Gintama Episode 215

Neither did I.

So, looks like the previews didn't lie this time. What I didn't see coming, though, was that this episode starred Kamui instead of the usual Yorozuya gang. The fans get to see two things two day: 1) How messed up Kada's become 2) Kamui's eyes staying open for the majority of the episode. Now, just because this episode stars the antagonists of Gintama doesn't mean that the jokes are lacking. In fact, all the usual jokes are still there, ripe as ever.

Kamui looks fudging adorable when his eyes are open.

DUN DUN DUN

The setting is in space aboard the Harusame ship. A superior of Kamui's asks him to murder Takasugi because he sees him as a threat. After the meeting, Koro, a dog-like alien, proposes that Kamui should take over the Harusame. Then we get to see more of the Kihetai, whom we haven't seen in the longest time other than in the opening theme sequences. Their more comedic sides are shown in this little scene, yet at the same time, they throw in some PLOT in there as well.

I don't know why, but that cow and pig amuse me.

He looks like Wolf from Star Fox.

He didn't even bother to cover his left eye? What is this cosplay madness?

These guys amuse me.

Kamui, eager to battle another samurai, confronts Takasugi. Unfortunately, it turns out that Koro was out to get him and Kamui is ambushed. But, Kamui predictably survives his heavy injuries (not that I mind, as I'm beginning to grow more and more fond of him). Takasugi visits both Kada and Kamui later on, and reveals that he would much rather work with Kamui than with the Harusame. Then, the day of Kamui's public execution arrives. Takasugi makes a show of "executing" him, though all he did was release Kamui. The two then take their enemies by surprise, overpower them with both their strength and numbers, and beat the crap out them. Admiral Abo and Koro attempt to escape, but Kamui doesn't let them go unscathed.

Kamui has SKILLZ

The yaoi fangirls are gonna have fun with that line.

I'm loving this combo.

Loved this episode. I didn't think I would because 1) It didn't have Sougo 2) It didn't have the loveable Yorozuya trio 3) It didn't have Sougo. But boy, was I wrong. Kamui and Takasugi make such a great combination, and seeing Kamui with his eyes opened for so long showed that he can be just as adorable as Kagura. This episode was more heavy on the action than the comedy this time around, but judging by the next episode's preview, I'm certain that we'll go back to Gintama's usual random brand of comedy. Oh yeah, and there's also a piffy new ending theme.
This episode gets:

Uta no Prince-sama Episode 1: At First Glance

Is that guy in yellow wearing a skirt?!

Here comes the fangirl fetish induced reverse harem series of the season. From the first few seconds of this episode, we are treated to a colorful concert performed by a group of bishounen dressed in loud, colorful clothing. After their little number, we are introduced to the main heroine who arrives late for her entrance exams because she was helping a lost child look for her mother. But worry not, two random bishounen have come to her rescue and she is eventually granted permission to take her exam. Naturally, she passes and starts attending the school. Sadly, the cliches don't stop there.

Her eyes look so soulless

The fact that he was watching her the whole time she was helping the lost child is pretty creepy.

So, now that Haruka is part of this amazingly large and prestigious school, it's time to introduce the rest of the quirky cast! First off is the headmaster, Shining Saotome. He makes a fabulous entrance, and afterwards, we finally get a look at Haruka's new classmates and cross-dressing homeroom teacher. Every stereotype bishounen is present in any hair color of your choosing (granted, they aren't as colorful as the guys from Starry Sky). There's the cool type, the immature short (or shota, though he really isn't that short) type, the rich guy, the nice guy, the guy who has cuteness proximity issues, and the mysterious type.

At least her best friend doesn't look like a walking stereotype.

It was kind of weird hearing Hayate the Combat Butler's narrator's voice out of this guy.

CONFLICT

He looks like Finny from Black Butler.

 After Haruka's eventful day, she finally gets some screen time and character development for herself. We learn that she wants to study to become a composer so that she can write a song for her favorite idol, Hayato, who happens to be voiced by fangirl-favorite, Mamorou Miyano. Apparently, she had poor health as a child so her condition was never at its peak during her city visits. One day, whilst walking through the city streets, Hayato's song (which was playing on a large television screen on some large building) "saves" her from collapsing. How a song is able to do that, I have yet to undergo such an experience myself. The part where Hayato starts "singing to her" was also pretty cheesy in itself. Anyway, after her little flashback, a black cat appears out of nowhere and runs off with one of her handkerchiefs in its mouth. Haruka chases after it only to run into -le gasp!- Hayato. But! Hayato claims to be someone else.

The only merit this guy has so far is being voiced by Mamorou Miyano.

Okay, she was a pretty cute kid.

Either 1) He's Hayato's evil twin 2) He has amnesia 3) He's bipolar 4) He wants to start anew.

Cliches aside, the animation for this first episode was pretty nice. The only well-animated reverse harem series that I've watched were Ouran High School Host Club and Hakuouki, so I was pretty excited when I heard that A-1 Pictures picked up a series based on an otome game (dating sim geared towards girls). Chances are, I'm going to continue watching this show just because there aren't many reverse harem series out there, but I'm still not sure about blogging it yet.
This episode gets:

Well, now we know who the two main heroines bishies are.

Gintama Episode 214

The poor kid is probably going to be scorned for life.

Much like several of this season's series, Gintama's latest arc reaches its conclusion. Catherine manages to reach Teruhiko in time, however, the poor boy is even more afraid of her than his captives (I don't really blame him, though, what with the way Catherine was dressed and all. Shinpachi and Kagura attempt to mend the situation, but they make it even more hilariously awkward.

I seriously should have seen this coming.

The "Kabuki Cats" somehow manage to convince Teruhiko to come with them and Saigo's heart is put at ease as he continues to battle the amanto along with the rest of the Kabuki District. Elsewhere, Gin and Jirochou pawn all of Kada's elite soldiers and, though Gintama doesn't have the best animation out there, the fight scenes are, more often than not, usually executed extremely well and this scene was just epic.

rofl

SO. MUCH. CARCASSES.

The Kabuki citizens end up emerging victorious as well with there immense number and FIGHTING SPIRIT and begin to head to Kada's location, much to her dismay. She then flees the scene in an angry little fit, and Gin and Jirochou decide to settle things once and for all. The battle is decided in an epic blow, and Tatsugoro's face is finally revealed.

If she's this strong, then why didn't she join in the fight?

He kind of looks like Hijikata.

EPIC

 Gin (of course) emerges victorious, and the next time Jirochou awakens, he finds himself inside a hospital. "Coincidentally", Otose and Saigo are in the same room as him, and, with the aid of Otose's kind words (and Gin's beating), Jirochou sees the error of his ways and decides to return to Piroko once and for all. This being Gintama, the mood doesn't last long and majority of those who participated in the battle, as well as Saigo who was pretending to be asleep, were eavesdropping on the two. And, this being Gintama, this lighthearted scene was pulled off nicely as well. Outside of the hospital, however, Kada attempts to reek vengeance on Jirochou, only to be pawned once again by both Piroko and the Yorozuya gang. Afterwards, the Kabuki District returns back to normal (or as normal as it gets in this series) and Piroko is reunited once again with her father. And then I started Ba'wwwing at the heart warming scene, especially when Piroko started tearing up. Seriously, Gintama can really pull at your heart strings when its not screwing around with the law of physics or focusing on toilet jokes and random references (not that I mind those gags).

Nice to know that they care.

Apparently, Hasegawa is part-gundam now.

;-;

Once again, Gintama does not disappoint. This arc was built up and ended on a great note. Chances are, the next episode will be filled with the usual random, slapstick comedy that this series is known for,which I also look forward too (Though that's pretty doubtful, since Takasugi was featured in the preview, but hey, I could be wrong). Until then, this episode gets:

Nichijou Episode 13

I have no idea what this is, but I want to try it.

13 episodes in, and this series still relies solely on its random comedy and epic reaction faces...Not that I mind. The first skit takes place in the Shinonome household wherein Professor continues to be the selfish brat that she is and refuses to even think about Nano leaving for her to get a proper education in school. Remember a few episodes back when I mentioned that Professor and Nano's skits were adorable, yeah, it's getting old now. I have nothing against Nano, she's a sweet robot girl, but Professor is getting to be a really annoying bratty half-pint. I know she's supposed to be portrayed as a "cute" selfish and immature eight-year old, but seriously, even I have limits to moe-moe lolis. Moving on...

I'd like to know myself.

The next skit has a surprisingly unenergetic Yuuko who arrives to school with a terrible cold. Apparently, she trudged all the way to her classroom in her feverish condition just to show Mio a "magic trick". Sadly, several of her props fall out of her bottomless school bag before she can present them to Mio. Once Yuuko settles down on her desk, not realizing that her pigeon escaped and that her magic-flower-stick thingy fell out, she proceeds to show Mion one of her "tricks" which involves placing a cigarette through a coin, though Mion can clearly see a large whole in the middle of it. The rest of the skit is just afyosafygta "what am I watching?" and ends with Mio being freaking confused at what just transpired.

Capped this just because it looked cool.

The next skit has Professor acting like a brat again and getting her way because Nano's too nice for her own good, so I'll skip this. Back at school, Yuuko is overly ecstatic at getting an 80 on a test. Mio is initially happy for her at first, but Yuuko continues to be an pompous, overly proud jerk and continues to boast to Mio even though she scored higher by 16 points (Where's Mai when you need here? That girl is the only one who can keep Yuuko in check). We then switch to the vice principal's house again, and I really don't understand the gag they're trying to pull here. His grandson keeps asking where his grandpa's "seal" is, and apparently, the vice principal thinks that his situation is worst than reality. Then it's Helitica Standard time!

Don't buy it! Don't buy it! Don't buy it!

This way my face during that whole slow-mo sequence.

I didn't get the joke, but this kid really is cute.

You can do that?

Then we get another Shinonome Lab skit with Professor attempting to get Nano to go with her to the bathroom because she's too scared to go alone during such a loud and scary storm. Nano eventually wakes up and gets scared by the thunder along the way. We then go back to the school setting where Yuuko continues to show off her 80 until Mio finally snaps (I would have 10 minutes into Yuuko's boasting). Yuuko finally shuts up when her teacher tells them that the average score from the test was 92. Once again, Yuuko shines in her role as the series' official Butt Monkey. Sadly, Mai only appears once in a "Things We Think Are Cool!" segment (which is an 80! Which only Yuuko is excited about! And I saw it coming!) The following day, Professor decides to be selfless for once and allows Nano to go start school. Then there was this whole D'aaaaaaawwwwww moment, and my respect for Professor increased a tid bit.

Nice covers, Professor

Ouch

Thank you Mio! Seriously, Yuuko deserved that.

Happy butterflies and rainbows, yaaaaaaaayyyyy!!!!

This was honestly a pretty weak episode (though it made me love Mio more). I've begun to think that KyoAni is trying too hard to make Professor all cutesy and childlike to the point were she becomes an annoying little spoiled brat (she was already like this before, this episode just emphasized that trait of hers for me). Also, not much Mai, but again, I've begun to love Mio just as much, Yuuko on the other hand...
This episode gets:

1/2