High School DxD New – 03 [NSFW]
Let’s get this picture of emo Kiba out of the way early to get to the good stuff inside…
I’ve been standing up for High School DxD lately as one of the best ‘ecchi’ focused shows, because it is actually following a good plot, and we’re seeing significant growth by the main character. So is it going to let me down? Not this week.
Issei stands up for his friends
When Issei gets Koneko in on a scheme, you know it’s for a good reason
Seeing the pain that his fellow demon is going through, Issei again shows some of the development he’s had as a person by trying to help Yuuto out. It may not be the best idea that he is doing it by going behind Rias’ back, or that he’s doing it by allying with the wielders of the Excaliburs, but he’s still trying to help. And it can’t be the worst idea in the world, because he has an ally in Koneko. She can see that Issei is trying hard for Yuuto, and that he’s trying to do the right thing. I think the mere fact that she’s going along with his plan shows that he’s gained some respect from Koneko (even if he screwed up earlier in the show regarding her).
Don’t pray for demons (click for full size!)
Issei also shanghais some more help: Saji, of Student Council Souna’s family of demons. A rival of Issei’s for a while (he bragged that he took 4 pawns to convert, not knowing that Issei took all 8 pawns), he rightly fears what could happen to him when (not if) Souna finds out about it. But this also shows Issei getting smarter, bringing in broader support. With everyone on board, they make a deal with Xenovia and Irina to help them, but with Freed on the other side, it might not turn out so well.
He Still Loses Focus Sometimes
Oh ho, I thought they were giving spoilers away in the OP
But it didn’t turn out that way
But before we got to the story, we had a nice fighting exhibition (with a side order of character development), as Yuuto and Issei tried to fight Xenovia and Irina. And while Issei held his own until he let the idea of naked Irina get the best of him, Yuuto was almost completely outmatched. Will his demon swords and sword birth ever allow him to win against an Excalibur? Or is the problem really his attitude, as Xenovia said. It’s not a complete loss for Issei, tho, as he’ll take using Dress Break “accidentally” on Asia and Koneko pretty much any day of the week. Maybe even getting punched into next week by Koneko-chan is worth it. But in the end, Issei is cut by Irina’s Excalibur and loses all his strength. He definitely still has a long way to go.
I like the Souna Sauna as a regular setting
I think DxD New is moving along well. The story pacing seems just about right, taking time out for an entertaining fight, but still moving the plot along. The show is still impressing with the visuals as well, with examples such as the transition between Yuuto’s memory of meeting Rias for the first time (as she saved him from death) to the fountain he was standing in front of. I’m still thinking this is one of the best shows this season, even if everyone would think I think that for the wrong reasons. Let’s hope it keeps up!
I liked Sparkly Rias more than the image right before that they used as the end card
About Highway
Proving that you don't have to be young to love anime, I enjoy all genres and styles of shows. If it's not hurting anyone else, you should never be ashamed of what you like!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I can really feel a stronger story coming since the second season started. I hope that freak Freed Zelzan gets knocked off soon. The guy’s a wild animal.
Koneko has some skewered priorities. Which is more important: Helping to defend her own kind or giving away info on Issei just to make him suffer? With something as serious as that fight, you’d think be more mature. Beat the enemy first then sort out your personal issues later.
The contrast on Xenovia and Irina is laughable. They’re adept in combat but they’re amateurs when it comes to generating money to sustain themselves so they had no choice but accept Issei’s kindness. In a way, Irina’s right, they’ve pratically sold their souls accepting their hospitality.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
It’s not much of a spoiler to say that Issei’s Dress Break ability is considered to be about the worst thing that he could do in the show’s universe. As Koneko says, Issei is an enemy of women. She wants him to win, just not in that way.
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POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Random thought, could High School DXD(or similar) work as a gender-bent show in the same vein as Free?
Like, if Yuuto and Issei were female(Yuuto being the super popular, beautiful girl, and Issei the biggest fujoshi/hentai-chan in the Academy), and the devil/church girls(Rias,Akeno, Asia, Irina, etc.)were all hot athletic bishonen males like the Free! guys.
Could this possibly work?
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Certainly not without significant rewriting. The creep factor would be huge. Take the first scene of this second season: Issei wakes up with a naked Rias using him for a dakimakura. Issei loves the idea, but then Asia walks in on them and gets jealous, so she takes off her clothes. For this show that works awesomely.
Now, imagine a girl waking up with a naked guy who’s invited himself into her bed? And then she wakes up and another guy comes in, gets jealous and takes his clothes off too. I think everyone would think that’s sexual harassment (of course, it is when Rias and Asia do it to Issei as well, but it’s acceptable when girls do it to a guy who wants them to).
Maybe sometime in the future, but not with current ideas of relative power in relationships.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Hmm, I see. Just a random thought on my side. (^_^)
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I mean, personally, I see Free! as a pretty significant step forward in exactly those kind of relative power terms, because, as I commented somewhere else, it’s not “parody”, it’s “parity”. In that show, you have normal women, *not* fujoshi or anyone into BL, ogling guys in ways that range from open to sly. And Kou and Ama-chan-sensei are not shipping those guys together, they’re admiring them. I think it’s about time, honestly, and I’d like to see those relative power issues that I talked about completely disappear (not ‘go away’ as in not being a concern, but disappear because there’s no disparity between sexes).
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 175 comments
3eps in give more whole bit whole so far focus on kiba, two church girls & holy swords.
give still fresh in sure later eps things will get more something to watch.
besides keep calm & all hail harem king.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
All hail the harem king! He shall not falter!!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
More Keneko.
POWUH: 600-699 with 691 comments
koneko-chan is appearing more, that’s good, i like her character, not as good as MY queen AKENO-CHAN! *0*9
too bad she’s not having screen time…i breaks my heart…
GO ISSEI! DRESS BBREAKER FOR THE WIN! o/
now he only needs 151 women in his harem(why 151? because it’s a sacred number)
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Dress Break for the win! Gotta wonder if it can work on Kurousagi’s skirt from Mondaiji.
Interesting number to pick. Why is 151 a sacred number?