This episode was interesting and mellow compared to the train wreck last week and the speeding rollercoaster from before that. It's what I call a "clean-up" episode.
My definition for a "clean-up" episode is basically the creators, writers and staff decide to "clean-up" some plot details, wrap some things up, and kill off all miscellaneous characters while somewhat adding value to the story so it sets the stage for the remaining details. For instance...
In episode 22, most of the Knights of Rounds are killed off by Suzaku in order to prove that Suzaku is crazy strong, and also to just get them out of the picture so we don't have to worry about them anymore. No more supporters of the former emperor, Charles, and no potential uprising by his knights.
Meanwhile, Lelouch's geass has made every member of the royal family his slaves and in doing so, means we don't have to worry about any constructive conversations or details among any siblings -- so that takes them out of the picture as well.
Suzaku and Lelouch are finally together and aiming to make the world a better place by becoming bad guys. Their logic is pretty twisted and emo, but hey it's Code Geass. We're all about being emo on Code Geass. Lelouch wants to be an emperor that destroys everything so that people will remember him as a demon and forget the incident of Euphemia, the Massacre Princess. He thinks this will be the best way to atone for what happened to her, and also for Nunnally as well.
Anyway, we have three sides right now, basically a battle triangle. We have Schneizel's side, Lelouch & Suzaku's side, and the UNF + Black Knights side. Lelouch & Suzaku has taken over the UNF by force (cutting them from the Black Knights), but Schneizel has all the F.L.E.I.J.A. warheads =_= He even decided to try it out on the capital of Britannia.
Last of all, we have the so-called "surprise" of the episode -- which was kind of predictable almost in a way since Code Geass loves twists so much that it overdoes it and we then kind of see it all coming. Well, apparently Nunnally's survived the first F.L.E.I.J.A. bombing and is now with Schneizel. She is Lelouch & Suzaku's real opponent =_=; (Oh great, just what we needed)
I was hoping that she would stay dead =_=; Oh well, I guess we'll have to make-do. It looks like she may fire one of the warheads next episode =_= *sigh* Oh dear...
Maybe the lesson from all these anti-hero stories is "revenge is bad, 'cause you always end up hurting yourself more and you always end up being proven wrong over something." For instance... Sweeney Todd accidentally kills his wife when he fails to recognize her 'cause he's too focused on his revenge. In Maou, Naruse manipulates people into killing those around Naoto, and then he begins to learn and realize that his way of thinking has been wrong all along, but he cannot be stopped anymore.
Anyway... Code Geass is still interesting, but the mess is no longer as intriguing as it used to be. The first season is way better than the second season, but I still recommend people watching and finishing this. Only have 3 more episodes left. Hope it ends... well?
Monday, September 8, 2008
Maou Episode 10
This episode impressed me more than I thought it would. Something that I never thought of really and was pleasantly surprised of during this episode was the conversation between Naruse and the Serizawa patriarch. I also liked it when Serizawa was able to calm down so quickly -- despite his surprise -- when finding out that Naruse is Mannaka Tomoo. The conversation was well-put and made a good point, it was also touching.
Serizawa admits to Naruse that what happened between his son, Naoto, and Hideo was really an accident; however, even if Naoto had said that he would not have gotten off easily. So in order to protect his son, he had Kumada defend him by saying it was out of self-defense. Naruse demanded to know if Serizawa really believed that and Serizawa asked, "Is there any parent who would not trust their own child?" *touched*
Serizawa calmly states that it's true that what they did ended up hurting the Mannaka family, but as a parent, he chose the decision that would protect his son and in doing so, he was making the right decision for himself. If he had to do it again, he would do the same. He then also said to Naruse that since that day (meaning the night when Tomoo visited the Serizawa household), Naruse had already figured out what decision he needed to make for himself as well and he went on it believing it to be right.
This really snapped something inside Naruse -- who is breaking down more and more with each passing episode as he wavers in his pursuit of revenge -- and he ends up leaving the office.
If there is one real bad guy in this entire series, I would have to say that it's the cowardly Yamano Makoto. Though it's Naruse who initiates the plan, Yamano really disgusts me =_= I guess it's hard for him to be good to those who have bullied him in the past, but that doesn't change the fact that he grates my nerves. The actor's done a good job, the character really pisses me off. (As one can tell, I hate the cowardly, sniveling types of men... they're not real men =_=)
Anyway, I look forward towards the finale of this week. I wonder if Naoto ends up killing Naruse ^_^ or if Naruse ends up killing Naoto. Here's some of my theories -- as I have not seen the original version:
1. Naoto dies, Naruse goes to jail
2. Naruse dies, Naoto goes to jail
3. Naruse dies, Naoto gets off scot-free
4. Both die
Anti-heroes... don't always live =_=; Naruse is an anti-hero so it's very possible that he's going to end up dying. Personally, I don't mind if both end up living, but I have a feeling that it just might not work out that way. Just as I was reading anime titles for Code Geass today and the last episode's title is "Re:." <-- what is up with that?
Makes me see a bleak, bleak, bleak future for the world of anti-heroes =_=; Why can't they just live??
Serizawa admits to Naruse that what happened between his son, Naoto, and Hideo was really an accident; however, even if Naoto had said that he would not have gotten off easily. So in order to protect his son, he had Kumada defend him by saying it was out of self-defense. Naruse demanded to know if Serizawa really believed that and Serizawa asked, "Is there any parent who would not trust their own child?" *touched*
Serizawa calmly states that it's true that what they did ended up hurting the Mannaka family, but as a parent, he chose the decision that would protect his son and in doing so, he was making the right decision for himself. If he had to do it again, he would do the same. He then also said to Naruse that since that day (meaning the night when Tomoo visited the Serizawa household), Naruse had already figured out what decision he needed to make for himself as well and he went on it believing it to be right.
This really snapped something inside Naruse -- who is breaking down more and more with each passing episode as he wavers in his pursuit of revenge -- and he ends up leaving the office.
If there is one real bad guy in this entire series, I would have to say that it's the cowardly Yamano Makoto. Though it's Naruse who initiates the plan, Yamano really disgusts me =_= I guess it's hard for him to be good to those who have bullied him in the past, but that doesn't change the fact that he grates my nerves. The actor's done a good job, the character really pisses me off. (As one can tell, I hate the cowardly, sniveling types of men... they're not real men =_=)
Anyway, I look forward towards the finale of this week. I wonder if Naoto ends up killing Naruse ^_^ or if Naruse ends up killing Naoto. Here's some of my theories -- as I have not seen the original version:
1. Naoto dies, Naruse goes to jail
2. Naruse dies, Naoto goes to jail
3. Naruse dies, Naoto gets off scot-free
4. Both die
Anti-heroes... don't always live =_=; Naruse is an anti-hero so it's very possible that he's going to end up dying. Personally, I don't mind if both end up living, but I have a feeling that it just might not work out that way. Just as I was reading anime titles for Code Geass today and the last episode's title is "Re:." <-- what is up with that?
Makes me see a bleak, bleak, bleak future for the world of anti-heroes =_=; Why can't they just live??
In Life & In Blogs, People Just Need to Grow Up
So I frequently a couple blogs and sometimes I tend to leave comments and read other people's comments for a post. Lately, I've been following Memento's blog and we're all heatedly discussing Code Geass R2. I love discussions and speculations, but seriously... some of these people need to grow up.
Every is entitled to their own opinion and no one can change really change another person's opinion. So to force one's thoughts and beliefs on others is kind of silly. We only see flames burst and emotions erupt all over someone else's blog =_=; I don't know whether to be amused or embarrassed for some of these blog comment-writers. Then again, I'm pretty sure half of the people watching Code Geass R2 and commenting on the blog are probably middle school kids or something =_=; This is the only reason I can come up with the lack of maturity in comments, the blatant outbursts of "If you don't like this, then you're stupid," or taking offense easily when a comment may not be directed towards them. If these are all adults, then they're not really acting like them =_=;
I mean seriously, TURN the OTHER WAY if they grate your nerves, no one has to answer to them and it's not like you lose anything. Goodness, people are just bizarre =_=
Well, it's not like it wasn't already a bloodbath or flame war when I walk into a blog at times, but you would think that people would grow up or something. Just because they're hiding behind a cyberspace identity, they think they can either badmouth another comment-writer, the blog writers, or push their ideas onto other people. I really dislike it when people become caustic and mean in their comments. None of it is fun to read and takes up space. I just wish people would grow up.
Every is entitled to their own opinion and no one can change really change another person's opinion. So to force one's thoughts and beliefs on others is kind of silly. We only see flames burst and emotions erupt all over someone else's blog =_=; I don't know whether to be amused or embarrassed for some of these blog comment-writers. Then again, I'm pretty sure half of the people watching Code Geass R2 and commenting on the blog are probably middle school kids or something =_=; This is the only reason I can come up with the lack of maturity in comments, the blatant outbursts of "If you don't like this, then you're stupid," or taking offense easily when a comment may not be directed towards them. If these are all adults, then they're not really acting like them =_=;
I mean seriously, TURN the OTHER WAY if they grate your nerves, no one has to answer to them and it's not like you lose anything. Goodness, people are just bizarre =_=
Well, it's not like it wasn't already a bloodbath or flame war when I walk into a blog at times, but you would think that people would grow up or something. Just because they're hiding behind a cyberspace identity, they think they can either badmouth another comment-writer, the blog writers, or push their ideas onto other people. I really dislike it when people become caustic and mean in their comments. None of it is fun to read and takes up space. I just wish people would grow up.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
It Feels Like Hand-Held Camera
Why is it that every time I watch a Taiwanese drama, I get this "hand-held" camera-like effect? The palette is kind of off-color and always looks low-budget. Even American soap operas have better lighting and coloring than this =_=; I should also say... even Chinese drama from the Mainland has better lighting and color despite the low-budget-ness of each series. How do I explain it... ...? Something about the way Taiwanese drama is shot a lot of times is very unappealing.
I like Japanese drama camera work, because you have an assortment of color and it feels like they found skilled people to manage the equipment, or have better equipment. Taiwanese drama colors are seem faded in a way -- even the bright ones. I always see fuller picture in Japanese drama. It's not like I detest Taiwanese drama, but sometimes I just have a hard time watching it -- other than the really bad storylines, bad acting, and bad directing --'cause the coloring's so off.
In terms of picture that attracts my interest, I like American primetime drama & Japanese drama. Then I like Cantonese drama (TVB) and Korean drama. Next is Mainland China drama (the color's nice in a lot of the series, just the budget is really low at times and some things are really funny looking), and last is Taiwanese drama. I hate the bad-camera-like effect I get when watching series no matter how good or bad it is.
I like Japanese drama camera work, because you have an assortment of color and it feels like they found skilled people to manage the equipment, or have better equipment. Taiwanese drama colors are seem faded in a way -- even the bright ones. I always see fuller picture in Japanese drama. It's not like I detest Taiwanese drama, but sometimes I just have a hard time watching it -- other than the really bad storylines, bad acting, and bad directing --'cause the coloring's so off.
In terms of picture that attracts my interest, I like American primetime drama & Japanese drama. Then I like Cantonese drama (TVB) and Korean drama. Next is Mainland China drama (the color's nice in a lot of the series, just the budget is really low at times and some things are really funny looking), and last is Taiwanese drama. I hate the bad-camera-like effect I get when watching series no matter how good or bad it is.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Maou Episode 04-09
After watching so many episodes of Maou, I can't help but feel that this isn't going to end well. I mean really. Every anti-hero film or series I've read or watched so far has never ended well for the main character. In Sweeney Todd, he dies. In Death Note, Light also dies. While in this time and age we tend to favor stories about anti-heroes, the endings are always tragic. Code Geass too, for some reason Lelouch strikes me mostly as an anti-hero, and I have this feeling that the ending may not be too good for him -- though I hope I'm proven wrong.
So basically by episode nine, Serizawa finally figures out that Naruse is Mannaka Tomoo aka Amano Makoto, but Naruse plays it off very nicely (since he's a lawyer and all, diplomacy and wordplay are his forte). Naruse's domino effect is reaching the roots of the Serizawa family and everything is crumbling before Naoto's eyes. In a way, though Naruse is a manipulator, he technically didn't kill anyone, so I wonder how this is all going to work if Serizawa does arrest him. Actually... I wonder if Naruse will even live at the end. Don't all the anti-heroes usually die anyway?
Well, we just got to wait and see.
So basically by episode nine, Serizawa finally figures out that Naruse is Mannaka Tomoo aka Amano Makoto, but Naruse plays it off very nicely (since he's a lawyer and all, diplomacy and wordplay are his forte). Naruse's domino effect is reaching the roots of the Serizawa family and everything is crumbling before Naoto's eyes. In a way, though Naruse is a manipulator, he technically didn't kill anyone, so I wonder how this is all going to work if Serizawa does arrest him. Actually... I wonder if Naruse will even live at the end. Don't all the anti-heroes usually die anyway?
Well, we just got to wait and see.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Tablet Obsession
So... I finally got around to installing my tablet into my PC. I've tried playing around with it and at first it was hard to use, but now I'm getting the hang of using it to draw. It's kind of fun drawing with the tablet. I already put some works up on my DeviantArt account, but I think my art style really has gone downhill since my hiatus =_=; *sigh* Oh well, at least it's not terrible. Still need to master coloring.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Code Geass Episode 19-21
Best episode in the entire season is episode 18. Everything kept me hanging on my seat and wanting more. Episode 19 was bittersweet and really nice to watch 'cause Lelouch ended up with absolutely nothing in the end so things we kind of working out in a way. The scene of Rolo over-exerting himself was very sweet and heartbreaking. The episode pales to episode 18, but it's good nonetheless. And then we get episode 20, which kinda of started to spin out of control and turn into a train wreck. We hit an all-time crash & burn in episode 21, which I'm still pretty unsure about. To be honest... I'm confused @_@ I'm slowly still trying to make sense of what I just watched, but in a way, I kind of get what's going on too =_= For some reason, I feel a bit disappointed. The story ended up twisting in a way that I found to be predictable so now I feel a bit down about what's happened. Oh well, it's still good. Just not as good as it used to be. I rather enjoyed all the heartbreak the series has caused me up to episode 19 in this season. Right now, I'm just riding out the waves =_=;
Episode 21 wrapped things up in a way, but also started a whole new problem as well. For those who have played Final Fantasy VIII, you'll know what I'm talking about. It's like you fight against this boss for a majority of the time and then you realize that it's not the real ultimate boss =_=; Now, you're kind of like ... uh...?
I mean really... ... I love Schneizel... and I rather like Lelouch and Suzaku, but to have these three face off in the end will be kind of... not what I was expecting. Oh well.
With the way the story was structuring itself up to this point, it was not hard to decipher that Marianne and Charles were peas in a pod. V.V. was basically jealous of Marianne (the way Rolo was jealous of Nunnally) and killed her, then arranged for Nunnally to be a fake witness by messing with her memories so she thinks that she saw her mother get murdered by terrorists. Lelouch arrives later (?) and finds the lovely sight =_= (?). I always thought that Lelouch also saw his mother get killed ... ... Maybe I missed something back a while ago.
Anyway... the reason why Anya keeps reacting to the geass mark is finally answered. I was hoping for something more dramatic, but I'll live with what happened.
Hmm... now on a more morbid note... I really like the deaths in this series for some reason. They make me upset, make me cry and love this series more. For instance, Euphemia and Shirley's deaths made me just about bawl my head off. Nunnally's death (though there are speculations that she's not dead yet) came at a good time 'cause she never had to find out that her brother was Zero. Rolo's death redeemed him for all the things he did in a sense, but I still find Euphemia's and Shirley's deaths to be the ones that affect me the most.
Ah, I loved the first season. Everything was really well-done in the first season from opening theme sequences to plot detail and fan service. It's unfortunate that Taniguchi had to make the changes he did. The end product's still good, but I'm sure his original vision would have matched the geniusness of his first season.
Episode 21 wrapped things up in a way, but also started a whole new problem as well. For those who have played Final Fantasy VIII, you'll know what I'm talking about. It's like you fight against this boss for a majority of the time and then you realize that it's not the real ultimate boss =_=; Now, you're kind of like ... uh...?
I mean really... ... I love Schneizel... and I rather like Lelouch and Suzaku, but to have these three face off in the end will be kind of... not what I was expecting. Oh well.
With the way the story was structuring itself up to this point, it was not hard to decipher that Marianne and Charles were peas in a pod. V.V. was basically jealous of Marianne (the way Rolo was jealous of Nunnally) and killed her, then arranged for Nunnally to be a fake witness by messing with her memories so she thinks that she saw her mother get murdered by terrorists. Lelouch arrives later (?) and finds the lovely sight =_= (?). I always thought that Lelouch also saw his mother get killed ... ... Maybe I missed something back a while ago.
Anyway... the reason why Anya keeps reacting to the geass mark is finally answered. I was hoping for something more dramatic, but I'll live with what happened.
Hmm... now on a more morbid note... I really like the deaths in this series for some reason. They make me upset, make me cry and love this series more. For instance, Euphemia and Shirley's deaths made me just about bawl my head off. Nunnally's death (though there are speculations that she's not dead yet) came at a good time 'cause she never had to find out that her brother was Zero. Rolo's death redeemed him for all the things he did in a sense, but I still find Euphemia's and Shirley's deaths to be the ones that affect me the most.
Ah, I loved the first season. Everything was really well-done in the first season from opening theme sequences to plot detail and fan service. It's unfortunate that Taniguchi had to make the changes he did. The end product's still good, but I'm sure his original vision would have matched the geniusness of his first season.
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