RahXephon was ostensibly influenced by the 1975 anime Brave Raideen. But if you've seen Neon Genesis Evangelion, and then this show, you cannot (and I did not) avoid comparing the two. It frankly baffles me that some people see this as a better show than Evangelion, though, because it's not actually about anything. What are the actual themes of RahXephon? Aside from playing lip service to music/sound as a reoccurring element, there's not a whole lot to the show. It's decent, but not transcendent the way Evangelion is.

Ah, the Trigun movie, Badlands Rumble. It's fun. And that's about all I can say about it. There's really nothing significant in its premise or execution. It's just a filler episode with high production values. Come to think of it, the Cowboy Bebop movie was like that, too, but it seemed much more significant and well-constructed. It had more of a beating heart to it. Plus, it was Cowboy Bebop, so it was already going to be better. Which is why that movie is in my favorites and Badlands Rumble is not. But it's not a waste of time, at least. And after the subject of my previous video, I needed that.

Babel II - Beyond Infinity is a show that could have- no, should have- been better than it was. You have these characters with amazing psychic powers, giant robots, monsters, and ancient alien mythos (lol). But do they do anything with these elements? No! They waste them in Plain Jane, paint-by-numbers plots with nothing to say. Please, somebody save me from mediocre anime like this. I knew there was a reason I was putting this off. Just watch Giant Robo instead. Then rewatch it.

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I'm getting tired of having my videos handicapped by overzealous IP holders and foreign licensors. I just want to do anime review videos, not show entire episodes or movies. Can't these greedy corporate cocksuckers give me a fucking break? I had to edit this video a bunch of times, if you can't notice. It boils my blood.

Zettai Unmei Mokushiroku! Zettai Unmei Mokushiroku!

You know, I've been real down about my videos lately, and doing a short video on something I'm not particularly passionate about doesn't help. But it did give me an opportunity to reflect on my slight evolution in reviewing. An evolution in that, instead of just summarizing everything that happens in an anime, beat by beat, and occasionally making snide side comments, I've taken to doing more generalized summaries with a bit more of an emphasis on characters, atmosphere, themes, and the like. In other words, I generally actually *review* anime now.

It still bums me out nobody cares, though.

Episode 36, "Fortress vs. Fortress Akt III: The Return of the Magician"

*****SPOILERS*****

Episode 35, "Fortress vs. Fortress Akt II: Fierce Fighting"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Interim Commander Caselnes is forced to trust Guest Admiral Merkatz with the defense of Iserlohn Fortress. After the retreating Imperial landing parties are targeted, Meuller is provoked into attacking with his main force. This lures him into an encirclement attack by Merkatz, who devastates his forces. He's forced to wriggle his way out of the trap. It's at this point that Mueller retrieves word that Yang Wenli is not at Iserlohn. He relays this news to Admiral Kempf, but the leader of the operation is skeptical.