Very nice, the plot twists just keep heaping up with this episode. While not as interesting as the third arc yet, there’s plenty of potential left for this in the final two episodes. The first half of this episode was the usual slaughter-fest in which members of the Ushinomiya-family die rather one-sidedly, though there are [...]
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Banpresto is going to release the Ushiromiya Maria ( 右代宮真里亞 ) non-scsle Prize figure from the visual novel/anime series “Umineko no Naku Koro ni” ( うみねこのなく頃に ). Will be released in the fouth week of May 2010, 1,429 yen. I haven’t watch Umineko yet because I want to wait until the... **This is a content summary only. Please visit Nekomagic for full content!**
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Banpresto is going to release the Umineko no Naku Koro ni Deformation Maniac Figure Collection – Pocket Vol.1 ( うみねこのなく頃に でふぉるまにあこれくしょん・ぽけっとvol.1) prize figure from the visual novel/anime series “Umineko no Naku Koro ni” ( うみねこのなく頃に ). Will be released in the third week of May 2010.... **This is a content summary only. Please visit Nekomagic for full content!**
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Episode IV-V of Umineko no Naku Koro ni, “breakthrough”, begins in 1998 on the island of Niijima, where Ange is investigating certain aspects of the Rokkenjima incident. Her first stop is the Nanjo Clinic, operated by the son of Nanjo Terumasa. Of particular interest is a letter with the Ushiromiya seal, which was [...]
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It's weird, this arc feels like it's being paced at a fairly leisurely level, especially any Ange or Maria background scene, but then the whole George & Jessica "Head of the Ushiromiyas" game felt a little rushed and compressed. Which is which? Also, this was the first episode without Beatrice throughout the whole episode. And we only got a couple lines from Battler too. George and Jessica are all well and fine, and George especially surprised me in this episode, but the game is a lot less interesting without the Battler vs. Beatrice back and forth. They're the two main characters, why is the final arc of the season minimizing them so much? [...]
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Oh wow, now this is indeed more like it. Talk about an intriguing episodes after the rather boring past three episodes. This episode returned Umineko where it’s good at: mind-numbing mystery. How the heck are the creators going to write themselves out of this? It’s a bloody shame that we have to wait for more [...]
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We are finally back to the Rokkenjima of 1986 in episode IV-IV of Umineko no Naku Koro ni, “problem child”, where Kinzo supposedly participates in the family meeting. The time is now 10:10PM. While some of the parents are surprised at how hale and hearty he is, with particular focus on the surprised [...]
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Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. Or at least an exciting Thursday if you’re in one of those places that doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving. This Umineko post notwithstanding, I’m basically taking a weeklong break from writing to spend some quality family time. I’m also looking forward to the winter season kicking off soon. There’s a handful of possibly excellent shows that I’m looking forward to following. [...]
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So now we’re back at the island again, and this episode portrayed a new character as the villain: Kinzou. Like all villains of AUmineko, this guy is way over the top, but then again, that’s part of the fun. You don’t exactly watch this series for its realism. We also see a new servant introduced: [...]
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No Battler, no Beatrice, and smashed rabbits makes me a sad blogger. The background on Ange and Maria was helpful, but I do miss the stars of the show. [...]
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Well, the third arc was awesome: it had a new twist in just about every new episode and kept holding the balls in the air with increasingly astonishing plot twists. In comparison, the past two episodes have really been a let-down. Especially considering how the creators have the arduous task of filling about 50 hours [...]
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Episode IV-III of Umineko no Naku Koro ni, “prophylaxis”, begins while Ange is still in high school, where at the moment she is trying to study in her dormitory room. The keyword being “trying”: the stake sisters are goofing off loudly in the background, although Ange doesn’t mind at all. In fact, it [...]
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Episode IV-II of Umineko no Naku Koro ni, “zugzwang”, begins on Rokkenjima during the evening of October 4, 1986, with Rosa drying off Maria after the latter’s excursion into the garden. There are no histrionics from either Rosa or Maria, and in fact it’s a rather heart-warming moment. However, this prompts Ange to [...]
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Umineko Double Post!Episode 17: PromotionEpisode 18: Swindles~ This is the return of the dead~ For quick post purposes, I am gonna copy summaries from Wikipedia and give my comments later.Episode 17:Battler decides to give Beatrice another chance to change her ways, so Beatrice goes to the real world to visit George, who is still grieving over Shannon's death, and offers to bring Shannon back to life. However, her powers have greatly diminished, but with George's assistance, she manages to resurrect Shannon. Sensing this, Eva-Beatrice kills George and Shannon shortly after they reunite, along with Krauss and Natsuhi in the process. Shortly after the survivors discover the bodies, Jessica accuses Eva of being the culprit. Eva panics and accidentally fires her rifle at Jessica, blinding her with the muzzle flash. While Nanjo escorts Jessica away to treat her, Jessica insists he go back to keep Battler out of danger, but Nanjo is killed by Eva-Beatrice before he can, leaving Jessica completely defenseless. Episode 18:Beatrice resurrects Kanon's spirit for Jessica and defends her against Eva-Beatrice, nearly getting killed in the process. Before Eva-Beatrice can finish her off, Battler brings her to Purgatory to challenge her. Battler theorizes that the real Eva is the culprit, but is unable to explain how Nanjo could have been killed, since Jessica was blind and he was with Eva the whole time. Battler nearly surrenders until Beatrice uses the red truth to "deny" the existence of witches and destroy Eva-Beatrice, leaving the emotionally unstable Eva to kill the other survivors and escape Rokkenjima alive. Battler is brought to the Golden Land where Beatrice and Virgilia suddenly attempt to force him to accept the existence of witches by signing a contract, revealing that Beatrice only pretended to reform to achieve this goal, and that it was Virgilia's strategy to do so. Before they can, Battler is saved by his sister Ange who, twelve years in the future, is granted the name "Beatrice" and the Ushiromiya family headship and fortune by the elderly, miserable Eva. She is dispatched by Bernkastel to begin a new game, and find out what really happened to her family in 1986. General Comments:This one weird move by Beato. Promise! I too was caught off guard and I had the thought of supporting Beato x Battler pairing while I am watching the episodes. But I fell off my seat when Beato revealed that this is just a scheme to get Battler acknowledge her as a witch. But I got to say, that was one smart and unusual move.With this scheme in effect, Beato is like an angel...being a good example to the new Endless Witch, EvaBeatrice. She even resurrected Shannon and Kanon back to life just to please Battler who is willing to give her a chance so that she will be fitting to be his opponent again. But personally, even if it was part of Beato's grand plan, I find it very sweet that she exerted effort to resurrect the love interests of Jessica and George.We also have new victim in Episode 17. It's Nanjo-sensei. He was killed by EvaBeatrice while tending to Jessica's eye injury that caused her to be temporarily blind.Here are the list of red truths being revealed in the two episodes:After Jessica was injured, Eva was already under Battler’s surveillance.Thus, Eva has a perfect alibi for the killing of Nanjo.At the time of Nanjo’s murder, Battler, Eva, Jessica were alive.At the time of the murder, only Nanjo and Jessica were in the employee room.Ushiromiya Jessica has not committed murder.Eva and Battler were also not involved in the killing of Nanjo.There is not nineteen or more people on the island.Nanjo was murdered, and the perpetuator killed at a very close distance from the front without any traps.Red only tells the truth.Episode 18 is also the end of Round 3 where Beatrice almost won but unfortunately, Ange came and stopped Battler from signing.Who is Ange?She is the younger sister of Battler who is always sick so she was not in the Rokkenjima event in the year 1986. She is the piece by Lady Bernkastel in the game and according to Ange, she will hep Battler in his battle to deny the existence of witches.
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Holy cow, did DEEN even look at this episode before airing it? The white highlights and soft glows were unbearably bright. Half the time you couldn't even make out the lines on the characters' faces. Budget saving tactic by skimping on details? Whatever the thought, this episode looked awful. [...]
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Whoa, the CG Shaders have found Umineko at last. I have to say, that now that the properly shaded characters actually look pretty good. That’s the thing with Studio Deen’s graphics: it either looks really good or really bad. There’s hardly any in between. Anyway, this episode rounds off the second part of Ange’s background. [...]
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Sharpeless Witch I’ll be more than ok with that. Brief Summary Things continued to get worse. Battler noticed more oddities with his family. Jessica and Shannon have gone missing. An axe-wielding girl was voluntarily mowing their lawn for no real reason. His grandfather suddenly showed up and demanded all the youngsters to leave. It was time for a serious [...]
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Miken: Yay for the beginning of Alliance of the Golden Witch~ The final arc before this series ends. I hope that DVD/Blu-ray sales pick up for this series and Umineko no Naku Koro Ni Chiru is announced eventually (though probably not till after the final arc of Chiru is released sometime like Dec.2010). Sure it [...]
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Episode 16: Isolated Pawn~ Beato looks so cute when she is tame and sweet~Revealed truths:Rosa and Maria were murdered.Victims of this episode:KirieRudolfHideyoshiThey were killed by EvaBeatrice through her new furniture, Siesta 410 and 45. She requested for new furnitures as she cannot make use of the Seven Stakes of Furniture. She calls them second hand and didn't want their way of killing. Kirie and Rudolf proved to be better to the Purgatory sisters and that pissed EvaBeatrice. She cannot comprehend why the two purgatory girls got hit and couldn't finish mere and puny humans.Kirie's JealousyThe reason why Kirie got away from Envy because of her envy to Rudolf's first wife, Asumu. It turns out, the first wipe snagged Rudolf away from her and they even had a kid in the person of Battler. Envy is babbling about being jealous for days but she is no match for Kirie's jealousy for 18 long years. After Asumu died, that when she got her chance to get back together to Rudolf.EvaBeatrice's Broken PromiseEvaBeatrice promised Eva that she will spare her family from the killings that she will made. But while Kirie, Rudolf and Hideyoshi went out to get some food, Hideyoshi got the young Eva and tries to slap her senses back. But this Eva is now EvaBeatrice who feels nothing special for him killed him by shooting him with a gun. Battler and BeatoBattler is still angry with Beato and didn't want to see her. The game is being continue through Ronove.Virgilia talked to Beato that convinced her to go back and asked for forgiveness from Battler. Virgilia further points out that this is a game where Beato wants someone to recognize her as a witch and so she has this game happen. With this, Virgilia advices her students that she can slowly change until Battler recognizes her again especially that Battler is still willing to continue proving the case without invoking any magic.
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Episode 15: Isolated Pawn~ If you wanna see a slapped Beato, then better watch this~ Eva's GoldJust where the previous episode ended, we continue with Eva solving the epitaph and finding the gold. She got the headship to the family. Rosa was also able to solve the riddle but she was only minutes late. She congratulated her sister and accepted her defeat. But Rosa demanded her share as a consolation price since she also found her gold. Rosa only wanted 150 million yen by March and she will not ask for more. Eva also asked to keep this as a secret to everyone since she knew that she needs to convince the other siblings first before assuming her role as the head. In the end, Eva plans to share the fortune to everyone else.The New BeatriceAfter Eva found the gold, her alter ego doesn't agree of her intention to divide it amongst themselves. The current Beatrice shows up and congratulates her and acknowledges her as the new head of the family. Beato gave her the ring to represent the family's headship along with the title of the Endless Witch. The staff was given to her and so she transformed with her new costume. Eva is introduced to the witches Lambdadelta and Berkanstel. Lambdadelta signed young Eva's recommendation form to be a witch.Maria and Rosa's deathWith the new Beatrice on the game, she is now the one who continues the killings so that she can have her full powers. Her first victims are Rosa and Maria who is in the garden because Maria is crying. She wanted to make sure that the rose Beato revived is still alive and okay. EvaBeatrice changed her appearance to the old Eva and appeared in front of the two.EvaBeatrice's way of torture is by throwing giant jellies, giant cakes and giant sweets to kill endlessly Maria and Rosa. But Beato arrived and told them that she needs to be more elegant with her ways and told her to watch her do her thing. She kills Rosa and Maria plainly as EvaBeatrice thought it is. Rosa was dropped to a fence pole with her head and Maria died as if she is choked.Beato summoned everyone and told them that future killings should be elegant and with class.Slapped BeatoBeato was slapped by Battler after having fun with the torture Rosa and Maria is experiencing in the hands of EvaBeatrice. Battler points out that she cannot consider Beato as someone fitting to be his opponent, someone who doesn't know the value and importance of life. Battler further asserts that he thought Beatrice was sometimes a little fun but after this event, he considered it as a mistake that he thought that way. He doesn't want to see Beato's face ever again.This action by Battler made her think of her previous behavior and from then on, she looks somewhat reflective. She somehow becomes a good witch, trying to prove herself to Battler.
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