Assassin’s Pride #03 — Night at the Museum

October 24th, 2019

 

I wish I understood what any of that Engrish was supposed to actually be.

Impressions:

Man, I wish this had a Mappa, Bones, or PA Works animation budget behind it. It would still absolutely be a popcorn show, but three episodes in, the story's still kicking along at a healthy pace, we're not getting weighed down by pointless exposition, and it's still managing to work in action each week. Largely unimpressive action, unfortunately, but an attempt is at least being made. It does make for some pretty unintentionally amusing moments where characters start yelling out almost completely random Engrish. "How could you do that!? It was a counter stop!" "Aha. But I'm break limit." And then they just move on, without showing a single stat screen, quoting any numbers, or even having anybody gasp and repeat it. And one of the characters has shown up every episode but only had about 60 seconds total of screentime because her part has been a very minor supporting role only. My god, it's like the script has an editor. What madness.

I do have to admit that I find this show's unceremonious embrace of bad cliches somewhat endearing and I'm not sure I'm able to defend that opinion to my satisfaction yet. It could be just that the rest of the season is so miserable that I'm grasping at straws. I think though that it's because it isn't trying to make the protagonist simultaneously be a giant pathetic crap-pot of pitiable angst but also an invincible badass who gets to break all the rules. Skipping that first part is important. But Symphogear did that and I lost my patience with that multiple seasons ago. It differs from Symphogear in a few important ways though, above and beyond having a tenth the animation budget. Protagonists being actually backed into a corner and rely on cunning instead of just grunting a little harder helps, and this is the kind of thing that Merida needed to be doing from the start. So does dismemberment, although now that they've pulled the immortal regenerating super sayajin card, they're going to need to find some other way to restore his vulnerability. Far from impossible, but it's definitely something anime in particular always struggles with.

Posted in Assassin's Pride | 2 Comments »

2 Shouts From the Peanut Gallery

  • anise_punter says:

    This wouldn’t feel too out of place circa 2010, 2012 before we went isekai-heavy but a little after they stopped casting kugimiya in every show ever made.

    Probably wouldn’t have come within 50 feet of it if the female lead wasn’t super cute but sometimes the author’s appeal is also your appeal. (Also see: Belfast’s maid outfit + heavy cleavage combo)

  • CatsB says:

    Im enjoying this show. It has that old flavor of entertainingly bad. that “It was a counter stop!” “Aha. But I’m break limit.” was pure gold, like something a stereotypical Chuni would say. also the plot twist of the century where guy named Kufa Vampir turns out to be a vampire.

    I went into this show blind (Beyond the synopsis) so with a name like Assassin’s Pride I expected more assassin related stuff with a feeling of Princess Principal but even worse.