As always, there are just minute differences to distinguish this episode from all the others. Naturally, many fans have already abandoned ship. There are, however, still a few out there with the faith that the series can right its course. Mira of hachimitsu, for instance, wonders if the banal slice-of-life aspects of “Blood-C” are purposeful: “Maybe the slice of life segments are actually supposed to be mundane.” My response to this is, well, so what? Can an anime ever make a legitimate claim to dullness as an expression of its art?
An anime can be deliberately sad or it can even try to make us angry. The point is that anime doesn’t always have to be fun despite what a lot of “critical” commentators out there like to think. But can an anime — or any art form, really — be deliberately boring? I can’t answer yes to this question. Any worthwhile piece of art has to connect with its audience, no matter how small and obtuse that intended audience may be. To accomplish this feat, however, art must first grab people’s attention. Pain and agony may turn people away, but pain and agony can at least be the start of a fascinating exploration of the human condition. By definition, however, banality can’t be anything but boring — that’s just plain tautology.
If “Blood-C” is purposefully banal, then the series is ultimately self-defeating. No matter how profoundly boring the anime might be, it’s still, well, boring. After all, in order for the audience to glean any meaningful insight into Saya’s life, people must first pay attention. If we as viewers can’t even keep ourselves awake during the slice-of-life half of each episode, then the deliberate contrast between her milquetoast school life and the bloody excursions at night is ultimately all for naught.
But Mira is right in saying that things did “happen” this week. The formula remains relatively unchanged: Saya stops by the cafe, she sings, she eats lunch with friends, she fights weird looking monsters, rinse and repeat. At one point, Saya literally falls out of a tree and lands on top of the emo classmate (if I haven’t learned his name by now, I never will) — that’s just pure anime schlock. There are subtle differences in the character interactions, however, especially between Saya and the weirdo cafe owner who spends each of his days molding pink cubes for what seems like a single customer. Unfortunately, you still have to dig your way through a mountain of boredom for these scraps of “development.”
“Blood-C” isn’t so lucky. It isn’t riding a wave of hype created by a petulant tsunderekko and a terrible pop song. Nerds aren’t going to buy “Blood-C” merchandise regardless of how much it endlessly sucks. As a result, it just makes no sense to me to think that CLAMP and Production I.G. are trolling. They would have to commit themselves to both artistic and financial suicide and, well, that’s a hard pill to swallow. Why can’t we just admit that this anime just plain sucks? People can misstep. For every brilliant decision, there’s also “Avatar.”
The slice of life scenes could be better executed, I really think that they wasted the first three episodes with a lazy formula. There were better ways to do the whole set-up and not be boring. Sure, I liked the fourth episode but like I said in my post, it’s more likely that it’s an episode too late for a number of viewers. I don’t think I can blame anyone who ends up dropping or disliking Blood-C. You have to be extra patient (or in some cases, extra bored) to sit through an episode and search for clues.
I still can’t bring myself to say that it sucks though, not until I finish it, at least. (Which would be like, next year if the movie is the ultimate conclusion) There’s still a chance that the later half will deliver and if it ever ends up sucking then I had it coming.
I keep my movies and series separate so it won’t bother me to say the series sucks if the movie somehow magically turned out great. Plus, if this is a 12 episode series, it’s now 33% percent suck in my mind. Even if the rest of the episodes blow me away, it’s really too little, too late.
Yeah, especially since movies tend utilize the budget among other things.
Plus, if this is a 12 episode series, it’s now 33% percent suck in my mind.
I was thinking of the same thing. Only mine was something along the lines of how we haven’t reach half of the show yet so there’s a 67% chance it’ll get better? It made me feel a little less sad. If we were half way through I have no way to justify myself hahaha!
If we were on an academic curve, that’s still a pitiful D.
I don’t think that Blood-C is purposely trying to be boring (like, say, Haruhi’s Endless Eight arguably attempted to do)
I think that it’s just not for you (kind of like how K-On isn’t for you ;) ). The slice of life sections are intended to be entertaining to the sorts of fans who like K-On, and the action sections are for traditional Blood fans and action-oriented anime fans in general. However, those action sections (until Episode 4) just weren’t long enough to really win over those fans – In other words, the slice of life to action ratio was off.
That being said, I do think that Blood-C is aiming for internal contrasts, and will gradually reveal a much darker world than what lies on the surface, and Episode 4 is hinting at that.
Blood-C’s biggest problem is simply pacing. Episode 4 should have been Episode 3, and Episode 3 should have been Episode 2. At least then, the hints that there’s more here than meets the eye would come a bit faster.
Blood-C is too slowly paced, especially given what fans of the previous Blood anime works are expecting.
I’m afraid I disagree with you on almost all counts. The “just not for you” is a silly distinction. It says absolutely nothing: “You don’t like it because you won’t like it.” I’ve never taken that criticism seriously, and I never will. Too many fans use this as a crutch to defend their favorite anime without having to mount any sort of substantive argument: “It’s just not for you! *end discussion*” What’s the point of even talking about anime, then?
Plus, I’m not against the slice-of-life genre; it’s not my fault “Blood-C” is bad at executing it. The “Hanasaku Iroha” episode where Satsuki visits her mom and Kissuiso, on the other hand, is an example of good slice-of-life. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: slice-of-life does not mean take a random part of a character’s life and call it a day. Slice-of-life stories should still have a general thrust behind them. Neither the twins teasing a slow-minded Saya or the extended discussions on guimauve are either fascinating or insightful.
Even if these banal scenes are meant to strike a contrast with the show’s soon-to-be-darker tone, this one-note juxtaposition does not require four (and possible more) episodes. Forget the fourth episode being the third, and the third episode being the second — they all should have just been one well-paced episode.
Finally, the slice-of-life sections in this anime don’t remotely resemble “K-On!” in either tone or execution so I’m not quite sure what you were getting at with this comparison.
I thought that it was supposed to be purposefully boring as well, and it does juxtapose with the fight scenes decently. Still, that’s like cutting out the second half of Office Space and instead tacking on the end to Saving Private Ryan. That’s juxtaposition too, but it’s not good, nor does it really make a point.
Yeah, but my point is that ‘boring’ should never be half of a juxtaposition. Boring is boring, no matter how much you dress it up.
“But can an anime — or any art form, really — be deliberately boring?”
Have you ever seen ‘The Sky Crawlers’? I would argue that’s exactly what that movie was going for, and it was also made by Production I.G.
I’m not about to defend Blood-C, but my initial shock and disappointment for something like this show carrying on the name of the Blood franchise has begun to wear off. Now we know exactly what kind of formula they’re going for, even if it is a paint to watch, and seeds of doubt are being slowly but surely planted throughout the admittedly thin plot, enough to make many of the adult characters (or the whole town, for that matter) seem uncanny.
My guess, though, is that they won’t pull the rug until it’s late enough for a cliffhanger, so they can set themselves up for the movie sequel.
I have “The Sky Crawlers” sitting around….
The movie thing bothers me the most, especially considering how Production I.G. handled “Eden of the East.” There’s a good chance they limit anything interesting in the TV series so they have something juicy for the movie. In the end, that just seems like poor storytelling to me.
The Sky Crawlers had subtext, but I don’t seen any here.
Y’see, the pink marshmallow peddler is creepy!
soooo creppy. hahaha!
Ugh, I hate this anime. So boring!!! Nothing happens! It’s just Saya going to school and killing monsters! Over and over and over and over again!
I’m defintiley going to drop this show.
You and everyone else. But I’m going to keep up with it if only because I blog.
What really worries me is that I feel I couldn’t warm up to any of the characters. None of the characters- the generic twins, the emo guy, etc- seem likeable or intriguing at all. I mean why did Saya become so interested in this silent guy all of a sudden? I don’t know and so far I don’t really care to know. What this show needs is a little momentum, but the formulaic episodes and slow pacing isn’t helping much.
I guess one could look at this two ways- is the glass half full or half empty?
Anyways, going to watch ep. 5 and hope to see something change…
i LOOOVE slice of life anime like K-On, Anohana, Usagi Drop, and i also watch iDolm@ster. but gosh.. THIS ANIME SUCKS HELL!!!! not even an interesting plot dev. i’m starting to think that this is CLAMP and Production IG’s practical jokes. i like all their work, especially the TSUBAHOLI combo.
I dunno, the fifth episode picked up slightly. Of course, “picked up slightly” for “Blood-C” is actually getting a pulse from complete flatline. Too bad they followed the fifth episode up with no episode last week. So much for momentum.
You’re definitely not the only one who thinks Blood C is a disappointment!!! It’s taken me six weeks just to watch three episodes. Every time I sit down to watch it, I fall asleep.
If this anime is going to be 12 episodes plus a movie next year, I’m dropping it immediately. That is way too much boredom.