Edgy.
Black Torch Ep. 6
When we last left off, everyone had personal trauma that they needed to overcome. I’m not a huge fan of this sort of thing, because it implies that you can just beat up your baggage. Yes, it’s a shounen, but c’mon… c’mon… being sad over your mother being turned into stone doesn’t mean get out the fisticuffs. But fine, let’s be a meathead and kill everything and everyone that bars our way.
Ichika seemingly has her shit together, so the backstory we got last week is it. Nothing extra in this week’s episode. She simply beats up her trauma. Either that or she’s a girl, so shounen series don’t have to focus on anything but her sex appeal.
Reiji grew up in his brother’s shadow until it came time to perform the rite of the sword or whatever it’s called. See evil sword? Claim evil sword. Now, now, don’t let the evil overtake you. Don’t let it! Aww geez, what did I say, bro! How could you let it consume you! But seriously, isn’t this kind of a stupid ritual? You must seize a weapon literally named Hell Tempest! If you screw up, it’s just our most capable warrior wielding the deadliest blade around!
As for Jiro and Rago, the former is too stupid to have trauma, so it’s all Rago, baby! Centuries ago, Rago used to have a buddy like Jiro. Then the big bad came along and tried to recruit Rago. Negotiating tactic number one: when they initially refuse to join your side, kill someone precious to them. In fact, kill the whole damn village that is precious to them. That’ll surely win them over! Oh no, the cat sealed itself away! Who could’ve predicted that! Back in the present, the ever-sensitive Jiro basically calls Rago a coward. It’s rude, but I guess he’s right. You gotta pick a side. If you try to remain neutral, you usually end up aiding the bad guys anyway. Still, how bad can this big bad really be if they’re still trying to recruit Rago after all this time? Again, it’s been centuries, and you guys can’t win a wittle war because you don’t have a cat? Pathetic.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm Ep. 18
Well, the major revelation this week is that Asuma is really an undercover agent of sorts for the Kagemori. He hates his mother’s side of the family for treating her badly, so he’s only pretending to work with his nasty uncle to, uh, collect evidence…? Why would you need evidence? You’re not the court. You don’t need to pretend like you’re upholding the law. The Kagemori are quasi-yakuza anyway. Fuck the evidence. Well, this part of the episode is basically just a conversation between Yuru, Dera, and Asuma’s daemon. Not exactly scintillating storytelling.
Next, we continue to delay the inevitable clash between the twins and Ivan, but I guess it’s okay this time because we gotta save the poor village girl. Danji sends out smoke signals to let Yuru know where Fake Asa and the village girl are being held hostage. Unfortunately, this also gets Asa’s attention, and she’s not exactly keen on Fake Asa. Now, now, just make sure the village girl survives. I don’t think we have anything to worry about, though. This show has already shown it won’t cross the line and kill a child. As for Fake Asa… well, all she did was manipulate Yuru for years and years. Kinda shitty, but I guess she doesn’t deserve to die over it.
Tomb Raider King Ep. 5
Not much to really say about this episode. Thanks to his rich new girlfriend, Joo-Heon wins the Tree of Life, which pisses off his former boss — “former” as in the previous timeline. The old man then sends lackeys after Joo-Heon, but the latter embarrasses them one by one with a relic that can apparently turn you into a zombie. Is, uh, this reversible? Or are these people stuck as brainless shamblers for the rest of their lives? Oh well, this is one of those shows where everyone kinda sucks hardcore, so you don’t really have anyone to root for — unless, of course, you identify with Joo-Heon for some reason. I think I’m just tired of his archetype. I’m tired of characters being snarky smart asses and grinning their way to victory every episode. It just feels so juvenile. But hey, I guess that’s why I’m covering this show along with a pair of shounens!
What about Irene Holton? She seems like a nice girl? Well, she’s falling for Joo-Heon’s charms, so she’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. Ideally, you want someone to at least try and keep the protagonist in check. Someone to push back in case the protagonist goes too far. I don’t think Irene is capable of fulfilling that role.