21 - Random Curiosity

Mirai Nikki – 07

By Guardian Enzo November 21, 2011

「留守応答」 (Rusu Ōtō)
"Away Message"

It’s another triumph for gritty, hard-headed realism in episode 7 of Mirai Nikki.

First Impressions Gundam AGE

Gundam AGE – 07

By Divine November 21, 2011

「進化するガンダム」 (Shinka Suru Gandamu)
"Evolving Gundam"

For anyone coming off the latest episode of Gundam Unicorn, it's easy to draw parallels between the lingering hatred between the Earth Federation and Zeon to the hatred between Euba and Zalam, but it's also easy to see that AGE's variation lacks the seriousness and severity seen in the Universal Century timeline.

First Impressions Last Exile -Ginyoku no Fam-

Last Exile -Ginyoku no Fam- – 06

By Guardian Enzo November 20, 2011

「Over step」

Psychopathic, eyepatch-wearing commanders aside, I’m still wondering how seriously we should take the threat of an empire that has eight ships stolen by a little girl so easily that the thefts didn’t even make it onto the screen…

Fate/Zero First Impressions

Fate/Zero – 08

By Divine November 19, 2011

「魔術師殺し」 (Majutsushi Goroshi)
"Mage-Killer"

The episode title said it all about how this would Kiritsugu's time to shine and he does just that with the use of his single-shot Thompson Contender, loaded with an "Origin Bullet" created from his rib bones (and effectively, part of his soul).

First Impressions WORKING!!

WORKING’!! – 08

By unlisted November 19, 2011

「嗚呼、妹よ」 (Aa, Imōto yo!) "Oh, My Sister!"

This week's sister theme really allowed for some balance between comedy and character development.

First Impressions THE IDOLM@STER

THE IDOLM@STER – 20

By Divine November 19, 2011

「約束」 (Yakusoku)
"Promise"

With all the build-up toward Chihaya's episode, this truly had the makings of a series finale and could have easily passed as one. The drama felt very real and the support that Haruka and the rest of 765 Pro showed Chihaya was incredibly moving, so much so that I couldn't help but shed some tears by the end of the episode. This is easily the biggest tearjerker I've watched in the past while, and really showed that IM@S is much more than a slice-of-life series with an idol twist.

First Impressions Mawaru Penguindrum

Mawaru Penguindrum – 19

By Divine November 18, 2011

「私の運命の人」 (Watashi no Unmei no Hito)
"My Soulmate"

Well, it's starting to look like all the stuff about Kanba being the ladies' man was a bit of a red herring, because it turns out the actual person snagging all the girls is Shouma. Ringo may have been an inadvertent catch, but that doesn't appear to be the case with Himari.

First Impressions Persona 4 the ANIMATION

Persona 4 the ANIMATION – 07

By verdant November 18, 2011

「Suspicious Tropical Paradise」

Going into this adaptation, there was one social link in particular that I was most concerned about how it would be adapted, and that was Tatsumi Kanji’s.

First Impressions Kimi to Boku.

Kimi to Boku. – 07

By Takaii November 18, 2011

「りんごのとなり」 (Ringo to Tonari)
"Next to an Apple"

If you haven’t been watching Kimi to Boku, now would be a great time to start, especially if you were turned off by the first few episodes that weren’t a great indication of how the series is as a whole!

First Impressions Shakugan no Shana

Shakugan no Shana III (Final) – 06

By Takaii November 18, 2011

「掌にあるもの」 (Tenohira ni Arumono)
"In The Palm of their Hands"

I was expecting this episode to be subpar since it looked like there'd be no correlation with the over-arching story. Luckily, I was completely wrong as I watched one of the most enjoyable episodes since the start of the season.