Epogen For Sale http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/06/15/toshokan-sensou-halfway-thoughts-fight-for-your-right-toread/ Get decultured Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:26:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 Epogen For Sale http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/06/15/toshokan-sensou-halfway-thoughts-fight-for-your-right-toread/#comment-45325 Martin Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:11:25 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=572#comment-45325 @Kabitzin: maybe recent seasons have left me a bit cynical, but my hopes are not high for the storyline side of things given the number of episodes. That said, I agree it's doing fine as a character-driven show which ought to make it one of the better B-list shows we'll see this year. Hopefully I'll get to see it through to the end in the next week or so. @Kabitzin: maybe recent seasons have left me a bit cynical, but my hopes are not high for the storyline side of things given the number of episodes. That said, I agree it’s doing fine as a character-driven show which ought to make it one of the better B-list shows we’ll see this year. Hopefully I’ll get to see it through to the end in the next week or so.

]]> Epogen For Sale http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/06/15/toshokan-sensou-halfway-thoughts-fight-for-your-right-toread/#comment-45323 Kabitzin Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:25:22 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=572#comment-45323 I've enjoyed it so far, but I'm not really sure about the overall story, especially as we near the end of the season. Still, the characters usually make up for the loose plot. I’ve enjoyed it so far, but I’m not really sure about the overall story, especially as we near the end of the season. Still, the characters usually make up for the loose plot.

]]> Epogen For Sale http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/06/15/toshokan-sensou-halfway-thoughts-fight-for-your-right-toread/#comment-45316 Martin Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:10:18 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=572#comment-45316 @Wildcard: good to see you're enjoying it! Whether or not the background is better explained in the novels I don't know, but if it sticks to the character-driven approach I still think I'll enjoy it. @Bemish: cheers. I actually checked out my local bookshop, who happened to have a copy in stock. It will now keep me occupied on the train to London on Friday! @issa-san: I was exaggerating a bit there but I just wanted to make the point that although it's serious in some ways, you can choose whether to judge it that way or not, and still enjoy it. Looks like I got that point across without misunderstandings, which is always reassuring! ^_^ @Peter S: I'll probably check out the film after finishing the book then. I liked his short story, <em>There Will Come Soft Rains</em>, in an obscure sci-fi anthology...it was the first time a story had scared me. Not in a horror story sense, but an intellectual way that chilled me to the bone. @blissmo: I'm still a bit behind I'm afraid (E7 and Gunbuster 2 still to review on DVD!) but I'll get to it asap. @Wildcard: good to see you’re enjoying it! Whether or not the background is better explained in the novels I don’t know, but if it sticks to the character-driven approach I still think I’ll enjoy it.

@Bemish: cheers. I actually checked out my local bookshop, who happened to have a copy in stock. It will now keep me occupied on the train to London on Friday!

@issa-san: I was exaggerating a bit there but I just wanted to make the point that although it’s serious in some ways, you can choose whether to judge it that way or not, and still enjoy it. Looks like I got that point across without misunderstandings, which is always reassuring! ^_^

@Peter S: I’ll probably check out the film after finishing the book then. I liked his short story, There Will Come Soft Rains, in an obscure sci-fi anthology…it was the first time a story had scared me. Not in a horror story sense, but an intellectual way that chilled me to the bone.

@blissmo: I’m still a bit behind I’m afraid (E7 and Gunbuster 2 still to review on DVD!) but I’ll get to it asap.

]]> Epogen For Sale http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/06/15/toshokan-sensou-halfway-thoughts-fight-for-your-right-toread/#comment-45315 blissmo Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:53:32 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=572#comment-45315 Yeah, I didn't like this series until episode 9 (which is recently) XD Yeah, I didn’t like this series until episode 9 (which is recently) XD

]]> Epogen For Sale http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/06/15/toshokan-sensou-halfway-thoughts-fight-for-your-right-toread/#comment-45314 Peter S Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:49:11 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=572#comment-45314 Bemish beat me to it. Fahrenheit 451. One of Bradbury's best. What clued me in was the comment about a French film adaptation, done by Francois Truffaut. Interesting that Bradbury recently claimed the work is not about governmental censorship, instead, it's about the dangers of society as a whole trying to cleanse literature of anything offensive. But Bradbury has become a big Bush fan. Sad to see from a writer whose works used to blow my brains out. Bemish beat me to it. Fahrenheit 451. One of Bradbury’s best. What clued me in was the comment about a French film adaptation, done by Francois Truffaut. Interesting that Bradbury recently claimed the work is not about governmental censorship, instead, it’s about the dangers of society as a whole trying to cleanse literature of anything offensive. But Bradbury has become a big Bush fan. Sad to see from a writer whose works used to blow my brains out.

]]> Epogen For Sale http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/06/15/toshokan-sensou-halfway-thoughts-fight-for-your-right-toread/#comment-45313 issa-sa Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:29:31 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=572#comment-45313 <blockquote>This is the extra appeal of Toshokan Sensou: for 90% of the time it’s about the clumsy girl, her lofty ideas and the tsun-tsun instructor; behind it all though is a reminder that our imperfect democratic societies are worth holding onto. Just because this show can’t keep a straight face that doesn’t mean it’s not telling you something important.</blockquote> You certainly got that one right (though I'd like to personally say 90% is a bit much, but I suppose the majority of potential viewers should think this way lest they start bitching about the viability of the plot again.

This is the extra appeal of Toshokan Sensou: for 90% of the time it’s about the clumsy girl, her lofty ideas and the tsun-tsun instructor; behind it all though is a reminder that our imperfect democratic societies are worth holding onto. Just because this show can’t keep a straight face that doesn’t mean it’s not telling you something important.

You certainly got that one right (though I’d like to personally say 90% is a bit much, but I suppose the majority of potential viewers should think this way lest they start bitching about the viability of the plot again.

]]> Epogen For Sale http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/06/15/toshokan-sensou-halfway-thoughts-fight-for-your-right-toread/#comment-45312 Bemish Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:22:52 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=572#comment-45312 The book in that episode was "K505," aka Bradbury's <em>Fahrenheit 451</em> but I might just be stating the obvious... Anyways, this show seems to feel like one of the better shows this season and I hope something good takes it spot for the summer. The book in that episode was “K505,” aka Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 but I might just be stating the obvious…

Anyways, this show seems to feel like one of the better shows this season and I hope something good takes it spot for the summer.

]]> Epogen For Sale http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/2008/06/15/toshokan-sensou-halfway-thoughts-fight-for-your-right-toread/#comment-45311 Wildcard Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:58:20 +0000 http://www.concretebadger.net/blog/?p=572#comment-45311 I looked this one up after reading one of your previous posts, and I'm glad I did. Indeed, it's not going to shatter any boundaries and I'm sure I've seen it done before elsewhere, however so far it's been a solidly enjoyable show. The concept is certainly flimsy, and doesn't stand close scruitiny - I'm still waiting for many logical gaps in the concept to be filled - but that's really not the point, it's how the characters deal with this scenario that matters and the emotional responses it brings out. It would also be easy to label Kasahara the clumsy idealist, and Dojo a 'tsundere', but little touches in the character development help give a greater sense of individuality and even believability to a degree. So yeah, minus negligable plot holes this series is shaping up to be a minor gem. I really hope it keeps this standard up to the finale. I looked this one up after reading one of your previous posts, and I’m glad I did. Indeed, it’s not going to shatter any boundaries and I’m sure I’ve seen it done before elsewhere, however so far it’s been a solidly enjoyable show.

The concept is certainly flimsy, and doesn’t stand close scruitiny - I’m still waiting for many logical gaps in the concept to be filled - but that’s really not the point, it’s how the characters deal with this scenario that matters and the emotional responses it brings out.

It would also be easy to label Kasahara the clumsy idealist, and Dojo a ‘tsundere’, but little touches in the character development help give a greater sense of individuality and even believability to a degree.

So yeah, minus negligable plot holes this series is shaping up to be a minor gem. I really hope it keeps this standard up to the finale.

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