Brave 10 Episode 1
So the one new anime I have actually watched the first episode of is Brave 10 (a history-violating Sengoku-era anime YES I KNOW YET ANOTHER ONE WHEN WILL IT END). I found it a fairly straightforward first episode and a decent introduction to the set-up. To summarise, it gave me PRECISELY what I was expecting. I already love the Saizou and Sasuke foemance (although it looks like they'll go the way of frenemies now that they're on the same side/under the employ of the same man) and ALL IT TOOK WAS A FEW CHOICE LINES OF DIALOGUE AND ONE FIGHT. I AM EASILY PLEASED. ALSO THE FIRST SCREENCAP IS REALLY ALL YOU NEED TO SEE.
It opens with our male hero lying on his back in the forest with bonus sunbeams (OKAY) with his arm draped across his face (is this meant to make him seem A MYSTERY~). I was watching it, thinking that it seemed quite fanservice-tinged already (not complaining because I went for it solely on the basis of how ridiculous it looks and the fanservice elements are a big part of that). At this point, there's a butterfly fluttering around in the shot. Oh, okay.
IT CUTS TO A SHOT OF HIS FACE, CLOSE UP.
IS IT REALLY GOING TO--
IT DID.
PFFFF THIS SAYS EVERYTHING I NEED TO SAY ABOUT THIS SHOW.
(NOT QUITE DONE YET, THOUGH)
And then Isanami comes tripping out of the woods, and a MYSTERIOUS GEM~ on her hair clip glitters in a not-so-subtle hint that it is clearly important to the plot. COUGH. So then there's a fight and Saizou manages to both save her and make it clear that he doesn't give a shit about her (yet). Of course, she tags along with him afterwards. THIS IS SO PREDICTABLE. TROPES TROPES AND MORE TROPES WHERE IS THE ONE IN THE REVEALING OUTFIT HE'D BETTER BE IN THIS EPISODE.
WHO IS THE CUTE GINGER ONE?
THERE'S THE ANSWER, RIGHT ON CUE.
AUGH HIS DEMEANOUR IS SO PRICKLY, I LIKE HIM ALREADY.
He and Saizou have this FABULOUS EXCHANGE during their fight.
YEAH I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS THING IS BUT I'M SOLD.
ADORABLE. I DON'T KNOW WHY I LIKE IT WHEN THEY GET FLUSTERED.
AHH, THEY'RE NEVER REALLY HEARTLESS, ARE THEY?
I get the feeling that Isanami is going to get a lot of hate from certain quarters, but I feel I should say that contrary to my own expectations I don't dislike her. In fact, I think her backstory is something to bear in mind when considering how she reacts and the fact that she appears helpless (discounting MYSTERY POWER WHATEVER~) because in truth, she is helping herself in the only way she knows how (and for someone raised as a shrine maiden with no experience of combat it's the smartest move) by FINDING SOMEONE STRONGER WHO CAN PROTECT HER. Saizou shoulders his responsibility grudgingly, and although I haven't read reviews of anything new this season, I'm pretty sure Isanami is going to come under fire for being a weak but demanding damsel in distress-type and for trying to manipulate Saizou into helping her, but given her situation and her life experience, what else is she supposed to do if she wants to stay alive?
So now that I've spoken up for her here, it remains to be seen how her character is handled in future episodes. I hope that we'll get to see her taking realistic action to help herself (which I think she did in this first episode) rather than being reduced to someone who whines and clings to the male lead all the time and either never thinks for herself or makes stupid or petulant decisions, but perhaps I'm asking for too much from this series? I WANT TO LIKE HER. DON'T LET ME DOWN, GIRL.
(WHAT IS THIS ESSAY?)
THIS is Sanada Yukimura?
OH GOD, LIP BITING.
I feel quite bad for her, can you tell?
I like that she got a rather messy crying scene instead of only being allowed to look pretty and vulnerable. That kind of total breakdown just reainforces the gulf of experience between her former life and the life of people like Saizou.
He's EXACTLY the kind of guy you think he is, HE JUST DOESN'T KNOW IT YET.
I WAS NOT EXPECTING SANADA YUKIMURA TO BE SO UNPLEASANT (NOTE TO SELF, THIS IS NOT BASARA)
Sasuke gets another dig in at Saizou's expense. YES OKAY I SHIP IT.
YOU KNOW, YOU COULD JUST SAY NO.
SAIZOU WAKES UP WITH ISANAMI SLEEPING NEXT TO HIM.
SASUKE IS SCANDALISED.
I feel like this is an expression we'll be seeing a lot more of.
SOOOO that's episode one.
I promise I won't write an essay on Isanami when I post about episode two (which is downloaded but not yet watched).
I think it's safe to say there will be more loving on Sasuke, though.
It opens with our male hero lying on his back in the forest with bonus sunbeams (OKAY) with his arm draped across his face (is this meant to make him seem A MYSTERY~). I was watching it, thinking that it seemed quite fanservice-tinged already (not complaining because I went for it solely on the basis of how ridiculous it looks and the fanservice elements are a big part of that). At this point, there's a butterfly fluttering around in the shot. Oh, okay.
IT CUTS TO A SHOT OF HIS FACE, CLOSE UP.
IS IT REALLY GOING TO--
IT DID.
PFFFF THIS SAYS EVERYTHING I NEED TO SAY ABOUT THIS SHOW.
(NOT QUITE DONE YET, THOUGH)
And then Isanami comes tripping out of the woods, and a MYSTERIOUS GEM~ on her hair clip glitters in a not-so-subtle hint that it is clearly important to the plot. COUGH. So then there's a fight and Saizou manages to both save her and make it clear that he doesn't give a shit about her (yet). Of course, she tags along with him afterwards. THIS IS SO PREDICTABLE. TROPES TROPES AND MORE TROPES WHERE IS THE ONE IN THE REVEALING OUTFIT HE'D BETTER BE IN THIS EPISODE.
WHO IS THE CUTE GINGER ONE?
THERE'S THE ANSWER, RIGHT ON CUE.
AUGH HIS DEMEANOUR IS SO PRICKLY, I LIKE HIM ALREADY.
He and Saizou have this FABULOUS EXCHANGE during their fight.
YEAH I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS THING IS BUT I'M SOLD.
ADORABLE. I DON'T KNOW WHY I LIKE IT WHEN THEY GET FLUSTERED.
AHH, THEY'RE NEVER REALLY HEARTLESS, ARE THEY?
I get the feeling that Isanami is going to get a lot of hate from certain quarters, but I feel I should say that contrary to my own expectations I don't dislike her. In fact, I think her backstory is something to bear in mind when considering how she reacts and the fact that she appears helpless (discounting MYSTERY POWER WHATEVER~) because in truth, she is helping herself in the only way she knows how (and for someone raised as a shrine maiden with no experience of combat it's the smartest move) by FINDING SOMEONE STRONGER WHO CAN PROTECT HER. Saizou shoulders his responsibility grudgingly, and although I haven't read reviews of anything new this season, I'm pretty sure Isanami is going to come under fire for being a weak but demanding damsel in distress-type and for trying to manipulate Saizou into helping her, but given her situation and her life experience, what else is she supposed to do if she wants to stay alive?
So now that I've spoken up for her here, it remains to be seen how her character is handled in future episodes. I hope that we'll get to see her taking realistic action to help herself (which I think she did in this first episode) rather than being reduced to someone who whines and clings to the male lead all the time and either never thinks for herself or makes stupid or petulant decisions, but perhaps I'm asking for too much from this series? I WANT TO LIKE HER. DON'T LET ME DOWN, GIRL.
(WHAT IS THIS ESSAY?)
THIS is Sanada Yukimura?
OH GOD, LIP BITING.
I feel quite bad for her, can you tell?
I like that she got a rather messy crying scene instead of only being allowed to look pretty and vulnerable. That kind of total breakdown just reainforces the gulf of experience between her former life and the life of people like Saizou.
He's EXACTLY the kind of guy you think he is, HE JUST DOESN'T KNOW IT YET.
I WAS NOT EXPECTING SANADA YUKIMURA TO BE SO UNPLEASANT (NOTE TO SELF, THIS IS NOT BASARA)
Sasuke gets another dig in at Saizou's expense. YES OKAY I SHIP IT.
YOU KNOW, YOU COULD JUST SAY NO.
SAIZOU WAKES UP WITH ISANAMI SLEEPING NEXT TO HIM.
SASUKE IS SCANDALISED.
I feel like this is an expression we'll be seeing a lot more of.
SOOOO that's episode one.
I promise I won't write an essay on Isanami when I post about episode two (which is downloaded but not yet watched).
I think it's safe to say there will be more loving on Sasuke, though.