Option 1: Whenever you watch the episode, comment on this post as you watch with whatever responses you feel like posting!
Option 2: Go to http://webchat.freenode.net/. Enter a nickname, then for the Channels field enter ##rabbitcube, and finally fill in the Captcha and hit Connect! We'll be watching Vision of Escaflowne and commenting there starting at 2:00 p.m. EST. We will then be watching Sailor Moon Crystal immediately after.
I will update this post with the chat log afterwards. Yes, for both, we'll be doing that from now on because I have something new planned for Wednesdays. And yes, I finally updated the last two weeks, sorry about that.
<Froborr> Here's the opening I like.
Froborr> This is one of my favorite OPs ever, despite never seeing the show.
<
Froborr> I was sad it wasn't in the first episode.
<
Sylocat> Yeah... I love this opening
<@
Froborr> It tells such a story!
<
Arrlaari> Whoah, I am getting serious encoding glitches here
<
Sylocat> Ouch... sorry, Arrlaari
<@
FoME> The giant robots do feel a bit out of place, though.
<
Froborr>
I wonder if my reading of it--that it presages a story about isolated
people only able to come together through violence--is true.
<
Froborr> No spoilers!
<
Sylocat> Steampunk mecha, it was really innovative for the time
<@
Arrlaari> Okay, the encoding glitches are persisting into the episode itself, I gotta switch back to the site linked at the top
<
Sylocat> (the Ace of Serpents was a bit more on-the-nose than most of the tarot cards they use for an opening)
<@
FoME> I'm not complaining. It's just sticks out a bit.
<
Froborr>
Most people would mention the dragon first, or possibly the
teleportation to another world, but Hitomi is still focused on how the
universe is cockblocking her.
<
Arrlaari> Wait, the link at the top changed
<
Arrlaari> what was it before?
<
Froborr> In what POSSIBLE universe does Hitomi's mother BELIEVE them?
<
Froborr> That's just... what?
<
Arrlaari> I had to stop the video
<
Sylocat> The original link was http://www.anime4fun.com/vision-of-escaflowne-episode-2
<@
Sylocat> Ah, this brings back SO many memories
<@
Froborr> I am stopped at the line "There is a legendf among the wolf people"
<
Froborr> let's let Arrlarri catch up
<
Arrlaari> No glitches but the video skipped the OP
<
Sylocat> Oh, we're pausing? Where are we paused at?
<@
Froborr> Let me know when you get to that line, Arrlaari
<
Froborr> "There is a legend among the wolf peopel"
<
Froborr> I have lost all ability to spell
<
FoME> Can you give a time, Froborr?
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Arrlaari> I'm now paused at that line
<
Froborr> 03:16.
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Froborr> Let me know when you're there and we'll resume.
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FoME> I'm good.
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mere_oblivion> I'm at 5:15, no glitches here; guess I better pause.
<
Sylocat> Sorry about this, mere_oblivion
<@
mere_oblivion> no problemo
<
Sylocat> I can't find "there's a legend among the wolf people," 3:16 for me is "That's Fanelia, little lady"
<@
FoME> Likewise.
<
mere_oblivion> likewise X 2
<
Froborr> I haven't even reached that line yet?
<
Froborr> Okay, just did.
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Froborr> It's 4:45 for me.
<
Froborr> ...which is the length of the OP difference.
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Froborr> Okay, all resume from that line?
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Arrlaari> On my video the line is at 1:40
<
Froborr> ....
<
Arrlaari> Adobe flash crashed
<
Sylocat> That's still not... what the heck?
<@
Froborr> Okay.
<
Froborr> I'm calling this.
<
Arrlaari> Oh, but that was some other flash thing, the actual video is fine
<
Sylocat> Can we just start over from the end of the opening credits?
<@
Froborr> Yeah, okay.
<
mere_oblivion> fine by me
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FoME> Are you sure you have the right episode, Froborr?
<
Arrlaari> I found that line fine
<
FoME> Never mind then.
<
Arrlaari> It's near the beginning, when the people on the Other World are in the wolf people's caravan
<
Sylocat> Okay, let me know when you're back at the end of the credits...
<@
Arrlaari> or wagon or whatever
<
FoME> I'm just after the opening.
<
Arrlaari> End of the credits is beginning of video for me, I'm there
<
Sylocat> Okay?
<@
Sylocat> Ready?
<@
mere_oblivion> I'm back at 1:34 (end of creds)
<
Froborr> Yep.
<
Froborr> Ready.
<
Sylocat> 3...2...1...
<@
Sylocat> Click
<@
Sylocat> "Was it all just a dream, or a vision?
<@
Sylocat> (and as Froborr mentioned, she starts out with the boy she has a crush on)
<@
Arrlaari> They're surrounded ... by friends!
<
Sylocat> But at least she doesn't spend the entire series moping over it
<@
FoME> Preferable to the alternative.
<
Arrlaari> Hitomi's mom must have heard some shit from grandma.
<
Froborr> Sylo: That would be a spoiler, now woudln't it?
<
Sylocat> Sorry
<@
Froborr> Damn, that is one huge bison thing.
<
Arrlaari> Why can't she see anything nice?
<
Sylocat> Of course, these days I notice the static crowd and cel
<@
Sylocat> Aarlaari, what episode does it say you're on?
<@
Sylocat> Ah, there he is... Balgus
<@
Arrlaari> None of them seem to be entertaining the possibility that he didn't come back because it killed him
<
Sylocat> And we meet Merle, this show's interpretation of the obligatory cat-girl
<@
Froborr> How far ahead are you, Sylo?
<
Sylocat> I thought we all started from the end of the opening credits
<@
FoME> She's only just getting that he's a prince?
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Arrlaari> It says 2
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mere_oblivion> That surprised me, too (that she only just got it)
<
Sylocat> This is getting weird
<@
Froborr> I did.
<
Froborr> I think your copy is FASTER than mine.
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Arrlaari> Van is showing them the rock
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Froborr> Same here.
<
FoME> Hitomi's having a flashback to class here.
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mere_oblivion> I'm there in her flashback too.
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Froborr> That hasn't happened yet.
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Arrlaari> Yeah you guys are running ahead of us
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mere_oblivion> I'll pause again?
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FoME> ...How?
<
Sylocat> I'm only a little behind mere_oblivion and FoME
<@
Arrlaari> Just seeing the mecha
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Sylocat> *headdesk*
<@
Froborr> Yeah, me and arrlaari are synched, but significantly behidn the rest of you.
<
Arrlaari> How does she have a change of her normal clothe?
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Sylocat> Let us know when you get to her flashback of class
<@
Froborr> That is a really good question Arrlaari.
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Arrlaari> Flashback
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Froborr> Yep, Flashback.
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Sylocat> Okay then, re-clicking
<@
mere_oblivion> 'deed
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Sylocat> Ass shot of the guy
<@
Sylocat> Of course
<@
Froborr> Catgirl in the window!
<
Sylocat> Oh, Merle
<@
Froborr> Man, remember when catgirls were EVERYWHERE.
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Sylocat> Yeah, they had one in every show...
<@
Sylocat> And each one was a different design, it was like the main innovation
<@
Sylocat> Oh, THAT'S how she has a change of clothes
<@
Froborr> Hmm, her pendant is the same color as the energist.
<
Sylocat> Ooh, you do NOT mess with Hitomi's pendant
<@
Arrlaari> Well at least she acts like a cat. I still would prefer if she looked like a Charr
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FoME> I do appreciate a catgirl that actually exhibits feline behavior.
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Froborr> Hitomi is really turned on by athletic displays, huh.
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Sylocat> Well, she's an athlete, so...
<@
FoME> Yeah, this seems like a real fair match...
<
Sylocat> Gee, I wonder if THIS weakness will come up again
<@
Sylocat> Does Merle know yet where Hitomi is from?
<@
Froborr> Jeez, this samurai guy is GINORMOUS.
<
Sylocat> I can't remember
<@
Sylocat> Eeyup
<@
Sylocat> With the scars and only one eye
<@
mere_oblivion> She calls her "a foreigner," but nothing more specific.
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Sylocat> AND he's the mentor/trainer figure
<@
Froborr> Ghost mech!
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FoME> I doubt she knows the specifics, only that Hitomi's not from here.
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Froborr> Or cloaked or whatever.
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Froborr> Balgus is the giant samurai, yes?
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FoME> Damn Romulans.
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Sylocat> Yep
<@
Froborr> I was thinking Jem'Hadar, but yeah.
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Sylocat> Solid lasers!
<@
Arrlaari> That looks like an unpleasant way to be assasinated
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Froborr> "What is it?"
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mere_oblivion> "Know any good ones?"
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Froborr> "A hunter-destroyer--"
<
Froborr> "oooh!"
<
Froborr> "A hunter-"
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Arrlaari> Stomping around like that somewhat mitigates the advantages of optical stealth
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Froborr> "Ooooh!"
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Sylocat> These guys obviously don't care about covering their tracks
<@
Froborr> So it isn't Romulans or Jem'Hadar, it's Irkens.
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Sylocat> We have our title
<@
FoME> Well, when you're heavy enough that every footprint is a crater...
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Sylocat> (or part of it)
<@
Froborr> Well, this isn't going well for the presumptive good guys.
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Sylocat> This gets dark in a hurry
<@
Arrlaari> Why are they even invisible when their weapon one shots every enemy
<
FoME> Wait, it looks more like the thing has a plus-sized invisibility cloak.
<
Sylocat> These guys really aren't cut out for stealth
<@
Arrlaari> Did I get glitched out?
<
Sylocat> Ooh, summoning an eidolon
<@
FoME> I don't know, did you?
< <Froborr> Anything which requires a blood pact is generally a bad idea.
Sylocat> Oh, I forgot... Escaflowne hatches from an egg
<@
FoME> Even when it's in the title of the show?
< <Arrlaari> I think I got the glitch where one is disconnected and it just looks like everyone is quiet
Sylocat> We did go a while without speaking, IIRC
<@
Froborr> Yeah, this has "there is a dark secret to these mecha" written all over it.
<
Sylocat> I love the steampunk piloting system
<@
Froborr> That IS really cool-looking.
<
FoME> And I'm sure the exposed heart will never be a problem. But it is an awesome design.
<
Arrlaari> I dunno, it's just powered by a dragon's magic heart rock, that seems like a normal magical artifact kind of thing
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Sylocat> You know, this was my first mecha anime... I had no idea it was mostly the domain of high-tech sci-fi
<@
Sylocat> Gee, that doesn't look phallic
<@
FoME> I want a theme song that consists of a choir chanting my name.
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Froborr> Because he can see it, it doesn't get its accuracy bonuses and Sneak Attack damage.
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Sylocat> Yep, just mechas with stealth capes
<@
mere_oblivion> FoME: Just hire a Carl Orff wannabe and you're covered.
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Sylocat> GO BALGUS
<@
FoME> So badass, he doesn't even need a mecha.
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Froborr> That is some serious badass.
<
Sylocat> Yeah, Balgus is awesome
<@
Froborr> Dude, he just PARRIED A MECH and then killed it.
<
Sylocat> Whoa, Van learned fast how to be delicate with precision movements in that thing
<@
Froborr> That is like Jin Uzuki or Id/Fei/Grahf-level badass.
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Sylocat> Dang
<@
Froborr> Well, yeah, of course Balgus dies.
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Froborr> If he lived, this would be a three-episode series.
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Sylocat> He has to, it's the scene where the hero's hometown gets burned
<@
Sylocat> I suppose he was pretty OP
<@
FoME> It's the Batman Principle. He has to win every time. They only need to win once.
<
Froborr> "Oh hey, Balgus is dead, we don't need stealth anymore."
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Froborr> Clearly, they were just hiding from Balgus.
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Sylocat> Eeyup
<@
Arrlaari> I was saying while I was glitched
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Sylocat> These closing credits, on the other hand, make no sense
<@
Froborr> Yeah, they're terrible.
<
Sylocat> But oh well
<@
Arrlaari> It was hard to understand why they even had stealth when they were one-shotting every opponent
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Arrlaari> I don't get closing credits
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Froborr> Yeah, I saw that Arrlaari.
<
Froborr> Trust me, you're not missing anything.
<
Froborr> And yeah, I think their stealth was just for the Sneak Attack bonuses and so they could hide from Balgus.
<
Sylocat> The opening is great though
<@
FoME> So they could keep one-shotting them without any effective retaliation, I suppose.
<
Froborr> Okay, any quick final thoguhts before I copy this up to the blog?
<
Sylocat> The stealth cloaks aren't even that great... they have to break cover to make any attack at all
<@
Sylocat> Aside from me and dad's obligatory "This brings back memories?"
<@
Arrlaari> But "hiding from Balgus" totally explains it
<
FoME> Balgus clearly had favored enemy (mecha)
<
mere_oblivion> Er, "This brings back memories"? (Sorry.)
Sailor Moon Crystal
<Sailor Moon Crystal
<@Sylocat> Dream sequence?
<FoME> Wait. If she's on the moon, then what's in front of the Earth?
<Arrlaari> An Ominous Black Sphere
<@Sylocat> Ooh, maybe she's on Gaea with Hitomi?
<@Sylocat> Well, it was a dream sequence
<Froborr> Nope, he's dead. That's the end.
<@Sylocat> We should be so lucky
<@Sylocat> Every episode I keep thinking that it sounds like TENMON did the music
<@Sylocat> (well, not the opening, that sounds like whoever did the KLK themes)
<Arrlaari> I forget if I've mentioned before, but it's REVO, a group that did the Shingeki OPs and all the music for Bravely Default
<@Sylocat> Ah... I haven't seen those
<@Sylocat> Are they good?
<Arrlaari> Well, I like what I've heard of them
<Arrlaari> i.e. this, Shingeki OPs, and Bravely Default music
<FoME> Ad after the opening.
<@Sylocat> As usual
<FoME> I'm back.
<@Sylocat> Wait, is it called "Reunion" or "Endymion" (Endouchemion)
<@Sylocat> Hahah... I love that they have a command center
<FoME> I believe "Endymion" is the subtitle.
<@Sylocat> Ah, and here he's in his brainwashed mode
<@Sylocat> Whoa... it's not even subtext anymore, it's just text
<Froborr> BrainwasheD or brainwasheR?
<@Sylocat> Both
<FoME> Yes.
<@Sylocat> "You have red irises! You must be from Ishval!"
<FoME> Oh, hey, it's Motoki's fiancee. At least, she was in the original anime.
<Arrlaari> The book just happens to have the rocks they are named after on the cover
<@Sylocat> I thought talking loud was SOP in anime
<@Sylocat> Ahahah... suspicious, carrying a giant broadsword around
<FoME> Maybe just a little.
<Arrlaari> That's not how diamond hardness works
<@Sylocat> Just say you're cosplaying, you look exactly like a gazillion other anime characters
<Arrlaari> If it's poisonous why are they handling it with their bare hands
<@Sylocat> "Poisonous?" Diamonds can be poisoned?
<FoME> "What, doesn't everyone have spare diamond rings on hand?"
<Arrlaari> It's the sword and the rock from the palace that are poisoned
<@Sylocat> It must be some different kind of poison
<Froborr> Usagi should've had drawings all over her face when she woke up.
<Arrlaari> I guess it's poison if ingested? That's what happened to Cave Johnson
<Froborr> IIRC it was because he breathed it, not ingested it.
<FoME> Usagi's red string of fate seems to be a bungee cord.
<Froborr> Whcih IIIRC is actually the danger with moondust.
<FoME> Ad.
<@Sylocat> Hey, Crunchyroll put the ads in the right place
<FoME> Shocking, isn't it?
<@Sylocat> I think moondust is dangerous because it's got sharp edges, like crushed glass
<@Sylocat> I think I read that on Cracked
<FoME> I'm back
<FoME> And I wouldn't want to breathe in crushed glass.
<Froborr> Makes sense, given lack of erosive forces on the Moon.
<@Sylocat> So he IS in university
<Arrlaari> Yeah, they're also magnetic so any kind of electronics will get covered with them
<@Sylocat> Ooh, Luna has a cell phone
<@Sylocat> Well duh
<@Sylocat> They should tell her to get away from him even when he's "normal"
<Froborr> Oh yes, tell the adolescent girl to stay away from the dangerous older boy, that always works.
<@Sylocat> Worse, now he's a "Bad Boy."
<@Sylocat> A Bad Boy who needs rescuing from his own dark demons
<@Sylocat> Yep, he hasn't changed all that much
<FoME> I'd say he's even more of a creep.
<@Sylocat> "Usako?"
<Froborr> Hard to believe it's possible, but yes, I'd say he's more of a creep.
<@Sylocat> These subtitles are very... literal
<Froborr> IIRC "Usako" is the false name she gave him that one time.
<Arrlaari> It's the pet name he started using shortly before being captured
<FoME> His pet name for her.
<@Sylocat> Ooh, smouldering gazes into each other's eyes
<FoME> Wow. And Mamoru didn't bother to hypnotize more than two people for his cover story.
<Froborr> Well, they're translating EXTREMELY rapidly, being ultra-literal makes snese.
<@Sylocat> True...
<@Sylocat> "Stay away from Mamoru Chiba." Good advice in pretty much all situations, but of course she's not going to listen
<FoME> Darn it, why did they send the brawler to confront him? They always have crap Will saves.
<@Sylocat> What, he's there already?
<Froborr> Wait, seriously?
<Froborr> Arcade dude is going to be a minion now?
<Arrlaari> Is this the first time Venus has done a fully transform animation?
<@Sylocat> A Sailor Scout fell for a Suggestion Spell?
<FoME> I believe so.
<@Sylocat> Ooh, nice ribbon effect
<Arrlaari> Different pen styles
<@Sylocat> (shades of Mami, which is probably intentional)
<FoME> The funny thing is that those two already were friends in the originial anime.
<FoME> Also, it seems this episode needs to fill a lot of time.
<@Sylocat> Yes... I love the transformation sequences, but can't they do a joint one?
<Froborr> Yeah, this is draaaaaagging.
<@Sylocat>
Don't tell me the entire rest of the episode is going to be their
transformation and catchphrases leading up to the battle... that'd be
worse than Dragon Ball Z
<FoME> Wow. And pre-battle taunts. Sheesh.
<Arrlaari>
Given the overall pacing of the show it feels like they finally found
space to show off all the work they put into the transforms
<Froborr> Magica Quintent this ain't.
<@Sylocat> Oh for goodness's sake
<@Sylocat> Usagi, DO SOMETHING
<FoME> Oh, now he has magic.
<Froborr> But I bet he's still a non-teleporting loser.
<FoME> Well, I suppose the mind control indicated that.
<@Sylocat> Please tell me Usagi's finally going to work up the nerve to slap him out of it
<Froborr> BECAUSE HE'S EVIL, USAGI.
<@Sylocat> (this is one of the VERY few occasions in which I would actually recommend "Knocking some sense into" someone)
<Froborr> Oh ffs just murder him already.
<@Sylocat> Oh, he did NOT just hurt the kitty
<@Sylocat> Well, FINALLY
<Froborr> Okay, I like that him hurting Luna was the last straw.
<FoME> You can kick her friends' asses as much as you want, but hurt her cat and you will pay.
<Froborr> Of course, now there's just enough time for her trasnformation sequence and then the cliffhanger.
<@Sylocat> It's a kids' show... of course the cat is sacred
<Arrlaari> It does play into a trope I see, where women refuse to fight until someone they care about is hurt right in front of her
<FoME> Of course, that implies she doesn't care about any of the other Senshi.
<@Sylocat> Hey, Usagi? While you're at it, get Jupiter to snap out of it too
<@Sylocat> Oh... she's actually doing that?
<Froborr> Once again, Mercury is the smart one.
<@Sylocat> That's...nice
<@Sylocat> She's actually doing something sensible
<FoME> Hell of an entrance.
<@Sylocat> Oh crud
<Froborr> no sell
<@Sylocat> I didn't see that one coming
<@Sylocat> WHAT?
<@Sylocat> "Are you Mamo-chan?"
<@Sylocat> Are you kidding me?
<Froborr> *facepalm*
<FoME> Sadly, no.
<Arrlaari> They just got done convincing her that he's a constructed impostor
<@Sylocat> For the love of...
<Froborr> Okay, quick final thoughts before I copy this up and head out?
<@Sylocat> This is worse than the four Rock Knights being the Sailor Scouts' boyfriends
<@Sylocat> This is turning into Twilight
<Froborr> Yeah.
<Froborr> "Boys are all evil, but with your love you can change them!" That's... healthy.
<@Sylocat> Okay, deep breath, the preview almost looks decent
<Froborr> I skipped it.
<FoME> I swear the earlier anime isn't this bad.
<@Sylocat> I was actually preferring this one for a while, since Tuxedo Fedora doesn't have to swoop in every episode to save her
<Froborr> I still find it difficult to believe anything can run that many episodes and be any good.
<FoME> Eh, she saves herself. His greatest power is inspirational speeches.
<Arrlaari> More like his only power
<FoME> I won't deny there are pacing problems, but it at least gives the story room to breathe.
<Froborr> Anyway, sorry to cut this short, but I've gotta run.
<@Sylocat> I should watch the original anime with subtitles instead of dubbed... maybe it'll be better?
<Arrlaari> The older Sailor Moon Anime actually got better in the later seasons
Update from the target audience: In this episode Evil Mamoru was "unacceptably hot"
ReplyDeletehttp://sharpestrose.tumblr.com/post/104659674073/girlsbydaylight-pretty-sure-i-wasnt-supposed
http://sharpestrose.tumblr.com/post/104659807233/girlsbydaylight-uh-was-i-supposed-to-find
Well, I mean, I think it's fair to read a predatory sexuality into even-more-evil Tuxedo Mask. It's the failure to recognize the predatory aspect to normal Mask that's more of a problem.
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