Scum's Wish
What a beautiful, messy bunch of fuckers. it's hard to like these people, but really hard to hate them. From beginning to end, as the tangled web of lies, jealousy, hate, deceit and perfidy they are all enmeshed in unravels, we get some of the most human characters of any anime i'v watched.
I rarely watch some of these stories more than once. Indeed my watchings of "Scum's Wish" are about two years apart and I am no less struck by this story's complexity on the second watching, as I was the first.
Seductive, Hana and Mugi's mutually destructive center holds court for the web of characters: All selfish, all cowards, all emotionally unreliable for each other.
While it is easy to fall into the trap of shipping who you want to ship, the story is true to life, in that happy endings for scum tend to be neither unlikely or overrated. For most folks, dissatisfaction and low self esteem ruin most good things.
Because everyone is scum... these are not nice people, but they love and are loved all the same.
The surprising emotional depths of this story, shock only as much as it was ever adapted. As anime goes, this is an adult story set in a high school, leaning on all Japan's narrative obsessions with school tropes you find in these stories. But it is unchildish, unrepentant in its portrayals and bittersweet (more bitter than sweet) start to finish.
Buckle up... this aintcha Mama's bishonen perfect romance heavy shojo. No friends, this is a voyeuristic & tragic look at how far cowardice can get you in relationships. Not for the faint of heart, cowards or anyone looking for shalala flavoured climaxes and saccharine perfect endings.
This is a study in anime angst like only the Japanese can produce with many, many, many thoughtful shades of grey, pink and yellow.
Where I come from we would say, "Pick sense from shit."
I started watching The Time Traveller's Wife last night. I loved the book and read it so many times i dogeared the copy I had.I hated the movie that came out some years back. Eric Bana and that Adams chick just didn't capture the characters for me.
Theo James though... oh gosh, he is Henry. He's absolutely Henry. Rose Leslie is a good actress, and she's doing a good job, I am not sure I like her as Claire. I'm not sure why, but she's just not fitting the picture I made in my head about this woman with guts and long love. I can't fault her acting though, she's doing a great job. But it's Theo doing it for me.
I honestly am yet to not like him in anything. I can't tell if I think he's pretty, or if he's a good actor or a bad actor. I just like watching him... he makes me believe every character I've seen him play. And say what, for me, he has definitely captured Henry's humor, his fear, his kindness, his ruthlessness, his wily cunningness, all of it... I particularly loved the scene with him and Rose Leslie in The Stacks where Henry introduces Claire to his mother.
Gosh... he totally sold me.
I read a half and half kind of review from a big outlet a couple of weeks ago, and was very surprised someone attempted this story again, and was totally prepared for another wan attempt, but no... I am really liking this.
This is definitely doing some justice to Niffenegger's beautiful love story.
Every damn week I feel like screaming at the beginning of the ED. My emotions be high, my feels be feeling...
MAPPA has paid some much loving attention to the back half of this season, it truly elevated the source material and does it justice.
Gosh... this second half captures the soul of Seasons one and two, in the way it evokes all the feelings, and the way it continues to up the ante with every frame.
I freaking love this show!
This is the cutest show! I am so loving Sasaki’s tenderness and respect, and Miyano is hella cute! It’s only four episodes in, but they’re killing me with cuteness.
I screaaaaamed! This episode was SO SO SO FREAKING GOOD! The voice acting was incredible... and I’m warming up to MAPPA’s art. When it’s all done, I’ll need to rewatch for nuance, but I’m warming up to it. But seeing Eren’s growth as a character from the first episode to now, it’s chilling and thrilling to watch. I watched this episode with an aching heart... but damned if it didn’t start pounding when Grisha said only Eren gets what he wants now. SCREAAAAAMMMMED AT THE SCREEN when the credits started rolling!
This is growing on me. The little ecchi notes are cute, but Gojo is adorable, and Marin is too. I like that he’s into a traditional art, and she’s into something ‘modern’, and they are awfully cute with each other. I don’t really go for ecchi stories, but this is definitely growing on me. Currently one of only three anime I’m tracking this season.
I loooooved this. I am not Colombian, but I am from the Caribbean, and so much of myself I saw. Representation matters! It was really beautiful!
And the message and music (while I have thoroughly outgrown Disney musical fare) made this a very heartwarming film. Being magical (in an Afro Caribbean way) the disaporic magical traditions are beautifully represented (much like Coco did before it for our ancestral veneration).
Representation really matters.
Finally, the animation is freaking exquisite. The modeling and texturing : chef’s kiss :
So many emotions! I cried more than once... I love the character growth on this show, and the writing is getting better and better every season.
I freaking love how the Goblin Knights handled Abel’s crew. They really are a tightly woven deadly team, and Yukimaru wasn’t even there!!!
I am eight episodes in, and I am up waiting every Sunday for the new episode to drop.
The story's underlying mystery, and romance, is developing and playing out so well. I am thoroughly enjoying it. Eight episodes in, I am deeply attached to every instance of Yukimaru's telltale red ears. They appear in what are now my two favourite episodes.
For a show not originally grounded in manga, it is my deep hope that they do not abandon this story after one season. As it is a Crunchyroll/Adult Swim original collaboration, I have hopes they will push on with a second season, and hopefully more people will pick it up.
Between this and Tokyo Revengers, it makes my weekend watch. I'm distressed there are only four episodes left.
I adore Yukimaru and his red ears!
Slow paced, this screenplay was not only predictable, it was largely one dimensional in character scope, rote and almost mundane in its execution.
I fear they’re doing Siriboe dirty by refusing to give him much to stretch himself against. He feels almost typecast here, and despite him displaying a broader range of emotions that he normally does on Queen Sugar, he still didn’t feel real. He sure is pretty to watch on anything though.
The hair and make up, costume design and lighting in the film were impeccable though. I wanted to shop in the wardrobe department, cop earrings, steal shoes...
Gosh... but the way I shouted at the immaturity of the characters! Why allyuh nuh talk, nah? It presents this Black relationship in this very flat, uninspired way, and the characters their choices and motivations seemed so familiar... oh wait. lovejones wore it better and came to a better conclusion.
The final fifteen minutes felt rushed, to the point of abrupt end. That made me feel that much of what went previously should have been better condensed and structured to allow for some kind of end that didn’t leave a brassy taste in my mouth.
Skip this...
One of the best third seasons of ANY show I’ve watched ever.
The writers and producers are to be commended for such a satisfying end to such a beautiful show.
Many don’t understand why this show gets the hype it does, but honestly, you have no heart if you can watch even Season 1 without feeling ‘something’!
It was a pleasure to see Kyo find his feet, and Toru find her world.
Also, I loved so many of the artful moments, quiet and unassuming, but conveying sooooo much story in just a few frames.
Truly... this is a show worth watching and rewatching, and is destined to become a classic for the ages.
I want to cry! My sweet, pure, beautiful Sang Sang! Episode is almost over. I may be warming up to Dylan Wang a bit. He did so well in this episode. The entire episode all I keep thinking is, “I have one sword to protect Sang Sang so she sleeps well at night.”
This is really exceptional story telling. You laugh, you cry, you pine... it’s a beautiful tale.
If you’re just starting this, the first few episodes may seem like run-of-the-mill stuff, but as the mystery deepens, so do the yarns binding the tale together beautifully.
Really 10/10
Beautiful art, and I loved the story... just wonderful storytelling.
This was the episode that melted me... I am now officially hooked.
This show’s cuteness can’t be denied, but it is heart warming. The animation is quite wonky, but the artwork in some scenes is stunning. The half drawn faces and slideshow scenes only detract a little from the story. It is engaging and the characters like able enough to want to keep going.
As it aired this year, it might come back with another cour, but who knows.
If you like iskei, and slice of life, this is a nice little treat.
This show is VERY entertaining. I am endlessly fascinated with anime’s ability to make a story out of anything. It makes for a more compelling contrast to typical Western fare, which rules out stories simply because they want to appeal to a mean audience.
Anime for me is like an anathema to this... The strangest and most outlandish stories are made into gripping drama, laughs, tears, emotional growth... and it could be a show about ANYTHING.
At any rate, this has been an entertaining six episodes. The writing is good to keep me very much keen to see what happens next. These little punk boys are one of the best stories I’ve seen this year.
I want to see Takemichi’s rage crumble in the next episode, and still manage to keep his immediate goal from falling apart. I also like how every episode manages to advance to overall plot just a little bit more. I’m also amazed how much damn story they manage to fit into 20 odd minutes.
On with the story!
Mikey (Manjirou) Sano of Tokyo Manji is a lil badass. That is all.
Oh my gosh!
“Have a seat over here.”
“Sure.”
“Close your eyes and count to sixty.”
“Huh? Is this a joke?”
“No it’s not. Close your eyes and don’t open them.”
“But what for?”
“Now! One...”
“Eyes are closed!”
“Twoooo... Threeeee...”
:heart:
This story is simple, but very cute. The art is wonderful... just exquisite in places. The story is simple but somehow satisfying, like comfort food. This episode was the best yet. The story is definitely warming up.
The animation is a lil weird, but the story is quite good, and well told.
Don’t mind the folks on the Internet streets who disparage it, it wasn’t a bad show and I got sucked in quickly and my attention held until the last shot.
Illie is cute. Kidou is ‘the bad boy’. There is a villainous empire, bureaucratic foolishment, political wrangling, back biting, great big insect monsters, plot twists, romance... stop complaining about the animation. There is more than enough meat here to make a meal.
I loved many of the side characters too, especially the orphans and Miss Mario. Miss Mario was my favourite never mind the hammy voice acting, I still loved the character, her impressive jaw and lovely bows.
Yes it’s weird in places, but there is some gorgeous art in there too, and the story is solid. Well worth watching.
Oooooh! Love me some Levi Ackerman. This show is so badass... I’m rewatching for the second time in a month. I. Love. Me. Some. Levi. Ackerman. What I say? What I SAY?
Such pitched drama! I was almost in tears when Petal got lost!!
Golly... wild how the awful music this season has grown on me. Especially the closing theme.
I did not expect to like this show, and when I pulled it up and saw RDM, I blinked and said, Oh definitely.” And I wasn’t proved wrong. I’m pretty sure if RDM wants to do anything he will get the money to do it. His ability to find and pull the right people together to tell a specific story is phenomenal to me. He never disappoints. Long story short: This is great! It is very good. The season 2 closer was devastating. But of course, beautifully sets up Season 3. Do it. It’s a great watch.
So "His Dark Materials" is quite amazing.
It's not just the visuals, and aesthetic which are amazing, it's that as a staunch and stolid lover of the books, it is utterly glorious to see the story come to life and so faithfully.
The monstrosity that was the film version of this story, which although beautiful, was horribly truncated while being overpacked and veered so wildly from the source material in some crucial ways, I was glad they never made the remaining parts of the story as it would have been excruciating. Even with Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman, it was just not the story I had hoped to see.
For me, it was that the actress who played Lyra, was far too pretty, far too pretty even in her 'scrappy' running around Jordan College as a hoyden of chaos and ruin.
In all the major ways that the film failed, this single first episode of the HBO series succeeds and with the most thrilling reaction in me as a fan.
I know the story. I've read the trilogy at least once a year since 2004.
But this still makes me want to sink deep into this visual retelling. And oh, oh my, the visuals... Lyra's world is exceptionally realised, and we still are yet to see much beyond Jordan College.
I love the added scene of Lord Asriel delivering baby Lyra and Pantalaimon to the Master of Jordan College, during the Great Flood. This was a beautifully added detail, that in the books was only retold to Lyra in a second-hand fashion by Ma Costa. Here we're given a snippet of this, at the beginning, where we're well into the first story before we get anything real about the amazing Lyra Belacqua aka Lyra Silvertongue.
This episode, whets the appetite of even the most ardent and devoted fan of His Dark Materials (like myself). I and eagerly awaiting the second episode, and thoroughly enjoyed watching it with my thirteen year old son last night.
I must say that James MacAvoy is looking RATHER distinguished! Plus he manages to convey the ferocity and intensity of Lord Asriel in a way I never got from Daniel Craig who was merely cold.
This and Carnival Row, both exceeded my expectations! Do watch!
I thought it was a beautifully told if simple story... I’ve been reading critics reviews and am wondering why some people even bother if they’re going to compare everything to GoT, and then complain because the show isn’t a perfect season.
I think it’s as good a first season as anyone can expect from any show that’s not Battlestar Galactica.
The costume design was impeccable, the set design so wonderfully rich, which is impressive considering there is so much grey. Whoever was responsible for the lighting did an amazing job of giving it a complete personality in this narrative.
The performances were a little uneven here and there, but what first season has a perfect possession of every character? None, that’s how many.
All in all it’s a glorious entry, and I love the way The Fae are presented, and as gritty the allegories are with Nazism and the nascent authoritarianism and white nationalism on the loose in the U.S., I appreciate the tone and structure of the politics and how it’s played out from the top down.
I enjoyed this tremendously and am looking forward to more yarn for this story...
#CarnivalRow #FaeForever #FaeUnity #FaeOfTheWorldUnite
As a writer who has used my life, named names, and unapologetically written about my experiences with my friends and family, quite frankly, I appreciate and understand why Nova has done what she's done.
But damn... I also know the cost. I know exactly what it cost me to do it. I don't have even a fraction of the closeness with my family that these characters do, so I know this will lead to one of two things:
Catharsis or Cut and Burn.
I see ALL the drama for this season laid out for us.
https://www.thegoddessroom.com/blog/2019/08/10/queen-sugar-4x01-pleasure-is-black/