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izanaginookami10 · 8 years ago

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Introduction with some rants.

If you want to skip and directly go to the list, click/press/touch: here.

But I suggest reading all the post, not to please me (ok, maybe that would make me happy), but mostly as a challenge for you. To be able to say “I was able to read a horrible and full of grammar error post written by an otaku who belives himself a blogger!”.

Feel my despair.

You know, like watching Boku no Pico, you can put it into your CV… wait you can’t?! Watching Boku no Pico isn’t a trophy you should share with others?! Oh, well… just ignore this then.

So, screw it. After 10 days of blogging, I’ve discovered it’s humanly impossible to comment every single anime I’m following, as much as I would like to. I’m unsure about this kind of post though. So, it may just be a one-time thing. I’ll see whether I’m able to write for next week.

No seriously, the trial in the title isn’t for show. For some wicked reason I spent more hours doing this, than any previous post, while the aim was actually cutting the time I put into the blog, as reality is getting too toilsome (yeah, did you notice how it isn’t the blog to be toilsome, but reality?).

I decided that this will cover most of the anime I watch that I have no time to write articles on. I will probably keep writing more detailed posts about the best ones (in my opinion) at least (probably not the sequels though, as I would have probably already read the original source). They will be here too though.

I consider a week from monday to sunday, so this post will try to cover the anime episodes that came out from monday 24th April to sunday 30th april. Yeah, because I have some weird disease that makes me watch anime as soon as they come out, or I’ll die.

Sleep. is. for. the. weak.

As my first report/ranking post, there will also be short introductions for each anime I haven’t already write about yet. Furthermore, and this is important, as I’ve actually started writing this on friday, lots of this week’s episodes are already out of my memory. So, many of the series I’m actually watching, aren’t here in this post. But, hey. This IS a trial version. The important thing is that at least my favourite are here.

But this list doesn’t represent all the anime I’m watching at all. I’m quite proud to be able to watch ove 50 series per season, sacrificing sleep, but I don’t have the drive to write about them all…

This doesn’t mean I won’t try though.

I obviously use a decimal system while attempting to give a score to each episode. I try to use the MAL system when possible. Don’t count on it too much though. I’m quite bad at analyzing things, and my only criteria is “enjoyment”, which is already difficult for me.

I’m also someone who easily gives 10s, so expect almost always “good” ratings. Heck, why would someone even continue watching shows that he find “bad”? Well, if you’re a masoch- a no-drop club member like me, you’ll find an opportunity to do so…

In addition, I’m still an amateur both in writing and reviewing. So, expect some serious shit. Feel free to be harsh, critic and insult. Feedback is always appreciated, especially if it is

Now, I beg you, please enjoy this. Be it for my grammatical errors, my patethic attempt to be a blogger or because you’re bored. Or else I’ll feel quite depressed.

Yeah… by nature I’m quite pessimistic…

Index (ordered by ranking):

*NATURALLY, THESE ARE ALL MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS, THUS YOU ARE FREE TO DISAGREE, INSULT MY SENSE OF TASTE OR DO MANY OTHER THINGS. i’LL ACCEPT IT, AS DIFFERENT TASTES EXIST IN THIS FREE WORLD.* What I wish the most is to discuss about anime though.

Re:Creators Episode 4 (9.5)

Shingeki no Kyojin S2 Episode 5 (9.5)

Seikaisuru Kado Episode 4 (8/9)

Quan Zhi Gao Shou Episode 5 (8.5)

Boku no Hero Academia Episode 5 (8+)

Saekano S2 Episode 3 (8+)

Eromanga-sensei Episode 4 (8)

Tales of Zestiria the X S2 Episode 13 [FINALE] (8-)

Clockwork Planet Episode 4 (7/8)

Alice to Zouroku Episode 5 (7/8)

Rokudenashi Majutsu Koushi to Akashic Records Episode 4 (7.5)

DanMachi Gaiden – Sword Oratoria Episode 3 (7.5)

Oushitsu Kyoushi Haine Episode 4 (7.5)

Tsugumomo Episode 5 (7+)

Uchoten Kazoku S2 Episode 4 (7+)

Shingeki no Bahamut Virgin Soul Episode 4 (7+)

Renai Boukun Episode 4 (7+)

Hinako Note Episode 4 (7+)

Granblue Fantasy The Animation Episode 5 (7+)

Sakurada Reset Episode 4 (7-)

Kyoukai no Rinne Episode 4 (6/7)

Gin no Guardian Episode 5 (6/7)

Berserk (2017) Episode 5 (6/7)

Atom: The Beginning Episidoe 3 (5/6)

Sakura Quest Episode 4 (5/6)

Twin Angel Break Episode 4 (5/6)

Busou Shoujo Macchiavellianism Episode 4 (5-)

Sin: Nanatsu no Taizai Episode 3 (4.5)

Kabukibu! Episode 4 (3)

Re:Creators Episode 4 (9.5)

Well. What to say? I’m really loving it. This is entirely a subjective opinion, I totally understand that it has its flaws, but as I make “enjoyment” my criteria, it’s at the top of my list.

We get to see Meteora’s character development, alongside a long and really interesting theory on her part. The Great Destruction: as the world won’t be able to “correct” these anomalies, that are the “translations” of creations, it will soon reset itself, to bring order once again.

Just beautiful. Be it art, animation, MUSIC (OH, GOD. THE MUSIC. THE FREAKING OP ALONE IS ENOUGH!), the concept, the characters, the MUSIC (yes, I have to repeat it), etc. I love it all.

Let’s all listen to its glorious Opening while reading this so called post! (If the link is dead, well, it means something happened, so I suggest just searching it on Youtube)

But, to try to be a little more objective, I won’t give it a full 10, as I’ve in reality never regarded any anime, but maybe Steins;Gate or TTGL as true masterpieces. So… 9.5! “Great/Masterpiece”!

Hungry, aren’t we? What a beautiful pizza.

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Shingeki no Kyojin S2 Episode 5 (9.5)

HOLY. FUCKING. SHIT. Finally, I’m starting to feel again that tension and hype of first season.

I actually thought I watched the wrong episode in the beginning though. But it was just a flashback about Ymir and Christa’s past, huh. Thus is explained how Ymir knew about the suicidal drive of Christa… but why? Just why would she wish that? Well, I’m not exactly the best person to condemn one for wanting to suicide…

Anyways! After the flashback we finally return to the caged tower, and FUCKING YMIR YOU BECOME A TITAN.

Well, a short Titan (pfff, ok no). It was amazing seeing her trying to save everyone, not even trying to bring down the tower. You gained my deepest respect Ymir.

Then, Christa finally shows her guts! And the tower is brought down, over the swarm of Titans, but they quickly stand up again and shit gets real. Ymir is getting devoured by everyone and Christa is in danger BUTTTTTTT

MIKASA-SAMA CAMES AND SAVES THE DAY!!!! (While Eren falls trying to look cool). Reinforces are here! The scene was so freaking epic I was singing

SASAGEYO! SASAGEYO! SHINZOU WO SASAGEYO! SASAGEYO!

OH. MY FUCKING GOD!!! A FLY JUST BECAME A DRAGON!!!!

Seriously though, the OP is so fucking amazing I’m actually conflicted which I love the most between the Re:Creators one and this. Screw it! I love both.

Did… Ymir just die?!? Please no. There is so much I want to know! And we get to know Christa’s true name?! Historia… I see. The title wasn’t for show, huh. What a beautiful name for a gorgeous and amazing girl.

We finally are getting on track with this episode. I hope it gets even greater and amazing. A 9.5 for now, it got already better compared to first episodes, mainly because there weren’t many MCs?

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Seikaisuru Kado Episode 4 (8/9)

The episode revolved around the result of having infinite energy (Wam) given. Naturally everyone would liket to have it(?), so UN demands Japan to give it to them, in order to manage and control the new unlimited source of energy.

Japan is unsure, so UN basically declare war. But, our lord and saviour Shindo, with the help of the alien/God zaShunina, is going to screw them over. I want to believe.

Great episode, the show was already quite good. But now it seems the pace will get quicker, as one does not simply stays still when you’re given infinite energy.

8/9, “Great/Really Good” episode. Oh, and Tsukai is cute. Not to mention OP and ED are really good.

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Quan Zhi Gao Shou Episode 5 (8.5)

Another episode of Ye Xiu’s badness. But we have a new characte: Su Mucheng! Who answered the call of MC, alongside the dude who loves bricks (I seriously love him, it’s just so hilarous) and the newbie xiao Tang, to regain the time-record broken by another guild who is searching for death.

Sasuga! It was her!

Animations stunning as usual, even the one reused. Can’t really say much about it. I really like, even though I see its shortcomings. McDonalds items are delicious to see by the way.

My score for this episode is 8.5, “Good/Great”. I think it will get even better though, at least according to what readers of the CN say (though it skipped LOT of content).

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Boku no Hero Academia Episode 5 (8+)

As a manga reader, I’m quite satisfied by this adaptation. But this also mean that I’m unable to properly judge the series as only an anime. Oh, well. Who cares.

The battle is mainly between the OP Todoroki VS Midoriya and Bakugou VS a dude of class B (my… memory), whose quirk is even more OP in my opinion, as “copying” and “nullifying” powers are the best (and most chuunibyou like).

Midoriya lost his headband and forced Todoroki to use his “left side”, showing his better ability to control One for All, but it’s Bakugou who matured the most in my opinion: using tactics and his companions quirks at their best to steal the stolen headband, while also keeping at bay (as much as he can, either way, it’s definitely better than before) hir rage? That’s some growth.

It’s exciting seeing both battles, especially the last part where it becomes Bakugou VS Midoriya VS Todoroki. What a pity that… time’s up. First place Todoroki, second Bakugou, third who? Oh, well. Midoriya wasn’t able to get back his own, but thanks to his skills and companions, was able to get fourth place. Nice job!

Then we end with a confrontation between the 1# and 2# heroes, in parallel with their “legacies”.

Umu, I’m satisfied. I really liked this episode, just like the whole series until now. So, an 8+ for now.

Also, it seems the fountain crying way is a family thing, huh… (after credits part).

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Saekano S2 Episode 3 (8+)

Another episode of the quite fan-service-ish show, Saekano. My opinion is already set up form first season though, that is, really good. MC is quite generic, but that’s exactly why most of us can relate to it I suppose? Not to mention, he’s actually trying to become a creator, combining what he loves with the useful. Just like another series of this season that I greatly enjoy, Re:Creators.

This episode MC continues to … with the support of the basically already in set future winner/wife Megumi (I’m on Senpai’s team though), and the music band members (who remembers them? I definitely not), the script is successfully implemented into the VN. This permits our Mr. Ethical to get some kind of enlightment, which, I have to say, really surprised me.

I honestly would have chosen the second draft, but he rejected both! Saying that it needs to be rewritten, as it is a crap game. I suppose that they would have been great novels, but bad when combined with music, pictures and other elements of a VN?

Seeing Kumikaoga-sempai’s espression, really broke my heart (after credits).

Either way, you pleasantly surprised me MC. As my score was already high to begin with, I can’t really give it more than 8+. Really good, keep up with it. By the way, the scoring is heavily biased by the fact that the MC is an otaku. Everyone likes seeing relatable characters, right?

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Eromanga-sensei Episode 4 (8)

Wow! Seriously Ero! But I still like it! LOOL, I can’t stop but laugh at their relationship! Sagiri explaining herself with drawings and Onii-chan writing Light novel about her!

Umu, seeing Izumi and Yamada’s efforts make me understand. Understand how pitiful I am to think that writing things in a horrible way for just a week or so would give me results immediately.

…AHHHHAHAAHAHAHAH HE WROTE A FUCKING LOVE LETTER TO HIS SISTERRRRR!!! And she was shut in her room studying for her brother. WHAT’S WITH THISSS!?? Both were thinking about losing each others? This misunderstanding… Ohh.. My heart… I seriously love the characters of this show.

OOOUCHHH! You’re killing Nii-san here. Why do I think that someone is him though?

And he wants to publish his love letter, make it an anime and WATCH IT TOGETHER WITH HER SISTER?!! That’s quite the otrageous idea.

I am seriously enjoying this show. When I actually watch it, my mind and heart are full of emotions. I laugh, I feel frustrated, I feel happy, I feel sad with them. My score for this episode is a full 8, “Really Good”. Way to go!

And to think, that before the season started I thought it wouldn’t be so good, but almost “Fine” or “Good”. What a pleasant surprise.

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Tales of Zestiria the X S2 Episode 13 [FINALE] (8-)

Umu, so it ends. Studio Ufotable did the same thing for GOD EATER too… though in that case it was far worse. But quality has a price I suppose? (please stop the joke of “unlimited budget”, I really find annoying when people lower other’s hard work and efforts to simply “they had money”, or “talent” in other cases).

So, we were at the final confrontation with Last Boss. Sorey, as your usual MC, uses the power of bonds to overcome the difficultes and power up (though, dear Heldalf, what exactly were you waiting while he was transforming? Oh, I see. You too were stunned by the beautiful animations).

In a stunning and visually pleasing battle with lots of techinques, skills and other beautiful acts (added to the OP playing in the background) he’s able to finish off Lord of Calamity/Malevolence incarnated/Heldalf in five minutes!? …or not.

As expected from the last boss, he suddenly get reanimated, as you know, malevolence can’t really be finished off. Since it is infinite, to be more precise human‘s malevolence is unlimited, Sorey can’t do anything but choose to seal him temporarely with him, to slowly purify him. But he isn’t dead. Maybe we wil see him soon?

Then, as a last episode, we get to see how other characters continue to live their life after the adventure. Alisha became Queen, and seriously lool like Saber (just why the hell do I continue seeing Saber everywhere!? Is it because there are too many Saber faces in the Fate/ universe already!?). Woah, they become even more beautiful.

Hmm, I’m a sucker for these kind of endings. All is good, and thus The Legend was born.

Nicely done. I’m really satisfied. Although it seemed quite rushed (never played the game), and for weird reasons we got 2 episodes of Berseria, I enjoyed the series a lot. I rate this episode 8-, mainly because of the stunning animations though (as the story itself was only mildly interesting in my sincerest and humbly opinion). While for overall anime, I give it a 7.5, or maybe a little more. Either way, on MAL it will be 8 because there aren’t decimal there…

By the way, I seriously would like to write a post only for this episode. Too bad reality is seriously crushing me. What a pain in the ass it is. Why can’t I simply do the things I enjoy? I almost feel like I’m offending the anime…..?! What am I saying? I should visit a psychologist…

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Clockwork Planet Episode 4 (7/8)

I’ll be frank. The setting is really interesting, and so are the characters. The thing is… the art. It’s not bad or ugly, but I just can’t take the show seriously while seeing it. That aside, after a first not-too-good impression (like most of this season’s show), I think it got on the right track in episode 3 especially. The love confession was incredibly cute. Their lovey-dovey behaviour is really cute too.

In this week’s episode, we see this love manifesting: after understanding that the purge can’t be avoided (why again?) unless with the use of RyuZu’s Imagery Gear, Naoto firmly refuses to sacrifice her (or taking the risk to put her in danger). This really hit me hard, in a good way. For some reasons I was pleasantly surprised, perhaps my opinion was low and I didn’t expect this? This is the joy of not dropping anime.

Everything to save Naoto.

Oh and, am I weird for liking these kind of epithets? “One who follows”. I like it. One who will protect his master for eternity. And thus, she sacrifice herself, saving everyone. But naturally she is saved, and awakes once again, just to be reunited to his beloved master.

Can you feel how I’m liking this? Oh, and it seems a new character will be introduced in next episode. By the way, I really like the OP too, and ED is nice (not as much as OP though).

Great OP scene.

In conclusion, Clockwork Planet keep rising in my humble opinion. From “Average” to almost “Really Good” or more. It’s a 7/8 for me then!

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Alice to Zouroku Episode 5 (7/8)

We continue from the appearance of new young woman, who came to save Alice. And holy kaw! if she’s strong. Episodes full of action are good. Really nice animations. Not to mention we get to see another “Gate of-” versus “Gate of-“. If you’ve watched enough anime, you will understand what I’m talking about.

I’ve seen firearms before, but hands? That’s new. But not really surprising, heck nothing will ever surprise me more than the glorious Keijo!!!’s HIP OF BABYLON with an artillery of asses. Seriously, go watch it and then read it.

Anyways, Shizuku is strong! Not OP like Alice (heck, you can create “anything”?!), but still really powerful: 666 weapons and 13 grimores! And from a Maid Mahou Shoujo! Oh, well. Tachibana’s Unlimited Hands Work get supressed and she is arrested.

Alice is also understanding that she wishes to become humans, to understand them, to be with Zouroku (this is really sweet, but it makes me feel weird somehow, …who cares?), simply… the wish to continue living.

Everything is nice and good now. I suppose we finished first arc? Well, I’m liking this series. It’s slowly getting better in my opinion. For now, the episode gets a 7/8 for me, a little more and you will be “Really Good”!

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Rokudenashi Majutsu Koushi to Akashic Records Episode 4 (7.5)

Here’s the anime that surprised the most this season. After a bad first impression, it quickly gained my favour. Really recommend to not drop it after only one episode.

This episode starts a new arc, and we begin with a Magic Competition. Quite the happy and tranquil episode, which is good once in a while. But this peace, won’t probably last, huh. I’m hyped for the scenes of the OP.

Nice episode, although not as exciting as the 2nd or the 3rd, still good nonetheless! 7.5! “Good/Really Good” rating.

Ending card.

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DanMachi Gaiden – Sword Oratoria Episode 3 (7.5)

Hm… to tell the truth, I’m not really expecting much from this, as it is a side series of the main one. Although I am interested in Ais’s side of events.

We also have another main character(?), a not too much expert caster who admires Ais. It reminds me of Misaka Mikoto and Shirai Kuroko from Toaru Kagaku no Railgun (spin off as well), though the Lefiya isn’t as aggressive as Kuroko…

It is actually nice seeing how the two series interwine though. Fumu, Ais get punished for training too late, and the punishment is a date with Loki-sama. But the date, is destined to be interrupted by Ganesha’s beasts outbreak.

Seeing Lefiya’s frustration really reminds me of Bell. Nice to see her resolve, always admiring Ais and yet wanting to fight at her side. Fight on… Summon Burst: it allows to duplicate an infinite number of other spells…!? Thousand Elf?!?

Lefiya, the Thousand Elf

I rectify, she has at least enough talent to be at her side. Bell (at least until what anime covered) isn’t really that strong (though his ability to get more EXP is great, but I’m a sucker for copying or nullifying abilities).

Hou? The monster they fought weren’t all form Freya-sama? This… is actually getting a little interesting.

Compared to the first two episodes, I like this more. Perhaps because we saw Lefiya’s growth? Umu, my score is: 7.5 “Good”.

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Oushitsu Kyoushi Haine Episode 4 (7.5)

The episode seemed to be just like another. And it was for the first half, all the princes (well, almost all. As someone goes there already) take the first step in the city, to see first-hand their kingdom. After sightseeing, and stopping a purse snatcher, sensei enlighten them about the wondrous of their kingdom. Which I really liked.

He is then officially welcomed by the royal family.

Really nice episode in my opinion. A 7.5, halfway to “Really Good”. Keep it up!

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Tsugumomo Episode 5 (7+)

Ho. Tsugumomo. As a manga reader, I’m quite happy to see it animated, I was really worried about the censorship though. The manga is really, really good, especially the art, but it is heavily ecchi parts, and nonetheless the story is incredibly interesting. So, I strongly suggest to read it.

I like how the anime cleverly avoid the cursed steam or the sudden beams of light with various strategems, like showing only partially things, covering them with objects or showing it indirectly. That’s how ecchi should be. I would like to compare this well done element with the Sin: Nanatsu no Taizai’s one… if you ever watched the latter, you then can understand how painful is it to watch it.

Well, anyways. The episode. After the weakening of Kiriha, Kazuya is forced to train, as it seems like his skills during the battle with the Loli Water God were only a fluke. We also discover that the “girl” we saw during first episode was actually… school council president…. that’s huh.. unexpected.

Genius! Four-eyes-kun is a Genius!

Four Eyes-kun is also really likeable. Can’t help but find funny whenever he talk with Kazuya. Then an Amasogi trap them, but who cares about that. The matter is resolved thanks to MC’s training result and four-eyes’s great drawing skills. I really like his character. Oh, and I actually thought the place Loli-God-sama would go to, would have been Kazuya’s house. That was quite unexpected. Too influeced by the troupes I suppose.

Nice episode overall. I like it. Although nothing really extraordinary happened, I think it’s “Good”, or maybe more. Thus 7+.

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Uchoten Kazoku S2 Episode 4 (7+)

Heh, not angry at all. The new Tengu is simply too good. I fucking love him already. Nice to see Benten reaction too.

Fumu, we get to see a Shogi game with Tanuki transformed? Weird traditions, or maybe they are just bored? Huh. Can’t they enjoy a game without making problems? Seriously… another event is ruined once again.

Umu. Good as always. Although I really can’t relate to that free spirit/will of Yasaburo, as I’m chained down by reality. Though I like how he roots for his brother.

Wait, what? The Shogi set has a black hole in it?

It’s a 7+ for me, a little more than simply “Good”.

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Shingeki no Bahamut Virgin Soul Episode 4 (7+)

So, Azazel got his ass beaten, met Nina, hugged her and transformed her into the dragon. Umu. She really doesn’t remember anything while being little Bahamut, huh. Wait, I thought being able to transform into dragon was somehow connected to being Favaro’s student, but in reality she was an half? Wait, an entire clan of dragon exist

Oh, Holy Maiden! It’s so nice seeing Jeanne d’Arc. Also SHE HAD A CHILD?!? Have I forgotten something? Nevermind my memory, I’m a little conflicted inside…

Hou, did Azazel truly have a change of heart in after credits scene? Nah, I’m more convinced he’s just faking it, or everything is part of a greater plan.

My opinion of the anime didn’t really change much. I did really like seeing Jeanne again, but that aside. It was “good” in my opinion, so 7+.

Ending card:

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Renai Boukun Episode 4 (7+)

Ahh, one of the best colorful and funny comedy of this season in my opinion. As a manga reader, I went in already knowing what was I expecting (yandere+angel+kiss note+little sister loving onee-sama+little sister liking brother+rapist-demon-penguins+cat with human/angelic face+ero-sadists+etc. etc.), and I have to say, that I’m quite satisfied by what the anime adaptation delivered until now.

After a first part where we get to see Yuzu’s past, the show get really dark with Shikimi, the erotic-sadistic we caught a glimpse of during episode 3. And as expected from an S, she starts torturing our poor MC, who is immortal and can’t really die… uh. It got quite dark suddenly, didn’t it?

Nfu-fu-fu..

Oh, well. I quite enjoyed the episode.

7+, more than simply “Good”.

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Hinako Note Episode 4 (7+)

This series is just… so cute. As a slice of life heart-warming and soul-healing show, there really isn’t much to say (I may able to express my reliefs with weird noises though, but I don’t think that’s what you’re searching for).

The soothing tale of our scarecrow, continue in this episode with a training session of dance/gymnastics(?). Just to reveal the beautiful singing skills of Hinako-chan, which makes her eligible for the role of heroine!

Though I foresee some hardships with her shyness. Also, advisor going keikaku doori (just as planned) means she has some kind of solution?

Oh, and both OP and ED are quite catchy. Which is only a plus. The fact that you can find them on Youtube without the fear of them getting deleted at any time helps too.

Still “good”. As many others anime of this genre, it’s quite difficult to have the highest scores, but are easily in the range of “good”-“really good” anime (for me at least). So, a 7+ for now.

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Granblue Fantasy The Animation Episode 5 (7+)

Let’s talk about the mobile game anime adaptation then. The art and animation are quite good, so are the OST and the OP (seriously good). It was worth to wait for this quality.

Returning to episode 5, Gran and co. are going to confront Tiamat to save the island. Umu. It won’t be that easy I suppose. As expected, Tiamat doesn’t really like to be obedient, huh. Interferences perhaps? Yep, that purple crystal was the cause. Why do I find Tiamat cute? Oh, well. ALL 2D IS CUTE.

Beautiful AND cute.

Nice episode! I could feel the quality. Hm??? Why did I say that? No idea. For some reasons I can’t not notice the fluid animations. No seriously. I have no idea why the hell this is the first thought that came to mind. Oh, well. Who cares about that. We can finally say that the journey begins, Captain Gran? ED is also freaking beautiful. It makes me feel nostalgic for some reasons.

Anyways, a 7+ for me, perhaps more. So more than “Good”.

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Sakurada Reset Episode 4 (7-)

To tell the truth, I’m not entirely understanding what exactly is happening. But sincerely, I just said “screw it” at least a dozen of times. I will FEEL this anime, while trying to understand it, just like Aquation or Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (now, please don’t tell me you seriously went and analyzed how the fuck they were throwing galaxies as shuriken).

Anyways, after the time skip, I think I sterted to enjoy it a little more, but still quite uninteresting. Episode 4 blew my mind though. I was really, really surprised by this turn of events.

From the ruthless choice of Kei to actually sacrifice himself (well not really, but he actually died so…) to the tears of Misora while seeing the scene but still doing nothing because MC didn’t “order” her anything. I was quite shocked.

!!! HOLY!

So, for this episode my rate is higher than the usual I give it: 7-. Almost a full “Good” for me. Nicely done. You suprised me.

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Kyoukai no Rinne S3 Episode 4 (6/7)

Well, Kyoukai no Rinne it’s already at season 3. So if you’re watching it you should already know what to expect from it. Comedy (usually average, but sometimes really funny) mainly about the poverty of the MC. Oh, and he’s a Shinigami.

By the way, he has a crush.

The episode this time is about part-timer clayrovant “Ane” and her crystal sphere, which it seems like it can malfunction as it is quite old already. Her peeping ball is the real thing actually. I suppose a new recurring character is introduced then? Well, funny as usual. So, my initial score won’t change: a 6/7, “Good/Nice”.

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Gin no Guardian Episode 5 (6/7)

Hm, to begin. I’m a sucker for short anime. So my opinion is already quite positive just for this reason. First episode was quite interesting, but mysterious. After episode 2 onwards, we get to see little by little the events that brought forth the fact of episode 1.

With this episode, we are basically one step away from episode 1 (what a weird way to say it). I’m also quite happy to see finally MC getting some “wealth”. Oh, and you get her father’s approval too! Condolences for his death, but I have to admit he was a great man. And thus begin the confrontation!(?)

I’m so interested in seeing how he got there.

Oh, and I like the Ending theme.

My score is 6/7, a “Good/Nice” rating.

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Berserk (2017) Episode Episode 5 (6/7)

Oh, Berserk. The manga masterpiece get adapted into anime. Wondrous news, right? Nope. Sorry to say, but I really hate adaptation that ruins the image of their orinal sources. This Berserk is a perfect example. The story is really good, and that’s the only thing that keep me invested. No, wait. The music is also quite nice.

My comments about this show will probably be the same for the whole season: great story, bad animation. I would really like to see this as an “anime” alone, and not an adaptation. Sadly, it isn’t possible. So, as a manga reader, watching this is quite painful. An anime isn’t formed by only the scenario or the story though… as a visual medium, art take a good chunk of its overall rating. So I can’t really give it more than 6/7, which is a “Good/fine” for now.

Just look at that beautiful art. It makes the original’s hide from its… peculiarity. Fuck it, I’ll just get used to it.

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Atom: The Beginning Episidoe 3 (5/6)

Huh. I wasn’t really expecting much from this show, and I have to say I haven’t been surprised yet. It’s quite average, even though enjoyable to a limited extent.

So, we get a detective and a race begins to resolve a case of lost robo-pet. Huh. Yeah, it is sweet and all, but can’t really say it was good. Last episode was better in my opinion. A 5/6 for me “Fine/Average”.

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Sakura Quest Episode 4 (5/6)

Umu. Sakura Quest… Well the story is about a job-crawling young woman, Yoshino Koharu, who get a job in the countryside to pose as the queen of the little town.

Our Queen isn’t pleased.

She didn’t actually read the contract and thus is now forced to work there for a year. Far away from her beloved Tokyo, as she seems to have some kind of thing against rural town? Well, anyways, after an initial confrontation she accept her role (more or less) and slowly remembers that she had been there once.

I think it was really uninteresting at the beginning, to only gain some pace with episode 3, but we returned to the quite average story-telling with this. It may because I watched this some days ago, but episode 4 is less memorable then the first to tell the truth. Not really much to say then, personally it’s more than average, thus a 5/6, almost a “Fine” episode.

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Twin Angel Break Episode 4 (5/6)

Showy, colorful, classical Mahou Shoujo!

The show is… quite average in my opinion. Although it’s quite colorful and OP is really catchy. So it’s not completely mediocre.

We have two Mahou Shoujo, thus the “Twin” in the title: Meguru (our MC) and Sumire. It is a true and classical Mahou Shoujo show, meaning, you won’t find darkness and despair like in other shows, which I won’t mention to avoid spoilers. And that’s why I do not find it exactly entertaining, it’s nice, but not for me.

This episode was more… eventful, it still wasn’t able to make me involved. Not memorable at all, the only thing I remember is that the “bad guy” of this episode was an arrogant self-proclamed dude, who, expecting all girls falling over him while talking about equations (I admit it, I actually found that part a little hilarous), fell in love with Sumire, our blue mahou shoujo.

It is not “bad”, but simply not impactful enough to leave a deep impression on me. Anyways, for now it’s a 5/6 for me. Maybe a little more. Since, even if it’s boring, if I were to choose between “good” or “bad” I would choose “Good”.

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Busou Shoujo Macchiavellianism Episode 4 (5-)

This episode, was truly disappointing. In reality, after episode 1, this show got worser. It was exciting to see the action scenes, but it then became full of Harem parts.

The sumo-part was barely enjoyable, but still somehow funny. The little laughs were quite unnerving. And the new soon-to-be-part-of-the-harem-loli, wasn’t really interesting.

Sorry, but this episode is less than average for me. A 5-, but after seeing first episode, and the meeting with Amou, I am really expecting it to get better.

Please save this anime.

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Sin: Nanatsu no Taizai Episode 3 (4.5)

Sadly, I’ve decided to stop writing detailed and with many pictures posts about this show. Mainly because writing so many posts is seriously taxing on body, and would rather refrain from just posting for the lols and ecchi pictures.

Now, first thing to know is: I quite dislike it. The amount of H is too much, but that’s not really the main problem, as there are shows with lots of ecchi that I like. The point is… that I can’t really see an interesting story here, or at least yet. Not to mention that I STILL HAVEN’T A NORMAL SIZED BREAST GIRL (between the main ones, that is)! Why do they just have to be so… obscene? As you may have noticed, I’m not really too fond of cow-sized breasts. Subjective point, but still relevant IMO.

Passing on the episode, what to say if… there was a great amount of H-scenes. Need to mention the pole-stripping-show-challenge between Levi and Asmodeus, who then becomes a Lucifer’s follower and beliver. Oh, and there was ecchi, other ecchi and did I mention the ecchi parts yet?

Ending card:

Remember to get the superior version.

Sarcasm aside, my vote score for this is a 4.5 I would say. So a “Bad-Average” show. Mostly because, i can’t really say I didn’t enjoy it, but you can understand how Ecchi isn’t what I’m searching for in an anime. It can be complementary, but it definitely can’t be the main topic. I still have a slight hope of the show getting better, or a real story.

RETURN TO INDEX

Kabukibu! Episode 4 (3)

I was actually expecting something like Rakugou… but this show… this show is actually really bad. Or at least, it has become a pain to watch it. And I’m really stupid to continue watching something I find bad, but I’m a masoc- no drop club member.

I belive, no I WANT to belive in the potential of all anime. Maybe in the ending this show will be amazin? Anyways for now you don’t get more than 3, “Very Bad”, sorry.

RETURN TO INDEX

Fuuu. And that’s done… not at all! I simply wrote the latest ones I watched! I seriously apologize to the episodes I wasn’t able to comment on, such as Grimoire of Zero, World End, Tsuki ga Kirei, Kenka Banchou Otome, Little Witch Academia, ect. Some of which I really like too! Damn it…

But I have seriously no time anymore. I spent so many hours basically doing comments/review/recommendation and putting them together, which wasn’t my initial intention at all! I just wanted to make a ranking, but then I thought it should be better to say why I put them in that order, and then for some reasons I wrote an essay…hahaha… at least you can see my love for anime, i want to hope…

See you next time, which may be not too soon. As I have to study for over 3 tests, nah, they will probably increase, as teachers just love to make multiple tests per month…

I can’t understand whether I’m satisfied or going crazy. I feel like both actually.

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Hope someone read this post…

I seriously have to revise the ranking post, or else I’ll die. While seeing the works of my more experienced senpai, the one I loved the most was Prattle-senpai’s: the choices of categories’ names is simply glorious.

So, if I will ever try this again, it will probably be different from this post.

Anime Spring 2017 Week 4 Overall Impression (trial version) (reviews/recommandations/comments/rants) Introduction with some rants. If you want to skip and directly go to the list, click/press/touch:

#Anime #Busou Shoujo Macchiavellianism #Kado: The right answer #Oushitsu Kyoushi Haine #Quan Zhi Gao Shou #Re:Creators #Recommandation #Rokudenashi Majutsu Koushi to Akashic Records #Seikasuru Kado #The King&039;s Avatar #The Royal Tutor

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flauntpage · 7 years ago

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DGB Grab Bag: Olympic Disappointment, Goaltending Debates, and Team Sweden Sings

Three Stars of Comedy

The third star: The Golden Knights' Twitter account. The league's newest franchise might not be very good at managing its blueline, but you have to admit its Twitter presence is pretty solid. Let's enjoy it while it lasts, before there's a joke that offends one person and the account ends up posting generic GIF reactions like every other team.

The second star: Roberto Luongo's sadness. News that Cubs fan villain Steve Bartman would get his own World Series ring made for the feel-good sports story of the summer—but not for everyone.

The first star: Sidney Crosby's cake. The Penguins' captain had his day with the Cup this week, and celebrated with an epic cake that recalls the family dryer he once used for target practice in the basement.

Debating the Issues

This week's debate: The NHL Network released a list of the top ten goaltenders in the league right now. And as with any attempt at a ranked list, plenty of fans didn't agree with their choices. Was it a good list?

In favor: I mean, I guess it was OK. It was fine.

Opposed: What? Are you crazy? That list was terrible. Everyone says so!

In favor: Was it though? I mean, this is all subjective, and there were a few picks that were questionable, but I didn't see anything that bad.

Opposed: You weren't looking very hard. Carey Price at No. 1 is fine, I guess, and Braden Holtby is a good pick for No. 2. But then the whole thing goes completely to hell. Matt Murray in the top five? He hasn't even played two full seasons. Jonathan Quick is overrated as always. And Pekka Rinne in the top ten? Is it 2012?

The Price is right. Photo by Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

In favor: Well, they're clearly factoring in playoff success with those guys, and sure, that may not be wise. But that's the whole point of these lists, right? Generating some fun debate for fans.

Opposed: There's nothing fun about it, and there's no debate. The list is wrong, period. Whoever put it together clearly never watched a hockey game in their lives.

In favor: OK, so if their list is so bad, what does your top-ten ranking look like?

Opposed: I mean, Cam Talbot is already ahead of Henrik Lundqvist? Come on!

In favor: Cool. So your list would be…

Opposed: Martin Jones? Get out of here!

In favor: Right, got it. Their list is bad. What does your version look like?

Opposed: Oh trust me, my list would be way better.

In favor: Great. Let's hear it.

Opposed: I mean, you have to find a spot for Corey Crawford, right? Not to mention Tuukka Rask and Cory Schneider. Maybe even Craig Anderson after the year he had last season.

In favor: And who do they bump off the list?

Opposed: I don't know, but they've all got to be there.

In favor: That's not how top-ten lists work. See, the key word is "ten," meaning you're going to have to limit yourself to—

Opposed: Wait, maybe John Gibson, too. And Roberto Luongo deserves some credit for long-term consistency, right?

In favor: But where? In what order?

Opposed: Oh, my list would be in order, don't you worry.

In favor: And that list would be…

Opposed: Way better than theirs.

In favor: OK, see, this is the problem with ranked lists. You spend all this time putting one together, and then everyone rips on a single pick here or a specific ranking there. But nobody ever says, "Here's my list that's better," because then that would open them up to criticism, too. They just want to complain as loudly as possible about whatever's been put in front of them.

Opposed: But isn't the whole point of making these lists to spark debate?

In favor: Sure, but debate isn't "What an idiot." That's just kneejerk negativity. You're never going to agree with every single pick on a list, so why not engage a little more intelligently than just typing "LOL"?

Opposed: Yeah, but nobody's going to make a whole list of their own just so they can—wait a second. Do you get the sense that the author is projecting a little bit here?

In favor: Oh yeah, absolutely.

Opposed: Honestly, he's laying it on a little thick for my tastes.

In favor: Yeah, we get it already.

Opposed: LOL, what an idiot.

The final verdict: This is the 27th best debate section ever featured in this column and there's no arguing it.

Obscure Former Player of the Week

Do you still have "Hrudey on Duty" stuck in your head? Oh, you finally got rid of it a few days ago. Well, it's back now. Sorry about that.

For this week's obscure player, let's go with a guy who had some decent years as Kelly Hrudey's backup in Los Angeles: Robb Stauber.

Stauber was picked by the Kings in the sixth round of the 1986 draft, one pick ahead of future heavyweight champion (for like a week) Troy Crowder. By 1992, he'd appeared in just two NHL games, and was sporting a not-fantastic career GAA of 7.95.

That year, though, a 25-year-old Stauber ended up earning a roster spot behind Hrudey, and he played well. He appeared in 31 games that season, winning 15, and also wore cool goalie pads with playing-card kings on them. With Hrudey struggling in the playoffs, Barry Melrose had Stauber start three straight games against the Flames. He won all three, sending the Kings on to second round of what would end up being a run all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.

He returned as Hrudey's backup for the 1993-94 season, and while his save percentage and goals against improved, his record dipped to 4-11-5. It would be his last full season in L.A., as he was traded to Buffalo midway through the 1994-95 season as part of the deal that brought Grant Fuhr to the Kings. He appeared in just six games for the Sabres, and then spent the next five years in the minors (where he once scored a goal) before retiring in 1999.

Three last things you need to know about Robb Stauber:

He spells his first name with two "B"s, so he's not to be trusted.

He's the subject of a fantastic comment section on this random YouTube video, in which two guys start insulting each other, realize there's been a misunderstanding, and then bond over a shared love of Robb Stauber.

You're going to see a lot of him at this year's Olympics, where he'll be the head coach of the U.S. women's national team.

(Special thanks to Kings blogging legend PumperNicholl for helping me track down a shot of Stauber's goalie pads.)

Be It Resolved

Any lingering hopes that the NHL will head to the Olympics appear to be officially dead, with the league announcing this week that even minor-league players with NHL deals won't be allowed to play. Why? Nobody knows, but this is the NHL, so there you have it.

So after five straight Olympics of seeing the absolute best in the world going head-to-head, this year's tournament will feature… well, not that. The teams will be made up of some combination of amateurs, pros from the KHL and other leagues, and NHLers who are out of work or retired.

It will still be good hockey. And no doubt, the guys playing it will be putting it all on the line. The NHL is expected back for the 2022 Games, so this will literally be the one and only chance for most of these guys to win a gold medal for their country. It's still the Olympics, and it still matters.

But it won't be the same.

I hate writing that, but it's true. After spoiling us with legitimate best-on-best competition for two decades, the 2018 tournament will feel like the Olympics in name only. That reads like an insult to the guys who'll be taking part (and I do mean guys, since the women will still be the best in the world). It's tempting to pretend that it's still the same thing, and that the tournament will mean just as much as it did when it was Crosby vs. Ovechkin or Gretzky vs. Hasek or Oshie vs. everyone. But for most fans, it won't. If we're being honest, purely in terms of the talent involved, this will be a big step down from even the World Championships.

It's like if I spent my whole life wanting to win a Pulitzer, and then one year they changed the rules so that Pulitzer was an award for making jokes about things that happened in the NHL 30 years ago, and then I won it because all the best writers in the world weren't eligible anymore. I mean, it's still a Pulitzer, so I've kind of achieved my dream, but we all know it's not the same thing.

That doesn't mean you can't enjoy the 2018 Olympics. Heck, some of you will enjoy it more—the old-school amateur spirit, and all that. But not everyone is going to be rolling out of bed in the middle of the night to see their country's B team go for gold.

So let's try this: Be it resolved that we all just agree that you're allowed to feel however you want about the 2018 Olympic hockey tournament. If you ignore it, fine, but don't roll your eyes at those who watch. If you love it, great, but don't lecture those who can't get into it. Watch it or don't, as much or as little as you think it deserves. There are no right answers here.

Well, there was one, but the NHL decided not to give it to us.

Classic YouTube clip breakdown

Here's the bright side of this Olympics mess: At least it restores some of the suspense. Let's face it, these days we all know who's going to win these things. It's Team Canada, every time, and the only question is whether anyone manages to even win a game against them along the way. (Spoiler alert: Nobody ever does.)

It might be kind of neat to go back to a format where Canada was always an underdog, the Americans had a fighting chance, and the European teams could honestly claim they had a shot at gold. So today, let's celebrate that sense of optimism in the way we love best: through late-80s hockey team rock anthems.

Welcome back to 1989. The World Championships are about to take place and Team Sweden is pretty fired up about it. They're hosting the tournament this year, and they want to let the world know that they're ready to kick some ass. But how?

Luckily, somebody has slipped them a copy of the Washington Capitals Greatest Hits, and after checking their "What Would Neil Sheehy Do?" bracelets, they've decided to put on matching outfits and lip sync some music magic.

In Swedish, by the way. Trust me, that makes it all roughly ten times better.

So we start off with some small Swedish children clapping and singing, and I'm so tempted to pretend that one of them grew up to be a famous NHL player just to see if you'd all buy it. Like if I said that one kid on the end with the good hair was a seven-year-old Henrik Lundqvist, at least a few of you would believe me, right? Because if so, he 100 percent is.

We get an extended segment where the kids just clap occasionally while yelling "hockey," which is fine because that's all most Flyers fans can do, too. But then we get to players themselves, who are wearing matching sweaters that say "ice hockey" on them. Needless to say, I want one of these very badly.

We also meet the star of our video, a redheaded fellow who seems to be the only one bothering to lip-sync the actual words. This is Håkan Södergren, a national team veteran who never made it over to the NHL but put up decent numbers in the Swedish Elite League. He's also, I think we can all agree, an excellent lip-syncer. Like, eerily good. The Capitals could learn a thing or two from this guy.

Via Wikipedia's entry on this song: "The B-side was 'Här kommer grabbarna' by Lotta Engberg." How much Engberg? Lotta Engberg.

Next comes a bunch of highlights of Team Sweden scoring goals, including one in which the referee appears to be sitting in the stands. European hockey is weird.

Is anyone else hearing "OK! They're tall enough, they're tall enough. OK! They're hot enough, they're hot enough?" No? Just me? OK, forget I brought it up.

By the way, this song is actually called "Nu tar vi dom," and apparently these are the lyrics. It was written by Lasse Holm, a Swedish musician who competed in the 1986 Eurovision Song Contest. Don't ever say I don't do research for these things.

And we're back to the singing players. Man, Södergren is just a hell of a lip-syncer. He seems to really know the song intimately. It's almost as if… nah.

No, I don't know why Peyton Manning is in the back row either.

Next we get some intimidating shots of Team Sweden warming up. But wait, there's a twist. The goaltender takes of his mask to reveal that he's… a lady! Is that Lotta Engberg? I'm not sure, but I'll point out that this is one of the worst "Goalie removes a mask for a surprise reveal" shots ever. The real goalie is wearing a plastic glove and using his right hand, while this lady uses a bare right. Come on, people, it's not like we haven't seen this done perfectly.

My favorite moment comes around 1:55, when half the Swedish roster realizes they're the same height as the children in front of them and start hopping up and down so they can be seen.

That includes Södergren, who continues to be so good at lip-syncing that I'm going to have to turn to Google to find out if… yes. Yes indeed. Håkan Södergren actually sang this damn song. This isn't some shady case of players lip-syncing a studio musician's vocals at all. This is actually Södergren's real voice. The man is a hero.

Seriously, how did the 1989-90 Capitals not immediately sign Södergren to an NHL contract? I'm literally angry that this never happened.

The song winds down, and I'm enjoying it so much that I won't mention that the rhythmic clapping at 2:15 is a blatant rip-off of the Bay City Rollers' "Saturday Night." We close out with like 30 full seconds of credits and an extended fist pump. That was fantastic. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

By the way, Team Sweden finished fourth, getting swept in the medal round. The Soviets won, and the tournament is probably best remembered for Randy Carlyle failing (but then passing) a steroid test.

But really, none of that matters. Here's hoping that Håkan Södergren, little Henrik Lundqvist, and the rest of Team Sweden inspired you today. You're tall enough, you're hot enough, and you, too, could play international hockey.

(Seriously, the way the NHL is going, you might be on an Olympic team roster right now. Check your voicemails.)

Have a question, suggestion, old YouTube clip, or anything else you'd like to see included in this column? Email Sean at [email protected].

Correction: While discussing the NHL Network's top-ten list of goaltenders from this year, 'Debating the Issues' originally linked out to last year's top-ten list. The link has been updated.

DGB Grab Bag: Olympic Disappointment, Goaltending Debates, and Team Sweden Sings published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

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amtushinfosolutionspage · 7 years ago

Text

DGB Grab Bag: Olympic Disappointment, Goaltending Debates, and Team Sweden Sings

Three Stars of Comedy

The third star: The Golden Knights’ Twitter account. The league’s newest franchise might not be very good at managing its blueline, but you have to admit its Twitter presence is pretty solid. Let’s enjoy it while it lasts, before there’s a joke that offends one person and the account ends up posting generic GIF reactions like every other team.

The second star: Roberto Luongo’s sadness. News that Cubs fan villain Steve Bartman would get his own World Series ring made for the feel-good sports story of the summer—but not for everyone.

The first star: Sidney Crosby’s cake. The Penguins’ captain had his day with the Cup this week, and celebrated with an epic cake that recalls the family dryer he once used for target practice in the basement.

Debating the Issues

This week’s debate: The NHL Network released a list of the top ten goaltenders in the league right now. And as with any attempt at a ranked list, plenty of fans didn’t agree with their choices. Was it a good list?

In favor: I mean, I guess it was OK. It was fine.

Opposed: What? Are you crazy? That list was terrible. Everyone says so!

In favor: Was it though? I mean, this is all subjective, and there were a few picks that were questionable, but I didn’t see anything that bad.

Opposed: You weren’t looking very hard. Carey Price at No. 1 is fine, I guess, and Braden Holtby is a good pick for No. 2. But then the whole thing goes completely to hell. Matt Murray in the top five? He hasn’t even played two full seasons. Jonathan Quick is overrated as always. And Pekka Rinne in the top ten? Is it 2012?

The Price is right. Photo by Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

In favor: Well, they’re clearly factoring in playoff success with those guys, and sure, that may not be wise. But that’s the whole point of these lists, right? Generating some fun debate for fans.

Opposed: There’s nothing fun about it, and there’s no debate. The list is wrong, period. Whoever put it together clearly never watched a hockey game in their lives.

In favor: OK, so if their list is so bad, what does your top-ten ranking look like?

Opposed: I mean, Cam Talbot is already ahead of Henrik Lundqvist? Come on!

In favor: Cool. So your list would be…

Opposed: Martin Jones? Get out of here!

In favor: Right, got it. Their list is bad. What does your version look like?

Opposed: Oh trust me, my list would be way better.

In favor: Great. Let’s hear it.

Opposed: I mean, you have to find a spot for Corey Crawford, right? Not to mention Tuukka Rask and Cory Schneider. Maybe even Craig Anderson after the year he had last season.

In favor: And who do they bump off the list?

Opposed: I don’t know, but they’ve all got to be there.

In favor: That’s not how top-ten lists work. See, the key word is “ten,” meaning you’re going to have to limit yourself to—

Opposed: Wait, maybe John Gibson, too. And Roberto Luongo deserves some credit for long-term consistency, right?

In favor: But where? In what order?

Opposed: Oh, my list would be in order, don’t you worry.

In favor: And that list would be…

Opposed: Way better than theirs.

In favor: OK, see, this is the problem with ranked lists. You spend all this time putting one together, and then everyone rips on a single pick here or a specific ranking there. But nobody ever says, “Here’s my list that’s better,” because then that would open them up to criticism, too. They just want to complain as loudly as possible about whatever’s been put in front of them.

Opposed: But isn’t the whole point of making these lists to spark debate?

In favor: Sure, but debate isn’t “What an idiot.” That’s just kneejerk negativity. You’re never going to agree with every single pick on a list, so why not engage a little more intelligently than just typing “LOL”?

Opposed: Yeah, but nobody’s going to make a whole list of their own just so they can—wait a second. Do you get the sense that the author is projecting a little bit here?

In favor: Oh yeah, absolutely.

Opposed: Honestly, he’s laying it on a little thick for my tastes.

In favor: Yeah, we get it already.

Opposed: LOL, what an idiot.

The final verdict: This is the 27th best debate section ever featured in this column and there’s no arguing it.

Obscure Former Player of the Week

Do you still have “Hrudey on Duty” stuck in your head? Oh, you finally got rid of it a few days ago. Well, it’s back now. Sorry about that.

For this week’s obscure player, let’s go with a guy who had some decent years as Kelly Hrudey’s backup in Los Angeles: Robb Stauber.

Stauber was picked by the Kings in the sixth round of the 1986 draft, one pick ahead of future heavyweight champion (for like a week) Troy Crowder. By 1992, he’d appeared in just two NHL games, and was sporting a not-fantastic career GAA of 7.95.

He returned as Hrudey’s backup for the 1993-94 season, and while his save percentage and goals against improved, his record dipped to 4-11-5. It would be his last full season in L.A., as he was traded to Buffalo midway through the 1994-95 season as part of the deal that brought Grant Fuhr to the Kings. He appeared in just six games for the Sabres, and then spent the next five years in the minors (where he once scored a goal) before retiring in 1999.

Three last things you need to know about Robb Stauber:

He spells his first name with two “B”s, so he’s not to be trusted.

He’s the subject of a fantastic comment section on this random YouTube video, in which two guys start insulting each other, realize there’s been a misunderstanding, and then bond over a shared love of Robb Stauber.

You’re going to see a lot of him at this year’s Olympics, where he’ll be the head coach of the U.S. women’s national team.

(Special thanks to Kings blogging legend PumperNicholl for helping me track down a shot of Stauber’s goalie pads.)

Be It Resolved

Any lingering hopes that the NHL will head to the Olympics appear to be officially dead, with the league announcing this week that even minor-league players with NHL deals won’t be allowed to play. Why? Nobody knows, but this is the NHL, so there you have it.

So after five straight Olympics of seeing the absolute best in the world going head-to-head, this year’s tournament will feature… well, not that. The teams will be made up of some combination of amateurs, pros from the KHL and other leagues, and NHLers who are out of work or retired.

But it won’t be the same.

I hate writing that, but it’s true. After spoiling us with legitimate best-on-best competition for two decades, the 2018 tournament will feel like the Olympics in name only. That reads like an insult to the guys who’ll be taking part (and I do mean guys, since the women will still be the best in the world). It’s tempting to pretend that it’s still the same thing, and that the tournament will mean just as much as it did when it was Crosby vs. Ovechkin or Gretzky vs. Hasek or Oshie vs. everyone. But for most fans, it won’t. If we’re being honest, purely in terms of the talent involved, this will be a big step down from even the World Championships.

It’s like if I spent my whole life wanting to win a Pulitzer, and then one year they changed the rules so that Pulitzer was an award for making jokes about things that happened in the NHL 30 years ago, and then I won it because all the best writers in the world weren’t eligible anymore. I mean, it’s still a Pulitzer, so I’ve kind of achieved my dream, but we all know it’s not the same thing.

That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the 2018 Olympics. Heck, some of you will enjoy it more—the old-school amateur spirit, and all that. But not everyone is going to be rolling out of bed in the middle of the night to see their country’s B team go for gold.

So let’s try this: Be it resolved that we all just agree that you’re allowed to feel however you want about the 2018 Olympic hockey tournament. If you ignore it, fine, but don’t roll your eyes at those who watch. If you love it, great, but don’t lecture those who can’t get into it. Watch it or don’t, as much or as little as you think it deserves. There are no right answers here.

Well, there was one, but the NHL decided not to give it to us.

Classic YouTube clip breakdown

Here’s the bright side of this Olympics mess: At least it restores some of the suspense. Let’s face it, these days we all know who’s going to win these things. It’s Team Canada, every time, and the only question is whether anyone manages to even win a game against them along the way. (Spoiler alert: Nobody ever does.)

It might be kind of neat to go back to a format where Canada was always an underdog, the Americans had a fighting chance, and the European teams could honestly claim they had a shot at gold. So today, let’s celebrate that sense of optimism in the way we love best: through late-80s hockey team rock anthems.

Welcome back to 1989. The World Championships are about to take place and Team Sweden is pretty fired up about it. They’re hosting the tournament this year, and they want to let the world know that they’re ready to kick some ass. But how?

Luckily, somebody has slipped them a copy of the Washington Capitals Greatest Hits, and after checking their “What Would Neil Sheehy Do?” bracelets, they’ve decided to put on matching outfits and lip sync some music magic.

In Swedish, by the way. Trust me, that makes it all roughly ten times better.

So we start off with some small Swedish children clapping and singing, and I’m so tempted to pretend that one of them grew up to be a famous NHL player just to see if you’d all buy it. Like if I said that one kid on the end with the good hair was a seven-year-old Henrik Lundqvist, at least a few of you would believe me, right? Because if so, he 100 percent is.

We get an extended segment where the kids just clap occasionally while yelling “hockey,” which is fine because that’s all most Flyers fans can do, too. But then we get to players themselves, who are wearing matching sweaters that say “ice hockey” on them. Needless to say, I want one of these very badly.

We also meet the star of our video, a redheaded fellow who seems to be the only one bothering to lip-sync the actual words. This is Håkan Södergren, a national team veteran who never made it over to the NHL but put up decent numbers in the Swedish Elite League. He’s also, I think we can all agree, an excellent lip-syncer. Like, eerily good. The Capitals could learn a thing or two from this guy.

Via Wikipedia’s entry on this song: “The B-side was ‘Här kommer grabbarna’ by Lotta Engberg.” How much Engberg? Lotta Engberg.

Next comes a bunch of highlights of Team Sweden scoring goals, including one in which the referee appears to be sitting in the stands. European hockey is weird.

Is anyone else hearing “OK! They’re tall enough, they’re tall enough. OK! They’re hot enough, they’re hot enough?” No? Just me? OK, forget I brought it up.

By the way, this song is actually called “Nu tar vi dom,” and apparently these are the lyrics. It was written by Lasse Holm, a Swedish musician who competed in the 1986 Eurovision Song Contest. Don’t ever say I don’t do research for these things.

And we’re back to the singing players. Man, Södergren is just a hell of a lip-syncer. He seems to really know the song intimately. It’s almost as if… nah.

No, I don’t know why Peyton Manning is in the back row either.

Next we get some intimidating shots of Team Sweden warming up. But wait, there’s a twist. The goaltender takes of his mask to reveal that he’s… a lady! Is that Lotta Engberg? I’m not sure, but I’ll point out that this is one of the worst “Goalie removes a mask for a surprise reveal” shots ever. The real goalie is wearing a plastic glove and using his right hand, while this lady uses a bare right. Come on, people, it’s not like we haven’t seen this done perfectly.

My favorite moment comes around 1:55, when half the Swedish roster realizes they’re the same height as the children in front of them and start hopping up and down so they can be seen.

That includes Södergren, who continues to be so good at lip-syncing that I’m going to have to turn to Google to find out if… yes. Yes indeed. Håkan Södergren actually sang this damn song. This isn’t some shady case of players lip-syncing a studio musician’s vocals at all. This is actually Södergren’s real voice. The man is a hero.

Seriously, how did the 1989-90 Capitals not immediately sign Södergren to an NHL contract? I’m literally angry that this never happened.

The song winds down, and I’m enjoying it so much that I won’t mention that the rhythmic clapping at 2:15 is a blatant rip-off of the Bay City Rollers’ “Saturday Night.” We close out with like 30 full seconds of credits and an extended fist pump. That was fantastic. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

By the way, Team Sweden finished fourth, getting swept in the medal round. The Soviets won, and the tournament is probably best remembered for Randy Carlyle failing (but then passing) a steroid test.

But really, none of that matters. Here’s hoping that Håkan Södergren, little Henrik Lundqvist, and the rest of Team Sweden inspired you today. You’re tall enough, you’re hot enough, and you, too, could play international hockey.

(Seriously, the way the NHL is going, you might be on an Olympic team roster right now. Check your voicemails.)

Have a question, suggestion, old YouTube clip, or anything else you’d like to see included in this column? Email Sean at [email protected] .

DGB Grab Bag: Olympic Disappointment, Goaltending Debates, and Team Sweden Sings syndicated from http://ift.tt/2ug2Ns6