I dropped Blue Archive during Episode 3 because it's terrible, and ultimately did not pick up Mahjong Soul whose first episode aired this week... it was a YouTube short, not a full length anime. I think this are both made by the same game company? Perhaps that's why they were both so disappointing. Regardless, there are still multiple standout shows, with the best of the best airing on Friday and Saturday. Let's get into it!

Figure 1 Girls Band Cry, Episode 4

Nina (cute) shouts at Subaru (cute) over lunch after meeting her grandmother.

Girls Band Cry Episode 4 starts with Nina in a music store thinking about buying a guitar like her lovely alt-wife Momoka. After the opening, Nina, Momoka, and Subaru continue rehearsing, but Subaru has to leave abruptly after getting a text. Momoka claims she has a boyfriend (not really, it's just her grandmother). Later that evening, Nina and Momoka discuss Momoka's previous band, Diamond Dust. The next morning, Subaru texts Nina and Momoka telling them she's leaving the band. They then go to speak with Subaru, whose escorting her grandmother. Her grandmother, Tendo Awa, is strict, and continually gives her orders on how to act when she acts (she wants her to be an actress). Subaru says she doesn't really want out of the band, but said it in a panic once she learned her grandmother was coming over. Their grandmother tricks all of them into an acting improve lesson, which was a love scene about Subaru's character's leaving, of course strangely related to the band issue. On the train home, Subaru gets mad at her about it, and she learns that she's been offered a short acting role that shouldn't take longer than week to complete.

The next day, Subaru takes Nina to hear apartment (which is huge). Subaru shows at old film that launched her grandmother's career, from which she gets her name, "Subaru". She tells her she's not giving up on the band (she really loves drums!). A few days later, Subaru and her grandmother show up at the shoot, so too do Nina and Momoka to watch. After the shoot, Awa explains she wants Subaru to become an actress like her, but Subaru fails to tell her the truth. Later that day at another rehearsal, Subaru decides just to tell her later.

Figure 2 Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night, Episode 4

Mahiru, Mei, and Kiui all meeting at Kano's apartment to socialize and compose another song.

Episode 4 of Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night starts with Mahiru discussing how their first song (and accompanying video), Invincible Girl", got 10,000 views! Kano asks Kiui to meet in person, and she agrees if they meet at Kano's place. Outside her apartment, they meet Kiui and compliment her on her pink hair, and she reveals that she's not actually attending school. Arriving at Kano's apartment, they see that it's a disaster. After some snacks, Kano tells them that JELEE's goal is 100k followers, and that she'd like to release their next song by Wednesday. Of course, such a fast release is no feasible, as the other three members explain that have other things to do, such as school and music lessons. This upsets Kano because she'd like to beat the release of her old idol group, Sunflower Dolls.

Kano leaves and they meet her older sister, Mion, who arrives shortly thereafter. She explains that their parents got divorced in elementary school and wanted to do whatever would please their mother. The producer of Sunflower Dolls is her mother. This sent her in a spiral of depression that only lifted when she made friends with the other three, Mahiru, Mei, and Kiui, and started their band. They later find Kano wondering the streets at night and bring her home, only to find that Mahiru has cleaned her apartment for her and made her dinner. They proceed to share some embarrassing secrets and try to write a song as the night progresses. The next morning, the song is finished and they upload it before collapsing from exhaustion.

Meanwhile, Kano's old idol group, Sunflower Dolls, is going on a promo tour for their "comeback" after Kano's departure, and we (along with Kano) see glimpses of them through the entire episode, learning more of their upcoming single release. After the credits, they all wake up and notice they have a lot retweets, somehow going viral with their song.

Figure 3 Whisper Me a Love Song, Episode 3

Himari explaining to Yori that she wants to spend more time with her.

We're here ago. The one true yuri show this season. Episode 3 of Whisper Me a Love Song begins with Himari reflecting how her her love seems different than her peers, questioning if she's ever felt romantic love. Believing that, after meeting Yori-senpai, she has, she now questions what she's going to do next. The next day at school, Himari tells her friend Miki that Yori confessed to her, and she's unsure how to respond, given that she's never loved anyone romantically before. Meanwhile, Yori is lost in thought and ignores her friends. Alone on the roof, Yori laments her current situation, and Himari texts her asking for more time to think over her reply. While walking home, Yori explains to a friend that she asked Himari out and is still waiting for an answer.

Several days later, Himari continues to turn over thoughts in her head regarding the proper response. She overhears her mother talking to her father over the phone, and asks her how he she and dad started dating. She explains that her father asked her out in high school, but initially she turned him down. It wasn't until two years later that she accepted and reciprocated his feelings. After the conversation, Himari decides to tell Yori her feelings the next day on the roof. The next day, she tells Yori that she loves her and would like to continuing spending more time with her in order to see if love blooms. Yori accepts the chance she's being given. Yori tells her she's going to make her fall for her. The next day, Yori joins the music club and plans to continue singing for Himari.

Figure 4 Astro Note, Episode 4

Mira and Takumi watching Space Girl 1.

Episode 4 of Astro Note starts with Mira sharing the evidence of a ghost eating people's breakfasts with Takumi, explaining that Naosuke is not responsible. Takumi offers to help catch the ghost, thief, or whatever it is. The next morning, they try and catch the ghost by planting a trap breakfast and following it through a hidden passage in the basement. At the end, they meet Kamimachi Aoi, who lives in a hidden room (Room 7). The learn that Aoi is very shy, and Room 7 has been modified to permit Aoi to move throughout the residence without running into people. She explains the she's been taking breakfast because she thought they were left for her in an act of kindness. Laster, Mira and Shoin meet with Tasuke's (the previous owner of Astro Lodge) lawyer, but she knows little about him. But they do learn he was from Wido, like Mira. Later that evening, residents of the lodge have a drink in Takumi's room, and Mira and Takumi decide to watch Space Girl 1 (the movie they wanted to watch a few episodes ago) that evening. The next day, they watch Space Girl 2 (the sequel) in theaters. We also learn that Aoi and Takumi used to work together. That evening, Takumi again witnesses Mira and Shoin together, sending him into distress.

Figure 5 An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride, Episode 5

Nephy telling Barbatos that she belongs to Zagan.

Here we are. Again. Another week with my lovely white-haired elf with Nephy!! Episode 5 of An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride starts with The Angelic Knight Chastille fighting my lovely wife Nephy alone on the street at night following Zagan's rejection last episode. Nephy offers the knight her head, but Chastille, of course, refuses. Townsfolk father and say Nephy is a good girl and doesn't deserve to be executed. After the opening, over dinner, Chastille explains to Manuela that she wasn't bullying Nephy. Later, Nephy explains to them that she got kicked out shortly after he become an Archdemon. Chastille asks if Zagan could be behind recent kidnappings, but she steadfastly denies he'd ever do something like that, and Chastille agrees. Nephy shares the despair she saw in in Zagan's eyes, and realizes he still, now and into the future, needs her help. Before departing, Chastille agrees to help Nephy, and they all decide to be friends.

A dark miasma appears claiming to be Zagan and envelops both Chastille and Nephy, and a voice says to come to Zagan's castle if they wish to recover them. Back at the castle, knights approach beg Zagan not to execute Chastille, but he is confused. Manuela appears and asks for the same thing, and realizes another sorcerer has kidnapped them and framed him. Manuela pleads with him to save them. Zagan steeled his resolve, and vows to save Nephy.

Chastille and Nephy awaken in a cave, and Barbatos approaches. Shocked, Nephy asks wasn't he Zagan's friend? Barbatos explains that the firs sorcerer Zagan killed happened to be his master. His castle, his money, everything, was supposed to belong to Barbatos. He goes on to explain that he's the one behind the kidnappings and the one who sicced the Church on Zagan. He plants to sacrifice Nephy to prove his worth to the 12 remaining Archdemons. Nephy laughs, and explains that Zagan has already taken his position. Regardless, Barbatos begins the ritual to sacrifice Nephy. Nephy responds that she belongs to her master. Just then, Zagan appears and says he'd expect nothing less from his Apprentice.

Figure 6 Mysterious Disappearances, Episode 3

Uname (as a child) being bullied at school.

Episode 3 of Mysterious Disappearances starts with a fairly miserable flashback of Uname-sensei as a child, living with her grandmother, being bullied by her classmates for being poor. As a result, she gets into a fight but the school nevertheless blames her (and, by extension, her grandmother). After the opening, Ren expresses joy at Sumireko's and Oto's findings, noting that there must be another curiosity at the school. The next day, Sumireko pretends to be another bully victim that Uname rescues, and when she does Ren immediately intercepts her as the culprit behind the droolers. He identifies her hair ornament as the curiosity, but Uname licks Sumireko, incapacitating her. In a flashback, we learn that the hair ornament was from her grandmother, given to her to stop bullying. Ren is able to save her, and explains that the ornament is a curse. Ren realizes he can't solve this matter peacefully, and forces "the hand of karma" causing both he and her to collapse for their hitherto unpaid transgressions. In the process, the curiosity is destroyed (removing the possibility of a train ticket). Strange episode. Not a huge fan of all the arcane Japanese curses and mythology, but it's still better than Dark Gathering (by a lot).

Figure 7 I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so [..] Magical Ability, Episode 4

Slypha completely destroying the demon Pazuzu.

The main character of I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability is a complete oddity. Why they had to make him so young I'll never understand. Anyways, Episode 4 begins with Lloyd, Slypha, and Albert heading out on a monster hunt to check out how well his enchanted weapons perform. When they get ambushed, Tao also appears to help them fight the monsters, and she (sort of) recognizes Lloyd, who is younger. Tao and Slypha do not get along. While they argue, they get jumped by a Bearwoolf, which Prince Albert swiftly defeats (using Lloyd's enchanted weapons). Grim informs Lloyd there's a demon sealed in the shrine at the top of the hill. The fallen Bearwolf gets up, along with a horde of other monsters, and the demon Pazuzu appears. The monsters attack, and immediately heal when wounded. Slypha attacks Pazuzu, forcing him to focus on regenerating himself instead of his minions. After a crazy fight, Slypha executes Pazuzu and the credits roll.

Figure 8 Chillin' in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers, Episode 3

Flio and Rys eating lunch together.

Episode 3 of Chillin' in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers begins with Rys's cute face greeting Flio as he wakes up. We're then treated to the opening which could only be charitably be called a psychic attack. After the OP, we find Balirossa and team training, but to little progress. Back in town, Flio and Rys draw some attention due to the number of boars they killed, and the Guild Master approaches Flio, who explains the king is asking for his assistance. Thinking of Rys, he refuses. Meanwhile, Rys tries to learn cooking, but fails. The King continues to attempt to recruit Flio, but he continues to refuse. The training continues, with marginal effectiveness, all while being observed by the demon scout from the end of Episode 2. Fenrys realizes this, and confronts the scout, Uliminas. Flio tells Uliminas that he's the one who purified the forest, and Uliminas tells Rys that Flio killed her brother with that spell. But she's largely indifferent, and Balirossa's party overhears the exchange. Uliminas challenges Flio to a duel, which he swiftly wins. The next day, Flio and Rys tell Balirossa's party the truth, and they agree not to turn them in. Uliminas returns with a legion of dragons to attack them, and Flio immediately defeats all of them. At the end of the episode, the Dark Lord, Gholl, claims he'll make his move on Flio.

Figure 9 Wonderful Pretty Cure!, Episode 12

Cure Nyammy introducing herself to Iroha and Komugi.

Episode 12 of Wonderful Pretty Cure! begins with Mayu believing Yuki is lost, with the reveal that, at night, she leaves the house and transforms into a Cure. The next morning, Mayu explains to Iroha and Komugi that it seems sometimes Yuki just disappears. The next day, Komugi helps Iroha and Mayu track Yuki by her scent, with little success. Iroha then hands Mayu a camera to help track Yuki, which Yuki greatly despises. Shortly thereafter, both Komugi and Yuki sense a Garugaru nearby, and Komugi and Iroha quickly leave. Mayu tries to follow them, but gets ambushed (alone) by the Garugaru, and Cure Nyammy appears to protect her. Mayu realizes Cure Nyammy is also the same blonde girl she saw earlier. After punching the Garugaru back into the forest, Cure Friendly and Wonderful appear to to help fight it. Cure Nyammy is about to literally kill the Garugaru when Friendly and Wonderful jump in to try to save it, explaining that they're kind creatures who've just hard their hearts darkened. Cure Nyammy watches them purify the Garugaru and send it back to Niko Garden, then leaves. Easily the best PreCure episode so far. Cure Nyammy is so cute and cool!

Figure 10 The Banished Former Hero Lives as He Pleases, Episode 5

Lord Bret tells the town to sacrifice their gifts in return for a demon's power.

Is The Banished Former Hero Lives as He Pleases the deadest show of the season? There's probably less than 10 people on /a/ watching it with me. Oh well! Anyways, Episode 5 begins with a flashback of Lord Bret as a child, alone, crestfallen, hating his brother Alan. As an adult, he greets his father, who explains he's ready to exact revenge on this city, on this kingdom. After the opening, rumors that General Cyril has reappeared are spreading throughout the city. While walking through the city, the Captain of the guards is approached by the Archbishop who wishes to speak with him privately. At the training guards, the Archbishop vanishes, and the Captain is ambushed by Craig, who tells the Captain he no longer has need for this world. We're greeted with multiple flashbacks of Alan's deceased mother laying in state.

In a continued flashback, we see Craig's father dismissing Alan as a failure, while Bret levels up. A phantom, speaking to Bret in the present, explains that Captain Edward's gift that can nullify other powers is dangerous, but Bret insists that his father will handle him. Back at the city, we see the Hero from Episode 2 escorting Sara through the city. She and Sara are ambushed, and the mages attempt to detonate the child, who pushes her away, but the Hero shields her, claiming that she will never run. General Cyril (being controlled by Bret), along with the Archbishop appear, and speak to a crowd of people explaining that gifts are not blessings, but curses. Gifts allow the gods to control humans like puppets, but if they give up their gifts they can free themselves from the god's control.

Lord Bret appears and summons a sorcerous life form that will gain strength from from latent abilities, not from gifts. Bret then reveals a demon, explaining that if humans corporate with demons, demons will lend them the power to replace their gifts, and the crowd cheers. Meanwhile, the duel between Craig and Captain Edward continues, but he's not able to nullify his gift. As a result, Edward is defeated, but before he yields the hero appears to save him. Instead, his level is sufficiently high that his gift doesn't matter. The Vice Captain of the guards is ambushed, and Beatrice appears to aid him. While speaking, Bret hears Alan's voice in the crowd, and the episode ends. Listen. I'm gonna say it. It wasn't that bad. This episode had more story development than any of the previous episodes, and I like how it tied up Alan, Sara, and the Hero's story. Really interesting. Looking forward to next week's episode.

Figure 11 The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio, Episode 3

Chika's mom explaining why she doesn't like her daughter being a voice actress.

The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio is yet another show that would have been better if it was yuri. Anyways, Episode 3 starts with some weird internet stalker figuring out where they live. Meanwhile, Yumiko and Chika decided to have a sleepover at Chika's place (which is a very large and lavish apartment). They then have a bath together (again, not yuri, unfortunately), and then compare breast sizes, and Yumiko offers Chika the opportunity to touch her boobs (which she very excitedly does), and further compliments her on her body, and how she looks without makeup. After their bath, they both discuss why they wanted to become voice actresses.

The next morning, Sato meets Chika's mom, who asks her what her mother thinks of being a voice actress. She explains she approves, but that she herself doesn't due to its lack of stability. She further derides her daughter's job as it's making her sell her youth and femininity (TRUE). After this dry up, she'll come crying back to her. Yumiko agrees, but still explains there's nevertheless a chance at long term success. Chika, of course, overhears everything. Later, Chika explains she's jealous of her charisma and ability to act, and she considers her a professional threat due to her talent. Later, the stalker realizes they have the same school bag as Yumiko and Chika, and then determines their class number at his school, realizing they're in his class.

On her way to school, Yumiko learns that Chika got a leading role in a bit mecha anime that's coming up, and is concerned by her talent as well. At work, Yumiko learns that High School Radio isn't as popular as one would have hoped, and they're only going to complete four more episodes before ending the series. Yumiko realizes this adversely affects her more than Chika given that Chika already has a leading role in Kamishiro's new anime. Later, she realizes that was rude, and decides she'll apologize at school tomorrow. The next morning, Otome calls Yumiko and tells her to search Chika's name, finding that there are tons of anonymous allegations that she's having a relationship with the Kamishiro director, who is very obviously her dad.

Figure 12 As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill [...] the World, Episode 3

Reitz and Ars in awe at Charlotte's magical power.

Episode 3 of As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World begins with a flashback of Charlotte as a child, struggling to get by. In the present, she gets beat up by a group of men who can't get her to cry. The slave trader informs the group to lay off her face, "She's got a buyer". Just then, Rietz and Ars appears to save her. After a fight that destroys the entire bar, Reitz and Ars offer to buy her so the slave trader can save face. As the sun is rising, Rietz gives Charlotte a device to test her magical aptitude, which is extraordinary. Charlotte thanks them for saving her, and apologizes for stealing their money.

Figure 13 The Train to the End of the World, Episode 4

The girls rip Akira's butt mushroom off.

Episode 3 of The Train to the End of the World begins several hours after the girls left Mushroom town, realizing how long their journey is actually going to be given that the towns are hours apart. The girls realize Pochi keeps sniffing Akira's butt, and inquire as to why. They arrive at Musashi-Yokote, a large lush green grassland. They're immediately attacked by a herd of large goat people who immediately ram their train, and they quickly flee. Shizuru begins to fall asleep, and the girls agree to take turns driving. Akira excuses herself to the bathroom, and refuses to acknowledge she has a mushroom growing on her butt. The next day they arrive at Koma station, where they're immediately greeted by fields and fields of plants laughing at them. They arrive at Higashi-Hannou, a station full of golf balls and they refuse to stop. They realize that it may be possible that all the people the saw, the goats, the plants, and even the golf balls were all people.

Akira's mushroom infection further advances and she starts talking strange, and they hold her down and pull it off. It crawls away, screams, then dies. Afterwards, Akira's personality has changed, and the girls don't know what to do. They send a Morse code message back to Zenjiro, who tells them he knows a doctor who may be able to help. At the next stop, Motokaji, they ask for doctors, but find little help. At the next stop, they arrive at a small city where they get ambushed by a group of soldiers tho attack and shoot them. While the bullets are small and have little effect, eventually they lose consciousness. They awaken tied to the blades of a small helicopter, and the credits roll.

Figure 14 Unnamed Memory, Episode 3

Tinasha, in a dream, about to be killed by Oscar to lift the curse.

At the start of Episode 3 of Unnamed Memory, Tinasha gets a haircut (cringe), and goes on to explain that she can't understand Oscar. After the opening, Oscar tells his father than he wants to take Tinasha as his bridge, but she refuses, saying she'll only lift the curse. Oscar and his squire, Lazar, go into a nearby forest alone to investigate the death of several villages, and get ambushed by several poisonous plants, and Lazar is saved by Lucrezia, the Witch of the Forbidden Forest, who then inquires how Tinasha the Azure Witch is doing. Oscar explains he wants to marry her. Back at the castle, Tinasha senses something is wrong with Oscar, but he explains that he's fine, but the next day he begins hallucinating. Tinasha believes he's taken a secret lover, who then realizes that he met Lucrezia and confronts him.

Tinasha explains Lucrezia placed a curse on him that's slowly draining his life force, and that night she attempts to break it in his sleep. In a dream, he strangles Tinasha then breaks her neck, then awakens. Tinasha then teleports to Lucrezia's house, who yells at her a bout the curse that almost killed him. She explains he's caught up with The Witch of Silence, who explains that spell wasn't meant to make a copy of her, but only his desires. The next day, back at the castle, Oscar and Tinasha apologize to each other. Pretty week episode. Just like last week. But this is all we have on Tuesdays. Oh well.

Figure 15 Gods' Games We Play, Episode 4

Fay, Leshea, and Pearl standing atop a Leviathan after defeating Ouroboros's game.

Gods' Games We Play Episode 4 begins with Fay, Leshea, and Pearl landing on Ouroboros's body. They meet up with Orvan Misketz, Pearl's former team captain, who explains that if they fall of Ouroboros they will immediately die. They meet a meep who explains if they make Ouroboros say a certain word they will win. After walking into a trap which is also disarmed by saying a specific word, the advance of Ouroboros's body. The goal is to make Ouroboros say "Ouch" and they attack it, to little effect The Meep mentions there's a hidden rule, that if they do "something", "something else" will happen. After advancing to its head and attacking it, they activate another trap killing multiple members of Orvan's team. Fay tells them to keep thinking as this game has an infinite time limit. After some though, Fay tells Leshea to hit Ouroboros as hard as she can, activating an even more powerful trap that kills nearby Leviathans , causing them to attack Ouroboros, and they jump on the Leviathan, activating the final stage. Fay directs the Leviathans to fly to Ouroboros's stomach, and Leshea and Fay attack it, with Pearl using a portal to direct his beam into its eye, defeating it. At the end of the episode, Ouroboros appears in human form and presents one of her as a reward, which will allow her to face her whenever they wish.

Figure 16 Spice & Wolf, Episode 4

Holo telling Lawrence she never wants to be alone.

At the start of Spice & Wolf, Episode 4, Lawrence talks to a Milone Trading Company representative about the price of silver coins dropping, and their plans to capitalize on the decrease. The next day, the branch manager says Medio trading company is behind the ploy, but the exact details are unimportant if Milone makes their move swiftly. Dreaming of his profits, Lawrence sketches up plans his future store. Holo explains that, if he opens a store, she'll have to travel alone or, more likely, find a new traveling partner. Holo begins to cry, telling Lawrence that she doesn't want to me alone anymore, and Lawrence explains that she can continue traveling with her.

With a suddenly since of urgency, Holo explains they're are people outside their room, and masked men breach their room. Holo and Lawrence flee from the window and are chased by the mask men. In order to escape, Holo and Lawrence split up, and more people pursue them. Lawrence makes it to the Milone Trading Company, and Lawrence explains their deal may be in jeopardy. The head of the company expresses suspicion, as there was no reason to capture Lawrence and Holo given that they already have all the information they need. A letter arrives with a cryptic message: "We have the wolf, the Church doors are always open". Lawrence explains that Holo is a Wolf God of Harvest, and the credits roll.

Figure 17 WIND BREAKER, Episode 4

Shishitoren and Bofurin agree to a tournament style 1-on-1 fight.

Episode 4 of WIND BREAKER starts with Umemiya learning of the recent incident with Shishitoren, who seems a bit casual about the whole incident. The leader of Shishitoren appears at the school, Tomiyama Choji, and demands Umemiya fight. Choji has left a trail of incapacitated Bofurin students behind him, and immediately attacks Umemiya. Additional Shishitoren students appear to back him up. Umemiya demands his students stay back, and accepts a 1-on-1 fight against Tomiyama, and Shishitoren counters with a series of 1-on-1 fights in a tournament style. The episode ends right before the fight / tournament begins.

Figure 18 Mission: Yozakura Family, Episode 3

Taiyo asking Mutsumi for spy training to better protect Mutsumi.

Episode 3 of Mission: Yozakura Family begins with Taiyo asking Mutsumi to help him become stronger. Futaba explains the mansion is rigged with traps, and simply living their for a month will be sufficient training. Shion explains that all the traps in the house are controlled by a computer, and if he clears all of them he'll be able to pass them at will later. Mutsumi recounts how, in the past, Taiyo cut his own hair to fend off some of Mutsumi's bullies. During his training, Taiyo collapses from a fever brought on by fatigue, and Nanao explains that she's been giving Taiyo medicine to hide his injuries and advance his training. Futaba explains that if he can't protect himself, he can't protect anyone else. At the end of the episode, the house acknowledges Taiyo as a member of the Yozakura family.

Figure 19 A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics, Episode 4

Yuna telling her mom she'll beat the crap of her bullies the next day.

Ugh. A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics airs so late on Thursday I have to watch it at home instead of during the day at work, which always makes any show, unless it is extraordinarily good, feel more like a chore than fun. Anyways, Episode 4 stars with Sara meeting Haruka, Sosuke's old friend, and also a private detective, and hands off a job from a mother who wants to investigate the possibility that her daughter is being bullied at school. That night, she speaks to the mom about her daughter, Yuna, who has been acting strangely recently, and the next day they meet her in person. But she denies everything. She however relates with Sara, who is the same age, and discloses that she is being bullied at school, and the ringleader is the daughter of the president of the company her mom works for.

Listening from outside the door, the mom breaks in and tells them that's nothing to worry about. Sosuke proposes she recording any evidence of bullying, and proves her with a hidden pen camera and records ample proof the next day. The evidence is then sent to a lawyer who drafts a cease and desist (lol). Later, Sara decides to dress up for a Halloween festival. While there, Sara explains that the language of her home world is similar enough to Japanese that she can speak and understand it without issue. She then explains Nobunaga Oda is the one who split the timelines in her home world. Notably, in her timeline Nobunaga lived and unified the nation.

Figure 20 THE NEW GATE, Episode 3

Shin helps Lacia kill undead and level up to acquire the Purify ability.

THE NEW GATE Episode 3 begins with Shin asking the Elementail to form a contract with him and become his familiar, naming it Yuzuha. Shin receives world that Tiera was able to contact Schnee and notify her of his return. After the opening, Shin accepts a job from the Church orphanage and returns to Millie to notify her that she saved the fox in the forest. Speaking with Tria, a nun at the church, who asks to be taught the "Purify" skill. Shin offers to teach her on the condition she explains Millie's skill and shares information the church acquires. Shin learns that Millie sometimes has visions, visions which have hitherto never been wrong. Tria explains she wants someone else to learn Purify, the priest's daughter, in the hopes that she'll inherit the church.

A child explains to Shin that a new Priest is going to takeover and they may get rid of the orphanage. If Lacia, the current priest's granddaughter learns a Purify, this may be avoided. Later she meets Sister Lacia, and Wilhelm appears. Shin explains to acquire Purify, Lacia will have to defeat 200 undead over level 150 while holding a Holy Orb, which he can provide. The plan is to weaken the undead and have Lacia land the killing blow. Late that night, Wilhelm asks if Shin is a "Chosen One", and Shin explains that he's not familiar with the term, thus he likely isn't. The next day, Lacia, Shin, and Wilhelm begin to slay undead while letting Lacia land the killing blow. Meanwhile, Schnee aids various soldiers in defeating the strong Skullface Jacks that have appeared.

Figure 21 Monster #8, Episode 3

Shinomiya saves Kafka's life.

Episode 3 of Monster #8 begins with Kafka uprighting the company car Shinomiya threw last episode. During training, Kafka struggles to keep up without using his Kaiju powers. Furthermore, the competition is stiff, with many elites (including Shinomiya) applying this year. Their second test is to kill Kaijuu. They equip combat suits that increase their strength and measure their combat power, and Shinomiya draws 46% of the suits power, on the level of a platoon leader. Kafka, however, draws out zero. During the combat test, Shinomiya excels, and Kafka struggles. Captain Aoi appears to observe the test, which steels Kafka's resolve. Accepting that they lack strong offense abilities, they decide to support those who do during the test. However, Kafka is ambushed and is saved by Shinomiya. Despite multiple injuries, Kafka refuses to give up, increasing his combat power slightly above zero, and the credits roll.

Figure 22 The Fable, Episode 4

Yoko laughs at how Takahashi is barely able to walk.

Episode 4 of The Fable begins right where we left off in Episode 3, the fight between Fable and some random thug to convince the yakuza boss of his prowess, who he swiftly defeats by striking his neck. The boss steps out and demands he kill the thug, but he refuses. Fable explains he'd like to live peacefully for the next year. The boss asks him what life means to him, and Fable responds he has a pet parrot that he'd like to live. Fable (Sato) and the boss leave for something to eat. Meanwhile, Yoko and Takahashi get completely drunk at an upscale bar in town, to the point where Takahashi is unable to stand and passes out. Over dinner, the boss tells Fable his brother is getting out of prison soon, and that's why he wanted to test him. Back and Yoko's place, Takahashi collapses and Yoko finds his inability to move hilarious.

Figure 23 Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included, Episode 5

Noel and Shintaro walk home together.

Coming in as easily the worst MC of the season, we have Shintaro from Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included. Another show that I'm seriously considering dropping due to how terrible the main character is along with how unremarkable all the girls are. Anyways, Episode 5 continues the melancholy of Tsumugi who realizes that she's now competing with a literal angel for Shintaro (although he's so retarded it's probably for the best). The next day after school, Tsumugi and Shintaro research mythical beings in the school library. On their walk how, there's a large storm and Tsumugi offers her umbrella to a small child on their way to a cram school. As a result, Tsumugi and Shintaro have to share an umbrella on their way to a donut shop. The next day, Shintaro walks home with Noel (a cute).

Figure 24 Blue Archive, Episode 3

I dropped this show so I no longer care.

Of all the anime I'm watching this season, 2 or 3 feel like a chore every time, and Blue Archive is definitely one of the chores. "I am strongly considering dropping it" is what I thought going into Episode 3. And then I did. Part way through Episode 3 I accepted that this show was terrible, that it has no redeeming qualities, and I dropped it. There will be no further posts covering this terrible anime on Morganna's House. It is rare that I drop shows—they have to be utterly and completely irredeemable. And Blue Archive is.

Other Remarks

I made a lot of progress today both in Runescape and photography! It was stunning how much I finally got done today!

Figure 25 Master ("120") Max Completionist Cape

I finally got it to day. It's taken 20 years (although for many of those years I was playing other games).

After years, I finally got the 120 Master cape in Runescape. My final 120 was Construction, which I got using a combination of bonus experience, protean planks, and cinder cores. I thought I'd get it during the next double XP event in May, but I got it before then! My next goal is the Master Quest Cape and, of course, the Trimmed Completionist Cape! Both will likely take years, given that I spend most of my time AFKing for gold instead of actually doing achievements, but hey, it's nice to have a long term goal!

Figure 26 I developed my first black and white roll of 35mm film!

I learned a lot from doing this, and I'm glad I took up the challenge!

I also took the chemicals I prepared last weekend and developed my first roll of black and white film. I still don't have a 35mm film scanner (I plan to buy one next week, likely along with a proper photo printer) so I'll be able to make proper scans and post them here soon. Regardless, I had to learn a lot of new material to make this happen. From buying all the chemicals, the light meters, timing and setting the temperature for development, yikes, that was quite the journey when I think about all the skills I had to acquire to make it happen.

Over the summer, I may consider trying to learn the piano I have downstairs. I bought it a year ago and never use it. Calligraphy, like piano, is something I've always wanted to learn... but I feel like I may be too old to learn music at this point. I'm so far behind people who have been doing it for so much longer than me! Or is that just a myth?

Let me open by saying anyone who believes Tarot cards actually predict the future is mentally retarded and should seriously consider their life choices.

Anyways, for a while I've wanted to learn Tarot cards not because they work (they don't), but because a lot of students get entertainment out of me making up readings. The only problem is is that Tarot doesn't work and the readings are meaningless, so it's hard for me to find motivation to learn something I utterly hate and despise because its superstitious nonsense. Consequently, I've spent a lot of time (perhaps more than I should) trying to find Tarot decks and, in part, Tarot guide books, that speak to me enough to provide sufficient motivation to get through the slog that is learning this nonsense, if only for future student entertainment.

Figure 1 Untamed Mystery Tarot

While the artwork on this deck is terrible (the images tell you nothing about the card's meaning), the foiling is the best I've ever seen. This makes it all the more upsetting that the cards are unusable.

The first serious Tarot deck I bought was The Untamed Mystery Tarot. The holographic foiling was by far and away the best I had ever seen, and the weird dreamlike designs spoke to me... at least until I got them. One reviewer I found said they "like everything about the deck but the actual cards", and I agree. The card stock, the foiling, the back design, everything is amazing. But the cards themselves are confusing, repetitive, and hard to follow. They feel more like a display piece that something to actually be used, and I suppose in that regard, if that were there intent, they were a success.

Figure 2 Bana's "Korean Mythology" Tarot

The most recent Tarot cards I ordered (they're on the way now) are Korean inspired. I wanted Japanese/anime inspired, but I'll take what I can get, and they don't look bad regardless.

After a bit more searching, I really wanted an anime or Japanese inspired Tarot deck, of which there were several than I found on Etsy, but none of then were quite to my liking. I then stumbled upon Bana's "Korean Mythology" Tarot. Etsy didn't have it in stock, but Bana's website (whoever that is, I think it's the name of the illustrator) had then in stock so I placed and order and they're on their way now! It also comes with a Tarot guide book, which I hope is more interesting than the other one I bought previous ("Guided Tarot", I think it was called) off Amazon.

Other Remarks

I think I have finalized plans for 120 Construction in Runescape. I believe I may have enough Oddments to by enough Prismatic Stars to provide enough bonus experience for 118 to 120. Then, given that I have enough Protean Planks, I can just afk it much the same way I did Divination. Of course, this assumes I have enough Cinder Cores remaining, of which I only have 100 left, so I may have to make up the difference somehow? Regardless, I'm still closer than I thought I was this time last week!

Early on I wasn't too sure what shows would be good, and while we're still early in the season there are definitely some standouts. Girls Band Cry and Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night are both incredibly strong, both contending for Anime of the Season. Astro Note, a show I went into with little to zero expectations of quality, is also really funny. It's rare to see a well executed comedy, but it's here. And, of course, Whisper Me a Love Song a true yuri anime which, as always, means it's a masterpiece. There's also multiple cute white-haired girls, Nephy and Rys, so we have that box throughly checked.

Figure 1 Girls Band Cry, Episode 3

Nina, Momoka, and Subaru sing in the closing credits of Episode 3.

Okay. Listen. I caved. I'm so excited to watch Girls Band Cry every week that this week I went with the machine translated French-to-English subtitles of a Japanese show.

Episode 3 starts with Nina staying up until midnight trying to write songs (forgetting she has to study for school). After the opening credits, she drops by Momoka's house and finds Subaru is there too. Nina shares some of her work, but leaves early because she's behind in her studies. Subaru leaves with her, but Nina makes up an excuse to avoiding walking with her. Back at home, Momoka realizes Subaru left her phone there, and the next day asks Nina to return it to her. Subaru invites her to eat, but Nina again comes up with an excuse to leave. Subaru explains that she knows Nina is avoiding her. Nina explains that she doesn't know how to act when people are friendly with her.

Next Sunday, Momoka proposes a street show for the band. While they still don't have a bass player, Momoka explains a looper should be sufficient, but Nina is afraid of singing again. Momoka explains regardless of whether or not she sings, she'll have regrets given her apprehensive personality. Afterwards, they go to a studio to rent some instruments and to rehearse. The rehearsal goes great, and Nina has a blast. Afterwards, they go to the same restaurant from episode 1 for dinner. The waitress asks if they're in a band, and Momoka gives them a ticket to their weekend show. The waitress then talks to the cook, who says they should tell them of their musical project. Nina shows up to the show in ordinary clothes, and Momoka forces her to change in a more interesting outfit. After a motivating speech, Nina walks out on stage and the band starts playing. To a pretty cool song, I may add. Better than Episode 1.

Figure 2 Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night, Episode 3

Kiui standing in front of Mahiru's Jellyfish mural realizing that she has no where she belongs.

At the start of Episode 3 of Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night we see Mahiru volunteering at her school for a part in an upcoming play that involves singing and dancing, to which the class is very surprised. The next day, Mei gives Mahiru and Kano a song she drafted, and they both agree it's very good. They contact Mahiru's friend, vtuber Kiui for help making a video to accompany their song. Later, we're greeted to the melancholy of Kiui, who plays games alone in her room all day, skipping school in the process. Girls from Kiui's school show to to Mahiru's school fair, but they've never heard of Kiui. She's not student counsel president. They tell Mahiru that she's been skipping school. Mahiru brings this up to Kiui, who becomes angry and hangs up the call.

We then get a flashback of Kiui at school, acting bizarrely and being ignored as a result. Over the phone, she lies to Mahiru and pretends to have friends. At night in front of the Jellyfish mural, Kiui breaks down crying, lamenting her inability to feel a sense of belonging anywhere. Kano and Mei show up to Mahiru's performance, and livestream the performance to Kiui. That evening, Kiui completes the video and apologizes to Mahiru. Mahiru explains that she admires Kiui's confidence, even when she was lying, even when she was making things up. After the credits, Kiui meets Mahiru in person at a coffee shop.

Figure 3 Whisper Me a Love Song, Episode 2

Yori telling Himari that she really loves her and really wants to go out with her.

Of the many shows airing this season, there are few that I actually look forward to. Whisper Me a Love Song is one of the few that I do. Episode 2 begins with Himari praising Yori's singing, and Yori explaining that she likely won't continue with the band from Episode 1, explaining that she's embarrassed to sing in front of people. After the opening, Himari speaks to Yori about their plans after school (because it's raining) and they exchange phone numbers. After school, Himari drops by Yori's classrooms, and after discussing what they like (cats) Himari invites Yori on a deito on Sunday. Afterwards, Yori tries to write her love song (while thinking of Himari), and a friend calls and asks if she has plans for Sunday. She says she does—that she's going on a deito.

That Sunday, Yori treats Himari to lunch and they arrive at the cat merchandise show and Yori buys tons of things ("it's there fault for being so cute"). They also buy matching phone straps. They then pop into a music store, and Himari says she really wants to see her playing in a band again—while listening to her on the roof is fun, there's a magic to seeing her on stage, too. At the end of the deito, Yori contemplates how she wants to go on another deito, spend more time, and be by Himari's side forever. She tells Himari to imagine how happy they'd be if they were dating, to which Himari responds that would be great, and departs for her train. When she does, Yori grabs her arm and tells her she really does want to go out with her, telling her to think about it. At the end of the episode, Yori's friends wonder how her date went, and Aki contemplates on how she, too, fell in love with Yori at first sight. Back at home, Himari reflects on what Yori said earlier, believing that her love is different... then wonders what love is.

Figure 4 Astro Note, Episode 3

Mira about to blow the Planet Hub spy attack duck out of the sky after it stole Ren's bento.

I'll be honest, while I don't think Astro Note is necessarily a masterpiece, it is, for whatever reason, one of the few shows I look forward to every season. Perhaps it's because Mira is cute. Who knows?

At the start of Episode 2, we immediately learn that Shion is not actually Mira's fiancé. It was a joke they made as kids. Mira takes Shoin to her room and explains she's trying to keep her identity secret. Shoin explains more spies from Planet Hub are on the way, and he will keep her safe. Later that night, Naosuke plants a camera in the dining room to catch who's stealing breakfast, and Takumi struggles with the fact that he believes Mira is going on deitos with Mira. Later, Ren laments that he doesn't have a bento to bring on an upcoming field trip, and Takumi offers to make him one, but it goes missing from the dinning room table yet again, and Takumi quickly makes another one, and Mira and Takumi go on a "deito" to deliver it. But a spy mistakes the lunch for a key, and they're ordered to go after it. Shoin arrives and tells her to hide, but instead she demands to go to Enoshima to deliver the lunch.

While driving, the spy bird swoops and and steals the lunch, and Shoin converts his car into a flying car to chase and, meanwhile Mira shoots it down with a missile. They recover the lunch (Takumi gets beat up in the process), and all three deliver the lunch right in time. At the end of the episode, Naosuke examines the recorded footage and sees a ghost stealing lunch off the table. Not gonna lie, this is actually a really good show.

Figure 5 An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride, Episode 4

My lovely wife Nephy, sitting in a dark alley at night, recalling that Zagan removed her collar and told her to get out of her castle.

In Episode 4 of An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride we begin with my lovely elf wife Nephy healing Zagan from his hand injury in Episode 3. That evening, Nephy offers her lap as a pillow for Zagan, and tells him she'd like to learn sorcery as his apprentice. She adds that while he doesn't talk much, she doesn't think he's a bad person given the kindness he's showed her. The next day Barbatos arrives and is shocked to see Zagan made it out in one piece after encountering a squad of holy knights. He explains to him that Nephy is now his apprentice. We learn that Zagan plans to run for an Archdemon seat as it would mean fewer people would come after Nephy. Later, he receives a letter from the 12 Archdemons, who inform him he's chosen to been chosen to be the 13th, and offer him Marchosais brand, but he is skeptical, explaining that there are many stronger than him.

They explain that his ability to steal magic at a glance (a power Zagan hitherto was unaware others knew of) made him extremely powerful. But Zagan is unwilling to drag Nephy into into that darkness, and demands a concession, to which they agree, and they offer him the brand and a second name. Back at home, he informs Nephy of what happens, removes the key, and removes Nephy's collar. He informs Nephy he has no more use for her, and tells her to leave. The episode ends with Nephy, alone at night, contemplating the time she spent with Zagan.

Figure 6 Chillin' in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers, Episode 2

Flio and Rys defeating them taming a psychobear.

We finally got to see the opening of Chillin' in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers at the start of Episode 2, and it is, perhaps, the cutest opening of the season. Ironically, in a season with Spice & Wolf airing, Holo is only the second cutest wolf girl this season, second to Fenrys's in this anime.

We start directly where we left off, with Flio fighting Fenrys by using every magic spell he's ever learned. He has the option to use Subjugation magic, but refuses. Fenrys begs to be killed, but Flio says he doesn't even want to fight her. She transforms back into a human (naked) and loses consciousness. When she awakens, she recognizes Flio as her master. Flio explains he's from another world, and he's currently in hiding from the castle. Back at the castle, The Great Hero explains he failed to defeat the dark army because the soldiers he was supplied were ineffective. The next day, Flio tells Fenrys it would be easier to travel if they pretended to be married, and Fenrys immediately accepts, before both arrive at the adventurer's guild.

Back at the guild Fenrys registers under the name "Rys", and their told an army of psychobears is on the way to town (the ones the hero failed to defeat earlier). Fenrys and Flio teleport to the forest where the bears were sighted, and immediately find the party from the first episode surrounded by bears, who they both immediately defeat. While talking to the party, another bear tries to attack Fenrys, but immediately surrenders when it senses her strength. Fenrys offers to take the bear as a pet, and Flio agrees. They name it Sybe. Afterwards, the party they saved formally introduces themselves: Balirossa, a knight of Klyrode, Blossom, Byleri, and Belano, a Witch. They ask Flio to teach them how to fight, and he agrees. At the end of the episode, the Dark One is informed that Delaveza Forest was cleansed by a single person.

Figure 7 I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so [..] Magical Ability, Episode 3

Lloyd and Tao opening the dungeon's chest after defeating the Lich.

Episode 3 of I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability begins right where we left off, with Tao and Lloyd fighting the Lich that appear at the end of Episode 2. Tao immediately strikes Lloyd to throw him out of the dungeon so he won't get hurt. Tao fights the Lich, successfully breaking through his barrier, but it's not sufficient to defeat him. Lloyd appears to save her, and he uses a combination of Qi and Mana to defeat him. The reward? An old knife that Lloyd says is infused with mana, and asks if he can keep it. Robert leaves, but says he'd like to work with Tao in the future. When he arrives home, he finds Grim has been beaten to a pulp by Slypha. The next day, he extracts the knife's enchantment, and constructs new weapons with weapon enchantments which he delivers to the palace knights. His brother, Albert, is shocked, and invites him on a monster hunter to preview his weapons.

Figure 8 The Banished Former Hero Lives as He Pleases, Episode 4

Alan, Lisa, and Beatrice at the town's festival celebrating the dead.

This along with Gods' Games We Play may be one of the least watched anime of the season. It has no redeeming qualities... but at least it's not overtly bad like Instant Kill last season. Anyways, Episode 2 of The Banished Former Hero Lives as He Pleases begins with a flashback of Lisa's caravan getting attacked by monsters and witnessing her uncle get killed. After the credits, Lisa, Alan, and Beatrice arrive at a town getting ready for a festival celebrating spirits and undead. That night, Lisa sees her dead uncle and follows him into a graveyard, where she's ambushed by undead, but this is a nightmare. Alan wakes her up. The next evening at the festival, Lisa again sees a vision of her dead uncle and follows it. The spirit informs her the king is planning to kill her, and that Lisa should join him to defeat the king.

Lisa refuses, and her uncle attacks her. But, of course, Alan intervenes to save the her. Alan breaks the spell controlling her Uncle, who tells Lisa that he is already dead, and asks Alan to take care of Lisa, and asks to spare with him one final time to ensure he can trust his daughter with him. As the fight ends, her Uncle collapses and, as heavy rain begins, he says goodbye to Lisa. Afterwards, the head of the town approaches him and asks Alan how he knew the entire town was dead, and that he was a demon. Alan said it all seemed peaceful and didn't want to intervene, but he's still gets attacked. He quickly strikes down the demon and all his undead minions. At the end of the episode, we again have someone talking to a demon about how their plans have failed. While leaving town, Lisa gets a message than General Cyril has returned (whoever that is).

Figure 9 Mysterious Disappearances, Episode 2

Oto's friends grabbing Sumireko late in the school day and asking her about her romantic life.

Episode 2 of Mysterious Disappearances begins with a pretty depressing flashback of Sumireko's work being rejected. After the opening, Ren Adashino informs Oto Adashino that he couldn't get a ticket to Yami Station (this is a lie), and he tells her he needs to find more curiosities. Oto informs Ren there may be another curiosity at her school. When Sumireko awakens, Ren asks her to attend Oto's school (an all girls school) and investigate. Ren explains Sumireko should be able to transform into a high schooler by reciting the same curse from the last episode (she does and it works), and the next day they department from the train station towards Koone Girls' Academy.

Ren informs Sumireko that several students have failed to attend classes, all for suspicious reasons, and warns her that a Curiosity is likely involved. Oto, distrustful of Sumireko, locks her in the bathroom all day after arriving at school. Oto informs her there's something wrong with the mirror in the bathroom, a marker (visualized by a "!" sign) that indicates something is wrong. After leaving the bathroom, Sumireko meets several of Oto's friends, who inform her that several students have been failing to attend, so-called "Dribblers", whose bodies grow hot, collapse, then begin to drool. But such incidents only happen on school grounds. Uname-sensei bursts into the room and sends all the students, but Sumireko, home. That evening on the roof Uname-sensei asks Sumireko if she's being bullied. She explains that she isn't, and Uname asks if she (Sumireko) ever had a dream, to which she responds she'd like to be a novelist.

At the end of the episode, several of Oto's friends ambush Sumireko and ask her for details about her romantic life shortly before the immediately collapse. Oto witnesses markers on their bodies, and Uname-sensei tells them she won't tolerate bullying. Overall a pretty interesting episode. So far it's much better than Dark Gathering. We'll see where we go from here.

Figure 10 As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill [...] the World, Episode 2

Charlotte introduces herself to Ars and Reitz after they catch her trying to steal Ars's money.

At the start of Episode 2 of As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World Rietz tells Ars that The Summerforth Empire is in trouble because the emperor, and eight year old boy, as little power and his advisors are attempting to steal power for themselves and corrode the emperor's authority. The Empire will soon collapse, and Ars needs to find as many skilled people as he can before then. Reitz and Ars head to a nearby city to look for a qualified mage, a vendor tries to defraud Ars with fake dragon eggs, and Rietz tries to kill him. Ars pulls him back from the brink, but later a thief steals Ars coin purse. When the catch up, they learn it's a woman who herself is being attacked by a group of thieves. When Ars appraises the girl, Charlotte Wraith, he finds that she has an S-Rank aptitude for magic. Ars tries to recruit her, but she refuses, explaining that she'd never work for a noble child like him. A group of orphans approaches Charlotte asking for food, and Ars offers to buy them food, and Charlotte and the children leave. Later that evening, Rietz explains that Charlotte was probably treated poorly by nobles in the past, hence she would never trust him. At the end of the episode, the Orphans arrive and tell Ars "they got Charlotte".

Figure 11 Spice & Wolf, Episode 3

Holo and Lawrence sell fur pelts, and Holo swindles the buyer by convincing him the scent of apples on the pelts falsely indicates that they are of higher quality.

Episode 3 of Spice & Wolf begins with Lawrence and Holo arriving at the port town of Pazzio. After arriving, Holo buys and entire silver coin worth of apples and piles the lot on the fur in the back. The next day Lawrence tries to sell his fur pelts, but Holo intervenes and up sells the buyer by using the scent of applies from the previous day as proof the furs are of higher quality because the animals must have gorge themselves on fruit (I remember this from the book and it comes off now as pretty silly now that I watch it), and they sell the fur for 210 silver. Later that evening, he meets with the merchant who proposed the silver coin plan, Zheren, and Lawrence further pushes him on the veracity of his plan, and they hatch out a the details of a contract, that they sign and notarize the next day. He then speaks to a currency trader and examines some recently minted coins, and Holo informs him that the purity of the coins is decreasing. Lawrence wonders how Zheren plans to profit from a decrease. Holo informs him he won't, but he has no risk. At the end, Lawrence realizes it's possible to profit from the drop by short selling.

Figure 12 A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics, Episode 3

Noa pleads with Livia, the savior, to join their cult after Livia heals a man on stage.

It's a bit of a challenge to watch this show given that it airs pretty late on Thursdays (after school has already ended). Just as well, the premise is also pretty boring and the characters are annoying, so it feels even more like a chore to watch it. Perhaps, I think, it would feel less taxing if it aired in the morning and I could just watch it during the school day. Alas, I cannot, so I have to sacrifice much more valuable time at home later in the evening to get through this slog.

Anyways, A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics Episode 3 begins with Livia eating bugs under a bridge. The next day, she's approached by a bizarre religious cult that approaches her under the guise of helping her off the streets. Being naive, she accepts their offer, and then goes to their clan hall to... play basketball? Afterwards she watches a recruitment video that shows the head of the clan Noa Minakami saving people and purifying evil from the world, and then witnesses a lecture from her thereafter. During the lecture, a member grabs Noa and holds a knife against her thread explaining that Noa is a fraud (she is) and that she's stealing everyone's money. In order to test her divine protection, he decides to stab himself and tells her to save him before he bleeds out. Instead, Livia jumps on stage and heals him, and Noa immediately recognizes her as their savior. But Livia ignores the offer and leaves.

Figure 13 Gods' Games We Play, Episode 3

Pearl Diamond handing in her resignation shortly before Fay and Leshea try to recruit her.

At the start of Gods' Games We Play Episode 3, Leshea and Fay are told they need to assemble a team of players if they want to complete all of gods' games, and she tasks Fay we finding candidates. Fay learns that, in the past, Leshea attacked other apostles who made a mockery of gods' games. Fay attempts to join other teams, but they all refuse of Leshea also joins, due to her history of, and her general propensity towards, wanton violence. Fay and Leshea recruit Pearl Diamond, a teleporter who was planning to retire after she lost her team a game by using "Shift Change" incorrectly and placed her team leader in danger. Fay explains she can redeem herself by joining them and helping out her old team, Inferno, in the next game. She agrees, and the episode ends with Fay, Leshea, and Pearl, entering a divine gate to start a game against Uroboros, the God of Despair.

Figure 14 The Train to the End of the World, Episode 3

Akira attempts to convince her friends to leave for Ikebukuro, but the fungus growing out of their heads causes them to lose all motivation.

At the start of Episode 3 of The Train to the End of the World the girls arrive in Higashi-Agano and are brought to an empty house where they can lodge for the night (for free!). All the girls are invited to a sauna, but Akira refuses and is treated to an early dinner, where every dish contains mushrooms. At night, she notices she's being watched by several people in the town, and expresses her concern with the group, but all of them dismiss her concerns. At night, Akira asks to go to the bathroom, and overhears the town folk discussing how stupid they are and how they'll "get them in one fell swoop". The next day Akira further tells them they're all being tricked, but they continue to ignore her. They also learn that their train has been completely overgrown with Bitter Melon.

After being given additional supplies by the suspicious townsfolk, all the girls begin to lose consciousness as mushrooms begin to grow out their head. Akira, sends a Morse code message back along the tracks that they are in danger. The townsfolk begins to swarm Akira asking her to become a mushrooms like them. Akira attempts to rip the mushrooms off the girl's heads, but fails. After Akira shows a picture of Yoka to Shizuru, she rips of the mushroom off her head herself, then the ones off the other girls, and Shizuru chases off the townsfolk with Bitter Melons. The townsfolk explain they chose the path of the mushroom themselves, and girls quickly board the train and leave.

Figure 15 WIND BREAKER, Episode 3

Sakura meets Jo, second in command of Shishitoren.

Episode 3 of WIND BREAKER begins right where we left off in Episode 2, with the fight between Sakura and Sugishita. We learn that Sugishita is also vying for the top stop at Furin. The fight is interrupted when a school-wide announcement is made by Hajima Umemiya, who tells everyone to live up to their name and protect Furin. Afterwards, they shake hands to make amends. Then, they all leave class to paint over some graffiti where they meet one of the "Four Kings", four students directly beneath Hajima. While walking around town on patrol, they encounter the edge of their territory, and find a middle school student being chase by Shishitoren, "The Devotees of Power", caught on the wrong side. Sakura and Sugishita jump in to save him, and Jo Togame, second in command of Shishitoren appears, who proceeds to further beat up the his own friend because he lost. Sakura explains beating up some wimp and calling it power is pathetic, and Jo explains he'll beat him up later. They bring the middle schooler bar with them, and report everything to Hajima.

Figure 16 Unnamed Memory, Episode 2

Tinasha tells Oscar she'll return to him after defeating the enemies in the swamp.

The only show airing on Tuesday is Unnamed Memory. So far, not a particularly remarkable show, but it's literally the only thing that airs on Tuesday, so it's the best show show on Tuesday! And also the worst! Much like Dorkness's show last season.

Anyways, Episode 2 begins back Farsas Castle, where Tinasha's official cover is that she is an apprentice mage. She spars with one of Oscar's generals, and performs very well. She then informs Oscar she's leaving for several days to visit the magical lake in Druza, and Oscar insists on going with her, and assembles a team and teleport there. When the arrive, a mage greets her as The Witch of the Azure Moon, who attacks the party and flees. Tinasha explains that the mage is trying to summon a great magical beast again, but the party treats her with contempt now that they learn she's a witch. She then departs to fight the mage (and his allies) herself, all of which she immediately defeats. She then breaks the seal on the beast herself, only to immediately slay it., but she is severely wounded in the process. Her dragon carries her back to Oscar. When she recovers, she appears much older and her hair is much longer. She explains it was due to the healing magic she applied to herself that she aged.

Figure 17 The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio, Episode 2

Yumiko and Chika perform the show themselves, after Otome had to back out due to a injury.

The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio Episode 2 began with Yumiko's mom teasing her at breakfast for how she acts on her radio show. During their last show, Chika gets mad after the recording ends because Yumiko constantly acts "smugly superior". Later, they both get croquettes from a nearby butcher shop (much to the surprise of Chika, who didn't believe butcher shops would sell fried food). Later, Yumiko learns that she and Chika have both been given roles in an upcoming anime (with another girl, Otome). At the recording session, both Yumiko and Chika are impressed with Otome's acting (although Chika's was pretty good too), and Chika also compliments Yumiko on her acting. Later, while rehearsing an idol song for their anime (in a new idol group "Heart Tart"), Otome collapses due to exhaustion and sprains her ankle. Otome says she can't go to the hospital because he fans are out their waiting for her. Yumiko and Chika perform on the concert mostly on their own. After the show, they both believe their performances were sub par, and both vow to surpass Otome.

This show is pretty weak. In fact, I'd actually consider it one of the weaker shows of the entire season, at least so far. The plot seems silly, and I'm completely not invested in the characters at all. I really hope it improves.

Figure 18 Wonderful Pretty Cure!, Episode 11

Cure Yuki revealing herself at the end of the episode.

Wonderful Pretty Cure! remains the first anime I watch on Sunday mornings either during, or shortly after, eating breakfast. I still don't think the show is particularly remarkable (I mean, it's meant for 5 year old girls), nevertheless through sheer force of habit we continue. Episode 11 began with Komugi and Iroha learning of rumors of a mysterious giant creature atop Mount Miharashi. The next day, Iroha, Komugi, and Satoru go there to investigate. Meanwhile, back at town, Mayu meets a mysterious blonde girl who warns her not to go to the mountain. Iroha and Satoru reach the top of the mountain, but find nothing. Not even small animals. They postulate that the smaller animals are fleeing, then visit a nearby shrine, and find a broken Gyarugyaru egg.

The Gyarugyaru appears, and it's a large bear! After a classic Wonderful Pretty Cure fight where they just dance around the animal instead of actually hitting it, they pretend to be larger and convince the bear to revert to its original form and they send it back to Niko Garden. Back in Niko Garden, they mention there could be another PreCure, the one that wounded the bear earlier (it's the cat).

Figure 19 Mission: Yozakura Family, Episode 2

Taiyo in Kyoichiro's office after he completed his first mission, protecting Himari.

Episode 2 of Mission: Yozakura Family begins with Kyoichiro pulling Taiyo out of his house right as it's about to blow up. He explains that the most important mission of the Yozakura family is to protect Mutsumi, and the time bomb was planted to kill Mutsumi (he just happened to be there). Kyoichiro explains that Mutsumi is the head of the Yozakura clan, and they're subsequently attacked again. Kyoichiro explains that, as a member of the Yozakura family, Taiyo will have to protect Mutsumi too. His first mission is to protect Mutsumi all day, and he's handed a gun.

Kyoichiro tells Taiyo that there are two additional bombs meant to kill Mutsumi he'll encounter during the day. The first he encounters in the vice principal's office, and the second is a small bomb hidden on his clothing. At the end of the episode, the entire family appears and turns over the bomber, who Kyoichiro promptly executes.

Figure 20 Blue Archive, Episode 2

Serika after shooting the crate to explode and destroy the two tanks attacking her party members.

Episode 2 of Blue Archive starts with sensei meeting Arona, the system manager and Sensei's secretary (I'm sure this is relevant to the game, but it's nonsense to me because I don't play phone games). The girls explain that decades ago, in the desert outside Abydos, a large sandstorm appeared and covered the entire region, and they had to take out large loans to attempt to rebuild the region, leading to the current debt. Sensei offers to help, but Serika doesn't trust him because he's an outsider. After school, they drop by a ramen restaurant and find out Serika is working part time as a waitress there. After dinner, Serika is ambushed while walking home by the Kata Kata Helmet Gang, and the next day all the girls go out an rescue her. Easily one of the worst shows of the season.

Figure 21 The Fable, Episode 3

Fable and Yoko buying pets pursuant to boss's orders.

The Fable is, for whatever, another show that feels like a chore to watch every week. I may drop it. Episode 3 starts with the yakuza captain being informed that Fable and his sister have been beaten up. Fable's boss tells him to get a pet, and the next day at the pet store Fable gets tailed by the same people as last night. Fable pretends to be afraid and runs, losing both of them. He returns to the pet store, and buys a black-headed parrot (which live for 30 to 40 years!). He names him Captain. The yakuza boss tails Takahashi to invite the sister to dinner and ask him about her brother. The boss drops by and asks Fable if he's free tonight, and Takahashi drops by and offers to show Yoko around the town. That night, the boss picks him up for a job, explaining that he doubts he's the real hitman, Fable. He tells him to fight a former wrestler to prove his identity. The episode ends before we even get the fight. RIP.

Figure 22 Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included, Episode 4

Shintaro's classmates explaining how Noel refuses to talk to anyone.

Ugh, every week watching Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included feels like a chore. Dense harem MCs are always annoying, but usually they have at least one or two redeeming qualities. Shintaro does not. Anyways, Episode 4 begins right where Episode 3 left off, with all the girls meeting each other by accident. Towa explains that she's an angel. Noel reveals that she's a yuki-onna. Back at Shintaro's apartment, Towa apologizes and promises to never do anything so reckless again. The next day, Tsumugi asks Shintaro if he's dating either Towa or Noel, and he responds that he is not. After school, he finds Noel has been waiting for him so they can both walk home. Later that evening at work, Tsumugi and Towa drop the restaurant where Shinataro works. Tsumugi explains that Shintaro is working because he needs money to get by, and this upsets Towa, who begins trying to work as a waitress to help him. Shintaro pulls him aside and explains she doesn't have to help, as she already helps a lot at home. Noel a cute.

Figure 23 THE NEW GATE, Episode 2

Schnee, at the end of the episode, receiving Tiera's letter notifying her Shin has returned.

Episode 2 of THE NEW GATE begins an investigation of who launched the sword in the king's castle at the end of Episode 1. She returns to the Guild, and informs his handler, Celica, that he defeated a Skullface Jack, and hands her his gem to prove it. When the gem is taken for verification, Shin is approached by Wilhelm Avis, a level 188 adventurer, who explains he's specializes in slaying undead. The next day, Shin goes to the library to learn more about the kingdom. Back at the guild, they discuss the slaying of the Skullface, and inform the Guildmaster that the Skullface's sword was legendary, on par with a national treasure. That evening, Shin shares his dinner with a beast-type girl, Millie, that approaches him. Wilhelm approaches and takes Millie back to the orphanage, and Millie asks Shin to save a fox in the Northern Woods. He returns to the Tiera's shop and offers Schnee's Sword, Blue Moon, as proof that he knows her.

Shin then enters the forest and senses a strong monster ahead. After passing a barrier, he encounters a sleeping fox in a shrine that's poisoned and curse, both of which he immediately removes. He's then swarmed by undead, which he immediately defeats. Statues from the shrine then transform into monsters and attack him. He binds both wolves and quickly defeats them, lifting the miasma from the area. Afterwards, he learns that the fox is an Elemental, a rare type of beast that befriends him. He returns to town to ask Millie about it. At the end of the episode, Schnee receives a letter from Tiera informing her that Shin as returned. Okay. This is another really good anime. Even though I know no one is watching it. It's pacing an delivery, much like The Unwanted Undead Adventurer last season, are really strong.

Figure 24 Monster #8, Episode 2

Kafka, in his Kaiju form, after saving a girl and her mother.

Episode 2 starts with Mina and her team being dispatched to kill the Kaiju (Kafka) that appeared after Kafka was infected at Yokohama Southern General Hospital. Kafka and Ichikawa flee the scene. Another Kaiju appears, and Kafka moves to intercept it, arriving before The Demon Defense Force and killing it to rescue a small girl and her mother. An Additional Kaiju appear and Kafka immediately kills it before fleeing before The Demon Defense Force Arrives. When they do, they see both Kaiju destroyed and asks the girl what happened—Mina tells her she'll defeat all the Kaiju. The girl tells her "Not to hurt the good Kaiju, like the one who saved her Mom". The next day, Kafka is given the code name "Kaiju No. 8" (Monster #8) and the Defense Force is actively searching for it. He transforms back into a human to hide. Kafka is the first monster to escape the Defense Force. Three months later, Ichikawa and Kafka have passed the first round of Defense Force selection. Ten (10) days later, at the second exam, they meet Examinee Number 2016, Kikoru Shinomiya, who throws their car and the episode ends.

Other Remarks

I finally completely a roll of black and white film, only to fail to rewind it and open the camera before then. I may have ruined all the film. Nevertheless, I'll start mixing the chemicals tomorrow and see if I can get something, anything, to develop either this week or next weekend. Oh well, I never expected my first roll to come out perfectly!

I've purchased all the chemicals and developing supplies to official begin black and white photography with my Leica MA. I've also started a roll just by taking photos of random things around my house and in my backyard. The goal, for this first roll, is really just to get practice developing (i.e., mixing the chemicals, agitating and timing everything properly, etc.). If that works, then for the second roll I'll use it along with the Leica M11 to take various photos around the area and make them look good!

Figure 1 The Leica MA with some Kodak 400TX B&W Film

This is such a terrible photo. I took it with my phone, and god damn it's not sharp at all. I don't know what happened. Maybe my hand shook when I took it?
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Darkroom? Check. Developing chemicals? Check. Development tank? Check. Everything is in order except a very high quality scanner and printer, but I may have to wait until the end of the month to order that scanner. Regardless, I'll keep you posted!

Other Remarks

Oh, I meant to post this last Saturday with my anime review, but I completely spaced it out. Anyways, the Friday before last Saturday while driving home I saw some of the most majestic clouds I've ever seen in my life. I actually snapped a photo of them while waiting at a stop light. I greatly regret not having a real camera on me (I had to use my phone). I may just bring the FujiFilm around with me to grab shots like this in the future.

Figure 2 A photo of some of the most majestic clouds I've ever seen!

I snapped this while waiting at a stop light. Absolutely magnificent clouds! I wish I had a camera with me. I may have to bring my Leica M11, or maybe even the FujiFilm X100F, around with me to snap shots like this! Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

We had storms all day, and it was only when the storm cleared that we got all amazing clouds. I'll have to keep an eye out for when storms break to look for clouds like this in the future.

Holy moly I'm watching a lot of shows this season. Even more than last season! I think, after we get Mahjong Soul in a few weeks, I'll be at a back-breaking 25 shows per week! It's really fun to be following all of them, although I must say it's quite a lot of work. Right now, though, I sort of have it down to a system, whereby I'll watch quite a few shows while I'm at work itself (e.g., during class), and wrap of any remaining ones when I get home. Fortunately, there are quite a few shows on Saturday and Sunday, which also greatly reduce the workload during the week when I'm normally quite busy.

Figure 1 Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night, Episode 2

Mei, now friends with Yoru and Kano, taking a selfie with them in an audio equipment store after joining their band.

Will Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night be anime of the season? This is the question I asked myself going in to Episode 2, which begins Yoru and Kano discussing their plans for JELEE, and wondering how they'll get funds. Mei ("the Fan girl") shows up and donates a large sum of money to their project. Mei, a fan of Kano from the old days, saw the hijacked Halloween livestream. She tells Kano to be an idol again, but she refuses, and returns the money (really dumb). She later regrets it, and later they realize they've accidentally swapped bags (they have identical bags). They find a recorder in her bag and listen to her piano playing, and enjoy her arrangement.

The next day, the track down Mei at school (who is wearing Kano's jacket) and tell her they like her piano playing. Mei is familiar with JELEE's plans (making songs anonymously online), and they ask her to compose a song for JELEE, but she refuses. We then get a flashback of Mei with a different hair color being shy, timid, and bullied. She meets Kano at a Sunflower Dolls event who explains she, like her, doesn't really have friends (literally me, for real for real). She tells Mei ("Kimura") that, one day, she'd like to listen to her play. Jumping to the present, we see Kano and Yoru there for Mei's performance. Afterwards, she hugs Kano and says she wants to join. Absolute killer episode. I am still in awe.

Figure 2 Whisper Me a Love Song, Episode 1

Yori telling Himari she feel in love with her the moment she saw her.

Whisper Me a Love Song is, perhaps, the only 100% true yuri show this season, yet I still nevertheless have some reservations about it if only because I don't want another really boring Bloom Into You style anime. Episode 1 begins with Himari seeing Yori sing, and explaining that it was love at first sight. The other members of the band ask her to become a full fledged member, but Yori explains she's not a fan of singing in front of people. They ask her to write a love song, but she says she can't because she's never fallen in love. While leaving school, Himari meets Yori and explains she fell in love at first sight. Yori thinks Himari is gorgeous (she has the gay).

The next day she tells the band members about Himari's confession, and explains that she may be in love with her too. The band members, her friends, explain that she has to respond to her confession. Himari learns that Yori likes to sing alone of the roof after school ends, and Himari visits her on the roof after school. Yori explains that she fell in love with Himari at first sight too, but Himari misunderstands. She believes her "love" is for singing, not for her. Yori learns that her "love" was for her singing, not for her romantically. Yori vows to sing songs that will make Himari fall for her romantically. The next day, all her friends tell Yori they'll help her convince Himari to like her. At the end of the day, they meet on the roof, and Yori sings another song.

Figure 3 Girls Band Cry, Episode 2

Momoka and Awa laughing at Nina in her apartment after she broke down crying.

Inshallah, praise be to Ganesha, this show simply is not getting subs. No website has picked it up, so we're having to get subs from random discords and machine-translated subs from French. This anime airs on Friday, and I'd love to watch it (with subs) while I do my Friday laundry. Alas, it is never meant to be. So instead I have to wait until Saturday, which is the same day as Jellyfish, and Whisper Me a Love Song.

At the start of Episode 2 of Girls Band Cry we learn that Nina and Momoka and both living in Nina's apartment (sleeping in the same bed!!!), and Momoka is wants Nina to join her band. Nina explains she's here to study, but tells Momoka to continue music. Momoka explains that Nina would be a good vocalist, as she's got a good voice and heart. Back at her place, Nina briefly recounts her family life with contempt, explaining that she stopped going to school and dropped out because she was being bullied. Momoka explains that those feelings, that pain, alone means she'd be a good singer because she could channel that emotion into her songs. Momoka moves back to her old house the next day, but has only final request: to hear Nina sing one final time.

They both arrive at Tama River, and Nina sings the same song she sang at the end of Episode 1. Nina continues her studies, albeit in a sufficiently melancholy state. She laments that, after a week of studies, she hasn't spoken to anyone (literally me). Momoka texts her and informs her she's got a replacement light for her apartment, and when she goes to pick it up, she meets Awa, the future drummer of the band. Nina has an awkward dinner with Awa and Momoka, and when she excuses herself Momoka yells at her, and Nina says she'll never have friends and die alone (she's just mad), and leaves early. Afterwards, she regrets her behavior and breaks down crying. Back at her apartment, she's too short to install the light herself. She explains she'll spend her whole life in darkness, gloomy forever, before Momoka and Awa arrive asking her to join their band. Momoka explains that Nina is so fragile she'd rather die then change.

Figure 4 Astro Note, Episode 2

Mira and Takumi have a conversion in the basement of Astro Lodge.

In what will either be a masterpiece or, more likely not, we have Astro Note airing at 10:00 in the morning on Fridays. Episode 2 began with a brief flashback of Mira arriving to Earth from her spaceship, explaining that she's arrived at the location to "search for the key", someone in Astro Lodge, the possession of which will allow her to take the throne of Planet Wid. Mira believes the previous landlord hid the key somewhere, and intentionally cut himself off from Wid to avoid detection. Meanwhile, Takumi continues to search for a job, realizing he can't stay a part-time breakfast chef forever (and really wants to go on a deito with Mira-san). Meanwhile, back at Astro Lodge, a robot ("Hubby", a spy from Planet Hub) is attempting to search the lodge and activates an EMP blast when it gets caught, cutting the lights. Mira and Takumi get stuck in the basement searching jars for the key with the lights out. Mira asks Takumi what's for breakfast tomorrow, before falling asleep on his shoulder. Mira sends a message to her mother asking her to research information on the previous landlord. Then, right at the end of the episode, Shion Ginger, Mira's fiance, appears, and the credits roll. God damn why does Japan love NTR so much?

Figure 5 THE NEW GATE, Episode 1

Shin speaks with Tiera at the Moon Sanctum.

Like several other shows this season, I went into Episode 1 of THE NEW GATE knowing nothing. It starts with an explanation of how the MMORPG "The New Gate" became real, where players couldn't log out and if someone died in the game, they'd die in real life. After Shin defeats The Origin, players can now log out, but another gate opens, and Shin is sent into the future. He can no longer log out, but his stats are very high because he defeated the last boss. He arrives back at his old house to learn that Schnee, one of his old support characters, now runs a shop there. The shop keeper explains that high humans went extinct 500 years ago when he defeated Origin. The shop keeper, Tiera, explains that she's cursed, and Shin lifts the curse, partially changing her hair color.

Shin leaves and travels to a nearby kingdom, arriving at the adventurer's guild. His guild handler, Celica, brings him to Barlux Heim, the Guild Master, who wants to review his Moon Sanctum introduction letter that he got from Tiera for lifting the curse earlier. The next day Shin tries to do his first quest, harvesting a specific type of grass used for potions, and encounters a Skullface Jack, and quickly defeats it (the sword it was wielding goes flying through the air, and lands in the king's palace).

Figure 6 An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride, Episode 3

Zagan is injured after stopping a javelin meant for Nephy.

Episode 3 of An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride begins with my lovely elf wife Nephy making breakfast, during which Zagan insists she join him by offering half of his. After breakfast, Zagan briefly explains how sorcery works, and Nephy asks for what purpose he wields such power. He responds that his goal is to survive, and recounts his childhood where, due to being weak, he struggled to survive. He then senses the knight from the previous episode approaching his castle, and he leaves to fight them. But upon recognizing the head knight, Chastille Lillqvist, as the girl he saved previously, he doesn't want to hurt her. Chastille informs him that he needs to pretend to die by her sword, lest a more powerful knight be sent after him.

At that moment, Nephy appears and one of the knights tries to kill her, but Zagan saves her, hurting himself in the process. Enraged, Nephy for the first time uses her powers (summoning some vines?), and Zagan has to stop her from killing the knight, and the Angelic knights withdrew. Later that evening, Nephy explains that it wasn't sorcery, and instead it's known as mysticism, which she can used because she's cursed. Nephy explains that, in her past, her entire village kept her prisoner because of the curse, and died because she wouldn't used her power to save them, claiming their deserved their deaths because of how they treated her.

Figure 7 The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio, Episode 1

Yumiko and Yuhi about to enter their first live radio broadcast.

Episode 1 of The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio (aka another show I watch in the hopes that it is yuri) begins with Sato Yumiko, a gyaru is moonlights as Yasumi, a pure idol voice actress who keeps bombing additions. Afterwards, we meet Watanbe Chika, a "plain girl who makes you think, 'Oh, she's in my class'", who is also moonlighting as the pure idol voice actress Yuhi. They both have a tense exchange before class after a friend spells coffee on Chika's shoes, but this is immediately forgotten when Yumiko gets a call from her agent for her next voice acting role, a radio show where she'll work with Chika directly (their agents hashed it together after they realized they were in the same class). They then meet Asaka Mireri, the radio show's head writer After recording their first session, both girls learn they're going to be doing a public recording session which upsets Yuhi.

Asaka tells Yumiko that she and Yuhi don't really feel like classmates, while Yumiko explains they don't really talk to each other at school. The next day speaks with Yuhi who is eating lunch alone. She says she'd like to get her know her better. Before their public recording session, Yuhi is incredibly nervous, and she explains she can't understand her character. She can't sing or act. Yumiko explains that it doesn't matter what she wants. It's what the fans want. After intentionally tripping her on her way in, they start their public recording session as the crowd cheers. After the credits, Yuhi is furious (as I would be too) about being tripped.

Figure 8 The Train to the End of the World, Episode 2

All the girls arriving at their first stop, Higashi-Agano.

Episode 2 of The Train to the End of the World begins with the girl's (train) leaving Agano and crossing the extraordinarily wide Koma River. Why crossing, they realize they're woefully unprepared for a long trip, having an extraordinary small amount of food and money. After a brief fight, Shizuru explains none of them had to come on this journey—in fact, she fully expected to travel alone. The fight is cut short, however, when dense fog rolls in and a man formally from Ikebukuro arrives on a swan boat, and informs them after the 7G incident everything in the world disappeared except for stops along the Seibu-Ikebukuro line. Or at least that what he thinks. He hands the girls a map, and tells them to only believe what they experience themselves.

Afterwards, Shizuru further explains she's going to Ikebukuro to find Yoka, and the team further laments their lack supplies for such a journey, along with the fact they didn't really notify the adults that they were leaving. While they discuss their plans, the water level around them begins to rise, flooding the train tracks. They consult the map they were given, only to find that it is nonsense. Zenjiro sends them Morse code along the tracks by hitting them with a hammer, and advises them to flee to higher ground. A large wave approaches, and the girls are forced to go faster to flee the wave. They escape, but the tracks are destroyed in the process, meaning the can no longer turn back. The episode ends with them arriving at the Higashi-Agano stop in the next town, where they are approached by adults with mushrooms growing out of their heads, and asks them to stay the night.

Figure 9 Monster #8, Episode 1

Mina saving Kafka from a monster.

I went into Monster #8 knowing absolutely nothing. Nothing about the manga. Nothing about the premise. Nothing about the characters. Nothing about the plot. Anyways, Episode 1 began with a monster attack in Yokohama. It's swiftly defeated, and afterwards we meet Kafka Hibino, who works as part of a team to clean up the monster's corpse after it's defeated (the show makes a great effort to show how gross it is). Originally, Kafka wanted to be part of the Defense Force, but he gave up. In a flashback, we see him as a child meeting with Third Division Captain, Mina Ashiro. The next day, he meets a new worker, Ichikawa, and teaches him the ropes of cleaning up monsters. At the end of the day, Ichikawa thanks him, and informs him they're raising the age limit for the Defense Force to 32, so he'll be able to apply again.

While speaking with him, they're ambushed by Yoju (smaller monster), and Kafka saves Ichikawa. He tells him to run and call it in, and he fights the Yoju alone. While running, we additional portions of the flashback between him and Mina, where they both vow to join the Defense Force and wipe out all the Kaijuu together. While fleeing, he breaks his leg and is abut to be killed, but Ichikawa jumps in to save him, explaining that he's already called it in, and he won't leave him to die. Mina appears and saves them both. Later, in the hospital, Ichikawa thanks him for saving his life, and tells him (again) to join the Defense Force. A monster then appears and jumps into his mouth, turning him into a Kaiju, and he's forced to flee.

Figure 10 Spice & Wolf, Episode 2

Holo telling Lawrence to continue with the silver coin job.

Episode 2 of Spice & Wolf begins with Lawrence and Holo arriving at a monastery for lodging during a storm. After talking with some of the other travelers at the monastery while their clothes dry, Lawrence gives Holo the world famous milled wheat bag necklace, and asks Holo about a possible business plan involving buying silver coins which will change in value later, but Holo informs Lawrence he is lying. The next morning, Lawrence pretends to be interested in the silver coin contract, and plans to acquire funds by selling fur in the port town of Pazzio. Holo explains that while dogs have lived by humans, wolves live in fear of humans.

Figure 11 The Banished Former Hero Lives as He Pleases, Episode 2

Noelle his Alan in the back after she wakes up.

The Banished Former Hero Lives as He Pleases Episode 2 begins with a flashback of Noelle watching her master smithing a sword. After the opening, we return to Noelle asking Alan to kill the wolf they encountered, but Alan refuses, saying that it poses no threat. Back in town, Lise explains that she's investigating a murder potentially carried by a demon, and the Amazon assassin Mylene is ordered to kill Noelle and Lise. Noelle collapses while trying to refine Alan's sword, and has yet another flashback of her master being killed, this time with Horace present, and Noelle is saved by the hero who has a superior sword.

Noelle returns to the Fenrir that killed her master and tries to strike it with a upgraded sword, but it deflects the attack and Horace appears. Noelle can't land a single blow on the Fenrir, and Horace asks Noelle to serve him (or die). Noelle refuses, saying she'd rather die than be his slave, and Alan appears to save her. Horace tells Alan that the princess is in danger, but Alan expected that, and Lise and Beatrice both ambush Mylene when she appears. Alan defeats the Fenrir in a single strike, and after Horace retreats they all return to town and question Mylene, who explains they burned down her entire hometown, leaving her with nowhere to return. Noelle, who also lost her home, says she'll look after Mylene. Afterwards, Alan chases down Horace, only to find someone else, and demon, has already killed him.

Figure 12 Chillin' in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers, Episode 1

Banaza shelters a knight injured by the demon elf girl he teleported to the forest moments ago.

This was another show that was leaked early (about a week ago) that I neglected to watch until Monday (4/8) which was it's proper air date. Much like other leaked shows, this one didn't seem good enough to watch early, as it's clearly just another boring isekai. Anyways, Episode 1 of Chillin' in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers begins with Banaza being summoned to another world, the "Magical Kingdom of Klyrode" as a hero candidate to battle against The Dark Army. After they examine his stats, they realize he has no "Divine Revelation", and is thus an average man. Another man whose been summoned is, in fact, a hero, and everyone in the room celebrates. Banaza is told he cannot return to his world, and he's given permission to live out his life in Delaveza Forest, to the north of the capital. After 20 days he arrives, and he's given a warning to flee the forest as soon as possible.

He's ambushed by slimes, which he defeats, and up leveling up he gains infinitely high stats. He then uses a portion of his magical power to purify the forest. Meanwhile, back at the castle, the king is informed that a high level Purification spell has been used to the north, near Delaveza Forest. Meanwhile, back at the forest, Banaza uses shape-shift magic to change his appearance, then teleports back to the holy capital and heads to the adventurer's guild, registering under the name "Flio". While there, he meets an Elf girl that needs to go to Delaveza Forest, and Flio offers to teleport her back. When he says his, however, a group of adventurers confronts him, saying that there's no way a novice like him can cast such a high level spell, and he must be trying to kidnap the elf girl. He teleports all of them to the forest to prove his skills. Upon arriving there, he learns that the elf girl was, in fact, a demon. He teleports other members of his party back to town, and stands to fight the demon, alone.

Figure 13 Unnamed Memory, Episode 1

Oscar speaking with Tinasha after reaching the top of her tower.

Unnamed Memory was, yet again, leaked almost a week early. Not only that, but the leaker put some retarded watermark on it, so I refused to watch it early, and refused to use his garbage torrent. Anyways, it aired on Tuesday 4/9, so I waited until then to watch it!

Episode 1 begins with Prince Oscar ascending The Witch of The Azure Moon's tower. To reach the top and have his wish granted, he must complete a number of challenges created by the witch, all of which he easily clears. At the top he meets The Witch of the Azure Moon, Tinasha, who informs him that she remains isolated atop the tower in order to avoid interfering with human affairs. Oscar explains that he's been cursed by The Witch of Silence—a curse that prevents him and his father from ever having an heir, thus ending the family bloodline. Tinasha informs him that his "curse" is actually a blessing, ensuring that his child is strong. So strong, however, that most women would not be be able to bear the child's protective power. Unable to break the curse, Tinasha informs him that he'll have to find a strong women capable of bearing the child, and Oscar asks if she'd be willing to do it, and tells her his wish is that she lives the tower and becomes his wife. Tinasha refuses, and Oscar counters by asking her to live with him (in Farsas) for one year, and she accepts.

Figure 14 Mysterious Disappearances, Episode 1

Sumireko, as a child, crying over her lack of talent when she is an adult.

I fully went into Episode 1 of Mysterious Disappearances completely blind. Besides the vague hint about the premise from the title, that is. Episode 1 begins with Ogawa Sumireko and Adashino Ren, both working in a bookstore, being told by their manager a strange book was "reverse-shoplifted" (i.e., left) by a customer in their store. Sumireko, alone in her apartment on her 28th birthday, laments her inability to write like she could in the fast, and decides to read the mysterious book that was left in the store. After reading it, she begins to grow younger, de-aging to that of a child, and the next day misses work without calling it in, and spends the entire day writing. After a week of absence, Adashino goes to her apartment to check in on her, but it is empty. While there, he finds the cursed novel, and then finds Adashino wondering around in the night, looking for book ideas. Adashino finds her, and explains that she's not actually a child, she's just an adult that's been forced into a child's body. Adashino explains that she is on the verge of death, and Sumireko begins to vomit blood.

Under the light of the moon, she finishes the poem, and returns to her original age. Sumireko then tries to run away with the book, and applies the curse again, explaining that if she's not young no one will read her books. As an adult, all she gets are rejections. Despite this, she still wants to write. Adashino explains that he is a fan of her work, and would like to continue reading it. Afterwards, Sumireko returns to her original age and returns the book. At the end of the episode, Adashino returns the book. Looks like an episodic series? Not sure. An overall OK first episode.

Figure 15 Gods' Games We Play, Episode 2

Fay and Lesha speak after defeating the Titan's game.

Episode 2 of Gods' Games We Play begins right where Episode 1 left off, with a game of hide-and-seek against a god. Fay and Leshea (and Asta) flee from the Titan god, with Asta getting tagged first. When she's tagged, she begins attacking her teammates, who also get turned and start attacking their allies. Fay and Leshea realize it's possible to tag players back to the human side, and he rescues Asta. During the game, Fay and Leshea realize the game is actually a massive game of reversi, and they were able to flipped the tagged players back, winning the game. After the game, Fay tells his boss than it was great playing with Leshea. At the end of the episode, he tells Leshea that his wish, should be win all 10 games, is to meet his mentor from the past: "Please find this person I used to play with". The only thing he remembers about her is that she had red hair, like Leshea. This is worse than Liar Liar. It just is.

Figure 16 As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill [...] the World, Episode 1

Rietz pledges his service to Ars after rescuing him from the streets.

As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World was another (of many) anime that leaked early. I saw it leak early, but decided not to watch it until it's proper airing date, which is Sunday. It wasn't that hard to wait, mind you, give that this is yet another genetic isekai (as the title makes abundantly clear).

Anyways, Episode 1 starts with Ars Louvent having a heart attack and being born as a baby in Summerforth (another world). Keeping his memories of his past life, knowing already how to read and write, by age 3 he's already studied everything he can about his new world. He has a hidden skill to appraise things, immediately able to tell what something is worth, who'd be proficient with what weapon, etc., and skill he he tells other people is just his instinct. While in town, he uses his appraisal skill on a Malkan (a slave race from across the sea) named Rietz Muses, and realizes his stats are very high, and he recruits him as his retainer. After bring him home, other servants treat Rietz with contempt, refusing to serve him, but Ars insists, and he goes to his father for approval, but he declines. Ars explains that Rietz has numerous god given talents, and his father agrees to test Rietz. It will be a mock duel with the Lord himself. Rietz will win if he's able to land a single blow on Raven (he does), and he's employed as a solider. After the duel, Rietz explains that were it not for Ars, he'd have died in the streets. The episode ends with Rietz pledging his loyalty to Ars.

Figure 17 A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics, Episode 2

Livia gets fired by Sosuke (Sara is surprised).

Episode 2 of A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics started off with Livia, still homeless, trying to find Sara. In need of money, she gets recruited to be a hostess in a "sexy" club. She's given some money, but police raid the establishment and she has to flee. She contacts a detective agency which, as it happens, is where Sara is staying and finds her the next day. Sosuke is dismayed to learn that someone else will now be staying in his apartment. The next day, Livia is hired then fired from Sosuke's detective agency due to her gross incompetence. Later, Sosuke and Sara speak with Brenda, a lawyer who wants them to trial a Yuki Shimonura, a 34 year old house wive involved in divorce proceedings. While observing Yuki, a landscaper and is caught having sex with Yuki. They return the information to Brenda, and Brenda laments that Sara is now her competition.

Figure 18 WIND BREAKER, Episode 2

Sakura meets his freshmen class at Furin.

Episode 2 of WIND BREAKER begins a few hours before the entrance ceremony, where Sakura gets a free breakfast from Kotoha. While eating, he learns that Furin is for people who step up to defend the town, and he's asked why he'd want to attend given that he's from out of town. Sakura responds that he wants to become "top dog". While on his want to school, members of the town thank him and given him free gifts for his performance yesterday, before someone grabs him asking for help. One of his classmates, Nirei is getting beat up, and he jumps in to help. Nirei explains that, while he's weak, he was saved by a Furin student in the past, and he wanted to be "cool" like him. When they arrive at class, Nirei advises Sakura to smile at everyone because he's an outsider. He needs to show that he means no harm to Furin. When he enter class, he's greeted by Suo, who immediately congratulates him on his performance on Main Street against the Spaltips yesterday. They ask him why he's at Furin, and he says he wants to be top dog, and he's immediately attacked by Sugishta, the "most dangerous first year". End credits.

Figure 19 Mission: Yozakura Family, Episode 1

Asano reaches for Futaba's wedding ring, but Kyoichiro intervenes.

Episode 1 of Mission: Yozakura Family begins with a flashback of Asano's entire family dying in a car accident, explaining that he's afraid to make friends due to his fear of losing them again. At school, he eats lunch with Mutsumi, the "idol" of the school. After school, he's summoned to Vice Principal Hirukawa's office, who threatens to kill him for spending time with Mutsumi. When he's about to slit his throat, a girl in white appears, Mutsumi's older sister Futaba, and saves him. Later, at Mutsumi's house, she introduces him to her family, a bizarre family of oddball spies. They inform him that the vice principal that tried to kill him is himself also a spy, who feels guilty about Mutsumi getting hurt in the past, so he protects her now.

While there, Hirukawa appears and tries to kill Asano again. Futaba informs Asano that he can live if he marries into the family. Asano hesitates because he doesn't want another family that he could lose, and Mutsumi backs him up, saying it wouldn't be right because Taiyo ("Asano") has already lost his family. Kyoichiro appears and a fight breaks out. Kyoichiro explains he'll do everything he can to protect her, as such she can no longer leave the house, or have a smartphone. Taiyo tells her he'll marry her to protect her (and himself). After putting on the ring, Taiyo greets his "big brother, Kyoichiro".

Also, I just heard this will be 27 episodes? There's no way. The studio must be going all out expecting this to become a world wide hit (it won't).

Figure 20 Wonderful Pretty Cure!, Episode 10

Mayu adopts Yuki.

Episode 10 of Wonderful Pretty Cure! begins with Mayu drafting possible cosmetic designs for mother's store (Pretty Holic). We also get a flashback of Mayu encountering her cat, initially a stray, in the snow (hence why she's called "Yuki"). Her parents warn her that taking care of a living thing is hard, but Mayu adapts her regardless. Meanwhile, a gyarugyaru Raccoon hatches by the river. After another strange fight scene, they pacify it and return it to Niko garden. At the end of the episode, Mayu's design, a Yuki inspired makeup compact, sells well in her Mom's shop.

Figure 21 Blue Archive, Episode 1

The main cast of Blue Archive.

This anime was memed by /a/ (and apparently /v/ and /vg/, if the /a/ threads are correct), and all I have to say is perhaps it would have made more sense if I played the game. Which I didn't and never will. Episode 1 of Blue Archive began with 10 minutes of vague expository dialogue with the intent, I imagine, of "world building", but instead of just showing me the world they felt the need to name drop and million things, events, and treaties, all of which I forgot. Halfway through Shiroko finds a male teacher collapsed in the desert and brings him to school. The school is in Abydos, a desert district, and the teacher collapsed while trying to walk to school. The teacher introduces himself as Schale. The five students of the Abydos Foreclosure Taskforce introduce themselves, and Shiroko shows him around. The school, however, is empty and in debt, and they are the only five. At the end of their tour, the Kata-Kata Helmet Gang shows up to take their school. During a gunfight with extremely poor gun handling (I've never seen an anime that handles guns properly), Schale shows up and starts shouting commands, and as a result they win.

Figure 22 The Fable, Episode 2

Fable and his fake sister meeting thugs outside a local bar.

I went into The Fable Episode 2 with pretty low expectations. The art style, the characters, the plot, honestly the entire premise seems a bit silly. Anyways, the episode begins with the other Yakuza gang questioning if it's a good idea to harbor a hitman. They meet him, but he comes off as a bumbling idiot. They explain only he and the boss know who they are, but they'll still need to set some rules if he's to stay with them for a year. Notably, they won't bail him out if he gets in trouble. After being shown to their houses, the yakuza boss orders and underling to keep on eye on them, and Sato goes around the house removing cameras and listening equipment. One of the two bosses wants to chase the two out of town. They send a professional kick boxer to rough up Sato as he's leaving a bar. He tells Yoko to leave when the approach, and he intentionally loses the fight. Pretty boring episode.

Figure 23 Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included, Episode 3

Noel tells Shintaro she's a Yuki-onna, generating a large snow storm in the restaurant where they both work.

Episode 3 of Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included begins with Tsumugi wondering who the girl (Towa) was she saw flying away from Shintaro. The next day, Tsumugi is shocked to see Shintaro has his own bento, and after school he meets his new coworker Noel (they both work at a restaurant) who is much cuter than Towa. Once there shift is over, Noel reveals she's a "Yuki-onna" and a mini snowstorm begins to appear in the restaurant, and they both flee. Noel explains that her family has had Yuki-onna for generations and, literally like Elsa from Frozen, if she gets distraught or upset snow will appear around her. She asks Shintaro he be friends (of course he says yes), after which Towa appears (with visible wings), and Tsumugi appears too. Credits roll. Terrible writing.

Figure 24 I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so [..] Magical Ability, Episode 2

Lloyd practices chi breathing after meeting Tao and clearing a dungeon with her.

Episode 2 of I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability begins with Lloyd speaking with this big brother, Albert. He and Albert fire off magic for practice, and Lloyd intentionally misses every target. Albert excuses himself, and while along Lloyd practices a powerful spell that blows a hole in the sky. The next day, Lloyd uses Grim to control a mimic of himself while he leaves the castle to clear dungeons. While exploring, he disguises himself as Robert, and adventurer, and encounters Tao, a B-Rank martial artist, who immediately wants to make Robert her boyfriend. After meeting Tao, Albert attempts to practice Qi ("Chi") breathing to improve his strength, and Tao offers to teach him. At the end of of the dungeon, the encounter a Mimic which summons a Lich. Meanwhile, back at the castle, Grim encounters Sylpha.

Other Remarks

I've purchased almost all the materials I need to start black and white film photography. I'll have more to post about it soon!

As mentioned briefly last week, today (Monday April 8th 2024) is the day of The Great American Eclipse! The path of totality will sweep directly across the middle of The United States, with over 90% of the country seeing a full or partially blocked view of the Sun! I'm fortunate enough to live directly in the path of totality. Whereas other people have to travel to view it, I can just walk out onto the back of my porch and view it! I setup outside with some camera equipment and my Takahashi FC-100DZ, but I didn't have a filter, so I really just set up the telescope to send some cool photos to my family of my setup.

Figure 1 A view of totality.

I took a lot of photos leading up to totality, but must of them were terrible! I didn't have a sun filter, so it was just pointing at the sun with a low ISO and fast shutter speed and hoping for the best.
Leica M11 / Macro-Elmar-M 90 f/4 — ISO 6400 f/22 1/750s.

And the legends were true. It was amazing. Leading up totality, I was stunned at how dark it was getting. The lighting was so unique. I've never seen anything like it. The temperature dropped significantly (I was burning up early on, but then it got really cool). Finally, when totality was hit I was speechless. It was dark enough to see the stars (and Venus). I snapped a lot of photos, but I mainly just looked at it in awe.

Figure 2 Minutes before totality, the moon is blocking over 90% of the sun.

A photo minutes before totality. It was getting really dark and really cool by then, I was speechless!
Leica M11 / Macro-Elmar-M 90 f/4 — ISO 64 f/22 1/4000s.

Anyways, the next one isn't until 2044 I think. So that's two decades from now! I'll be 50 by then (if I live that long), so It's hard for me to grasp such a time scale. Regardless, it was really fun today. I also filmed it all on video, but I can't imagine I'd ever watch a video of myself again.

Other Remarks

The light meter is on its way from B&H Photo, so I should be able to at the very least start taking frames after I get it. I should be able to order the dark room supplies and development chemicals by the end of the week, then we'll be ready to go!

Spring season has officially started, so we should get all of Spring's anime this week and next! So far, it's looking like Monday is stacked with a lot of fairly slow shows (but let's hope that changes!). As for first episodes, Jellyfish Can't Swim At Night easily had the best first episode so far, but there are a few others that are showing some promise. Anyways, let's get into it!

Winter Leftovers

Figure 1 The Witch and The Beast, Episode 12

Guideau and Ashaf about to enter the fourth layer, the one for vampires.

Coming in a bit late, this Winter anime pulls through with an ending during the first week of Spring. Still, Episode 12 of The Witch and The Beast was one I was very much looking forward to (and one of the few shows I really wanted to get a second season, but alas such a joy was not meant to be). The final act began with Guideau finding a gravely wounded Ashaf following his fight with an executioner. Ashaf explains she has to protect Falvell or she'll never be able to lift her curse. Meanwhile, Falvell returns to her house to find her brother lynched by the executioner and the mob of people he brought from the town. Her brother, Owent, before he dies, explains Falvell can't use her powers because of witch's curse (which is true), but they decide to kill her regardless. Guideau and Ashaf arrive to protect her, and Falvell kisses Guideau to temporarily lift the curse. Guideau transforms and immediately attacks both Executioners. When the town mob tries to kill Falvell, she speaks for the first time. Her curse is lifted too. Falvell uses her voice magic to kill the Executioner who killed her brother.

Afterwards, Falvell uses her voice magic to save her brother. Ashaf explains she can only use the "kiss a witch" method once per witch. We then get a flashback of Guideau's and Ashaf's earlier fight, where he explains he wants to teach Guideau what 'love' is. Following their departure, they both arrive at a bottomless pit, called "The Fall" is, and they've been granted permission to enter it. When the Witch Angela left a clue on a victim, it was code for a layer in The Fall. Upon arrival to the fourth layer, they're given outfits for a 10 day visit (they're told if they look like outsiders, it will be dangerous). Ashaf further asks for several all black outfits, which the tailor says will be dangerous to wear on this layer. The episode ends with them entering the fourth layer, one for vampires, and the end credits roll. God dang we're never getting a season 2. What a fun show, though.

Figure 2 Metallic Rouge, Episode 13

Noami and Rouge merge their Ids in the final fight against Jung.

Regretfully, Metallic Rouge, airing late and being 13 episodes, pulled itself into the Spring season with its finale. The episode begins with all the characters meeting the puppet master, Jung, who is actually the father of all the Neans, and in fact a Nean himself. (Also, why is Claire de Lune always playing?). Jung explains that he created the Immortal Nine he created were all following his orders the enter time, even the rebellion against humanity for Neans rights. He explains they never had free will, even the will to set Neans free was set by him. Silvia stabs Jung, but Cyan immediately transforms and steals her Id after Jung transfer his consciousness to her. Rouge transforms and fights Cyan (Jung), but struggles because she has Noami's Id, who is not a combat type. The few remaining Neans try to fight Jung as well, but they're too weak. Noami tells Rouge to invert her output phase like she did before, and they merge together. Jung tries to do the same, but Cyan rejects him. Rouge reaches into his chest, steals both Ids, and shatters them. Afterwards, Cyan, while she lays dying, asks if she's Rouge's real sister now, to which Rouge responds "Yes". But when Rouge activates Code Eve, it actually springs a trap that causes all Neans to fight on the side of the Usurpers, but Gene expected it and stopped it. As the credits roll, we see Neans realizing they now have free will. Noami asks Rouge if the world will change, and Rouge says it will. In the final shots of the show, Rouge fights against the Joker girl. 25 years of Bones, boys.

Spring Lineup

Figure 3 Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night, Episode 1

Mahiru rips off the influencer's poster that covered her mural during a livestream, while Kano sings.

Episode 1 of Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night starts with the main character Mahiru Kouzuki, wondering around aimless in the neon-sign-lit Tokyo night, wondering what she should be. She reflects on how she, like a Jellyfish, can't choose where it goes ("Jellyfish can't swim on their own"). While wondering around at night, she encounters a disgusting influencer filming a video in front of an old Jellyfish mural she painted many years ago, back when she was an illustrator. Too afraid to speak up, another girl, Kano, in the ground does, before quickly leaving. Mahiru follows her, and when they meet Kano explains she's a big fan of Mahiru's work.

Kano explains that she's a failed idol whose work when up in flames (reference online harassment), but she's still making songs under the online name "JELEE", all thanks to her work. Kano plays some of her music for her, and Mahiru says it's cool. Kano explains her goal is to get 100K followers anonymously, and she asks to collaborate with Mahiru. Mahiru declines, saying she hasn't drawn in years, and she doesn't know what other people will think of it. She then runs away. While at home, she researches Kano and finds that she (allegedly) punched another member of her group, and got forcibly retired.

We then get a jump cut to Halloween, where Mahiru dresses like an angel, and she encounters Kano, dressed like the devil, at the same jellyfish mural. Mahiru explains that, in the past, her friends made fun of her mural, and that's why she's embarrassed of it, and why she stopped drawing. Kano borrows a guitar and begins playing a song in front of the mural (while singing, Mahiru rips down the dumb influencer posters in the process). At the end of the song, Kano explains she and Mahiru are the anonymous arts "JELEE", before the run away into night.

Praise be to Ganesha, we have not just one, but TWO girl band anime this season. (Maybe even three, if we count Whisper Me a Love Song... but is that really a "band"?) Anyways, what a great first episode! The shots and angles were amazing. Easily the most stylized anime so far! If they can keep up the pace this will be AOTS, but I've said that before a bout a lot of anime at episode 1 only to be disappointed later. But I have very high hopes!

Figure 4 Astro Note, Episode 1

Takumi meeting Mira shortly after arriving at Astro Lodge.

Astro Note was yet another show that leaked early, but I didn't notice the leak and only watched it today on it's proper air date. Anyways, Episode 1 begins with a space battle and one of the members escapes the battle, hyper drives to end, and lands in Japan. Afterwards, one of the main characters, Miyasaka Takumi, arrives at Astro Lodge prepared for a job interview for a head chef position. However, "head chef" is a bit of a up sell. Astro Lodge is a small lodge, and the woman, Mira-san, who wrote the job description just lifted it from a magazine. Astro Lodge is just a lodge that also provides breakfast. Takumi is grossly over qualified for the position. Regardless, Takumi decides to make breakfast. While leaving, Takumi realizes how CUTE Mira-san is, and decides to take the position. After moving in, Mira shows Takumi around the lodge. Mira seems pretty unfamiliar with certain things (e.g., what a phone is, certain Japanese foods, etc.), but regardless Takumi falls for Mira (I mean, who wouldn't). Afterwards the lodge throws a welcoming party for Takumi. The next day, after serving a full English breakfast (lol), Takumi is further confused by Mira's lack of knowledge of common topics (such as not knowing what WiFi is, or how to use a computer, or how to use a remote control). At the end of the episode, we see Mira in a futuristic room, while she talks to her dog about her mission to find the key and return to to Planet Wid to rule the throne. The alien woman at a lodge, sort of reminds of of A Galaxy Next Door? Not that anyone remembers that show. Very strange.

Figure 5 Spice & Wolf, Episode 1

Holo trying to convince Lawrence that she is, in fact, the god of harvest.

Inshallah, praise be to Ganesha, another season of Spice & Wolf. Episode 1 began with Holo speaking to a girl I presume is her daughter about her past has the god of wheat harvest of a village. However, after years and years the village forgot she was the god of harvest. We then get the opening, which was pretty aesthetic. The slow travel ballad is new, but still feels pretty fitting. Afterwards, we see traveling merchant Lawrence, ready to deliver fur pelts. He passes through a village, and hears a sound in his cart the moment the last wheat stuck is cut (it's Holo jumping in).

That night, when the clouds part and a full moon shines, Lawrence finds Holo sleeping in his carriage. She awakens and howls at the moon (she's a wolf, by the way). Holo explains she slipped into his cart because she wanted to leave the village. Lawrence says she can stay with him, as she might bring him fortune. To prove she's really a wolf, she transforms into a wolf and Lawrence, in fear, returns to the village to stay the night. He finds Holo in his bed, who explains she lives inside of wheat. Holo explains she wants to leave the village and go North, to her home. The next day they leave the village.

Music was really good. Holo's voice was a bit weird. Sounded a bit too playful and not wise.

Figure 6 An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride, Episode 1>

Zagan catches Nephy after she trips on the stairs.

Figure 7 An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride, Episode 2

Nephy trembling in fear after Zagan effortlessly defeats a group of bandits.

Episode 1 of An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride Begins with Zagan learning of the death of the oldest Archdemon, whose estate is soon going to be auctioned off. While on his way, he learns that there's been a series of kidnappings and he is, in fact, a suspect. He dismisses the suspicions and arrives at the auction with his friend, Barbatos. Unfortunately they arrive late, and only witness to bid on the final lot: an elf girl (white white hair). Zagan immediately bids one million gold (to him, it's love at first site), and takes her back to his castle. While there, Zagan struggles to strike up a conservation, and the elf asks how exactly is she's going to be killed. Zagan informs her she's not going to kill her or torture her. We learn the elves's name is Nephelia, but she says if that's too long Zagan can just call her "Nephy". Nephy informs him that she's a virgin, who is valuable for experiments. Zagan asks Nephy to pick out a room, explaining that she needs her to live for his sake. The episode ends with Nephy standing on the balcony of her new room staring at the Moon. She thanks Zagan for the room. Cute elf. White hair is always a plus.

Well, for whatever reason it looks like Episode 2 leaked as well. It may have been a mistake on Crunchyroll, as several other shows leaked. I'm still not sure because of these leaks which shows I'm behind on, which ones have already started, and which ones haven't. Regardless, I watched Episode 2 early just in case Episode 3 airs next week (that way I won't be behind). Anyways, Episode 2 starts with Zagan and Nephy eating breakfast on the floor together. Nephy comments that the foot they're eating is bland, so she and Zagan agree to go grocery shopping the next day. While on the way, the encounter bandits robbing caravan, but Zagan intervenes to stop it. After arriving in town, Zagan goes to a tailor to get new clothes made for Nephy (it's a maid outfit, of course). He asks a blacksmith to remove the collar, but he informs him that's impossible without the original key. After an awkward (but CUTE) dinner in a restaurant, we see the red head girl, who is actually a knight, that Zagan saved in the first episode, wondering why Zagan saved her. Angelic Knight-Captain, Chastille Lillqvist, is then ordered to kill Zagan because "all sorcerers are wicked". Confused, she volunteers for the job herself. End credits.

Figure 8 The Banished Former Hero Lives as He Pleases, Episode 1

Alan assembling a team to defeat the dragon atop the nearby volcano.

Figure 9 The Banished Former Hero Lives as He Pleases, Episode 2

Noelle enchanting Alan's new sword base on his fighting style.

Episode 1 of The Banished Former Hero Lives as He Pleases begins with Alan dying then being reincarnated as a useless level 1 prince with no divine blessing whose cast out of the palace. But this is not true! On his journey, he encounters two girls who need help, and he uses his power from his previous life to save them! Together, Alan, Beatrice, and Lise arrive at a village and they meet Akira, who is currently a hero. They hypothesis that a dragon is protecting the village from monsters, but also demanding sacrifices to do so. Akira found an abandoned child in the forest earlier, which supported the claim. Alan speculates that Kloom village was set up specifically to offer sacrifices to the dragon to maintain piece in the borderlands. Meanwhile, Akira engages the dragon, who tells her he let the girl go on purpose to bait more people to come and fight him (and lose). But, of course, Alan arrives and solos it.

We also got a second episode today of this show (not sure why, someone on /a/ said there were leaks, another claimed streaming was ahead of the television broadcast). Regardless, Episode 2 begins Alan acknowledging that Lisa can also use healing magic, and explaining that while she may be saint, a princess, to him she'll always be Lise. Afterwards, Akira departs and says she'll watch the girl they saved from the dragon on her journey. We learn afterwards that the clay wolves and dragon were designed to kill both the Saint (Lise) and the Hero (Akira). We get a flashback where Lise and Alan both meet (they were bethroned to each other as children, but that fell through after Alan was banished, I presume). They arrive at the Noelle's house who will forge Alan a new sword. Noelle asks if Alan wants a sword that could surpass a divine blade. An assassin near Noelle's house sees Alan, Lise, and Beatrice leave, and reports it to her handler, who explains that Lise should only have a single female knight as a guard, not Alan.

Afterwards, Alan sells some dragon scales to the adventurer's guild, and the assassin (Mylene) and her handler, Horace, asks him about how he fell the dragon. Horace realizes Alan has no gift, then leaves. Late, while in the forest to test his sword, he encounters a large wolf, the same one that killed her previous master. She demands Alan kill it. End credits. Not a crazy good show, to be honest.

Figure 10 The Train to the End of the World, Episode 1

All the girls on their way to Ikebukuro.

Episode 1 of The Train to the End of the World starts off in a frenzy, with Nakatomi Yoka being ushered off to the 7G center to celebrate the launch of 7G. Nakatomi is tasked with pressing the button to start 7G to "open the future", and when she does it warps reality and the opening rolls. (The opening was pretty abstract—will this be the Flip Flappers of this generation?).

Afterwards the opening, we time-skip to two years later to Agano Station, where a group of talking animals are leaving in some sort of bizarre commune. All the animals are actually humans, or they were originally, before they got turned into animals. They discuss the "7G incident" from two two years ago. Three human girls show up and fight about food, before explaining that everyone in Agano will turn into an animal at the age of 21 (the girls are younger than that, so the remain human). Shortly thereafter, a supply caravan arrives, and Shizuru finds a piece of scrap newspaper with Yoka-chan in it, taken from last month. Shizuru then narrates what happened during the 7G incident. The distances between towns grew to impassable lengths. In Agano, all the adults turned to animals. We got a flashback before the incident where Shizuru and Yoka fight. They're lead to a train, and they find the conductor's hat, put it on him, and the conductor immediately explains why 7G was dangerous and vows to put and end to 7G. The conductor, Zenjiro, explains how to use the one working train car. She plans to go to Ikebukuro. All her friends jump on, along with the doggu, and they press on down the tracks. 30 stops to Ikebukuro.

Figure 11  I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability, Episode 1

Sylpha training Lloyd on how to fight with a sword.

Another "I got reincarnated" anime begins with Episode 1 of I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability (7th Prince, for short). The first episode starts off with the prince being killed by a noble and then being born again as a baby, Lloyd, and subsequently using his magic which is now much stronger. His goal now is to study magic and become stronger. The maid Sylpha (long wait hair, ugghh CUTE) is in charge of his education. He engages in a sword fight with her for training, but loses, even despite using 4 concurrent magic spells to cheat. Afterwards, Lloyd breaks into the castle's forbidden library, where he's confronted by Grimoire, a book haunted by a demon who asks to be set free. Lloyd frees him on the condition he teaches him ancient magic, but the demon immediately attacks him. He studies the demon's magic during the fight. The demon tries to escape, but Lloyd constructed too many barriers for him to escape. Grimoire then pledges himself to Lloyd as a familiar, nicknamed Grim.

Figure 12  Wonderful Pretty Cure!, Episode 9

Komugi eating like a dog at school.

Episode 9 of Wonderful Pretty Cure!, and the first episode of the Spring 2024 anime season began with Mey Mey (the sheep) magically appearing in Iroha's room to wake her and Komugi. He has a middle school uniform for Komugi, and she can now begin attending school with Iroha! He explains that the Niko Diamond in Niko Garden will allow her to go to school. After an awkward introduction in class, Komugi is made to be the goalkeeper on the soccer team, and does a good job. Komugi, however, struggles to pay attention in class, and acts like a dog (because she's a dog.

Komugi falls asleep and converts back into a dog, but wakes up later (turning back into a human) only to find a classmate (Ikarin-kun) with a Gyarugyaru egg on his head. Komugi gets and and balances the egg on her head as well, but the egg hatches shortly thereafter. It's a duck! Satoru tells Komugi to catch the Gyarugyaru (she does), and they "Friendly Pact" it back to Niko Garden. Afterwards, Komugi says she can't act like a dog at school, and she actually needs to pass tests. Komugi explains she'll do it (or at least try).

Figure 13  Gods' Games We Play, Episode 1

Lesha and Fay about to enter a God's game.

As the name implies, Gods' Games We Play Episode 1 set the narrative that humans play games against gods for reasons that, I assume, will be explained later. The main character, Fay, is tasked with watching over a god that was found frozen in ice. Fay has to do it because he posses the "Arise" not to die. Fay, humanity's best player (called "Apostles"), recognizes the god, Lady Leoleshea, from his childhood, when he used to play games with her. Or, he thinks so. She just happens to look like the girl in his memories. Lady Leoleshea immediately challenges him to a game.

It's a memory game, where matching two cards requires the other person to introduce parts of their lives (e.g., where they're from), which is the first pair he finds. The god explains she's from the "Elements", a place where all god's are from. We then get an explanation that god's are bored, and gods will challenge humans in Elements to games. If the human wins, they will be able to use their "Arise" power on Earth. If they defeat 10 gos, they will "clear" the games, although no human has never done that before. Leoleshea asks why Fay wanted to get closer to her, and Fay explains it's her job to keep an eye on her. Leoleshea ("Lesha") explain ins that she appreciates his honesty. Lesha explains she wants to clear the god's game with him, and that she can't go back to Elements anymore now that she's in the human world. If she gets 10 wins, she can go back to being a god, and humans will be granted a wish (as many as they want). The episode ends with a god's game of hide and seek.

Figure 14  WIND BREAKER, Episode 1

Sakura fighting a group of thugs the day before he attends Furin High School.

Episode 1 of WIND BREAKER begins with with the main-character, Skunk-hair from Ikenaikyo, Sakura Haruka, explaining how he hates "weak people" and proceeds to beat up a group of thugs harassing a girl... not because they're harassing her, but because they're "weak". He tells them to tell anyone, everyone who's strong, to find him. After an OK opening, the girl he saved, Kotoha, thanks him and makes him and omelet and her restaurant. Sakura tells her that she came to Furin High School to fight. (Throughout the episode, Sakura is confused when people are nice to him, explaining that he's obviously a delinquent and expects to be treated as such.) Kotoha explains he'll never be top dog at Furin because he's alone. Afterwards, Sakura confronts an army of delinquents rampaging through the streets. The leader, the one he beat up earlier, gets knocked out again, and Sakura proceeds to beat the remainder of the gang in a pretty smooth fight for a an anime. However, he's still outnumbered, and more students from Furin High School showed up to back him up. Kotoha explains that Furin fights to protect the town. Sakura is confused because they're accepted by the town. Because he's accepted by the town. The episode ends with the exposition: "This is the story of how a social pariah became the hero of Furin."

Figure 15  A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics, Episode 1

Sara and Sosuke knocking out some gangsters trying to extort someone.

Episode 1 of A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics begins with a princess being chased by a mob trying to kill her. To escape, she jumps into a portal that takes her to Japan (a reverse isekai, I suppose). After the terrible OP, we meet Kaburaya Sosuke, a 29 year old detected in Gifu, Japan. And by "detective", I mean private investigator. While following a target, the princess falls from the sky onto him. The princess introduces herself as Sara Da Odin. She shows off her attack magic, and Sosuke flees the scene. Meanwhile, her guard, Livia Do Udis, also passes through the portal (covered in blood), and tries to find Hime-sama. The next day, the princess gets new clothes, and Sosuke continues to trail his target. Sara offers to use her magic to help him, but Sosuke refuses. Later on, he finds his target being extorted by a local gang. They then begin to beat him to death, but Sosuke (and Sara) intervenes to break it up. The episode ends with Sara and Sosuke eating dinner in their apartment to celebrate the completion of the investigation.

Figure 16  Girls Band Cry, Episode 1

Iseri and Momoka together their Momoka's apartment.

Inshallah, praised be to Ganesha, it was incredibly difficult to get subs for Episode 1 of Girls Band Cry, Toei Animation's 3DCG anime about an all girl's rock band. The subs I eventually found may have been machine translated and riddle with errors, who knows? But I think I got the general gist of it.

The episode starts with Iseri Nina (cute) moving to Tokyo. After arriving late, missing her meeting with "the agency", she runs into Momoka Kawaragi of Diamond Dust. After listening to her play, Iseri tells her she's a big fan, but their conversation gets cut short when they have to flee from another musician who takes their spot. After a very late dinner together, Momoka lets Iseri crash at her place overnight. While there, Momoka explains she's leaving tomorrow, and quiting music. She explains that she just didn't sell. Iseri leaves, forgetting her phone, and Momoka follows her to deliver it. Momoka explains that Diamond Dust just didn't sell, and they're leaving tomorrow. Afterwards, they go for some late night karaoke. Iseri wakes up at Momoka's place the next morning, and Momoka leaves her guitar for her. In a parallel of the night before, this time Iseri chases after Momoka, telling her not to give up. Momoka appears, says she (Iseri) is singing, and we get a cool musical number in the rain!

Figure 17  Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included, Episode 2

Towa flying home after delivering lunch to Shintaro.

Episode 2 of Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included began with a brief prelude to the events of Episode 1, where Towa arrived in Japan and tried to find where to sleep (eventually sleeping on an apartment balcony). She explains all this to Shintaro over dinner (which, of course she made for him, generic wish-fulfillment self-insert man). After dinner, they or course sleep in the same bed (because there's only one in the apartment). There's also an incredibly dumb comedic sequence of them constantly walking in on each other in the bathroom. The next day, Shintaro goes to school, and Towa insists on going with him to "bring him happiness", but Shintaro refuses. While there, we meet Tsutsumi (sort of cute) who also looks after Shintaro like a wife, and offers to make him lunches too ("I-it's not that I like you or a-anything, b-baka, I-I'm just worried about your diet!"). Over lunch, Towa flies to school to deliver lunch to him, where they meet on the roof. Towa, herself also hungry, eats lunch with Shintaro on the roof. After the credits, we see Tsutsumi catches a glimpse of Shintaro speaking with Towa, growing wings, then flying away.

Figure 18  The Fable, Episode 1

Akira and Yoko standing over to unconscious car burglars.

In Episode 1 of The Fable we learn that the infamous hitman, Fable, is ordered to lie low for a year in Osaka following a hot year (he's killed too many people and, for the time being, needs to lie low). He's given the fake identify of "Akira Sato", and the girl he's with is "Yoko Sato". One the way to Osaka, Yoko asks Akira why he decided to be an assassin. He doesn't reply. Yoko explains she got into the business because her parents died and "Boss" took her in. While at a rest stop, Akira identifies two car burglars staking out the parking lot. They approach him and he defends himself, and Yoko chastises him for hurting them. Akira responds that this may not be easy. After arriving in Osaka, Akira buys new clothes and arrives at the Maguro group, the local Yakuza gang.

Other Remarks

I'm slowly in the process of buying the equipment, supplies, and chemicals neccesary to make my own darkroom and to develop my own black and white film! It will take a while, but I think I'll have everything up and ready to go to develop black and white photographys by the end of April. I'll keep you posted!

Well. It arrived. While there was several weeks of turning it over in my mind, in the end I ordered it yesterday morning at 6:45 AM and it arrived this morning at 10:20 AM, so the actual wait was, in the end, only a little over 24 hours long. What will take longer, however, is now that I have the camera I need to buy all the materials to develop my own film! While waiting for the FedEx truck to arrive this morning, I did some final planning for making the darkroom.

Figure 1 The Leica MA with the 90mm Macro Elmar Lens

The Leica MA with various other items on my desk (ink shelf in the background).
Leica M11 / Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH — ISO 800 f/8 1/12s.

To be honest, the main contributing factor I had for buying the camera body before I had everything else in place (like the darkroom, film, light meter, and so on), was the completely irrational fear that I would not be able to get the Leica MA camera body because Leica was going to stop production of it (or, perhaps, it would be sold out for months). I now know this obviously isn't true, but I have been the victim of missing something I didn't buy in the past (like that god damn Burberry umbrella) that I still to this day regret it, so I moved quickly.

Figure 2 The Leica M11 (left) and MA (right)

The customized Leica M11 (with the custom leather wrap!) and the brand new Leica MA. Also making an appearance is my favorite lens, the 50 f/0.95 Noctilux.
FujiFilm X100F — ISO 800 f/16 13.0s

I still have a long road ahead of me before I can get the entire process in place, but the largest and most expensive step is out of the way! I'll keep you posted! I'm very excited!

Other Remarks

The weather over this Spring Break has been terrible. We actually had a small amount of snow and freezing rain yesterday. It's basically been raining all day. It's raining as a type this. It greatly put a damper on my fun photography adventures, but I still managed to squeeze out a few fun places! I'm also in a bit of a rut in Runescape. I'm stuck at 118 Construction, but I simply can't level it without a double XP weekend, bonus XP, and Cinder cores. I guess I just have to wait to the next one (which probably won't be until May, I imagine).

Hamilton Town Center is an outdoor group of shops about 20 minutes from where I live, and it's a place I absolutely never go. To be honest, all the stores are too cheap for my taste. There's nothing there that's nice (expensive) enough for me to consider buying. But it seemed like it could be a potentially cool photography target (I was wrong), so this morning I went up there before the rain started to grab some photographs.

Figure 1 "Discover Fashion" at Hamilton Town Center

I'm not sure how anyone would discover fashion at such a cheap place (everything is made in China), but I'm sure the poor people pretending to be rich really feel like it's a nice place to buy their Nikes.
Leica M11 / Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH — ISO 3200 f/0.95 1/60s.

It was also quite cold while I was out there. So cold that my hands started to hurt. If I were smarter, and if I had anticipated the biting wind, I would have brought handwarmers to put in my pockets, along with a thicker coat.

Figure 2 The empty main street through the center of all the shops.

The Christmas light fountain was the only interesting thing in all of the shops, and it's still completely boring. Perhaps it will be cooler during the winter when there's actual Christmas lights up?
Leica M11 / Noctilux-M 50mm f/5.6 ASPH — ISO 3200 f/0.95 1/60s.

Anyways, Hamilton Town Center is just a large strip mall with subpar stores selling made-in-China fast fashion clothes that poor people buy to feel better about themselves. I did feel a slight twinge of emotion there when I walked by a restaurant where I ate out with my mother shortly before she died, but I quickly shut that emotion away and walked away from the restaurant. I don't plan on going back either there, or to Hamilton Town Center generally. Tell them to rise the prices then I'll consider it.

Other Remarks

I bought the Leica MA this morning. Yup. It should arrive tomorrow (FedEx next day air). I still haven't bought any film, developer, a scanner, or really anything else, yet. But the next step in the plan is to buy black and white film and set up the darkroom in my house because I think developing black and white film myself would be pretty easy. The film itself is also cheaper, so I'd feel less bad about practicing with it. Oh, I should get a photo printer too, then. There's a lot in the pipeline! I'll keep you posted.

I finally dropped by Noblesville downtown in the late morning (I sort of wanted to go in the early morning, but I had to coordinate with a friend who doesn't wake up at 5:00 AM every morning like me). Anyways, I walked around the downtown and grabbed some shots, and it's a pretty interesting place! It really feels like a small American town!

Figure 1 The old court house building behind the county museum

I remember walking down the street and seeing this shot and thinking "yup, this will be the best one all day". I don't know if it's actually he best, but it is a pretty good one.
Leica M11 / Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH — ISO 64 f/16 1/125s.

Figure 2 The old court house's clock tower behind some power lines

A fairly average wide angle shot of the clock tower viewed from a distance.
Leica M11 / Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH — ISO 64 f/16 1/640s.

The old court house and the old town square is the main appeal of Noblesville. In fact, everything around it is modern and feels terrible, so you really have to stick to the old town square. Traffic was a bit heavy, and I found it pretty hard to cross the street a few times. I'm used to taking photos early in the morning, where I can literally just walk in the street!

Figure 3 A cool Victorian style house

This is one really cool house. I walked by it and had to pause and how cool it was.
Leica M11 / Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH — ISO 64 f/16 1/640s.

Still, it was pretty fun to have to to worry about shutter speed. There was so much light everything came out pretty good. And the harsh imposing shadows are unique, as normally I walk around when the sun isn't even up.

Figure 4 The old court house building.

The old court house is so big I figured I'd need at least one imposing shot of it. When I took this, though, it was sort of on the fly. I didn't think this frame would be good, but upon review it was also one of the stronger ones. The mix of brick and Indiana limestone is really good.
Leica M11 / Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH — ISO 64 f/2.4 1/1200s.

Still pretty cool. I'll have to go back in different seasons and see if I can get different shots in different lighting.

Other Remarks

It was raining for a big party of the day, so I also took some photos of the rain (you can see the droplets frozen in the frame on the right). I takes about 1/4000s to freeze the rain, from my tests, so I'll have to remember that. 1/4000s shutter at f/2, then auto ISO to compensate.

Figure 5 The tree behind my house

It's raining, and I froze the raindrops with a fast shutter so they almost look like film grain!
Leica M11 / Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH — ISO 3200 f/2.4 1/4000s.

The weather forecast called for rain all day, but when I woke up I realized it was wrong. The storefront deviated north of us, so I decided to drive over to Fortville, a very small town I've seen on maps before (but hitherto never visited) for some early morning low light photography, much like yesterday. Unlike yesterday, however, this town had very little to offer. I was very much surprised by how small this town actually was. On maps, it looks small, but in person it's even smaller as its main street extends maybe 2-3 blocks.

Figure 1 A random black cat crosses the train tracks

I was actually taking photos of the Taxman restaurant when I suddenly noticed a black cat in front of me. After a brief pause, it crossed to the other side of the street along the train tracks that cut right through downtown Fortville.
Leica M11 / Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH — ISO 1600 f/0.95 1/100s.

Because I was there so earlier (arriving at or around 6:00 AM on a Monday morning) it was utterly and completely empty. I saw a few cars drive by, but the only living thing I made eye contact with was a black cat walking across the train tracks that cut through the middle of town. It felt like I was in some god damn anime. The town was empty except for me and this cat, so If I stuck around I'm sure the cat would have started talking and teleported me to another world.

Figure 2 A general shot of downtown Fortville

This is basically the entire downtown. I thought there would be more to it, but it took me less than 10 minutes (even while taking pictures) to walk from one side to the other.
Leica M11 / Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH — ISO 1600 f/0.95 1/125s.

Here are some more general shots from around the area (this town is really small, so there's not much to show). All the stores looked boring, and there were a few fairly boring looking restaurants, too. The only store that looked interesting w as "Jennifer's Flower Boutique" as it was still decorated for Easter (which was yesterday). The window decorations made me actually stop in my tracks to examine them!

Figure 3 Jennifer's Flower Boutique

It's the day after Easter, so there we still Easter decorations in the window.
Leica M11 / Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH — ISO 1600 f/0.95 1/125s.

Figure 4 A street sign in the middle of town.

It's not even upright. Fortville engineering at its finest.
Leica M11 / Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH — ISO 1600 f/0.95 1/125s.

Other Remarks

On this day one week from now, they will be a total solar eclipse passing over my location! This should be really cool! I hope it's not cloudy! Look forward a post this time next week, regardless of the weather.

(Despite the fact that this article is dated for April 1st, all these photos were taken the morning of Sunday, March 31st, 2024. But I already moved posts for that month to the archive, so I'll date it for this month.)

After going grocery shopping in the morning (I wake up at 5:00 AM and go grocery shopping at 6:00 AM on Sundays) I decided I still had time to run down to downtown Fishers and try out some early morning photography as the Sun was just coming up. Unfortunately, it was cloudy (with a very slight rain) so I couldn't get cool colors and shadows in the rising sun. Nevertheless, we still got some cool shots, and because of the rain and Sunday morning and Easter the streets were empty, something I don't think I'd see at another time!

I was debating on whether or not to bring the 50mm Noctilux or the 35mm Summicron, and boy-howdy I'm glad I brought the Noctilux. It was basically required to get tons of shots early in the morning. I know for for certain that lens is required for much of the lowlight photography I want to do (I'm so glad I bought it).

Figure 1 Fisher's old train station

Probably my best shot of the morning. Which is a surprise, because when I took it I thought it was average at the time. I like how there are no people in the shot.
Leica M11 / Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH — ISO 1600 f/2.4 1/250s.

My best shot was the shot of the old Fisher's train station, repurposed into a walking trail. Since it was totally empty, and there was an overcast sky, it has quite a feel to it.

Figure 2 Downtown Fishers, across from Four Day Ray

One of my first shorts of the morning. The Noctilux is really krangling some of the colors if you examine pixel-by-pixel. Still, it looks pretty ethereal.
Leica M11 / Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH — ISO 1600 f/0.95 1/250s.

One of my first shots with the Noctilux this morning. I was focused at infinity, but I think I should have focused at the street lamps in front of me, which were a bit less than 10 meters away. Regardless, it came out pretty well. It's really only the bright LED streetlights that got blown out.

Figure 3 Downtown Fishers (proper)

This may seem like a normal shot to some, but this shows how dead the downtown was. Normally this road is so filled with cars traffic barely moves. It was totally empty this morning.
Leica M11 / Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH — ISO 1600 f/6.8 1/90s.

Many of the newer buildings in downtown look nice, but they all feel pretty empty to me. That may be because there were no people around. By this time in the morning the sun had come up enough that I could increase the aperture from f/0.95 and 1 to f/6.8, leading to improved shots.

Figure 4 Some random menu at a restaurant in downtown

I just took a photo of this menu because I liked the bright colors.
Leica M11 / Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH — ISO 3200 f/0.95 1/2000s.

This was another shot I took pretty early. This restaurant's menus were on bright backlit televisions, so they completely jumped out at my from a distance! Everything on the menu has a mild magenta haze.

Other Remarks

I took some photos of the tree behind my house. Its spring flowers are very pretty! I tried both with the Noctilux and the Macro Elmar lens. The Noctilux gave an almost dreamlike image, and the Macro Elmar lens came out has a scientific image. I almost feel like it could be "Wikipedia own work" tier.

Figure 5 A f/0.95 shot with the Noctilux

This image cements, in my mind, the ephemeral dream-like shot of the 50mm Noctilux.
Leica M11 / Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH — ISO 64 f/0.95 1/5000s.

Figure 6 A macro shot with the Elmar + Macro Adapter

You'll have to open the image and zoom in to see how sharp this macro shot is!
Leica M11 / Macro-Elmar-M 90mm f/4 + Macro Adapter — ISO 800 f/22 1/250s.

I got AT&T Fiber at my house yesterday (after years!). I still need to upgrade some cables to get the full speed I'm paying for. I also just bought and installed an extended so I shouldn't have 5G dead zones in my bedroom anymore (I hope).