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In Summer 2024 we will focus on these shows:
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After a successful experiment that
Spring 2024
was, I decided to keep the format going. But not fully. The concept is
good, but I am thinking of making it... different again. We'll see how
good it will work!
So the way we are doing this is as follows:
I will post two times - once now, for the First Look, then Conclusion (with awards).
First Look is focused on the first episode - I'll talk about the
impression the series left me with, tell you how I feel about them,
and name the best and the worst anime just from the first
episode.
And Conclusion will be the same as for the past seasonals
- ranking all the series, giving them scores, reviewing them, naming
the best/worst of the season!
But you might notice something is missing. Ah right, the whole ass
analysis of each episode like I did the previous two seasons!
Well. I am going to try something different. I'll pull up my notes
and write down all the points, gags and interesting moments from the
series to make a... sort of review. I'll save all my screenshots and
use them during the "review" post, which I will post one after
another after the season is over.
Sounds doable to me!
With this long intro, let's see what we're dealing with this
season!
╭────────── · 𓆩🌻𓆪 · ─╮
╰─ · 𓆩🌻𓆪 · ──────────╯
I am limiting myself to 12 anime a season, picking out only
those I really want to watch, leaving behind movies, ONAs
and OVAs or anime I like the sound of but don't necessarily
screams quality to me.
12 is still a lot, so I am using a "click and teleport" like the
season before:
There are also two special cases - anime that will air much much
later, that I don't want to miss.
They are:
And I'll update them on their own time.
╭────────── · 𓆩🌻𓆪 · ─╮
╰─ · 𓆩🌻𓆪 · ──────────╯
(The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies)
Quick plot line
Bad boys are sexy. They are sexy
because they are bad. But only to other people. To girls, they are
gentlemen who love them more than anything.
Mira, lieutenant of evil
organization, is set on a mission to destroy the world and
humanity. He was not ready for the adorable, soft-spoken magical
girl Byakuya, who grabs his heart and makes him fall in love with
her.
Now, determined to keep his
feelings hidden behind a façade, he decides to make sure Byakuya
will be taken care of, so she can be at full strength during their
final battle.
Episode 1
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Our main characters are a weirdo guy and a weirdo girl that are
catching feelings for each other, despite having supposed to be
archenemies.
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[I don't know who this is, but I already love him.]
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Let me say it this way = the two are perfect idiot combo and
absolutely made for each other.
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From the first 24 minutes I can tell this will be "no heavy plot"
anime focused on sweets and slow burn romance. Actually, it looks
like we will get The Fever Episode™ already next
week.
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[Still, I could swear that this was a Squid Game
reference...]
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
(Tasuketsu -Fate of the Majority-)
Quick plot line
Teasing your classmates,
attending school, playing videogames. A day so normal, it's no
different from yesterday. There is no sign that something is
about to change.
So Saneatsu Narita does not
expect anything else when he is coming to pick up his classmate
the next morning. However, when he finds him, his classmate is
already dead.
Realizing that the cause is a
"screen saver" he looked at the day before during class, Narita
and the other few students find themselves playing a death
game.
The rules? Don't be a part of
majority when answering a question, and you will live.
Episode 1
I cannot stress enough how extremely disappointed I am about this
show. With a plot this good... to fuck up so hard...
The show has an extremely boring start so when the plot suddenly
hits you, it almost feel like it's impossible for something like
this happen in a real world.
If there was a set up, if it was believable, if they did something
crazy...! But no. Out of nowhere, in a world without magic, some
(apparently normal everyday) person suddenly became an Emperor and
decided to kill people until only one remains, so they can have a
tea together.
I am very disappointed with that, and annoyed with the male MC.
Without any building, without any emotions other than feeling
sorry about his friend he said he will take the Emperor down
out of nowhere. You don't just decide that. You go through
5 stages of grief, shit your pants because you might die that day
and then go berserk.
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Despite saying that, meet my love:
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[Meet Saaya.]
Their design is nothing extreme. There is a hint of trying to
create something unusual, but it falls flat by giving us only
half-asses hair highlights and bad proportionated bodies.
Animation is not exactly stellar, the atmosphere is not build well
in my opinion for how dramatic everything's supposed to be and I
am just worried this will be another wasted potential.
At this stage, I am worried not even the god-like "Privileges"
will save the story, they'll just make it worse by providing a
cheap escape from "fatal" situations. Eh.
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
(Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian)
Quick plot line
Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou is a
silver-haired beauty, a member of School Council with perfect
looks and grades, adored by everyone in the school. She is kind
of sarcastic, but still keeps up the image of an honor student.
Mostly, she is a girl though. A girl in love.
But the boy she is interested
in, Masachika Kuze, is a slacker and Alisa is keeping her
emotions private. Well, almost private. Through Russian
language, she talks to Kuze affectionately, happy that he does
not understand her.
However, Kuze does understand
Russian and knows exactly what she's saying to him.
The ultimate rom-com can begin!
Episode 1
Another incredibly disappointing show.
I have been excited about this for a few seasons now, expecting
this to come out any second. I am very sad to say I was bored out
of my mind and prayed for the episode to be over soon.
Visually it's extremely beautiful - the colors, the uniforms,
animation and THE EYES. Everything looks tip-top, and it might be
one of the best shows I have ever seen on a visual side.
Story-wise, I cannot help but to feel like it's generic. For some
reason, it reminds me of
Rascal Does not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai. I am talking
"kind of can predict what might happen" type of story.
Like for example his Russian friend from the past, I am 60% sure
it is either someone around him or someone that will come back to
mix the cards a bit. Humor-wise it's very similar too.
Still, I am not saying it's bad. Just... right now, it's not
bringing anything new on the table.
By the way, as a Slav I am obligated to say that the Russian is
hard to understand, but there are moments I can understand her.
So. Ok.
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[This is the first time I've seen a boy wear that kind of
necklace in anime.]
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
(My Deer Friend Nokotan)
Quick plot line
Do you even realize what you're asking of me? A
plot?? In this shit-show??
Ex-delinquent Torako Koshi is working very hard
on becoming a honor student in her high school. She would
never count with a deer girl appearing out of nowhere as a
transfer student. And what's worse, the deer girl knows
EVERYTHING about her.
Koshi's world breaks into pieces with the new
gained friend, because nothing is how she wanted.
Meta comedy, stupid characters and no-plot
show begins.
Episode 1
The fact, that this show already has a dub tells
A LOT about how America views anime.
Anyway!
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The art style is very simplistic, it looks like a Paint drawing.
Though... it's not bad. It kind of fits the story. The ending
animation is a real footage of how deer crackers are made in
Japan, which I found is a nice fun touch.
And the opening is a fucking fever dream....
I like how the story knows exactly what it is - when Nokotan
appeared, I asked myself
Why the hell does she have antlers? She's a female... and when Nokotan came to her class, Koshi immediately asked
herself
Why the hell does she have antlers? She's a female...
No, we did not get the answer. But I was really happy that the
anime used it as a joke.
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This show will never hit any charts (except the meme charts) but I
think it's way too good for being so stupid.
I definitely recommend this if you need a good laugh.
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
(Twilight Out of Focus)
Quick plot line
Two roommates make a deal. Three promises they
agreed upon: 1) Mao will never tell anyone his roommate is gay
and has a boyfriend. 2) Hisashi will never hit on Mao and he
will never fall for him. 3) They agreed on a signal so they
wouldn't catch the other doing it.
This arrangement works. Or... worked, for a
while.
But suddenly things change as the two
realize that they broke their promises. Despite knowing
how the other feels, relationship between them does not
change.
Episode 1
Yaoi really thrives in 2024!
And I have this great feeling that each season, the quality is
better and better. I cannot wait for yaoi to stand next to other
shows in quality!
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Some of the boys are cute, others have a very questionable design.
This thought was overshadowed by the opening, in which I guessed
the presence of two more couples and a lot of drama that will
happen.
And as long as the drama doesn't involve my boys, I am all in,
sitting in the first row, eating popcorn.
I took three important informations from the first episode:
- The director of a movie Mao and Hisashi are working on is a BL fan, which makes me relate to him.
- You do not imagine yourself in a romantic situation with your roommate if you are not into them.
- Jumping anyone against their will is borderline abuse, but it's nowhere nearly as bad as a pedo teacher taking advantage of an elementary school boy and screwing with him!
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[Babes, that on itself gave you a bf in this show.]
They are all around 16! Jesus Christ...! They are still just
kids!
Anyway. Good start to a good romance, and I am very excited to
see where this will go. Because I know that if yaoi gives me a
secondhand embarrassment, I am in for a treat.
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
(Senpai is an Otokonoko)
Quick plot line
Makoto Hanaoka is a boy, but
despite that dresses as a girl. With a wig and in girl uniform,
he attends school and school events, while at home he makes sure
he passes for a boy just fine.
Thanks to his mother, Makoto thinks there is something wrong
with him. And if you can't love yourself, how can you love
someone else?
That's why, when his
kouhai Saki Aoi confesses her love, he shows her his "real
face" and refuses her, explaining that he has never fallen in
love before and that he is "weird".
Saki refuses to give up, which makes Makoto's
childhood friend Ryuuji Taiga step in. The tree of them become a strange trio,
all friends intertwined in a love triangle.
Makoto does get their support in everything he
does, but his mother looms over like a vulture...
Episode 1
Let's go LGBT+ representation!
I love everything about this. I love Aoi, I love the opening, I
love how relatable it is, I love Taiga and I hope he will come out
on top...
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I loved when they mixed the art styles at first, thinking it was
supposed to serve as a comedic relief. But... as the episode
progressed it became too much and they used it a lot. If it's the
art style, okay, sure... but it is taking from the quality.
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[Quality comparasion.]
Our tree babies are adorable though and this show is making me
incredibly anxious because I know exactly what will go
wrong.
I am here for it though and I cannot wait to see where this goes
and if Makoto will find love after all...
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𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
(2.5 Dimensional Seduction)
Quick plot line
Masamune Okumura has some
unexplained trauma from past that made him hate 3D girls.
Staying true to his waifu Lilliel, there is no way he could ever
care for any other girl.
But when Ririsa Amano comes with
a request to help her make a cosplay photoshoot and pulls out
Lilliel cosplay, Masamune has to face the harsh truth - he is
still very much turned on by girls and their bodies.
Episode 1
I only have two points I want to make about this boring-ass
opening.
- Junya Enoki, Masamune's VA, does a great job and makes me laugh.
- Ririsa is a pervert just like I am, so I might relate to her, which might save the show a bit.
It's boring, fails to set a story, tells us nothing about this
"trauma" that will probably get teased for a while and I am
honestly so bored. It's incredible.
It does have 23 more episodes to make me me interested, so I will
keep watching.
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[This is a reminder for ALL of you.]
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
(The Elusive Samurai)
Quick plot line
A historical comedy with
elements of horror, about samurai Tokiyuki Houjou, whose
family is completely killed. With his special abilities and
agility, he will work to take revenge.
The ultimate goal? Become a running general,
samurai who will take back the power that was supposed to be
his from the beginning.
With the help of a ridiculous priest and
new-found family, this journey slowly reveals
itself...
Episode 1
OH. MY. GOD.
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This show is incredible. Visuals, animation, characters, voice
acting... everything about this is not golden, but diamond.
Pearls, even.
It build the world so easily, I fell in love with everyone from
the intro instantly, in just the first few seconds.
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Namely Takauji, who I adore the most. He's such a hot piece of
ass....!
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Everything and everyone about this is beautiful, extremely fun, it
caught my attention and didn't let go until the very end.
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Though the gore came as a huge surprise, it makes the show look
historically accurate, like it's not hiding anything. It took a
wild turn very quickly and I already know this will be the best
anime of the season.
Hugely recommended!
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[What are you, a JoJo character?]
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[How some people think of themselves.]
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
(Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!)
Quick plot line
Kazuhiko Nukumizu loves romance
light novels. Despite that, he was never in love himself.
Knowing both, how beautiful and hurtful love can be, he lives
his life the way he wants to.
That is until he witnesses his classmates'
argument.
Meeting Anna Yanami changes his life and Kazuhiko starts to attract a
certain type of girls...
Episode 1
Adorable and soft art style with fluid animation reminds me of
Wonder Egg Priority, and I am very excited to see where this will
go.
The characters are not very lovable so far, but they are fun and I
am excited to see how things between them will change and who
Kazuhiko really is.
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One little detail stayed with me - the girl's uniforms are very
fun. Not that it's relevant in any way.
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𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
(Narenare -Cheer for You!-)
Quick plot line
Kanata Misora was on a cheerleading team,
competing in nationals when her dream shattered. Her friend
got hurt, and Kanata panicked, resulting in a block that won't
let her continue her cheerleading "career".
She isn't the only one who cannot reach her
dreams and hopes. The girls start "randomly" meeting, and
maybe they'll inspire each other to reach for the
stars.
Episode 1
The art style is pretty, but the red highlights hurt my eyes and
make it hard to look at. But that might just be me.
This episode was an extremely weak introduction to story and told
us basically nothing about the plot, so we can only guess. It was,
however, a good introduction to the characters.
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
(SHOSHIMIN: How to Become Ordinary)
Quick plot line
Did you hear about Hiyouka? A mystery anime
about a boy solving various mysteries, using logic and
recreation methods. It's very slice of life, very playful and
fun.
Well this is just like it... just with the
added element of a secret looming above us, something
important between the two main characters that might change
the whole story in it's core.
Episode 1
Pretty and sharp art, great animation and beautiful eye design.
The only thing I am bothered by is the screen resolution - it's
not filling the screen and that makes my heart twitch.
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𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
(Theatre of Darkness Season 13)
Quick plot line
Season 13 of a horror anime, in form of short stories.
Episode 1
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Who wants to be an elevator girl??
Weak intro song, great ending and our narrator is back so that
makes me happy.
╭────────── · 𓆩🌻𓆪 · ─╮
╰─ · 𓆩🌻𓆪 · ──────────╯
Special cases:
Episode 1
I cannot believe it's finally here!
Netflix released all 5 episodes as once, but there is no way I can
binge watch this. Each episode is 1h 6min long! And even though I
am happy for all the content, I am worried about the pacing. I
hate hour long series.
Anyway! Kimi ni Todoke came back as strong as before. Beautiful
art, good animation, sharper look... and it's not missing the
spark the older series had! Time really did good on this show.
The story is just as sweet, I was constantly feeling like getting
diabetes. It was just perfection.
First episode was focused on first moments of Sawako and Kazehaya
dating - she finally gave him the knitted hat and the chocolate
from before.
[This boy was so excited about dog toys...]
Of course, most of the other characters made comeback too. Both
Sawako's besties and Ryu. So I think it's safe to say more will
come.
Unfortunately, blondie from season two made a comeback as well.
-_-
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You really can tell when someone is working hard. The music, the
visuals, the gags - everything felt thought through to the last
detail.
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[Their classmates cheering on Sawako was precious.]
"Twist" this episode was the couple telling their parents they
were dating. Sawako met her mom while holding hands with Kazehaya.
Even though Sawako worried, her mom was very cool and she invited
the boy to dinner.
Sawako's dad was not as cool and we got hilarious scenes with him
being jealous. (Forcing them to keep the doors open, fussing over
them sitting next to each other, pulling the wooly hat and
grinning that Shota did not have the same.)
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After that, it was Kazehaya's turn to introduce his girlfriend.
I am not sure but I feel like we got a look into his family for
the first time.
His mom was pretty fun, his dad made me awfully nervous (though
Sawako definitely has a thing for "future Kazehaya")
and the way the two got along was simply adorable.
It was embarrassing and nerve-wracking in the best way
possible!
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[Upset boyfriend!]
Season 3 is so far everything I wanted and didn't know I needed.
Perfection.
𓆩🌻𓆪 ─────── 𓆩🌻𓆪
Episode 1
I am very disappointed in this series... of course, you cannot
tell much from trailers, least of all the quality of the
media.
But this was... one of the biggest let downs I had in a
while.
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[What are hot boys when the animation lacks and the art is
not as good as it might seem?]
As mentioned, the animation was one of the laziest I've seen in a
while - we got barely any movement, and it was almost robotic. I
am not one to notice this too much, which is why I usually score
animation good in my reviews... but this one is not it.
As for art, it is beautiful for pictures. I would follow this
artist, I do love how the characters look and I am absolutely into
three of the four main characters. However, the art style does not
work too well in animation, because it is hard to look at. That is
my personal opinion.
An the backgrounds - I get that some are hard to sketch out. I
understand that not everyone can come up with a good background
that would fit.
But taking a place that already exists and putting a cheap "anime"
filter over it is simply wrong. Not to mention mixing CGI into it
as well.
Here is what I mean:
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[You can clearly see that the black-haired guy is not looking
at the silver-haired. He is looking nowhere.]
While we are at the negative aspects. The whole show was overly
dramatic, the blonde guy was always trying to stir an argument,
yelling at feeling a bit too important. While Dali (black
hair) was always scoffing. It got the the point he
scoffed in front of every sentence he said.
For story, Delico's Nursery DUMPS quantum of information on us.
Tramp. Police of Blood. Vlad Agency. They talk about
it like it's a common knowledge, something everyone understands.
Even though it works for them as for characters, even after over
20 minutes we have little to no idea what those things mean.
And just because I feel like nitpicking, out of frustration, the
voice casting was not smart. Half of the voices don't match the
look of the characters. But like I said, that is simply silly of
me to say.
Adding to that, what are those names?
Dali Delico, Dino Classico. Nevermind.
To name the positives, I liked some of the comedy this show
provided and that the four main characters had unique outfits
despite using uniforms. That is my guilty pleasure and I will
always forgive it.
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The second half of the story, after the dump of information was
focused more-less on understanding Dali's deal.
As it seem, he refused the order of his... boss? to investigate
a series of murders happening with the goal of finding the
Original Vampire, and trying to exterminate him.
The three guys find out that Dali refused because he promised
his late wife to give his two children all his love - which he's
now doing full time.
We get into a huge argument about how insane that is
- aristocrat male raising children? As if! That on itself was
ridiculous, but it fits the historical setting very well.
The this came:
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My dude just spluttered out in front of everyone that he killed
his colleague/frenemy's wife.... and Dali just says "I am
grateful you did that".
...
.
.
.
EXCUSE ME?! You have to be kidding me. This guy, who is shown to
be crushed by his wife's death... this guy, whose wife's last
words are to give their children all his love... this dude that
is obediently playing the role of a single-father to his toddler
and his infant is GRATEFUL?!
This isn't a misunderstanding caused by meaning lost in
translation. This isn't even bad writing. This is bullshit.
And as if that wasn't enough, it's followed by this scene:
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I have no words. Is this... honoring mothers? Making fun of them?
Is this haha simple comedy that cannot offend anyone?
I have no words, I am just greatly disappointed.
And in the end, we get a shot to everyone's children together,
because Dali agreed to this proposal under the condition that
every of the four men will balance work and raising
children.
All I can say to that is: thank god the kids have their
hair-color, otherwise no one would know which child belongs to
what father.
╭────────── · 𓆩🌻𓆪 · ─╮
╰─ · 𓆩🌻𓆪 · ──────────╯
RATING OF THE FIRST EPISODES
The episodes are not only rated on a 10 point scale (10 being the
best, 0 being absolute worst) but they are also
in order from the most entertaining to the least
entertaining. Take a look at it, and I'll tell you more.
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Now, I'll explain myself. (To myself.) I am using code names, so
refer to pictures.
Both 10s (the Samurai anime and the Otokonoko) are
great, but in different ways. While the Samurai one is
INCREDIBLE in quality, I'm the target audience of
Otokonoko. The anxiety it brought me was incredible and I
cannot take that away from it, it's really great.
But when we consider animation, art and story...
Samurai had to win.
Which will be pretty dangerous, because now I
have huge expectations for it.
Tasogare is very entertaining and I have bl bias, so
it had to be up there, and the Mahou Shoujo is on 8 because
I am a sucker for "evil falls in love with good" trope.
Huge expectations for both of
them, though I will understand if it comes out as a fail in the
end. There are already signs that something will go wrong.
With score of 7 - which basically translates to "not great not bad
but good - we have Cheerleading and
Heroines that both showed potential to be great, but I
don't know nearly enough to guess what they will about or what
will become of them.
Second pictures, or rather second half of my ratings are shows
that disappointed me greatly.
With score of 5/10 is Death Game that could have been
so much better (!!) but is coming out pretty shitty and
Mystery or Hyouka 2.0 that failed to tell
me what to look out for in 2 episodes.
2.5 and Deer Girl get 4 points. I was
excited about 2.5 but it's not coming out as
interesting as I hoped yet (but it has another 22 episodes to
prove me wrong) and Deer Girl is the most bizarre
thing I am watching this season, yet bizarre doesn't mean
entertaining. It doesn't stand a chance compared to other shows.
The biggest disappointment is
Russian girl that looks beautiful, has great character
but is extremely generic and even more boring in terms of plot and
humor. I was soooo bored...
Last place belongs to Yami Shibai 13 that does
automatically get score 6/10 because it's just another series and
I already know what to expect.
Special cases are simply rated 10 and
2. Kimi ni Todoke is a assured quality, that adjusted to
their time... while Delico's Nursery is a good idea gone wrong.
╭────────── · 𓆩🌻𓆪 · ─╮
╰─ · 𓆩🌻𓆪 · ──────────╯
This is my Summer 2024 set up. I am excited about a lot of these
shows and even more excited that I was able to limit myself to get
more fun out of watching. The others show from Summer 2024 that
are on my list I'll introduce at the very end of the season.
For now, bye bye, enjoy your Summer 2024 and if you're ever bored... I am watching movies too!
