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TokuNation
(https://www.tokunation.com/forums/index.php)
- Tokusatsu Show Discussion
(https://www.tokunation.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=20)
- - DS Wants You! To Watch Toku(-inspired) Anime!
(https://www.tokunation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96413)
Episode 3: Curse Pictured above: Xehanort from the Kingdom Hearts series. Forgive me if I start using alot of nicknames in these write ups. Alot of the characters introduced have super long and super Japanese names that I can't even pronounce let alone remember. Outside of that and the usual clunky exposition that this anime is starting to make its signature, there wasn't a whole lot to this episode? While the overall plot is that a curse has been placed on the head of the Light Palace, and thus alchemists from all over are being arrested as suspects, the main point of the episode itself is simply to give more exposition on certain aspects of the Garo universe. Things such as Makai Armor having a time limit, how Horrors enter through to the world via portals of darkness, what Lost Soul Beasts are, and (probably) most importantly, how lineage is going to play a big part in the story that this anime has to tell. Not just the lineage of the royal family, but also of Seimei and Raiko, and what that could mean for their characters going forward. Even our big bad is getting in on it, with the reveal that he inherited his name and dark arts from someone else. But, other than that, the episode was just kinda standard. Not bad, and it fulfilled its goal of exposition and world building decently enough, but nothing too incredible either. Definitely interested in seeing where the twist at the end is going though, with it being that the Garo armor belonged to the royal family. So yeah, shorter post than usual this time around, but not really much else to say other than "Let's see where this goes." |
Episode 4: Kaguya The twist of this episode is incredibly obvious. Still, regardless of that, I actually rather liked this episode. Does it do anything exceptional? No, but what it does do it does in an enjoyable way. So what's the set up? Tons of suitors are lining up for a chance at marrying the beautiful blue-eyed princess Kaguya, who appears to task everyone who wishes to marry her with presenting her with an incredibly rare treasure. These treasures then attract a Horror, who murders the suitors and takes their belongings for itself, yet leaves Kaguya completely unharmed. Seimei instantly suspects Kaguya to be the Horror, but Raiko believes the truth to be something a bit less straight-forward. Certainly, it's a rather basic mystery with a solution that's you can see coming a mile away, but the trade off to that is an episode showcasing how our main tripo goes about doing their everyday jobs as Horror Hunters. They're know their stuff, and know how important their duty is above all else. While he'd rather not have to, Raiko has no problem killing Kaguya if she is infact a Horror. We also get a bunch of cute character moments out of the whole situation too. Such as Kintoki praising Raiko for Raiko's' disinterest in women and sexual affairs, with Seimei snapping back that she doesn't see any of what Kintoki says as a compliment. You can tell that these three have known eachother for a long time, and as such are comfortable with and trust in one another quite alot. While not done in any sort of super big way, it gets the message across. Not to mention that while the action in this one is quick and to the point as has been the standard with this show so far, this episode ups it by making the fight at the end a rather stylish one too. It sort of reminded me of the first half of Kamen Rider Hibiki in that aspect. Just alot less musical instruments. The transformation sequence ended up being a bit less flashy as a trade off, though. Still, I'd rather have a short and stylish action scene than a long and sloppily done one(and boy have I seen plenty of those). In the end, it's a completely episodic affair with a basic mystery plot that shows our main three doing what they know how to do best, and really, there ain't nothing wrong with that. Good episode. |
honestly?
episoe 4 of crimson moon is still probably one of my favorite episodes in the entire franchise and honestly what I wish the entire series was like: classic japanese folklore but with a garo-style spin on those stories |
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Episode 5: Hakamadare Okay so real quick something I forgot to call attention too with the previous post. The heck are these things? They look badass! It's like horse carriages from hell! Like if Ghost Rider was in ye olde Japan! Love 'em. Anyway, as for the episode itself, oh man, I'll say right now, I absolutely loved this one! This episode is about so many things, and yet never once does it feel rushed, and the characters it presents are all incredibly strong. So what's the premise? Raiko runs into a character that was introduced briefly in a previous episode. Turns out his name is Yasusuke, and he's a member of a high ranking police family. He is joined by Kosode, a criminal woman on parole who helps Yasusuke take down other criminals. And that, I think, is the biggest thing I loved about the episode. It is almost entirely about the relationship between Yasusuke and Kosode, to the point that our Main Trio are barely even in the episode! Both Yasusuke and Kosode are really well developed characters too, which great chemistry and well delivered backstories. They carry the episode flawlessly. Not to mention that within the tale of this forbidden romance are so many different elements that helps things alot. Themes about how society creates its own monsters. About how pressure from others, even those whom you love and respect, can keep you from someone you care about. About how not everyone can be saved. About how discrimination can happen for the most petty of reasons. And all done without once ever feeling preachy or forced! I really did feel for and get attached to the highlight characters in this, to the point that I was right there with Raiko during every scene where he was arguing with Seimei about the situation. And yet, given Seimei's' own background as we currently know it, it was clear that she knew what she was talking about regarding this entire ordeal, likely having gone through something similar in her past as an aristocrat's' daughter. And yes, I too felt that when the inevitable came, that it was a total downer, but in the good way! If Crimson Moon really is seen by many a Garo fan as the worst that the franchise has to offer, then, well, if this episode is any indication? The rest of the franchise must be absolutely incredible, and given how much I loved The Animation, it only makes me even more excited to experience the rest of the series as a whole. This episode was great, and really upped the writing compared to the previous episodes(none of the exposition in this one felt clunky!). If anyone is thinking about giving this show a shot, I say give it until this episode atleast to cast your judgment on dropping it or not. |
One thing that should be clarified as I watched the series as it was airing:
the fans LOVE the first half of crimson moon- it's the second half that earned the series it's lackluster reputation Though if I had to point out why? It would have to be Douman completly falling flat when compared to Mendoza, other big bads in the franchise and even other depictions of him in anime and games (Fate/Grand Order' version comes to mind) This guy is supposed to be the archenemy to Seimei, a complete antithesis to Seimei and someone who ABSOLUTLY despises Seimei above all else But his garo version? just a boring edgelord that does nothing but talk about darkness and is evil just for the sake of being evil And the biggest insult is that garo already did this exact type of villian much better- in the first live action series |
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Episode 6: Lurking Demon I liked this episode too! Not as much as the previous one, but I felt this one worked for the most part. It definitely has a few issues though. Before all that though, the premise. Xehanort unleashes an ancient Horror which specializes in causing plagues and disease to any that come near it. Meanwhile, Raiko and crew come across a young boy named Gobeh, a thief. To start with the stuff that didn't quite work out, the character development in this one wasn't as strong as in the previous episode. While I still was ultimately liking Gobeh and his family, compared to the previous episode, the character writing was definitely a small step backward. This episode also brings in a "deep" point of discussion about coming to terms with death, only to never give any sort of definitive push nor answer to said question. Like yeah, it's implied that everything is going to work out for Gobeh in the end, but given the hellhole the setting is, I have my doubts. Plus, I think most people would agree that death kinda sucks, whether you accept it or not. And while I know the action scenes are not exactly the big focal point of this show(which is ironic given the Toku inspiration), this was the exact kind of enemy that sort of demands some big action sequence. For a Horror so strong that ancient Makai Knights had to seal it rather than kill it, Raiko literally takes it down in one swing, resulting in a really anti-climactic finish. Atleast with the previous Horrors they weren't anything special, but this? Lame. Now, as for the good stuff. We got some payoff as well as set up as to what Yasusuke has been up to. He is now the leader of a band of thieves, and he goes by a new name: Hakamadare. And man does his new design look friggen cool! His disposition really makes me interested and excited to see where his character arc goes moving forward. Outside of that, while the character writing was a bit of a step down, I did still overall like it. I really dug how Gobeh and Seimei bonded over their love of occultic trinkets. I also thought the character humor itself worked pretty well. The "little servant" joke actually managing to get a decent laugh out of me. And finally, I liked how absolutely messed up this episode was compared to the previous ones. While still not on the level of how dark things could get in the previous anime, this episode featured people dying en mass and getting their corpses shoveled into a quarantine zone, among other twisted imagery. Children included! It definitely helped to make this episode stand out when compared to the previous ones, which were mostly tame. All in all, another solid episode. Can't really complain. |
Its not that ancient makai priests didn't kill it, they literally couldn't
the reason why across the franchise we encounter so many sealed horrors is that in garo lore before the creation of makai armors and makai knights the techniques used by makai priests are simply not strong enough to destroy stronger horrors (only the basic ghouls) and had no alternative other then sealing them |
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Episode 7: Mother, Daughter This episode was all about Seimei. And yet the weird part is, despite how much backstory this episode provides for her, that was probably my least liked part about it? Don't get me wrong, I am glad that we're getting more development out of her and further elaboration on her past as the daughter of an aristocrat and a Makai Alchemist, but there was one other aspect that stood out so much more to me. That aspect being the overall atmosphere of the episode itself. I really got drawn in from the very start. From the talk about Xehanort's' lineage in the beginning, to the air of dread when it came time for Seimei to make her ultimate decision, this episode nailed the atmosphere when it counted most. But I'm getting ahead of myself. What is this episode even about? Well, another ancient and sealed Horror is slowly beginning to be unleashed, just like last episode. However, what makes this one special is not so much its immense strength, but rather its direct connection to Seimei, and more specifically, her parents. To the point that Seimei decides to face this Horror alone. Speaking of Horrors I always dig the monster designs in this franchise. I also feel that this episode actually showcases the point that the previous episode was trying to make alot better(strength in giving up one's' life) via the flashback of how exactly Seimei's' parents met their end, and the seal on the Horror was placed. It's the sort of thing many a proper parent could relate to give sympathy for, I think. The type of bond and love that many other stories have done well too(NiER, for example). Also, I'll admit, I didn't expect the climax to go the way it did. Converting a Horror into a Mado Tool was something that was never done in Carved Seal of Flames, so to see it done here in Crimson Moon was quite the surprise. Granted, given Zaruba's' backstory in the first anime, I suppose it was always an option, but still, I really did just expect Seimei to kill the Horror and be done with it. Also, that great sword for Garo came right out of nowhere, but hey, it's cool, so I'll let it slide. And overall it makes me interested to see where this new development will go. All in all, a pretty good episode. Certainly much better than episode 7 of The Animation if nothing else. |
Episode 8: Brothers This episode was all exposition and backstory, and I am okay with that. The majority of the episode's' plot deals with Raiko's' backstory as an outcast to one of the royal families, and what being a Makai Knight means to him. There was some rather interesting stuff going on here. From the lord of the Light Palace wanting to use the Golden Knight as a weapon of war, to the reveal of Kintoki actually being way older than he looks. One plot point they dropped that I kinda don't get though is the claim that Seimei's' seal isn't just on Raiko's' armor, but his memories as well. It's an odd claim considering that even before this episode it was clear he remembered his past just fine. Was there something I missed? Outside of that, I really can't think of anything else to say about the episode itself other than that I liked it, so real quick, let's talk about something I keep neglecting to talk about in these write-ups; The OP. Compared to the first OP of the previous anime, this one is alot less interesting in terms of visuals. But one aspect that gives this OP a leg up is them getting a different singer for every episode, and I love it when shows do things like that. So to me, The Animation's' wins in terms of visuals, but in terms of music, Crimson Moon takes it. ...Wait a minute, Rakshasa!? Man, if only. |
Episode 9: Shine and Ruin I really dug this episode too! Starting right off, we get a bit more of Seimei's' backstory, and I did like the reveal of how the original Douma is actually a neutral party. However, the real meat of this came from a great idea for a scenario, and how our main characters played off of one another in the face of said scenario. It overall made for a great episode about actions having consequences. So what is it? After Seimei causes the group to go broke when buying another of her trinkets, Raiko has no choice but to ask the Watchdog Center for work. The mission given is the take down a Horror which has the ability to consume all light, including that of the soul. And already there's an interesting hook there, in that this is a Horror that not only is a direct counter to the Golden Armor, but even when it loses, it still technically wins, as its curse remains placed upon Garo and Zaruba. This results not only in some strong character drama, but also some pretty funny comedic moments as well. Not gonna lie, I got some real enjoyment out of seeing a personality-flipped Raiko. Not only did it result in some great refuge in audacity, but seeing how Kintoki and Seimei reacted to their dear friend suddenly being a shadow of his former self was really cool to watch. To the point that Setmei has no choice but to go to her old teacher for help, resulting in another great moment where she just straight tells Xehanort to buzz off. Loved it. There's also the very blatant creepy/sexual allegory between Seimei and the original Douma, which I think worked pretty well in getting across why exactly Seimei doesn't exactly keep in close touch with her old teacher anymore. But of course, this is all capped off by a really strong climax towards the episode's' end, where Raiko's' soul has all but been devoured by the darkness, ready to become one of the very beasts he had sworn to fight. Seimei does something that the personally she uses as a front up to now would likely never do. She realizes that this entire scenario is, indirectly or not, her fault. And as such she decides to seal Raiko's' curse within herself. Now, just as she had a seal on him, he has a seal on her. In the end, Raiko is saved, and our party rejoices, but just what long term effects this will have on Seimei has yet to be seen, making for a really good hook. I liked this episode alot. From its atmosphere, to its character development, to its plot, and to even its comedy, it had alot going for it. Dunno if I'd say it's my new favorite episode, since I still really like episode 5, but man, it's up there. Overall a great time. |
so i just rewatched the entire series as a refresher for this thread
unfortunatly the site I use is missing crimson moon' OVA & film..... |
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Episode 10: 1/10th This episode was weird, man. It's the kinda weird that I'm honestly not sure I can adequately explain in a sum up post? The sort of weird you get when Inoue is off his rocker writing Kamen Rider. Just... look, just read this summary: The highest ranking Buddhist monk in the land, Jiho, is turned into a Horror by Xehanort, which gives him the power to shrink anything to a 10th its size, which he uses on various Onmyou Mystics so that way he can eat them like chicken wings. When Raiko falls under the spell, he is only saved by befriending a native river turtle. Hijinx ensue, including a scene where Raiko gets a free pass to touch boobs. Meanwhile all of the typical Honey I Shrunk The Kids antics are interspliced with Rako's' half brother wondering if he's worthy of his status in life or not because everyone he knows and loves is slowly dying, all while more political intrigue with the Light Palace continues to build up in the background. And at the end the episode plays up the friendly turtle getting cooked alive for laughs. I just... what?? I mean, I liked it! I think? But I'm not even sure if what I just watched was real or not. Like, this whole experience was totally surreal to me, especially coming right off a few episodes were were pretty dramatic throughout. I'm not really sure what else I can say other than this is the sort of episode you kinda have to see in order to fully feel what I'm getting at here. It's be like trying to describe the total acid from the climax of the Divine Flame movie. It just ain't gonna work out. So uh... good episode? Yeah, let's go with that. |
Episode 11: Zanga God I love Toku. This episode took something as silly as a Horror using a rubber ball as a weapon and made a legit great episode out of it. The story this time around is all about Hakamadare, and as such this follows alot of the same beats that episode 5 did. And considering I absolutely loved episode 5, well, it's probably easy to guess how I felt about this one. Seriously, I just love this guy as a character. Not only has every bit of his backstory we've been given so far great, but all of the episodes focusing on him have had wonderful character drama attached. He's also voiced by am actor who's got great vocal range. I looked him up: He's Ricco Fajardo, and he apparently also voiced Leon in The Animation. And if that's true then like holy crap, because Leon and Hakamadare sound nothing at all alike! He hasn't voiced anything else of note that I can find(to me, anyway), but if these two roles are anything go by? He does a great job. Also, good foreshadowing to this one done in the previous episode too. I neglected to mention it in the previous post, but there was a small scene of Seimei actively wondering if there even were any other Makai Knights, with the Watchdog Center assuring her that there are. Though I see that rather than Zorro for our Silver Knight, we get Zanga here. In other Garo media, are there often multiple knights with the same color? Regardless, this episode had basically everything I liked about episode 5. Good character drama and a wonderful atmosphere. And it makes me rather excited to see where Hakamadare's' story will end up going forward. At the rate things are going, he might end up becoming my favorite character in the show. But yeah, all around this was a great time. |
Episode 12: Conflict Probably the most fitting title an episode has had yet. This episode's' central theme is conflicts of interest, and how they can be a crushing emotional weight for everyone involved. There's alot of interplay here between the cast. Raiko trying to bring peace and unity by being the traditional hero, Hakamadare taking the route of the anti-hero as he finds it more practical, and Seimei trying to get Raiko to realize the value in his own life. What it leads to is three people who, while ultimately all wanting the same thing, are going about it in entirely different ways with no real room for compromise, and as such, conflict and discourse abound. I really dug how Raiko's' ideology was challenged this time around. It's nothing new for superhero stories(the classic "Act vs React" argument) but I felt it was pulled off rather well here and the entire thing felt very natural to the characters. And not just from Hakamadare either, but also from Seimei. Kamen Rider Agito also touched on this; the hero's' life being every bit as important as everyone else's'. It's also only for a brief bit, but the episode also brings up the age old argument on whether one should prioritize themselves or others first. While it's a debate over ideology that will never go away, it felt pretty pertinent, given the times we live in at the time of this writing, and both in real life and in this story, it's easy to see where both sides are coming from. The end result in all this is yet another classic superhero scenario(most known for with Spider-Man); The lives of many vs the life of one. Interesting twist here though in that rather than it being the hero having to choose between the life of the people or the life of a loved one, it is instead a "sidekick" having to choose between the life of the people or the life of the hero. That's a really cool twist on the concept and I dug it alot. And in the end, Seimei makes the difficult decision that Raiko's' life is the one more valuable, despite his protests. Overall, I liked this episode alot. Not one of my favorite ones, but it knew what it wanted to do and it overall did it well, making for a great mid-season hook. Given the abrupt nature of the ending and the hook with one of Mystics becoming a Horror, it'll be interesting to see how all this is followed up on, ontop of the already ongoing character drama that this show has been overall great at so far. Very excited! |
Episode 13: Seimei This was a very emotionally charged episode and I'm all for it! It's the direct aftermath of the previous episode, where not only is everything in the capital going to Hell, but so too are the relations between our main cast. And true to the title, despite multiple characters getting the chance to shine here, Seimei is the one who is, for the most part, front and center, with her arc possibly coming to its conclusion. The overall atmosphere of the episode is great, which really helps to enhance the emotionally weight behind the entire scenario. Heck, the scenario itself was really interesting to me, because despite this being an episode how the capital being under siege, there's very little action in it. True to most of the rest of the show so far, the action side of things takes a backseat for increased focus on character drama, and as I've said before, I'm totally here for it, though I can see how it might annoy viewers who were more expecting a balance akin to that of the previous anime. I'm a sucker for well done dialogue scene, what can I say? As well, the episode in all ways does a good job at being the conclusion to what was built up in the last couple of episodes. It brings the idea of Seimei and Raiko's' lives being linked(both literally and metaphorically) to the fold, discusses how Seimei choosing to save Raiko was not only her own personal choice, but the practical one in the long run, and Raiko realizing that his life is every bit as precious as anyone else's', and that's it's foolish to just throw it away. This all culminates in Seimei literally facing her inner demons, and Raiko managing to break the seal on Garo via his own inner strength, resulting a new look for the golden armor that gives it more of a samurai motif. Not to mention the ultimate payoff of Seimei pinning Xehanort to the ground and just pummeling the hell out him. That was awesome. Though the ending also suggests that Seimei might be out of the show now? I certainly hope not, as I rather liked her character and her dynamic with Kintoki and Raiko was a big highlight. All in all, this was a great episode that could've easily served as a finale to the show. If nothing else it made for a great season finale, even though we're technically slightly past the halfway point. There's still a few minor loose ends, but for the most part the major character stuff seems to be wrapped up, so I'm rather interested in where exactly the show is gonna go from here. |
Episode 14: Soul Moon Pictured above: Vega from the Street Fighter series. This was an episode that many in the US have seen done before, but it was done effectively, and as such I have no complaints. The overall moral of the episode is the age old "It's the inside that counts" lesson, which, I think is something many people even today still need to learn. And again, it's not like the lesson itself was delivered terribly. I also approve of the episode being rather simplistic here, as this episode is also our introduction into the second arc of the anime. Seimei is gone now, and her departure clearly has a lasting effect on Raiko and Kintoki. Plus, the titular Crimson Moon finally makes its appearance. In exchange for Seimei, Zaruba is now a part of the regular cast again. Interestingly enough though, no mention of there being a specific pact with him and Raiko like there was with Leon in the previous anime. And speaking of things missing, the James Bond-esque self-destructing letters from the Watchdog Center also seems to be gone. Something else that I definitely appreciated was the how dynamic the action sequence was this time around. The Crimson Moon showing up and making the Horror of the week stronger kinda demanded it, and even besides the length, sequence itself with all of the masks, while certainly on the nose in terms of the overall message of the episode, made for a really cool visual and I really dug the entire thing. And lastly, we have a new OP and ED! In terms of visuals, these ones are definitely alot more dynamic than the first set that we got. In terms of the songs themselves, I'd say they're about even in terms of quality? Not bad, but nothing I'd say is super fantastic either. Overall, I liked this episode. I felt it served as a good intro into our next big arc, and I think it nailed beauty in simplicity. Good stuff. |
Episode 15: Worst That title is accurate because holy crap is this episode awful! It's also the sort of thing where I feel like I need to put some sort of warning up front. Not the typical content warnings that other websites use, though. No, because see, this episode decided it wanted to have commentary on gender politics and the nature of affairs/cheating, which in turn makes it really difficult and uncomfortable for me to talk about. So I'll just say it here, if I at any point cross some sort of line or show any kind of misunderstanding in my reflections of the episode in this post, feel free to call me out. I'm an ace man, I don't deal with romance, and I sure as hell am not any sort of expert in this kind of ordeal. With that out of the way, what is this episode even about? Well, they decided to make an episode centered entirely around Masamune, the aristocrat who's spent the entire anime doing nothing but cheating on his wife and making advances on young girls. A very shallow character, but one that was never portrayed as funny, or in the right, or even as a remotely good person. When the latest attempt at cheating on his wife goes south, Masamune's' wife decides she's had enough and starts putting her foot down about how their household is ran. In response, Izumi(the informant Raiko and co use every now and then) hires Raiko and Kintoki to spy on Masamune in an attempt to keep him out of trouble while she tries to find a way to get Masamune to stop being an awful husband. Now, with how frustrating I've already noted this episode to be, you might already have an idea of what exactly goes on here; The idea that the episode goes out of its way to glorify Masamune and portray his wife as the bad guy. But what this so weird is that you'd only be half right. This episode doesn't make anyone look good. Not Masamune, not his wife, not men, not women. It's so wishy-washy and inept that I honestly can't even tell what the hell this episode was trying to do other than be a giant waste of time. Because here's the thing that gets me. This episode outright acknowledges that what Masamune does is wrong. He should be faithful to his wife. He shouldn't cheat on her and he should stop sexually harassing women. But then it flips around and says "Oh, all men get like that because of the way women treat them" Which, as a man, is really backhanded and makes me feel awful, thanks. But then the episode flips around AGAIN to say "No, Masamune is incapable of change or improvement, and now that his wife is gone hes back to being an incredibly awful person regardless." Just... what is even the idea here? This episode says men cheating and being creeps are wrong, but then turns and goes "It wouldn't happen if women handled men better. But it is okay if women cheat though. Also if a man hits on them it's their fault." Just... what in the world!? Did I miss something in all of this? I... man, this was easily the worst episode across the entire franchise so far. Even ignoring the hugely problematic "message" it has, there's no action to speak of, the moments played for laughs so are not funny, and the entire experience was just incredibly uncomfortable for me. Heck, in terms of plot, the only thing that progressed was Izumi agreeing to do research on the Crimson Moon. And again, even on a character basis it fails because Masamune doesn't at all grow as a person or redeem himself, and every other character only looks worse due to the nature and execution of the entire scenario. It's the type of garbage I'd've expected out of Blassreiter, not this, a show I've been liking! Overall, this episode is an absolute waste of time, and you're better off skipping it entirely. Total crap. |
Thankfully this episode was alot better than the previous one. And wouldn'tcha know it? It's a Hakamadare episode! This one being about his relationship with Yasumasa, his brother. It's the sort of episode though where there really isn't much else to say except that I liked it. Everything the episode done is very simple, straightforward, and to the point. And as I've said many times before, there's nothing wrong with that. As for the "plot" of the episode itself, it's mainly about how the Crimson Moon seems to be turning more people into Horrors, and how the head of the police became corrupted. Interesting twist though in that while we are rooting for Hakamadare, Hakamadare himself is actually guilty of many of the crimes listed. Sure, in the end, said police chief did infact kill alot of people and was practicing police brutality, but he wasn't actually guilty for any of the thefts or murders of the aristocrats who became Horrors, yet they're pinned on him anyway. It's the fact that he himself is a Horror and that Hakamadare is acting as Robin Hood that the audience roots for who they do. Outside of that, the scenes between Hakamadare and Yasumasa are sweet in their own right, and highlight their own philosophies on justice. However, my favorite scene in the whole episode is actually a very quick and minor one between Hakamadare and Raiko, wherein Hakamadare straight up tells Raiko that he doesn't give a crap about the show's' overarcing plot and is more focused on his own personal quest. It was neat. All in all, a fine episode. Certainly much better than the previous one. |
Episode 17: Extinguished Star Seimei is back, and with her, a giant leap forward in the plot. This one was unique in that, while alot happens, alot also kinda doesn't happen? It's hard for me to explain, exactly. There's alot of exposition, and this episode is very much a lead-in to the climax of the anime overall. Which is weird to say, considering there's 7 episodes left to go. There's also alot of internal character drama going on, with Seimei especially. But like, talking in terms of events, specifically? Not a whole whole lot. As such, I can really only go over what all was revealed here, and give my impressions as to how these reveals were pulled off. The short version? Not bad, and definitely makes me interested as to how this is all gonna go. First off, it's revealed that the Crimson Moon is infact an ancient alchemic seal placed upon an ancient Horror called Rudra, known as one of the strongest Horrors ever, to the point that's more referred to as a catastrophic disaster rather than as a simple Horror. This seal was created by Seimei's' ancestors, and Ashiya Doma recently was able to crack it open somehow. Seimei meanwhile has been struggling with the darkness that seal absorbed from Raiko, which has been slowly eating away at her and giving constant feelings of depression and anxiety. This too, was a part of Doma's' plan, as he wished to create his own powerful Horror using Seimei as a vessel. I definitely liked the character drama aspects of all of this, even if the build up this exact plan could've been handled and showcased alot better. As I've said before, it helps that Seimei has proven to be a rather likable character throughout the show. And lastly, and probably the weakest part in all of this, we get a small insight into Xehanort's' motivation: A big reason as to why he wants to destroy the world is to get revenge on Michinaga, the corrupt lord of the Light Palace. Which is really odd to me considering Xehanort directly cooperated with Michinaga early on in the show. I'm sure we'll be given more detail later on, but as of right now, that's pretty weak, and Xehanort was better off as a simply for the evil type of guy. But hey, maybe it'll improve, and if nothing else perhaps tie into the commentary on corrupt officials that this show has had so far. Outside of that, there's the usual affair here when it comes to Crimson Moon: Weak action scenes with alot of exposition. Although said exposition did feel alot more natural this time around, and the fight between Seimei and Xehanort wasn't bad. All in all, a pretty solid build up episode to lead us into the final act of the anime. |
Episode 18: Frenzy Man, funny how a budget episode can have some of the most striking visuals! I'm not trying to be mean here when I say "budget episode" by the way, because this one very much is; There's a ton of tricks used here to save on animation. And yet, this episode also makes sure to have every shot count. And even more importantly than that, it makes sure to have everything that's going on actually be interesting and important to the characters. Seimei being converted into a vessel for Rudra, Yorinobu becoming the new head of the police, the reval of what lies at the core of the Light Palace... it's all very cool stuff that kept my attention all throughout the episode. Seimei now being a tool for Xehanort of course being the big emotional crux here. And again, they made sure to have the bits that required a little bit more budget to animate actually count! Dark Seimei's' spells of course being the one one. They all look very cool; Being inverted versions of the magic that Seimei normally uses. I really dug how the corrupted Shikigami all look like blood sucking butterflies, given Seimei's' phobia of them. Very strong character moments all throughout too. Such as Kintoki trying to bear the burden for Raiko, and Raiko, despite his internal suffering, trying to do what he knows is the right thing in this situation. It's very telling that while he still defends himself against Seimei, and knows there's not much of an option outside of killing her, he still hesitates and is only able to keep his guard up thanks to the occasional shout from Zaruba. And speaking of characters, man, very happy to see that Kaguya wasn't just some bit character that the show forgot about! Her being a reincarnated spirit of the moon who's able to seal Horrors away was a nice surprise, and her being able to casually dispel Rudra's' magic was really awesome to see after how threatening it proved to be. I hope the trend of past characters coming back continues because I love stuff like that, as it shows a heroes' actions having a direct payoff. All in all a rather nice episode! Can't complain. |
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I was aware of most of these. Alot of it comes down to how much leeway the viewer is willing to give Akane and how much they're willing to downplay the lives of the people of the city. Is Akane lonely? Yes. Was Alexis an influence on her? Also yes. But that doesn't change that fact that she killed people for petty reasons while laughing about it. Speaking for me personally, there's only so much leeway I can grant Akane here. Should she seek to be better and repent for her actions? Yes. Do I just instantly forgive her because of her negative emotions like everyone else in the show does, even those who logcially shouldn't have the "programmed to like her" excuse? No. We are never shown Alexis out and out forcing Akane into anything up until the very end, and there's literally no reason to doubt Alexis when he says that Akane was already the way she was when he found her. Does he get alot of enjoyment out of her Kaiju attacks? Yes. Did he ever once threaten her into making one, or force a Kaiju to come alive when she didn't want it? Again, not up until the very end of the show. It also doesn't help that, programs or not, the people of the the city are still treated as actually living beings with their own thoughts and feelings, with Dynazenon only going on to hammer this in even more. If they weren't, there'd be no reason to care about any of the characters in this show. I see why some like Akane and her arc. Me personally though? Not a fan. |
Episode 19: Vessel No matter how jagged your path is, you'll always come back to the role. This is another episode where I feel there's not really much I can say about it other than the fact that I liked it? It's an episode focused almost entirely on dialogue and exposition, with alot of the emotional weight coming from Raiko struggling over the decision of whether or not killing Seimei would be the right thing to do. The origins of Kaguya and Xehanort are also revealed. Kaguya being a Mado Tool designed to seal Rudra, and Xehanort being Michinaga's' twin brother, cast out of the royal family at birth. Thus, we also finally learned what Xehanort's' primary motivation is: Making the entire world feel as hopelessly empty as he does. I feel like the scene between Xehanort and Michinaga was the one I was into the most, as if the episode wanted to it could have really dived deep into the sort of the things the two bring up there. How those who are self-righteous can be every bit as bad as those who embrace villainy, how being a Horror isn't just simply a result of being malicious, and the duality of man. The show never really cares to dive super deep into those things, and granted, it doesn't need to, but I definitely found it interesting that it bothered to bring them up in the first place. Meanwhile because I care about the majority of the cast of this show, Raiko's' internal struggle over the burden that the Watchdog Center has placed on him definitely kept me engaged, and with Hakamadare now on the scene, it'll be interesting to see how he goes about things as well. All in all, a good episode. Nothing super duper intrinsic or exciting, but one that felt necessary and kept my attention. Good stuff. |
that's one of the interesting things about garo as a whole: no matter how rotten or evil some humans are in this franchise makai knights and priests are forbidden from doing anything to them as long as they remain human-no matter how much they would want to punish them
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There is one very well known example of this in the live action shows- though I'd rather not give spoilers for one of the main shows, a film and a spin-off by mentioning his name (long time fans probably know who I'm talking about) |
Episode 20: Duel Wasn't a fan of this one! Getting straight to it, the whole point of this episode is set up a clash of ideals between Zanga and Garo, resulting in an actual fight over it. The problem here is that they do in a way that's incredibly forced and nonsensical: Killing off Yasumasa as a way to provide pathos for Hakamadare, which is not only a waste of a good character, but incredibly unnecessary. Hakamadare and Raiko were already at odds in how to go about their lives as Makai Knights. This really did not need an extra set up than what it already naturally had. And even then, at the end it's revealed that Seimei as the vessel can't truly die anyway, rendering alot of the character drama pointless. As a result this is an episode that has basically nothing going for it. The character drama is a waste, the action is nothing special, the plot isn't advanced in any sort of meaningful way, and again, a character that could've brought about more great dynamics in the cast is just unceremoniously killed off. So yeah, not a fan. You can tell that the story is being dragged out just to be 24 episodes long. |
Episode 21: Resonance This episode is all about Raiko freeing Seimei of her curse. The way he does so is by entering into her very soul to pull her free from Rudra's' control, but in exchange, Haruaki(Seimei's' grandpa) must become the vessel. It's an episode full of many a touching moment. From Raiko's' resolute devotion to Seimei to Haruaki's' last words to his grand daughter, to Kintoki's' stand against Xehanort, there's alot of big stuff here. And that's all well and good, but the thing that surprised me the absolute most, and based on what I've been the told the thing that will probably off put alot of long time Garo fans, is how members of the Watchdog Center themselves get directly involved in the fight this time around. It's such a stark turnaround from how they were portrayed in the first anime; Being almost completely amoral assholes who didn't care what happened as long as it meant they got to keep killing Horrors. Here though, they directly interfere, going so far as to knock Xehanort out with a spell of their own before leaving. For sure did not see that coming! Overall I liked this episode, despite my mixed feelings on the twist with the Watchdog Center. But, we still have three more episodes to go, meaning Xehanort isn't down for the count just yet. |
Episode 22: Rudra Rudra has been unleashed, and the final battle is at hand. I think what was most interesting about this episode was how it didn't solely focus on the battle itself, but also on how people reacted to said fight. To elaborate, while there are good number of scenes showcasing Raiko and friends battling the behemoth of a Horror, there's also alot of time dedicated to Yorinobu and how he tries to guide the people of the capitol through this crisis. Michinaga of course takes the opportunity to make himself look good to the people, all the while having no qualms in leaving the masses to die so long as he can protect himself and his image; Even going as far as to try and get Yorinobu assassinated. This is the final straw for Yorinobu. On the battle side of things, Xehanort has fully merged himself with Rudra, and I will say that despite this episode having a more obviously limited budget, they did do a solid job at selling the scale and power that Rudra has. I chose the screenshot I did for a reason, afterall. Other than that though, the fight itself is mostly budget beam spam. Of course, we do still have two episodes left, so it's not like the show's' final battle is ending on a weak note with this episode. It's simply a stepping stone towards something more grand, of which I am perfectly fine with. Other highlights include Kaguya regaining her memories, and Kintoki feeling happy that his friends are reunited again. Oh, and for the villain side of this, there was Xehanort having no problem cutting off his own arm. That was metal. Overall a solid and interesting episode in a way that I didn't much expect. Hopefully the final two episodes can continue to keep the balance that this one did. |
In many other shows, this would be the final episode. This is probably the most action heavy out of all of the Crimson Moon episodes too, and while the action itself isn't anything super spectacular, for what it is, it's done well. I rather dug the character dynamics between Raiko and Xehanort here, as they both note how their situations are incredibly similar; Both were cast out by family who they thought loved them and were left to die. In another life, Raiko could have easily become just as bad as Xehanort. But the key difference between the two is that Raiko found new family that he could lean on. Xehanort meanwhile had no one, and as such grew bitter at the world. Sure, it's the sort of tale about how our environment shapes us that many a story has done before, but it was still done well here, and spoke volumes about how the two characters carry themselves not only in this episode, but throughout the series as a whole. Raiko's' bond with his friends is even exemplified in the brand new super mode he gets, because yeah, this is a Garo story afterall. The ending of the whole thing was rather interesting to me too. This is one of the few stories about an ancient sealed evil actually getting resealed, rather than being outright killed like in most stories I've experienced. How Xehanort was handled in the end impressed me too, as while Raiko and the crew certainly feel pity for Xehanort and his situation, they don't simply just forgive him for all that he's done, and instead merely help the man pass on in peace. Xehanort was by no means a good man, but he is one that anyone could have the potential of becoming, and in that aspect, it's easy to see how Raiko, someone who wishes to save as many people as he can, could feel sorry for the man, despite the entire show up to this point. Overall this was a good episode full of decent action and some really nice imagery to go along with the closing of the main plot at hand. I imagine the next and final episode will just be about wrapping things up. |
any luck tracking down the OVA?
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it might be listed as ep24 just like the OVA from seal of flames was listed as ep25 and then there's also the film "Garo:The Fleeting Cherry Blossom" |
This was not at all what I expected, but in probably the best way! The final episode, which I also assume is the aforementioned OVA, actually follows a Makai Knight named Tokikawa; A man unable to age. People who've been paying attention to the lore of show can probably very quickly deduce who this new mystery knight is far before the reveal at the end, but that doesn't make this episode any less impactful. Even without that context, the episode does a solid job in making Tokikawa likable, and his platonic relationship with Raiko's' mother very sweet. I concept of a cursed Armor was also really interesting to me, and I felt it was a shame that we never get to see the suit in the episode proper. But, with the rest of the show in mind? It adds an entirely new layer to Kintoki. From why he's became Raiko's' attendant, to his personality, to his fighting style, to the very clothes that he wears, it did a whole lot in helping flesh him out as a character, and I am 100% here for it. If Hakamadare weren't in this show, Kintoki would probably now be my favorite. The continuation of using butterflies for symbolism was also very appreciated. It's something that was held consistent all throughout the show proper and it was good to see more of it here. Death, rebirth, corruption, purity, they're used in alot of ways, and here I felt that the use of butterflies to signify that time is fleeting(in this case, literally) was really cool, ontop of them being used as a symbol of the friendship between Tokikawa and Raiko's' mother. Does it do any of the wrapping up for characters that I expected/wanted out of a final episode? No, but what it did give me was something I appreciated all the same. All that's left now is the movie. |
SHIKIZAKURA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyANwnxsKUE As of today, I have finished watching Shikizakura as it aired, and am here to present a review of the season. Hopefully DS is cool with me setting up a review here, since this is technically a Toku-inspired Anime. Without delay, here is my spoiler safe review. So first off, what is Shikizakura? it's a debut Anime for a Nagoya Anime Studio using 3DCG animation, which is chock-full of references to Tokusatsu like Ultraman, Kamen Rider, and Super Sentai. The plot centers around Kakeru Miwa, a boy who survived an incident where an entire town was devoured by Oni. One day he encounters a mysterious girl (as you'd expect) and is dragged into the conflict between humans and Oni, and makes a pact with an Oni sealed in a Yoroi (armor) suit, Ibara, and the two join forces with other armored warriors to become Heroes and defeat the Oni. Simple plot, right? Well, no jokes, it is. I think it's best to start with the negatives, since I'm sure you can tell exactly what the first issue is. The CG. Now, I wouldn't have minded it, until you realize that only the main characters are CG while everything else is 2D, heck, during flashbacks and a couple of episodes, you get all traditional animation. The problem with this CG in particular, is that it feels robotic in a lot of places, making everyone's movements rigid and uncanny, but also doesn't look that good to start with. Except for the Yoroi Suits, which is where it works the best. The thing about CG Anime to me is that trying to animate them to appear 2D often doesn't work in the Anime format (at least as far as I've seen), the Netflix Ultraman probably had the best use in making it motion captured, giving them a natural pace, rather than aping the way regular Anime are animated. Next up, our protagonist, Kakeru Miwa. His motivation throughout the greater length of the show is to become a Hero. No "to protect my friends," no " so nobody else loses something important," no "because there's someone I idolize." He just says it like anybody donning a suit is a Hero and that's it. Granted, he does find a reason later down the road, but that's still far too long for a Hero's origin, and even if we, the audience, can interpret his motivation from the previously mentioned options, it helps to have your Hero declare this reason to all, as it shows their determination instead of just saying something a kid would say. Though this is only a minor nitpick, I still feel like it plays into how I view this show. For the shows plot, if you've seen enough Toku from the big three, you've got a good idea what you're about to watch, except that there's no monster of the week, just swarms of mooks, with the occasional special boss and final boss. There's nothing in this show that's exactly mind-blowing, being pretty simple as far as any show goes, but there are some things this series does that even some of the big Toku shows seldom explore, like the victims of the Oni, or taking an obvious route only to twist it further. Remember those all 2D animated episodes I was talking about? They're honestly some pretty funny episodes that not only reference Tokusatsu, but some other bits of Japanese media, even having one focused entirely on a Super Hero Stage Show. However, the main reason for this show and it's story is revolved around something anyone who's seen a couple random Anime and maybe played some Video Games could figure out where it's going, is something I still find myself wondering whether it stuck the landing for me or not. For some positives, the supporting cast got some good spotlight episodes *glances at Ultraman Trigger*, even getting upgrades *glances at recent Sentai Seasons*, and the action scenes are pretty fun, despite not going nearly as crazy as some animated action shows. The Yoroi have pretty neat designs, reminiscent of Kamen Rider Ex-Aid and Gatchaman CROWDS (another Toku-Inspired Anime), with an interesting blend of Japanese Culture, which is funny since this thread's currently watching one. And this show's Momotarou/Vice, Ibara, is ironically the best character, with the protagonist's nerd friend coming in second. Overall, this show was clearly influence by Tokusatsu, even going as far as to reference them in bringing about the final product. It's not perfect, it could have had better work on the CG, or forgone it completely with the out-of-suit cast and left the action scenes 3DCG, but even the 2D isn't comparable with Mad House or Bones. The show has heart, but it doesn't do much to elevate the vessel it bears itself upon, but as a first attempt, it's not something I dislike, heck it could have been a dumb Isekai clone, which is saying a lot. In the end, this show is a 2/5, or 2.5/5. Nothing ground-breaking, but nothing I didn't find some enjoyment in watching. If only it was worth falling behind on Revice (which it isn't, I just couldn't find the time to track down the episodes since I was recovering from sicknes). I guess, next year will be when I start watching more Toku, but not the end of Toku/Anime as we have a couple down the road I'll probably check out. |
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