Full Metal Panic: TSR ep 9 and 10

There is no more doubt about how tightly written FMP: TSR is. The only other show that is better than this is most likely Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. However, to really compare these two shows would be like comparing apples to oranges, really.

So, back to FMP: TSR. Episode 9 was just great drama. The camera angles used in this series has always been very cinematic. The choices are superb and bring across the general atmosphere just in the right way. The cuts and the angles remind you of classic thriller and horror movies. It is just that intense. When I saw what an ArmSlave really should look like or what they can be, my jaws just dropped and that was it. They've gone and redefined themselves as a giant mecha show. It really twists things around in a very interesting way, which I can't recall whether its been done before.

Episode 10 was slightly more plot driven as we focus back on Sousuke and his brewing mental dilema. It really doesn't get easier, especially when even a machine thinks you're not all there, well sort of. But then this makes another great transition episode. And as I'm starting to notice, its kind of funny how this series has turned the table upside down and made Chidori the center of most of the action while Sousuke gets lost mentally and physically. Its a very interesting twist of what people had expected. All this peaks as we see Sousuke lose it, somewhat, in his own little way. Though that might sound like a spoiler, its not. You have to see it to truly feel it. Its another instance where action really says more than words.

Next episode will be amusing to say the least. The preview really doesn't say much, but I'm wondering if they really want to pull off the weird and impossible in some twisted way. We'll see. Damn...the suspense is killing me.

Gundam SEED Destiny ep 47 and 48

Is it just me, or does it feel like we/they sort of wasted two episodes and said completely nothing? Well, actually, I wouldn't exactly say nothing, just that they only had like 1 episode or less worth of material "packed" in two episodes!?

There are some interesting revelations though, but we almost saw those coming. Well, we did, actually. It was just so obvious that when they were revealed, all you could say was..... "ok.....so.."

Politics aside, I still think there are some good writing, as little as it is, mixed in with the really weird and aweful stuff. There are still things that make me smile and go, "cool move." If this series is really like a chess game on Durandel's table (yes, the one he stares at all the time), I'm kind of confused as to whether the writing staff is composed of geniuses or idiots. They sort of take turn making moves. One episode would make some bonehead move, while the next one comes along to try to clean up the mess. Its like a vicious cycle.

I think Jon Stewart's comment (for those who watch the Daily Show on Comedy Central) about how the Bush administration constantly get the country into problems and telling everyone to not point fingers, but worry about the problem at hand sort of fits here. Except in this case, its more about the writing staff killing themselves and then constantly trying to keep people focused on fixing problems and not rpreventing them.

Oh well, its almost over. Guess I'll stick it out and see what happens.

Full Metal Panic: TSR Ep 8

Goodness, two weeks is just too long to wait for a new episode, but now the wait is finally over and we are treated to some nice action sequences.

The drama in this episode is not extremely intense, but it comes from the heart. Tessa cries and Sousuke ponders about the many things in his life. We also see the return on Wurz 1, or Wurz 1's replacement rather. He's a tough guy and very very skilled.

Once again, the focus is still Sousuke and his internal struggle with ghosts from his past. One is still haunting him, while another may come back too. The question now is whether or not he has faith in himself and stop making excuses. Its not easy, but we're sure he'll pull through for one reason or another. Next episode, he'll have that reason to come through, so stay tuned.

The excitement is building, though this episode is slightly laid back, but that doesn't mean the story isn't still rumbling forward.

Gundam SEED Destiny Ep46 (No Spoilers)

Well, there are things that have to happen and things that must be resolved. Some people are as slick as always while others are as paranoid as always. However, it never hurts to be careful. Being a good shot with a gun helps too.

Lacus probably did the right thing in this episode and it really does show what kind of person she really is. Even in the face of life and death, she is willing to trust her companions and keep a smile on her face. That is true courage at its best.

Things are set in motion for some very interesting events to happen. Durandel is truly a psychological politician. He doesn't give direct orders most of the times, but he hints at people to take the initiative. This type of person is probably the scariest, since you never know what they really want, but you just naturally do what they want without realizing. He is proof that free-will to a certain extent is a joke and illusion.

The intensity level sure has dropped, along with some coherence level, but I guess most people won't mind, considering their still watching it. Only a few more episodes to go, so let's see how they pull this together. I do have a feeling that time is going to jump again as in the next few episodes we'll see a rather large passage of time as opposed to the current pacing.

Gundam SEED Destiny Ep 45 (No Spoiler)

Well, what was bound to happen, happened. The results that we expected were true, but now what next?

There's a big difference between good writing and just average writing. Something Gundam SEED Destiny has suffer in this second half has been mediocre writing. Yes things have been exciting and such, but then they just didn't flow together as well. In the first series, the last 10 episodes were a tight rollercoaster ride of action, conflict and revelations. While, in comparison, the last 5 episodes here has been good, but the flow of the story just keeps getting broken. This just makes the intensity level on average drop to a very sad level. Yes all the character development (sort of) is nice, but where's the intensity? Our only hope is that it picks up, again, in the next two episode. This series has been more melodrama than anything else.

On a side note, is it just me, or is Shin excruciatingly simple. It's almost as if his prime motivation in life is having someone to protect or avenge. "I gotta avenge my sister." "I gotta protect Stella." "I will protect Lunamaria." He's almost pimping himself out as a bodyguard, just so that he keeps a reason to live. "No, its never my fault, it's always someone else." "My friends and colleagues are good people. Its our opposition that is evil." Simplicity of thought at its best if you ask me. Let's see how he handles seemingly "post-war" stress. What will his motivation be to attack the Archangel?

"I have to rescue Luna's sister from their evil agnostic grasps!"

Full Metal Panic: TSR Ep 7 (No Spoilers)

Like I mentioned before, This season of FMP is all about atomosphere, and this episode showcases what you can really do with the right use of colors, sounds, and camera shots. Apart from a few portions, this is not a dialogue heavy episode, but the atmosphere says alot more about the characters and what is really going on. You can call it a cliffhanger in a sense, but there's really much more meaning to it.

As expected, the conflict between duty and choice finally comes to the fore front as its been foreshadowed in the past few episodes. The deadlock finally explodes into much more complicated issues. Its a pretty obvious result, but the whole setting just amplifies it that much more.

The ball is set rolling as the actors are all getting into position for the final arc of this series, maybe. Who knows, maybe they can drag this on for 26 episodes, but I'd rather they keep it tight and clean and leave it at 13 for now.

Gundam SEED Destiny Ep 44 (Preview)

I know I've been a tad critical about Gundam SEED Destiny for a while, and this episode didn't really change a thing for me. Its nice that everyone's cards are now on the table, well almost. I smiled when I saw what Requiem (or however you spell it) really was, but that was kind of it.

Idea and design-wise, Requiem is a very interesting idea and design. It has multiple weaknesses, but its a sound design and is pretty destructive. Now what I want to see is Messiah that seems to be Gil's trump card.

Everyone seem to have finally formed their agenda as to which side to back and what to do next, but then we're going to have at least another episode of blank for the Archangel crew for now. Things are going to heat up in space and I wouldn't be surprised if Gil pulls out Messiah next episode and show that it has some wacky ability beyond just being another large gun. Its going to be an all out onslaught on the moon base, but that will be fun to watch in a sense.

The Destiny Project was revealled and man is it mundane. I'm not saying its not possible, but it just sounds like someone read Brave New World and 1984 once too often. Can't we get something newer around here? But the way they've set things up so far, it seems to be the only way out of the sticky plot situation. Oh well....

Guess we'll stay tuned and see what strange twists and turns we'll get next time.

Full Metal Panic: TSR Ep 6 (No Spoilers)

Well, things kind of went as I had expected, but just with a few slight twists and some fillers here and there. However, you got to admit, up to now, Kyoto Animation has been great in setting up atmosphere. The dialogue and the characters really do build some really nice atmosphere sometimes and you really get into their heads just by what they do and not just what they say.

Emotions run high and interests collide as things begin to unfold on multiple fronts. This episode will probably set in motion things that will lead to the climax of the series. As of now, I still can't tell whether they can stretch this thing out to 26 episodes, but I do have a very strong feeling that it will stay around 13. If the production value keeps up, I will be happy with even 13.

Let's all give the FMP writing staff a hand. Though they don't present anything shocking, but they've written a great character piece here. Even when episodes seem to be fillers, they turn out to be just another piece of the larger picture. Keep up the good tight writing and we will stay tuned.