Volume four of my epic scourging, like that of the great heroes of old, continues here.  If you want to follow along, I’ll update the post as I watch, rather than waiting until the end.

EDIT: It’s no longer being live-updated, so you can read it, confident you are seeing the whole of my thoughts on HR 9-11.

Episode nine:

I am the venerable and ancient bird corpse, famed in song and story.

Wait, did I seriously just see that the OP is called “Free Bird?”  No no, fuck you Japan, there is one ”Free Bird,” and it features a good deal more kick-ass guitar than this piece of shit.

That’s not exactly ASL there, Rakka.  Focus for a second.

Now how the fuck did he get out, fairy dust?

Weird priest-dude [silently]: Oh no you didn’t.

Water, the greatest natural enemy of the Japanese angel-cosplayer.

Now this mythic bird-religion stuff, and the priest, this is pretty nice.  I like the weird mask and such.

I love wise old man characters.  I would say it’s the budding English teacher in me, but I tend to be irritated at my students more often than not.

Must…  resist urge…  to quote “Ligeia.”

Mm, selfish urges rising to the top.  Delicious fiction, with its story-driving conflicts…  Yes.

Break:

This show overall still isn’t what I would call “good.”  I can’t stand anything that makes the audience wait, theoretically with bated breath, for the actual story to show up.  I hate it in fantasy series, and I hate it here.  But since I basically agreed to a bet, I’m actually enjoying these bits near the end, I just don’t think the series should be forgiven for sucking for over half its length.

Episode ten:

It is ”Free Bird.”  F you, show.  With Ps.

Actually-capable meganekko huzzah — too bad she wasn’t part of the show.

So we’re interrupting the finally-interesting bits with Rakka to go over Reki’s emo childhood?  Yay.

Also, wise old man again, for the victory.

Yes yes, Nemu was a bitch, fine, whatever.  She’s not that interesting anyway, I don’t care.

Okay, a clear understanding of the cycle of life might be necessary for your apotheosis.  I suggest The Lion King, followed by Dr. Strangelove and The Lord of the Rings (books, preferably).  Then you will be ready.  Ready to rock!

Is it bitter because it works, or does it work because it’s bitter?

Break:

My internet crapped out a few minutes before the end.  Basically, I liked the “punishment.”  Temple cleaning, especially of such a specialized and quasi-spiritual sort, is pretty basic “path to Nirvana” / “heroic task 101.”  Acceptable.

Episode 11:

Pacing note: the “job search” should have taken a portion of one episode, not all of two  I see its thematic value, but it’s the perfect example of diminishing returns.

Well, this harpsichord music is…  incongruous.

Our backstory — LET US TELL YOU IT.

I like to think Rakka’s wearing a Haibane EV suit.  You know, like Gordon Freeman.

Because hyperventilating will make the voices go away, yes.

Ah, so this show uses the Kanon method of seasonal narrative development.

Mm, delicious grail quest.

Yes, because meaning is work, work is meaning, work is life, Big Brother loves you!

Rakka’s attempt at a sneaky face rolls a critical fumble.

Sex, damn it, “this life” came from sex, do I need to get the charts again?

Yes, stories about books are acceptable.  Take four points, HR.

Given that the point, originally, was for everyone to have the same wing covers, is it necessary to ham-handedly give Reki black wing-covers?

Jesus, just love her up, Rakka.  It works for James Bond.

Break:

I realized something early in the episode, but didn’t want to do the necessary image hunting during the show, as I can’t fucking pause.  Anyway.  Here’s the joke:

Rakka’s whole “grief over Kuu” arc ended so abruptly (which they should have been doing more often, the speedy movement, what with thirteen episodes and all) it made me think of something, a horrible joke that is delicious, like schadenfreude.

I think I’m going to put off the rest until tomorrow.  I’ll probably be able to get both down before I go to class.  I need to do a little work — grading, but that’s probably, uh, not what I’ll end up doing.  Anyway, until I go to class, or teach, it’s still the weekend, right?  Right?  >_>