Happy new year to everyone. I’m a bit behined in my blogging and anime watching, but with next week there will be little or no anime episodes airing next week in Japan, so I thought that I would take next week to try and fhinishing up blogging Persona -Trinity Soul-. I’ve started on my year in review for 2008, so I try and put that up soon in the near future.

I would just like to wish everyone a merry Christmas, where ever you are.

As the previous episode ended with the 0-Riser being introduced as a 00 Gundam attachment vehicle, this episode is mainly a set-up episode to display the testing of the 00 Gundam with the 0-Riser, while the Inavaotors bring out their giant latest city destroying weapon, the Memento Mori.

As Mileina is really the only new bridge bunny introduced this season so far to operate the Ptolemy, this episode we get to meet Linda Vashti, and get more screen time of Lagrange 3: Rescourse Satellites. This episode also introduces another potential Celestial Being member or Innovator Anew Returner. On Lagrange 3 Arios gets a support unit, the GN Archer. As Arios and 00 Gundam seem to have some sort of upgrades to them in this episode, I wouldn’t mind seeing in future episodes of 00 Gundam to see all the Gundam’s in action with the 00 Gundam using the 0-Riser, Arios using the GN Archer, Gundam Cherudim using the GN Arm’s from the previous season of Gundam 00, and Gundam Seravee using Nadleeh (if somehow Gundam Seravee has the same ability as Gundam Virtue).

I thought the scene of Nena Trinity meeting Ali again was an interesting moment in this episode, as these two characters would have most likely killed the other, if Ali didn’t get the upper hand. From some reason at present I don’t really care for Marina and the Catalan parts that aired in this episode, because IMO there’s really nothing interesting that is occurring, besides some meaningless political talk and Marina babysitting some kids.

Lastly having Hallelujah side of Allelujah appearing briefly before this episode ended was a nice little tease of what may come in future episodes of this season of Gundam 00.

This episode of Gundam 00 is to showcase many items, such as Ali’s remolded Throne Gundam and the power that it wields. As Louise and Wang Liu Mei were featured in the previous episode, this episode pretty much confirms that Wang Liu Mei is on the Innovators side, and getting more details of what happened with Louise’s family and self, when the Gundam Throne’s attacked, which resulted in Louise getting bathed in toxic GN particles. Also this episode reveals that the medication that Louise is taking is some sort of tranquilizer medication, to make Louise more mentality stable.

As the previous episode introduced Captain Revival going the A-Laws, this episode gives a little more look into Revival’s personality. On the subject on Captain Revival it seems that his new A-Law suit sort of reminds of the Vayeate from Gundam Wing, in that the suit discharge’s a high dense powerful beam shot, from its mega cannon.

Lastly the last couple of episodes have given a little hint of Kujoh’s past, this episode gives a little more depth to the rivalry and past between Lisa Kujoh and Kati Mannequin.

As this season of Gundam 00 Season 2 IMO has hit the ground running in terms of pacing so far, this episode mainly deals with the politics at an Innavator level, and how the A-Laws and how Wang Liu Mei and her brother are related and connected to the Innavators. This episode introduces some of the Innovator’s that will likely or not oppose the Gundam Miesteris, Regene Regetta, Healing Care and Revival.

I thought that the ball scene with Teria was the best part of this episode, as Teria’s responses to some of the guests was interesting and intriguing. The ball scene also provided Louise to meet Setsuna in this episode, with the viewer getting a glimpse of Louise’s reconstructed arm, from the result of her incident with the Throne Gundam’s.

This episode of YUA: Full Throttle has the dynamic duo; Aoi and Yoriko go to the beach for their day off. Upon arriving at the beach, the quartet meets up with an old acquaintance, Saori. As I’m unfamiliar with Saori as a character, I assume rightly or wrongly that Saori knows the Bukuto police officers in the previous YUA series. As this is a beach episode, there’s the standard fan service in this episode. As this episode is entitled Beachside Run, this episode deals with the off duty police officers dealing with a bunch of people taking pictures of people on the beach, and putting them up on the internet.

Despite the simple nature of this episode, I thought it was interesting that Aoi was able to attract the most attention of the males at the beach, considering Aoi is really a guy. I also liked the Google reference in this episode with Saori’s laptop, as when Saori was hooking up on the net; it said Noogle instead of Google. Also this episode features Ken yet again being at the end of the screen writers jokes, with Ken being at the end of a short stick, in his quest to hook up with Miyuki.

This episode of Hakushaku to Yousei has Edgar employing Lydia’s services, to try and find the sword of merefolk, at the Isle of Mannon. The scene of Lydia trying to find Edgar’s cross tattooed on his tongue was interesting, as Edgar thought that Lydia was hitting on him, but she was just interested to see if the rumors about what Edgar did in America was true or not.

As the previous episode of Hakushaku to Yousei introduced some characters in the first episode, this episode introduces Huskley, a person that is chasing after Edgar. In Huskley’s chase of Edgar and Lydia in this episode, it was interesting to get some hints of possibly Edgar being really named John and Lydia trying to use secret fairy sleep medicine on Edgar.

This episode reveals nice details about Edgar’s real past, and that Huskley’s is really a not so nice doctor studying psychiatry. On the subject of past, while Edgar is sleeping and having a nightmare, Edgar mutters the name Ermine.

As this episode showcased Raven in action a little in this episode, I’m really interested in knowing what the green light is in his left eye when he fights. The action scene in this episode I would have to say was fluent, though the use of stills was also used in this to highlight an important moment in the episode.

As this series seems to span thirteen or so episodes, it seems a lot has happened in the first two episodes, with most of the screen time decided to drama occurring in the show.

I admit that I’m a bit of a sucker for time period shows, and hopefully as this show is set in the Victorian period, I hoped that this series would be a show that I would regularly watch. Hakushaku to Yousei’s main leads are Lydia Carlton (she has caramel coloured hair), who is a ‘Fairy Doctor’ which is sort of a liaison between humans and fairies. The other main lead is Edgar J.C Ashenbert, main features are is his blonde hair, ash mauve eyes and a vile personality according to Lydia.

As the first episode is to mainly introduce the characters for this series, this episode also introduces Nico (Lydia’s assistant, which is a talking cat) and Raven (Edgar’s butler). With character introductions included in this episode, this episode shows Edgar meeting Lydia in interesting circumstances (Edgar was able to play the role of hero and Lydia as the role as the victim), this episode also showcases the main leads in formal attire.

From a animation point of view, I really like the character design and art for this show, as IMO the animation staff had nailed well the setting and colour for this show, to give this show a fairy tale like feel to this show.

Overall, I was pretty happy with the first episode of this show, and that the relationship dynamics between Edgar and Lydia in this episode where interesting, that Edgar has an interesting personality. I’m looking forward to see more of Hakushaku to Yousei, and how the noble sword of merefolk is related to the main leads of this show.

Before I starting talking about Allelujah and Soma Peries in this review, I just would like to mention that I thought that Mister Bushido (Graham Arce) should have of finished off/destroyed Setsuna when his 00 Gundam overloaded, as I feel that the other Gundam Meisters would have no reservations about finishing an opponent, should the opportunity arise. IMO Graham not finishing off Setsuna is a sign of how pathetic that Graham has become in this series of Gundam 00.

The main plot of this episode has Allelujah and Soma being stuck on a desert island together, to sort out their feeling and relationship with each other. During the time that Allelujah and Soma spend on the island together, Soma regains her past as Marie Parfacy, and Marie’s memories and felling of Allelujah. As this episode featured an insert song of Marie abandoning Colonel Sergei Smirnov, I thought that the song was alright.

As the new Lockon has a different relationship and personality to his elder brother, I liked what Lockon said when he found out that Allelujah had spend most of his time with a girl and playing hooky, when the other Gundam Meisters where looking for him.

As this episode is entitled Scar, the scar relates to Sumeragi Noriega’s memories that she has before she joined the Celestial Being, upon seeing the carnage from the previous episode. While watching this episode, a little scene that I enjoyed, in the scene of when Teria slapped Saji in this episode, as in most Gundam series, a Gundam pilot is usually at the receiving end of a slap or a punch to a face. On the subject of Saji, it still remains to be scene if Saji and Louise will get back together, considering that Andrei has taken a fancy to Lousie in this episode.

The main action scene of this episode has Teria and Lockon dealing with the grunt units of the A-Laws, with Setsuna dealing with Mister Bushido (Graham Arce). Also this episodide has Allelujah dueling Soma Peries.

Overall, this episode was rather average, though I have a feeling that the story writes are going to have Setsuna and Mister Bushido (Graham Arce) continue their rivalry with one another, though hopefully I wouldn’t mind seeing the new Lockon Stratus have Ali as a rival in this season of Gundam 00.