June 25, 2011

Selective squickery

I wonder why it is that Sofuteni and Chu Bra give me the squicks, but Strike Witches doesn't?

I've been thinking about that, and I finally came up with this: the girls in Strike Witches are fighting a war. That makes them adults in my mind, irrespective of how old they might be.

But another reason is that they're all vivid characters to me. They're not caricature; they're not really stereotypes, either. They're all complex and interesting, and that makes them people.

I don't rewatch Strike Witches 2 (my favorite part of the series; it's a lot better than the first one) for the fan service, surprisingly. I rewatch it because of the character moments. My favorite episodes for rewatch are ep 2 (the unit reforms), ep 8 (Yamato explosion), and the last half of ep 12. Ep 6 (30,000 meters) is also pretty cool. 

Man, I can't wait for the movie to come out.

Posted by: Steven Den Beste in General Anime at 08:33 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
Post contains 157 words, total size 1 kb.

1 I couldn't get past the teaser for episode 1 of Chu-Bra. I was at a friends house and we both fully expected Chris Hansen to come waltzing in with a microphone and a stool. Didn't even watch any of the credits that played longer than it took to cut the show off.

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at June 25, 2011 12:56 PM (EJaOX)

2 Oh MY! The top rotation is awesome right now.

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at June 25, 2011 12:57 PM (EJaOX)

3 While they probably could wrap up all the loose ends in the upcoming movie, I think it would have to feel pretty rushed; whereas I think there's enough story left to tell to make for one more good 12 ep season.  I hope they go that way.

Posted by: Dave Young at June 25, 2011 01:29 PM (ZAk0Z)

4

Posted by: ubu at June 25, 2011 01:59 PM (GfCSm)

5 Urk, sorry about the blank post. Double-clutched on the wrong key.

So, every season, there's always sat least one series that I say, "I'll never watch that" and then end up liking it.  For the first time, EVERY series is eligible for that distinction.

Posted by: ubu at June 25, 2011 02:01 PM (GfCSm)

6 Dave, there are at least two nest remaining, in Orussia and in Egypt. I expect that the movie willl be about taking one of those out, leaving the other to sustain the franchise.

Posted by: Steven Den Beste at June 25, 2011 02:49 PM (+rSRq)

7 Probably because Strike Witches, despite the in-your-face fan service, is actually trying to tell a pretty good story. "Yes, yes, they're not wearing any pants, BUT..." Divergence Eve anyone?

Posted by: Avatar_exADV at June 25, 2011 06:37 PM (mRjOr)

8 Yeah, trying. Seen ep.5?

Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at June 25, 2011 09:53 PM (9KseV)

9

I've seen them all. I suspect you're referring to the "boob groping" episode in the first series. In the second series, ep 5 is "Trip to Rome" and it's actually pretty good. I sometimes rewatch that episode beginning with where the neuroi shows up.

I don't remember the last time I watched ep 5 of the first series, though. I always skip that one and ep seven.

Here are my mnemonics for the second series:

01: reunion with Sakamoto
02: battle in the Adriatic
03: training with Anna
04: ME-262
05: Trip to Rome
06: 30,000 meters
07: buns of steel
08: Yamato explosion
09: treasure hunt
10: idol from africa
11, 12: final plot arc

Posted by: Steven Den Beste at June 25, 2011 10:08 PM (+rSRq)

10 Steven, handling it that way would leave open some interesting options for them.  The movie could even focus on one of the other groups of witches -- an idea which a lot of people seem to like -- while the follow-on series could then return to the 501st to eliminate the final nest and end(?) the war, while also dealing with Miyafuji's "disability."  (And maybe Sakamoto's too.)  However they decide to play it, it can't come soon enough.  The gals are a hoot!

Posted by: Dave Young at June 26, 2011 12:56 PM (ZAk0Z)

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