(CR) Saki Achiga-hen: Episode of Side-A (anime)

[The Green One]

Should we start calling Teru the Dragon Slayer now? lol

[Eisdrache]

Teru IS the dragon.

[XGeneral2000]

Interesting little tidbit from the previews:

Spoiler for Episode 12 preview + Saki Picture Drama:

So Saki went to the same middle school as Toki and Ryuuka. Whether or not they actually know each other is questionable, since Saki didn't play mahjong in school until she joined Kiyosumi's mahjong club.

[Myssa Rei]

Originally Posted by Requiem-x

A little doubt, by the way, who was that woman who recognized Nodoka and Yuuki in the end? I don't remember.

It was the reporter lady who was in the first season. She was the one who kept on following Nodoka around, and who eventually interviewed Teru about her relation to Saki (where the former flatly denied being related to the latter).

[King-Slayer]

Originally Posted by XGeneral2000

Interesting little tidbit from the previews:

Spoiler for Episode 12 preview + Saki Picture Drama:

So Saki went to the same middle school as Toki and Ryuuka. Whether or not they actually know each other is questionable, since Saki didn't play mahjong in school until she joined Kiyosumi's mahjong club.

Spoiler for "preview".:

there's also the fact that they are two years older than her, so i doubt they know each other. But that is an interesting connection.

[Requiem-x]

Originally Posted by Myssa Rei

It was the reporter lady who was in the first season. She was the one who kept on following Nodoka around, and who eventually interviewed Teru about her relation to Saki (where the former flatly denied being related to the latter).

Oh boy, now I wish Saki hadn't stayed outside.

Poor Nodoka is going to be put against the wall for an interview while Shizu and crew keep fighting. Damn it T_T

[Proto]

She may know the first year in Senriyama though.

[Peanutbutter]

Interesting Ep 11.

Looking forward to Ep 12. I have a feeling the series will end with a certain part of Saki S1 Ep 25.

[ultimatemegax]

Originally Posted by XGeneral2000

Interesting little tidbit from the previews:

Spoiler for Episode 12 preview + Saki Picture Drama:

So Saki went to the same middle school as Toki and Ryuuka. Whether or not they actually know each other is questionable, since Saki didn't play mahjong in school until she joined Kiyosumi's mahjong club.

I really doubt that happened. I think it's laziness in uniform design by Studio Gokumi. Saki/Nodoka/Yuuki were in Nagano during middle school. Toki and Ryuuka would have had to move from there to North Osaka for that to be true. Even Nodoka, who moved from Nara to Nagano, didn't move that far.

Map of Nationals schools and prefectures (Senriyama is 26, Kiyosumi is 33):

Images

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

[Myssa Rei]

Incidentally it's at this point in the series where both manga readers and anime-only watchers are finally in the same boat, as the next chapter of Achiga-hen comes out on July 6. So we have no idea about what's going to happen next. Judging from the preview though, it should be fun.

It's not like this didn't happen before though: the last episode of the Saki anime came out merely days before the Prefecturals (against Koromo) ended in the manga.

Incidentally I watched this episode before heading off to work this morning. Was well worth the risk of getting late, for sure.

Now for my own thoughts on the episode:

* The slaughter continues. It's getting quite painful to watch, itsn't it? And unless something happens, it's not going to end anytime soon...

* Anime-watchers can now appreciate just why we manga readers love Kirame. She's the biggest bro at the table; she knows that she's a sacrifice, but she's wholeheartedly accepted her role, as it's something that only she can do. And not only that, all her efforts are giving everyone else who isn't named Teru a chance -- because getting knocked out at the Vanguard phase isn't fun, right?

* We get a tacit acknowledgement that Kuro actually IS contributing something, but not actively: by holding on to all dora, it not only helps mitigate Teru's damage, but helps Toki and Kirame estimate the point values of the hands, which is important if they want to stop Teru from dropping someone below zero!

* Toki pretty much killing herself to try to stop Teru. I found the addition of Ryuuka reacting in anguish a nice touch by Studio Gokumi, as it shows just how dangerous this is to Toki.

[Marina2]

Originally Posted by Myssa Rei

Incidentally it's at this point in the series where both manga readers and anime-only watchers are finally in the same boat, as the next chapter of Achiga-hen comes out on July 6. So we have no idea about what's going to happen next. Judging from the preview though, it should be fun.

Not really the same yet.

There is one thing anime that deide to hide from the viewer for now.

[Myssa Rei]

Originally Posted by Marina2

Not really the same yet.

There is one thing anime that deide to hide from the viewer for now.

Oh yeah, that detail. Still the studio has done well in building up the tension for the climax, ne? I felt giddy by the end, and the soundtrack sure helped. It felt like it was the final battle against a boss in a fighting or mecha anime!

I think it's obvious that Gokumi will be going on Ritz's notes this time. It's going to be hard NOT to make comparisons when the chapter comes out.

[Key Board]

how did Shiraitodai's Awai even managed to play in prefectural match if Teru destroys everyone in the vanguard match or leaves them with little points?

and I'm sure they didn't have Kuro, Kirame and Toki to mitigate the damage

[Requiem-x]

Originally Posted by Myssa Rei

* The slaughter continues. It's getting quite painful to watch, itsn't it? And unless something happens, it's not going to end anytime soon...

* Anime-watchers can now appreciate just why we manga readers love Kirame. She's the biggest bro at the table; she knows that she's a sacrifice, but she's wholeheartedly accepted her role, as it's something that only she can do. And not only that, all her efforts are giving everyone else who isn't named Teru a chance -- because getting knocked out at the Vanguard phase isn't fun, right?

And as we all know, mahjong is fun.

And yes, it's qute painful at this point.

Toki T_T

[Scarletknive]

Originally Posted by Requiem-x

...Wow.

No, seriously, wow.

This episode. Just... this episode. My heart was pounding hard at the end. Seriously, only the top moments of fate/zero come close to this. If that means there's somethig wrong with me, I never want to be right.

Spoiler for To keep dreams alive:

First of all, both remaining manga chapters were adapted perfectly. Yes, I know Teru didn't look as terrifying as she did in some pages of the manga, but who cares?

Literally from the get go we get a new BGM, and it sounds like something you'd hear while Goku is making a genkidama or someone is about to die in saint seiya, and rightfully so, because Toki actually went beyond her limits by pulling Double Accel, and it passed toll on her inmediatly, but at least she managed to stop Teru's streak a second time.

And then it all went tumbling down. She literally blacked out for a while there! Well, at least we were treated with another awesome Senriyama flashback, just so anime viewers can see how strong the bonds of this team are. Seriously, they're the Ryuumonbuchi of side A, and in case someone forgot, two of their members are actual family! And of course, more bonding with Ryuuka, which is always nice.

Having already read the manga, I knew what was going to happen (mostly), but Toki still looked like a wreck to me, especially by the end, she really is on her last legs in every possibe sense, literally giving all of her soul and body for this.

Toki

And to top it all off, Ryuuka actually lost it after seeing her beloved destroy herself on national TV. This did NOT happen in the manga, by the way, but my god, did every fan want to see it, and it was just as heartwrenching as we all expected it to be.

TOKIIIIIIII

Another thing the manga didn't show, Sera actually looking sad about losing the nationals in that flashback. It was a detail, but a meaningful, especially because you got to see someone so irremediably genki being so sad. It really helped drive the point home.

Of course, there's someone else who deserves mention

Spoiler for To see this through the end:

SUBARA!!

At long last, Kirame's flashback! Can you all understand why some here loved her from the beginning? Just to let it clear, Kirame's ability is endure, and she's being used as nothing more than a sacrificial pawn, but she's still happy to do it if it means being useful to the team. Not only that, she's not willing to let anyone go below zero, because that's not how she want things to go, that being probably a big reason why she's been helping Toki all along, to the point they could even read each others thoughts at one point through simple teamwork.

Hanada Kirame: Bro, badass, WONDERFUL

And yes, Kuro has been useful after all, though not intentionally, but hey, a bone is a bone.

And of course, I can't stop mentioning

Spoiler for To dwell in the past, and plan for the future:

The Kiyosumi gang appearance in this episode, because hey, Nodoka and crew are actually goingto the semifinals. Ahhhh, Shizu, your lover is so close!

Another small detail that was prtty nice, was Saki refusing to enter because of knowing who's playing during that match, and Nodoka kind of getting the reason, or at least there's something big behind her refusal. It helps remember why Saki is here and just how big this is to her.

Oh, and nice touch on remembering Saki and Nodoka are now in first name basis.
And of course, there's the other part with Mihoko, Kana, Mako, and pimp extraordinaire Hisa checking out the match, with Hisa making a really good question.

How are they going to handle Teru if they get that far?

Hisa, you better crank up the swag dial to eleven. Kiyosumi will need it.

A little doubt, by the way, who was that woman who recognized Nodoka and Yuuki in the end? I don't remember.

And of course, there was the final piece to complete this amazing episode.

Spoiler for The promise at the end of it all:

The preview didn't spoil anything! YES!

We did see one very ominous image of our beloved X-rounder/Innovator/whatever the hell she is at this point, but considering how things are, I don't thinkthat's much of a spoiler.

...
TOKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

And in case someone wants there

Spoiler for "I have no regrets, this is the only path":

Spoiler for "Today you will see the conclusion to your endless dream":

By the way, any other AGE watchers here felt punched in the gut with one of Toki's lines? I sure did.

Spoiler for The worst flag of them all:

Yes, living is difficult T_T

Look at that battle armor... It looks a bit different from the manga... Or is it?

UWAH!!!

Spoiler for Spoiler to spoiler.:

*Punched* Gundam! We got Setsuna Piloting 00 Gundam(Trans-am), and now Yurin is in it? FLIT, WHERE ARE YOU? TAKE THE DEATH FLAG AWAY.

Just to let you know how Toki is at some point. 1 turn ahead is X-Rounder, 2 turn ahead is innovator(Trans-am), 3 turn ahead I can't say.

[Myssa Rei]

Originally Posted by Key Board

how did Shiraitodai's Awai even managed to play in prefectural match if Teru destroys everyone in the vanguard match or leaves them with little points?

I think it's hinted enough that Teru actually knocking someone out during the Vanguards isn't THAT much of a regular occurence, so I assume that other schools have managed to break her runs before, or at least weather her turn in the table.

This means though that all subsequent turns are literally fights for survival, as the rest of Shiraitodai's members aren't pushovers in the least, ESPECIALLY Awai, who the last DVD has built up to to be Teru's heir-apparent when the elder Miyanaga retires in the Winter season.

Originally Posted by Requiem-x

And as we all know, mahjong is fun.

The biggest irony is that the biggest proponent of this point of view is outside of the competition center sulking.

[Kyuu]

Originally Posted by Myssa Rei

* Toki pretty much killing herself to try to stop Teru. I found the addition of Ryuuka reacting in anguish a nice touch by Studio Gokumi, as it shows just how dangerous this is to Toki.

I was gonna cry when Ryuuka called out.

[Scarletknive]

Originally Posted by Kyuu

I was gonna cry when Ryuuka called out.

Me too.. No PLEASE!!! LIVING IS DIFFICULT!

[Kyuu]

Originally Posted by Myssa Rei

The biggest irony is that the biggest proponent of this point of view is outside of the competition center sulking.

Saki is not sulking. She's outside pondering the inevitability of finally facing her sister, who is possessed by a very dark dark demon seeking to "kill".

Gotta wonder if the powers of "tanoshii" will be enough to penetrate Teru's mind.

[Grand Phoenix]

I really need to catch up with last week's episode and today's. That picture of Teru in her battle avatar (or whatever you want to call it) is straight up DOPE. Excuse me while I go blow my eyes out from Teru's display of elite curbstomping. This could take a while.