Kemonozume Episode [6] A Spicy Birthday

Not very much occurred in this episode, but it seemed to provide a break from the darkness that has been prevailing. The humor was not over the top and not necessarily laugh-out-loud funny, yet it suited the series well, and I didn’t mind that it was more of a filler episode.

It is ironic that the large man is a detective. For all the occupations in the world he choose one where he has little ability to be secretive and stealthy. He also didn’t seem very intelligent, as he was oblivious to what Yuka was doing when he wasn’t looking. He has a kind heart, at least for now. Though he let them both go this time I don’t think he could possibly keep purposely avoiding catching them. The members of the Kifuuken are intuitive and it is probable they may try another detective if this large man is not to their liking. I wonder if Kazuma directly hired him?

Ookyu seems like the typical fairy tale land that prevails in many series. Because of the way Kemonozume has developed I cannot see a happy ending in sight. If Yuka and Toshihiko discover this facility, and Yuka becomes a patient, she might die from the medical procedures. Maybe that place isn’t really meant to heal flesh eaters and is actually a trap.

Again, Yuka was quite charming and I truly like her. She acted a little different in this episode, I think partly because she’s beginning to become more comfortable with her situation. I want her to stay a strong womana and not give in to naiviety.

Final Score: 7/10

Kemonozume Episode [5] A Girl’s Secret Ingredient

The obsession of Misao by Souichi was almost strange, but an interesting and probably very truthful occurrence. A very different choice for a storyline, but nevertheless I liked how the attention was moved away from Yuka and Toshihiko for once, as most of the other characters have received little development. I truly liked this approach because it makes the series more dimensional. I see a running occurrence with sexuality…

I can barely believe that another person of the dojo fell in love with a shoujinki. It seems like the flesh eaters are very seductive or there happens to be more and more of them appearing, creating mere coincidences. Will it happen again? It seems that at this rate it is bound to happen.

I was absolutely surprised at the ending! It really made the episode for me because it was not what I was expecting at all. However if what did occur was what I was expecting it wouldn’t have been as interesting. Misao, who supposedly loved Umeda, could not resist her urges. This makes me feel more admiration towards Yuka, who is actually trying with all her might to be with Toshihiko, and suppresses her urges as much as she can. Where does Yuka garner all of her strength from?

Kazuma is a very ambitious man, I feel because of his shortcomings to be the “favorite” son. However I do not denounce what he is doing to the dojo, as it does seem necessary for the continuing appearance of the shoujinki. I am not sure how it will last as he is trying to shed all of the traditions that have worked for years.

I am sure the octopus Kazuma ate at the end will make something terrible happen to him….I have my predictions. Ooba is plotting something.

Who was the man at the beginning? The future of the shoujinki at old age?

Final Score: 8.5/10

Cowboy Bebop Episode [9] Jamming with Edward

And now the crew is finally complete! Edward will definitely be a change from the adult presence on the ship. She will get on everybody’s nerves, but no more than they do with each other on a daily basis.

The idea of a self-controlling satellite is interesting and scary at the same time (if they were ever developed). However, the episode lagged and I could tell that the only purpose was to introduce Ed and not generate a real story. It doesn’t bother me too much, but then watching wasn’t too exciting. Even the scenes in space fighting the satellites didn’t have much of a thrill as they usually do. The writers could have introduced Ed in a more thrilling way to show off her hacker abilities, but alas, ingenuity was swept under the rug with this one. All in all the story turned out kind of bland.

There also seemed to be a lot of contemplation on the Bebop, but in a lazy way. Spike, Faye, and Jet were sitting around most of the time and they never do that.

I guess at the end MPU decided not to draw anymore on the Earth’s surface; did it actually come out of the satellite? Did it go into Ed’s computer? I’m not too sure what really happened other than the fact the problem is done with. And what was it actually drawing? Animals that used roam the Earth? Or cave drawings? This is just the most bizarre things for a satellite to be doing in the first place because there are million of other things it could accomplish. How does someone think of this concept? Even satellites get lonely sometimes I guess.

Earth is decimated as usual. Why is Earth never an equal with the space colonies in any show? It is always beat up, abused, and downright destroyed. I can’t see it having any true presence in the series besides the fact it may be featured for a location once again.

Final Score: 6.5/10

Kemonozume Episode [4] The Pain of the Past

A backstory episode! There was a lot more information presented than I though ever would, and I am pleasantly surprised. From what I can gather, kemonozume is a technique of the kifuuken in which you cut off your arms, attach the arms of a shoujinki, and gain its power. However, I am confused about the transforming into a shoujinki part. Does this always happen? If I never find out I won’t be too bothered by it.

I loved Harumi! She was genuine and noble. I don’t think Yuka is really up to her standards though. Harumi was genuinely amiable and generous.

The Triumvirate seemed like it was the “good ol’ days” of Kifuuken. Now everything at the dojo is so dark and despairing. The happy days have been long gone. Now it seems more of an underground kind of thing.

I can’t believe the whole arm chopping off process. Jin became so enraged and disturbed that I wasn’t too sure as to what had really pushed over the edge. Did he love Harumi secretly? He couldn’t have gone that crazy over not fighting Juzo! Now, I surmise that Juzo cut of Hazumi’s arms to save the school/town/area from Jin? He has to kill the one he loves dearly to save everything around him. That’s deep. This is the opposite though of what Toshihiko does, as he runs away with Yuka instead of trying to protect the dojo.

I figured out a lot of family trees now. Rie has no relation to anyone; Toshihiko and Kazuma (who definitely has to be the baby) are half brothers. If Kazuma is this baby, then he is half shoujinki, and can probably transform! He is killing his own kind and somehow keeping it a secret from everyone else. Maybe he discovered his past, is shamed by it, and so destroys everything like him? Or maybe he’s just one of those people who always has some type of vendetta and hates Toshihiko. But maybe he hates Toshihiko for being normal. And Toshihiko doesn’t know his secret. This going to become so crazy.

Yuka has the same last name as Harumi, Kamitsuki. It is mentioned that Harumi was previously, or still technically, married to another man, who happens to be a shoujinki. So, Harumi could have had another daughter. Plus, they like the same rose cream. That can’t be a coincidence. If Yuka is her daughter, than she and Kazuma are half sister and half brother. She is full shoujinki, yet Kazuma is only half. I wonder if this makes any difference somehow. Maybe Kazuma can suppress it better?

Was it Harumi who killed Juzo? Possibly he envisioned that it was Harumi and it was someone else. Maybe Yuka? Now my hypothesis is incorrect if this is true. I hope there is more information to be had.

Final Score: 8/10

Cowboy Bebop Episode [8] Waltz For Venus

Though there was the typical brother who’s only bad because his sister’s in trouble, the storyline remained functional. I liked that Roco’s efforts succeeded in the end, but that he himself did not. His death put a calming spin on what would have been a melodramatic ending, changing it into more of a contemplative state, and dulling Spike’s mood.

I was annoyed by Roco in the beginning. The writers did a great job of making him seem really desperate, which came off pretty humorous, but those kind of characters always annoy me. Yet by the end I felt a tiny twinge of sadness in my unemotional heart for him. His death wasn’t glorified, it was subtle, and this made Roco more meaningful to me, because for all his efforts his end should not have came. Out of death comes life, in reference to Stella.

Why in the world did Stella have the operation? She told Spike previously that she didn’t wish to have sight. I’m kind of confused on this one, as she didn’t know Roco had died, so it wasn’t a favor to him or anything, and she just goes ahead anyway. Was it supposed to be some kind of surprise for him? It really doesn’t make sense to me.

I thought Spike acted a little out of character due to the amount of attention he gave Stella at the end. I pictured him far more removed. He felt guilty, perhaps? His actions make me think that he longs for some type of strong relationship, such as the one between Roco and Stella. I suppose that Stella’s praise of Roco reminded Spike of a small thing called love. Spike could possibly just seemed so involved as a favor to Roco due to guilt.

There were a lot of beautiful sunset-like images throughout the episode and lots of contrast between black and other colors.

Final Score: 8/10