[Sh Ranger]

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Episode 6 -- "To a Beautiful Flower"

He probably thinks he's still playing it cool in his head, but Haruto treats walking along with Manami less like he's there as a bodyguard and more like he just landed a date, even bragging about his awesome wizard powers when asked.

Another humanizing trait that Haruto shares with Ace, he's naturally a cool guy but when he tries to be cool, he becomes ridiculous (sans the forced animal metaphors, thankfully). The way Shiraishi exaggerates his usual performance while trying to impress a girl is humorous to watch and I agree that this episode makes clear that it's okay to laugh at Haruto sometimes.

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

I think part of me always wants to assume Land Style is the least cool Wizard form because it's literally square, but it's really just as easy to argue it actually looks the most fabulous out of them all? Yellow fundamentally has amazing contrast with black, and this particular yellow has a golden shine to it which just ups the fanciness factor that much more. There just really isn't any losing with Wizard forms, you know?

I guess squares aren't as flexible for suit design as circles, triangles and rhombuses. But that's also appropriate for the land element, non-malleable and immovable, so it ends up working anyway. The motifs are limited to shapes and elements added to the same stylish black base suit, so it's pretty easy to make a good-looking suit with that recipe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Interestingly, the way the show chooses to portray the Land-ness of Land Style in the fight here is not through any magic it uses, but instead in the fact that it's tough enough to let Wizard take on all these Ghouls with nothing but his bare hands.

Makes sense that Wizard seldom fistfights outside of Land Style, since doing that with those large rings equipped seems like it would weaken the impact.

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Land Style's not the only form that gets to show off in the climax though, as Haruto switches back to Flame for a sequence that gives me the perfect chance to finally talk about one of Wizard's greatest tricks -- Seiji Takaiwa wasn't the only guy in that suit.

Same for EX-Aid, who has Fujita for the chubby Level 1 (which is weird since I'm pretty sure he's slimmer than Takaiwa) and of course Watanabe for the klutzy doctor green Level XX since Takaiwa is the genius gamer orange one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Manami asks why he'd go through all this trouble to save someone like her, carrying the implication of self-loathing, like she doesn't feel she deserves being saved, with all the immoral things she's done. Haruto, though, he barely needs time to think before responding that saving Manami is just the obvious thing to do -- the thing he *should* do -- and that her being a con artist doesn't change that.

Wizard is a true hero who values human life unconditionally. Even if Manami doesn't deserve being saved, she deserves the chance to find hope and change her ways, so Wizard will always fight to save a life in danger and guide criminals like Manami towards a better future.

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Episode 7 -- "Buying Memories"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

It turns out the house is going to be sold and demolished soon, which is why Manami is in such a rush to gather money she stooped to scamming people to get it. When Haruto says he still can't overlook what she's doing, Manami tries to claim that Haruto can't understand the pain of losing your family. In true Wizard fashion, this turns out to be a similarity between the guest character and a main character, letting us learn a little more about Haruto as he mentions for the first time that he doesn't have a family either. He doesn't totally open up about it right then and there, but there's a contrast in how the two of them have turned out despite facing similar tragedy.

Manami was so desperate to reclaim her house that she became the same evil that took it from her to start with. Haruto teaches her a good moral about the importance of not losing yourself in pursuit of a goal, or else the sentimentality will end up tainted. I like the show's pacing here as well, using the parallel to Manami to bring up Haruto's past in a way that will soon become relevant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

That confidence isn't exactly misplaced, either, as when Haruto saves Manami from a falling ceiling fan, she tells him he shouldn't have bothered, since she has nothing else left without the house. Haruto, in no unclear terms, tells her not to say something so stupid, which sounds forceful, but the way he can't make himself put it more delicately in the moment is also how you know he cares.

Reminds me of Rinne saying something like this in Gotchard Episode 4. While Haruto doesn't have the social aptitude that Houtarou does, it's interesting that the outcome is the same, as Haruto shows Manami his disapproval with his feelings rather than tactful sympathy. Honestly, I'd probably handle this situation like Haruto as well, since I'm usually pretty blunt when I feel strongly about something.

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Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Now knowing the reason she needed money, a sympathetic Yamagata says he's buying the house, not to just give to her (he's not doing this because he's a pushover or anything), but to keep it safe so she can return one day and buy it back properly this time. Yamagata's a pretty cool dude, as it turns out!

And Yamagata's kindness shows Manami that not all rich people are uncaring opportunists who take advantage of the poor. So Manami has learned a lot of important wisdom by the end of this arc, which she can put to good use after she's atoned for her crimes.

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

The other important thing is also spreading this info to more people, which, for threads, it seems to be limited to the ones who opened those threads, and in my case, so far it just seems unsuccessful to try promoting this informations to others, as what I said above already about getting into these threads. My goal wouldn't be about persuading the haters directly (individually), but more so that this information is more widespread and getting closer to be acknowledged as general consensus in the fanbase so the hating takes are more likely to be viewed as wrong.

Agreed. Making this message more widespread and accessible outside of this forum is essential for reaching those people. Not just the haters, but also the undecided and indifferent who would be easiest to persuade.

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Yeah, being absent also further doesn't help Hiyori's case, and also Koyomi's case, being absent for most of the show is a common complaint for her (I know both are absent due to irl stuff and those people know too, but still).

It's annoying that many people think that pretentious edgy Yaguruma replacing her was an improvement, when this actually diminished my enjoyment of the show.

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Originally Posted by DreadBringer

It's the fair approach indeed, but some people may have a different view of media than the above. Not agree with this, but while you'd think Koyomi being a limited doll gives far more tolerance on how much she can engage, people may view it as problematic or sexist to limit a female in for instance, a support role rather than giving them as much wide of a scope as the others and be fair, including using various reasons as 'excuses' so that the female would be like that, including making Koyomi a doll that needs recharging in the first place and purposely limit her contribution for some reason.

Then they should be complaining about the Sabbat or Wiseman, the catalyst for the limit on Koyomi's abilities. It's pointless to blame Koyomi for problems that she literally cannot control. As long as the in-universe explanation makes consistent logical sense within the narrative (looking at you Ikki memory loss), then it's pointless to blame the staff either. Anything else that happens in the plot is basically just personal preference, but some people can't think critically and will make out like it's an objective fault.

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Originally Posted by DreamSword

Incoming despair.

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Originally Posted by DreamSword

I mean, yes, but at the same time, being direct helps to remove doubt. Sometimes being unsubtle/unambiguous is the better play, ya know?

Hope is the power to believe in an uncertain future. If you remove doubt, then you remove hope. And that would not be this show.