Check out Station: Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse (we should do this again sometime)

Episode 24

Oh how I hate finishing shows that I like. Especially when that moment comes.  The fade to black.  The word, “END”. And the fact that there’s no high energy preview telling you to look forward to the next episode.  At best you’ll get an announcement of movie in the works for much later.  Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse (or Muv-Luv as I succinctly and lovingly called it) was my favorite mecha show from 2012, and may even make my Top 50.  But before I go on about where it fits in my list of completed shows, perhaps I should finish this post.

Muv-Luv ep24: when it all falls down

Episode 23

When it all falls down, when everything fails you’re left with nothing but a bunch of hidden ***holes.  Or at least that seems to be the case when the people you’re bound to are just a bunch of idiots united by hate, naivety.  Oh Muv-Luv, you pulled a Gundam by eliminating as much “fat” as possible from the narrative in the penultimate episode.

Muv-Luv ep23: Alaska?! Dear God no, not Alaska!

Episode 22

Fun episode, dumb plot.

While I was happy to see Yuuya take the initiative and kick some ass. I was a little disappointed that he ended up being saved by a convenience. Though I am learning that in a way, Yuuya is the anti Kira Yamato. A character who I compared to Yuuya constantly simply because of their very similar looks. He’s learned to see the big picture and function as a part of a unit. And he’s done this consistently.

I forgot to mention during the previous post for this series, that I thought it was a cool and brilliant idea to scare everyone into staying out of the sky by giving fake Laser-class BETA warnings. Well, that would’ve been a silly statement, because they unleashed those things sooner than I expected. It really does turn the point of the whole area upside down. If the BETA are released on the North American continent, then it will only make the area completely unstable. None of this stupid plot seems worth the gambit.

In actual events, one of the cute refugee girls is dead. And I’m glad her crappy suicide attack was only marginally successful. Lt. Cui isn’t the most likable character, but I don’t want her dead by any stretch. And the A-team (I refuse to make a joke there) is on their way back to the RLF HQ to get them some weapons and ammo. And in the situation they’re in, I say f*ck it. Why not? With Inia and Cryska back together in the Terminator, and Yuuya supremely feeling himself at the moment, I say they have a pretty good shot. They just need to not die. The most basic thing in the book.

Let’s see if Lt. Takamura can get her soldiers to preven Alaska from being split in half.

*sigh*

Only in this fictional universe would someone really care about that.

#MuvLuv ep22: don’t trust anyone, but your enemy! #anime

Episode 21

So the situation seems to break down to this: Christian American leadership has instigated and directed a terrorist attack on the UN TSF Test base in Alaska.  And their lead by some bishie with probably a lot of power and influence.  And our team of pilots is fighting with practically no live ammo or information.  So why do we have any incentive to keep watching and not assume the worst?  Because this is anime dumbass!  None of that crap I just said matters!

Muv-Luv ep21: the cure is worse than the disease

Episode 19

I expected a stark contrast in episodes from the ridiculous hot springs episode in 19 to this one (episode 20 was a recap and promo), but this is jarring! The quietly bustling Alaskan base has turned into a stage for human on human treachery. This is just as bad as what happened in the Soviet Union. And it shows that the real source of conflict in this show isn’t the BETA, it’s the petty differences and the inhumanity of humans.

#MuvLuv ep19: ugh, a hot springs episode. Enjoy your dirty pics and your smut. #anime

Are you not entertained? By the boobies?!

So the central command is concerned about the growing animosity
between different test flights? Then don’t have a competition where
you reward the crews for analyzing and destroying each other! Oh
well, all that was besides the point anyway. It was all just smutty
propaganda for the military. Poor Lt. Takamura is gonna be featured
in some softcore and she doesn’t even know it. And I’m actually
surprised Yuuya didn’t get clobbered for hanging out with a naked
little girl.

Oh Japan.

For a hotsprings episode, it wasn’t as painful or as erotic as I’ve
seen from many other shows with such features. And it’s much less
painful than the beach episodes from earlier in the series. Now then,
let’s get back to the main plot please? I need to see some war,
aliens and despair.

– Posted using MobyPicture.com

#MuvLuv ep9: you’re all expendable. Especially you – Jacob! #anime

While the events of this week’s episode of Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse don’t excuse the gang rape attempt from the previous episode.  I think everyone understands their plight a bit more.  We finally get a some good TSF on BETA bloodshed, and we see what the front lines are like in this current timeline.  And I think everyone’s better off for it, except for Jacob.  Jacob’s dead.

Thank goodness. We finally get a return to warfare in this series.  And the funny thing was that apparently things went pretty smoothly this time around. Unlike when Japan was invaded, it seems like the situation was much more controlled (relatively speaking) this time around.  Those damned laser class BETA were no where to be found.  And it appears that ridiculous radiation gun did the trick.  Though I’m pretty sure no one will be able to walk on that beach again for 50 – 75 years without risking cancer.

Seeing the pilots under the Thunder God’s command fight really showed how they were a close and desperate group of kids.  And she’s probably
the closest thing they have to a mother at the moment.  Maybe that’s a little too far, but she did a hell of a job keeping them in line in the worst circumstance.

Some final thoughts; I don’t have any doubt that they’re mind wiping Chryska (I can’t ever remember how to spell her name), and it makes me
a little uncomfortable about how calm Inia is about it.  I say that because it doesn’t seem as though she’s forgotten a single thing.  Also, it’s a bit annoying how dere~dere Yui is becoming for Yuuya.  I know they’re starting to bond, and they’ve probably both had the hots for each other, but she’s melting a bit too easily for my taste. That said, it’s still not going overboard.  And I’m happy to see how the team has been bonding.  I’m sure that will help marinate the despair for when comrades inevitably go down.  Just like Jacob.

– Posted using MobyPicture.com

Don KangolJones’ Images of the Week: August 8th (Much love for Muv-Luv)

I enjoy a good mecha production as much as the next Gundam loving, Eva worshipping, Gurren-Lagann inspired guy. So when someone like me gets to enjoy 4 currently airing mecha or mecha inspired series, as well as some good old school Macross, I will say that I’m greatly aware and a time like this awed at the diversity and quantity that is at my disposal. And yet I still have the nerve to pick up a mahou shoujo and read pervy manga. I guess I’ll never be truly satisfied.