04-14-2012, 08:44 PM | #76 |
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Your replies are always so enlightening. Whether it's because it comes naturally to you or whether because you chew these stories over a dozen or so times with fellow fans online, I don't know, but I feel like I only see skin-deep when I watch these episodes whereas you'll often pierce to their very core. In this post, that example is the stethoscope scene. I completely neglected to mention that and indeed that was one of the highlights of the episode. You've put perfectly into words why such a scene is so good. And yet ... and yet I still felt like, overall, the episode was only "okay." ^_^; I dunno. It's always very fascinating to hear your take on these episodes.
Now, about Madara ... no, I don't think I'm giving him too much credit. I think you're the one who thinks I'm giving him too much credit. I'm well aware that Madara is likely not a powerful deity. I'm well aware that Madara has his limitations. But my point was simply that he's my homeboy and so duh I'm naturally going to root for him and so duh I'm naturally going to be a tad upset when the canon establishes some limitation on him. In this case, that limitation was his (in)ability to perceive masked youkai. I used that word in the original post, I've used it again just now, but whether by accident or deliberation you missed that entirely and then proceeded to remind me (LOL! ) that the youkai had been masked thanks to Shinichiro's seal. I know that, Yuki! Of course I know that. I even mentioned it in my previous post, mentioning how I was disappointed that Madara failed to notice a "serious threat" that "had [its] spiritual [energy] masked." In other words, something that was really quite powerful but which seemed superficially to be weak now thanks to some sort of outside force (... like a seal? ). What I was saying was, I'm disappointed that my man Madara wasn't able to tell the difference between a weak unmasked youkai and a powerful masked youkai. Both would register only a 0.3 on the Richter scale, let's say, but there's quite a difference between the two and I'd have expected a more powerful spirit to be able to tell that difference where a lesser one could not. In any event, the point is, I realize that Madara has his limitations. I just don't like that this new one has been added to the list.
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04-14-2012, 11:46 PM | #77 | ||
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The whole of the episode perhaps wasn't as engaging as it could have been, but it had its little moments throughout, and the stethoscope scene was a saving grace IMO. The cut to small Taki crying, her thanking the youkai with tears in her eyes though she couldn't see them, and their subsequent smiles in return... The surprise final farewell. The entire ending was fluffy and bittersweet for how it portrayed beings from two different worlds trying earnestly to connect with each other. One of the most memorable moments of the season for me, behind episodes 04 and 13. To quote the opening post, "...it doesn't matter, human or spirit. If your hearts touch, it's the same thing." I just love that aspect of the show - how love can transcend any sort of barrier and bring us closer together. Quote:
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04-18-2012, 07:34 PM | #78 |
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Episode 32 was ...
Episode 32 was the single best episode this series. This was an incredible episode that had me captivated from start to finish. It pretty much had everything I want out of a Natsume Yuujinchou episode (minus Reiko ^^;, who at least got mentioned several times!). It had plot. It tied into previous events. It introduced a (presumably) recurring antagonist for Natsume. It was high stakes. People's lives were in danger. Nyanko-sensei was "What is that guy *serious face*" regarding the villain's power level and even indicated to Natsume that he himself would have a hard time defending himself against this guy, much less trying to defend both of them at once. This was an exciting episode that had me wondering every five minutes, "Is it over yet? I don't want it to be over yet and holy shit it doesn't look like it's over yet but oh man it feels like I've been watching this for half an hour already and HO SHIT NO TIME TO THINK ABOUT THAT NOW SOMETHING BIG'S HAPPENING! " If the show were like this more regularly, I'd be a fan. It's such a crying shame that episodes like these come only once in a blue moon. Anyway ... screencaps and thoughts. Screencaps with recap: Spoiler: show So if you couldn't tell from that hyper-detailed plot summary, I really enjoyed this episode. Now for some ... Thoughts: Spoiler: show This is probably more than anybody, even Yuki, wants to read. But there you have it. I really enjoyed Episode 32 and as proof it gets the red carpet treatment.
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09-12-2012, 10:57 AM | #79 |
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Wow, we've been busy lately! This thread was posted in as recently as April but it was already well into Page 3! Kinda cool! (Though I suppose Yuki would like to see Natsume stick around on Page 1 forever and ever ... ) Anyway, I come with news. Yuki? You're going to want to save up $360 or so. $334 for the item itself and the rest to cover shipping and handling. Whatever for? Why, the world's largest Nyanko-sensei plush ever, of course! ;D
EDIT: Didn't want to double post so I'll be editing this post. Hopefully Yuki catches it. Watched Episode 34 just now during lunch. It was okay. I really love the fox spirit but this was a pretty sad (as in ) episode all things considered. Spoiler: show
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09-12-2012, 04:18 PM | #80 | ||
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I saw a pic of that on Tumblr. Working my way up, I still need to get one of those giant Nyanko-head pillows I saw at Comic-Con. \o/ Quote:
Spoiler: show In other news, caught up on the manga myself a few days ago. The latest arc was interesting no t so much for the Natori development (of which there was actually rather little and what was given could've easily been guessed), but for the implications regarding his relationship with Natsume. Not to mention how Natsume fits into the world of exorcists as a whole, and how the Book of Friends might have an unforeseen bearing on it. Spoiler: show Once again, the author has addressed an issue Talon had with the story's initial premise regarding Reiko - and yet it still raises more questions than answers! XP Looks like next chapter is another one-shot too. ^^;
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09-12-2012, 04:47 PM | #81 |
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Episode 34 reply:
Spoiler: show Episode 35: Wasn't a fan of this episode. This was the school culture festival. Spoiler: show It wasn't too too bad but I just thought it was pretty boring. On to Episode 36?
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09-12-2012, 05:05 PM | #82 | ||
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Spoiler: show Quote:
Spoiler: show I agree it was a weak episode, especially in the spirit department, but it had some nice FEELS~ for the hardcore fans such as myself. <3 Basically, season three is mostly about building Natsume's relationships with other humans. You'll see it in the next arc too.
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09-13-2012, 01:27 PM | #83 |
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Episode 36 was a Tanuma & Natsume episode. It started off okay but by the end it got a bit more interesting. Once again the highlight of the episode -- something so good it got me to pause and take a dozen screencaps which isn't exactly easy when you're watching it in your web browser via CruncyRoll! -- was a Taki & Nyanko-sensei scene (pictured above). While I'm grateful for such scenes, I consider it a bad sign when they're the episode highlight: because they're not the episode focus so that must mean the episode focus isn't entertaining me much. ^^; But this episode was honestly less boring than the school festival episode last time so that's good. Spoiler: show
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09-18-2012, 01:57 PM | #84 |
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Finished Season 3 during my lunch break. Thoughts on the final three episodes:
Episode 37: I watched this quite a few days ago but never did post about it because I was waiting for Yuki to reply to this thread first. But she never did, and last night we discussed it briefly on Skype. I have to confess I don't remember it as sharply now as I did when I just finished watching it (duh) but I can tell you that I did enjoy it much more than I did any of the recent previous episodes. The highlight for me was the scene with Madara when ... Spoiler: show Episode 38: I started this one a few days ago but paused eight minutes in. Only just finished it today. It was good. Started off really slow and kinda dull imo. Then it swerved into peculiar territory that left me not sure how to feel. Spoiler: show Episode 39: Season 3 seems to have a pattern with dull openings that follow up with stronger second halves. ^_^; Spoiler: show A question for Yuki to refresh my memory and so I don't accidentally get spoiled: at the point where I am in the show right now, who of the following have had their names returned to them from the Yuujinchou?
Anyway, I can check Natsume Yuujinchou S3 off my list now.
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09-18-2012, 02:57 PM | #85 | |||
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Spoiler: show I didn't cry myself at the ending. I don't think Natsume's ever actually managed to move me to tears, but like someone said I think that's sort of the series' charm. It's a mild sense of sadness mixed with warmth. Quote:
I thought it was the perfect finish to a season (if not the whole series) that, while perhaps a bit duller for it, focused heavily on the human interactions. But the ending tied it all together by bringing back the faces we know and love alongside Natsume's newfound human friends. And I appreciated the addition of the people pal portion too. (The part where Natsume is seriously considering his future for the Fujiwaras' sake was sweet, and XD @ the premonitions he and Tanuma came up with.) Originally the omake just contained the game. Spoiler: show ...*has started playing scenes in the background anyway* Quote:
So do you think you'll press on S4? XP I actually wouldn't mind if you stopped here. Like I said, I think this was a great way to wrap up the series, and a perfect place to put it down if you choose. Tbh I can't remember all that much that happens in S4 anyway, aside from the two major arcs I was hoping to see. ^^; One for comedy and the other for
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09-18-2012, 03:54 PM | #86 |
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Thanks for the reminder about the names for those three.
Season 4 Episode 1: So I decided to move on to the next episode when I got home. This was a great episode. Great for Natsume Yuujinchou and good to great for anime in general. It's a shame the series doesn't have episodes like this all the time. Like I told Yuki on Skype, I'd love it if Natsume Yuujinchou had more emphasis on the big plot arcs and burning questions we as fans have (so basically Madara's past, knowing what happened to Reiko, and all the drama with the Matoba clan). And what did this episode give us? Well, you'll have to click the spoiler box to find out! But first, let's talk about the new OP and ED. Neither song really grabs me but two things do stand out to me. First, the OP. What really stands out is adorable Little Natsume. I am sure that this OP was made for the fangirls and that fangirls everywhere are just DYING with delight every time they watch this opening. Like the crazy cat girl except (1) real and (2) for Little Natsume instead of for cats. Second, the ED. What really stood out to me about the ending was the singer's voice. It was very pleasant to listen to. Very pleasant. Apparently her name is Kawano Marina and she is a newcomer. I look forward to hearing more from her in the future. Spoiler: show Looking forward to watching the second episode. If the rest of Season 4 is anything like this opening act, it'll be the best season yet. Of course I know better than to expect that , but still. A guy can hope, right? ^_^;
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10-08-2012, 02:05 AM | #87 |
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HNG.
The most recent special chapter of the manga was boo-tiful. ;; SO MANY FEELS. I think I understand and can accept Touko's behavior a bit better now. Spoiler: show The story probably only scratches the surface of the Fujiwaras' backstory, but it confirms enough to set my fears aside. Which is all I ever really asked for. Not to mention it leaves with the tantalizing tidbit... Spoiler: show The previous chapter was good too at building up emotional momentum, although I feel it was unfortunately guilty of the author's tendency to give sugarcoated endings. =/ I like sweet stuff, but sometimes a little bitterness can go a long way. I did like how it referred repeatedly back to the important points of the previous arc, showing Midorikawa didn't forget the major developmental progress she just made and create another stand-alone one-shot for the sake of stalling/back-pedalling. I do hope this leads into a long and continuous solid plotline that continues to give answers to numerous questions readers have been craving since day one. Keep it up, Midorikawa! I have faith you won't disappoint! *crosses fingers*
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11-27-2012, 11:01 PM | #88 |
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Taki is so pretty/cute in the manga. Fluffy hair ftw. <3
That is all. (Because there's no translation out yet. =<) Though I was shocked at first to think... Spoiler: show Edit- Apparently there's also a Natsume novel being written? =O
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09-29-2013, 05:13 PM | #89 |
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On a whim, I decided it was high time I rewatched Season 4 Episode 01, Season 04 Episode 02, and wrote up my thoughts post for Season 04 Episode 02. And then? Who knows! Maybe I'll press on to Season 04 Episode 03! ;o
Spoiler: show
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09-29-2013, 08:29 PM | #90 | |
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Quote:
Spoiler: show
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09-29-2013, 09:24 PM | #91 |
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09-30-2013, 11:07 AM | #92 |
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Season 4 Episode 05: Spoiler: show The sneak peek for Episode 06 was interesting but surprising. The interesting part was, I finally get to see the episode that I think so many doujin covers I've seen over the years have been parodying. So that'll be fun. The surprising part, however, was that the identity of the other party was not at all who I had expected it would be.
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09-30-2013, 04:02 PM | #94 |
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As you should!
Man it's been forever since I last watched The Fat Cat Show.
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09-30-2013, 04:56 PM | #95 |
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Did you watch all four seasons?
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10-01-2013, 03:11 PM | #96 |
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Judging from how I do remember the stuff Talon posts about, I think I did. I watched the first three seasons for certain, but it's possible I dropped the fourth season or something before it ended. But so far I have fond memories of watching tiny fuzzy-buzzy cutie things.
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10-01-2013, 03:29 PM | #97 | |
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P.S. There's also more fat cat fun ahead. ;O
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10-16-2013, 03:48 PM | #98 |
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I'll be speed-watching the third season before moving on to season four. It's been a long while since I've watched
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10-16-2013, 04:05 PM | #99 | |
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Feel free to post thoughts on the third season here too if you wish. =3 P.S. Talon don't let what happened in the HnG thread and S4 Ep01+02 occur again to you... ;O
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02-15-2014, 01:50 AM | #100 |
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Is it just me, or does Natsume really look like he's getting older at the end of/after S4? So I watched the OVA episode... Thoughts: Spoiler: show Seems there was another separate OVA order slip packaged with the fall issues of the manga. The DVD should've released in December, don't see subs for it anywhere though.
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