I am absolutely loving Kara no Kyoukai. I’ve read some of the novels and am hitting this with a more critical eye but man, it is not disappointing to any degree. I am ecstatic at the adaptation. Now if only Tsukihime had a good adaptation, and perhaps FS/N a better one, I would be extremely happy. Perhaps movies or OVAs, as Kara no Kyoukai is enjoying such wondrous animation, the movement being very flowing and beautiful. 

It is nice seeing some of the themes that popped up in Tsukihime here, in its predated form and the concept still works quite well. Shiki and SHIKI was a cool idea to me (one who is completely lost at Kanji, learning but failing). Here however, instead of two separate people this is two separate identities/personalities in one girl. I must say, I enjoyed SHIKI’s rougher and more fun loving personality from the little date they were on. I was quite to see and jarring from seeing Shiki’s usual stoic nature. Such a cute adorable side to her.

A little nod to Tsukihime… I need some translated media with Len introduced and more explained, preferably the visual novel. 

I just love this scene. It has struck me as weird that I am thoroughly enjoying such a slow pace in the story as that is normally not my thing, but I suspect it is the atmosphere and the suspense of the story which is really driving it with the characters highlighting it. Got to love that pathetic fallacy. 

Kokuto, apart from being entirely useless, reminds me visually of Shiki Tohno but they seemed so different as Kokuto was frantically rushing through the bamboo grove desperately trying to escape death. It was amusing to watch, more so in contrast with the graceful chase by Shiki. 

I must say the ending was exquisite. Kokuto’s forced plea “I don’t want to die” only to be answered with Shiki’s “I want to kill you” was such an awesome moment. The ending is somewhat vague but I can forgive that. The next one should be simply stunning as it deals with the incident with Asagami where we should see even better action scenes than the first part.

I find the ordering non-chronologically to be a little weird, but less jarring than it should be. Perhaps because I have already experienced it with the novel. This feeling of wanting to know more and what happens next is heightened by that, and I absolutely love it. This is definitely going to be one of my most favourite series (I need not watch the rest to know that). Seriously cannot wait for more. XD

Kaguya-hime! After two weeks I have missed Kaguya Code Geass so much. I missed the alluring characters and over the top plot. What I didn’t miss were the annoying huge end of episode cliffhangers, even though this week’s one was definitely one to talk about. 

The Typical Harem Scene

I have played around with the idea that Code Geass could easily function as a harem anime and this little incident does seem to support the idea. Typical harem moment except Kallen is the one on top. One has to wonder when everyone else is busy establishing their new base why Kallen is in such a get up, and then you remember she was the fan service machine at the beginning of the series. 

May I just say, it is glorious to see C.C. eating pizza again, and the triumphant return of Cheese-kun. C.C. is very relaxed about the compromising situation which makes her interruption all the more better. I now really wish for a Code Geass spin off without the whole ‘take down Britainia’ thing going on more with a school romance thing. I would definitely want to see that. XD

Last note on the subject, this was such a funny shot. Lelouch is a lucky man.

Where The Men Give A Nod To Lloyd

Cecile has shown already that she has marvellous assets, but this episode, she goes conservative going for a cultural look befitting the hosts. Seriously, she wore the skimpy dress at a private meeting with Zero with the Knights but this here. I am a little disappointed but not so much. 

Lloyd, ever the resourceful man, has Millay in the skimpy dress. Lloyd should be a man to envy considering how the women decide to dress like around him. I am disappointed that the Knights were kept to their uniform only because I wanted to see Anya in something other than that uniform.

Prince Schniezel turns up as well, with some arm candy who just happens to be Nina. You know, she isn’t all that bad when she wasn’t so insane or Euphie obsessive. Schniezel also makes a lot more talk than even the first Prince who is actually marrying Tianzi. 

Where The Loli Strikes

Kaguya-hime. Here she shines, showing up with the most outrageous guest ever and being all so relaxed about it. It is made clear here that Suzaku and her are definitely related, as cousins. She also talks him down pretty well, talking about the time Zero saved him. So not just the pretty Japanese princess, she does bring something to the table. More reason to like her. 

And one last time - Kaguya-hime!!! I loved her posing here and getting right into the other party’s face as they came to confront them. Koji Oe has a good almost frame by frame of Kaguya at her best in this episode. Man, she is so awesome.

This Is Not Checkmate

As a chess playing Britainnian (so what if my best game was when I was drunk) I feel it is my time to rage here at the show of horrible chess playing. Though all we saw was the end really, it is an illegal move to make any move where the King would become in check which explains my surprised gasp at this move, however I really raged when Schniezel said Checkmate, which it so plainly is not considering Schniezel’s King was in check and Lelouch was still able to make a move. I call ridiculous on all of this and then I remembered it was Code Geass, so I stopped being serious. 

Ah, there is the crazy Nina we all remember minus the table humping. She shows a wide range from racist to homicidal here, being a huge bitch casting aside her friendship with Kallen so easily because she identified herself as Japanese, and brandishing that knife on Zero in a situation where even the Knights of Rounds did nothing. Calling Euphie her goddess only made her seem crazier. 

Where Zero Crosses The Line

So at the wedding, I am intrigued by Kaguya’s new get up. Her last outfit was very nice. Anyways, onto the wedding, Xingke seemed to interrupt at the traditional ‘raise your objection now’ section of the marriage rite. I would have felt better if we had some of the wedding stuff before the interruption to build up the tension (but that could be because this is what I expect from these situations. I am a romantic at heart). 

So the back story between Xingke and TIanzi has been elaborated on and it was sweet and touching really, what with the pinky promise. For some reason I am really reminded of Kurenai here, what with the little girl who really just wants to get outside of where she had been confined to and the the older boy. Although, Xingke has more questionable feelings for Tianzi me thinks. Tianzi at the altar calling out for Xingke with her pinky raised high was an adorable scene. 

And Zero is on the scene, ruining a perfectly good reunion between Xingke and Tianzi. He is not earning any points at all, and his whole justice thing will probably take a hit with him having a gun up to the Empress’ head. I have absolutely no idea where this plan of Lelouch’s is going and I am assuming this ridiculous turn of events is Sunrise at it’s old ‘we need a cliffhanger at the end’ scheme again. It wasn’t that it looked like he was adding another loli to his (underused) harem or the gun to her head, it was the maniacal laughter accompanying it that annoyed me.

The Parting Shot - Champagne in the Desert

Look who is back! Orange-kun, oh how we missed you! Alas, you have stopped becoming the butt of every joke and now ever so badass. Well, you would have if not for the absolutely horrendous mask you have on - it is worst than any masked character from Gundam. But yes, he is back, and from the sounds of it he will be making a move soon and he has his old spinning top of doom back - the Knight Giga Fortress. I hope to see more from him, as he made a large impression with his entrance at the end of the last season. To which I am reminded that the Gawain has been salvaged and built anew or at least salvaged to make some cooler frames. There were new frames now in the Black Knights’ possession and the preview for the next episode shows a lot of action. Now that, I am definitely looking forward to! XD