To be blunt, however, the title of this should be "Ep09 NutSHOTted."  Because, oh my god, that's the least of what the Production Staff deserves.  Episode 08 was, in my opinion, the best of the series so far, full of drama and character development.  I really enjoyed watching it, mostly because it required that Team Aquos to succeed without the RHF, who is really the Kryptonian in the woodpile.  Everything has to run through her, because only with her can they reach the ultimate potential of the Vivid System amd become completely unstoppable.  Just like Superman.  And it becomes boring, just like Superman.  So seeing "The Jordanaires" succeed without her was quite nice.  Now, it's common for there to be a dropoff after such a tour de force, I understand that.  I do, and was actually expecting it.  I mean, let's face it, this is Vividred Operation we're talking about here, not ARIA or some excellent show like that.

What I didn't expect was what we got.  What we got was an episode that honestly made me angry with the pointlessness of it all.  I wanted to inflict deep hurting on the Production Staff.  And they would have deserved it, all of it and more.


Look, when the best moment of the show is the first image we see, it's a bad sign.

I'll admit, I love this picture.  I want to make it my desktop image, and probably will when the BD becomes available.  But this is the highpoint of the episode.  From here on out, it's all straight into the crapper.  Here's the story: Himawari wants to go visit a new high-tech factory.  Wakaba says "okay, we'll do it Sunday, but you have to go to the mall with me today... oh, and wear this cute dress I found for you."

Of course she's the cutest thing in the mall... this episode would be pretty pointless if she wasn't.  Of course guys begin to hit on her, and Wakaba ain't havin' none of it.

I think this is supposed to be metaphorical.  There are times in Vividred Operation that I can't be sure.  After bumping into the rest of Team Aquos and having some tea, Himawari and Wakaba are walking around.  Then one of those amazing anime coincidences occur, a coincidence that pointed out to me just exactly how the rest of the show was going to go.  See, they're approached by a photo team from some teen fashion magazine, and they really want to take pictures of Himawari.  Who, very reluctantly and with much prodding from Wakaba, agrees.

The next day at school, Wakaba comes running in all excited and stuff.  She got a call from the magazine saying that they loved the results and wanted a full photoshoot with Himawari... this Sunday!  Of course she accepted for Himawari, completely forgetting about the factory tour.  This pisses off our reclusive nerd, who storms out of the classroom and goes up to the greatest school roof ever.

Eventually Wakaba apologizes and explains that she was just so happy for Himawari.  Apology accepted, and she'll do the photoshoot... but Wakaba has to be her servant during the event.  Ho ho ho, isn't that funny?  Ho ho ho ho ho.  Crap.  At this point, I closed the videoplayer program and didn't come back to Ep09 for two days.  I couldn't stomach it.  They went from Ep08 to this crap?  If it wasn't for these writeups, I really doubt if I ever would have watched the rest of the episode.  See what I do for you kids?

Sunday rolls around, the photoshoot gets going, and the staff makes plans while a cruise liner sinks off in the background.  What, you think I'm joking?

See?  Okay, maybe it's not sinking, but it's got a helluva list to port.  Anyway, the photoshoot goes on, there's a kerfluffle about missing hairclips that were given to Himawari by Wakaba, and when that gets resolved and the photoshoot is completed, the Alone Alert is transmitted.  Ohnoes!

And here it is.  Unlike the others, this one comes diving out of the stratosphere on a kamikaze run.  Himawari and Wakaba distract its defensive fire, allowing VividBlue to jump in a club it over the head with Graf Eisen.  Ta-dah.  Drama over.

Hot Dark Girl Rei gets chewed out by Croooow! for being late.  I would have thought that having the Alone start some 100miles in the sky would make it difficult to hit it with a magic arrow, but who am I to judge.  Also, what in the world is going on with her right leg?  That's not an artifact of joining two screenshots together, that's the way it really looks.  I mean, my knee hurts just looking at the way her leg is drawn.

The episode ends with Team Aquos having tea again; Himawari is all excited about the upcoming factory visit.  Wakaba, not so much.  Fade to black, roll credits.

You're on notice, Vividred Operation.  You don't get to screw up like this again.  You've got three episodes left; there's no need or time left for filler.  I've enjoyed your little show, and as a result I've been kind to you so far.  Don't push me, you hear?  Don't.  Push.  Me.

Next episode: more zombies!

Posted by: Wonderduck at 10:33 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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