has been consistent with its themes. It’s a show about outcasts trying to find their place in a world that doesn’t fully get them. Luz has already found friends in the form of Eda and the others, but in her case, she can’t just find her place. She has to make it.

Luz wasn’t the first person who wanted to study everything at Hexside. According to Bump, Eda tried, and failed, to do the same thing. However, the fact that Bump lets Luz do that could be taken as a sign that she may be able to succeed where her mentor failed. Bump does seem to have some sort of silent expectations in place for Luz.

Why Only One Track?

After watching this episode, though, a question popped into my head. Why would the Emperor decree that witches can only learn one type of magic? His Coven has no such restriction on them, and there seem to be no repercussions to using multiple kinds of magic. I’m not sure yet, but I have a theory in my head as to why. If its right, then this show’s going to get even more interesting.

The reason why Emperor Bellows forbids people from learning more than one kind of magic? It’s because he’s afraid that it will give rise to a witch strong enough to oppose him. So he restricts magic’s use to all but his followers. I mean, it’s what I would do. And if I’m right, then this could mean Luz will be in great danger in the future.

For now, though, this is only a theory and we have more episodes left in the season. So, let’s just enjoy the ride. 

I Give “The First Day” a 4/5. Also, loved King pretending to be a teacher!

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Sword Art Online: Alicization-War of Underworld Episode 39 Review/Recap

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.

LINK START!

Recap

Sinon manages to find Alice mourning the death of her mentor Bercouli, and promptly curses herself for being too late. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Sinon has to tell Alice that Vecta’s still alive. He’ll likely log back in on another account and resume his hunt. As a result, Alice heads straight for the World’s End Altar, while Sinon stays behind to buy her time. Sure enough, Gabriel returns with his personal account. To Sinon’s horror, though, it’s that of the legendary GGO player, Subtilizer. The one that beat her in the last GGO tournament.

Meanwhile, Asuna and the others are dealing with their own nightmare. Just when it looks like the Japanese and Underworlders have the enemy on the ropes, a figure wearing a raincoat and carrying around a giant meat cleaver shows up. It’s someone that Asuna and Klein know all too well: PoH, leader of SAO’s murder guild Laughing Coffin. Worse, PoH brought more reinforcements from China and South Korea. Tens of thousands of players get duped into logging into Underworld and attack the heroes.

Oh, and RATH’s plan to connect Kirito to his friend’s fluctlights hits a snag when one of the people who went to do it turns out to be a traitor.

….. Kirito, if there was ever a moment for you to wake up and pull a “big hero moment,” now’s the time!

Review

I’m going to be completely honest with you guys: I thought that this episode was disjointed and all over the place. It kept leaping between at least four plot threads in less than twenty-four minutes. First was the meeting between Alice and Sinon and Gabriel’s return. Then we saw Iskahn and Sheyta, who I had largely lost interest in, and their fight. Then the story shifts to the perspective of some gamers from Korea and China who get duped by PoH into diving into Underworld. I know that stuff’s in the book, but I don’t think having all that will work in an anime.

I get why those players from the other countries were added: to give us an outsider perspective on this whole thing. But is that necessary in this anime? And for those who wonder why so many were quick to jump against the Japanese players, don’t be surprised. Eighty years later, and China and Korea’s still have a lot of animosity for Japan’s actions in World War II. 

The one good thing I liked about this episode was the reveal that Vassago was PoH. He’s been the closest thing the anime’s had to an overarching villain. PoH’s the boogeyman of SAO, and his followers have tried to kill Kirito and friends several times. As a result, it makes sense bringing him back for the final battle—a nice way to tie everything together.

The next episode should have a lot of exposition and pain for the heroes. I’m counting down until Kirito finally returns, though.

I Give “Instigation” a 2/5

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