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Track Two: Shakugan no Shana II
Shakugan no Shana II is a standard action-slash-supernatural romance show revolving around a hardly-normal boy named Yuuji, who secretly harbors a hidden treasure called the Reiji Maigo inside his body. This, combined with his status as a Torch, a sort of copy of a deceased person’s personality, makes him a top target for hunters known as the Guze no Tomogara. It’s up to Shana, a female Flame Haze who fights to keep the balance of the world, to protect him – but could their relationship be something more? Or does Yuuji’s friend Yoshida have something to say about that? Not to mention, a wide array of other main and side characters, including Margery Daw, a far more reckless Flame Haze, Wilhelmina, the Flame Haze with a caring, outspoken personality, and many of Yuuji’s friends from school, who all play roles in the gears of this story.
1/27/08: Episode 15
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Wow, what an episode. I wish it had started with something like this; at any rate, the complaints have subsided for Shana II, I just hope that’s because of the quality picking up, instead of a lot of people dropping it.
I’m not sure how much of this content is new to first-season viewers, but as someone who just watched the movie, this episode had a lot of interesting revelations. I mean, aside from that Konoe was Hecate (ya rly). Johan came back, somehow, and left almost as soon as he came. He seems to have given Pheles some secret agenda, the morality of which I can’t even imagine, since I can’t pin down his character.
Meanwhile, all the flipping back and forth threw Shana in uber panic-dere mode, worrying that Yuuji would be destroyed, or permanently turned into Johan, or something. I caught it the first time, when Hecate was busy stabbing him to death, but the second time, Shana seemed to be getting worked up over nothing when Johan was turning back into Yuuji in the sand tornado thing.
Also, Yoshida is getting some major “I’m getting left out of the plot” points, which seems to point towards her doing more interesting stuff later, especially with that mysterious cross of mystery she got. Not to mention, Zyl and Kurogane are getting up in arms over Wilhelmina x Pheles yuri potential. Personally, I’ll settle for just liking Wilhelmina a lot more as a character. And a maid.
Oh, and Margery didn’t go completely crazy about Silver this time (And what’s with the somewhat-dissolved suit of armor, shown earlier in the episode in the Evil Villian Lair(tm)?). All sorts of things happened and I didn’t find much time to make fun of any of them, so that’s probably a good sign.
It’s just time to see whether these developments will keep coming, or if we’ll go back to the pattern calm -> storm -> calm -> storm…
1/21/08: Episode 14
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Yeah, Shana II is definitely moving a lot faster now, and it’s the strong show everyone is hoping it would be.
Apparently a lot of people disliked most of this episode, because Pheles was being out-of-character, but that was all explained at the end with the double (and change) shock twists. It wasn’t a real Pheles! Something funny and – yup – silver comes out of Yuuji and gut-punches her! And Konoe’s not just an average girl! No way!
Well, the first two caught me, anyway. Good to see this show actually do something unpredictable for once.
Shana and Kazumi’s DBZ-like love fest (talk a lot about how you’re going to win, heart powaaaaaah up, rinse repeat) isn’t too grating personally, just because there’s some sense of things happening; Kazumi is definitely on the offensive now, although if Yuuji isn’t aware of his feelings by now, he’s a bloody idiot.
Looking forward to 15 and KONOE’S SHOCKING SECRET, among other things.
Also, that one Ogata girl, the one that’s with the other side character, she’s not a Torch, is she? I’m reading the signs wrong, right? Two of them in one season might be too much for me.
1/16/08 – Episode 13:
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Wow, it was just like everyone says. I thought I wasn’t much for action, but this episode had me floored the whole way. Maybe because it introduced a lot of mystery as well as delivering the hard hits. Certainly it was more interesting than the Konoe-fest it’s been.
Yoshida looks to be getting the short end of the stick as always, but seems to be making pleasant development. Wilhemina is climbing the Awesome Maid Rankings fast with her CTU agent skills. And I’m ready to take betting pools on how long Pheles will last – she seems to be dying, but given her OP time, it seems too quick…
Also, Tanaka (?) / Oga relationship screentime gave me warm stomach fuzzies, even though I figured Yuuji would magically fix everything. I wonder, if we could set a record for broken characters in this show – Margery and Tanaka in this episode, Yoshida’s waiting to happen, if the Shanatan specials are anything to go by, Pheles or Konoe…?
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-CCY
Tags: Shakugan no Shana, Track Two
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The 13th Day of Christmas 2008 – and the rest…
“Well, I’m no demon.
I’ll play with you until morning.”
Yeah, those of you who know me from last year know I’m not much for stopping at just 12 Days of nonstop posting. I’m not sure why. Maybe I’m cocky and want to see how far I can push myself. Maybe I’m an attention whore and want [...]
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Posted in Analysis, Shakugan no Shana II, Team Zetsubou Reviews, blog general | 2 comments
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Posted in Shakugan no Shana II, Team Zetsubou Reviews | 3 comments
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What to do when you want to say something about a show where there’s really nothing to be said about it?
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Posted in Season Review | 4 comments
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Posted in Cardcaptor Sakura, Kaiji, School Days, True Tears | 1 comment
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Posted in KimiKiss Pure Rouge, Track Two | 1 comment
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January 27, 2008 - 5:35 pm
Posted in H2O ~Footprints in the Sand~, Track Two | No comments
(H2O summary here, when I understand the show more. All I know is that it’s a visual novel conversion.)
1/25/08 – Episode 02:
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Despite all contrary evidence and rumors of OH DEAR GOD WHY traps (as opposed to “Mako-cakes awesome” traps), I’m pushing on with H2O, if only because of the Shana II Theory of ‘Hey, [...]
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Posted in Minami-ke Okawari, Track Two | 1 comment
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Track Two: Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
January 27, 2008 - 5:35 pm
Posted in Track Two, Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei | 1 comment
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