Blue Exorcist -- Episode 18

Hi Everyone! I'm Konekomaru, and I'm featured in this episode!

And, Welcome to my Blue Exorcist Blog. Actually, Squeefinity is an all things anime, manga and otherwise blog, but I'm currently just feeling super squee about this show!

The last few episodes have focused a bit on Rin's place in the academy and has been all "big picture" stuff, you know, Holy Sh*tballs, Mina-san! Rin's a Demon! Can we reforge the Kurikara Sword?, Should the Vatican execute Rin? kind of stuff.

Anyhoo, this week's episode brought the show back to its heart; it focused on Rin's relationship with his friends. And, it even made me a little teary.

When last we saw Rin, his friends learned he was the son of Satan, and they saw him kick the crap out of the King of the Earth, another big time demon kin. Needless to say, this was a bit of a shock, considering a number of their family members were killed during Blue Night, when Satan murdered a ton of righteous people with his blue flames. Rin's buddies are a bit non-plussed by his own blue flames.

Konekomaru, the little, raised by monks looking Ex-wire, is downright terrified. His parents were slaughtered on Blue Night, and he was brought up on tales of death by demon. A mid-level Demon known as a Hurricane or Tornado or something sneaks into the academy and starts taunting him, basically playing on his weakness, fear and doubt; it tries to get Konekomaru to allow it to possess him.

Everyone knows there is a demon on the loose, but no one realizes it is attached to Konekomaru. All of the Ex-wires, except for Rin, are given the task of searching for it. Rin is supposed to stick to his studies and learn to control his blue flames. Konekomaru shows up; Rin does see the demon attached to him, but no one else does. When Rin tries to attack the demon, everyone thinks he is after Konekomaru, and they get super-pissy about his flames and being the son of Satan, and it pretty much sucks for him. Poor Rin!

Konekomaru gets sent to the infirmary and Bon hangs out with him. While mentally struggling with his demon buddy predicament, Konekomaru asks Bon about Rin. Bon is a gruff guy. As the audience, we understand he's just really motivated by friendship. Even though he talks a lot of trash about Rin, and lays the law down on him, he doesn't hate him. Bon just doesn't want to see anyone hurt. Konekomaru takes Bon's trash talking at face value, and he let's the demon in.

Transformed into a super powerful bird looking thing with Konekomaru's cute little face protruding from its beak, the demon immediately goes after Rin, but Rin works his My Little Demon Friendship is Magic Awesomeness, and he convinces Konekomaru he can believe in him. This breaks the possession. Konekomaru jumps into Rin's arms, while Rin simultaneously slays the demon. Everybody Wins! Hurrah!

Of course, there is some more cute friendship stuff, and then some ties to the bigger story. Questions remain, like, how did the Demon get in to True Cross Academy to begin with? Why is there a secret bombed out artificial life lab in some snowy woods that can be gotten to through a magical opening in an abandoned kidnapper van? Who is that man? Why do I get the feeling that Rin's brother, Yukio, is hiding some kind of demon power / sickness something-thing?

Until Next Week...

***

Also, I don't know if I mentioned this before, but somewhere around episode 13, the show got a new beginning and ending song. I liked the old ones a lot, but I like the new ones, too. Here's the ending theme:

Winchester Wednesday?

Oh, man, I'm so sorry to have missed Tuesday's Ta Ta post. I have been caught up in a little Supernatural time loop and have not been thinking so much about lady parts.

We are the Winchesters, and we will you to think very hard about guy parts.

If you know me, you know I am like a obsessed and rabid dog when it comes to series. I finally decided to start Supernatural, and apparently cannot stop or function until I am done watching all of it, and by all, I have decided the first five seasons. I enjoy the show, but will stop shy of writing fan fiction like a certain person named James Parker Lombard who I happen to have the pleasure of knowing, and you would be lucky to know this person, too.

In the meanwhile, I will direct you to my earlier post on knockers in Blue Exorcist, which I have big plans to catch up with this week. Just a little more Winchesterness first.

Blue Exorcist -- Through Episode 13

That moon up there. It kind of resembles a breast.

Woohoo! Have I mentioned I like this show?

Episode 11 = Adorable sea creature adventures.
Episode 12 = Adorable amusement park adventures.
Episode 13 = Hubba, Hubba, new mentor for Rin:

I'm Shura. I have giant breasts!

Who carries a demon sword and don't wear no clothes? Shura!

Who is she? A senior exorcist who used to study with Rin's earthly daddy Shiro. She's on a mission from the Vatican, but she isn't a nun! She wields a demon sword, which she draws directly from the spot between her voluminous breasts, and she pretty much kicks ass.

Is this becoming a pervy show. Hmm? In episode 12, innocent Shiemi turns in her traditional kimono for a school girl uniform. All the guys go gaga, and a pint size ghosty gets fresh with her ample bosoms. Who knew?

I'm Shiemi. My breasts are also quite large!

Even sanctified Shiro gets to talking about tatas in a flashback scene where little Rin breaks his ribs during a tantrum. Upset he busted his father's bones, Rin stands at the curb as his dad is loaded into an ambulance. To calm his son, Shiro tells Rin he looks forward to going to the hospital so he can be surrounded by hot, big breasted nurses.

I'm Shiro Fujimoto, and I love breasts.

Geekend Round-up!

Alas, Dear Readers, I did not catch up on Blue Exorcist this weekend, but I did not neglect my many geekly duties (as I am afraid our wayward M has)!

Get back here and watch my exorcism antics, Ms. Shakespeare!

While our wily M is off drinking hooch and channeling fanfiction, I'm slaving away over one of the most fantastic books I've read in a while: The Passage by Justin Cronin. I'm half way through, and I guess I would call it Dystopian Vampire Apocalypse Fiction. You should read it. Seriously.

The book is epic, and well-written, which is a big complement coming from me.

Additionally, I saw the second part of the sixth addition of the Harry Potter franchise. Alas, it is over. Lone tear. The movie was passable, pretty good even, except for the directorial tendency toward slowness. Seriously, guys, you know you need to destroy the Horcrux. Why are you spending so much time staring at it before hand?

It's the diadem of Ravenclaw. Let us admire it while Voldemort's power grows.

Anyway, it was a movie. I wanted to see more of the Hogwart's defense scenes. It would have been rad to see all of the professors kicking the bad guys butts, but it is what it is. I can live with it.

And finally, news our besotted M can surely get behind. I have been watching that beloved show of hers: Supernatural.

We are the Winchesters. Everything we say or do will be the basis for steamy fanfiction.

This show is okay as well. M says there are Sam people, and there are Dean people. I guess I am not one of either of those people. Don't get me wrong, I totally like the show. I can even suspend my "consequences" problem -- these boys never seem to get in trouble for breaking every law know to God and Man. I'm just not fully invested yet.  We shall see how it pans out.

This week, I intend to catch up on my many neglected anime. I'm also looking for a new manga series to read. Suggestions welcome.

Guess Who's Back?

Yes, Dear Readers! It is I, Shakespeare!

This isn't me.

I'm back from the desert with a strong foundation and direction for the novel I'm working on. It will one day win the National Book Award or the Pulitzer Prize or something. Such delusions of grandeur! Actually, I'll be happy to finish it and start getting it out in the world.

Now, I'm back in the Bay, working two jobs, fighting for every minute of solid good creative time I can get, and feeling like I just cannot get it all done. Sigh. I'm a little tired, Dear Readers! But, I vow to keep up with Squeefinity, because it brings me happiness.

It looks like M brought you a lot of steamy boys on boys action. Nice, M.

Some Random BL Pic

And, in the coming weeks I plan on delving a little more deeply and intellectually into common themes and metaphors in anime and manga. I've been an avid fan for years, but I can't say I always understand it. Yaoi and Yuri and common genres of the medium will be a part of it, but there will be plenty of other stuff.

And, as always, reviews, reviews, reviews.

Oi. I have missed so many episodes of Blue Exorcist. What is a girl to do?

Blue Exorcist - Episode 10

Squee! What a cute episode. Where in Rin finds his familiar, Kuro. Seriously, this would have been cute as a stand alone show outside the context of any series.

As an aside...while reading up on Blue Exorcist tonight, I found this awesome Tumblr site dedicated to Rin. Nice!

Blue Exorcist -- Through Episode 10

Hey, Blue Exorcist, I like you. I mean it. You are everything I like in an anime!

What is not to like about an exorcist cram school where the teenage son of Satan, a demon in human form, Rin, studies under the tutelage of his twin (younger) brother, Yukio, who just happens to already be an amazing exorcist himself? Absolutely nothing!

Though he may be the devil's spawn, Rin Okumura, plans on learning to harness his blue flame powers and demon dispelling sword, so that he can one day avenge the death of his adoptive father, a pretty bad ass priest and exorcist, Shiro Fujimoto. In order to do this he must attend exorcist cram school with a group of fellow (misfit-type) pupils.

Exorcist cram school, True Cross Academy, exists in a place called Academy Town where students can go to study anything. Rin's brother, Yukio, happens to be an instructor there, even though he is only fifteen. The chairman is a man named Mephisto Pheles (who I keep wanting to call Dr. Faustus). He's a bit off and seems to have some secret ties to the demon world. All of the students at the academy have their own special reasons for being there, mainly wanting to defeat Satan. Some have stories that will clearly emerge as time passes. Studying happens. Things ensue. Enjoyment is had.

This anime is a salty mix of high school comedy and supernatural hijinx. In some ways it reminds me of the best things I loved about Bleach in its first season. I hope Blue Exorcist doesn't lose its momentum but stays on course to remain a really fun show.

I love Rin's character. He's a sweet guy with a bit of a temper in service to the people he loves. He is not over the top angsty, though being Satan's kid, he's probably got some stuff to deal with.

Actually, I like all of the characters so far. They are all adorable, especially Shiemi, the budding tamer with her little demon familiar the infant greenman.

She reminds me of my little sister when she was a kid :)

Favorite Opening Theme -- Blue Exorcist

Right now, I'm watching Blue Exorcist and loving the opening song,"Core Pride" by Japanese rock band Uverworld:



A close second and perennial favorite is Sakura Kiss from Ouran High School Host Club:



It is a pure squee trigger for me!