Moriarty the Patriot – Episode 1
Yes, Moriarty the Patriot is terribly competent, and that is its greatest failing.
Posts by Vrai Kaiser
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Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon – Episode 1
The frame narrative that bookends the episode introduces us to an entirely set of new characters who are color-coded like the original cast but otherwise presented to be accessible to a new audience. And then the middle twelve minutes or so of the episode is a good ol’ game of “Hey kids, remember Inuyasha?” To which my answer is a hearty, “boy, do I!”
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I’m Standing on a Million Lives – Episode 1
I cannot tell you how refreshing it is just to come across a video game isekai that’s willing to let its newbie heroes suck at their job rather than automatically being level 99 death machines.
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Higurashi: When They Cry – NEW – Episode 1
Higurashi NEW is an almost absurdly faithful remake of the 2006 series’ first episode, from the scenes to the music, with a new coat of paint on top. Its comedy segments can be a tough sit, but its atmospheric ending still has the punch to hook you into its conspiracy. If it keeps being so faithful it’s going to hit some poorly aged bits, but it’s too soon to tell on that front.
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Healin’ Good Pretty Cure – Episode 1
As someone who’s only ever known PreCure by reputation and the occasional Twitter GIF, I was extremely curious to see how the series plays for a newcomer who’s also thoroughly outside the target age range. And the answer is…pretty (heh) good, honestly.
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GIBIATE – Episode 1
Gibiate is not, how you might say, good. I can’t wait to watch more of it.
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The God of High School – Episode 1
The slapstick is top-notch, but the actual tournament part of this tournament fighter is a slog.
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BNA – Episode 1
This is a beautiful action premiere that sets the stage for its conspiracy plot and the oddball team-up of its leads, and I will absolutely watch at least two more episodes. That said, I still have to put on my Feminist Killjoy Hat for a few minutes and talk about fantasy oppression metaphors.
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Bend the Rules, but Never Break Them: Individual growth and systemic oppression in Yu-Gi-Oh!
While the series wants to tell a story about individuals overcoming their trauma and inner darkness, its strength at depicting individual growth often conflicts with the conservative social systems it ultimately upholds.
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APPARE-RANMAN! – Episode 1
Appare-Ranman’s gleeful steampunk weirdness, with its Wacky Races car designs and the “well, that escalated quickly” action scenes, feels similar to the lighter episodes of Trigun. More than just about any premiere this season, this show is goofy, bouncy fun.
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Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater – Episode 1
There’s potential the show could develop in the future, but right now it earns a resounding grade of “fine.”
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Shironeko Project ZERO Chronicle – Episode 1
Wow, two mediocre mobile game adaptations in as many days.
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Digimon Adventure: – Episode 1
Whether or not we needed a reboot with the original cast, it’s here now. And the good news is that this is an exceptionally promising start.
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Gleipnir – Episode 1
I have a certain soft spot for ridiculous gorefests with over-inflated estimations of their philosophies. Gleipnir, unfortunately, also comes right out of the gate smelling of the genre’s most sour opinions on women.
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Shachibato! President, It’s Time for Battle! – Episode 1
The biggest problem with Shachibato is that, while it doesn’t do anything egregiously wrong, it doesn’t do anything especially right, either.
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Gal & Dino – Episode 1
Did you like Pop Team Epic? I hope so. Otherwise you’re gonna have a bad time with Aoki Jun’s latest multimedia mashup.
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TAMAYOMI: The Baseball Girls – Episode 1
While I wouldn’t count on this being a very deep series given that baseball requires a nine-person team and this is only a single-cour show, this has the makings of a perfectly serviceable mid-tier sports anime.
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Interspecies Reviewers – Episode 1
“Goddammit,” I thought, as I reached for my Feminist Killjoy hat.
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If My Favorite Pop Idol Made it to the Budokan, I Would Die – Episode 1
I’m decidedly side-eyeing this one, but I am contractually obligated by my own brain to give any queer-leaning and non-pedophilic anime at least three episodes to prove itself.
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The Case Files of Jeweler Richard – Episode 1
If nice-looking, quiet episodic stories are your thing, this has the makings of a better-than-average example.
