Tokyo Ghoul — 10 + 11 + 12

• Episode 10: “Aogiri”

It is Anteiku’s policy to help each other out, after all.

I really like where the episode started. It moved away from the focus on our main characters and their personal struggles, and gave us a bigger picture of what was happening between the ghouls and the CCG. I liked all the action! It made me wonder why the ghouls never banded together like this to eliminate the CCG and why now of all times. How is Rize involved with the members of Aogiri Tree? What has the “One-Eyed King” been doing all this time?

Tokyo Ghoul — 07 + 08 + 09

Time has escaped me recently, so I’ve been behind on my reviews. I’ve compiled them into group reviews which still cover each episode separately. For these, the individual reviews will be shorter than usual and will focus more on what I thought about the episode and its developments than summary (hopefully)

• Episode 7: “Captivity”

The real reason to feel sorry is when one is hung up on revenge and can’t live their own life.

Contrary to all the other depictions of ghouls we’ve seen so far, the extraordinary kagune and the ability to stay alive despite heavy injuries, this episode gives a sense not only for ghouls’ helplessness when faced with Doves, but also the tragedy and unfairness of non-predatory ghouls being killed.

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun — 07

• Episode 7: Seventh Issue: The Manga Artist’s Brain, Nozaki-kun

I wish I’d been born a slender bishounen!

With all the characters introduced, we take a little break and refocus on our main trio again. For once, Nozaki has some rare free time, so he and Sakura hang out at the mall. For a while, she’s excited about their “date” but soon she realizes Nozaki’s still all about manga–they watched a movie because Nozaki wanted to see the different angles of the school in it, they eat at a restaurant because the characters in Nozaki’s manga will be going to a restaurant and he needs reference pictures, and when they go into a clothing store Nozaki picks some out for Mamiko.

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun — 06

• Episode 6: Sixth Issue: I’ll Cast a Spell on You

Perhaps you shouldn’t have read the shoujo manga.

This episode, we complete the cast by meeting our last main character: Wakamatsu. He’s the only first-year student of the bunch and he was Nozaki’s underclassman in the Basketball Club in middle school, before he became a mangaka. While Waka’s an earnest person and I definitely would use the words “nice kid” to describe him, he adds a new dimension of hilarity to the story, especially where Yuzuki is concerned.

Barakamon — 06

• Episode 6: Yosonmon (Guys From Tokyo)

As I inhale deeply of the refined air, I address my paper and brush, and they respond to me, affirmingly.

With the arrival of Kawafuji and Kanzaki, the episode ends up being more refreshing. Instead of Sensei learning a new lesson in the end, he instead defends his growth since he started living on the island. We also get to see the situation between Sensei and the kids flipped when it’s Miwa and Hiro struggling to take care of Sensei in his possible time of crisis.

Tokyo ESP — 05

• Episode 5: Scene 05: Meeting, Phantom and Girl

It only looks peaceful on the surface, everything is already completely rotten underneath.

With the appearance of the Professor, Rinka and Murasaki experience his incredible illusions, made by sending images directly into other people’s minds. And while it’s only images, he can also affect the sense of sound, taste, smell, and touch also. His “negotiations” are more or less an explanation of the glowing fish, the rock (which is actually part of a stone tablet), and the collector (which is what Peggy is), and asking Rinka why she fights.

Tokyo Ghoul — 06

• Episode 6: “Cloudburst”

If she had been rejected after interacting with each other, there’d be no going back.

What happens in this episode very much feels like something that all the other episodes were leading up to. Although there’s much more action to be had, especially after the events of this episode, it certainly has a feel of everything suddenly coming together. The Tsukiyama issue was resolved and transitions directly into the issues brewing in the background with the Doves, Jason, and Hinami’s father. 

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun — 05

• Episode 5: Fifth Issue: The Man Who Envisions Love

Those two think only about love, and don’t study at all.

This week we get a change of pace! Instead of watching the antics of Nozaki and his friends (manga assistants and oblivious people alike), we get to see the departmental side of the manga-making (and the antics involved on their end). We meet three new characters this time around: Ken, Maeno, and Miyako. The first two are Nozaki’s current and previous editors, respectively. Miyako is another shoujo mangaka who lives in the same apartment complex as Nozaki and work for the same magazine, with Maeno as her editor. 

Barakamon — 05

• Episode 5: Un ni Oegii (Going Swimming at the Beach)

Despite physical fatigue and mental breakdown, you face the solitude single-mindedly! Yes, the utmost limit. You see the utmost limit!

In a way, Barakamon has fallen into a pattern: Sensei learns from the previous episode’s events, is motivated to continue working on his calligraphy, is interrupted by the islanders, and then he grows as a person. Every episode can also be divided into two portions, in which the second half is usually more uplifting/inspirational. This one is no different.

Tokyo ESP — 04

• Episode 4: Scene 04: The Rain, Ring, and Girl

Through various coincidences we met. And little by little, our courage bound our hearts together.

This episode both ends this small arc full of introductions and yakuza, and also sets up for a bigger conflict by revealing some information about some of our more mysterious characters and introducing us to the real antagonists.