Strike the Blood – 07
Because acupuncture can heal bullet wounds.
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Or at least magical acupuncture can. The Lion King Organization sure seems to have it’s bases covered. Anyways, things happened this episode, and we actually got to see characters that weren’t Kojou or Yukina. Amazing. |
And thus, the tsundere phase begins. You all knew that this was coming. Having Yukina kidnapped sure was a convenient set up for Sayaka and Kojou to be forced to put aside their differences and work together. To give them credit though, they did kind of start getting along before that, with pointing out how great Yukina is. Subtlety is not one of this anime’s strong suits. Kojou did well with talking about Yukina’s personality as opposed to her other assets, and it’s kind of funny how Sayaka went right to describing her body. …If you weren’t getting yuri vibes from her before, you should be now.
…And if you weren’t getting tsundere ones, you should be now.
Asagi seems to have avoided finding out about Kojou this week though, Yukina refusing to answer questions aside. She remembers Sayaka with the sword, but she’s completely forgotten about the fact that Kojou was glowing and creating his own source of wind. Right. …Well, I guess head trauma might explain part of that. At least Yukina came to break things up rather quickly instead of having Kojou and one of the other characters having awkward NTR blood drinking session or something. Her lecturing both characters was great too. …Maybe Kojou didn’t do anything to deserve being lectured, but at least Yukina realizes that Sayaka did something wrong. It was the scene of her breaking up the fight that Yukina being sent to watch after Kojou made sense for the first time (aside from her being sent as the OTP). If she can dispel Kojou’s familiar like that, then she could (probably) kill him. …Not that killing him is even really relevant anymore, but we know that as far as skills go (and pushing her emotions aside), she could.
Anyways, back to Asagi, the Black Death Emperor Faction has made their move. Yes, their grand plan is to have Asagi decipher ancient texts for them, but they’re just going to leave her alone, and just assume that she’s keeping her word about working with them. It’s not like she could figure out how to control the thing, keep it to herself and then (somehow) take over. …Though I guess that could happen whether they supervised her or not. They didn’t even take her cell phone away. Isn’t that like, rule #1 of kidnapping people? I guess a lot of this is riding on the fact that the Black Death Emperor Faction are the ones in power here, and are using brute force/fear tactics to make sure that everything is working for their plans. I’m sure there’s a good reason why they took Yukina and Nagisa with Asagi too, despite neither of them really being relevant at the moment. It was probably cut out in the translation of novel to anime like 60% of the other things seem to have been.
Speaking of Nagisa, her near death experience seems to have been rather scarring. I can see that as another reason why Kojou would keep his progenitor status to himself and pretend to be human, since his imouto was freaking out so much over the demons this episode. …Though one would have to wonder why they would keep Nagisa on an island specifically populated by demons if she’s so scared of them. It would do absolutely nothing for the plot if Nagisa was away from the island, but isn’t that just common sense, since she’s so obviously scarred for life? I don’t remember them ever saying anything about humans not being allowed to move off the island. Though maybe Kojou being the progenitor might create issues with that, since family members make great hostages for controlling powerful people. Or maybe she hasn’t moved due to the fact that something important seems to be part of Nagisa. I kind of just want to assume that it’s Avrora or some other great powerful entity inside of her, since she seemed to know about Kojou (and talked like your typical powerful entity), but I guess there’s plenty of time to figure out what and why this happened to her.
There was a lot about Yaze this episode too, which is something I wasn’t expecting. Er, not that we learned anything about his character (other than he honestly wanted to help Asagi, so he can’t be all bad), but we learned a bit about his powers. The soundscape or whatever he called it was interesting, and his manipulation of sound as a whole seems pretty unique. Though the pills are questionable. It’s was easy enough to tell that he uses them for power boosts, but I wish they had explained why he needs them in the first place. …Actually, if the anime could explain his motives, that would be nice too. I assume there’s going to be one, since Vatler both brought him to the battle, and made Kojou aware of it. …Or at least I hope that Kojou doesn’t just go “Oh hey, Vatler dragged along one of my unconscious friends for some reason. This probably isn’t important.” Though when it comes to things outside of his romantic interests, Kojou does alright. So again, hopefully there’s a character confrontation on the way. Vatler… well, I’m sure everyone saw this coming in some way or another. It just wouldn’t be anime without the absurdly powerful and immortal character causing mass destruction for shits and giggles.
He couldn’t be more fabulous if he tried.
A lot happened this episode, I guess. It was good for action and things happening, but I really don’t have a lot to say about anything that I haven’t already talked about. They left off at a pretty good place though, since I’m actually looking forward to the next episode and Kojou punching away his problems. I’d like to see Vatler maybe do something too, but the two characters seem to have an agreement, so he’ll probably just watch from the sidelines. Who knows, maybe Asagi might even have an encounter with vampire-power Kojou that she’ll actually remember (and I’d like to know why it occasionally looks like her eyes are glowing).
Next episode? More incoming tsun. (And lasers)
About Karakuri
University student and the one at Metanorn who's known for wearing glasses. Likes blood, insanity and plot twists, but also plays otome games and adores cute romance anime. It balances out... somehow.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Actually, if the anime could explain (Yaze’s) motives, that would be nice too.
LN readers on Animesuki and Randomc say that Yaze’s backstory is covered in vol 8, although they also say at the rate things go, the anime may only adapt up to vol 6.
A pity, since they also say vol 7-8 contain a LOT of VITAL backstory/history for Kojou, Nagisa, Avrora, Yaze, among others. Like the relationship between Kojou and Avrora.
They say the entity possessing Nagisa is a vital plot point, which will be revealed further down.
PS. Confirmed that Nagisa was also possessed by the same entity which observed Kojou awakening the Lion familiar back in ep 4.
If I find any info, would you like me to spoil it for you here?
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
You know, this show seems to make some kind of sense while I’m watching it, but then leaves almost no impression afterward, to the point where I’m thinking “Wait, did I watch that episode?”
Honestly, they needed to differentiate between Yukina and Nagisa more. And is there another girl with mid-length dark hair too? More color coding, please.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
…Yeah, I feel like it doesn’t really leave an impression either. I enjoy watching it, but I don’t really think about it afterwards.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
But one can definitely admit that from the first couple of episodes that this show is better than Blood Lad. I’ve been using Strike the Blood to get that show’s lackluster taste out of my mouth. The character designs were so-so, their personalities were alright but its story left a lot to be desired. I guess an otaku vampire just doesn’t work for me.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
There are plenty of people who think the exact opposite. I’m not one of them, but I know a few who really liked Blood Lad, but dismiss STB as fairly ordinary harem – action.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Are the LNs that heavy in material? That makes me happier already. That means there may be room for another season because the story is still ongoing and right now, things are just beginning. Hard to believe it all started off in 2011.
And it looks like the anime is currently supporting that theory. Each arc is apparently taking four episodes to be completed. “The Right Arm Of The Saint” was from episodes 1 to 4 and “From The Warlord’s Empire” is going from episodes 5 to 8. From that point of view, the anime will cover 6 arcs.
Personally, I’d rather you not spoil anything. I want to be surprised. Unless it’s something crucial they cut out, like the actual scene where Kojou actually lost control of the lion Familiar, causing major damage to the island while in his attempt of saving Yukina and fighting Rudolf and Astarte.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
…Volume 8. Seriously? Well then. It’s a shame that they’re probably going to skip most of that then.
YES PLEASE. 80% of my understanding of this show comes from your comments, it seems. xD
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
@Karakuri, Blackbriar: There are currently 9 volumes, the 9th being the most recent from this year.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Yeah, I was made aware of that during one of the earlier Strike the Blood posts.
POWUH: 600-699 and LN Enthusiast with 623 comments
Sayaka is gonna get the F next episode. Called it already and calling it again.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Man, I can’t believe I let you call it again. Hahaha!! Anyway, I’ll expect there’ll be some passionate moaning in the event from her.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Yeah, I think so too. I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Well, someone is going to get bitten. In the preview, Yukina said “Is that a new Familiar? Senpai, have you done it again?!”.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
You know, this show seems to make some kind of sense while I’m watching it, but then leaves almost no impression afterward, to the point where I’m thinking “Wait, did I watch that episode?”
Honestly, they needed to differentiate between Yukina and Nagisa more. And is there another girl with mid-length dark hair too? More color coding, please.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Well, the slight difference between Yukina and Nagisa is this: Yukina has raven black hair and golden brown eyes and Nagisa has a kind of dark green shade in her hair and brown eyes that almost seem red.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
http://i.imgur.com/8GCTPCF.jpg
Its time to pull this chart out again.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Ye olde faithful character chart. Good job, Werewolf Chaser. High five!
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
*Hi5*
But seriously, didn’t realize abt the slight variation in Nagisa/Yukina until I look at the chart closely lol. The LN art is better at distinguishing Yukina/Nagisa than the anime one.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
lol, the column headers on that chart: “Stalker, homeroom teacher, imouto, loli, iyarashi (not anything good, that’s for sure)
POWUH: 600-699 and LN Enthusiast with 623 comments
I just differentiate them from their voice. Yukina has quite an erotic voice, especially when she says Sempai, while Nagisa’s voice sounds loli-er but still sounds a bit lewd.
And the hair color was intentional so that there won’t be any color wars here. Not that it needs it as Kujou and Yukina are pretty much OTP.
Asagi best girl.Unless we go full harem with Kojou giving the F to more girls to unlock his familiars.POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Yeah, you guys are both paying waaaaay more attention than I think this show deserves. 🙂
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
It can’t be helped, friend. I look forward to Strike the Blood more than any other series this season so I’m just being highly observant. 😀
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Well, it ain’t that hard. Nagisa wears her hair in ponytail and Yukina doesn’t have one.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
That is the easiest difference to notice.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
@Highway: The fact that the show draws you in despite looking generic means the writers must be doing something right. 😀
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Gardos actually comment on japanese faces are hard to tell apart frm each other in the LN 😛
But yeah, Yukina and Nagisa got the severe sameface syndrome.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
This episode was just a mixed bag of stuff. HWY says it above, “What did I just watch” is about all I can say. Felt like they followed the trope play book way to much.
I don’t mind the tsun, even without the dere, but Sayaka’s “I might get pregnant if I breathe the same air as you” is reachy and too childish. I had a hard time taking her seriously (and I am watching anime, I do’t have to try that hard).
Yeah, Kara, The Black Death folk look like awful Doctor Who villains. From the terribad character design (they looked like mooks in masks) to the terribad scheme (yeah, leave the cell phone, dork) if felt forced and cheesy.
Acupuncture cures bullet wounds? Hey, more cowbell? More holes?
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Hopefully Sayaka becomes less childish. Maybe the next episode will fix that, who knows.
Ahahaha funny you mention Doctor Who. I just started watching it.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
This was fast paced and so much happened that it didn’t seem like nearly 24 minutes have passed by. I hate seeing the ending of each episode of this show because it makes me want the next as soon as possible. Another thing, these people are professionals at killing us with cliffhangers.
Props to Kojou for his high tolerance of Sayaka. I’m amazed he can do it and he’s proven himself a smooth talker as well. It’s almost as if she practically broke down and submitted herself to him. And if you’re talking about her being tsundere, there’s a consolation. In my opinion, Sayaka isn’t as hardcore in that department as Kore wa Zombie’s Seraphim.
So Yukina is also a priestess as much as a Sword Shaman. Then that still makes it considerably forbidden that she’s hanging out with Kojou who’s a vampire. Being kidnapped actually works in her favor since she volunteered to go after Gardos, only she can’t do as she pleases due to Asagi and Nagisa being held hostage.
I’m sure Asagi has Kojou in the corner of her mind during the incident if she can remember Sayaka and her sword. Yeah, leaving her unattended while she deciphers the texts is bad form but I guess it’s their inflated ego thinking they have everything under control. Taking Yukina and Nagisa along is most likely leverage to “persuade” her if she tries to refuse. As for her eyes glowing, I have two possibilities: Either something inside her is awakening, because of course her home reeks of the supernatural and there’s nothing proving she’s totally human, or that shock from Kojou did more to her than we think.
Another title unlocked: “Hyper Adapter”. Even with short but impressive development, Yaze still remains a mystery. It’s clear his specialty is sound and those pills serve as an amplifier (popping that many at once is cause for concern) but I’m guessing he works for another party. One that is separate from Itogami Island’s government and the Lion King Organization.
Good thing Nagisa’s psychotic breakdown was explained because that came out of nowhere. More reason for Kojou to keep his secret but obviously it won’t stay that way forever. She and Kojou have lived there all their lives so I don’t think it’s that easy to just pack up and leave, even after a life threatening incident. Where would they go and who would they talk to? Not to mention I recall in episode 5 when Kojou said their mother would be “in the lab until next week” which implies she’s a scientist or a research aide so moving would definitely be denied. I’d like to believe Avrora split herself in two: All the vampiric abilities with Kojou while her mind sleeps inside Nagisa.
Vatler is more twisted than I thought. Aiding terrorists that are plotting against his master, letting them uncover and reactivate an ancient weapon and letting it tear through the island just to find a way to stave off boredom. This is what happens when there’s too much time on one’s hand. You’d think someone with idle hands would find a means of entertainment without deliberate endangering people. The thoughts “Immortality can be so boring at times. After a while, you’ve seen it all” must be running through his mind. And he’s sporting megane. That must have made your day. He did bring up a nice trick. So now Familiars can be fused. I wonder what else they can do.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Sayaka’s true tsundere level will become clear when it shows her after this. …If she’s still accusing Kojou of random crap and acting the same, I’m going to be annoyed.
…Or it’s just the glow from the computer screens maybe.
Yeah, Yaze was pretty impressive this episode, wasn’t he? It’s a shame that he’s still going to be a mystery after this though (apparently). He seems to be important, since he was talking to that woman from the Lion King Organization.
If Avrora was part of Nagisa, that might also help explain why Kojou sucks at using his supposedly amazing powers. Though Nagisa was nowhere in the flashback, so who knows.
Free time is a terrible thing. Eh, sunglasses are different from megane for me, but watching Vatler act like a badass for all of 2 minutes was cool. It would be nice if they could explain what the normal limits of familiars are, so we would know what was unusual. Though for now I guess we have to take their word that combining familiars is amazing.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
I think its just the computer screens too.
Yaze ability and some of his background are detailed in the LN at tht part. But
I’m too lazy to translatethe anime might fill in the detail next ep. But I will give some tidbit: Yaze family have relations to the higher ups of Itogami.POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
And his friend ended up becoming the Fourth Progenitor. That seems very convenient.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
It was a mistake to skip over some of the scenes since I didn’t get the episode. I rewatched though and still didn’t get it, so…
But I have my reason or skipping! I am starting to get annoyed with the harem. Damn it, I though the anime wants me to ship the two main characters. Is the LN finished yet? If it is, did the guy actually ended with one of the girls?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
No, the LN is still ongoing and the 9th volume recently got released. Most likely Kojou ends up with Yukina. Each of the LN and manga volumes have only her only on the cover, if that serves as any kind of indication. Besides, as far as we know, the story intends to have Yukina become Kojou’s lover/queen.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
…I thought the anime wanted us to ship the two main characters too, but then it went towards the harem route for whatever reason.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I think that is the case of those two getting shipped and the other girls are going to be Kojou’s surbordinates. Something tells me Natsuki’s going to be one of them.