I've maintained the biggest problem with Black Blood is that it was too long. It did not need six episodes because the story felt like it was too thinly-spread. If it had been three or four, or even a Tougen no Fue-style special it would have been much better. If it absolutely had to be six episodes, then a couple of one-off "Horror of the Week" episodes would have been great. The Zero focus episodes in Makai Senki were some of the highlights in that season for me.

I wonder though, with a focus more on Priests than Knights, if this is being done on a lower budget than usual, or if money is going elsewhere (Like the new Zero: Dragonblood series that's happening after this). This doesn't feel like an anniversary project like they were promoting it as.

I like seeing which characters they pull out for this though(I wasn't expecting to see Leo back any time soon, and I loved the Wataru stuff a while back), but the episodes we've had so far feel like filler episodes of an awesome Garo season we're not seeing.

It was a boring story that was stretched out far too long.

An entire series made of nothing but filler is not worthy of being anything but the crap you flush. Crimson Moon is a hell of lot better than crap that needs to be flushed.

If you ask me, an entire series of filler featuring characters that are actually interesting and I'd like to see more is still better than a poorly animated series with atrocious designs, forgettable fights, cliche characters and a predictable story.

Not gonna deny Makai Retsudan hasn't been majorly disappointing so far but Crimson Moon wasn't just the worst Garo series I've ever seen, it was one of the worst anime I've ever seen.

Episode 8: The Shiguto part was really nice and good to see that a Makai Priest would want something more than just the life he leads. I feel really bad for him though that he just has to abandon the family he was helping just so that his life won't hurt them. You could tell the pain he was bottling up and that just sucks. Nice fight scene for him though that was cool; that helped making this probably the first time I really liked him more than average. I am so freaking happy to see Crow, I'm probably one of the people that liked him a lot. I enjoyed his training with Eiji a lot and how he learned what his weakness was and how to make it his own strength and understand the problems it has. It was great to see these two again, Makai No Hana was a weaker season for me but I still loved the new characters it brought a lot. I wish Wataru and Crow got full episodes though, hopefully later in the series they will. I can't wait for more.

Episode 8.1: Like last week, I'm conflicted. I really like Shiguto, he's one of my favorite minor characters in the whole franchise and this episode really did a nice job of highlighting him and how fun and charming he can be. That said, it's a basic stock plot that was entirely predictable and honestly quite boring. I really want Shiguto's jacket now, though.

Episode 8.2: In which Switchblade realizes how poorly he remembers Makai no Hana's main plot (although, to be fair, there's not much of it to remember). Crow actually came off pretty well here. I feel like I got a better sense of the character in ~12 minutes than I did in the entirety of MnH. The action was even pretty good here. The fact that I barely remembered anything about Eiji (like that he existed, for example) made this one pretty hard to follow, though. I may need to rewatch Makai no Hana and then revisit this episode.

Thoughts on episode 7, wasn't expecting a Haruna episode. At least one where she's trying to be a normal teenager. The high School stuff was dull but daigo did liven it up a bit. Although I do have one problem with this one, and it might be a weird one to have, but didn't Haruna have a limp or something in Goldstorm? I know she was kind of sickly, she even mentions being in poor health to her letter to her brother, be she seemed way more active here than in Goldstorm.

Episode 8, another 2 stroy episodes. I actually did feel sorry for Shinguto a little. I guess even Makai Knights and Priests can have a momentary wondering of "Whar if" when presented with the opportunity of normal life so to speak. But there's a reason why their world is kept separate from the regular world. On a side note, the kid was kinda annoying. Now we have Crow's part. Actually I'm a little surprised we got a follow up on Makai no Hana main plot, or at least the after math. I was a little surprised what the fight between Crow and Busujima ended up being but it was an interesting twist. Although out of all four half stories so far this is the one I wished got a full episodes, if nothing else to explain the connection between Crow, Busujima and Akari.

Episode 9: Daichi was a lot of fun for a character that I think is new. Still he was a lot more entertaining than some parts of previous episodes especially being connected to Bikuu and wanting to be a Dark Slasher. His heart was in a good place and I enjoyed him talking to the audience. His fight with the horror was good but damn it was great that we finally get another GARO here. Raiga was great to see again especially after seeing basically everyone else from the Makai No Hana cast. I hope we get more with them because I really want to see all of them together again, and Daichi would fit with them too. This was probably one of the better episodes of this season. Raiga was just perfect this episode, I forgot how much I missed him too. I can't wait for more.

Episode 9 was absolutely the moment I've been waiting for. Finally, an entire episode dedicated to... some guy? I assume he's from the Biku movie, which I have obviously not seen. I hope he's not in that movie a lot, because he's aggressively annoying. I was tired of his boy scout attitude and obnoxious fourth wall breaking by about five minutes in. I was definitely planning to write this off as even worse than the Haruna episode, but then we hit the 15 minute mark and an arm in a white jacket grabbed the Horror. Nine damn episodes, but finally we have a non-cameo appearance by one of the Garos. I still feel like I don't know Raiga that well, given that he's had less screentime than Kouga and Ryuga, but man was it nice to see him again (and with Zaruba, no less). The last ~7 minutes or so of this episode were just great - actual, proper Garo. It's a pity that the rest of it was spent following some random weenie around as he creeped on strangers.

Can't help but wonder that if this season wasn't a celebratory one. That we would've gotten season 2 of Garo, Makai No Hana. Maybe next season...:(

It was pretty awesome seeing Raiga Saezima back in action. My fingers are still crossed in hopes that we'll see Kouga Saezima and Taiga Saezima. I know that Ryosei Konishi stated that he wouldn't be playing his character again. Not until he's around 50 or so. But I'm hoping that he'll make an exception and celebrate the anniversary as the Garo we all know and love.

http://femoticons.net/images/sticker...ss_fingers.jpg

I hope that he comes back as Kouga, that would make up for some of these episodes.

Until the day he slashs Bikuu.
There is a reason for all these setup.

This was a pretty great episode I think. Shame it had to be one focusing on a guy I don't even know, but the fourth wall breaking was a step toward to experimentalism I wanted to see from this show. Great seeing Raiga again too.

I probably would've liked the fourth wall breaking more if I hadn't found Daichi so insufferable.

I just came across this...

http://tokusatsunetwork.com/2016/06/...series-air-tv/

So yeah, it seems that we're not going to be getting a new Zero series after all.

That effing sucks. Screw us on a Retsuden being nothing but crappy unconnected filler.

Then they take away Zero. Screw them. The next new series better be fucking amazing or I am done with this crap.

EDIT: Just checked out the link. What the heck is Garo: Ashura?

EDIT: A fucking pro wresting special. Guess I don't have to waste my time with the rest of Retsuden. Such a great franchise ran into the ground.

Well, there's nothing to say that we aren't still getting Zero. Just maybe not immediately after Retsuden.

If the new Zero isn't happening, then why the hell has there been a bunch of behind the scenes pics posted online by the likes of Ray Fujita himself? pics like this:

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m4pgaStV7...fgd5f9gdfg.jpg

It's a thing. Like Switchblade said, it's just not happening immediately after Makai Retsuden like some people assumed.

And remastered season 1 Garo sounds a hell of a lot more appealing than another terrible anime.

I like Retsuden, I just wish I knew who the hell this Daichi was beforehand. The perils of not being the target audience for this stuff... Cool seeing Raiga again though. Weird how having an episode of Garo with Garo actually in it is a novelty.

There is the GARO Ashura special happening starring NJPW wrestlers after Retsuden ends. http://tokusatsunetwork.com/2016/06/...cial-air-july/

Okay, an episode focusing on the kid from the Bikuu movie, which I haven't seen so yeah. At least they had him explain who he is and what's he doing. Kind of wished they showed more of what's "inside" a person's particular heart, but I guess budget constraints. although I know have a image of tyhe tough guy that punched him playing with kittens.

Mind Entry Spell, interesting.


Wonder what the color of my orb would be. If all one has to do is have malicious thoughts then I would definitely have a black orb.

I wonder if my "world" would reflect my appearance differently than reality.

I found this article: http://www.moview.jp/958948497.html Confirms ZERO Dragon Blood will broadcast in 2017.

I just wish that Keita Amemiya would just come up with and stick to a schedule.

Sometimes we get future Garo other times a anime about Garo. We've gotten Kouga's son who's Garo and Kouga's best friend who's also a Makai Knight. Or we might just get a Tokusatsu series that is a "comedy" and has nothing to do with Garo what so ever.

He's all over the place.

I guess that one was "Shougeki Gouraigan". No news of a 2nd season by the way ?

It's been what, three years? I think we can safely say that season two isn't happening. That's a pity, when it was focused on being a lighthearted, goofy series it was really fun. I think it only ran into problems when it tried to be more dramatic and serious.

That's what I meant when I said he's all over the place. And should come up with some type of scheduling. I would've loved to have seen another season of Shougeki Gouraigan. A hundred days could've been spreaded out across quite a few seasons easily.

Not necessarily, it was 3 or 4 years after the original Garo that we got Red Requiem and then Makaisenki. And since Inoue was co-creator, I think I might be wrong there, it could depend on him coming up with a proper story.

True, but Garo was also a huge passion project for pretty much everyone involved. I don't know if Shougeki Gouraigan has that same kind of devotion.

Garo is just overall more popular and the bigger money draw.

And to be honest I don't recall Shougeki Gouraigan getting any rave reviews.

It was the best thing Inoue's done in ages (aside from the poker episode of Makai Senki). That's not saying much, though.

It kinda made me want to see Black Condor's actor in Garo, though.

Episode 10: Ryume is badass. She is my favorite watchdog from GARO so I am glad she got an episode in this. Great to see about her past and seeing a young D Ringo. Damn her priest powers keep her really really young with how old D Ringo got. That was a better episode of this series. I hope we get another bigger character next episode.

Why didn't they have a barrier up to keep people out? Or at lease a sign outside that said, "Stay Out, Mystic Box Full Of Horrors Inside"

I know it was for the plot's sake. But noway would that place be so wide open like that. While that sort of evil is inside.

What if that was Eyrith inside there? :eek:

Episode 10, or Don't Make Important Padlocks out of Paper. :p

Definitely one of the stronger episodes of this series and one that reminds me a lot of episode 2. I'm going to assume they had the same writers, given how both delved into the backstories of Gold Storm characters. Ryume herself continues to be incredibly awesome, but my favorite part was the surprise reveal of who the thieves were at the end. I got a pretty big laugh out of that. Overall, I thought this was a really fun episode with some good action, comedy, and character moments.

I find it kind of sad that in episode that appeared to be about Ryume (and we did get get a bit about her history) we learned more about D Ringo here than the entirety of Goldstorm, movie and series.

I don't mind it as much. I like that the Gold Storm writers are using this series to flesh out supporting characters like D Ringo, Zinga, and Amily. I think these are probably two of the strongest episodes (along with the Yuna/Cain one) because they feel like they actually add something to the franchise and aren't just forgettable one-off side missions. I'd love to get another one of these in the few episodes we have left, particularly an origin story for Tsuruhime so we can finally learn what the fucking hell is up with her crazy idiom speech.

Episode 11: It was great to see Tsubasa and Jabi again. That was a great pairing and they both kicked ass. I liked the in sight into Tsubasa's past and his connection with his friend. Also that he played a bit detective finding information was fun. One of the better episodes I'd say too.

You know, basically being a country boy it makes sense Tsubasa would be slightly confused by city life. Hell I know that one couple would have freaked me out. Still it was nice to see his motivation, and a bit of a more human side where his friend was concerned. And at least for now it looks like him and Jabi are becoming an item, or starting too at least. Or again, she did tell those girls that he was a stick in the mud and he was resistant to her help. That last one may be Tsubasa in general though.

Ah, now we're talking. I cannot believe it took until the penultimate episode to get anyone from the original series back. It was a pretty good episode, too. I was happy to see Tsubasa, but then I heard that voice in the bar and knew immediately who it belonged to. I will always, always be excited to get more Jabi.

I'm very curious to see what character(s) they saved for the finale.

Those two are going to produce one powerful Makai Knight.