What anime are you currently watching?

[Maxine MagicFox]

[spoiler]Not that I'm trying to purposely refute you, but can you show me the source of Twilight = Weak Square? If it's official, then I would like to keep this in mind as a possible term that could be used in later episodes since we both know how frequently they LOVE to use symbolism and shit.

>_> I tried to google for the same stuff, but after the tenth entry of people just mocking Deen's Engrish WeEkness, I gave up XD

@Rosa: I wanna know some of her backstory before I totally want to commit her to Maria's BBQ. [/spoiler]

[Maxine MagicFox]

In other, totally unrelated news:

:3 I'm watching some eppies of Chi's New Address. XD OMG SO FUCKING CUUUUUUUUUUTE!!! XD *dies of cuteness*

[scy]

[spoiler]For what it's worth, every single episode title is a Chess reference somehow that ties into what happens on the "Game Board" / Real World. That said, I can't find what I was reading with the reference so I probably definitely misread something.[/spoiler]

My knowledge of Rosa's backstory (not sure which Games this spoils)
Edit: Just to clarify, I'm not even 100% positive this is ALL true but I'm fairly certain on it.
[spoiler]She's the youngest sibling and, as such, is horribly mistreated by the family. She abuses Maria by constantly not being home for her (either due to work or fucking random guys) and, as we've seen, lashing out at her both physically and verbally. I also think she constantly does this whole "here's something! AND NOW I BREAK IT!" but I'm not certain.[/spoiler]

I think this is supposed to be Rosa's backstory arc based off her presence so far. Hopefully it happens since I'm interested in her, though a little less as she constantly shows off why she's Mother of the Year.

[Maxine MagicFox]

Out of all of the adult characters the ones I find most interesting are (in order) Rosa, Natsuhi, and Eva. So, I'm hoping this is also her backstory arc and I, too, wanna see how far she goes when punishing Maria.

There's a part of me that wants to feel sorry for Rosa. I know how easy it is to go overboard. There are a few episodes that I regret while babysitting my little sister Clarissa when we were both younger.

Though, don't get me wrong. Even I know that she has crossed that boundary of abuse SEVERAL TIMES so far.

Meh, conflicting emotions, I guess.

[scy]

I think she has some backstory to make you feel bad for her (or at least make you think better of her for what she's done). At the same time, I think she's supposed to be more violent than this. I don't know.

I need to get to work playing through Game 1 maybe I can figure things out from that.

My personal favorites are Beato > Eva > Rosa (moved down) > Kyrie > Natsuhi. Does Beato not count?! Kyrie may move up if she says more than 7 total lines.

[spoiler]She hasn't even said much in the fucking Game yet for as far as I am.

I <3 Jessica so Natsuhi annoys me.[/spoiler]

Edit: About titles ...
[spoiler]Edit: Just to add, there's little-to-no reason to name Episode 8, which takes place AFTER them pledging their belief in Beato, "weak squares" if it's referencing those events. It must be referencing something that takes place in Episode 8 which is the 1st Twilight (I assume the death at Midnight is constant, which means the 1st Twilight happens around an hour after the Chapel scene) and probably the 2nd Twilight. Weak square is probably referencing something that occurs, probably the stance involved in explaining the murders (a hard to defend position; I eagerly await Battler's explanation of GOATS and Asmodeus from the preview though I wager it's a simple "Goats are accomplices, Asmodeus is a physical representation of the stake").

Rewatched Episode 7 and something occurred to me ... why is Beato the Queen? II-II is "early queen move" and the first "move" done is Beato's piece entering the Game World. To me, Beato is the one playing the game (or, if she has to be a piece, the King since the game ends when she or Battler are checkmated).

I'm not quite yet sure if I believe Beato = Meta-Beato (i.e., there's just one, unlike Battler and Meta-Battler who are separate entities) but this does make me think that the Beato playing Meta-Battler and the one in the world are different, though probably functions more like Rika and Bernkastel from Higurashi than Meta-Battler and Battler.

Then again, how much can I really take from DEEN's titling, though Ryukishi is overseeing it (in some capacity). That or it's just saying the killer has made their first move and they're the Queen, especially if one doesn't really believe in a human-form Beato.

Though, thinking about it, early queen movement in Chess is mostly just tactical threats. It's actually a BAD move in the end if not done right, though I wager this can be said about a lot of Chess moves. So, applying this, Beato entering the game world this early looks like "nail in the coffin she must exist" but deeper in lies faults. Her movement early on allows for early capture or being too aggressive and leaving something to exploit (...wait, wasn't that a line in Searching for Bobby Fischer?).

...

Fuck I'm thinking about Chess. I fucking hate you Ryukishi.

Anyway, turning the chessboard around makes me wonder ... why move the Queen so early? That's because her appearance as "Beatrice" is necessary here as opposed to Game 1. She doesn't "enter" the Game Board as a means to prove to Battler but, in this Game Board, the presence of a "Beatrice" is already there so she uses it as her proof of existence.

My guess is, Krauss and Natsuhi's plan is to have Beatrice appear as a means to "steal" the inheritance from the others by having her claim to be taking it back. The chapel scene is her proving she's Beatrice ... by showing the single Gold bar that Krauss owns. Beatrice appears before Maria in order to help spread that Beatrice exists and is on the island (along with Nanjo's speech to the children). Keep in mind the LACK of Beato's Golden Butterflies in these scenes that she appears.

Now ... who's Beatrice? By means of elimination, we really only have two options: Jessica and Shannon (okay, a 3rd option of an outsider but fucking 18th/19th person theories or if you think it's Kumasawa). If Jessica is killed during the 2nd Twilight, I can't really imagine her being the one pretending to be Beatrice ... though she could be used for the initial one for confusing the family and to display the gold and that triggers Shannon's "I MUST AXEMURDER YOU" flags. It even gives her some reason to kill Kanon if she finds Jessica masquerading as Beatrice ... but George has to survive really far in this game for Shannon to make any sense, though there may be the whole "EVERYONE REVIVES RIGHT?!" train of thought that lets her kill him. Plus, "I'll always be with you even if I die" speech.

Of course, Shannon will probably die in the 4th Twilight which will make me go insane on figuring out the murderer. And, like Game 1, they'll make the surviving parent very obviously the villain (WHEN MILFs STRIKE).

Fuck it, Ange did it.[/spoiler]

Edit: Random thought...
[spoiler]The table arrangement is (pre-1980 and during 1986):

Kinzo (head)
Krauss
Eva
Rudolf
Rosa
Jessica
George
Battler
Maria
Natsuhi
Hideoyoshi
Kyrie
Nanjo (supposed to be Rosa's husband)

Also worth keeping in mind, the Epitaph was written in 1984 (it's a piece with the Portrait) and the table arrangement had Ange in Battler's spot. Perhaps that has some significance?

Now ... the problem is does Ange not have a seat at the table? Or did Battler take hers? In that case, why does Battler not have a seat? They keep a spot open for Rosa's husband after all despite no one knows who he is. The full table should be:

Kinzo
Krauss
Eva
Rudolf
Rosa
Jessica
George
Battler
Ange
Maria
Natsuhi
Hideyoshi
Kyrie
Rosa's Husband

But that's one too many people to fit so maybe Rosa's Husband doesn't have a spot? Does Ange not have a spot because she's Rudolf's second child? Maybe there's no blood relation (I sense Battler x Ange not-so-wincest plots now) so she's not an Ushiromiya? Did Battler lose his spot when he left home 6 years ago? DO ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN?! But ... ugh ... head.

And why the fuck do they keep forgetting Ange exists? BOY NOW ALL THE COUSINS ARE TOGETHER FINALLY! HASN'T HAPPENED IN 6 YEARS SINCE BATTLER LEFT AND ALL. FUCK HIS SISTER THOUGH SHE DOESN'T COUNT. The Game makes it sound like she came for the prior conferences (she couldn't make this one due to illness) so they know about her as a cousin but ... what? Is she going to show up eventually and be retconned in (kind of like Shion's existence after Watanagashi-hen)?[/spoiler]

[Sampson]

I decided to take a look at Umineko after reading your comments concerning it.

The premise isn't totally original (there's quite a lot of correspondences with And Then There Were None), but it was still fun to see when each person died.

The whole "human vs outside involvement" theme is interesting, although it can be confusing at times. This may be because I never played the games, but I suppose that's a poor excuse. Really, I prefer a human being the killer, mainly due to the guesswork and only having someone be proved innocent by them dying.

[spoiler]The end of the first arc is where you could see the visual novel roots. It was like Beatrice reviving was the bad end and everyone figured out what they did wrong and what they could have done instead.[/spoiler]

I do quite like it, and it has definitely piqued my interest.

The latin (I think) in the opening's my favorite part of the song, by the way.

[scy]

It doesn't hide the fact it borrows a lot from Agatha Cristie's novel (or the whole "locked island murder mystery" motif itself).

[spoiler]Incidentally, you're a little incorrect on it being a Bad End or anyone even realizing what they did wrong (if anything they did was wrong ... do keep in mind that noone retains their memories between Game Boards as well). It's the only ending for the first game and it's the start of Battler's confrontation with Beatrice. Though, the whole "too busy trying to find the criminal rather than solve the riddle" may be telling, though I wager the riddle will be solved in some arc and then batshitcrazyohfuckwhyisthishappening will occur making it another tragedy.

Just a minor correction so you have the right frame of mind for the rest; despite what they say, it's not "BAD END" or anything. It'll make more sense when you get a bit further in and the Game starts proper.

And to nitpick a little, Umineko (and Higurashi before it) are Sound Novels, not Visual Novels ^^[/spoiler]

[spoiler]btw, dying doesn't prove innocence without 100% confirmation of death~ I'm still slightly hung up on my Kanon Game 1 theory or even Krauss / Shannon.[/spoiler]

Also, IL PECCATO~ It's Italian, not Latin.

[Sampson]

After reading And Then There Were None (bah, that's annoying to type), I kinda got that.

Anyway, thanks for correcting me. Again.

[scy]

I only really got the Italian thing for recognizing some terms (il peccato and sta nel male, notably). Plus, from cheating a bit and knowing of the pronunciation of Beatrice was the Italian one haha.

Edit: Trailers from Comiket 76 etc. (size):

[spoiler]Fanservice ++++
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82ecetNO3_Q[/youtube]

It's UBfuckingW.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoQYEnqSMmc[/youtube]

Superpowered schoolgirl lesbians.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBWzlxrkewg[/youtube]

ohboy.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCIg5dDvvAk[/youtube]

More Maids?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA-B3Qr_4tU[/youtube]

I have absolutely nothing at all to add.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i69oMk1ULr4[/youtube]
[/spoiler]

Edit: Eden of the East recently and ...

"JOHNNY HUNTER"
HAHAHAH really?! HAHAHA WTF...
"NEARLY TWENTY THOUSAND VICTIMS"
...wat.

That's alot of missing [s]dic[/s]Johnnys.

Edit: Finished Eden of the East and ... a little disappointed in there being TWO movie follow-ups. Two. TWO. The stylish OP (seriously) and the basis of the plot (tl;dr version: naked amnesiac guy meets girl, finds out he has a phone charged with over 8 billion yen and is tasked to save Japan) hooked me and I didn't even realized I had neared the end until my media player un-fullscreened to tell me I had ran out of episodes T.T It feels a lot like The Bourne Identity ... but without cool killing people instead replaced by a mystery plot of "here's 10 billion save Japan thx."



[spoiler]But ...

1) Who the fuck is the Supporter? I'm guessing it's the cab driver / #12 that dropped off Saki and Mittan at Akira's place at the finale ... assuming he's a Selecao and not randomguy. The little camera pan to him after he dropped off Saki and Mittan was weird, y'know? That and they have the ENTIRE PLOT WRAP UP in the taxi cab with him there to listen ...

2) For that matter, who are the missing Selecaos?

I - Mononobe
II - Tsuji (?)
III - UNKNOWN
IV - Kondo (DECEASED; murdered by his Wife)
V - Hiura (DECEASED; murdered by the Supporter)
VI - UNKNOWN
VII - UNKNOWN
VIII - UNKNOWN
IX - Akira (Out of Money, recently memory wiped again, became "Prince of a country with no Kings")
X - Yuuji
XI - Shiratori
XII - UNKNOWN (The Supporter, most likely)

Now, the question is ... if Akira spent all his money, doesn't that mean he'll die? Hiura is murdered because he ran out of money and it's hinted Kondo, despite being murdered by his wife, was killed for not being a messiah. Also, Juiz refers to Akira as not just a "Savior" like she does for everyone else; she says "Please continue your work as a Savior who saves the country" in his final act (well, not counting the Prince one). There's a few other random descriptions but Akira's the only one to get one's that expand on him saving the country.

Normal response: "Please continue your work as a Savior."
Shiratori (EP6): "I sincerely hope that the most hardworking president can find a unique way to continue her work as a Savior."
Akira (EP7): "May you continue to be a Savior who arrogantly makes use of the government's powers and yet remains honest."

So ... him spending all his money means he should be killed, yes? But is him becoming the Scapegoat Prince enough to mean he won't be killed? I guess two movies to answer that.

3) The guy we meet in Episode 5 is implied to be one of the NEETs that Akira sends to Dubai ... but they all arrive home during Episode 11. How did he get out before them? Huh? What?

4) So ... what's the official status (up to Episode 11, at least) of Akira x Saki? There's the whole kiss and "stay with me" from Episode 5 but then it's a whirlwind of events from that point on as we learn his past. Poor guy. Wait, wait wait ... Why in Episode 1 did he have an arsenal the IRA would get a boner at?

5) So, the VERY beginning of Episode 1 (pre-OP) has Saki detailing Akira's final moves: he became a "prince" because the world needs a "scapegoat known as a prince" to bring forth the desired future. Combined with the ED showing Akira fending off a missile attack, they really do tell you right off the bat what happens. But, really, you don't know that until you know. Plus, Saki's intro speech sounds like a big metaphor but it's what really happens.

6) You know, despite the initial reaction of "OH GOD DON'T CHOP OFF MY [s]PENI[/s]JOHNNY, Shiratori's whole fascination with Akira is cute. I suppose she was raped and that starts her hatred of men and Akira's willingness to "show her love that no [s]peni[/s]Johnny ever has" has her fall for him. I think she's still going around killing rapists though. How has the Supporter not eliminated her yet for using Juiz to cover up her serial murders though? Or is killing criminals cool by them?

And why was the Hotel more expensive when she rebought (~200M difference)? Small detail but it gets remarked upon when she notices the price she paid and Akira paid are different.

7) Johnny means penis. THERE.[/spoiler]

[scy]

7
If there was a fangirl inside me, she'd be squealing. If not for the Umineko Meta-World flags going off.
[spoiler]Actually, considering the events of the episode, I bet she is squealing. And she doesn't even exist. There's probably an "IN THE CLOSET?!" joke about this somewhere I can make at my expense.







God damn Horo ... god damn.

"Fifty-man meeting" sounds like a terrible, terrible euphemism for an orgy. An all-male orgy. Of epic proportions.

...

This is a really weird day.

Also, Sheik shows up. Zelda crossover ZOMGz. Also, argument that she should appear tsundere, not say tsundere?! Haha?

This voice for Horo makes more sense as Eva than the voice she uses for Eva in Umineko. They have the same mischievous personality, though Umineko Eva seems more "I WILL ALSO MURDER YOU" in her speech.[/spoiler]

Edit: Eden of the East in brurei right after I finish watching it Oh well, awesome series either way so brurei re-watch eventually.

[ZetaBladeX13]

[scy]

[ZetaBladeX13]

[ZetaBladeX13]

There. Now I'm up to date with Spice and Wolf (S2 Ep.8)

[Kinokokao]

Kimiko, how are you liking the Mini Goddess?