I finished The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and really enjoyed it. Another great production from "Amazon Studios". Very solid acting all around and I loved how it delved into (aka made fun of) the rich New York Jewish community/stereotype in addition to the standup comedy scene from the late 1950's. The episodes are a bit long at times coming in at a full hour, but the writing and delivery of all the characters is very well done. Rachel Brosnahan who plays the main character, Midge, is hilarious, and plays the Jewish housewife entering a life crisis to the T.
The only disappointing thing is that this show was obviously written as a two season order from the get-go (which it was). Season 1 definitely ends at a pretty big cliffhanger moment with a lot of things kind of hanging in the balance and more story to go, but that's more natural since a second season was already green-lit when this ordered. I would have preferred to get a little more resolution during the season finale, but it does have me wanting/begging for more. I also really wish that it was based on a true story, but alas...
Really looking forward to the second season coming ASAP.
This is a masterpiece. Simple as that. Definitely in my top 3-5 animes of all time. This show has everything (comedy, romance, drama and, of course, tons of action). You fall in love with all of the characters and every side story and character really gets developed over 64 brilliant episodes. Don't think. Just watch.
Ohhhhh baby. The brand new HD remaster in 16:9 of all the seasons of The Wire will be airing from Dec. 26-30 on HBO. Digital versions will be available to buy on Jan 5 and the BluRay will be released in the summer. In the words of the great Senator Clay Davis, "SHHHEEEIIITTTTTT".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1dnqKGuezo
http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/03/hbo-announces-hd-remaster-of-the-wire
Wow. GLOW is such a fantastic show with a lot of unexpected depth to it. I didn't know what to really expect (other than Alison Brie wrestling other women) after just skimming some reviews online and trying not to spoil myself, but it was very well made dealing with a myriad of different social issues and themes. I never thought that so much drama and intrigue could come out of making a female wrestling league/show.
There are definitely a decent amount of feminism and SJW vibes, which can usually turn me off to a show/movie if taken overboard. However, I thought the tone of the show struck a very nice balance to those themes with wisely timed comedic dialogue and chose not to go too overboard on stating some of the "obvious". I really liked the emphasized theme of "things don't just happen; people make choices" that is expanded upon. There are some times you can't just blame society and everyone else for everything, and at times, you have to just take some responsibility yourself.
Alison Brie did a great job as the lead in this one, and hit the humorous parts quite well. She definitely doesn't play the typical spunky girl who never gets down in order to overcome all obstacles in this one. Lots of bad shit happens to her constantly in this show (some of it self-inflicted), and she has to eventually deal with the consequences. Some are dealt with better than others. She really developed her character throughout the course of this season, but she never really crossed into that "totally likeable" realm for me.
However, this is alright because the other supporting characters in GLOW were fantastic in their roles as well. I was pleasantly surprised that the show was really able to flesh out almost every single character/female wrestler introduced and give them all some plot lines and conflict to overcome (even Sheila the wolf girl!!). My favorite girl/wrestler was probably definitely Debbie, played by Betty Gilpin. She is just badass and goes totally YOLO at times. The end of episode 1 was just pure f'n gold. I could watch that entire scene over and over again. It was so well acted out between Alison Brie and herself. I also really enjoyed Marc Maron's character, the director Sam Sylvia, who adds a ton of crass humor into all the dialogue that he's given. He could have just mailed it in as the sleazy coke'd out director, but he completely owns the role and adds so much to the show.
Anyway, I really enjoyed GLOW and I'm hoping for confirmation of a second season ASAP because the creators definitely left a few loose-ends hanging and we still have a lot more potential story to unfold. Looks like Netflix has another hit on their hands. Watch/binge it if you can at least before GoT owns all our lives starting in July.
"The Last Man on Earth" has been an absolute riot so far through the first 3 episodes, adding its own unique comedic twist on a classic premise, and looks like it will continue to go strong throughout its first season. Will Forte is back taking on a slightly different persona from his usual MacGruber and channeling a bit of his own Tom Hanks in "Castaway".
While the first episode takes on a more serious tone, the second episode is where things REALLY take off and the show comes into its own comedically. Give this show a few episodes to see what it is really about.
Will Forte and Kristen Schaal have an instant chemistry that leaves me cringing and smiling at the same like classic "The Office" episodes featuring Michael Scott's best escapades. I can't wait until more of the rumored cast members show up and add even more wrinkles.
One last word. Fox, if you dare go "Firefly" on this show and cancel it early, I will not be pleased. That is all. Go watch this show now!!
Amazing show. Takes the whole concept of "magical girl" shows and throws it out the window. Very dark and emotional concepts thrown into a beautiful looking world with great characters. This is a must watch.
The show that invented the "tit ribbon". Need I say more? A must watch.
The Nastume Yuujinchou series is a powerful and heartwarming fantasy masterpiece among the anime world. I absolutely loved the series and couldn't stop watching till the very end. The quality through all 4 seasons was just superb without a hint of drop-off. The range of emotions and themes covered in Nastume Yuujinchou is beyond impressive. It would have me ROFL with Nyanko-sensei's antics in one minute to within Clannad-esque tears in the very next. However, what truly struck me was how N.Y. was able to find a duality/struggling conflict within all of these different themes and truly challenge the feelings and emotions of the viewer. This was done by creating such spectacular characters from Natsume and his family/friends down to the individual youkai that we meet for only a single episode. The creators do a magnificent job getting us emotionally invested in this world via these relatable and lovable characters. It's an amazing ride (and I hope we get another season) as we join Natsume on his journey as he learns to accept and understand his ever changing world, the people/youkai around him, and, ultimately, himself. This is right at the top of my list of must watch anime. Don't think. Just watch.
This is probably one of the funniest and most heartfelt animes out there. This is a great reverse harem show and you literally fall in love with almost every single character. They start out as your basic stereotypes but everyone has an amazing backstory that is expanded upon. Also, Haruhi is the best.
This is the most emotional anime that I've ever seen in my life. Probably my favorite anime ever so do what ever you can to watch this ASAP.
Only one word could possibly describe this show:
"AMAZING"
Greatest anime of all-time. ALL-TIME.
I finally finished the last 12 episodes in the past couple days after putting this on-hold for a few months. It was a solid show overall, 7/10, but the last quarter/third of the show was definitely not up to par with the beginning. I didn't really like how the show got so preachy at the end about "environmentalism" and precious Mother Earth. I felt like I was getting preached to by Miyazaki for the last few episodes and you could definitely tell that the manga material was a bit dated from that. Anyway, I had fun and enjoyed it but it failed to live up to the hype and the excellent start imo.
This is an absolutely fantastic anime that tackles very mature and graphic themes, such as discrimination, abandonment, and just pure suffering. I really liked how all these tiny pieces and story lines tied together from the beginning up until the very end (even the OVA). The relationships between the characters and the support that they build for each other from their own miserable experiences and pain are truly remarkable. It shows that good can come out of such horrible things. I will warn that this anime is incredibly graphic (gore, nudity, abuse, etc) but it's there for good reason. The story is well done and the animation does not really show its age. This is a great watch if you're in the mood for a dark anime.
Katanagatari is one very unique and beautiful piece of art and I highly emphasize the word "art". It may not be for everyone but if you give it a chance, you may see what truly makes it spectacular. In that sense, it reminds me a lot of the Bakemonogatari series. On the surface this may seem like a simple fetch quest story about collecting these demon swords with childish character designs. However, there is so much more than what meets the eye in this series. The art and designs may seem simplistic at first but look deeper and you'll see a masterfully animated world full of tiny intricate details that just reeks of style. And hidden within are darker and thought-provoking themes of revenge, purpose, self and death.
The defining strength of this anime is the relationship and romance between Togame and Shichika in particular the witty and masterfully scripted dialogue between the two MCs. But be prepared. There is a LOT of dialogue and it very rarely stops. But as I said, the dialogue is top-notch and what drives the character development. The banter between Togame and Shichika almost never gets old whether they are piling on jokes or delving into deep philosophies. And the action (when it finally does come around between all the talking) is excellently done although it can be short at times. Each episode is 45 mins in length and this is both good and bad in a sense. It's good in that each episode's story gets fully developed and it helps drive the character development. However, it makes each episode a bit more of a challenge and a chore to go through along with the simplicity and predictability of the story, amount of talking and overly episodic nature of the series.
Still, this is a unique gem that should be watched and appreciated by all anime lovers. Katanagatari may not be for everyone but if you liked Bakemonogatari or want to try something that is a bit different, definitely give it a shot. "Cheeeeeeerioooo!"
I finally got around to finishing this classic shoujo romance. The first season was superb and I loved Sawako's hilarious interactions and realistic growth throughout it. On the other hand, the second season was a bit of a letdown during the first half especially with some of the horrible miscommunication and confusion between Sawako and Shota that just seemed a little too over-the-top. However, the last 4 episodes really end the series on a great note and you feel the "magic" (of love) again.
All you need to know is that Sawako/Sadako = love. Watch it. Enjoy it. Love it.
Just want to say that the second cour of the anime was WAY better than the first. The show definitely started out very slow (which was compounded a bit more if you were watching it while it was airing like I was) and definitely had some pacing issues. However, about halfway through the first cour things started to get interesting and really picked up. After that, there was no more looking back and the anime series as a whole really hit its stride.
I enjoyed how the second season was able to touch upon a lot of different elements within the kingdom, especially later. In particular, I really liked the final episode and how things ended (not gonna spoil it). I'd love to see more from this series as the light novel and manga are pretty popular still, but they did stop at a pretty good point at the end of this season.
Based upon from the legendary shoujo manga that basically defines the shoujo genre and any acting manga/anime, the 2005 anime series serves as a marvelous adaptation that far surpasses the original anime released in 1984. Over 51 episodes, we experience a tour de force journey of Maya Kitajima's rise (and fall) in the world of acting. The anime is a great way to get introduced to the source material and delve into the cutthroat and nuanced behind-the-scenes world of acting.
The various stories and arcs introduced are all handled quite well, but the true strength of this work lies in the three main characters: Maya Kitajima, Masumi Hayami, and Ayumi Himekawa. They serve as excellent foils for each other and their interactions serve as the crux for this fantastic series. Maya is an honest and resilient protagonist who really has to work her way through the world, but for me, it was the other two characters that allowed her to shine even more.
Ayumi serves as a sort of "antagonist" in the series, with her lavish and privileged upbringing, yet she faces Maya head on and acknowledges her as a legitimate rival. She is incredibly nuanced as the main "rival" to Maya and you at times root for her as well throughout the journey. Masumi plays the main male interest, but his relationship with Maya is quite dynamic as he tries to hide his good nature from her. He is the legendary "Man with the Purple Roses" for a reason!
Anyway, this is definitely a classic for all shoujo fans to experience, and delves into the harsher realities of the acting world with great detail and passion.
This is THE anime that we've all been waiting and yearning for. Many of us hardcore Mushoku Tensei fans have been waiting years upon years for an anime adaptation to finally hit, and HIT it has. I was a little skeptical with a brand new studio undertaking this, but all the previews had looked great so I was cautiously optimistic. The source material is my absolute favorite isekai series (which says a lot) and the light/web novel will always hold a special place in my fandom. So how were the first two episodes so far (first has aired officially and the first two were previewed beforehand)?
AMAZING. I really don't know if it's just because the source material is that good, but this has been a SPOT ON adaptation so far. Right when I heard "Gintoki" as the NEET narrator, I knew shit was gonna be good. The sense of humor and pervertedness of Rudy is really well incorporated throughout the first two episodes, and makes this more than just a "another OP isekai". But even with that sense of humor, the anime has taken great depths to give solid (but not overwhelming) background info on the characters and highlighting particularly serious moments. This was especially evident in the second episode where the handling of Rudy's "fall into NEETness" and past trauma was interweaved perfectly into his current situation and setting.
I can't wait for the rest of the anime to air. It seems that a second cour has already been green-lighted so let's hope this can turn into one of those long-running anime series. If they can make it to the school arcs, I'll have lived a complete life...
Prepare to have your mind blown. This is "food porn" at it's absolute best. A must-watch for sure.
Psycho-Pass was an absolute thrill to watch with its excellent combination of a intricate plot and ever-developing characters that were all set in a very thought-provoking dystopian future Japan. This show grabbed me instantly and wouldn't let go. The over-arching plot is just superb with plenty of twists, shocking moments, varying sets/situations and even a few feels along the way. The use of criminal-coefficients and the Sibyl system along with the themes that they invoked have been done before but I thought that P-P put a very cool and unique spin on it. This wasn't just an "evil" big brother system that was controlling every one in a totalitarian manner. There were very clear benefits to this so-called "perfect" system and this is where a lot of the show's conflicts arise.
The characters are also where the show truly excelled. Kougami was a badass MC with a very clear motivation for "justice" but was constantly walking the tightrope between what was right and vigilantism. I initially thought that the female MC, Akane, was a bit weak but I was definitely proven wrong. Her development from a naive and gullible newbie to a true and intuitive detective struggling with the ideals and purpose of the Sibyl was handled excellently. It was very believable and followed along with my same feelings about the world of P-P. The other supporting characters were very strong as well especially Masaoka. And, last but not least, was the villain Makishima. He was truly one of the best villains that I've seen in a while with his brilliant schemes, awesome dialogue (so many quotes from brilliant authors from Shakespeare to recent philosophers), and his very distinct motivations. You could really sympathize and understand what he was trying to accomplish yet at the same time, despised/loved him at the same time.
Watch this show ASAP. This is one psychological thriller that you shouldn't miss. You won't be disappointed. I can't wait for the movie and the second season to come out.
Just one episode in, I'm going to go out on a limb and call Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso as the potential sleeper AOTS. With a superb focus on music and its dynamic characters, I'm getting some early vibes of Nodame Cantabile reincarnated right here. Just listen to the OP once and you'll be hooked. It's also very cool that the anime will cover the entire manga as they're supposed to end at about the same time. This is a definite watch. As @ManiacB has stated, I just have to pray that A-1 doesn't screw this up because Nodame Cantabile + Moe = Winning.
This is such a powerful and moving anime that deals with the effect of the loss of a loved one and how much it can deeply change us, young or old. In particular, the anime focuses on the effect of Menma's death as a young child on the 5 remaining "Super Peace Busters" group and it's very interesting to see how much her death has and, more interestingly, not changed this once close group of friends. There is an incredible driving force of guilt and jealously that permeates throughout the show, and so this anime is ultimately a story about the journey to resolve these emotions in order to let Menma rest in piece. A lot of the characters may not be completely likable in certain ways due to each one having every obvious flaws, but all those serious flaws interacting with each other are the times when the anime shines best. This is definitely a roller coaster of emotion (perhaps some tears along the way) but I loved the ending which resolves things very nicely. This is a touching story and a can't miss if you're interested in a more dramatic and moving anime. Watch it!!
Yu Yu Hakusho is just a classic and riveting shounen from the glory days with an awesome English dub to boot (one of the few where the dub is better than the sub imo). There are so many great characters, laughs, tears and memorable moments all wrapped into this one unforgettable journey spanning 112 episodes. The best arcs are the Dark Tournament (season 2) and Chapter Black (season 3) sagas and I could watch them over and over again.
Do yourself a favor. Don't think. Just watch.
Cross Game is absolutely one of the best anime shows (not just sports anime) that I've seen. Period. It is another masterpiece written by Mitsuru Adachi (of Touch and H2 fame). From the first episode (which is absolutely heartbreaking and a must-watch), the show just captures the viewer's attention and never lets go. The best part of Cross Game is that it is about more than just baseball. So much more. It is a story about dealing with the death of a loved one (it has a very similar feeling to AnoHana), friendship, and how two people grow and nurture each other through hardships and successes. The story may be a little bit predictable at times, but Cross Game is more about the total journey. Don't be intimidated by the length. Time flies and there really are no filler episodes (except for one recap episode) and by the end, I was wishing that the show would never end. The characters are truly what make this show exceptional and Aoba is one of my favorite female protagonists of all time. She is way more than just a tsundere and has so much depth to her character. Do yourself a favor and watch this masterpiece. It'll have you on the edge of seat the whole time.
I love my rom/coms and my tsunderes and Toradora! certainly did not disappoint. It's one of the best anime rom/coms that I've ever seen (tied right with Clannad) and is a must watch if you have any interest in the genre at all. While the overall story may be a bit on the predictable side, there are plenty of surprising twists and turns along the way. The characters are what truly shine in Toradora! in how they develop and depend on each other to how each one of their flaws and fears are gradually revealed. The voice acting and music are superb as well. This is truly one of the best stories about the development of true love between a "Tiger and Dragon". Just watch it.
I just finished bingeing Mindhunter as well and really enjoyed it like many others here. The show definitely had the whole David-Fincher-Zodiac-vibe going along with it (for obvious reasons), and I really enjoyed the pace of it all. The incarcerated killers were brilliantly acted with the portrayal of the killer Ed Kempfer as the star of it all. I really loved getting into the psychology of "serial killers" especially during a time when the field and knowledge around "serial killers" wasn't even really established or properly understood yet. Each different killer gave off their own unique and distinct vibe (with no copying of Hannibal Lecter), which only further added to the excitement in the show.
The first episode is pretty slow and doesn't give you a great sense of where the show is going, but the series really starts to take off in the second episode and I couldn't stop myself after that. Please give me a second season ASAP!
I have no idea how in the world this got a televised anime adaptation but... THANK YOU BASED ANIME GODS!!
Be forewarned though: this series isn't for the faint of heart. Buckle-up your NTR seatbelts and get ready for one hell of a ride ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Mother of God... This was so f'n good. I was planning on just watching the first episode for kicks today and getting to studying for my Summer Final Exams, but I ended up marathoning all 13 episodes in one night. Holy shit. Arata is the f'n man and all the chicks in this series are soooooooo cute. Honestly, I could ship any of them. The ending is a bit inconclusive but the manga is still ongoing so I can give it a pass as I pray for a second season/OVA/anything more. Anyway, manga continuation here I come!!!
This is another masterpiece done by Kyoto Animation. Can they do no wrong? It's a great slice-of-life school anime with a good mix of mystery, drama and a bit of romance (wish there was a bit more personally). I really loved how this series was very realistic in its scenarios, drama and character development which really helped me fall in love with the charming characters even more. Obviously, the art, animation and music are off the charts too. I just pray that there is a second season or movie to tie up the ending (beautifully done but I need my romantic conclusions!!).
This show was a mASSterpiece. No other words could possibly describe the glory that is Keijo!!!!!! This is only series that has made me seriously reconsider converting to an ASS-man (other than Prison School). That alone should cement this series in the Top 5 rankings of all-time.
Season 2 when?
