Oh yeah, the heavy use of Indian and Hindu Mythology and themes most certainly made for a very unique feel to the whole show.

Also, funny bit when it comes to Shiva: I deadass did not realize they were talking about a compound at first whenever characters were discussing it. I just immediately assumed they were talking about another Kaiju or a God or something, haha. Thankfully, the final two episodes make it very clear what that group was talking about the whole time.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON GODZILLA: SINGULAR POINT

I could very easily see this show being divisive.

It's a very specific style of storytelling that I imagine won't work for everyone, especially those who watch Godzilla media to see the King himself blow stuff up.

The pacing lends itself more towards binging rather than casual viewing, the show itself is more based in the Godzilla multiverse rather than being about the monster itself, and the characters are very much in service to the heavy plot.

Heck, the characters themselves, for the most part atleast, are just serviceable. It was clear from the outset that the show's' primary focus was on the atmosphere, the mystery, and lots and lots of heavy science talk that makes people like me do double takes.

And yet... I think it all came together pretty well? The show is very honest about what it is and what it wants from the outset, and the way in which it's all presented managed to draw me in. And hey, speaking on a personal note here, I actually found it to be a refreshing change of pace from the media I've been experiencing recently.

Having lead characters who are actually smart for once is especially a big standout given that alot of the more recent stories I've gone through have been full of either muscleheads or characters whom the story insists are smart and yet are never actually shown doing any thorough thinking about anything. The heavy use of Indian and Hindu themes was also something that I don't think I've ever seen before, making for even more of a unique experience.

Serviceable or not, I also did at the very least like all of our main cast. Are they super well developed with arcs that span the whole show? No, but their personalities and the way interact with both eachother and the world forming around them really did endear me to them. I never found any of the characters annoying, or stale, or even a waste of space. They have their roles to play, they play them well. And heck, at the very least alot of them are proactive, something a certain other show I've been watching recently fumbles hard on.

Beyond that though, the score is nice, the animation is great for the most part, and the action, when it shows up, is always great fun to watch. Biggest plus goes to the overall atmosphere of the show though. They absolutely nailed it for me on that front, and it's what kept me hooked all throughout the show.

Maybe one day I'll look back and go "Eh, Singular Point was just fine." But right now, with the headspace I currently have, I come out liking it and feeling it as something refreshing to watch experienced. As such, I give the show a 4/6. It's not some perfect show that'll absolutely blow you away, but if you recognize what it's trying to do and are down with lots of science talk and Kaiju investigation(and Jet Jaguar being the best like he always has been), then I think people will find stuff to enjoy. I sure did.

There's something about the tone and atmosphere that makes this reminiscent of the Showa Era Godzilla Films, and I love them for that.

If you watch a Godzilla or most other old films from the 50s and 60s, there's not too much going on with characters, or at least not as much as people expect nowadays, that this show nails. They just feel like they fit into that timeline, showing that the creators cared about how to make it like a Godzilla film during his Golden Age. Also worth noting, the Characters were designed by the Blue Exorcist, I forget if it was the Creator or the Character Designer, yet another talent to compliment the Kaiju Designer.

The Red Dust, based off Red Tides, a phenomenon in which some bacteria pollute the water and sometimes the air, which works for Godzilla in making him radioactive and dangerous to be around, while not necessarily making him that. So much thought is put into how to make Godzilla work in a modern environment, while staying true to what made him what he is in the first place. Sure, there's lots of times you can compare Godzilla Ultima with Shin Godzilla and say they're basically the same, but as we've seen from this Anime, there's much more to it that makes them not even close.

It's definitely not for everyone. All the science talk, the expectations people have been used to in this day and age, and what really makes Godzilla more than just a giant monster who wrecks things (sure, that's kind of what he is, and I love him for that, but that's beside the point). But Godzilla: Singular Point brings something familiar and different to the table with Godzilla, and that's what I think is a good direction after Shin Godzilla.

Toho's been trying to reintegrate Godzilla in a way that works for all of his fans and invite new ones into the fray, and I've heard many people say they don't know what they're doing with Godzilla anymore. Maybe it's because people are happy with the Monsterverse Godzilla (I like him too, but Japan's Godzilla, especially Tokusatsu, will always be my favorite), or maybe because said Godzilla is more in line with the Godzilla we know and love, while Japan is trying to find a different way to make him while we have the traditional one (though, I'm quite satisfied with Godzilla vs Kong being the finale, I don't want them becoming the MCU), which I think is for the best.

Anyway, I've nerded out on a lot of Godzilla Lore, and I'm quite positive I've either missed or misinterpreted many details, heck, I'm not even sure if some of the connections and references were intentional or not. But either way, I should revisit this show again, since I quite enjoyed it, and I'll probably get back to work on my own projects in the meantime.

Also, see you later when Sentai becomes The Boys from the same author who gave us five women to choose for a bride...

...Please elucidate.

So, basically, the author that made The Quintessential Quintuplets made a new Manga about Sentai. Here's the trailer for the upcoming Anime Adaption.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siGj9OJ9R8o

Personally, I kind of enjoy the Manga (localized as Go! Go! Loser Ranger! also known as Sentai Daishikkaku or the Ranger Rejects), which has been described to me as "The Boys but Sentai."

Oh! Right, I remember hearing about this. It seemed interesting, though I dunno if I'll be watching it immediately. Looking forward to your thoughts if you watch it though.

Hey all, so while I don't have the next show that I plan to cover in this thread chosen quite yet(though I do have a suspicion on what it might be), I am here to say that general updates to this thread are gonna be a bit more spaced out than usual for awhile, as I have another project that I'm gonna be focusing on for a bit. You'll all see what exactly that is soon enough, and if you like my style of writing and wanna see what I'm up to, well, stay tuned, and I hope to see you all there.

I just wanted everyone to know that I commissioned this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1E0NZ4k6XQ

Tonight I completed my third foray into the Pretty Cure franchise.

Heart Catch is one that I had a passing familiarity with going in, as it's often considered one of the best seasons in the entire franchise and responsible for giving the series a rather big newbie boom when it aired.

And just to get it out of the way, I will say that I don't think it's as good as Kira Kira or Hug. Infact I think it's a touch overrated?

Don't get me wrong, I do still think that the show overall is good and I had a good time watching it, but from what cursory reading I did around the internet, I do feel as though its reputation precedes it a bit. If you're going in expecting one of the greatest magical girl shows of all time, temper the expectation a bit.

From what I can tell, most of the praise the show tends to give comes from its third act, which is very good I will say, but it doesn't account for the rest of the show, which in my opinion, while good, isn't anything super incredible. Again, nothing wrong with that, but I myself was kinda unsure as to why this was considered one of if not the best season.

For example, one point viewers tend to give is the show's' "realistic/dark" scenarios it presents. And yes, they are there. But it's mostly in the later parts of the show, with most episodes actually being rather light and fluffy. Fun to be sure, but in terms of more mature subject matter it sort of doesn't compare to, say, Hug, which had depression and anxiety as running themes throughout almost the entirety of its run.

I also think that one thing that definitely threw me off when it came to comparison of the two shows that came before it is pacing. Now, the pacing in Heart Catch isn't exactly bad, but the advantage that a la Mode and Hug had over it was better utilization of the character arcs they had. Many an episode had to deal with a personal struggle of a member of the team, and as such even when the main "plot" wasn't exactly moving forward, it still felt as though progress was being made at a steady pace.

Heart Catch, meanwhile, definitely only brings up character arcs once in awhile and a good chunk of episodes are instead all about side characters who never appear again and aren't all that memorable, which in turn made it feel as though the show was coming to a dead stop at a handful of points. Heck, Chypre and Coffret, two of the mascot characters, are barely even characters in HC, especially in comparison to Pekorin from Kira and Harry from Hug, who had fully fleshed out arcs and multiple aspects to their characters and personalities. Heck, we learn basically nothing about the big bad!

But, all of that aside, Heart Catch does do what it does have to it rather well. Even if the arcs weren't as prominent, I did like most of the cast. It has one of the best movies in the franchise so far. The soundtrack goes incredibly hard. And most of the fight scenes are outstanding. It's also easy to see how this would be the show that would sow the seeds for alot of staples in the franchise going forward, whether or not one feels certain things are done better or not. It's also clear that the show did actually have a roadmap and that most of the plot wasn't exactly made up on the spot. Again, I did have a good time with the show, it just wasn't incredible to me.

As such, I give Heart Catch Pretty Cure a 4/6. It doesn't live up to the hype surrounding it nor does it have the big aspects I appreciated most about the previous two Cure seasons I've seen, but what it does have it does do rather well, and I can definitely see why it's commonly recommended as an entry point into the franchise as a whole. It's good, just don't go in expecting to be absolutely blown away by it.

Understandable.

I watched it first because I heard it was a good starter and was basically the second of the two series (Fresh being the first) to really lay the groundwork of what would come afterwards for a majority of the franchise. Enjoyed it quite a bit.

Glad you still had fun regardless of if it was overhyped or not though!

Yeah, it's a good show! It's just kind of a slower burn compared to other PreCure shows, which is kind of a funny thing to note when directed at a show brought to you by the people behind Dragon Ball Z and Casshern Sins. Nothing wrong with it, just not really what I was expecting to be in for.

https://i.imgur.com/JJAy2C6.png

One thing I'll say for Heartcatch is that when it goes hard, it goes hard. That 4 on 1 fight sequence with Dune is what I consider one of the best moments between the three shows. The combat in general is just uncontested right now.

...Granted, Kirakira was crippled by the network in this respect, but I'll stand by it.

Yeah the fight scenes are definitely top notch in Heart Catch. The one that always stands out most to me is the fight in episode 5, because it's against a generic monster and had no business being as well done as it was.

THIS IS BEING CROSS-POSTED HERE FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES AND ALSO TECHNICALLY AN APRIL FOOL'S JOKE

...


I get the feeling I might know what some of you are thinking right now.

"Haha, funny April Fool's' joke DS. But we all know Saban's' Masked Rider is trash and you can't seriously be comparing it to Kamen Rider Black Sun."

In which I'll respond with one very basic question: Is it really that clear cut? Afterall, how many of you have seen both shows, let alone Masked Rider in and of its own right? And if you have, do you even remember it clearly?

Heck, I'll flat out admit that originally, the review I'm about to share did actually start off as a total joke. I went into MR with the full intent to mock it, and then proceed to write this review in the most ironic way I possibly could. The show had such a bad reputation, it had to be incredibly easy to do, right?

But then I saw the first episode, and then the second, and then the third... and what I ended up getting was a show that, while I wouldn't so much as call it an underrated classic or anything, had a surprising amount of heart put into it. It had some genuinely funny comedy, heartwarming moments, and a surprisingly decent amount of character development and consideration for the script.

That, combined with the quote from Shirakura got me to seriously consider: Does Masked Rider actually have any sort of leg up on Black Sun? Afterall, he felt the need to specifically call out this show from nearly two decades ago, and confidently at that. So is there actually a sort of discussion to be had on how the show from Saban adapts elements of Kamen Rider Black RX VS how Amazon reimagined elements from Kamen Rider Black?

Well, my mission today is to get to the bottom of that. As such, I present to you all:


Let's get started.

Action and Visual Flair

One running theme that's going to become apparent throughout almost this entire review is how BS at first glance would seem to dominate in every category, but as you look beneath the surface of both it and MS, a legitimate argument can be made over which show handles what it has in a more satisfying way.

Kamen Rider Black Sun is a show made very recently, and as such has the inherent advantage of higher budget, better technology, and many more effective filming techniques having been discovered since the 80s, which is when the tokusatsu that it's rebooting(Black) debuted. And given the type of show that Black Sun is, there is alot more focus on the drama of its plot rather than the action of your usual Kamen Rider fair. Thus almost every action scene is more quick, to the point, and alot gorier in order to appeal to an older audience.

So that's gotta mean it's overall better than the visuals of Saban's' Masked Rider, you know? Afterall, the show cribs stock footage from Kamen Rider Black RX, so you can't really count it as they're not putting any effort into their own scenes, right?


Actually, no. Even if you don't want to give Saban credit for using the footage from Black RX(which in itself is pretty fun to watch most of the time), there was actually a surprising amount of consideration put into how to utilize said footage. Making sure to match Kotaro's' outfits, filming specific transitional scenes so the plot of the given episode would make sense, making sure to mostly use footage where the Japanese actor's' face was obscured whenever they had to use a scene where Kotaro wasn't transformed, etc.

Sure, it wasn't always the most seamless, especially when they'd dip into footage for ZO and J, but it's easy to see that consideration was put into making things line up as smoothly as they possibly could. And what little original action scenes they did film(mostly the times Dex would fight untransformed) were choreographed in such a way as to give its target audience something to smile about.

If you ask me this actually makes the section kind of a tough call. Do you side with the more modern, movie-like aesthetic of BS, or do you admire the effort MS went through to utilize what they were given? Me personally, at the end of the day, I side with which I found more visually stimulating and interesting to watch, as that's sort of the entire point of visuals, you know?

You can say I'm cheating or that I'm biased if you want, but at the end of the day, my eyeballs were far more intrigued by the antics going on with the American show. Both the original and the reused footage.

Plus, if I really felt that the reuse of footage were an outright cheat, then that would mean there's no good justification for Kamen Rider Black Sun recreating the opening of Kamen Rider Black, music and all, shot for shot, now is there?


Point goes to Saban's' Masked Rider.

Music and Atmosphere

Music is sort of an odd one to talk about for me, in that I didn't find either show's' score to be all that memorable or notable.

Black Sun has a score that might as well not even exist outside of its opening and ending themes, and Masked Rider, due to its low budget, had about six songs original to it, and sometimes even borrowed music from Power Rangers to compensate.

So I guess what it comes down to is, how do those theme songs hold up against each other, and how do they contribute to the overall tones of the show that they're attached to?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r41R0BKosVw

I'll admit, BS actually does great here, as the opening theme really does let you know straight away that you're watching a show that's trying to take itself incredibly seriously, and "Did you see the sunrise" is an incredibly good song that was wisely placed as the ending theme despite how easy it would be to use as an opener.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjlXqCSZpQU

MS however has a theme song that is rather divisive, and it's easy to see why, but at the same time, I also get what Saban was going for with it? I'm not a fan of the vocals, but I understand wanting the song to sound like a sort of tribal chant to not only distinguish the show from PR, but to also sell how the Masked Rider powers in the show's' setting are inhereted; Passed down since the days of old on the planet Edenoi.

Unfortunately, it has the double-edged sword of not really fitting the tone of the show as a whole, and the song itself works way better as an insert theme than one that preps you for the kind of story you're about to experience. Let's just say that the idea of a tribal theme song would be done much better years later with a different toku franchise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTHBOsctK0A

Okay, so it's clear that Kamen Rider Black Sun takes the lead with its musical budget, but does that mean it wins in terms of its overall atmosphere?

Actually, no. Because you see, atmosphere isn't just engrossing drama that makes your heart drop. It comes in all sorts of different flavors. Sure, the adult-aimed Amazon toku does its job in being very dour and dramatic, but Saban's' Masked Rider's' aim: To be something fun and uplifting for kids, is achieved as well. It has the sort of warm and wholesome feel that many shows don't actually capture all too well anymore, almost as if those who make these shows try to avoid it.

So if you're talking atmosphere specifically, the two are actually very even! But in the end, that means that the music is the deciding factor, and as such, I gotta give it up.

Point goes to Black Sun.

Plot, Messages, and Themes

Politics.

It's a big debate on whether or not politics have any place in entertainment, but whether you're for or against it, there's no denying that BS dives headfirst into a political landscape that's sure to be divisive.

I myself do not like talking about politics in general, and that, combined with how extensive political discussion is against the rules of the board that this is being written for, means that I'll be doing my best to not get into it too much. But given the very nature of the story itself, I do feel the need to point out that, regardless of one's' political leaning, it seems like this show was outright designed to just stir controversy for the sake of it, rather than have any sort of concrete point.

Because what starts off like a "simple" story about prejudice and the cycle of violence and hatred that erupts from it slowly turns into a insane diatribe about how in the end, we're all monsters and how true peace will only be attained when the "enemy"(whoever that is) is gotten rid of. By violent force if necessary.


Combine that with a bunch of moments that parallel real life to the point of being tasteless, as well as the show being outright advertised as controversial in its trailers and I honestly think that rather than have any sort of theme, moral, or idea that it wanted to cling to, Kamen Rider Black Sun instead just wanted to grab everyone's' attention via attacking them personally, which, while certainly a great strategy for viewership in the short term, more often than not makes your tale become more and more forgotten about the longer time goes on.

People generally don't like to be antagonized, and that's exactly what Black Sun does to its audience. Very directly, infact.

Even putting all that aside, the overall plot of the show really doesn't make any sense once you start to break it down. Sure, there's stuff that's blatantly meant to be allegorical, but even despite that you still need to have the internal logic of your story and its characters make sense. The main issue is inconsistency without much, if any, explanation. Stuff like how the King Stones actually work, whether or not the Creation King is actually sentient, and how Kaijin biology actually works are all flip-flopped on, made even worse by all of those aspects being presented as important plot points.

In essence, BS doesn't really have much of a point or even clear idea to focus on, yet it pretends that it does, which is incredibly frustrating to see play out to say the absolute least.

But hey, I could see someone making the argument that the subject matter that Kamen Rider Black Sun tackles is incredibly complex, and as such it's inherently much more thought provoking, and as such better, than anything some cheesey kids show from the 90s would have to offer, right?

My response is that you get off your high horse.

Okay, maybe that's a bit direct, but here's what I'm getting at: Making something more complicated than what it needs to be is almost never a good thing. The term "beauty in simplicity" exists for a reason. Is Saban's Masked Rider an incredibly simple show, especially by comparison? Yes, but that's not a weakness. Infact, I'd argue that it's the show's' biggest strength!


It's your very average monster-of-the-week toku show designed as something fun for families to watch together, and in that respect, it succeeds! Sure, it's nothing psychologically introspective, but for the morals it tries to teach to kids, it never comes across as a double standard, or demeaning, or talking down to those who watch it. Each episode has a clear point that it wants to make, and it makes sure that you know and understand where it's coming from alongside some fun superhero action to go with it.

Thus, Masked Rider never once feels confused in what it's talking about, nor does it ever broach any sort of subject matter designed to make those watching it feel bad about themselves. The worst it has is a character that some viewers might find annoying. It's lighthearted, heartwarming, and generally just a fun, simple plot to experience. And really, for a medium that's more often than not designed for escapism, that's really all one can ask for alot of times.

BS can morally posture and talk about how people suck all it wants, but that very rarely ever makes for engaging or entertaining television. MS meanwhile, invites everyone to come and have a fun ride along with it, which I find much more pleasing.

Point goes to MS.

Characters

I'll say it outright: I found almost none of the major characters in Black Sun to be particularly likable. And what few I did were killed off, which is in no way a method of which to keep me attached to the story you're telling.

Many character motivations don't even make any sense. The biggest example to me being that, upon the "reveal" that the death of the Creation King would be the slow death of the Kaijin as a species, the only justification given is a statement amount to "Yeah but that's equality" which greatly confuses me, to say the absolute least. But it's apparently enough justification for our heroes!

The supporting cast meanwhile is entirely unmemorable, which is a stark contrast to Masked Rider, actually. Masked Rider's' characters, while not exactly complex, are all very likable if not memorable. Helped by the small cast size overall as well as some surprisingly good character development for alot of them. Is it alot of sitcom tropes that we've seen time and time again? Sure, but they're handled well enough, and atleast the characters themselves are consistent and never act out of their established characters like how they very often do in Black Sun.

Heck, even if you're one of the people who can't stand Ferbus, people sure as heck still remember him all these years later, now don't they? And at the very least, Ferbus didn't stare directly at the screen and call me a monster for daring to watch a tv show for the sake of entertainment like how Aoi does.

But hey, maybe you don't care about any of that. Afterall, the big appeal to any superhero show for many is, well, the title hero. And as such, let's compare Kotaro of BS with Dex of MS. Their personalities, their development, their importance to the story, and, given the nature of both shows being reinterpretations/reimaginings, how they compare to the original Kotaro of Kamen Rider Black and Black RX fame.

On paper, it's easy to see what the reboot version of Kotaro is supposed to be: A man who's become so broken down by the world that he's lost all agency in life. And it's only when meeting a young girl full of hope who he comes to see as a surrogate daughter that his vigor is renewed and rises up to be the hero the world needs, because that trope sure as heck hasn't been done to death at this point(see: Logan, The Last of Us, The Walking Dead, etc).


But then not only does it turn out that not only does much of Kotaro's' motivation come from his left over frustrations of an old love of his, but that he's not actually the main character. Instead the main character is actually Aoi, a young activist girl who is frankly, not actually equipped to properly handle the complexities involved in the sort of situation that she's gotten herself in.

Now, I'm not here to debate on whether or not this is some sort of brilliant point that the story is making or whatever. I'm more upset that the title character is infact not the main focal point despite all evidence to the contrary. Advertising for the show would lead one to believe that the show would extensively focus on the duality between Kotaro and his broth Nobuhiko, but it doesn't. It's all about Aoi who not only isn't Black Sun, but isn't at all an engaging character.

Have I experienced stories where this sort of thing has worked? Sure, but it was incredibly messy with BS; Not at all helped by just how unlikable I found everyone, whether it be their acting, how their arcs went, or just via the sheer lack of any sort of redeeming qualities.


Masked Rider, meanwhile, surprised me with just how much great development Dex and the people of his home planet got. Dex begins as an awkward loner who doesn't at all get Earthlings and their culture. Taking many statements incredibly literally, thinking that the way people on TV talk is how people in real life commonly interact, and many a joke or expression just flying way over his head.

But over time, he grows to love the world he was sent to protect and the people on it, his inherent awkardness becomes something that he purposefully harnesses for his own sense of humor, and ontop of all that, he's someone who can't stand to see injustice and won't hesitate to jump in to help those in need; Whether it be from a monster attack or simply needing help with some menial task like getting better at an arcade game to stick it to a bully.

So I ask you, which one sounds like they more embody the spirit of the original Kotaro of Black/RX?


Ontop of that, the world building of Dex and his people of Edenoi is surprisingly good, unlike that of the Kaijin in Black Sun. Dex's' people evolved from insects, and as such not only can they talk to them, but being compared to insects or aspects of them is seen as a great honor, things such as bug spray make them sick, and jobs that we see as incredibly normal, such as exterminators, are seen as horrifying by Dex. Heck, even his uncle, Count Dregon, the big bad of the show, gets a surprising amount of humanization in the episode detailing an old Edenoi folktale, which is way more than I can say about any of the antagonists of BS.

So, yes, turns out that the simplistic kids show designed to sell toys and give families a giggle has more robust and better developed characters than the "sophisticated" show aimed at adults that wants to be taken seriously.

It's no contest. The final point goes to Masked Rider.

Final Thoughts

Look, I don't care if you think that Kamen Rider Black Sun has some deep, important message that everyone needs to hear or not, that's not what this is about. This is about its internal structure as a story and whether or not I feel it's an overall enjoyable sit. Which, well, I don't think it is. It's pretentious, boring, and is another contributor to the misguided belief that in order for a story to be properly adult-oriented, it needs to be a dreary, nihilistic story full of unlikable nothing characters that cribs off of something pre-existing.

If a moral point or a critique of the government or whatever angle they were shooting for was all it took in order to make an engrossing story, then I don't think other entries in the franchise such as Kamen Rider Ghost would get nearly as many complaints that they do. And unfortunately for Black Sun, I find it to have some of the worst plot structure and character work that I've seen in the franchise so far -- And I've seen the majority of it by this point. Even if you remove its status as a reboot, it doesn't stand on its own two legs very well.

Saban's' Masked Rider, however, has no such hangups. It knows what it wants to be: An inviting show for everyone to enjoy. And while I'm not about to sit here and make the claim that it's some sort of underrated classic that everyone should go watch right this minute, I will say that it surprisingly had alot more to it than what alot of people say. Its reputation is in the toilet, and unfairly so. There's a surprising amount of genuine heart put into this "dumb little kids show" from the 90s, to the point that I never regretting watching a single episode, regardless of the "~objective~" qualities of it.

In short, Kamen Rider Black Sun tells you that everyone's a monster, including you, and that you always will be as long as there's injustice in the world. Whereas Saban's' Masked Rider tells you that despite what hardships might come in life, you can always rise up to overcome, and reach a better tomorrow.

Which message is the one that you'd rather be widespread?

To me, the answer is obvious. The winner is Saban's' Masked Rider.

When you think of a "gateway" into a franchise, what qualifications come to mind?

It's a topic that comes up alot in tokusatsu, and one I imagine is also discussed fairly often in any franchise that's been running a long time.

Some say to always start where everything began, some say to start with what they think is the best entry, and some say to start at the point said franchise started to get its "modern" elements.

Me? Well, most of the time I say to start at the start, because hey, there's a reason this franchise became a franchise, right? It's slightly hypocritical of a suggestion coming from me though, since there are a number of different franchises where I started at different points in its run.

I bring all of this up not because Healin' Good is my first foray into the Pretty Cure franchise(that would be Hug!), but because I feel like, if one isn't going to just gun for the season that sounds the most interesting to them or the very first, HG stands as a perfect example of what I feel a gateway entry into any long runner should be.

And by that, I mean that this show, while I wouldn't call it the best the franchise has to offer(again, Hugtto!), it takes alot of the standard elements of your average Precure season and does them very well, without feeling the need to reinvent the wheel in any sort of sense. It's about Magical Girls fighting COVID, and the life lessons they learn along the way. No more, no less. But yet, it almost never drops the ball, and remains very entertaining throughout.

The actions scenes, animation, and music are as stellar as always. The characters and their arcs are very likable in the way they interact and play out. The plot is simple, but fun. And in a nice little twist, the show actually offers a rather realistic take on moral obligations that I don't think I've ever seen any other kids show do period, let alone an anime aimed at young girls. The episode where the moral is that you are not infact obligated to help out everyone you meet, especially if they treat you horribly, is one I won't soon forget.

This is also the first Cure show inwhich my favorite character wasn't actually one of the Cures, but rather the mascot character, Princess Latte. Not only is her name one I could actually see someone naming their dog(trust me, that's less common in media than you think), but despite her just being for all intents and purposes a normal puppy, she has a well done arc about not wanting everyone to be burdened by you all the time. Sure, it's the shortest arc out of everyone in the cast, and both it and her are very straightforward, but that's the beauty of it all. It's there, it's done well, it's over.

And I think that's how I'd describe Healin' Good Precure overall. The phrase "beauty in simplicity" might as well be the tagline they put on the DVD set. It's an all around fun, simple show that I had a fun time watching. Is it something super stellar that totally blew me away? No, but it didn't need to be. It was what it was, and I dare not demand it be anything else.

I give this entry in the franchise a 4/6.

https://i.imgur.com/rLGIgT6.png

Earth is the best, but Latte is good.

You won't hear any complaints from me!

Hello! Hi! I plan to end off this "Year of Miniseries" with Gamera Rebirth!

Given that this is my first piece of Gamera media outside of the old SEGA CD video game, I have no idea how this is gonna go or what to expect.

So to give you my short first impressions, while this premiere wasn't anything amazing, I did overall like it, and am looking forward to the next five episodes over the next five days.

Boco, Joe, and Junichi are three friends whom will soon be separated by various things happening in their lives as they grow up, but are resolute in their desire to remain best friends forever, and even try to find a way to stay in contact with one another over long distances(this show takes place before the invention of cell phones).

And for the most part, the episode plays out like your average coming of age kid's' movie. There's bullies, there's the pressures of adults, and the fun had between friends during summer vacation. Things take a dramatic turn though when sudden, dragon-like creatures known as Gyaos begin attacking.

It's a fairly standard affair all around when it comes to things like this, and I'm not exactly holding that against the episode. The primary duty of a first episode is to introduce the audience to the base idea of the show that they're about to watch, and that's just what this episode does. Sure, the animation is a bit jank, but the main three characters are all likable, and when it gets to the Kaiju action at the end, it's alot of fun!

So with that, yeah, I don't have any sort of deeper analysis to give other than saying that, yeah, I had fun, and I look forward to more.

By the way, I noticed that in Japanese children's films the action very often takes place in the past, and sometimes quite distant. It seems that the directors/screenwriters feel more confident in the nostalgic scenery of their own childhood or are simply afraid of embarrassing themselves in style:
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KwXy...1.09.20_PM.png

All I know about Gamera is that one of his old costumes was modified into the first Ultra Series monster Pagos.

That's fairly common in US stories too, and I don't blame writers for going that route, honestly. It's alot easier to portray the time period you grew up in, where you were more out and about in the world, than the one that appears as you grow older and become more secluded.

Just like Godzilla!

ERUPTING, BURNING FINGER!

This episode's' heart was in the right place, though the plot was definitely a bit contrived, and it did some tropes that tend to annoy me a little.

The general premise is that the local military science team assigned to investigate the Kaiju decide to hook the kids up with communicators. The Kaiju tend to prey on children, and as survivors, the four main kids would likely be hunted again.

Which also somewhat begs the question: Did the other three bullies who hung out with Brody get eaten off screen? Like, sure, they're not main characters, but they were also involved in that initial Kaiju attack, so like... where are they?

Anyway, Brody then gets the absolutely not at all stupid idea to try and hunt the Kaiju with the other kids in tow. And I guess because kids are stupid Boco and Junichi are all for the idea. Joe, meanwhile, is against it every step of the way. And unfortunately, the show seems to portray him as the one ultimately in the wrong. This annoyed me.

"The complainer is always wrong" is a trope that is almost never done well in my experience. Every time, Joe brings up very valid points. Such as: "Hey, we're only the kids. The hell are we supposed to do against a Kaiju? We'd get eaten immediately." But I guess that's not solid enough logic for anyone involved. Granted, the episode does throw him at bit of a bone at the end with the drama between Brody and his father, but even so.

There's also some background drama with the military that serves as the B plot, and whle not perfect, I felt it was handled rather decently. The Commander(Brody's' father) being portrayed as a guy who's rough and stubborn, but ultimately well meaning was actually a pretty refreshing sight to see, given how often the "unreasonably authority figure" character archetype is in media. The two lead scientists were also likable in their own way, even if they don't exactly have many layers as of yet.

But of course the main highlight(for me anyway) is right in the tagline of the show: Gamera vs Kaiju. Seeing Gamera totally brutalize the enemy Kaiju is once again a total delight, only elevated by him performing Burning Finger from G-Gundam as his finishing attack. And after seeing Ultraman Nexus, I did appreciate the actual explanation we got as to why the military doesn't trust Gamera initially.

Just like the first episode, this one is just overall fine. A decent time killer if nothing else.

Junichi takes center stage this episode, as such we get more development of her character.

Yes, Junichi is a girl, apparently. And with that revelation, I gotta say, it really feels to me like Gamera Rebirth was a show that got written like 15 years ago and only just put into production in recent times.

Not that that's an inherently bad thing, mind you. But it definitely does explain alot of the cliches that the show unapologetically uses.

Still, for what it is, it's a nice little bit of character focus. Showing how Junichi became friends with Boco and Joe, as well as showcasing her own fears of being too different from her friends and thus unable to form a strong bond with them. It's the sort of thing many can relate to, I'd think.

Junichi isn't the only one with a bit of development though. We get a bit more background on the two lead scientists, and there's also some foreshadowing going on with Boco, suggesting that he's somehow directly tied to the Kaiju. And in terms of the plot, we're introduced to these strange crystals that Kaiju leave behind when they die.

The majority of the episode taking place both on and underwater also made for a rather unique set piece in terms of both the character interactions as well as the big fight between Gamera and Sigra. This also marks the first time that the humans are able to make a lasting impact on the enemy Kaiju rather than leaving the entire thing to Gamera. While not the most heart pumping of bouts, it was definitely a nice change of pace.

Overall, it's a rather nice package. Not incredibly stellar, but a nice time even so.

How fitting that an episode about a split in the group features a Kaiju that has a sword for a head.

Speaking of which, I think I used to have a toy of that Kaiju as a kid. Anyway...

While a few characterization aspects are a bit jumbled, the episode overall executes its idea fairly well, with everyone in the group having differences of opinion and some more backstory for the cast revealed.

The premise being that as the Eustace Foundation continues to do more and more suspicious things, everyone in the main six debates as to whether or not to trust that the Foundation means well, or to say "screw this" and abandon the Kaiju research project altogether.

That's all well and good, but where things are a bit messy in terms of the writing are the finer details on the characterization of some characters. For example, when Boco is opening up to Brody about he Boco has been getting bullied for most of his life, Brody shows some empathy as if Brody himself weren't an established bully for a third of this show's' run time.

I also didn't like how Emiko and Boco call James and Joe cowards about their decisions to get the hell out of dodge when both frankly have some very good reasoning as to why they'd wanna distance themselves from this entire ordeal as much as possible. Heck, this is hammered in when, frankly, Joe is basically proven right once the Kaiju attacks and Gamera nearly loses. And that's ontop of the Foundation heads dodging simple questions from James.

Still, the episode's' heart is in the right place, and as a transition into the overall climax of the story, it works pretty well. Learning how exactly Boco and Joe became friends what exactly Joe has to deal with on a day to day basis was nice too. Joe's' home life is an unfortunate reality that some kids have to face, even today. Though that, plus the extensive swearing does make me wonder who exactly the target audience for this show is. Because until now it seems as though Rebirth was aimed at kids, but now I don't know.

Either way, I was entertained, and the scene at the end has me very interested in where exactly this overall plot is headed.

Despite pulling a really dumb twist at the start, I rather liked this episode.

I meant it when I said it felt as if Gamera Rebirth was written a decade and a half ago. Because plot twist: Emiko is evil despite no foreshadowing at all!

But that aside, the episode overall commands a very heavy atmosphere without ever breaking it in any sort of stupid way. And the sacrifice that both Joe and Gamera do at the end is genuinely heartfelt.

Sure, there's the cliches that other popular anime figures like Char Aznable helped pioneer all throughout the plot of this one, but I do really have to give the episode props for doing it best to play those tropes for all that they're worth, rather than being at all pretentious about them like we'd see in modern stories.

It's straightforward, it's simple, but it never once does anything to disturb the flow that it's trying to create. And that is something I greatly appreciate.

Gotta admit, James being Steve Jobs was not something I saw coming.

Regardless, the final episode is an overall bittersweet ending to a show that, at its core, is about growing up. And Kaiju fights.

Is it breaking any sort of new ground in doing that? No. But what it does do it does very well. The final battle being between a weakened Gamera and a superpowered Gyaos made for a very interesting sequence.

Ontop of that is the well done oppressive and downtrodden atmosphere throughout the majority of the episode, which is further elevated by some wonderful acting on the part of the entire cast. Ryan Bartley especially kills it as Boco; Doing a great job portraying just how broken the kid is by now.

It's thankfully not entirely bleak though. In the end the day is saved in its entirety, and the mid-credits sequence serves as not only a sequel hook, but also a glimmer of hope containing some things thought lost throughout the span of the adventure. And hey, should Gamera Rebirth ever get a second season, I'll say upfront that I'd have no problem watching it.

The entire experience might not be anything mind blowingly subversive, but it's presented entirely in earnest, and that made me respect it all the more. I won't say it's a perfect ending, but I am for sure satisfied with it, and enjoyed it all the same. Good stuff.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON GAMERA REBIRTH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NJ6QqvhsiM

Gamera Rebirth has the same director as the Netflix Godzilla Trilogy.

And sure, that might come as a cause for concern given how poorly received that trilogy was overall, but I'm here to say that this show was a vast improvement.

Don't get me wrong, the show is by no means perfect. The animation on the humans is incredibly jank, some plot points come out of nowhere, and a specific twist is very eyeroll inducing.

But at its core, Rebirth has something that more and more shows, especially those reviving a previous franchise, seem to lack more and more of: Heart. This "Netflix Original" does its best to pay ode to the very reason that it's able to be made in the first place, and goes all in on the story it wants to tell.

Yeah, the script might feel like the sort of cliche ridden story you'd find 15 years ago, but never once does any of it comes across as bored, or demeaning, or trying too hard to come across as smart. What it promises is a coming of age story featuring Gamera fighting against five different Kaiju, and that's exactly what it is. No more, no less.

And damnit, I absolutely respect that. My biggest fear throughout the entire time I was watching the show was that it'd start making incredibly inappropriately timed jokes out of nowhere, or start winking at the audience about how stupid its own story is, or pull some really out of nowhere twist in an attempt to be smart. But no, the entire thing is presented entirely in earnest, with the voice cast even doing their best to deliver what they're given.

All this is of course bolstered by a very memorable score alongside some very fun Kaiju action, while never once dropping the melancholy atmosphere that the show continuously aims for as it goes on. Even when a seed of hope is planted at the very end of the show, it feels genuinely earned, rather than simply coming out of nowhere just for the sake of a happy ending out of something akin to Blassreiter or Godzilla Minus One. It doesn't talk down to or preach to its audience. It simply presents a case for why many people got into giant monster movies, and by extension, Gamera, in the first place.

Is it anything life changing or incredibly spectacular? No. But it does show that Gamera is a friend to all children. And now that those kids are older, he, and by extension the franchise, will continue to be their friend as long as they're around.

I give Gamera Rebirth a 4/6.

What do you all think? Should I add this to the list?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kug8oveFiU

I'm upvoting just to find out what it is ;)

Now this... this is more of what I wanted out of Heart Catch.

That's not to say it's a one to one comparison, mind you. What I more mean is, this show has alot of what made HC good while adding more things I prefer.

Sure, the fights aren't as good, but nearly every episode is focused on the journey, interactions, and development of our main cast. There's never a moment where things feel like they've ground to a halt. Well, mostly. I'll get to that.

And given how long ago Heartcatch came out, whereas Hirogaru Sky is the most recent entry, it really does feel like "old + new" was the entire focus here, especially given that this season celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Pretty Cure franchise as a whole.

While Hirogaru retains alot of the more simplistic elements that I've grown to appreciate the franchise for, it also does alot of firsts and adds its own spin on things to keep it fresh. For example, while it is an anniversary season, it celebrates the Precure legacy in a way different than what Hug did: Mainly in doing small references and callbacks rather than direct tributes.

This can also be seen immediately with our cast and how it's handled right away. The first Blue Cure as the lead character. The first (legally) adult Cure who's a part of the main team. The first White Cure who can transform on her own. The first direct successor to a Legendary Cure. And last but arguably most importantly: The very first Male Precure who's a part of the main team in Tsubasa, also known as Cure Wing.

And that last bit can be a bit of sticking point, I've noticed. While most of the reception surrounding Tsubasa has been positive(atleast from what I've seen), I have read a few comments scattered about expressing some disappointment. Don't get me wrong, I disagree mostly, but many comments do have a few valid points. They mainly express disappointment in how Tsubasa moreso fills the "Fairy Cure" archetype via him being a bird rather than a fully human boy, as well as him not expressing many typically masculine features(both physical and mental), which would in turn help spread acceptance for "typical" guys liking more feminine things.

I'll admit, I do get where they're coming from, especially given how Hugtto had Henri who openly expressed acceptance for feminine men. But I do still think there's value in Tsubasa not only existing on the team, but the way in which he is portrayed. Basically, HS tries to focus alot more on showing rather than telling, and what they're trying to do with Tsubasa is normalize boys and girls being friends and sharing common interests. "Feminine" hobbies included, such as babysitting.

Would I like to see other Boy Cures of various different personality types featured as the franchise goes on? Of course I would, but I feel as though Tsubasa is just another step in the right direction, with Henri having been the first. "Normalization" is the name of the game here, and another way in which that's showcased is with my personal favorite character of the group: Ageha, the first legally adult Cure in a main team as well as the first Pink Cure who isn't the leader of the pack. And the way she's normalized is in her backstory about how her parents got divorced, which, for those not in the know, is seen as a major disgrace over in Japan. It's never talked about in length, nor is the audience ever sat down for a preaching session. The show merely shows how good of a person Ageha is, and that she has nothing to be ashamed of.

Sky isn't all rainbows though, unfortunately. The lead villain is rather weak in terms of characterization and character motivation, there's a few weak episodes here and there, and as much credit as give Tsubasa as a talking point for representation, he's also the one who I feel has the weakest character arc overall. There's also alot of plot and setting elements that are only really relevant for a few episodes before getting dropped entirely. Granted, the focus is entirely on the characters rather than any sort of plot, but still, some rather interested stuff ends up getting lost along the way as a result.

But at the end of it all, Hirogaru Sky is still a wonderful addition to the Precure franchise, and even has the distinct honor of having my favorite Pretty Cure movie in All-Stars F, which was full of wonderful character interactions and development. And really, that's what I'm here for. While it's not my new favorite season(that's still Hugtto!) Hirogaru Sky Pretty Cure is still a really great time overall, and I'd highly recommend it for newcomers and veterans alike.

I give this season of Pretty Cure a very high 5/6.

https://i.imgur.com/nxmW8Z8.png

For the first blue in a lead roll, she absolutely delivered! A lot of things. She probably had the wildest swings between "what the hell" and "that's awesome" moments amongst the entire cast.

Oh man, this show drew me in right away.

I figured it would, as from the trailer I could tell that it had alot of aspects that I tend to love whenever they pop up in stories.

So what's this about? Metallic Rouge takes place in a future where humans have cultivated Mars, and live together with androids known as Neans(Neons?). The Neans are very much second class citizens, bound to forever serve humans.

But there are those who have started to break free of their oppressive human programming, and try to live their lives as they see fit. Among these are the Immortal Nine, a group of Neans that the government wants put down, and as such have our main character, Rouge, to execute them.

The plot setup alone is enough to have me intrigued, but episode 1 showcased alot of things that had me almost completely sure that this was show I'd be into. From the art style and colors that evoke a mid-2000s anime, to the heavy atmosphere of mystery and intrigue, I was hooked, and the first episode does a great job at world build and showcasing the baseline of what you're in for.

Despite being the target for takedown, Viola's' plight is very sympathetic and sad. Her plea as Rouge kills her to really examine the relationship between Humans and Neans was great, and it being set among a pretty solid action scene only elevated it. As seen with the Nean who gets his life blood stolen, and then thrown away as soon as his batteries run out showcases, Neans have it rough, and you're very much meant to sympathize with their plight.

That said, I also don't know if the show will give me a whole lot to talk about. Atleast if the show is structured like how this first episode was. But hey, this is only the introduction with which to lay the groundwork, so there's plenty of time for some surprises. As is though, I liked what I saw, and I look forward to more.

So I'm unsure if I'll have much to say on the episodes but we'll just play it by ear. I have decided I'll be doing an almost immediate rewatch of this show but through the lens of the dub since I went sub for the past 13 weeks. Figured it'd be fun to revisit this just to see how it flows in a more compact format than watching it over the course of 3 months.

That being said I've got to say the dub performances were pretty top notch on this one. It's been a while since I've actually seen a dub of a recent anime, so it's nice to hear.

As for the show itself, I was sold from minute one once the teaser dropped, and it was mainly just showing snippets from Viola's fight with Rouge alongside some brief glimpses of our main duo and some establishing shots we saw in this episode. And yet there was something so haunting about it that just immediately drew me in.

There was just this cool aesthetic to everything, from the visuals to the music. Not to mention I just immediately got Henshin Hero vibes from this and figured it'd be a good show to keep an eye on.

What probably helped (aside from the gorgeous design of Rouge's Gladiator form itself) was the teaser being accompanied by the piece Falling Stars and Moonlight, in which we hear a variant sung by Viola in the episode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWnxnF88eBo

The episode itself is mostly introducing characters, setting up intrigue, dropping us into this fairly fleshed out world. It's a lot to take in, but it makes for an interesting setting and premise. That said, from what little we do see of Rouge and Naomi interacting, it highlights one thing I love about this show, the character writing/interactions.

Just the way Rouge interprets Naomi's hums as not getting what she said and nearly droning on in repeats of the exact same dialogue until Naomi stops her was cute.

While I definitely have my issues with Metallic Rouge in regards to certain aspects, I ended up coming out of it enjoying myself despite it all. So here's hoping you'll find the same enjoyment I did.

This anime is in my plans.

The music in the show has definitely been good stuff so far, and I'm definitely gonna keep an ear open for it.

Here's to hoping you get to watch along soon!

This... this was quite the surprise.

With the first episode being so moody and downtrodden, I absolutely was not expecting a fun-filled, funny "filler" episode to follow suit.

And ya know what? It really worked out, because what came out of it was not some great establishment of the dynamic between Rouge and Naomi, but also an expansion of the world this show takes place in, and all done in an organic way.

I got some really genuine laughs out of this one! Highlights being Rouge refusing to share her chocolate, and Naomi wondering who the heck the hitchhiker that shows up halfway through the episode even is. And none of the intended humor ever came across as ill-timed or annoying, either.

As for the world building side of things, turns out that aliens also exists in this universe. They're very briefly mentioned in the first episode, but we get a bit more lore here. There are the Visitors, which are the aliens allied with humans, and the Usurpers, an invading force that humanity managed to push back with the help of both the Visitors and the invention of Neans.

The Nean part is of course what piqued my interest most, as it highlights how despite being the heroes of the war, afterward humanity would go on to treat them like garbage and slaves, unfortunately mirroring real life. And it's even showcased in real time with the old couple who appear to treat their Nean "friend" well, only to bemoan and degrade him when things begin to spiral out of control with the mercenary group known as the Sons of Ares showing up.

On that note, wait a minute. Aliens vs robots, the automation of transport, a backstory of humans allying with unknown forces, and a female lead character who's a robot. Why does this all sound so familiar?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5CgbSff6JI

NieR Automata. I have no doubt a big inspiration for this show was NieR Automata. And ya know, given that I like that game, I have no real complaints. Just like with this episode. Fun stuff all around.

Funnily enough I do think recently the various crew from the show did mention Tokusatsu being an actual inspiration, though I can't remember if they specified a show or not. That being said I wouldn't doubt Nier Automata being inspiration as well, you hit the similarities pretty well.

As far as the dub (re)watch goes, I've definitely noticed they decided to punch up Naomi's dialogue when compared to what I saw subbed. She is the more quirky of the bunch though so it does work out a bit. The other performances are all pretty good here too from what I could tell.

Overall it's a fun episode that lets us get to know our main duo a bit more with a hefty amount of world-building. Also a really fun chase sequence at the end. There's something amusing about Rouge being able to run fast enough to keep up not only with the Cylinder Heads but also the transport in order to help protect it. Like I know she's a super-powered toku hero, but it's still just fun to see her run like hell and keep up.

Yeah, Naomi is definitely the one who gets all the slang in terms of the script. And while I wouldn't call it optimal, I can atleast see the logic behind it.

Let's talk about Isaac Asimov, and more importantly, his three laws of robotics.

Simply put, Isaac Asimov was a sci-fi writer who redefined the genre as a whole, and created the "Three Laws" that many, many robot stories would use henceforth.

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

Now, on the surface, these laws seem both like common sense as well as bulletproof, but many stories, including those written by Asimov, would detail how loopholes could be found. And to some that sounds liberating, to others, terrifying.

Because, you see, a key component in all of this is that Asimov wrote these laws under the pretense that robots were tools, not people. Osamu Tezuka(the creator of Astro Boy) notably disliked these laws because they carried with them the idea that a fully sentient robot could never be considered a person of their own.

And that's the same idea that Metallic Rouge runs with, as the plot of this episode is mainly about Rouge seeking her own freedom while in turn getting a glimpse how just how badly humans mistreat Neans. Meanwhile, due to their own programming blocks, Neans as a whole are unable to fight back, and as such true freedom is rendered impossible.

The Neans have thoughts. They have feelings. They have desires. They can experience pain, grief, empathy, and anger. They even have skeletons shaped just like those of humans. But unfortunately, in the eyes of the people at large, they're just tools. As insensitive as Naomi dismissing Rouge's' feelings was, Naomi was actually correct if one's to look at the situation with nothing but cold logic. Rouge and her are just tools with which to get rid of the Immortal Nine.

Speaking of the Nine, it's established that Viola was actually the third of them that Rouge has taken down at this point in the story, and Metallic Rouge has really impressed with how well it's handling its pacing and introducing of story details in terms of not just being a story that's already in progress, but also managing to feel very natural in how it brings the viewer along for the ride. It's the sort of thing that's tricky to do, and I've seen other shows fail to pull it off. One of which even being a toku that I like to dunk on.

Incase you couldn't tell, I overall really liked this one. The character interactions and dialogue all felt very natural, the pacing was smooth, and the atmosphere was so engrossing that when the episode ended I was legit taken off guard. While it's somewhat obvious who the murderer of the Child Nean is, I do hope that next episode will either find a way to make it intriguing or atleast use it as a stepping block for something bigger. Regardless, the real star here is Rouge, and it'll definitely be interesting to see how the new world she's found herself in will shape her arc going forward.

Another pretty solid episode as my Dub (Re)Watch continues. It's certainly been a fun time re-experiencing the show through a different lens.

I admittedly don't have much to say other than I enjoyed a bit of a break in the action alongside Rouge getting to explore on her own.

Though of course there was still plenty of tension building in the background. Between the quick shot of what looks like one of the Immortal Nine stalking Rouge not long after she goes off on her own, to our yellow joker of said Immortal Nine lurking in the city itself, there's definitely enough to keep you on your toes.