Kita ze Inbou! - キタぜ陰謀!

[ Episode 24: What Must Be Protected ]

Like the first season’s finale, this one was pretty exciting. All of the action was a pleasure to the eyes and then some. Still, I felt some things could have been done better. The pacing seemed to be slightly rushed in various areas of the episode, particularly in the fights involving Wilhelmina, Shana, Hecate and Sydonay. If this scheme had taken place in, say, episode 21 or 22, I think things would have flowed much better. Even Margery was screwed in terms of battle time and spent most of the finale unable to move because she was getting healed. At least she was able to contribute by casting a Fuzetsu to help slow down Bal Masque’s plans.

Read more

[ Episode 23: Quickening of Peril ]

I consider this episode to be “Part 1″ of the final episode. It just gave me that kind of feeling from start to finish. The entire episode was fast-paced and switched between Yuuji, Bal Masque, Wilhelmina, Margery, Shana and the others. There wasn’t a boring moment for me and I was surprised to see that they animated straight throughout the entire ED and credits. That’s usually done in final episodes but it was put to great use here regardless. Things are getting more intense all over the place as well. Shana and Hecate are going at it. Wilhelmina will have to fight Sydonay after Margery was brutally struck by him after their breakthrough. Which reminds me, what was Wilhelmina and Shana thinking at just looking at the severely bloodied Margery and thanking her before dashing off? No quick first aid or bandages to help her out? Lol, gracious.

Read more

[ Episode 22: Christmas Eve ]

I was pretty surprised to see that Sabrac actually survived the previous battle. He didn’t even seem to have any wounds…which is beyond odd to me. I can only guess that he somehow switched his real self out at the very moment Shana was going for the kill. Anyway, skipping all of the love-dovey content, I was pretty surprised that Hecate showed up the way she did and just blatantly yanked out the Reiji Maigo out of Yuji. Of course I knew Bal Masque was up to something but it was still unexpected. What does this mean for Yuji, I wonder? He’s going to have to get that back, but how? Two episodes remain in this second season and at this rate a cliffhanger or a temporary resolution type of ending are both equally possible. I wonder if we’re going to get a glimpse of some hissing though…

Read more

[ Episode 21: Combined Might ]

Now that was an awesome conclusion to an epic battle. Quite a few episodes ago I would have never thought that Yuji would be the one to come up with a plan to defeat someone as powerful as Sabrac. It just goes to show that he’s improved at an insane rate since the start of the second season. I didn’t see the counter-spell that Wilhelmina revealed coming at all either. Though when she did I was struck with how much sense it made since she had fought him numerous times before with the Stigma in place. Oh, and I must say that she looked rather sexy when she activated the spell on her own body. :p

Now that Sabrac is gone, what’s next? There’s only so few episodes left and I doubt they’re going to tone things down into a love drama this late in the series so I’m sure something will happen. Perhaps Hecate will show up once more? Or maybe something might happen to the growing Yuji? Whatever it is I eagerly await it and hope it doesn’t disappoint after two consecutive awesome arcs.

Read more

[ Episode 20: Rose Maddered-Color War ]

This episode was filled with Wilhelmina-awesomeness! ^__^

If there’s one thing I love about Shana are the fights. Whenever one takes place it is sure to be quite exciting. This one is no exception and I never took my eyes off of it for a second. Wilhelmina is very impressive and it’s obvious that her skills are topnotch and Sabrac is a pretty strong bastard who doesn’t seem to have any glaringly apparent weaknesses. That is likely to change next episode though since Yuji seems to have noticed something. I’m thinking that whatever he came up with will involve the help of Margery and Shana (which is further evidenced by the title “Combined Might”). I wonder though, will he get in on the action as well? His previous opponent wasn’t impressive at all so I think him landing even a scratch on Sabrac would, at the very least, tell us just how much he has grown through his training. Other than that I’m wondering just how this season is going to end with only a few episodes left now. Hopefully there’s an interesting twist or two in the upcoming episodes that will end things on a high note.

Read more

[ Episode 19: Something Left Unspoken ]

You just gotta love awesome episodes like this. Granted the Tomogara in it weren’t that strong but they served as fodder perfectly. As such Yuji got to show his new abilities and analytical skills in a real battle. I was really surprised to see just how huge his Fuzetsu was though. I think he covered the entire city with it. Back to Yuji fighting, I liked how he dealt with Zarovee’s multiple forms. There’s just no discrediting blowing away a few of his bodies with flames, choking one to death, and then stabbing one with the Blutsauger. That was a great bout of ass kicking if you ask me. That last Tomogara that Shana destroyed was pretty useless but it had a pretty damn strong cannon that I’m sure would have been dangerous had it had gotten off that shot without interruption.

Read more

[ Episode 18: Baffled Yuji ]

Oh man I’m just loving the stuff that’s happening right now. Yuji’s growth and new problems add a layer of depth that wasn’t present in the earlier episodes. Of course with this awesome character development comes a few bumps (for him). Like Margery stated he seems to be possessed by something. Given the mysterious nature of his existence I’d say that statement carries a lot of weight when you think about all that he has within him and beyond. Still, he seems to be trying to force himself to believe things he doesn’t think are true such as wanting to leave the city with Shana and leaving his mother and friends behind. That kind of stuff isn’t so easy to just discard despite his situation. I’m looking forward to seeing how his feelings toward that and himself develop from here.

Read more

[ Episode 17: Each and Every Person's Path ]

Hmm. Yuji is looking more and more confident ever since the events with Hecate and Pheles. Though the situation seems to be more than that. By that I mean that Yuji is slowly changing. His tone when he spoke to both Shana and Alastor regarding his training seemed much more demanding than anything he’s ever said or expressed since the start of the series. It’s kind of like he’s being possessed by something and that something is probably within the Reiji Maigo. Can I get a hissssssss?

Also it seems like Eita is out of the story or at least the main party now. Good riddance I say. More importantly, next episode is introducing some new Tomogara. I’m not sure but they look like the guys who Yuji was owning in the new opening sequence. I don’t know what their purpose is or if they’re scouts for Sabrac but if that’s the case then they surely aren’t bringing good-will with them. It was also interesting to hear that Sabrac is a strong bastard to have had Wilhelmina on the ropes and have her, Pheles, and Johan on the run. I think it’s safe to say that when he shows up there won’t be any easy victories being had by anyone. Unless of course plot-hax comes into play.

Read more

[ Episode 16: Everlasting Love ]

This episode turned out what I thought it would be: a calm after the storm. We’re given a lot of character development here as well. Yuji is obviously feeling the effects of all the stuff that has happened to him and has stepped up to make himself much more stronger. Of course he needs a little something extra and thus ends up asking for the Blutsauger. I’m looking forward to see just how good he gets with that in the future. There’s also a lot of attention given to Yoshida. We’re shown that she’s given a Hougu by Pheles and that if she ever uses it to summon Pheles than her Power of Existence will be fed into it and she will die. Well, I don’t see her dying anytime soon even if she uses that. She’s too important of a character right now even if she isn’t direct involved on the battlefront.

Read more

[ Episode 15: Awakening ]

Two back-to-back episodes of awesome are a joy to my heart. I especially loved this episode because Hecate made her appearance and kicked ass! Shana’s to be exact. She proved why she’s one of my top favorite characters during every second she was on screen and it was so beautiful to watch it all transpire. It goes without saying at this was the best episode of the season so far. Awesome animation, wonderful musical score, tons of things being revealed one after the other…it couldn’t have been any better.

Read more