I finally started skipping filler because I was getting burnt out on the show and not even close to the end. I’m on episode 105ish; the group of 7 have shown up, I think the last episode I watched they killed the poison guy? I actually haven’t watched much with the listening challenge taking up a lot of my time, but I’m hoping to be excited to get back into it with a month’s break.
Yeah I think this has been my learnings of 2024. Pick a show that’s a little hard for you with 30+ episodes and go at it. Inuyasha is rarely a challenge for me anymore, and since they’ll recap it 15 times before the plot resolves, you’ll get a chance to at least figure out what’s going on, if not pick up the missing vocab.
Cardcaptor Sakura has improved my Kansai ben listening so well that I understood a Instagram reel that was a joke about showing up in Osaka and only knowing textbook Japanese. That was a surprise.
You might enjoy ヲタ恋 as well then - it’s also an office comedy (tho sometimes they go to 同人誌 conventions, hang at a bar, play video games, etc)
I never really got comfy with Language Reactor, but tools like that are great! I was using jimaku player before I canceled my Crunchyroll subscription (grumpy over them entirely removing all comments and written reviews)
Ahh cool. I enjoy 2 of the chars from that group a lot. I skipped most of the filler as well… it’s the sorta thing that you can always go back later & watch (which notably… I haven’t). The listening challenge is pretty demanding, eh? I’ve been glad for it, but definitely right to call it a challenge!
Ahhh very nice. I remember having a bit of trouble w/ that when I watched it, but I’m pretty certain I’d be good with it now. (I’m not about to rewatch to go find out tho )
Finally caught up on 義妹生活 | L26 after a 5 week pause, and I’m still absolutely wow’d by this show! The way it tells its story, the mood it creates with its deliberate using of slowness, space, flashback monologues, scenery, etc. Having two leads with such emotional maturity and self-awareness is really nice. I’m concerned about the fact that there’s only 3 episodes left (especially knowing that there are 12 light novels | L31 out, and it’s still ongoing) - but really looking forward to seeing where it goes, either way. I’m really tempted to start reading it, even though it’s not yuri. Volume 1 even has an audiobook (except it’s by dwango - ew!!). Anyway, I can’t say it doesn’t have its flaws, but they’re more than made up for by its strengths, imo.
I’ve barely been watching anything lately, so it was really nice to catch up. While there were still occasional parts where I checked the EN subs, overall it feels a lot easier than it did a month ago, and I can certainly understand a lot of it audio-only.
I also watched ep 1 of 桜Trick S1 | L20. So far it feels kinda dumb, and there’s an egregious amount of fan service, but it’s just entertaining enough that I feel like I can keep watching. The fact that the MC, Haruka, is voiced by Tomatsu Haruka definitely helps. Maybe I’ll stick with it, maybe I’ll drop… I feel like it doesn’t really matter either way.
I’m a little over halfway through 愛天使伝説ウェディングピーチ S1 | L22 and guess who I found?! Sailor Moon’s voice actor!!
She’s playing a recurring villain, but she’s very cute and wagamama, so like, Sailor Moon if she was Sailor Tin Nyanko maybe mixed with a bit of Sailor Aluminum Siren. It’s been fun! I’m at 31/51 and I think I’ve found the beginning of the plot arc that will probably run through the end of the series. It’s going to be a turn the love interest evil plot (as spoiled by the new opening sequence ) so I’m not like, super excited for it. But it is almost required in a magical girls story so I guess I can’t complain too much.
I don’t care all that much for something so trope filled as this show. But like, also maybe to the line 天使 悪魔 争いすれ違う don’t put a close up of Peach to 天使 and the love interest to 悪魔 and then show an evil looking cloaked dude behind him. Like just maybe.
The new opening does kinda slap though. So I’m willing to forgive them a little bit.
Has anyone here watched Bungou Stray Dogs past the first season?
I finished 文豪ストレイドッグス | L31 a few days ago and have mixed feelings. I loved looking up all the references, and understanding them definitely enhanced my experience with the show. I also enjoyed the writing for the individual characters. But…
Just my criticism, I will also blur spoilers
I found the writing for the plots introducing the characters to range from predictable to nonsensical (e.g. two police officers, that both do not want to shoot the pistol are mishandling the gun so poorly, that one of them gets shot and dies in a “tragic and dramatic” way. She had attempted to disarm the other police officer, and somehow pointed the gun at herself. Sorry, but I had to laugh at their incompetence)
I also found all the fight scenes to be really boring, with no exception. What characters can or can’t do seemed very arbitrary (e.g. A character uses their ability to slice apart a car, only for the same ability to be blocked by a pistol later. What is that thing made out of?? Or several men continuously firing their machine guns at another character, who is not wearing armor of any kind, for ~10 second or so. In the end, she had a single injury at her leg. That’s some serious stormtrooper aim right there)
Does this get better in later seasons? Part of me wants to continue, but another can’t take more of it
)
) so I’m not like, super excited for it. But it is almost required in a magical girls story so I guess I can’t complain too much. 
(I usually watch at least once tho)
but I usually skip after the first ep anyway, just cuz I’m impatient
