rxckne Reviews

Shōgun (2024–2026)

~ a flower's only a flower because it falls ~

[10/10 · 24 April 2024]

My personal mini series Mount Rushmore is led by Band Of Brothers and Chernobyl. Two amazing HBO historical series that left a deep impact on my view of TV. But similar to Vinland Saga, Shogun is able to take histories and intertwine them in this dramatic fashion by taking liberties with its story and blending history and drama in a great way.

Shogun is framed as this show that indicates battle as swords and battle armor are the forefront of the shows poster. Even the synopsis of the show indicates taking action on enemies and staying a float in an ongoing civil war. And while there certainly is a war, it's not as simple as any ordinary one. Characters in Shogun have to be careful with their actions as the events of the show are to slowly let someone bleed out rather than to charge them head on and leave body's dropping.

This series is a long chess game that gives every move room to breathe, leaving characters to ponder and the audience to anticipate what's next throughout many unforeseen twists and turns. But some of the best elements of Shogun are some of the themes it portrays.

Mariko is in my eyes Shogun's best character. Her backstory leaves a lifeless shadow on her despite the fact that she shows ambition in her path of following Lord Toranaga. But throughout the journey they're more glimpses of Mariko's past that make her motivations more clear. Throughout the show there are many quotes and poems regarding life, death, and other facets of the world the characters live in. The line that defined the series was one about a flower, and it perfectly encapsulates not only an arc, but the surrounding of that arc that put everything into perspective.

When it comes to expectations, don't let the expectations of flashy battle weigh over you while watching this show because I think the intention is to show audiences that battles aren't as clear cut as drawing blades. It shows the impact of life and death by throwing you into a story where it doesn't take entire armies falling to determine the fate of many people, and sometimes it takes the right voice and message to make everything grow.

Even though I think the Emmy's have lost an extreme amount of credibility from the way they treated shows like Better Call Saul and The Wire, I still appreciate the publicity and flowers it gives away to shows that end up translating to mainstream media since the Emmy's are the benchmark for TV awards. And with that hopefully Shogun sweeps the drama category as it's truly the best show of the year so far and is looking to stay that way. Not to mention Anna Sawai stealing the show as well Hiroyuki Sanada who acted AND produced this series. Either way, some award doesn't define what a great piece of media is. With or without one, Shogun is an accomplishment that should be cherished by anyone who enjoys the journey it takes you on.

Shōgun: A Dream of a Dream (2024) Season 1, Episode 10

Studying The Wind

[10/10 · 23 April 2024]

The Shogun finale was a masterful closing of the book to one of the greatest miniseries in television history. After the events of episode 9 the world suddenly felt empty, and the reality of the show really kicked into place. But with that emptiness came a light of life that left it's impact on the entire series and the world that was built within it.

Every character had a fitting ending to their arcs that left open interpretation for what could still come, but also closed the door at the proper moment. Blackthorne and Toranaga's encounters weren't entirely what I expected, but the void that was left on the show in the last episode made their scenes everything they needed to be.

But what made many elements of Shogun come together was the monologue near the end, which was probably my favorite scene of the entire show. Toranaga being given the freedom to let out his thoughts and put many of the events of this show into perspective was something I didn't know I needed but I'm very glad it happened. Doing justice to many arcs with his own words and also opening himself up to be seen in a different light. Crimson Sky was seen as this Great War, but turned out to be much more impactful and devastating with one individual that made everything go into motion. The sacrifice that was made seemed small compared to what I expected of Crimson Sky, but what happened left an impact that nobody else ever could and that was shown in this finale.

The dynamic in that monologue was great and not what I'd expect of a scene with Toranaga and Yabushige. But given the circumstances it made sense. Yabushige is a character that has a comedic undertone, but ever since episode 1 when he risked his life to help the sailor he immediately became one of my favorites. The poem he wrote perfectly encapsulates what I'd expect from him in that moment and after the events of the last episode the ending to his arc was perfect.

Also I'm not sure if I'm bugging out, but in the final shot was that character holding what I think it was in his hand? I'm not sure if it's the exact cross because I feel like that'd be impossible, but I think that goes to show that those 2 characters will be intertwined far past Shogun's finale which makes sense considering the words that were spoken prior.

It pains me that Shogun ends here and that it's a show that won't have a tight hold on the TV world for the rest of the decade, but in these 10 episodes it certainly will leave a great impact if it hasn't already. Better to end a series while it's on top rather than to drag it out longer than it should be. Huge kudos to the performances from Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawai and Cosmo Jarvis to name a few. They were perfectly casted and guided this story masterfully.

Shōgun: Crimson Sky (2024) Season 1, Episode 9

The Sky is Caving In

[10/10 · 16 April 2024]

This episode was the beginning of the end. Toranaga's plan was officially set in motion, and it came at an expensive cost. The buildup from the council meeting to Mariko's attempt to leave, to her attempted death was hard to watch as the not knowing left me anxious.

When Mariko was given the permit to leave and there were still 10 minutes left in the episode, I knew something was wrong. And surely, the ending was heart wrenching. With nowhere to go, everyone was trapped inside of a shed with nothing but walls surrounding them. It was heartbreaking watching John not giving up in those final moments, and Mariko already accepting that her fate was sealed. No matter what they would've been imprisoned or killed, and Mariko accepted that reality.

Yabushige to no surprise took a deal for himself and it potentially backfired on him, but if he survived I wonder how this plays out for him. The main question however is without his most trusted allies at his side, will Toranaga's plan still payoff. But above all after seeing this episode, it really put into perspective how there is no good guy in this story, including Torganaga. Everyone he's lost up until this point is seeming more and more like they're being used as chess pieces in his game. John was right when he told Mariko that Toranaga sending her to do his bidding wasn't right, and there's no justification for taking lives to further your own goals. That's something that was already apparent in this show, but losing Mariko made it that much more clear. She and plenty of others are victims to this long game that's being played.

I'm glad this story has taken the turn that it has before the final episode because it takes one person's demise to make you look at everything differently. And going into the final episode with that perspective, I'm looking forward to seeing how these events play out after the assassination attempts. And IF he's alive, how John will handle these new circumstances? With no crew to go back to, Mariko was the last thing John had. And now that she's gone, I assume if he lives he'll only be seeing red.

Shōgun: The Abyss of Life (2024) Season 1, Episode 8

This is Farewell.

[10/10 · 10 April 2024]

Every Shogun episode raises the stakes higher and higher and there were zero moments waisted in this episode. The anticipation to find out what was to come felt like it was forever, but also sudden considering how much happened. So much weight was put into these scenes whether it was scheming, pleading, or a development between characters that left a broken bond, or rather a bond that had been broken over time. Certain goals seemed far out of reach after time went by, which lead characters down paths I did not expect. Blackthorne's next journey is going to be very interesting to watch, but that final sequence with Toranaga and Mariko was a great way to set up the final episodes and the story to come. I'm really glad Shogun puts more of an emphasis on building tension rather than weightless action sequences that could be flashy, but rather subpar without the lead up to them that add more meaning to the story. The slow chess game I think is what has made this show brilliant up until this point, and I'm confident that if or when the chaos ensues that it will be the perfect storm.

WrestleMania XL (2024 TV Special)

WrestleMania XL : The End and Beginning of Era's

[10/10 · 8 April 2024]

After the bar was set very high last year in Hollywood, WrestleMania 40 was the perfect end of an era, and start of a new one in WWE. The return of Roman Reigns in 2020 started something special in the WWE, and tonight the ultimate climax of it all came about. There were moments that will never be forgotten in the history of wrestling, and this Mania served as a great celebration for one of the best modern day rivalry's in WWE as well as a reunion of some old, and current legends.

WrestleMania Saturday

Women's World Championship Match (C) Rhea Ripley vs Becky Lynch - (4/5)

• Rhea and Becky put on a show and further solidified Rhea's dominance as champion, while continued Becky's solid run with her great performance.

6 Pack Tag Title Ladder Match - (4.25/5)

• For any fans of wrestling old or new, this was a fun match that served as a great way for everyone to showcase their talent, while also putting over two teams that deserved to shine.

Rey Mysterio & Andrade vs Dominik Mysterio & Santos Escobar - (3/5)

• While this match had a random ending with the Jason Kelce & Lane Johnson interference, this was still a fun match that let Andrade and Escobar get a nice WM moment, and further extend Rey and Dominik's great feud.

Jimmy Uso vs Jey Uso - (2.25/5)

• This match was the the only WM40 disappointment for me, as I expected a much better buildup then a simple YEET and NO YEET competition. And in the ring it was about the same. A City of Brotherly Love Street Fight stipulation I think would've done wonders for this match, and I'm not sure why that wasn't the move. While I liked the Jimmy surrendering spot, it could've had greater potential if this was fleshed out more considering the power and depth this brotherly rivalry had.

6 Woman Tag Match - (3/5)

• This match served as a great way for both teams to showcase their talents and give Jade a great WrestleMania debut. Here's to hoping Asuka's losing streak ends next year though lol

Intercontinental Championship Match (C) Gunther vs Sami Zayn - (4.75/5)

• This was the match of the night, and arguably the best match of WM40. Gunther dominating Zayn for the majority of the match showed that Sami didn't stand a chance, but Gunther's cockiness came at the cost of his reign. He underestimated Gable and got counted out. He underestimated The Miz and nearly lost. But with all of the background and buildup from Sami Zayn, there was no escape for Gunther. The brain buster spot was EXCELLENT, and the helluva kicks were the cherry on top. Well deserved moment for Sami Zayn, and I can't wait for Gable to get his moment to shine.

Main Event Roman Reigns & The Rock vs Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins - (4.25/5)

• This match completely exceeded my expectations. While this match wasn't a great pure wrestling spectacle, it didn't need to be. The slow build, the spots, and the chaos were all this match needed to shine. With the bending of the rules and the many false finishes, this match served up to its AMAZING buildup. If you told me this would go down as the 2nd longest main event in WM history I would've told you that you were crazy. But wow they pulled it off.

WrestleMania XL Night 1 Overall Score: 4.25/5

WrestleMania Sunday

(C) Seth Rollins vs Drew McIntyre w/ Damian Priest Cash In - (4/5)

• Sundays opening match wasted little to no time and served as the great payoff to Seth's reign as champion, validating the WHC and giving Drew the first of his earned moments in front of a crowd (assuming another will come soon at CATC) but then we get a great plot twist. Drew goes at Punk, Punk retaliates, and Damian finally cashes in. For the 2nd time in WWE history, a cash in at WrestleMania occurred, and it was amazing. Even if it's not a long reign, props to Damian. Well deserved.

6 Man Philly Street Fight Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits vs The Final Testament - (3/5)

• This Match was a fun roller coaster with some great spots from Angelo & Montez, and had a great surprise with Bubba Ray as the referee. Not much to say about this one, but it served its purpose.

LA Knight vs AJ Styles - (3.75/5)

• This was a fun physical match between these two after a fantastic buildup, and while I wasn't looking forward to it after Elimination Chamber, the buildup was excellent and the match delivered. I wouldn't mind if this feud carried on until Backlash.

United States Championship Match (C) Logan Paul vs Kevin Owens vs Randy Orton - (3.75/5)

• While I wish KO went over, I understand the decision made with this match. Not my favorite of the night, but was still a solid showcase from everyone.

WWE Women's Championship Match (C) Iyo Sky vs Bayley - (4.75/5)

• In the WELL deserved co main event, Iyo and Bayley SHOWED OUT. This match was an amazing masterclass with many great false finishes, counters, and intense moments. After a great buildup and a fantastically executed match, Bayley got her deserving moment at Mania. Props to Iyo for her great reign, and here's to hoping she gets to shine again in the future.

Main Event for Undisputed WWE Universal Championship (C) Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes - (5/5)

• When you look at memorable and fantastic WrestleMania main events, this is an instant classic that will go down as one of the greatest of all time. Wrestling ain't all about pure in ring ability, but Roman and Cody did a fantastic job of setting the stage for the first 20 or so minutes, then letting the chaos ensue. The returns of John Cena and The Undertaker were poetic. While Stone Cold would've been a fun return for The Rock's sake, this was Roman's match. And who were 2 of Roman's rivals? The man he beat at WrestleMania 33, and the man who verbally killed the big dog, and Solo Sikoa. The returns were perfect, and the final sequence with Seth Rollins and the chair was CINEMA.

In 2014, Seth was the cause of The Shield's end, by betraying Roman. In 2022, he re-opened this wound for Roman by entering their match with The Shield theme and gear and playing the mind games at the Royal Rumble. In 2023, Sami Zayn brought back that nightmare by betraying Roman, and permanently cracking his Bloodline at the Royal Rumble.

And finally in 2024, it all culminated into Roman choosing to not hit Cody, but instead take revenge on Rollins with the chair. And that moment caused the end of Roman's empire. Perfect ending to what I'd call the greatest reign of all time.

WrestleMania XL Night 2 Overall Score: (5/5)

Overall, phenomenal WrestleMania. Was every match perfect? Absolutely not. But most of them either served their purpose, exceeded expectations, or in many instances stole the show entirely. I don't like throwing out 5 star ratings often, but in a couple months / years I will likely look back on some of these matches I rated 4.75 and give them 5's because they were truly more than just instant classics. For WrestleMania's 40th anniversary, many iconic moments were created that will never be forgotten, and I'm glad to say I got to witness one of the greatest WrestleMania's of all time. Props to Roman for carrying the Era from the pandemic to now, and ultimately handing off, no, tossing UP the torch to Cody Rhodes. And kudos to Cody for being a phenomenal protagonist in this story, and here's to Cody leading this new era and the next generation.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (2024)

Strong Start, Awfully Rushed Finish.

[6 April 2024]

Before someone reads this and assumes I'm some hater who didn't give this series a chance, I've watched this universe for nearly a decade now and sat through it's highs and lows, have read all the comics, and even gave a chance on most of the shows spin-offs whether bad or not. Which in some cases is actually kind of important considering the effort the writers had to emphasize the CRM lore in a lot of them. While I did enjoy some of the great moments of this universe I'm also not scared to call out when it tries to insult the audience with its unrealistic, out of touch, and dare I say season 8 level Game Of Thrones writing. That said I'm unbiased and simply one person that has liked and disliked this universe just giving my opinion.

The Ones Who Live started off well, making the presence of the CRM felt immediately and doing justice to the near decade Rick had been gone from his family. The series subverts expectations a bit in the early half but not in a way that's done poorly. I don't think it's without flaws but nothing that takes me out of the experience. Episode 4 takes a slow change in pace but one I thought was necessary at the time for Rick's development. But then the final 2 episodes came and I realized how poorly they treated the time they were given, ESPECIALLY in the finale. Little did I know the entire 7 year build of the CRM from season 8 of TWD till now was going to be thrown out the window.

I've seen some fans cope about how this series was meant to focus on the love story of Rick and Michonne which is completely fine. But using that as an excuse for the butchering of the CRM as if they hadn't spent all this time building them up is an absolute JOKE. Throwing away the ENTIRE storyline and doing absolutely 0 justice to their buildup is such an insult to the investment people had in them as villains. An investment that was put into place by the show itself. Making the CRM out to be the most dangerous threat in the entire Walking Dead universe, then completely dropping the ball with them just for some cliche generic ending you'd get from a modern day Disney movie.

Scott Gimple has been criticized in the past for his AWFUL decisions with TWD. So much so that he had to step down and give the reigns to Angela Kang for the final 3 seasons of the main show, even if that didn't really end well either despite a great 9th season. Gimple being the lead producer and writer for this series was something I was extremely skeptical about, but I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt considering he did write some of the best TWD episodes we have today. He also was working on this story for plenty of years, so surely he treated it with a lot of care and would be prepared to make the best of it, right? No. Absolutely not.

Gimple has always had a HUGE problem with writing dialogue. In many instances in his material, the characters have these corny lines that try too hard to be wise and clever that it inhumanizes them, ESPECIALLY in life or death moments. He wouldn't dare take this problem to this series after being off of the main show and taking part in ruining Fear The Walking Dead in many aspects as well, right? No, he brought it here too.

You have a character that is fixated on one thing for YEARS, then all of a sudden become this in-touch grounded person out of nowhere for the sake of making the audience feel sympathy for them? Not to mention in nearly every action scene these awfully corny dialogue pieces that a human is NOT going to say in a LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION. Minor details here but honestly it's not that big of a deal considering this is the most formulaic Disney Junior like writing I've seen in an adult drama in a very long time but whatever. A character in a very intense moment says "LoVe iS DeAd" and another character says "LoVe DoEsNt DiE" and I cringed out of my mind. HUMANS DO NOT TALK LIKE THIS!!!! FOR GODS SAKE THIS ISNT A FORMULAIC DISNEY SHOW SCOTT GIMPLE!!!

I'm not trying to bash on people's experience if they enjoyed the show, but it absolutely pains me to see so many people that are blinded by the nostalgia of these characters, ESPECIALLY getting blinded by fan service and undeserved emotional moments to make up for how forced of a finish this was. I'm almost convinced these fans who loved the ending would watch The Long Night episode from Game Of Thrones and be jumping with joy and have 0 problem with it. Because that's the type of writing we got here in the final act of this series that had so much more potential than this.

Either way if you enjoyed The Ones Who Live, all power to you. But don't write off the people who disliked it as haters and completely dismiss anyone who doesn't think this ending is anything close to "perfect" because I'll be damned if this is what a perfect television ending looks like. If you read allat, thank you. Even if you disagree. Shoutout to the performances from Danai, Andy and others. Scott Gimple, shame on you.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live: The Last Time (2024) Season 1, Episode 6

Thoughts on the Finale

[1 April 2024]

The Ones Who Live didn't waist any time right away and kicked things off with a very strong first half. The immediate reuniting of Michonne and Rick wasn't something I expected, but I'd say was the right decision. Episode 4 was a huge accomplishment in writing from Danai Gurira in my opinion, considering it was a mostly dialogue heavy episode that carried the weight of so many emotions from the two. But I hate to say in hindsight, it wasn't a great decision to flesh out episodes 4 & 5 in the manner they did considering how rushed this finale was.

This finale in my opinion was a great closure moment for the fans of The Walking Dead who waited years to see this moment, and the moment itself isn't something people should take for granted considering every hurdle that happened to make it to this point on and off screen. But as a diehard fan of this universe, I can't help but feel that this process was not treated with much care at all in terms of the most important aspect of what this show should've been. And that was the journey. The show goes from raising the stakes completely with the reveal from Beale in the briefing to Rick reuniting with his kids around 30 minutes later.

The CRM was known as the most dangerous threat to this universe and had everything at the palm of their hand. They seemed terrifying and trying to tap around them would be extremely difficult. But in the end it came down to killing Jadis and Beale, and one explosion for Rick and Michonne to get the best of the CRM? It just seems like a huge cliche especially after TWD made the Commonwealth feel so small and illogical in the final season of the main show.

Considering this was supposed to be a trilogy of movies. I didn't hate the idea of putting this story into an episodic format because I thought time would be on their side, but it turns out it made everything far more rushed. I don't understand why TWD just HAD to make this 6 episodes when this very clearly could've used far more. If budget was an issue why couldn't they just make very long movie like episodes, split them, and release the other 3 with a fresh budget next year?? Or better yet do 4-5 episodes each to make sure nothing feels forced and rushed, but why this? Hell we've waited this long already, what's another year if it means we get a conclusion that feels earned? Idk man, I want to love this but I can't help but feel they dropped the ball.

I'm still of the mindset that there might be a final act whether it's season 12 or a new TWD show that wraps up the stories of the other characters, and eventually get the reunion of Rick and Daryl as well as other characters. But if that's the plan, I do not understand why they did the Rick / Judith and RJ reveal so soon in this episode. Not trying to make assumptions but if I had to guess it seems like they wanted to put that moment in the end here just in case Andrew and Danai are done with the universe. And if they aren't and they do return, I don't get why the show had to be this impatient with a story that should've been treated with much more care than this. Even though I've been waiting for this moment for nearly 6 years, I'm really sad to say I wasn't a fan of this finale. But I'm happy for TWD fans that were waiting for this moment and are satisfied with the conclusion.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End: Mahô no takami (2024) Season 1, Episode 26

Frieren and Magic's PEAK

[10/10 · 10 March 2024]

The tension that Frieren was able to create with Aura the Guillotine in the earlier episodes was outstanding considering how powerful Frieren was compared to her. Having Fern and Stark take on her own upper tier soldiers added further to those episodes, but THIS arc has brought the tension and creativity to another level.

Considering Frieren as of now is the strongest character by a good mile, the introduction of a monster that creates perfect imitation's of others being the primary roadblock in the king's tomb was brilliant, as Frieren being the main obstacle herself makes the stakes much higher.

One of my favorite things about this show is the patience it not only has with character building, but with building up a climax to a battle / fight sequence. The primary example of this was Frieren's monologue with her master giving a glimpse of her backstory and how they came to meet earlier in the season. Then Flamme illustrating to her how she should hide her mana so her power is hidden unlike demon's who wouldn't think to do such a thing, and that tying into the downfall of Aura. It was so brilliantly done and while there were constant cuts to the past, it made perfect sense for the story and never felt forced.

Going back to the tomb, essentially giving the characters an entire episode into planning on how to beat Frieren's clone is extremely realistic and deserves its flowers for not rushing that process. While it's not as detailed as the Flamme backstory scene, it still shows that this anime isn't cutting corners.

But the best part of this episode was having Fern be the one to create the perfect opening on the clone, giving Frieren the opportunity to deal the final blow. It was perfect in the sense that it literally took the both of them making the one and only perfect opportunity. Fern breaking the shield, and while not being able to overpower the clone one on one, it's ultimately irrelevant because she gave them the opening to win. An amazing student outplays the teacher moment in a way that's not unrealistic but does justice to both characters without making either of them look weak.

Beginning this episode with Serie and Frieren's last conversation was a great way to begin this episode, considering Serie's differences in Flamme and Frieren's beliefs. Then Fern, a human, being the one to create the killing blow near the end was the perfect icing on the cake to end it off. Also loved the Übel and Sense portion of this episode. It subverted my expectations making me think Sense's imitation was going to be stronger, but just like the man with the "unstoppable cloak" Übel cuts right through the clone. The monologue between the two was great as well and hopefully we see more of Übel, Wirbel, Denken and the new first-class mage's going forward.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live: Gone (2024) Season 1, Episode 2

"WHAT THE F ARE YOU DOING"

[4 March 2024]

When it comes to subverting expectations, while TWD has done it before, it wouldn't be something I'd immediately link to TWD. To do it in a manner that isn't forced is also very difficult, but this show just did an EXCELLENT job of just that. If you told me all of Rick and Michonne's journey to reunite would be recapped in the first two episodes, I'd tell you that would be an awful idea. But with the way it was just pulled off, wow. As someone who's been a super fan of TWD but very indifferent towards a lot of the new material, I'm really happy that I loved this. And the PERFECT cherry on top was the twist at the end. Jadis being the antagonistic figure is a perfect decision. Some people weren't a huge fan of the garbage people in TWD szns 7-8 but personally I loved them, especially for Polly's performance. And there were flashes of that in the final scene and my god I couldn't be happier. She's a phenomenal actress and the stakes for this series just skyrocketed because of her role in the story. While I wasn't crazy about some of the aspects of the opening 20 minutes or so, the payoff to ep 2 was excellent. I'm really hoping Scott, Danai, and Andy can maintain the tension they've built as well as the prestige of the CRM without dipping too hard into plot armor, and other cliches that can potentially bring this down. But in terms of the main story, The One's Who Live has exceeded my expectations, again. NOW GIVE ANDY AND DANAI THEIR EMMY NOMS ALREADY.

Hazbin Hotel: Masquerade (2024) Season 1, Episode 4

Angel's Poisonous Life

[10/10 · 1 March 2024]

As much as I loved all of Hazbin Hotel season 1 as well as episode 0, this was most certainly my favorite episode. I love how the simple concept of Charlie trying to get Angel to be at the hotel more turned into this dark dive into the depths of why Angel's in the field he's in, and how he has no way out.

The musical element of this show is very refreshing for me considering I personally would usually witness it in Disney movies, but to see it in a non PG show with this premise adds so much more depth and comedic freedoms that you wouldn't get from Disney. Not to say Disney's not good at it obviously, more so it's a breath of fresh air in a weird way to have dark themes to this degree in musicals from a animated cartoon.

And I'm glad to say my favorite musical sequence of Hazbin Hotel season 1 is definitely Poison from Angel, performed by Blake Roman. A lot of the songs from this show aren't ones that I'd probably put in my rotation or anything, despite them being strong and core pieces to the story. But Poison not only did a fantastic job of encapsulating Angel's tragic story, but was simply a great song that I'd go back to. Not to say other songs aren't great but this was just my personal favorite.

One thing I adore about this show is how great the entire cast is and the care put into the characters to make sure they don't feel like they're just there to be on the side. Alastor was probably my favorite character up until this point for obvious reasons, but Angel by far became my favorite in this episode. And his progression over the course of the season further solidified that for me. And the second half of this episode with Husk comforting Angel and the both of them realizing they're more similar to each other than most was a great way to further develop both characters.

Also, I have seen discussion about the way in which this episode handled the nature of what Angel went through. I'm not gonna speak on whether or not the uses of the exploitations in this episode were definitively insensitive or not, because I think someone who went through a similar situation would have a more keen take on the matter then some random like myself. But just speaking for myself and my own thoughts as a casual viewer watching the episode, I didn't think the episode presented the exploitations in an insensitive manner that would disrespect victims. I think the point of the way Angel went about everything further demonstrated how damaged he was because in an instant he can immediately go from devastated to acting unfazed while going about his work. I thought that was the most brutal part about the scene because it demonstrates to me that this is the norm for him, and I don't think shining a light on this problem is necessarily insensitive. Once again I'm not saying my opinion is valid or above others, that was just my perspective while watching the episode.

But furthermore, this was probably my favorite installment of Hazbin Hotel season 1. I'm glad Vivienne Medrano was able to take this beautiful passion project and elevate it to a larger audience giving the opportunity for people like myself to see it. Hoping for a bright future for this series, and I'm looking forward to seeing more.

Gravity Falls: Somewhere in the Woods (2016) Season 2, Episode 21

Weirdmageddon 3 Is The Real Finale!

[10/10 · 29 February 2024]

From my knowledge Disney + split the final Weirdmageddon episode into a 4th part, leading to it being put here on IMDb as well. Which I don't necessarily mind but I personally feel like putting the final act into two different parts takes away from the overall experience of the final episode. Hope that doesn't come off as nit-picky but that's just how I feel. Nonetheless, a split format doesn't take away from the final act of what I consider to be the greatest cartoon ever created.

Gravity Falls peaked for me with what was supposed to be the original season 2 finale, 2x11 'Not What He Seems' which was supposed to lead to the season 3 premiere being 2x12 'The Tale of Two Stans' and the backstory that set in motion the events of the 3 books, and honestly the entire series. And even though more screen time and a fresh season with Ford could've been great, considering how passionate and dedicated the Gravity Falls fan base was in terms of theorizing, Alex Hirsch definitely made the right call in not making the fans wait any longer for the big reveal. Knocking down all the dominoes in the 2nd season really helped make the Weirdmageddon trilogy feel grand by the time it arrived by having all of these courses of events happen within the span of the final 10 episodes of the series.

In terms of the finale itself, it's certainly paid off the hype that the show culminated which says a lot considering how polarizing this show became in it's tenor. While I have a few gripes with the Stan payoff as well as Bill Cipher's overall goal, I thought this ending was the best I've seen from a cartoon since Avatar's grand conclusion.

And landing an ending to a show in great fashion is already an extremely difficult task in itself, but it's an even tougher ask for a show as complex as Gravity Falls. But the way every character arc was intertwined with the circle, and Ford being the one to (nearly) bring everyone together was a nice way to give everyone a meaning even if they didn't play the most pivotal role. And my favorite part had to be the way Bill Cipher's arc ends. Not to get into too much but it was the perfect checkmate that had some glimpses of 2x19 'Dreamscapers' *i think* (one of my personal favorites) and I think was truly the best way to climax this series.

With that being said, I just wanted to give my thoughts on this show since I never really had the opportunity as it aired. And even though I'm not a fan of the 4 part split of Weirdmageddon, it doesn't change the way I perceive this fantastic show. Avatar and BoJack Horseman are easily on my Mount Rushmore of cartoons, but I personally have Gravity Falls reigning supreme. And this finale cemented it as one of the greatest television experiences I ever had.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live: Years (2024) Season 1, Episode 1

Years Gone Bye

[26 February 2024]

After over 5 long years, the return of Rick Grimes is finally here. And I'm glad to say that so far it's off to a great start.

I've been watching TWD for nearly a decade now, and as a fan I'm just happy that we can still celebrate this universe with 2 of its best characters after all this time. But unlike the other spin-offs, this show has the real stakes and has much more pressure on it to deliver. And in the opening episode there was 0 time wasted.

It's very impressive how grand they made the CRM feel in this small sample size, making them feel larger than life from the jump. And I think a large part of that is the fact that Rick tried multiple times to escape but always failed and had no out, so he was trapped in this world with no choice of his own in regards to being there.

And a decision that was excellent to start off this series was making Rick's desperation apparent to the audience, and having Rick chop off his own hand in the opening minutes is exactly how you show that eagerness. And the fact that he STILL didn't get away shows the viewers how much Rick is really drowning in this pit with no way out.

I also want to take a moment to applaud Craig Tate's performance as Okafor in this episode. I'm honestly a little sad that his character arc ends with this episode considering how great his performance was, and I think a lot of the great that comes from TWD is getting believable characters who can be portrayed well. Especially considering the fact that we're in the spin-off era and getting new characters that can stand on their own two legs is a necessity, and a new character that really fit the bill getting written off that quickly is underwhelming for me. But I can't really complain about it yet without knowing where it goes first.

Also, the Terry O'Quinn casting was EXCELLENT. The moment I saw it I was really excited, and even though we haven't seen much of him yet, I'm looking forward to potentially getting more.

In terms of the final moments of this episode, it was hard to see Rick eventually let go and try to move forward with the CRM. Writing his last note to Michonne that she'd never see, burning the notes and the phones, and officially give in. But considering how long it's been and how much he's tried, it's makes sense that he'd give in because he's only human.

But above all the final scene of the episode is what threw me off the most as I didn't see it coming from miles away. I was positive that it would come much later in the season, and I thought there was even a chance it'd be held off for season 2. But in terms of the execution, I'm not really a fan of how they used Michonne and Rick's reunion as a cliffhanger in the very first episode. Considering how powerful of a moment that's supposed to be, it's like the 5 year build up was being paid off in episode 1 but yanked away just to reel you in next week. I simply think that moment should've been treated with more care and given more room to breathe instead of it being cut off so you could tune in next week, when in reality you really don't need a cliff hanger like that to get people to watch.

But in conclusion I'm really glad that we've finally reached this point, and that the first episode delivered and showed a bright future not only for this series, but this entire universe. It's only 1 episode, but with Danai and Andy working closely on this show along with Scott Gimple, I have hope that this show will work in the long run.

When Rick's final episode in 2018 came to a close and the trilogy of Rick movies was announced, I can't remember being more excited for this universe than I was then. But after Covid sadly that dream went to die, and I honestly I think it was for the best since that gives more time for this story to flesh out in an episodic format, and potentially build to a grand final season of TWD with all of the characters coming to a head.

Better Call Saul (2015–2022)

A Miracle In Television

[10/10 · 8 February 2024]

As of today, it's officially been 9 years since Better Call Saul was released. It's been a little over a year since the finale aired and I'm still mesmerized about how this crew lead by Peter Gould & Vince Gilligan pulled it off, again.

When Breaking Bad reached its finale, it was hard for me to imagine any other show being able to reach it's level, let alone arguably surpass it. And when I heard that there was a spin-off regarding Saul Goodman, I thought maybe the show could have some solid and funny moments, and maybe bring a bit of depth towards some beloved Breaking Bad characters.

Spin-offs in television are usually seen to me as fan service, or a way to make more money off of a franchise that was loved. That doesn't mean that all of them are bad, but most of them don't have the passion or care that'd make you think it was extremely necessary to make a spin-off, especially considering the risk of making previous characters look bad writing wise. And while Better Call Saul was AMC's idea to make more money off of the franchise, I'm shocked with how the creators and writers were able to make another masterpiece.

This show was always meant to be in the shadow of Breaking Bad in my eyes, and I never would've thought of these shows as something that'd be deserving to talk about in the same breath as one another. But Better Call Saul took the ball that Breaking Bad was rolling, picked it up, and launched it forward.

While I think Breaking Bad has peaks that no other show can reach, Better Call Saul was able to do things that it's predecessor never could. The depth and writing of these characters are honestly perfect. So much so that I'd consider the shows leads Jimmy and Kim to be two of the best written characters in television history. And while the cast of this show is extremely stacked, Chuck McGill to me is a character that's honestly overlooked compared to the rest. His character has a pretty clear consensus amongst most people, but there's so much to him and Jimmy's dynamic that's it's honestly not as black and white as most people make it out to be, despite both being objectively wrong in certain aspects of the series. It's really fascinating to me.

The main aspect of the show that baffles me is how perfectly timed the arcs are considering this is a prequel. Every event in the show is written so well and is paced in a brilliant way to the point where no character arc seems to be rushed, yet the show still remains interesting. You think you've reached the pinnacle of a characters journey, then a curveball is thrown that changes everything.

That's not even mentioning how balanced both the lawyer side and the cartel side of the show are. When I first started the show I was eager to get more of the Mike and cartel portion, but the lawyer side of the story honestly paved the way for the first half of this show and was the most compelling part of the first 3 seasons.

My word of advice to anyone who watches this show.

1. Be patient 2. Understand that this is not Breaking Bad.

At some point the show will get very intense, but enjoy what arcs you are given at the time because before you know it, you'll look back and realize you were in the good times of the show. If you watch Better Call Saul after watching Breaking Bad, you might ask for one thing early on. But when you actually get it, you'll realize that the destination wasn't the key, but it was the journey to get there.

Considering most of the characters in this show were never even supposed to exist, it's safe to call Better Call Saul a miracle in television. Whether that was because of an actor wanting to be written off, an actor having a busy filming schedule, or a throw away line that created two of the greatest characters in the entire universe, it's amazing that Breaking Bad was able to pave the way for one of the greatest shows of all time. But what's even more impressive is Better Call Saul makes it to where Breaking Bad is not even complete without its existence.

Kudos to Peter Gould, Vince Gilligan and the entire crew that returned to create Better Call Saul, and I'm grateful I got to experience this universe come to a close.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Shibuya Incident - Gate, Close (2023) Season 2, Episode 23

I Didn't See It Ending Like This...

[9/10 · 28 December 2023]

I'm shocked by the chaos that this arc has caused. The entirety of the show has just been flipped on its head.

Going in to this finale I expected a battle between Geto and the sorcerers like any anime would normally do, but that's unrealistic for JJK standards, and especially Shibuya Incident standards.

For some reason I thought there'd be a silver lining and Gojo might actually be unsealed by the end of this arc, but my goodness I couldn't have been further from the truth, and it didn't take long for that revelation to kick in.

Not only are the sorcerers doomed, but the entire world might as well be. The show did a fantastic job of making the world feel like it was caving in once Gojo was sealed in the prison realm, but this episode hit 10 times harder with that montage scene. And that FINAL SCENE WAS CRAZY.

I thought Yuta's return would be a hype moment where he'd save a beloved character or something. But he comes back and one dialogue scene later he PUTS A BOUNTY ON ITADORI ONLY FOR HIMSELF TO OBTAIN?!?! And just when you think we've reached the lowest low, the 5 panels after this with the message from Jujutsu HQ are even WORSE.

REINSTATE GETO'S DEATH DENTENCE?? GOJO IS AN ACCOMPLICE AND IS EXPELLED??? FREEING HIM FROM THE PRISON REALM IS A CRIME???? MASAMICHI SENTENCED TO DEATH?????

And after Sukuna made the name of this arc look generous with "incident" as if any word can describe the level of violence this arc has caused, I can understand Yuji's suspension being revoked due to Sukuna's play time with Jogo and Mahoraga. But YUTA AS THE EXECUTIONER WAS NOT ON MY BINGO CARD

Yeah I don't know what else to say. Shibuya Incident just took the biggest anime 180 since season 4 of AOT. God knows what season 3 is about to bring. Can't wait. I'm depressed. Goodbye.

Free Itadori.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Metamorphosis (2023) Season 2, Episode 21

Shibuya Incident: The Embodiment of Perfection

[10/10 · 15 December 2023]

The back half of this arc has been nothing short of stellar and has subverted my expectations in ways I couldn't imagine. I thought a show like Demon Slayer took a ginormous jump from season 1 to season 2 with the Mugen Train and Entertainment District arcs, but what JJK has done with Hidden Inventory & Shibuya Incident will go down in history.

This episode is another example of how stellar this anime has been. I have to admit that I wasn't a big fan of Mahito early on. When comparing this show to something like Demon Slayer, I was always intrigued by someone like Akaza or Gyutaro. In JJK I never was crazy about Mahito for some reason, whether it was his aura or his presence not being felt, or not having the opportunity to really showcase how truly dangerous he is.

But in this arc, the investment that has been made on Mahito has truly paid off. Murdering two of the shows main characters, terrorizing Itadori, the monologue he had to begin last episode, and obviously the fight sequences he's been in as of late. Expanding his domain, black flash, and the idle transfiguration after finding the true form of his soul. He's really shown out this arc and has cemented himself as a top tier villian imo.

And as the episode concluded, Todo and Itadori seemed to finally get the best of Mahito and I was completely satisfied. It came at the cost of many lives and a big sacrifice from Todo, but it seemed to work. The scene with Mahito running and crawling away from Itadori was terrifying. The mental turmoil Yuji has went through this arc was perfectly encapsulated in that monologue, telling Mahito no matter how many times he's reborn, Itadori would find him and kill him again and again because that is his role in the war between curses and sorcerers.

This was a beautiful end to Mahito's arc, or so I thought. The final moment of this episode ONCE AGAIN subverted my expectations, as fake Geto makes his return and most likely saves Mahito who will get away with surviving yet again it seems. We're getting closer to the end of Shibuya Incident as 3 episodes remain, and the fact that the best has arguably yet to come is beyond impressive.

WWE Survivor Series WarGames (2023 TV Special)

SURVIVOR SERIES 2023 WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY

[10/10 · 26 November 2023]

I might be over exaggerating or being a prisoner of the moment but I don't care. As someone who grew up in the 2010's era of WWE, this might be the best Survivor Series ever. And this is coming from someone who got to witness The Authority vs Team Cena in 2014, but from front to back this years Survivor Series might be better. Whether it was the matches, the storylines, the booking, or obviously the shocking returns, this was definitely the best PLE of 2023, and arguably in the new management era under Triple H.

To start off with the Women's War Games match, what a way to start the show. The women put on a match of the year contender not only for the division but for the entire year. And I don't say that lightly considering the Ripley vs Flair & Becky vs Stratus matches that were stellar, not to mention some of the men's matches. But the spots were excellent, the storytelling was great, and the Iyo spot with the trash can might just be my favorite of the entire year. I know they call her the genius of the sky but my god I wasn't expecting that LMAO but thankfully it went well. All in all phenomenal match to start the show. (4.5/5)

Next up is Santos Escobar vs Dragon Lee. This match delivered as expected with both men putting on a nice performance despite the low stakes, and Santos continuing to build his heel character which has been great so far. Not much to say, but solid match and performance from both men, and I hope both can continue their consistency. (3.5/5)

For the Intercontinental Championship match we got arguably the 2 greatest IC Champions of all time going at it, and this match didn't disappoint. I love that Gunther was booked to underestimate Miz and it came to bite him. Miz kicking out of the power bomb was a nice way to make him look strong, and vice versa with Gunther kicking out of the skull crushing finale after the low blow. This match was solid and I wouldn't be angry if this rivalry continued going into the Royal Rumble. (3.75/5)

The final singles match of the night went to Rhea Ripley and Zoey Stark, who both put on a solid performance. Even if this wasn't a highly anticipated match it was still a win win and necessary for both parties. Rhea could use more PLE title defenses and Zoey Stark deserved to show her in ring ability on a higher level as she's one of the best in the business right now. In terms of the match it did what it was supposed to do despite being arguably the worst of the night, but for a PLE this great that's certainly not a flaw as both women delivered nonetheless. (3/5)

For the final match of the night, the men's war games match. I'd like to start off by giving props to whoever produced this match, because not only were the spots great but the order of the entrances were terrific. In a match with stakes this high and the rumors spreading in Chicago, as well as the Randy not showing up bit, crowd control was VERY important. And the order in which each wrestler entered couldn't have been better. In terms of the match, it was what you'd expect from the top superstars on Raw right now, which is excellent in ring performances with chaotic War Games implications to make it even more hectic.

And to get to the main vocal point of the match, the execution of the Randy return was EXCELLENT. At first I was on the ropes with the decision to make Randy seem like he couldn't show up because of the Punk rumors, but clearly it wasn't the wrong decision for reasons I'll get into in a second. But baiting with the cash in to having Randy come out was perfect. And not to go off topic but he's in TREMENDOUS shape so props to Randy lmao. And I know there were rumors that he'd not be able to do the RKO due to the back injury, but as we saw tonight, thankfully it doesn't seem like the RKO is going anywhere. But despite the repetitive Judgment day fued with the baby faces, this match delivered in giving the opposing side the win, and hopefully this was the finale to a long winded rivalry. (4.25/5)

And finally the highlight of the night, and arguably all of the wrestling world for 2023, CM PUNK IS BACK AFTER 9 LONG YEARS!!! I remember watching as a kid every week dying for him to return, seeing all the false rumors, the CM Punk chants, the infamous Paul Heyman promo in Chicago, and many more cruel times. But to see him finally return tonight made me so happy for so many reasons. It shows that Triple H and Punk grew from their differences from long ago. It showed the trust that TKO has in Triple H. And above all that WWE can listen to their fans, something Vince McMahon wasn't great at doing most of the time. This might've been the greatest kept secret in WWE history, ESPECIALLY considering the era of social media we live in so props to all parties involved for keeping it a secret. What a gift for fans as we got 2 of the greatest returns ever back to back, and respect to the boldness of WWE for pulling the trigger.

Here's to hoping that WWE capitalizes on the return of these legends, and it's safe to say the road to WrestleMania 40 will be a chaotic ride. Punk is Back. Randy Returns. McIntyre is furious. Rollins is flipping off Punk. The Truth has set everyone free. NOW WHERE IS LITTLE JIMMY??

Jujutsu Kaisen: Thunderclap - Part 2 (2023) Season 2, Episode 17

The Scariest Villian in Anime

[10/10 · 16 November 2023]

Ryomen Sukuna is terrifying. The way this man tore the city to shreds and in the moment Yuji came back, putting himself in front of the carnage for him to see it was devilish. If this man gets all of his fingers, I'm not sure if anyone, including Gojo can stop him.

It's been known that Megumi is someone Sukuna sees large potential in, but seeing him go through hell to save him was interesting. Sukuna has a mystic to him that I love and keeps me guessing, and I can't wait to see the reason he decides to save Megumi today.

Also, Nanami in the final scene shook me. If he's that damaged from what Jogo did, I wonder if the rest even made it out alive. I can only hope so, but the rest of the curses have hell coming at them with Nanami, and of course Yuji with the chip he has on his shoulder. The Shibuya Incident is getting closer to its climax, and the carnage that has already ensued leaves me terrified knowing we haven't reached the peak.

Rick and Morty: Unmortricken (2023) Season 7, Episode 5

Rick and Morty Peaks Again.

[10/10 · 16 November 2023]

In the past couple of years Rick and Morty slowly has been taking a bit of a dip in terms of quality over the course of a season. And even though season 6 was a step up, so far this season it's further showing that the consistency is getting harder to maintain. But in terms of the main storyline with Evil Morty and as of late Rick Prime, this show cannot miss.

The season 5 finale was probably the best episode of the series in my opinion and seeing the plot line get furthered in the season 6 premiere gave more emphasis on Rick Prime's story. And seeing both worlds collide in this episode was amazing.

I'm a bit surprised Rick Prime lost so quickly but the way the show handled it was great. Rick C-137 is the rickest Rick, and clearly Evil Morty is the smartest Morty, and arguably the smartest person in the galaxy. So it makes sense that the two of them colliding would take down Rick Prime.

But the scene in which Rick did what he did was tragic yet necessary, and brings a lot more to his character as he now took down his prime nemesis.

As a huge fan of Rick Potion #9, especially for the last scene, I loved seeing it come full circle with Rick in this episode. I love that episode primarily because the final scene with Morty, and how he was just coming to the terms of what his life would be like with Rick after burying his own body. But now poetically enough, Rick after killing another version of himself and having Rick Prime's blood all over him, gets a similar moment yet for a very different reason. After finally getting revenge, it'll be interesting to see what happens to Rick now that he finally achieved his flawed goal.

In terms of Rick and Morty as a show, I've somewhat accepted that it won't be the same as the first 2 seasons in terms of consistency. But for the main storyline, the writers have shown that they can still bring the best out of this show. It'll be tough to see how they can reach the peaks of the season 5 finale and this episode with Rick Prime gone and Evil Morty somewhat at peace with Rick, but I have faith in the creators. Putting aside the main story they did come up with Vat of Acid and Night Family in the last couple of years, so maybe they can still recreate some magic. But above all hopefully they can finish this season strong and stay consistent.

Blue Eye Samurai (2023)

A Sword Is A Line.

[7/10 · 11 November 2023]

Blue Eye Samurai is another breath of fresh air for a Netflix anime series. I've recently just finished Pluto, another 8 episode Netflix mini series that blew me away considering the inconsistent track record of Anime's on Netflix. But once again, Netflix was able to take on a beautiful project that has care and passion behind it that could stick the landing.

The lead of this series is a girl named Mizu who has been discriminated by her people due to her ethnicity, making her an outcast with no one on her side. That's until she meets her mentor Seki, who seems to be a simple man whose passion is forging swords and training others. But unlike anyone else, Mizu is unseen by him due to his being blind. But the beautiful irony is he sees Mizu in a different light than anyone else because of this and is able to accept her for who she is. This gives Mizu faith in herself and in return gives her someone to love and fight for.

Akemi is the second lead character who is in a much different environment then Mizu, but even with her privilege and riches she's not as free as Mizu, and she shows that even on the high ground she's on she's much lower then she'd like to be. She doesn't have the freedom that she desires and seems to only be moving in her fathers best interest, which makes an interesting dynamic for her character arc for the rest of the series.

But one of my favorite lines in episode one that will be weighing heavy over the series is, "Revenge is like gold. It will rust." This message is not only a great line for this world, but a beautiful line for life itself. And I'm glad it was spoken out from the get go to and used as a fore front for this series, where revenge certainly will be sought out for.

Props to Michael Green and Amber Noizumi for this excellent world they've created with intriguing and intricate characters that have much life to them, while also being flawed and having to face adversity. And a huge applause to Blue Spirit for this beautiful animation that fits this story perfectly. Blue Eye Samurai is a must watch mini series, and another great anime to come out in the year 2023, which is only getting better and better in the back half.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Thunderclap (2023) Season 2, Episode 16

ENTER SUKUNA

[10/10 · 10 November 2023]

Season 2 of Jujutsu Kaisen has blown me out of the water so far, starting with the hidden inventory arc that showed the backstory of Gojo and Geto's relationship. But ever since it ended, JJK has reached an all time high that I did not see coming this quickly.

The Shibuya Incident has been extraordinary and has brought upon legendary moments, like Gojo actually getting bested, the great fight scenes from Red Scale, and the past 2 episodes. But the return of Sukuna might have brought the best fight scene of the entire series so far.

Sukuna was always the end game of JJK in my eyes and while I thought we'd see glimpses of him from time to time, I didn't expect him to come out with all of the chaos that has already occurred in Shibuya, not to mention ingesting like 10 MORE FINGERS putting him at 15 total. The presence this man has is so intense, as we saw in his return in episode 15 as well as the red light green light esc scene with panda and company which solidified that his presence is just that strong. What a tremendous villain and he's not even at his full strength yet, and he still made Jogo seem small.

Jogo vs Sukuna was a masterclass. For some reason I always looked at Jogo through a different lens since Gojo literally demolished him early in season 1, but that was a flawed perspective on my end. And if this season taught me anything, don't base power balance off of a fight with Gojo, because 9 times out of 10 you don't stand a chance alone lmao. But seeing what Jogo did to Nanami Maki and company while also getting the flowers from Sukuna in the end really did him justice. I never would've expected him to go out like that, but it was definitely worth it.

I hate to sound like a broken record because I've said this in many anime reviews before, but it's a miracle that MAPPA can pull through in so many different anime's while none of the animations seem phoned in. It's even more surprising when you watch the AOT ending and how beautifully animated it is, then watch this just a couple days later and it leaves you wondering how in the world they keep this consistency up.

Only 16 episodes in and JJK season 2 has blown away my expectations, and we still have 8 episodes to go.

Attack on Titan (2013–2023)

AOT: The Greatest Anime I've Ever Seen

[10/10 · 5 November 2023]

Attack On Titan is officially over. And nothing will ever be the same.

When I finished Breaking Bad back in 2019 prior to ever watching anime, if someone told me an anime would be on the same playing field as Breaking Bad and even exceed it at times, I would've told them they were crazy. But in reality, I was the crazy one. This story took me places mentally and emotionally I didn't think I could go.

In this dark and cruel world created by Hajime Isayama, while some things are objectively wrong, there's never a moment where you can definitively say that someone's the good guy or bad guy. Once you see the full picture of the show, it's indescribable to explain the show in the manner of good and bad considering how much everyone's in this dark abyss of a gray area that has no objective answer to whom is in the right or wrong. And that's the beauty of AOT.

Attack On Titan is not meant to be joyous. It's a tragedy. It's an unfair world where everyone at some point is given a dirty hand whether they deserve it or not, and the characters have to try and live with that reality and keep moving forward. Now that doesn't mean that there aren't moments where you as a viewer can feel joyous for your perspective favorite character/side because there likely will be, but when you're no longer told the story through this small microscope, you won't be able to see the show the same.

And that's where the absurd genius of the creator Hajime Isayama comes into play. As much as I love the Vince Gilligan's of the world, David Chase, Peter Gould, Jesse Armstrong, David Simon and honestly any writer of any piece of fiction... no one comes close to the creativity that this man has. Isayama is able to create this large world in these small walls surrounded by humanoid creatures that live to destroy and ruin the human race. But as you continue to watch the show, it's like you're peeling an endless onion that doesn't stop, and constantly makes your eyes water and tear up due to the brutality and the absurdity that this universe subjects you to. It will boggle your mind then tear you to shreds in ways that I've never seen before.

The plot twists are second to none. The heartbreak will shatter you to pieces. The betrayals will leave you speechless. The world building will make everything before seem small. And the clashes of different ideals will leave you wondering how you could even pick a side. I could go on all day but to put it simply, the unique story in itself is what brings this all together. And that's not even mentioning things like the voice acting, music, animation, esc. Which are all top tier.

This isn't an anime. This isn't a TV show. This is a fictional masterpiece. And I'm honored and blessed to say that I got to live to see the day where I'd witness the end of it. Thank you, Hajime Isayama. And see you later, AOT.

Attack on Titan: The Final Chapters: Special 2 (2023) Season 4, Episode 30

The Cycle Never Ends.

[10/10 · 5 November 2023]

November 4th, 2023 will go down in history, as today is the day that Attack On Titan came to an end. And I personally am shattered, yet overjoyed that I got to witness the end of an extraordinary ride.

Attack On Titan has always been a show that embodied tragedy so going in I expected to be hurt, and I was. But not in the ways that I expected. I am honestly surprised with the amount of characters that made it out of this episode, but considering how many we've lost up until this point I can't be mad at it. Lives and hearts were given to lead the characters we had up until this point, and they fulfilled the mission they were sent out to complete.

*SPOILERS*

But in regards to the final moments of the battle of heaven and earth, we got to witness arguably the greatest climactic scene of any show ever created. Eren's death scene might just be the best I've ever seen in a tv show. The memory with Mikasa that intertwined with the opening scene in the beginning of the show was the moment that lead up to the final moment of Eren's life. And as heart shattering and depressing as it was, I'm glad to say that I was not disappointed. After the horrible actions Eren committed, I felt this was inevitable, and for Mikasa to be the one to go through with it was perfect.

Eren's final moments with Armin were very necessary and much needed closer for those characters. After Eren saw his future through Historia, there was not an opportune moment for those two to talk until now, and I loved every second of it. We got to see the side of Eren that was human, and showed his true emotions that he'd been hiding for so long. The scene of him crying about Mikasa on face surface might seem goofy, but people gotta realize this is a 19 year old kid who's accepting death and the tragic reality that he'll never have the opportunity to live out his lives with the people he loves most. And Armin trying to give him that acceptance in the end is completely in character and was refreshing to see.

Also not to go too deep into this, but in terms of the manga I'm of the understanding that some of Armin's lines were out of touch, and I'm glad it was fixed in the end of the anime. But putting that aside, I'm not even going to entertain the people who hated the ending. Everyone has the right to their opinion, but I haven't seen 1 take of valid reasoning that doesn't sound bogus or biased. Not to mention, people have seriously tried to say this ending is worse than the game of thrones ending. Oof.

But I'm glad that I can confidently and genuinely say that I loved this ending. The post credit scene also gives you a lot of food for thought and somewhat reminds me of Dark in some ways. I think it shouldn't be taken too seriously and should be left open for interpretation. But me personally, I think it perfectly encapsulates the show. No matter what Eren did, powerful as he was he alone couldn't save the world. Because no matter what happened, the cycle was destined to continue one way or another. But for the ones who might think this was all for nothing, think again. Eren began the show wanting to end the Titan's once and for all. And surely enough, he did. It wouldn't be realistic for this show to end with Eren single handedly solving something along the lines of world piece, but rather he's able to end the titans while simultaneously saving the people he cared for most.

I can't thank Isayama enough for what he did with this show, and WIT & MAPPA for the hard work they put in to make this the most beautiful experience possible. The voice actors were tremendous, and I couldn't forget Hiroyuki Sawano and Kohta Yamamoto for the brilliant score that never let down and was always top notch. Attack On Titan was an extreme roller coaster that was destined to take you on one of the craziest rides ever, and I enjoyed every second of it. What a story, and what a way to send it off. See You Later, AOT. 🖤

Pluto (2023)

What It Means To Live

[9/10 · 1 November 2023]

This might be a stretch, but this show to me was like if True Detective and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners had a baby. The elements of mystery aligned with the chaos that is ensued by these robotic inhuman like beings is incredible yet saddening to watch play out. There are other elements of shows that I think can be compared, and from what I've heard this anime was created by the creator of Monster, but for me those two shows I mentioned were the first to come to mind for me.

Pluto is a sci-fi, mystery, action thriller that brings together so many elements and pretty much knocks all of them out of the park. Every one of the 7 advanced robots have so much life to them that makes you root for them from the get-go. Gesicht, the inspector/detective who is the main protagonist brings so much to the story with his fury and compassion. Epsilon shows the care and love for others in the show. North No.2 gives you hope that you can pursue dreams despite a dark, hard to ignore past. Hercules shows the passion in fighting, while Brando shows how fighting can be put aside for family. And Atom and his sister show you hope, and a glimmer of light in a dark tunnel.

The supporting cast does a great job to further express these feeling at times as well, but this show does a tremendous job of throwing you into a cruel world with robotic figures with artificial intelligence, yet the beings that are supposed to be emotionless make you feel the most, and show you real tears.

Pluto is a brilliant 8 episode mini-series that gives you so much and creates a mysterious and interesting experience that you can't look away from. And with some of the current heavy hitters airing as of recent in the anime world like JJK, Bleach TYBW, One Piece, and the much anticipated final chapter of Attack On Titan that airs this weekend to name a few, it's great to see a mini series pop in and steal the shine every once in a while, and show that anime isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Pluto: Episode #1.1 (2023) Season 1, Episode 1

North No.2, it's time for our piano practice 💔

[9/10 · 31 October 2023]

Episode 1 of Pluto hits you like a train right away. It first introduces you to the world and the heavy death of Mont Blanc, a robot who impacted his people and community tremendously. A very interesting investigation arises as it's told that a human was the one who could've possibly caused the deaths, but at this moment it's unsure. But as intriguing as the first act was, the second half of this episode was heart crushing.

I don't want to get into it much because I feel that the episode and the moments speak for themselves, but watching Duncan grow an attachment to a robot after being so against them due to his own beliefs and a lack of acceptance towards them was beautiful to watch. It's heartbreaking that in the final moments, after North No. 2 goes to find out the meaning behind the humming and he finally grows a bond with his teacher, it's ripped away by the likely villian who potentially caused the death of Mont Blonc.

Right when Duncan finished his song, he couldn't play the full version for North No. 2. That moment was stripped away. And watching Duncan look up at the sky as the humming was heard from above was heartbreakingly beautiful. This episode reminds me of the No Game No Life 0 movie in similar ways that I won't explain, but to see this episode create such an impact in around the 20-30 minute timeframe was excellent. I was on the verge of tears in episode 1, so I'm very excited, yet nervous to see what's to come for the next 7 episodes.

One Piece (2023– )

I'm Shocked By How Good This Is...

[8/10 · 1 September 2023]

Every live action anime that I've briefly seen has been nothing short of a disaster, and considering how many times Netflix tried to bring Anime's to life I thought One Piece was about to receive the same fate. But to my surprise I was wrong.

Just 3 episodes in you could tell the care the creators put into this show. The set designs, the action sequences, and even to my surprise the actors bring so much.

Iñaki Godoy as Luffy is to my surprise holding his own in this role. Luffy is such a love or hate character and imagining a live action for him seems like a recipe for disaster. But Godoy somehow is able to maintain the goofiness within the character without making him unbearable, and that deserves some applause. I think Emily Rudd, Mackenyu, Morgan Davies, and Jacob Romero are great as well.

And as someone who's only watched the first 10-15 episodes of One Piece, I love the route they went with Buggy in episode 2 compared to the beginning of the Anime/Manga. Jeff Ward made him extremely terrifying in the show and the way they used the crowd as prisoners, forcing them to clap was slightly terrifying.

I wasn't even sure if they'd do the iconic Shanks moment early on for budget reasons, but they did it and it was actually great. Not to say everything is perfect because at times the show can get a little too cartoony for me, but my low expectations were blown away. I'm glad to see the awful live action anime stereotype take a hit and potentially make room for other people who aspire to bring an anime to life, and even with a very small chance, potentially do it justice like we saw here.

It's only season 1 and there is plenty of room for error, but I'm glad to say I've been proven wrong and I actually have hope for this adaptation.