Going back and re-watching the entire To Love Ru series while (impatiently) wait for all of the fourth season to be released uncensored. Surprised at how much of a d*ck Rito was at the start of the show. It's also amazing at how subdued the nudity was in the first season--you can tell the nipples were all added post-production and the nudity, as a whole, had a much more playful/teasing vibe than the borderline-hentai of the following seasons.

Strawberry Panic:
Someone told me this was awful. That someone was Shadowed Cola. I believed him. Until I didn't. The truth is, this is a very compelling romance anime.

This show features a large cast. Attending St. Miator's we have Nagisa Aoi, Shizuma Hanazono, Tamao Suzumi, Miyuki Rokujo, and Chiyo Tsukidate. Due to the high school and the middle school being combined for the three schools Nagisa transfers in as a 4th year student, which is the equivalent to a 1st year high school student. Her roommate is Tamao Suzumi, a fun and somewhat pervy girl who lived alone until Nagisa shows up. Chiyo is a 1st year and the room keeper for Nagisa, and Tamao. She's clumsy, but has her heart in the right place, and looks up to Nagisa. Miyuki is the Student Council President of St. Miator's. She's business like, and can come off as cold, but secretly is a cry baby. Shizuma is the Etoile, the girl who represents the three schools of St. Miator's, Spica, and Lulim. She's a mystery at first, but as the show progresses we slowly peel back her layers to reveal the most interesting character of the series.

Attending Spica is Hikari Konohana, Amane Ootori, Yaya Nanto, Tsubomi Okuwaka, Shion Tomori, Kaname Kenjo, and Momomi Kiyashiki. Hikari is a 4th year student who rooms with Yaya who secretly has a crush on her. This is of course used to create delicious drama because Hikari is in love with Amane Ootori, the "Prince" of Spica. Shion is the Student Council President of Spica, and wishes to use Amane to get the title of Etoile for a student of Spica. Kaname, and Momomi are members of the Student Council who wish to obtain the title of Etoile for themselves. In order to do this they decide to try and get in the way of Amane and Hikari's relationship. Tsubomi is a 1st year tsundere who is interesting in that she really doesn't have anything to tsundere at. (Yup, it's a verb now. Look it up. (Wait, don't look it up. I don't think it actually is a verb now.))

Attending Lulim is Chikaru Minamoto, Kizuna Hyuga, Remon Natsume, and Kagome Byakudan. Chikaru is the Student Council President for Lulim, but doesn't really seem to have much interests besides just messing around and having fun. Kizuna, and Remon are basically her followers. Kagome is a girl who rarely talks, and carries around a stuffed bear named Percival. She is both friends the other Lulim students, and the 1st-4th years of the other schools. While these four aren't in as important as the other characters (mainly because they have no romance aspects) the show is an absolute treat to watch whenever they're on screen. Especially Chikaru and Kagome.

The three schools, St. Miator's, Spica, and Lulim, all share a dorm called Strawberry Hall, so named because of it's triangular shaped that makes it look like a strawberry.

Of course, you can't have a romance anime without the romance. There are two main circles of romance. The triangle between Nagisa, Shizuma, and Tamao, and the cube between Hikari, Amane, Yaya, and Kaname. The Nagisa romance was fantastic. With real growth moments, and compelling characters. Another aspect I really like was how it spent the first half of the series building up the romance between Nagisa and Shizuma, and the second half destroying it. I'd watch a Nagisa/Shizuma anime for 100 more episodes. The Hikari romance was less so. At times it almost bored me to death, and it almost seemed like Hikari and Amane loved each other because like really guys, they do. One of the biggest things for me was that a lot of the girls seemed selfish at first, but ended up learning to put aside their own desires for the good of others. In a show where almost everyone has a crush on someone else people are bound to get hurt, but they ended up getting over the pain, and supporting the choices of the others.

It's not all good though. The story could really drag it's feet at times. I'd almost recommend only watching half of it. (If the episode isn't about Nagisa/Shizuma it's not worth watching). When they had nowhere to go with the romance they'd throw in what almost felt like filler. Not to say the episodes weren't enjoyable, they were just pointless. The same could be said about Lulim.

The soundtrack was pretty good I guess. I liked the first OP, but I didn't really like the second one or either ED. It was mostly classical music as a background, so if you're into that good for you. The art despite clearly being old was really appealing to me. The animation however, was definitely showing it's age. I remember one scene where the characters were "walking," but in reality they were just bobbing up and down, and the scenery was scrolling past them. It almost made me laugh.

Who I Would Recommend It To:
Anyone looking for a compelling yuri romance anime. Actually no, anyone looking for a compelling romance anime. (The yuri is a plus though).

Time to try something new: Predicting the End! Ignoring the manga source material (if applicable) I'm going to predict how a show SHOULD end. So first up will be...

High School DxD

I predict that the show will end with the death of either Issei or Rias. Though they could always go in the direction of the super happy joy-joy ending, I don't think they should...because its heart, there is a very strong undercurrent of tragedy guiding the show. Issei, in particular, is a character teetering on the edge of losing control--his powers continue to grow, which (as evidenced in Born) potentially makes him a danger to those around him. Over the course of the show, much has been made of the fact that misfortune follows the Red/White Dragon Emperors and those around them, while at the same time pointing out the fact that dragons seek only to fight against each other without concern for others (which was the reason the angels/demons had to come together to defeat them.) We already know that Issei plans on leaving Rias in the future so that he can be viewed as being her "equal" and to establish himself as a Harem King, and we also know that several other members of the group will follow him when he does so. The show also mentions how people--particularly women--will be drawn to his power as the Red Dragon Emperor, resulting in the double-edged sword of the more Issei's power grows, the more he subverts Rias' ability to lead her family. The show points out several times that it is Issei's doings that have drawn the members together as a family (and not just as servants.)

And this mentions nothing of the fact that Issei still hasn't found peace following Yuma's betrayal. He genuinely loved her; her betrayal has scarred him so deeply to the point that it explains all of his motivations: his desire to form a harem--which satisfies his lustful intentions--allows him to surround himself with pleasurable women while at the same time frees him from having to truly commit (i.e. fall in love) with one person. Asia is probably the closest to Issei on an emotional level, but even their relationship is slightly off. His attitude towards her is driven much more by the desire to protect her (and her innocence) so even though there is a physical attraction between them, Issei is subconsciously taking on more of an "older brother" role as a means of being close to her without having to fall "in love" with her.

As for Rias, the show tells us again and again about how the greatest feature of the Gremory family is the close relationship that they foster with their servants. Rias, in particular, dotes excessively on her family and views all of them as irreplaceable; she has taken on the role of "mother" to every member except for Issei, whom she is obviously in love with. That love, as the last season makes clear, is also a source of great anxiety for Rias as she is resentful of the fact that Issei seemingly only recognizes her as "President" while he constantly draws the attention of the other members. In fact, that anxiety has come to the surface several times already as she and Akeno have openly engaged in battle over Issei's affections, with each skirmish growing more fierce than the previous one. Remember, these two are supposed to be the best of friends and have been together for a long time, but Issei's inclusion has begun to unravel that bond.

In the end, I think one of two things will happen:
1. Issei dies after trying to protect too many people at once or is killed by his fellow Club members after losing control/becoming the Red Dragon Emperor, or
2. Rias will sacrifice herself for one of her club members.

Either way, there SHOULDN'T be a happy ending here.

Someone once asked me why the golden rule was giving everything 3 episodes. I honestly didn't have a reply at the time. I just thought about it, and I thought to myself Why is it the golden rule? So, I thought, and I thought, and I thought, and I thought some more. Here's what I came up with:

Mami Tomoe

It didn't turn hentai until Momo got on board with all her lusts and cravings, and she wants all the other girls to feel as she does and get with Rico- probably all at the same time.

And who could forget seasons 3 yuri/**** scenes between Mikan and Blonde Darkness xD

Time to try something new: Predicting the End! Ignoring the manga source material (if applicable) I'm going to predict how a show SHOULD end. So first up will be...

High School DxD

I predict that the show will end with the death of either Issei or Rias. Though they could always go in the direction of the super happy joy-joy ending, I don't think they should...because its heart, there is a very strong undercurrent of tragedy guiding the show. Issei, in particular, is a character teetering on the edge of losing control--his powers continue to grow, which (as evidenced in Born) potentially makes him a danger to those around him. Over the course of the show, much has been made of the fact that misfortune follows the Red/White Dragon Emperors and those around them, while at the same time pointing out the fact that dragons seek only to fight against each other without concern for others (which was the reason the angels/demons had to come together to defeat them.) We already know that Issei plans on leaving Rias in the future so that he can be viewed as being her "equal" and to establish himself as a Harem King, and we also know that several other members of the group will follow him when he does so. The show also mentions how people--particularly women--will be drawn to his power as the Red Dragon Emperor, resulting in the double-edged sword of the more Issei's power grows, the more he subverts Rias' ability to lead her family. The show points out several times that it is Issei's doings that have drawn the members together as a family (and not just as servants.)

And this mentions nothing of the fact that Issei still hasn't found peace following Yuma's betrayal. He genuinely loved her; her betrayal has scarred him so deeply to the point that it explains all of his motivations: his desire to form a harem--which satisfies his lustful intentions--allows him to surround himself with pleasurable women while at the same time frees him from having to truly commit (i.e. fall in love) with one person. Asia is probably the closest to Issei on an emotional level, but even their relationship is slightly off. His attitude towards her is driven much more by the desire to protect her (and her innocence) so even though there is a physical attraction between them, Issei is subconsciously taking on more of an "older brother" role as a means of being close to her without having to fall "in love" with her.

As for Rias, the show tells us again and again about how the greatest feature of the Gremory family is the close relationship that they foster with their servants. Rias, in particular, dotes excessively on her family and views all of them as irreplaceable; she has taken on the role of "mother" to every member except for Issei, whom she is obviously in love with. That love, as the last season makes clear, is also a source of great anxiety for Rias as she is resentful of the fact that Issei seemingly only recognizes her as "President" while he constantly draws the attention of the other members. In fact, that anxiety has come to the surface several times already as she and Akeno have openly engaged in battle over Issei's affections, with each skirmish growing more fierce than the previous one. Remember, these two are supposed to be the best of friends and have been together for a long time, but Issei's inclusion has begun to unravel that bond.

In the end, I think one of two things will happen:
1. Issei dies after trying to protect too many people at once or is killed by his fellow Club members after losing control/becoming the Red Dragon Emperor, or
2. Rias will sacrifice herself for one of her club members.

Either way, there SHOULDN'T be a happy ending here.

Before I jump to editing let me respond to this:

Did you marathon all 3 seasons back to back? Because, you're right tragedy is the under-tone, but over-coming that tragedy is the theme. In every instance of some kind of peril, they come together to solve it. They've never once came to a conclusion without involving the entire cast in the struggle, even the Pheonix vs Dragon thing was made possible through the others helping back him up in the party.

The golden theme here, and much to my dismay in Nora, is friendship, family, and love. How caring for another gives you the passion and energy to keep going. Pretty basic stuff for a shojo.

The show never dares goes too far into reality, even end of season 3 with Rias you can out guess the ending easily. And in this regard I can confidently say High School DxD will have a happy ending, we won, and our way of thinking is better then everyone else's because everyone else were bitter vets from the past war not thinking clearly.

It's a puke worthy progression, and I always kinda look at people strange when they say they think High School DxD has a strong story to back the ecchi - it doesn't not even close. The only praise I give it is amazing pacing, but season 2 has it's up and downs even in that regard.

ISsei wasn't in love with Yuna, either. The reason he's hurt is because for the first time, a girl talked to him. His first experience with a woman that felt so warm and kind, was only given to him to hurt and use him. Before she met him, it was already his dream to have a harem, and it's my opinion Yuna made him rethink that, that maybe one girl is enough if she's special. So you made a good connection here, I just see it differently. It emboldened his desires, made them more clear to him, but most importantly, made him realize it was impossible. That he was a nobody. And Rias gave him back his sense of self-worth.

And I'll assume someone in the cast does die based on your last paragraph - the show will have tragedy, and the ending will have it's highest tragedy, probably the death of the neko girl, the kitten, or all of the above. Rias and our heroes hearts then unite, combining dragon with demon.

Someone that can actually force Issei to mature as a character...

If you're not watching Brave Beats, you are missing out. It's a shounen, but instead of normal fighting they do dance fighting. Dance. Fighting. Sign me up!

Just watched Motto To Love Ru #29...still my favorite episode (Rito's "date" with Risa.)

Question: The final scene is of Risa sitting alone on her bed in the dark, with her back turned to the camera, when she lets out a sound. What do you take the sound to be? Is it Risa laughing at herself (in keeping with her jokester attitude) or is it actually the start of her crying, now that she realizes she has (seemingly unrequited) feelings for Rito?

Amazing how one little scene can add so much to a character that's largely used as little more than comedic relief...

I was browsing around on Kissanime and saw this new anime:

http://aoh.fastcache.me/media/thumbs/massets/1349747996_76.jpg



Is it me or does it not look exactly like Rumbling Hearts...

http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/23900000/rumbling-hearts-rumbling-hearts-23934602-630-473.jpg

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Rumbling_Hearts_5220.jpg

http://cdn.myanimelist.net/images/anime/5/10227.jpg

O.o

Because it is, sorta. It's one of the worst shows in anime, lol.

So, did anyone catch this week's episode of South Park? Hilarious (but loving) take-down of the yaoi genre!

I watched it, and laughed. Wonder what else will pop up, I've been waiting for a south park attack on titan parody.