SEASONAL PRATTLE

After a week break and yet another changing of the seasons, Seasonal Prattle’s Check-Ins are back! Swooping in just in time to examine the storytelling aptitude of some select titles from Fall’s initial wave. With that said, and in typical fashion, we like to lead with what’s most notable, and given it already has a good amount of applaudable content under its belt – it’s tough not to say that’s Babylon. While it’s easy to be plenty satisfied with Babylon’s directorial sensibilities, it’s just as easy for that aspect to overshadow how firm its first three episodes are fundamentals from a narrative perspective. This series has a strong build and release so far: Each episode out of the opening trio is arguably better at drip-feeding information and adding pieces to the puzzle than the previous one – all while consistently elevating tension. Conversations are routinely purposeful with little fluff in word choices, and the script is held with enough care to sell its bigger strokes and never truly lose footing. Very optimistic start and seemingly Fall’s best so far if we’re talking straight textual chops. Shame that it’s on Amazon Prime so its viewership will likely take a hit, and that due to its early release, it has its next episode three weeks away.

Shinchou Yuusha: Kono Yuusha ga Ore Tueee Kuse ni Shinchou Sugiru (1)

Good start for Shinchou Yuusha, providing some nice rounds of expressional work to complement its brand of comedy and nonchalant storytelling. Isekai parodies tend to lean heavier on character chemistry more than its plain counterpart; The scene by scene mood they thrive on when characters are interacting around town or on a mission can be quickly deflated with flat dialogue choices and weak body language. Thus, it’s critical to be highly competent when cast members start bouncing off each other – an approach that is done well here with Rista and Seiya early on and looks promising to pay dividends for weeks to come.

Fate/Grand Order: Zettai Majuu Sensen Babylonia (1)

Pleasing turnout from Mash, Ishtar and Enkidu in Fate/Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia’s start, that in general, had its fair share to applaud. It’s been anticipated for a decent while now what this work’s loaded staffing unit can pull off, and the results to no surprise are quite positive. Episode one boasts a level of composition that is both dynamic and vibrant in structure with even more flavor coming through in its actual execution – all resulting as the main reward for our twenty minutes spent and easily the biggest draw presented. There are some valid reservations to how its told given there are so few conventional building blocks put in place here, but we’ll see if that shapes up a bit better moving ahead. Good entry all in all.

Mairimashita! Iruma-kun (1)

Despite being yet another Isekai in a season saturated with them, Mairimashita! Iruma-kun thankfully manages to stand out from the pack – offering a solid grasp of comedy, copious amounts of charm, and a strong enough sense of direction so far to keep it out of the usual potholes that litter the narrative streets of modern works that fall under its genre umbrella. Although he wasn’t tasked too much here, Iruma was able to hold up well to the comedic demands that were needed, and that paired with Makoto Moriwak’s comfortability with this kind of lighthearted material, reassures this can be a decent fun watch with a bit of upside. Positive showing.

Ascendance of a Bookworm (1)

I kind of wish Ascendance of a Bookworm gave us a little more to go on in its premiere because as it stands now, it appears to be fairly undercooked. Myne’s book-obsessed gimmick plays such a passive factor here that her crippling limits in a frail childhood body actually out contribute it narratively, and both its visual craft and sound design do little to uplift a very tepid brand of storytelling that seems risk-averse. There’s just not much to latch onto beyond the brass tacks of its premise – an aspect itself that isn’t the most compelling to put it charitably. Bookworm may very well turn out to be very competent down the road, but it’s going to have deliver better than this over these next weeks if it wants to be that.

Ore wo Suki nano wa Omae dake ka yo (1)

On one hand, Oresuki feels refreshing with some of its rifts on the thoroughly dusty Romance-Comedy playbook. There are a few key tropes here that are subverted with fine execution and noticeably keep this premiere afloat till credit roll. On the other hand, however, the vast majority of its material so far still adheres to middling cliches and standard pitfalls of its genre space. Joro is hardly interesting as a lead, and the girls are solidly entrenched in their archetypes. None of the characters have produced the level of comradery on-screen to instill faith that they can carry the show, so we’re virtually riding on the premise and its handful of swerves to satisfy – an angle that appears to have limited shelf life. Mixed bag but curious to see if it can build on the good and achieve more next week.

Azur Lane (1)

Azur Lane premieres, rolling out an incoherent cruise into a lolicon’s paradise – making sure fans of the source get what they want while those who want some semblance of investable storytelling don’t. This opening episode is big on trivial moe and low on anything else that actually matters: Progression and motivation is scarce for the characters and story alike, it’s level of production is only applaudable in patches – mainly salvaged by a last-minute performance, and it works off a script that feels loosely planned. Azur Lane presents extremely little reason for you to care about its goals, and it’s transparent in doing so. Very underwhelming.

Keishichou Tokumubu Tokushu Kyouakuhan Taisakushitsu Dainanaka: Tokunana (1)

Keishichou Tokumubu, unfortunately, plays out more like a deeply discounted version of Kekkai Sensen – lacking Rie Matsumoto’s creative vision and energy but essentially still keeping the same framework intact – than anything else in this opening episode. For that, there’s simply little to appreciate here as its crime and cop antics are just seasonless retreads done notably better elsewhere. Our cast is a typical ragtag squad with their personalities on their sleeves, the production effort is middling, and this particular chunk of the narrative we got does little to compel viewers into tuning in next week. Pretty lackluster from start to finish.

Choujin Koukousei-tachi wa Isekai demo Yoyuu de Ikinuku you desu! (1)

Last and certainly least for our Check-In, Choyoyu commences with a bang, unveiling a thrilling spectacle of writing and storytelling so poorly executed for twenty minutes that Project No.9 should give viewers a refund. From the opening act until the final scene your patience for sheer incompetence will be tested as this series delivers everything from boilerplate Isekai worldbuilding to highly convenient plotting. Character acting is noticeably abysmal with Tsukasa and company absolutely no selling their new world circumstances, a factor that’s only one-upped by this episode’s knack to soullessly churn out its ridiculous narrative with a straight face. Easily a bad start with little to suggest that next week will be any different.