Month: April 2017

Self-Sacrifice – Attack on Titan Episode 29 – Season’s Writings

Published by Kane Bugeja

Well, that was certainly something. Titans on the left, Titans on the right, Titans from goddamn beneath. It is really not a good time to be this series second tier…or third tier. I won’t mention the tiers under that because, well, it’s not pretty. Still, the 104th aren’t doing too poorly for themselves, all things considered. Some of them have backstory now and, whether they make it past this castle siege or not, people will remember their names. Think about it, when was the last time anyone even said Ymir? Heck if I know. Season one was pretty much the Eren show from dash to dot, with a sprinkling of Mikasa for good measure. Also Armin was there. And everyone kind of lost their tops for Levi in a neckerchief. But mostly Eren. Look, what I’m getting at here is that I like the variation…I just wish it was under slightly less dire circumstances. Following up before where we left off last week (because of totally necessary two hour flashbacks), we are given the answer …

The Cavalry’s Here – My Hero Academia Episode 17 – Season’s Writings

Published by Kane Bugeja

To partially quote a man of great wisdom and import, “It’s dangerous to go alone.” Though a technically incomplete statement, it is one that will serve the students of UA well in this latest of challenges. With their success now riding (for some literally) on the shoulders of others, our heroes-in-training are sure to learn the benefits of allies and the simple fact that teamwork makes the dream work. Which rhymes, so you know it’s true. With his recent come-from-behind victory placing all attention on his fuzzy green head, Midoriya has found himself at the mercy of a heroes greatest foe: Popularity. Through the intense pressure that arises from having all eyes focused on him, Midoriya comes to understand the true weight of All Might’s presence. Though his smile sparked a joy and fire in his heart, these series has never really stopped to make you realise that Midoriya, in that regard, is one of many. Hundreds, upon thousands of intense citizens who admire All Might with an unfaltering reverence. That alone is enough to …

Combat-Based Turn – Lost in Mistranslation Episode 109

Published by Kane Bugeja

When the world stands against you and you find yourself on the cutting room floor, there is only one thing you can do: Become a battle manga. In this scenario you were a manga, heads up on that. If you’ve already done that, your best bet would be to just timeskip an indeterminate amount of years into a metropolitan future and have a bunch of children all at once. You are also a manga in this scenario. -30-

Welcome Home – Attack on Titan Episode 28 – Season’s Writings

Published by Kane Bugeja

They say that home is where the heart is. Unfortunately, the darker side of that saying is that should a home be destroyed, a heart is too. And though a house may be rebuilt and, in turn, made a home anew, there is still something undeniably sad about the simple fact that it was broken in the first place. Poor Connie. After Sasha’s reunion with her family last week, a small glimmer of hope and happiness had found its way into the world of Attack on Titan. But alas, it was not to last, as almost immediately we were hit with the harsh reality of what Connie found waiting for him in his hometown. Nobody. Not a single soul left in the village and only a single creature remaining: A Titan. And yet there is something curious about this in and of itself. As is so noted by a rather pragmatic soldier, though no people remain in Connie’s village, there are also no remains of people. From everything we’ve seen so far, Titans are not fastidious …

Enemy Mine – My Hero Academia Episode 16 – Season’s Writings

Published by Kane Bugeja

Though the old adage/children’s song that once referenced the ability, or lack thereof, to go over, under or through something most certainly never intended to reference gigantic killer robots, you can’t deny that they add a certain flare. They also undermine said adage/children’s song, as it would seem you can indeed go every which way when confronting such an obstacle, provided that you are able to generate titanic amounts of ice, pull a cannon from your stomach, or make yourself really, really hard. Speaking of, how about that Kirishima, huh? Tearing his way through the remnants of a robot that landed on his head after Todoroki’s latest ice-capade, he stands to remind us that even the lesser shown members of Class 1-A are still in the top percentage of contenders at UA. Unfortunately, as this episode goes  on to show, it is a tad hard to stand out when your classmates are the secret heir to All Might, the son of the second strongest hero Endeavour and Bakugo, who is really, really loud. Times are also even …

Future Sight – Lost in Mistranslation Episode 108

Published by Kane Bugeja

Since man first saw their image, reflected back to them on the surface of a still lake, they have pondered one simple question: How do I get cooler? Luckily, it was soon discovered that the answer was laser beam eyes and a wicked mad robot arm that could both crush boulders and perform a solid, yet not overbearing, handshake at job interviews and meetings with a significant other’s father. Science is still working on it, but its notes are promising. -30-

Back to Her Roots – Attack on Titan Episode 27 – Season’s Writings

Published by Kane Bugeja

In a world where humanity has been pushed to the brink of extinction, bad news is a pretty common occurrence. Still, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck to get it. And this isn’t, “I accidentally broke your favourite cup,” kind of bad news, we’re talking, “Your horse ran away and left you stranded in the middle of nowhere and I also think it kicked your dog,” kind of bad news. Which is really bad news. Especially since you don’t own a dog. Following up from last week’s uplifting re-introduction to the crapsack world of wherever the heck this series takes place, Sasha has made her way back to the area in which she was raised; a forest. Of course, we really don’t know anything about Sasha, other than she likes potatoes and the audience is nuts about her for it, so we find ourselves flashing back a couple of years for a little exposition. Apparently, good ol’ Sasha used to be quite the selfish one, seeing little benefit in other people and despising when their …

A Sporting Chance – My Hero Academia Episode 15 – Season’s Writings

Published by Kane Bugeja

Who doesn’t love a good competition that pits students against one another in a no-holds-barred fight to the finish line that will ultimately guide their path to the careers of their dreams? Probably those who don’t do too well honestly, but let’s not get bogged down in sombre semantics. Instead, why don’t we see what a bunch of superpowered adolescents can do when you group them all together, wind them up and let them go nuts. Sparing us from having to sit through weeks of preparatory exposition, this episode opts to express the two week period before the UA Sports Festival as a brief montage, cutting between the faces of Class 1-A and giving us an idea of their unique development. Though nothing too major on that front, it’s nice every now and again to see what unique powers the other students bring to the series. Though expected, given Midoriya’s prominence and the bombastic nature of Bakugo, the other students do not receive as much time to shine as they could. Heck, the simple fact …

Horse Pitching – Lost in Mistranslation Episode 107

Published by Kane Bugeja

There comes a time in everybody’s life when they must stop and ask themselves one important question: “What would I do if a giant monster threw an entire horse at me?” The reality of finding the simple head of such a creature was captured on film years ago, but this? This is something different. Something terrifying. And all the discussions about adolescent ninjas and yellow brick roads in the world won’t keep that fear at bay…or it might. Can’t hurt to try. -30-

The Beast Within – Attack on Titan Episode 26 – Season’s Writings

Published by Kane Bugeja

Once again, the day is saved thanks to the people of the Survey Corps. Well, not exactly “saved” per say and the classification of “people” is certainly blurred when it comes to Eren, given his true nature and all. Okay, so one major threat was stopped…and a lot of people died…also their houses broke…and the walls have seen better days. Man, even when humanity pulls out a win in this series it sucks. Hooray for Pyrrhic victories. With Eren still resting up from his clash with Annie and the emotional turmoil brought on by such, we are given an opportunity to focus on the other characters that stand under the Wings of Freedom…and boy are they bored. Refined to quarters/some building, the 104th muse over their lives and escape into a few fantasies that would honestly be fun to watch. Connie for example, wishes to steal away into the night, breaking free of lock-up and visiting his village. A somewhat normal thought for a series revolving around giant monsters that eat people for literally no …

Tell the World – My Hero Academia Episode 14 – Season’s Writings

Published by Kane Bugeja

After witnessing your personal hero (who also happens to be the world’s hero) beat the absolute tar out of a mostly invincible, partly human monstrosity, going back to school may seem a little…mundane. Or at least it might, were said school not one that specialises in teaching those imbued with superhuman abilities how to fight other imbued with the like, or the teachers weren’t certifiable, or one of the required classes wasn’t an almost-no-holds-barred beatdown. You know, because education. And just like that, we’re right back at UA. The League of Villains has been turned away, at least momentarily, and the students of Class 1-A are settling back into the daily swing of things. Or so they would be, were it not for the UA Sports Festival just around the corner. Just another school event, you say? Not so, my misinformed friend. As so courteously explained to us in episode, the UA Sports Festival just so happens to be the most popular sporting event in all of Japan, with the Olympics having lost some of …