Winter 2012 1st Impressions

It begins….

What I Watched:  Nisemonogatari

What I Expected:  The focus to shift to Araragi’s sisters

What I Got:  Bakemonogatari Part II

It’s as if they hadn’t been away for two years.  They really went for the jugular this opening episode, with a Mirai Nikki tribute in the beginning, and an extended 4th Wall-breaking dialogue between Araragi and Hachikuji.  We only got a glimpse of one of his sisters (Tsukihi), and we still haven’t seen Hanekawa, Kanbaru or Karen.  It looks like they’re taking their sweet time to get the plot rolling.  Oh well, it’s not like I wasn’t expecting SHAFT to give up the goods in the first episode!

Chances I’ll Keep Watching:  Good.  I’ve been waiting for this one.

What I Watched:  Milky Holmes II

What I Expected:  Not much, since I dropped the first series after episode 4.

What I Got:  More stupid antics from the most inept crime fighters in anime history

Every so often, a popular series comes along that has literally nothing going for it.  Yet, it’s the favorite series of ironic hipsters and drunken fratboys.  Milky Holmes is that franchise.  There’s nothing about the series that can be called “good”.  It makes Scooby Doo look like Chekov.  The girls are still cute.  They still do dumb things.  They still insult the intelligence of a comatose dog, yet the franchise continues.  I’m done ragging on it.  I’m done with it period.

Chances I’ll Keep Watching:  Not even if it were to save the Earth from alien destruction.

What I Watched:  Mouretsu Pirates

What I Expected:  Sora Kake Girl part II

What I Got:  An entertaining little show with little fanservice

I refuse to call it by its Americanized name, Bodacious Space Pirates.  That name insults it and distracts from an interesting flight of fancy.  Once again, a girl is called to step up and have a grand adventure that she doesn’t think she’s ready for.  The cast is huge, but they’re playing it smart in slowly introducing all the important ones first.  The futuristic setting isn’t too foreign, and Marika is a winning heroine.  She doesn’t bemoan her fate, or shy away from action.  She isn’t headstrong or overly energetic.  In fact, she’s the most “normal” heroine we’ve had since the 90s.  It’s very refreshing!

Chances I’ll Keep Watching:  Good, I’m getting good vibes from this one.

What I Watched:  The New Prince of Tennis

What I Expected:  Hot blooded action and Dragonball-Z type power ups

What I Got:  A nice little reboot to a venerable shounen series

The Prince of Tennis was one of the more popular long-running action shows of the last decade.  It also was much lampooned, since the special skills the players exhibited were otherworldly.  Just as Dragonball kept upping the ante until whole galaxies were being threatened, The Prince of Tennis kept stretching the suspension of disbelief to the quantum breaking point.  So with Ryoma returning from America to participate in a training camp with the best in Japan, it looks like a fine place to restart the series.  It’s interesting that they’ve already introduced the final boss, and it looks like an Enter the Dragon-style tournament to get to him.  Good luck, Ryoma!

Chances I’ll Keep Watching:  Poor.  My two least favorite genres in anime are sports anime and hot-blooded shounen.

What I Watched:  Senki Zesshou Symphogear

What I Expected:  Another Pretty Cure type magical girl show

What I Got:  A grimdark magical girl show a la Madoka

I really hate Puella Magi Madoka Magica.  Not because it’s a bad show.  I hate it because it introduced the grim magical girl genre.  There were casualties.  There was suffering.  Not the girl-positive upbeat style we all expect from magical girl series.  Senki Zesshou Symphogear takes the mantle from Madoka, and drops it—because it isn’t as good.  There’s an undercurrent of darkness and desperation about his show.  Humanity is being attack by extra-dimensional monsters a la Silent Möbius.  Singing idols have the power to use special armor and weapons to fight the invaders.  The battle isn’t going well for the good guys.  There isn’t any fun about this series.  And the story is too boilerplate to transcend that fact.

Chances I’ll Keep Watching:  Poor.  Excellent singing from Nana Mizuki is the only reason to keep tabs on this one.

What I Watched:  High School DxD

What I Expected:  Another monster girl harem a la Rosario + Vampire

What I Got:  A gory, sexy, funny romp

After getting burned from last year’s stinker Freezing, I was a little leery about getting into another ecchi horror action series.  I was pleasantly surprised.  This has more in common with Kore Wa Zombie Desu Ka than High School of the Dead.  Also, it feels very natural despite the fact the lead was killed and then resurrected as a servant to Lucifer’s sister!  More girls will be introduced, and our hero is entertainingly perverted.  This show wears a big grin from start to finish.  Oh, and the rampant nudity doesn’t hurt, either!

Chances I’ll Keep Watching:  Good.  I’ve found my guilty pleasure of the season.

The new shows keep coming!  Part II on the way.