Exactly. She is a fairly well-known person among us among amateur translations, mainly anime. Moreover, she has been doing this since 1999. Not the highest quality voice acting, but captivating because she takes on things that no one else does.

I stick by the 2nd OP songs being alot better when they're used for anything other OPs.

This movie is so nice to look at!

Amemiya really went all out with directing this one. Its overall visual style really pushes green screening and sound stages to the max.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that either. The CG work in this film is way more visually appealing than a ton of other films even now, over a decade later. Which is only further complimented by how creative the setting is.

I've said in other threads(most recently Die's' Kamen Rider W one) that I tend to like the stories that talk about the importance of objects and what they represent. And this movie was all about that. While nearly every character is an avatar of a basic thing, they still bring their own life to the role. It's good character work!

Combine all of that with a wonderfully played atmosphere and you've got a movie that I very much enjoyed from start to finish. I'd personally rank it just slightly under Red Requiem in terms of GARO movies. RR winning out thanks to its better action scenes, strong standalone nature, and just how well played Rekka's' arc was.

If I had to voice a nitpick about anything though, it'd be that the exact nature of the ending, specifically Gajari's' nature, kinda confused me. Maybe that was the point, maybe it was the way TV-N subbed the dialogue, I dunno. All I do know is that Gajari is Gajari, and that thing still terrifies me even if the movie tries to imply it's actually on the side of humans.

Overall, I felt this served as a much better finale to Makai Senki than its final episode did, even if we still have one movie left to go.

This was my favorite live action GARO movie for a while, at least until another release way later down the line. Now it's #2 but it is absolutely a strong contender. There's this whimsical, fantastical ambitious nature to it that hasn't been matched yet (though King-Ohger comes close despite the technical hiccups) for me.

This movie is just a beaut to look at, and it's one I do really need to consider giving a rewatch.

Yeah, you can tell that Amemiya really wanted this to work, and did everything he could to pull it off. It's every bit as great an art piece as it is a movie.

A movie that focuses on the Alchemists, which is a really cool idea!

To get my one major gripe out of the way, I felt that the overall plot of this one was lacking. Not in terms of idea, but in execution.

It's just that a handful of moments felt rather forced, which took me out of it a little. But that aside, I rather liked this one overall. Having Jabi and Rekka get their own movie is a wonderful treat, and the two play off eachother well.

Things like this help to highlight that just because one isn't a Makai Knight, that doesn't make them useless. And I also felt that the antagonists, also Makai Alchemists, had alot more interesting stuff going on than what Red did in Makai Senki proper.

But man, Shiguto just gets no respect, huh? Dude gets put through the ringer all throughout the movie and doesn't even get so much as a thanks. They even leave him alone in the middle of the Northern Forest! Poor guy. Atleast he got a pretty cool last stand against the two primary antagonists. And ya know, he survived. So small victories.

Anyway, while I do kinda wish I'd watched this one before Dark Dragon, I still feel like this was a nice surprise to end my Makai Senki block on. Especially given all the nice character work that went into this one(that scene with Rekka and her dad is great!). And my final thoughts on the show as a whole will come after I sort out some more of my current thoughts.

It's been a while since I watched either movie, so I had no idea if Togen Flute would have any potential spoilers or need context from Lament to be watchable. So that's why I never suggested putting it first when you decided to include this in the Makai Senki batch.

That said I remember enjoying this movie well enough. Jabi and Rekka are pretty great characters in their own right so the two getting to headline a spin-off movie is really cool.

aka, Legs: The Movie

It's a fun idea! And while the idea of them going head to head is also fun, it just unfortunately feels rather forced at times.

That team-up spell that wins the day at the end though? Wonderful payoff.

You're not wrong! I wouldn't be surprised if anyone assumed that the film was directed by Sakamoto.

When you prime yourself for a sequel, what are you looking for?

It's a question that sounds simple enough, but there's a surprising amount of different directions one can go with it.

Maybe you expect the first entry but just slightly different. Maybe you look for a direct continuation of where the story last left off. Maybe you expect something completely different now that the first story is done.

There's no real wrong answer, as everyone wants something else out of any given story that they like. Which is why it was so interesting to me that Amemiya, now with the chance to make a sequel to his passion project from over half a decade ago, decided "Screw it, I'm going every direction I possibly can."

Makai Senki is the second season to GARO, and it strives to do dang near everything any viewer would want out of a sequel. It's a direction continuation to everything that came before it while also having a similar structure to the first season, and yet does alot of different kinds of stories than what '05 did, while also expanding on the world of GARO as a whole.

That's the kind of ambition that I could very, very easily see going wrong. "Flying too close to the sun" as it were. And yet, despite certain aspects playing out in ways I personally didn't care for, I can't help but respect it, you know? I feel like it'd be incredibly hard to argue against the idea that when it comes to GARO, Amemiya really does go all out in everything that it entails. Even when it comes to personal taste, nothing about these shows ever feels phoned in.

Nothing except the romance, that is. Look, I'm sorry, but I just cannot get behind the idea that Kaoru and Koga are an item. Queerplatonic partners, maybe, but a traditional true love style romance? No shot. It's the sort of thing I hate in alot of stories in general; The idea that the leads absolutely must get together as a couple because, after all, a man and a woman can't be friends! They can't have a deep, meaningful connection unless sex and/or romance is involved! Who cares if they have no chemistry, it's what's expected!

Listen, I could rant about this all day, but I'll give you the most simplified version I can: When it came down to it, I never saw Koga and Kaoru's' relationship in the first season as a romance. To me it honestly just felt like two people who, thanks to bizarre circumstances, ended up creating a bond based on empathy and kinship. Romance is not a requirement for that kind of pure love. It's part of what made the ending, wherein Koga opens the book and sees what Kaoru drew for him, something implied to be so deeply personal to him that it moves him to tears, so special. Friendship can absolutely be that powerful!

There were also certain other minor things scattered about the season that I didn't much care for. Like Koga never bothering to actually talk about anything he figures out. Or how Sigma ends up being the second lamest antagonist in the franchise in my eyes(Vanishing Line still holds the title for that). Not to mention having the first episode in the live-action stuff that I actively disliked. It's to the point that for as awesome as the action of the final battle is, I just can't bring myself to be entirely invested in it, as it required me to be all in on alot of these aspects and, frankly, I'm just not. This finale might've been more bombastic, but '05's' finale is much more emotionally powerful.

But don't get the wrong idea: I still rather liked this show! Makai Senki does so many great things during its run that all of my critiques in no way soured the show for me in any major way. The overarching plot certainly wasn't the best, but where the show absolutely shined in everything else: The world building got a massive expansion. Most of the character arcs and interactions progressed in ways that felt very natural. The action was as over the top and awesome to witness as ever. The CGI, sound stage use, and green screening are so good that they still look great even now, a decade later! And the biggest highlight for me was that we got to focus on characters outside the main duo from GARO. Having episodes where other characters get to be the leads was so good!

I really wouldn't blame anyone if they said that they had a hard time separating the two seasons from eachother with how everything plays out. But when it comes down to it, if we are to compare the two, and when it comes to me and my tastes, I just can't help but admire the first season all the more. At its core, the first entry in GARO felt like everyone involved was giving 1000% to the overall project, and the total balance of plot, action, atmosphere, and character drama created an experience that I don't think I'll ever not look back on fondly. Again, that's not to say that the second season was a letdown or anything, but the high I got from the first is the sort of thing that's going to take alot to match. As such, after alot of internal debate, I've decided to give GARO: Makai Senki, a 4/6. It's very, very close to being a 5. But those few pitfalls just hold it back.

I don't know exactly when I'll return to the world of GARO, but I am very much looking forward to it regardless.

And so with this chunk of watches, we pretty much wrap up Kouga's Era. While there's still technically some Zero stuff still here and there, most people like to separate them into their own thing.

But with the end of Makai Senki a new series and a new universe shall be born and visited in due time! While I was excited to see what you thought of various GARO projects before, I'm excited for your return as we finally enter the next distinct universe of GARO, the Ryuga-verse. Because ooh boy... is Yamitera a goddamn doozy I tell you what.

Looking forward to it! Dunno if I'll be able to get to it before the end of the year with some other plans I have, but hey, a little time away can't hurt too much, right?

Just out of curiosity, what Toku series that isn’t part of the Big Three you’re planning to tackle next since you are now done with Garo: Makai Senki?

To be honest I'm not entirely sure. I'm currently debating between three possible titles, and the only hint I'll give is that they're a tad longer than the stuff I normally handle. So uh, we'll see how that turns out.

Surprise! It didn't take a whole year for me to do another GARO show!

So why Versus Road? Well, see, my job tends to get incredibly busy at this time of year.

What that means is that I don't really have alot of spare time for super dedicated projects. So when it comes to closing the year out on these reviews, I need something easy and something short. And at only 12 episodes, GARO VR is here.

Now, I'm aware that not many people like this show, on account of it being a departure from the typical GARO fare, but keep in mind, I came into this franchise via the anime, so I idea of an alternate universe doing its own thing separate from the original is not a foreign concept to me.

The setup here is that of a death game, with the prize being the Golden Armor itself. While the idea in and of itself is nothing new, we've seen a bit if a rise in this genre in recent times due to stuff like Squid Game(which people are upset is more popular than Kamen Rider, apparently). And while the genre itself isn't one I'm super into, I'm going to give this show its fair shake.

Well then, how well does the premiere do? Honestly? I actually liked it. There's alot of aspects from GARO here that I do always enjoy. Namely the intense and dreadful atmosphere, the well shot cinematography, and the fast paced fight scenes. I found the framing device of getting a few snapshot flashbacks of our lead characters during the massacre of the first game to be pretty interesting too. The main character, Kuon, comes across pretty likable as a result.

In terms of aesthetic: The opening theme still takes many a cue from my preferred openers across the GARO franchise too, right down to the ominous chanting towards its climax. Unfortunately it means that the ending theme, which takes after the usual second OPs in the franchise feels a bit out of place, but oh well. I also dug the more cybernetic approach that the designs of the Garo suit and the Horrors take on in this too; Which helps to sell the virtual world/futuristic aspect of the setting.

It's nothing super deep or provocative, but I overall found episode one to be a fun and intriguing start, and I can't wait for everyone to continuously shake their heads in disappointment at me as I continue watching.

Honestly if there was ever a thing to watch out of order when starting GARO, Versus Road would probably be it.

So let's get my main thoughts out of the way first with a simple review of this show in general.

I think Versus Road tells a pretty cool story and does some fun stuff with its new setting and overall it's a solid show I managed to enjoy... however it's not really a GARO show if that makes any sense? Like, it's called GARO and it very much has GARO stuff, but like, it doesn't really give the same vibes as anything before it. Which is probably what people were really hung up on if I recall.

It's been a bit since I've seen the show so I won't comment too heavily episode by episode, but I hope you enjoy it.

That is not why I don't like it. It doesn't help, but the show did plenty on its own merit to make me dislike it.

I could see that. I guess that means you all can use these posts to judge me harshly on if I've fully grasped what makes GARO what it is, haha.

Interesting. I look forward to your viewpoint in future episodes.

The darkness of people is a running theme in GARO, too.

While a majority of the episode has to do with the white-haired Amo and his beef with the Yakuza, Kuon isn't totally left out.

There's alot of very obvious duality symbolism going on with the two. Amo in white, Kuon in black, and even more blatantly, how they handle the foes that get thrown at them in the climax of the episode.

And while I overall liked the episode, the pacing definitely could've used some work. The opening of the episode is very abrupt to the point that I thought I'd somehow accidentally skipped a scene, and the climax scene I just mentioned drags for a bit too long.

Still, the episode does do a good job at what it sets out to do: Establish the personalities of most of our key players. Kuon is likable and heroic, while Amo is stoic and ruthless. And of course, true to literally every Battle Royale show, there's gotta be a serial killer involved who's in all of this for fun. Though he only briefly shows up in this episode, we'll for sure see more of him soon.

Also, Amo's' fights in this are rather solidly choreographed I must say. I always appreciate whenever someone manages to pull off a suplex.

If there's one thing I'll give this show, it continues GARO's knack for out of suit stunt fights. I feel like they really bring their A-Game here in trying to showcase all these different people and how they fight.

That said, I will highlight one thing about this show. Had to go back and double check but we get one of my favorite toku sets at the end. Which is this pretty cool castle/church room where at the very back of it there's just a tv stand with a bunch of CRT TVs and a chair to watch them in.

It really is the evil version of RJ's' pad from Power Rangers Jungle Fury, ain't it?

It's the start of round 2. The challenge: Escape the dungeon within two hours.

Items are introduced into the game, and we also get a more proper introduction to two of the players: A non-binary model and a YouTuber.

And lemme tell ya, the portrayal of YouTubers as money-grubbing scumbags is probably the most realistic thing in this show so far. Though, in fairness, it is only one of them out of the three we see.

On the other end of things, Tanake. They're, well... they are certainly a model. And uh... that's basically all we get. That and an utterly bizarre modelling montage that's interspliced with flashbacks of the people who got killed during the first two episodes. Very odd choice.

With that said, I'm starting to think that maybe this show is better watched in two episodes chunks like how I feel Kamen Rider W is. Versus Road seems to be going the two-parter route, and the way that they're structured leaves a good bit to be desired when viewed separately. I guess you could make the argument for build up and whatnot, but it ain't for me.

But, one episode at a time is the path that I've chosen, so I'm sticking with it. And in that regard, this episode was... alright. Kuon continues to be the biggest highlight for me, and the idea of the items that the players summon portraying their personalities a bit is a neat idea. I also rather liked the set design of the dungeon; It being an industrial maze full of pipes and stairs. I myself made a place like that for a roleplay I was once in. Made me nostalgic.

We'll see tomorrow if the next episode ups the ante a bit. Which, with the arrival of another Horror, it likely will.

Yeah there's definitely a clear two-part structure here, at least with these first four episodes from what I remember.

But hey think of it this way, better waiting a day between watching than a whole week right? I remember it was pretty killer having to wait for the next episode back when this aired.

Yeah, I could definitely see a whole week's' wait being annoying for a show that's structured like this.

Confusing title aside, I rather liked this one.

Don't get me wrong, there are definitely a few contrivances along the way in order to make the whole thing work, but I considered them minor.

Nagumo and Tanake showing some hidden depths in the way they get revenge on those who wronged them was very satisfying. And really, isn't that part of the appeal of these kinds of shows? Seeing some people get what they deserve?

I'm sure someone somewhere would call that reaction problematic or something, but whatever. This is a TV show and you'd better believe I take great pleasure in unlikable or douchebag characters getting pasted. And it's not like this show hasn't exactly looked at the flip side either.

Case in point, a big part of the drama in this one is how Kuon and Hoshiai's' friendship is tested when the timer on the game comes down to its final few minutes. Hoshiai is forced to make the selfish choice, one I'm sure many wouldn't blame him for. But Kuon sticks to his convictions and in the end is rewarded for it. Both paths are valid, even if it might leave Hoshiai feeling awful in the end.

Speaking of Kuon, I liked the little scene we get where it's revealed that the sword he summons is based off of a keychain he used to treasure when he was younger. While I'm sure we'll get more context later on, the scene in and of itself was nice, and helped to establish Kuon as probably the most pure hearted person here. Plus, you know. Swords. GARO.

Lastly, speaking of swords. Man, the fights in this show really are great stuff. The sword fight at the start was great, and hopefully the show can manage to keep this level of quality fight choreography going. If it does, I might just go down saying that Versus Road is worth it just for the fight scenes alone.

There's a lot of neat details in this one.

And while I did mention it earlier, I'll echo it again since you are praising it. The fight scenes in this show absolutely rock.

They really do. If nothing else, they certainly captured the spirit of the stunts when it comes to the franchise.

I'm stating to think that no one in this cast is quite well.

The episode is all about exposing the dark side of most of our cast. And for the two without sin, perhaps instill some in them.

And as an episode that's mostly just build up, it works well enough. I could maybe see Takane being shown to be a bit unhinged leaving a bad taste in some people's' mouths, but given the overall setting I think it works.

We're also getting some more direct involvement from our main villains, even if it's in a way that I don't quite approve of. I feel like if anyone was going to be put under mind control it probably should've been Hoshiai, but I'll wait to see how this particular angle plays out before having any sort of final judgment.

In terms of plot, the biggest advancement is the big reveal at the end that those who die in the game die in real life. And it should be noted that it's not really a twist for the audience but rather one for most of the contestants who are left. It not only fully hammers in how awful the bad guys are for setting this all up, but also calls into question how everyone is gonna handle all this.

Again, I really should've done two episodes a day, but oh well.

If everyone in the main cast was "quite well" then we probably wouldn't have a show now would we?

While there's a few alright (I feel like even that word is pushing it) people scattered throughout the entirety of the contestants, the vast majority are not the most ideal of people and it does very much feel like that's on purpose.

Oh it absolutely is on purpose. Granted, my overall knowledge of the death game genre is limited; having only seen a few shows/movies. But it's the sort of thing common to alot of them where most of the people involved are scumbags with like two or three genuinely good folk caught inbetween.

One of my most prized possessions is a keychain.

I didn't have many friends growing up. And while certain kids were civil with me, I never felt like I could truly connect with anyone.

That is until the sixth grade hit, where one day, out of nowhere, a kid suddenly appeared next to me as I was walking home from school and started talking to me. And we immediately hit it off.

From that day on we hung out practically every day. He defended me from bullies. He helped me to realize my sexual orientation. And he helped me feel comfortable in my own skin for the very first time in my life. And he never did anything special other than be himself.

But then the end of the school year started to approach, and he gave me some bad news. His family was moving away, so once the end of the month hit, we'd likely never see eachother again. Cell phones weren't nearly as common back then as they are now, and the city he was moving to was too far away to simply walk to.

I think it might've been the first time that I ever felt heartbreak. But to help ease the blow, he gave me something to remember him by: A Pikachu keychain, which I still use to this day. In exchange, I gave him some Yu-Gi-Oh! cards. It's a small, simple thing, but the keychain is something that's helped give me courage and confidence over the years, and whenever I stop to look it over the memories we made together always come flooding back.

And the friendship between Kuon and Hoshiai really has been the biggest highlight of this show outside of its stunts. Their backstory is explored in full here. That keychain that Kuon values? It's a friendship trinket that Hoshiai also has one of. The two grew up together and know one another in and out. And when all is said and done, they both figuratively and literally trust one another with their very lives. It's the sort of bond that sadly US society doesn't really ever cherish or talk about nearly enough, in my experience.

Sure, there's other aspects to the episode like the extras never knowing what to do in a given shot, or how the room eventually erupts into an all out brawl, or Amo trying to fight the Horrors. But really, that's all minor in comparison to the two who are brothers in all but biological. The tragic fate that the Makai Order forces onto Hoshiai really did work at hitting me right in my feelings. The final phone call especially got me good, and while I won't say that the overall scenario is absolutely perfect, I am more than satisfied with it.

This will most likely be my favorite episode in the show.

If I had a nickel every time I saw a mid-season episode in which it involved a heartbreaking development between two friends, I'd have two nickels.

Except it'd be multiplied by the coincidence bonus of me binging Symphogear XV on the same week this episode aired. In which both episodes also end on a clipshow credits sequence of the two friends.

Thanks for sharing that story. It's really amazing when you find a piece of media that manages to connect with you so precisely, isn't it?

Personally, I never warmed up much to Hoshiai; he was so obviously going to die that it didn't feel worth it to get emotionally invested in him. Couple that with finding Kuon to be one of the most boring characters on the show, I wasn't nearly as affected by this episode. It's actually because the character reminded me so much of elements of Kuon and Hoshiai that I pretty much immediately disliked Keiwa on Geats.

Okay, slight joking with my personal experience with GARO VR aside.

That personal story was honestly incredible to read. It's honestly great that GARO VR ended up hitting those kinds of emotions for you. And it really is wonderful at how positively friends can impact you and how much it hurts when you end up parting ways without any easy way to keep up with each other.

I will not fall prey to your Symphogear propaganda!

Absolutely. While I wouldn't call Versus Road one of my favorite shows ever or anything right now, it somehow managing to hit a bullseye in such a specific way will definitely keep in in my memory.

I could see that. It's sort of the inherent problem with the Death Game genre, right? You have to go in pretty much assuming that 99% of the cast are dead people walking. And for some, it makes it hard to make any sort of connection. I think GARO VR does a decent job at it though. And this particular point really tempts me to cover Casshern Sins sooner rather than later.

On the point of Kuon, I dunno, I disagree. Ever since we hit the mid 2000s, straight forward protags who are simply good people have become more and more rare to come by. That alone makes me appreciate Kuon. But in the context of GARO, it also makes him standout all the more when compared to most of the other main characters I've experienced in this franchise so far. Combine that with his genuine platonic love for Hoshiai and I warmed up to the two pretty quick.

Hahaha. You have no idea how funny that is yet.

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the kind words.

Friendship, platonic love, whatever term you feel like using... it's a cliche, but it really is such a beautiful thing, and something I do my best not to take for granted due to experiences like that one.

I every so often wonder how that guy is doing. All I know for sure is that he apparently never took to social media because I could never find him on anything.

I personally would've titled this one "Resolve" but hey, sure.

Because that's essentially the overall theme of the episode: A reaffirmation of what drives each player to continue with the game despite everything.

And of course, Kuon's' is the one that's the most sympathetic even if he's not entirely sure of himself at this point. And it'd be a tough situation for anyone who doesn't know the proper way to honor the memory of someone important.

By contrast, the motives of everyone who's not the streamer are entirely simplistic or selfish. Fight for the sake of it. Fight to kill. Fight to reaffirm your delusions. And I think the show does a solid job at showcasing the intensity of these emotions while not making any one of them look glamorous.

Speaking of character development though, I rather liked the scene where Kuon meets the Makai Alchemist from before, and tells her rather politely that he's not putting up with her nonsense again. Once again, it's a great reaffirmation of character. Kuon isn't about to let the memory of Koshiai be clouded in Inga again. Not after everything that's happened.

It's also fun to see how the people running the game aren't even bothering with subtlety anymore. Both the previous "game" and this one are literally just "kill eachother so we don't have to." And you know, the masquerade has been totally broken at this point, so why even bother, right? Plus to it results in some more utterly sick wirework and stunts and this franchise is known for, so I ain't about to complain. Keep the fancy sword fights coming!

If nothing else, I'm so glad that this show isn't boring.

I admittedly don't have much to say on most of these latter episodes.

But I am glad you're still enjoying this show. I do think VR tends to get dunked on a bit too much due to how wildly different it is from the standard fair.

So far it certainly hasn't been bad! While I could see some issues people might have, especially those who grew to love the GARO formula, I think it currently stands as one of the better Death Game TV show.

Now, see, this is the episode that I would've titled "Friend."

It's also an episode that I feel works well enough, but it also sort of highlights the inherent weakness that shorter run shows tend to have.

Because on paper, using Amo and his relationship with Kanata as a sort of contrast to Kuon and Hoshiai, and having that be an inspiration for how Kuon carries himself from now on is a great idea.

In terms of execution though? Again, I think it works well enough, but I couldn't help but think about how I would've liked to have seen more backstory on both Amo and Kanata. And I get it, we only have 12 episodes, and the show has done a good job at prioritizing, but still.

There's other bits and bobs with our other characters too, namely how Nagusuke steels his resolve in exposing the truth about Versus Road, and Takane falling deeper into their madness-induced despair. But it's relatively minor, especially given how Hyuga the serial killer finally gets cut down. While I could see some wishing that it would've been Amo who took him out, I do see the thematics in our biggest hero being the one to finally put an end to the most monstrous contestant.

The momentum certainly doesn't stop there though, since the guy who seems to be the big bad(although part of me says it's actually the Redhead Alchemist) is revealed to have been someone who tried to become Garo and failed. So I am absolutely intrigued in learning more about him and why he's doing his best to cover the armor in Inga.

See, Geats? You can still make terrible people into interesting characters. Just takes a small amount of effort.

Yeah, Versus Road definitely has a lot on its plate for being a 12 Episode season, especially since unlike a few of the others in GARO, it's not using any pre-established setting or characters.