While You Were Sleeping

While You Were Sleeping 1-32! the end. kdrama! is unrelated to the Bill Pullman/Sandra Bullock movie. This is about characters who dream about the mostly-near future. A young reporter, a young prosecutor and nice-guy, third wheel, young policeman are interconnected through their dreams and try to help each other solve mysteries, prevent potential crimes and/or prevent heartache. I enjoyed the fact that this show was broken up into 30 minute mini-episodes rather that full hour-long ones and the fact that they used this format for some quite good cliffhanger moments. Hong Joo has been dreaming most of her life and feels helpless to change things. Jae Chan moves in next door, and they find they have similar dreams. Batman-loving-nice-guy, Woo Tak, gives them the prodding that they need so they try to take action in changing their futures. There's an evil lawyer lurking throughout the show and some bad guys who create trouble. ~8/10 rating~ As with other dramas that base their shows on some sort of sci-fi element, this drama doesn't delve into the laws of these dreams, but hey, it lures you in with the wtf-kery dreams and the characters that are adorable enough that you root for them anyway.

Book of the Atlantic

Kuroshitsuji: Book of the Atlantic movie! takes one of the more interesting story arcs from the manga and makes a pretty good movie out of it. The mangaka likes to frame many of her plots around known stories or pop culture. The Book of the Atlantic crosses zombies, a Dr Frankenstein-like character and the Titanic into one. The best part of the story is that Lizzie finally becomes a likable character. Ciel, Sebastian and Snake board the luxury cruise ship, Campania, to investigate a cult who can raise people from the dead. Lizzie and her family are also on board. ~8/10 rating~ for a higher than usual quality Kuroshitsuji anime episode with some fun action. I feel like I've written this before, but I don't know what the anime writers were thinking when they decided to kill Ciel off in the original anime series. It would have been nice if the tv anime, ovas and movie flowed together.

Binge-watching

Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World 3-7! Feels like I missed something when Kino said they were staying 5 days or so at the moving country, because I thought it used to be 3 days max. Shizu and Riku show up again in episode 4. Shizu interferes with a ship country that will sink and gains a homicidal little girl as a travel companion. The backstory of another traveler, Photo, is told in episode 6. And an amusing story of Kino's teacher is told in 7. The non-Kino-centric episodes are nice.



Ballroom e Youkoso 16-20! Chinatsu and Tatara's problems are refreshingly normal. They enter the next competition still arguing, but this is probably a-ok since Sengoku and his partner are similarly combative. Akira's girl-love is amusing, too.

3-gatsu no Lion S2 2-6 (24-28)! Souya takes down another opponent, but episode 24 is focused on the mildly bothersome relationship between Gotou and Kiriyama's adopted sister. Hina's bullying problem is the focus of 25-28.

Inuyashiki 2-6! The show gets a little violent as the psychopathic teen who has robo-powers is introduced in episode 2. Nice cliffhanger. It's nice to cheer for a grandpa-like hero, but he has a sadistic streak too when you see that he blinds the whole evil yakuza gang rather than kill them.

Black Clover 3-7! If Asta and Yuna could catch wild hogs and fish so easily, why didn't they provide food for the orphanage? Anyway, both leave the orphanage in episode 3 to take the Wizard Exam. Shonen anime usually draws an audience in by making them root for the under-dog main character, but geez, Asta's voice actor has an irritating yell which most viewers seem to comment negatively on...I agree, his voice is terrible.

Mahoutsukai no Yome 3-7! Hey, it's Beauty and the Beast with more magic. Chise witnesses a dragon's death in episode 3 and we find that she is somewhat suicidal, and conveniently in danger of dying young, and is a coveted 'beggy sleigh'. She learns how to cleanse a soul in episode 4-5 even the soul of a cat murderer. And in 6, she meets the very oppai-endowed Faerie Queen and humorous King. The story's pacing is pretty quick. We see Elias's true form in 7.

Shoukoku no Altair 15-19! Ouch, Mahmut receives a very thorough TSA inspection in episode 15. But is able to convince another country to join their alliance. He is able to convince many needed countries to join their side and finally joins the Torquye army at Cielo. The Imperial army meets them for battle there, too.

Youkai Apartment no Yuuga na Nichijou 16-20! There are alot of episodes where very little happens worth mentioning. This is basically my background noise anime.