Strike the Blood – 13
Everyone’s together, yet talking to different people on their phones. It’s just like teenagers in real life.
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Okay, fine. It would probably be more accurate if they were texting, but it’s close enough. Well, it’s been 2 weeks since the last Strike the Blood episode. It’s not like this anime has an overly complicated premise though, so it was rather easy to get back in to. |
Apparently it’s the end of October at Itogami, and what better holiday to celebrate the supernatural living on the island. It’s interesting to learn about Itogami’s culture like this, and it does indeed seem like a super appropriate holiday to celebrate there, but it’s kind of sad that this is the first time we’re learning about Itogami’s culture from the anime itself. The story has had information about how Itogami works as a city in it before, but it’s only really through the comment section of the STB posts that I learn anything about it. The anime probably could have really benefitted if it hadn’t left so much information out… Though on the other hand, maybe this means that they’ll add in more information from now on (maybe). Anyways, since the island’s security is a big more lax (as if they weren’t lax enough before), pretty much any villain could infiltrate if they were subtle enough.
Or actually, screw subtlety. They probably didn’t need it anyways.
Well, it seems that the supernatural beings of the arc are witches. Who knows what exactly they’re capable of, but tentacle monsters (I’m waiting on this to go horribly wrong with any to all of the female cast), floating and obviously Natsuki’s dimension manipulation all seems par for the course. It also looks like Natsuki’s boundary manipulation is the cause of quite a few problems. …I’m pretty sure that the series said that he powers were unique, right? If not though, she still seems rather relevant to the arc, since she’s a witch herself. Kujou’s friend Yuuma may be one as well. Or if anything, she seems to either have some magic-ish ability or knows someone with a magic-ish ability. She also probably knows about Kojou’s progenitor status too, because of whatever supernatural connections she has. And if she didn’t know before, she probably knows now, since they somehow seem to have switched bodies. Let the awkward “how am I supposed to use the washroom?!” phase begin.
Before that though, oh look, another female who inexplicably seems to have a thing for Kojou. We should probably just be impressed that he wasn’t getting Yuuma’s gender wrong this entire time. As for the character herself, I hope we get more information about her character other than “childhood friends who starred in Kojou no Basuke together“. There will probably be some kind of flashback later on, but relationship would be kind of empty if they just left it at saying “childhood friends”. The whole reason that childhood friends are a thing is because there are always special (or awkward) shared memories and such. I guess there was a mention of Kojou’s embarrassing past in passing, but that’s not really a reason for Yuuma to love(?) Kojou. Yukina still seems to consistently have moments even when other harem members are around, and I guess seeing if she recognizes Kojou in Yuuma’s body will be a big assessment for her true waifu-level. La Folia is still around too, but who knows if she’ll be important or not in this arc.
Loli Service (Partially NSFW)
I still have yet to decide what I think of Yuuma. On the other hand though, I like the beginning of this arc so far. Natsuki is always a great character and the body switching seems like it will provide some sort of comedy aspect while still (probably) being plot relevant. Yuuma’s seiyuu, Uchiyama Yumi, doesn’t seem like she’s had that many notable roles so far in her career (minus maybe Kirishima from Arpeggio of Blue Steel), but she did well in this episode. I hope she keeps up the ‘Kojou’ voice that she did this episode. Likewise, I’m hoping that Hosoya has a more feminine tone if Yuuma speaks as Kojou. …I think the seiyuu just might be the best part about anime with body switching. Anyways, hopefully the next episode marks the start of the new OP/ED that this anime is supposedly getting. It’s weird that they didn’t start it at this episode (if they are going to change it at all).
Okay, it does look like they’ll have an important flashback in the next episode.
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: Metanorn Regular with 88 comments
This show is really dangerous for my bladder and my shipper heart for I am having a difficult time picking who to ship for.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
I have to admit, while the number of female characters after Kojou is reaching a ridiculous number, I don’t really dislike any of them. Really, I could support any of them ship-wise.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I could support any of the girls. It’s Kojou that I think is a dimbulb. They need to all find someone better.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Yet there are more than a handful of comments on Crunchyroll praising him. He’d doing something right.
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 104 comments
You hate on male MC’s way too much Highway 😛 Although I can’t deny that he is…
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Hey, there are lots of them I like. Probably more than I hate on. I mean, the worst ones are Ichika and Kojou, and then that guy from Da Capo III who was so boring I can’t even remember his name even though I watched that whole dumb series.
But there are a lot of good ones. Issei Hyoudou, Kazuma Hoshino, Shingo Uryuu was ok, I even like Harutora from Tokyo Ravens.
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 104 comments
Lol,Ichika and whatshisname from DC III. I can’t hate characters like that because for that,I’d first have to be at least remotely interested in them. But even before that,IS2 and DC III would have to give me reasons to watch them. I couldn’t take more than 2-3 episodes!
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 104 comments
For some reason,Kojou doesn’t bother me too much. Maybe it’s due to the fact that he can be pretty chill at times but it’s probably mostly because StB isn’t exactly a deep show where I’d feel the need to thoroughly analyze the characters. He isn’t exactly entertaining(except when he fights) but my eyes are mostly on the action scenes,girls and *cough* ecchi moments so even if he’s kind of boring,I’m fine with it as long as he’s not annoying as to distract me from the good stuff that StB has to offer.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Apparently Yuuma caused his dimbulbness.
Refer to my comment for further details.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Ridiculous? Lol StB harem-mates number pales in comparison to other series like TAMNI 😛
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Ridiculous? I’d say it’s still pretty tame. In his circle, he has Yukina, Asagi, Sayaka, La Folia and Yuuma on her way to being another official entry. So that’s five girls right now. Astarte, Kanon and Natsuki have yet to be determined.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I think Astarte and Kanon are definites, so that’s 7. Plus Natsuki as the maybe unreachable teacher, that’s matching Ichika. 😛
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Not really since Ichika and his teacher are blood related. 😉
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
This is training for you, my friend. It is teaching you to endure and choose carefully under the harshest of conditions. 😉
POWUH: 600-699 with 691 comments
compared to others…he’s actually a nice one…i mean after the yuusha anime with the mega-OP character that negates magic! i’m up for anything…
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
In the LN, Asagi elaborates that Yuuma is the cause of Kojou’s denseness with the girls.
To summarise:’ Yuuma is so awesome but given she blend with him so nicely, Kojo treat girls just like the way he treats Yuma — in a very dense and “hang out with your normal friend” sort of way. ‘
Maybe that’s why he balances out his harem so well. (^-^)
My LN knowledge mostly comes 2ndhand from a user on Animesuki and a commenter on the randomc blog.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
That makes a lot of sense, but it doesn’t mean that Kojou’s any better as a romantic lead. 🙂 It just gives background to his denseness.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
At least there’s a given reason for him being dense, rather than an unexplained ‘dense for density’s/plot’s sake’.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Ahaha… that sounds awfully close to friendzoning. Though Yuuma seems capable enough to break out of that if she wanted to.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Does Kojou’s body swap count as the best worst luck or the worst best luck?
Also, the anime series is averagely received in Japan.
It’s not a failure, but it’s not the success Infinite Stratos 2 was.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
It’s a bittersweet situation. He may have lost his real body but has the opportunity to get to know Yuuma’s inside and out (I leave the interpretation to the masses) to gain knowledge and save himself some time when he changes back. The flag of Yuuma getting bitten has pretty much been raised and reinforced by that kiss and the fact they’re childhood friends.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Since his soul (?) is now a vampire essence, does that mean he can suck blood in Yuuma’s body? Yuuma x Himeragi-chan, oh yes.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Frankly, I don’t understand how Infinite Stratos can be so popular. Looking at both seasons, the story is this and inconsistent with School life/Slice of life overruling any possible chance for decent action. In season 2, the possibility of developing Phantom Task’s relevance was wasted, especially when they posed a serious threat.
Also, all the girls are utterly wasted on an immensely dense and possible siscon lead like Ichika. Out of all harem leads I’ve seen, he’s the absolute worst and useless because it’s like he can’t function without someone giving him some kind of directive. He’s like furniture.
If I could, I’d take the girls from IS and send them to StB. At least Kojou has his own motivations and his female encounters coincide with them. Like him first running into Yukina while on his way to the mall.
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
My personal belief is that IS continues to sell simply because there is a rabid fanbase for each girl. This, in spite of the vapidness of the entire rest of the show.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Remember abt my comment abt helping zztop with the LN comparison? Welp I kinda drop it for the remainder previous arc due to laziness and finals…. But since its over I’m back to help!
This time, the anime really trims/change up a lot of things….
-The “Vatler and La Folia taking a Sentai show seriously along with their knights/vampires followers while threatening each other to get out of Itogami in the VIP room at the airport” joke was cut frm the prologue 🙁
-Most part of the 1st chapter is SOL scenes starting with Astarte taking over Natsuki duty to announce the rules of the Halloween Fiesta and everyone trying to get Kujou to help them out (The one in charge of beauty contest even said that Kujou can join the male category lololol). That part ends with Kanon asking whether can she come over to Kujou house for the night. Misunderstandings happens.
-PS Its mentioned that Natsuki once graduated frm the same school Kujou is studying and that school uniform she wearing is her own one.
-Turns out its just a celebration of Kanon getting out of hospital. The rest is abt Kanon/Nagisa/Asagi/Yaze/Himeragi/someone I don’t know partying at Kujou house. The childhood pic of Yuuma and Kujou was shown here (They think Yuuma looks really handsome ^_^;) Also, Asagi is a big eater.
-Himeragi and Kanon sleeps at Nagisa room. Kanon come to talk about the previous arc incident since Natsuki told her most of the detail except the vampire part (Kujou is a modified human done by an evil organization but het fight for justice instead LMAO). Nagisa come to check on Kujou so he hides her underneath his blanket and this happens. And Himeragi demonstrate her stalking ability again by showing up to question them. Kanon neck chop (she claims its a traditional method used to stop nosebleed) Kujou to stop his bleeding but she overdo it and Kujou passed out. Fukou da!
-The tentacles of the intruder witches are familiars. They can do that since they traded their souls to gain demons/devils power.
-Start of Chapter 2. Yaze/Asagi trails Kujou and co to the airport in the LN but they are busted. The rest of the airport scene plays out the same.
-In the coffee shop scene (which the anime glossed through IIRC), Yaze reveals he have a GF and its hinted to be Paper Noise. Yaze and Asagi leaves after the phone call in the LN here.
-There a Asagi scene about her job aka checking the information system of Itogami city since there a lot of system error like the car GPS being faulty. But the sensors are all working fine so she concluded that the space/dimension of the city is distorted causing the sensor to report the wrong information. Mogwai mentioned tht similar incident happened 10 year ago in Itogami frm hacking the records of police. Its related to a case called 暗誓书事件.
Well, I think I will stop here. I will continue the rest of the chapter 2 tomorrow.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
All of that was left out? I was already pissed simply when the anime cut out the very scene where the lion Familiar actually went berserk and destroyed parts of the island during Kojou’s first encounter with Rudolf and Astarte and only showed the aftermath in the next episode.
Then it was Paper Noise speaking to Yaze through that crow familiar at the school after Kojou beat Rudolf and Yukina became his Blood Partner at the end of the first arc.
With the handful of LN Enthusiasts and anime only fans here, it’s safe to say Karakuri gets as much comments for Strike the Blood as Fosh does when he blogs Index/Railgun.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
@d-Lan:Thank you for elaborating further info, since everything I get is 2ndhand.
I look forward to cooperating with you on future eps!
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
I’d like to echo everyone’s thanks about the extra information~. Really, it’s a shame that so much was cut out. Vatler sounds absolutely hilarious. OTL
POWUH: 600-699 with 691 comments
Natsuki-chan in school uniform, so cute…it suits her a lot, you know…i felt sorry for kojou at the end…kissing is dangerous now! they couldn’t even spare kisses, nooo it just had to be a weapon…what’s next a chopstick, a strawberry?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Hahaha!! Then you should watch Ben-To. In that show, chopsticks and baskets were used as weapons.
POWUH: 600-699 with 691 comments
ah…forgot about that!well then let’s see…pencils?No, saw it already, remote control?No, saw that too…DvD?No, no we had that one anime…A Teddy bear!…there’s one on ID…
AH HA!that small wooden placet where people make wishes! no one ever used that as a weapon…
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Ah, it’s good to have Strike the Blood back. Now I can relax (Not really when I have to wait for new episodes weekly). That 2 week break was unbearable. “Labyrinth Of The Blue Witch”. Clearly it refers to Yuuma (Since it shows she has powers and has been wearing nothing but blue clothes) and at least they finally stuck with the same arc title used in the preview of the prior episode.
This show has such charming characters I don’t see how anyone could dislike it. La Folia certainly is one born into privilege. Restrained with so many obligations in her country, she just wants to have a little fun. And big laughs to Sayaka having her little secret exposed. Adding Kojou in her favorites list. He must have singlehandedly crushed her androphobia back at the subfloat.
Not just the security, the island’s restoration leaves much to be desired as well. It’s been five episodes and the subfloat where Sayaka and La Folia were warped to is still in ruins with the remains of the Nalakuvera machines spread about. You’d think the clean-up crew would have dealt with that already.
Nice to see Natsuki is getting a bigger place in the spotlight during this arc. Obviously she has something to do with the random warping around Itogami Island given that she’s able to manipulate space with magic. I’m going to go on a guess and say the two witches, the Meyer sisters, were Natsuki’s old partners and something happened to make the relationship bitter. Kojou has some luck being forgiven that easily after that misunderstanding and Yukina continues to prove she’s waifu material.
A childhood friend that’s known Kojou before Asagi. I’m not surprised that Yuuma turned out to be a girl. When you hear the words “childhood friend”, 99% of the time anime logic will dictate that they must be female and usually they’re the tomboyish kind. That’s why one would assume it’s a boy based on their younger appearance. She clearly isn’t human after asking what if she wasn’t, saying Kojou and Yukina give off the same scent despite being different species, tasting the blood from Kojou’s wound without any sign of turning into a vampire and swapping bodies with him after a kiss.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
The characters are indeed pretty awesome, but we barely see them during their own arc. Considering that there’s at least one addition to the harem per arc and absolutely nobody leaves, I have a feeling that some are going to get ignored.
Again, I’m surprised that Kojou knew that Yuuma was a girl. That masculine sounding name plus her tomboyishness is just asking for a misunderstanding.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Well, last year, she’s had roles in Dansai Bunri no Crime Edge (Houko Byouinzaka, as in her sister’s human pin cushion for her syringe), Hataraku Maou-sama! (Mayumi Kisaki), Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko (Ponta), Kotoura-san (Hajime). And she’s currently in Buddy Complex, Nisekoi and Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Ah, the site I was looking at was missing half of those roles. Thanks. …Still nothing really notable though. Yuuma isn’t that big of a character either, since she’s joing as harem member # whatever number we’re on
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Yeah, I looked up her roles at MAL. Maybe she just hasn’t gotten an opportune role yet.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Sorry to keep you waiting. Here the remaining part of chapter 2.
-After the Himeragi inquisition, Kujou went back to his apartment balcony to relax. Instead he saw
the Lotharingia ossanRudolph somewhere below. Kujou then rush to Rudolph but strangely, it seems he doesn’t recognise him and proceed to attack Kujou. A poor bench was destroyed in the process. Kujou attempted to summon Regulus Aurum out but Rudilph axe was faster. But at the last moment, Rudolph vanishes and only the damage to the surrounding remains.-Kujou went back to the apartment and decide to hold off telling it to Himeragi since he doesn’t have solid proof. Aside frm some minor modification, the rest of the Yuuma scene remains the same. Chapter 2 end.
-Chapter 3 begins. There should be a flashback sequence here be4 the whole “body swapping vampire” thing (Valvrave is the first thing came into my mind) but I assume that would be covered in next episode.
Wow. While cutting out/altering some scenes is nothing new to StB, this time the anime staff went a bit too overkill. Personally, while I think some scenes should be kept in but overall I am more or less OK with it. At the very least, the whole episode doesn’t feel rushed. Maybe its due to the LN4 and 5 being a 2 volume arc.
Also, new OP/ED where?
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Was that the real Rudolph, or just an illusion? If it was an illusion, was it by the witch sisters?
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Its not stated at this point in the LN.