Black Bullet Second Reaction
First off, I would like to apologize to all you good people (gotta suck up to the readers) for implying …
First off, I would like to apologize to all you good people (gotta suck up to the readers) for implying …
1.5) So there’s some connection to be made with the Germanic mythology here. I’m no expert on this stuff, so if you know more please share in the comments. Valkyrie is the name of the next witch. 2 things come to mind with this name. First, it’s meaning with regards to that witch; I doubt this is that deep, and likely is just meant to imply that she’s really powerful, and valkyrie were said to have had some choice over who lives and who dies in a battle. The second is it’s meaning to another character. Brynhildr was a valkyrie, so this new witch and Brynhildr are likely equal but opposing forces in the show. So then, who’s Brynhildr in the show? The obvious answer is Neko, but I’m not so sure about her. I think it could also be Ryouta, since he’s been the driving force for change here; he’s even been described as the girls’ hope in this very episode. Anyway, that’s all I’ve got on that, share your thoughts in the comments, please.
1.6) Never mind, there goes my theory. Thanks flashback, and now we have a prophesy to be fulfilled. Thanks, lazy writing.
Episode 4 is where the pacing really missteps, moving too far forward, too fast. The episode itself was actually fairly good, but its climax would have been better placed as a season finally, and its execution was clumsy and would have been better if it were spread over two episodes. It just needed more time to get to that point. I liked the idea of it, but wish it had been done better, and later.
4.4) … but it’s executed well. Together Ryouta and Neko convince Kotori to live with the help of cliches, but they each have a different approach to it. Ryouta plays the tough friend, saying that he can’t let her die because then the astronomy club wouldn’t have enough members to keep running. What he means is that he and the rest of the club can’t afford to lose a friend; she should live for the sake of those friendships, looking towards the future. Neko on the other hand argues that she should live for the sake of the past (though she does appeal to the future). She says Kotori should live to celebrate her late friend’s upcoming birthday, essentially living to honor her memory and sacrifice. These are interesting side to take, because generally Ryouta has been the one focused on the pasted and Kuroneko, while Neko has been trying to ignore the past and focus on what she can do in the present and near future.
1) The Good: 1.1) I’m impressed by Ryouta’s character. He’s still not especially interesting, but he’s always significant, pushing the …
I’ll say right here that I haven’t played much of the Disgaea games. I have Hour of Darkness on the DS, but have only played past the tutorial so far. But just from that little bit, it seems to me that an anime based off this would be great. I love demonic settings and characters, and the game’s sense of humor paves the way for fun demonworld nonsense, without sacrificing a compelling narrative and characters.
Unfortunately, there is a Disgaea anime, Makai Senki Disgaea. And I made the mistake of watching it.
After a drug induced sleep, Netherworld prince, Laharl is woken up by Flonne, an angel trainee sent to assassinate Laharl’s father, King Krichevskoy. But to the surprise of both of them, Krichevskoy died two years prior, and the Overlord’s throne is now awaiting a new ruler (it’s a finders-keepers political system). Demonically chipper at the news of his old man’s death, Laharl demands that Flonne and the demoness Etna be his vassals as he tries to claim the throne and all of the netherworld in his name, fighting demons, little sisters, and 37th Defender of Earth Captain Gordon along the way. Meanwhile, humans and Celestians has a different future in mind for the Netherworld.
So this episode’s got nothing on episode 3. It was just characters getting to know each other more than any kind of development in characters, themes or plot. And also it’s become a Harem anime, because what the hell did you expect from Arms. It hasn’t gone down hill I don’ think, it just hasn’t gone anywhere at all. Hopefully next week it picks up again.
5 stars! 10 outta 10! Must buy! Saviour of anime!
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