I think that's one of the most Blade things possible to just inexplicably be the one thing left unscarred. Of COURSE Blade is the exception that doesn't get effected by anything else, why wouldn't it be?

I feel like a thread that doesn't have to confront its own failure makes this the least Blade thing to happen to the Blade thread.

Okay, looking back through the thread for a bit for a few reasons (it's very funny to me btw to see my declaration of Blade as a series I think is "good but I couldn't tell you why" when it's now one of my top 5 Rider shows for a lot of reasons), and I found that there's a point where the text crumbles like the other threads: Episode 2. The one you liked and where you're turning around on Blade.

Just... WOW. Man. That is absolutely tragic but I couldn't hold back a smile at that, I'm so sorry. Blade, man!

ha ha ha ha

YES.

God, what a bizarre first episode. I cannot wait to see where things go from here. I'd always heard that Blade's episode 1 felt more like you started watching a show halfway through, I never expected just how true that was. Which makes it even more bizarre that Kenzaki's kind of a dweeb. I'm used to stuff like Wizard or Build, where when the main's a Rider already, he's already a badass, and Kenzaki most certainly isn't.

Very excited by Hajime's introduction though, he's one of the parts of Blade I hear spoken of the highest, and though I know some spoilers about him, I'm very curious to learn the full story, and what sort of person he is.

Sorry for the double post, but I decided to watch a couple more episodes tonight. The first episode was kind of a mess, but episode 2 really turned things around. Hajime is proving a very interesting character! From the vague spoilers I've heard, I'm very excited to have my heart break for him. Like I just know I'll be thinking about this line and sobbing 40 episodes from now.
https://64.media.tumblr.com/07c8ca1a...1d2ccbb330.png

Kenkazi grew on me a lot in episode 2. He's still kind of a dweeb, but it's clear he has layers! He's trying his best, and I appreciate that. Tachibana-San on the other hand has yet to get much focus. All I know is that he hates BOARD because something they did to him is gonna turn him into green slime and give him the classic dramatic cough of mysterious unspecified illness. Oh well, it's only episode 3, there's plenty of time for more focus.

Oh, and what the fuck was with the Deer Undead wearing bandage gear?

Yeah, 1 and 2 for Blade... very tricky to get into!

The first episode has this weird structure where they spend twenty minutes introducing you to overzealous Kenzaki and taciturn Tachibana and some old guy boss and a Girl In The Chair and BOARD and infrastructure and paychecks and corporate superheroes... and then spends the last two minutes going Okay All Of That Is On Fire Now. It's a ton of time spent introducing you to a status quo it immediately explodes. Literally.

The second episode is, like, the pilot for the Actual Series. It's way more fun, thankfully!

(Also, a thing you might hear from other fans who've finished the series is that the first episode sort of works better in retrospect. I don't know that I agree with this structurally -- it's incredibly frustrating to watch, and I don't know if any later gains are worth that decision -- but I do agree with it thematically. The decision to start the show this way is sort of defensible once you start to see the story that's being told. Still, not a great premiere!)

Blade's' first episode hooked me immediately. It's a first episode that's structured like a second episode, and all of the craziness in it legit made me wanna immediately see what happened next.

It also features Garren staring at Blade from behind a wall, which will never not be funny.

Watched some more Blade last night, up to episode 8. After Tachibana-San's iconic cartoonish scream and ridiculous face, I went from finding him entertainingly pathetic, to lovably pathetic. Absolute poor little meow meow of a man. This is such a good show

Tachibana is the best part of the show right now. I mentioned recently in my Q1 review in the KR Watch thread that I relate to Kenzaki the most for his desire to be useful manifesting from his backstory, but for pure entertainment and that "dude why you do that" feeling, Tachibana is always a delight to watch. Were you also surprised to hear he allegedly ate a jigsaw piece?