Nijuu Mensou no Musume

[thr]

Spoiler for Episode 19:

Easily the best episode so far. Pure win!

This episode brought some much-needed urgency to the table that was sorely missing. An exhausted Chiko who sometimes looked, as if she actually could stumble, was a great addition to the show. Compare this with her earlier death-defying mid-air stunt under the zeppelin, where she didn't so much as blink.

As for NJM, with him being unhelpful again (and also not present for most of the episode, which was a good thing), Chiko should consider a divorce. ("Ikinasai, Chiko." "Why, thank you, NJM! I'm so happy!") If the DVDs contained hidden NJM episodes that show just what exactly the man does between his constant appearances and disappearances, I'd gladly buy two of each.

The next episode seems to be all-out action again which, for my taste, suits this show just fine. The old geezer choking NJM seems especially promising.

[Molenir]

So, just watched episode 16. Up to the end, it was pretty good. Then all of a sudden Chiko is attacked, and my thought is. Oh god, not another lame ass white devil arc. Please, anything but more of that stupidity. If it goes that direction, I'll just quit watching right now.

Then of course she goes off with some random guy who claimed to be 20 faces teacher. Yeah, I know, shes young, and so by very definition, gullible and stupid. Ah well. I'll find out if this show is worth spending any more of my time on, in the next episode. To be honest though, this show has flashes of enjoyment, followed by great stretches of irritation. The best parts so far, were Chiko was with 20 faces, and the detective girls. Everything else, if you skipped it, you wouldn't miss out on a damn thing. That kinda speaks volumes about a show.

[Tofusensei]

Hey, guys. The delay on the releases of this show have primarily been coming in the QC stage. We'd certainly welcome any volunteers who want to join the Live-eviL QC team if you're interested.

It entails watching episodes before they are released to scan for errors. It's rewarding work and many of our full-time staff have started off as QCers. So if you're interested in breaking into fansubbing, or if you are currently involved with fansubbing, it could be a good opportunity for you.

Requirements are:

1) Native-level skills in English.
2) Attention to detail.
3) Reliability and the ability to use irc and ftp (it's not that difficult).

If anyone is interested, please come to #live-evil on irc.enterthegame.com and look for me or tlynnec and mention you're there for the QC spot.

We have some other titles that are also experiencing delays in QC (including You're Under Arrest! Full Throttle, The Snow Queen, etc.)

Thanks!

-Tofu

[Peanutbutter]

Spoiler for Ep20:

Looks like the next episode will be, hopefully, the end of this arc, and the following will be the last to end off the whole series.

Plot twist in this episode! The Professor actually modified his body to look exactly like NJM. So, what NJM supposely did was actually started by the Professor. The real NJM then began forming his gang and did those few thefts that we saw in the early episodes.

I didn't expect this, but looks like the Professor's declaration of he being NJM does have some truth in it.

Generally another action-packed episode, though I wish they would quickly reveal the supposed "weakness" of the "modified beings".

Nothing hinted for Ep21 though the "Ojisan!!!" doesn't sound good.

I just thought of this but their "weakness" wouldn't be the limited lifespan they have, right?

[Kaoru Chujo]

Ep20 was another good episode. And it's no wonder, since the storyboard was by Okamura Tensai, the director of Wolf's Rain and Darker than Black.

Spoiler for ep20:

Sure, this anime is a comic book, with constant twists and new disasters constantly appearing, as well as villains that somehow leave the heroes alive when they could easily kill them. But it's working. There was actually some tension in this episode.

[zzeroparticle]

Originally Posted by Molenir

So, just watched episode 16. Up to the end, it was pretty good. Then all of a sudden Chiko is attacked, and my thought is. Oh god, not another lame ass white devil arc. Please, anything but more of that stupidity. If it goes that direction, I'll just quit watching right now.

Then of course she goes off with some random guy who claimed to be 20 faces teacher. Yeah, I know, shes young, and so by very definition, gullible and stupid. Ah well. I'll find out if this show is worth spending any more of my time on, in the next episode. To be honest though, this show has flashes of enjoyment, followed by great stretches of irritation. The best parts so far, were Chiko was with 20 faces, and the detective girls. Everything else, if you skipped it, you wouldn't miss out on a damn thing. That kinda speaks volumes about a show.

Spoiler for ep 16:

I think the whole bit with Ken popping up at the precise moment was more of an annoyance, mostly because I really don't like deux ex machina.

As for going with the professor, I'm inclined to think that she's making a calculated decision. Granted, this does stretch believability when a teenager can make that sort of a decision while acknowledging the risks, but as they mentioned, she does behave a bit more maturely than other kids her age.

[Molenir]

I wouldn't count Ken popping up randomly as an annoyance, but rather as stretching believability. The fact that hes always around. But then, its the same way with some of the other characters too. To a certain degree, the world seems to focus and revolved around Chiko.

[Tofusensei]

Fansubs of 17 and 18 are out, guys ^^;

-Tofu

[Peanutbutter]

Originally Posted by Tofusensei

Fansubs of 17 and 18 are out, guys ^^;

-Tofu

Long-awaited.

[Sorrow-K]

Ep 18

Spoiler:

Is he going to cheat death... again?

[The Chaos]

Originally Posted by Tofusensei

Fansubs of 17 and 18 are out, guys ^^;

-Tofu

Thank you so much

[Sorrow-K]

Ep 19

You know, I feel a little bit cheated that she needed Ken's help to get out of that situation. She was doing so well by herself, and the chase scene had so much tension because she had no one else to rely on. That the thing was resolved by having Ken turn up at the exact perfect moment was a bit... disappointing.

Edit:

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

Spoiler for ep19:

I loved the vivid portrayal of mob mentality, and how Chiko related it to fear (I think she said). As we watch elections unfold, we see some of the same mob psychology.

Yeah, an unfortunately believable depiction of mob mentality drove much of the drama in this episode.

[Mirrinus]

Spoiler:

You know, I couldn't help but feel that so much of this could have been avoided if NJM simply didn't teach Chiko that song. Meh...

Regardless, the last few episodes have been very exciting and enjoyable to watch. The pacing has been effective, and I can really feel the build-up to what I hope will be a very action-packed climax. Too many shows peak in the middle and taper off at the end. Let's see if this one can do otherwise.

And once again, thanks for the subs. ^_^

[Sorrow-K]

Originally Posted by Mirrinus

Spoiler:

You know, I couldn't help but feel that so much of this could have been avoided if NJM simply didn't teach Chiko that song. Meh...

That's actually an interesting question.

Spoiler:

Just why does Chiko have to know that song? She doesn't know what to do with it, so what benefit is it to Twenty Faces that she knows it? Seems to make her a liability more than anything else.

[Peanutbutter]

Spoiler for Ep21:

Brilliant end to this arc and possibly the entire series. The only thing I dun get is the preview. Isn't the next episode the last one? At least it's titled "Chiko", which is pretty a cliche way of ending things.

Happenings:

- Light Pillar of Doom is activated. NJM tangles with the Prof, giving Chiko the chance to run up and try to stop the Light Pillar.
- Prof knocks out NJM and chases Chiko up the tower.
- Ken and the lady researcher finally managed to defeat (well, somewhat) the twin terrors by using their weakness. Damn I should have thought of this. Reminded me of Jet Li's movie "Black Mask". Even though they may not feel the pain, the body will still collapse in the end due to the damage accumulated.
- Chiko tries to break the tower but failed to. The Prof gave her a choice: "Die or be my "real" daughter". We all know the choice.
- Prof sees Chiko, was about to shoot and thought of his past leading the group of professors, which included NJM. Pretty typical "About to see the light" moment.
- Law of Conservation of Detail finally applies. The Anastasis Ruby played its important part in the end of the arc.
- Prof got swept off by the collapsing tower, although Chiko caught him, he finally sees the light and let go of her.
- NJM asked Chiko whether she wants to go with him. Chiko choose not to, as she's determined to live her own life known as the daughter of NJM, and contented, knowing that NJM will always be in her heart.
- NJM lives, supposely assuming a new name given to him by Chiko. Brilliant "Bonne Justice" BGM here. Hope they release the track.
- Ken announced he's now his own man, and it's time to seek new adventures, and asked the lady researcher to tag along. Pretty sudden and surprising pairing to be honest.
- Chiko and Tome decides to leave for England, to escape the public glare, leaving behind a crying Shunka.

Really, if this were the final episode, I'll not be surprised, but one more episode, with new happenings? Other than ending things with her evil aunt, I can't imagine how the last episodes plays out.

[Peanutbutter]

Originally Posted by Sorrow-K

That's actually an interesting question.

Spoiler:

Just why does Chiko have to know that song? She doesn't know what to do with it, so what benefit is it to Twenty Faces that she knows it? Seems to make her a liability more than anything else.

Otherwise, there won't be a story.

The same thing as why famous detectives always end up in strange and weird events.

[Peanutbutter]

Oops, triple post.

Spoiler for Ep22:

Nice finale to a nice series.

It will not be improper to have episode 21 as the final episode. The whole of this one felt like a small post-script to the entire series, on how the other characters are getting on.

It's now three years later, and Koito visits England to find Chiko and Tome, only to end up in an old and abandoned house that made her scared stiff and ran until she met Tome and realised she found the wrong house.

Koito finds Chiko in the midst of her fencing class, which of course Chiko wins easily. Updates of the various characters are narrated by Koito to Chiko and Tome, with the topic naturally leading to talks of love and marriage and stuff. Akechi continues to solve difficult cases, Akine now does the odd jobs, like helping Koito to find a cat and Chiko's aunt has employed a new, younger and more handsome lawyer. (Oh boy...)

Everyone in Tokyo has put behind the NJM incident. New buildings are up and everyone has moved on with their lives. That includes Chiko, who seems very happy with her new life now.

Chiko, Koito and Tome then visits a bazaar, where they found a boy lost from his parents. They then took the task of finding his parents, and along the way, Chiko taught the boy NJM's words "To think, to observe, to decide".

Somehow, Chiko, Koito and the boy ended up meeting Jack the Ripper, and a nice fight sequence where the boy helped Chiko to fought him off and escape. Ken and the lady researcher then appears and finishes off Jack the Ripper.

Researcher: "Don't you want to go say hi to her?"
Ken: "Nah, we have our own lives now".

That basically sums up the episode's mood. Everyone has moved on.

I think there's something here which I missed, which is about the boy, who apparently, with his parents, know Akechi. Kobayashi is their family name, so who are they?

After this final assignment by the Shoujo Detectives, it's time for Koito to go back, to be part of the arranged marriage already planned for her. Though she couldn't get Chiko to go back to Japan, she still hoped and invited her to attend her wedding.

Final scene has Chiko, with some flowers, visiting a big tree near the railway tracks, presumably where that incident occured. She apologies for not being able to go there regularly and announces she decides to go back to Japan. Maybe there's something interesting there waiting for her.

ED sequence, which we sees a flashback of NJM and gang, with NJM announcing he wants to steal the Anastasis Ruby. "Why do you want to steal it?" "I don't know, I feels like something's gonna happen."

Post ED scene, with Chiko on a hill, and turning back to say the sweetest sounding "Ojisan" I can recall.

Nice ending to a good series. The last episode really puts a good end to it, reiterating the point that everyone has moved on and indeed, everyone is doing well.

Will be really happy to see Hirano Aya getting a nomination for best voice actress for her part as Chiko.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Spoiler for ep22:

I enjoyed this show a lot, but overall I have to say I was disappointed. It could have been so much more than it was. The show started excellently well, up to around episode ten, but then seemed to be spinning its wheels. There were flashes of brilliance, but the whole thing didn't have a clear enough trajectory.

The neat escapes and multiple resurrections were okay at first, and well done in themselves, but didn't add up to much. And there could have been a lot more meat on the relationships, it seems to me.

And the final episode, with its meaningless encounter with a Jack the Ripper, and more Shoujo Detective silliness, meant little to me -- except for Chiko in school in her fencing match (good luck to any schoolgirl trying to beat her) and with her admirers; Chiko so intimately (and non-sexually) in bed with her friend Shunka; and Chiko's final "Ojisan."

I thought the voice acting was superior throughout, especially Hirano Aya. And I thought the animation was also very good, even though the visual style was fairly plain.

[thr]

Spoiler for Episode 22:

Not much to say except that both this show and kimikiss had the same writer. Both this show and kimikiss ran much too long for their own good. If this was due to company politics or the writer's inability I don't know. They just should've cut out the whole mess that was the middle part and strung together the first and the last 6 or 7 episodes. As for episode 22, it was bad, but only because it was utterly pointless. I think it could've actually worked, had it been the show's first episode. Even if the Jack the Ripper stuff was totally nonsensical. Even if the episode title "Chiko" made me cringe, because it implied that this was really some sort of coming-of-age story which it so was not.

At the end NJMnM was above average but certainly not great. Still, it was a missed opportunity.

The only standout next to Hirano Aya: the orchestral score.

[suburbanbanshee]

No spoilers....

Yoshio Kobayashi is the name of Akechi Kogoro's adopted son. He is also the leader of the Boys' Detective Club.