Kamisama Dolls - 09

OK, it’s officially an anime now – Kana Hanazawa has shown up.

Steins;Gate - 22

There should be something to please everyone in this week’s Steins;Gate.  It’s a near-perfect blend of the hard-core character drama of last week and the plot-driven intensity that marked the end of Suzuha’s arc.

Ikoku Meiro no Croisée - 09

As Ikoku Meiro is proving with its latest arc of episodes, this series is brilliant at exploring cultural divides beyond that of Western and Eastern.

Otoyomegatari - 18

I did a short blog post on Otoyomegatari (A Bride’s Story) a while back, giving a little background on why I love this series so much.  While I’m going to blog the current chapters – with all the attendant spoilers that implies, so beware – I heartily encourage you all to follow Yen Press’ superb licensed hardback releases.  This is a story that deserves to be savored with a hardcover book in your hands.

Natsume Yuujinchou San - 09

Run, don't walk over to RC to check out my review of Natsume Yuujinchou San, episode 9.  There's squid.

Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou - 09

No major surprises in Nurarihyon this week – just a continuation of the same well-paced, solid action that’s driven the second season so far.

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Ni! - 08

There’s no question that Baka-Test upped the ante big time in terms of seriousness this week.  But here’s my question – did it have any right to?

Hansaku Iroha - 22

The optimist in me wants to be believe that HanaIro has finally gotten all the nonsense out of its system.  The experiments with ecchi, the bad slapstick, the two-part episodes about egg dishes.  Maybe, with a month of eps left, all that is behind us and the series will focus on what’s important.  It can never undo all those past mistakes, but a lot can be redeemed with a strong finish.  I’ve been burned so often, though, that a part of me is going to be skeptical until the credits roll on episode 26.

Tiger & Bunny - 22

The general reaction to episode 22 off Tiger & Bunny seems somewhat muted, but I liked it a lot.  It may not have been a “wow!” compared to the great run of eps we’ve had lately, but that’s as much a statement about how consistent T & B is as it is about the episode itself.

Ao no Exorcist - 20

A-1 steps up to the plate with some outstanding anime-original material in episode 20 of Ao no Exorcist.  Rock-solid in all aspects, for my money this was the best effort the series has offered in the last month.

Doctor Who Season 32, Episode 8: Let’s Kill Hitler

I can’t help but think that your response to the current incarnation of the BBC legend Doctor Who is going to depend on just how much of a fan you were of the “old” series – the one that ran almost uninterrupted for a quarter of the 20th Century.

R-15 - 08

There’s no question that if R-15 rises above the height of a mindless sexploitation comedy – and I think it does – irony is at the heart of everything that makes it happen.  And this episode was full of the irony that, for me at least, makes this such an interesting series.

Kami-sama no Memo-chō' - 08

While the resolution of this arc was quite predictable – well, let’s be honest, something close to 100% predictable – it was still easily the most entertaining arc since the premiere double-episode.

Dantalian no Shoka - 07

Huey and Dalian are back, and fixin' a mess o' sperm whale vomit and civet cat musk for you over at RC.  Stop by before your buns get cold.

Ikoku Meiro no Croisée–4.5

It’s becoming increasingly clear to me after watching this special episode of Ikoku Meiro – this series just doesn’t miss.  Sometimes it’s sublime and sometimes merely excellent, but it’s always emotionally spot-on and quite profound.

No. 06 - 08

Check out the noble savagery in this week's No. 6 over at RC.  But don't expect to hear any fujoshis squeeing...

Mawaru Penguin Drum - 07

I always feel a bit like the fish swimming against the current when I criticize this series, but there were some worrying elements for me in episode 7 of Mawaru Penguin Drum.  On balance I found it the most self-indulgent and least enjoyable episode so far.

Blood-C - 07

I guess it was always a valid question – was this going to be a “Blood” series adapted to fit CLAMP, or was the CLAMP going to be adjusted to fit the “Blood”?  Any questions we had going in are pretty much answered now – this is a CLAMP series with Blood character names.  And a dash of Madoka ripoff for good measure.

Usagi Drop - 08

This was a subtle and low-key episode even by Usagi Drop standards, but gently nudged the story along in some important ways.

Hourou Musuko - 100

“Spiral Outline”

I’ve been meaning to start reviewing a few scanlated manga, especially this one, and the milestone 100th chapter seemed like a perfect opportunity.  For the record, I’m assuming anyone who reads a chapter review is caught up – please don’t proceed if you don’t wish to be spoiled by current events.