Category: Series which were Dropped

Beastars again ups its games considerably this week, offers a darker and deeper takes to its themes. While there is a lot going on in this episode, they’re all interweaving and heading towards the same direction. It’s such a smart move, for example, to delve into Louis’s troubled past at this point of time. Not only we have a great grasp of his character and why he is the way he is now, we can also see the difficult choice and sacrifice he has to make, between Haru the girl he loves and his life goal. This flashback sure is cruel and terrifying – as terrifying as the current day’s plot – Louis remembers his past as a caged prey waiting to be butchered. Although unable to speak nor write, he holds his dignity high and that impresses his later-adoptive father (still, a cruel way to test his resolve). It’s the past that Louis’ trying to forget, but it’s also the past that ties with him and makes him the way he is now: full of pride, determined to be on top.

Continue reading “Beastars – 09” →

Beastars is in pretty good shape this week, as far as the narrative is concerned. We have a great amount of scenes between lovestruck Romeo & Juliet Legosi & Haru in this episode, and Beastars tangles its chemistry web by exploring the chemistry between Louis and Juno. I will start first with what I feel didn’t work too well this week, Juno’s development. When Louis comments that she’s overconfident, my immediate reaction was “nah”. We first saw her literally being bullied just 2 weeks ago, and the way she’s falling for, and declaring her love to Legosi is way too quick. I don’t see any chemistry between her and Legosi, although it’s by design since Legosi doesn’t really think much of her (but Hidaka in Hi Score Girl is basically the same role and she has such strong chemistry with Haruo and she’s the best girl, so…). 

Continue reading “Beastars – 08” →

With this episode I have a good grasp of how to approach Beastars: it’s that of a grand star-crossed Greek play. That would fall neatly in place with the drama performance within the show, and explains Legosi’s heightened expression of love and jealousy at the end. This week, Beastars goes through the love quadrilateral and informs us about the chemistry between each pair. Everyone, especially Louis, encourages Legosi to go out with Juno, and certainly Juno has some affection towards our main boy. Legosi, however, turns her off with his talk about biology (it’s more like chemistry to me) and it’s quite clear that he only has Haru in his mind. Poor Juno who is already lost in a battle before it even starts.

Continue reading “Beastars – 07” →

This episode marks the beginning of the next chapter after introduction phase in the first five episodes. This week it’s all about expanding its unique settings. Many new players are introduced, most notably Juno, the female underclassmen grey wolf, and Gouhin the Panda, who all make a nice first impression. This week is also the first time we see the outside world, and most significantly, the black market. In addition, the core themes about “being true to their nature” takes a sharp progression in this episode, which forces Legosi to re-access what his feeling is for Haru. It’s a truly knockout episode in every sense.

Continue reading “Beastars – 06” →

Episode 4 is kind of a testing game for Legosi’s own nature, but from a new angle they haven’t approached before. Instead of testing his relations towards the herbivores, Beastars introduces Bill the Tiger, another carnivore who is the exact opposite with Legosi. Bill embraces his own nature and is proud of it. He’s macho, isn’t afraid to speak his mind and always wanted to be in the spotlight – your typical alpha dominant type. It’s quite clear how this Bill character is built as a foil for Legosi and further pushes our grey wolf to come to term with his animal instinct, and then some. The “then some” part is ultimately a small dose of rabbit blood that boils Legosi’s own blood. Make no mistake, the vial of blood reminds both Legosi and Bill of their nature. Whereas Legosi sees it as a curse, Bill regards it as something he’s entitled to have. I can clearly see Bill’s argument over this, as up until the second stage performance he walks a fine line between embracing his predator side and getting along well with the rest. As for Legosi, this vial of blood also reminds him strongly of Haru and all his guilt towards harming her.

Continue reading “Beastars – 04/05” →

I must say that I find this episode less effective than the previous two, as we move a bit further away from Draft Rabbit and more to the Deer and his play. As some random teammates notice the fact that the core team member of the drama club have their own personal issues that make them the perfect candidate for the role, one (including our Legosi) would think what is the secret that Louis is holding. From his interaction to Legosi this week, it feels as if he feels his herbivore nature as his weakness, thus he is ticked off by Legosi, the carnivore type that tries his best to suppress his own nature. His dream of becoming a Beastars is quite obvious, but I still don’t see the extent on why he pushed himself so much to perform the plays. It’s clear how Louis is the type of model character that Legosi dreams to be, but like the tragic play Louis performs, he’s heading towards a tragic end here so I suppose he will soon reveal his vulnerable sides once his “number one” status crumbles down the floor.

Continue reading “Beastars – 03” →

Furry anthropomorphic animals animals are in fashion now thanks to the onslaught of countless isekai settings, but Beastars is here to offer something fresh and different. Indeed, there are many elements from Beastars that we can feel optimistic about. The manga source is penned by Paru Itagaki, which recent news reveals to be the daughter of Keisuke Itagaki, author of Grappler Baki. The manga has gained solid fan-base throughout its release and even won the Manga Taishou award (along with the greats like 3-gatsu no Lion, Chihayafuru, Umimachi Diary). In addition, all eyes and anticipation level keeps rising up into the sky when Orange, the studio that was behind THE only CG show that done right, is behind the project. On that, I actually feel that it’s a big overstatement to regard Houseki no Kuni as such, especially when it has been only 2 years –  and that comes from me, one of the biggest supporters of Houseki no Kuni. 

Continue reading “Beastars – 02” →