Thanksgiving is over, and the insanity of the holiday season has begun. Fortunately there is plenty of great anime to watch to get over mankind’s pointless struggle to trample over one another for low-quality TV’s; as well as the fact that every damn Christmas song will be stuck in our heads since there is no escape from them. We are approaching the final stretch of the season, so things are getting pretty good… let’s watch! Oh, just like last season, I’ve been sneaking in even more anime, (I know, I’m a monster.) so for the next few weeks I’ll do a spot about other shows that are worth watching.
Coppelion: Episode 9

Between a rogue military unit hell-bent on destroying the world, two demented and violent super humans, and a radioactive wind that kills anything it touches instantly blowing through the city, the situation couldn’t possibly be much worse. The crews from the Planet and the Coppelion have made a plan to evacuate using trains, but the entire world is against them right now, literally. Good luck, everyone!
Freezing Vibration: Episode 9

You can only get so far with inhumane experiments before someone gets up, says “fuck this”, and starts wrecking shit. The E-Pandora’s have had enough, and a full-fledged rebellion has broken out in the lab. This entire place has been reduced to chaos, but we can all sleep soundly knowing that Elizabeth Mably is back!
Galilei Donna: Episode 8

Even after a brutal defeat at the hands of Adnimoon’s “odd jobs” guy, the Ferrari sister have decided to patch up the Galileo and continue their search for the sketches. Their next stop is Japan, so the girls have decided to make a detour and visit their grandfather. Once again, anime teaches us that lolis are better than us at everything, including engineering and furnace repair.
Infinite Stratos 2: Episode 9

Everyone is just about ready to begin the tournament, and then the academy is attacked by powerful anti-IS drones. This show is known for consisting mostly of harem-comedy with bits of action, but this episode is surprisingly brutal. This one will have you on the edge of your seat, and that is one thing I never thought I would say about this show.
Kakumeiki Valvrave: Episode 20
(Valvrave the Liberator)

Almost everyone has managed to safely escape back to the moon, but unfortunately L-Elf is reduced to nothing but a broken lolicon. We are also treated to the wonderful tale of how everyone else left behind on the module has been fighting with politics for the good of the people. Yeah, I’m sure that is gonna work. Watch out, that last scene is a doozy this week.
Kill la Kill: Episode 9

Ryuuko must face off against the 4 Diva’s to discover the secret behind her father’s death. Her first opponent is Ira, and things won’t be easy even if Ryuuko knows the secret behind his uniform’s transformation. Commence the usual wacky, over-the-top fighting.
Kyoukai no Kanata: Episode: 9
(Beyond the Boundary)

This is a pretty intense episode, and I can’t think of much to discuss that wouldn’t include some major spoilers. What I can say is this episode is a visual feast, and a true showcase of what Kyoani studios can do for action shows. Don’t miss this week’s episode!
Little Busters! Refrain: Episode 9

Riki and Rin continue to re-assemble to once glorious Little Busters. This time they are going to try and bring Kengo back into the group, but he seems to be strongly against the idea. Can Riki and Rin tame yet another of the Little Buster’s most powerful members?
Machine-Doll wa Kizutsukanai: Episode 8
(Unbreakable Machine-Doll)

Raishin and Yaya proceed to tear apart the illegal research facility, and find a surprising ally along the way. Can a couple plucky teenagers and their dangerous yet cute robots take down this Divine Works operation? We will just have to watch and see. Don’t miss this one, or Nurse Yaya will be very upset.
Monogatari Series: Second Season: Episode 22

Kaiki begins to investigate Nadeko’s home so he can get an idea of what he is dealing with. He soon makes the insane move of going right to her temple to speak with her. Prepare for one of the strangest conversations in all of anime.
Ore no Nounai Sentakushi ga, Gakuen Love Comedy wo Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru (AKA Noucome): Episode: 8
(My Mental Multiple-Choice Power Is Completely Ruining My School Romantic Comedy)

The harem quest has been completed, but Kanade’s classmates are now infuriated with him for hogging the attention of the most beloved girls in the school. When an absolute choice pops up and forces him to hug Chocolat, she suddenly regains her memory. Is the world ready for a serious Chocolat?
Outbreak Company: Episode 9

Shinichi has been granted vacation time, and that somehow brings us to the obligatory swimsuit episode, in a show that is self-aware that this is a swimsuit episode. All of the goodies that should be expected of a swimsuit episode are here, especially considering the lovely female cast of this show. The best part, however, is a running scene involving the Empress’s council of dirty old men discussing the most “appropriate” swimsuit for the Empress, based on the fetishes they have picked up from manga. Just watch it, it is hilarious.
Yuusha ni Narenakatta Ore wa Shibushibu Shuushoku wo Ketsui Shimashita (AKA Yuushibu): Episode: 9
(I Couldn’t Become a Hero, so I Reluctantly Decided to get a Job)

Fino has finally received her first paycheck from Leon. Now Raul has been appointed by his boss to take Fino out into town and help her go shopping. This episode turns into what almost feels like a lecture on why capitalism is the best thing ever, and why even crappy jobs are great. I’m sure this is some sort of statement aimed at Japan’s NEET population, using the lure of sexy 2D demon girls to convince them that low-wage work is better than leeching off of their parents. Oh well, we get more adorable Fino.
This Week’s Extra Spotlight:
Log Horizon

I originally passed on this show because I honestly thought it was just some sort of shallow clone of Sword Art Online, and let’s face it; no one should want more Sword Art Online in their lives. However, after a few weeks of this airing, this show managed to pick up quite a fan base online, and after conversing with them, I decided to give this show a shot. Log Horizon is about a group of players that become trapped in a MMORPG called “Elder Tale” after the latest expansion pack launches. This sounds disturbingly similar to Sword Art Online, but the similarities end there. To begin with, the whole “die in the game, die in real life” thing has been tossed out. The worst that can happen (and does happen often), is that thieves may kill players to rob them, but they revive at a cathedral, just as they did in the game. The mysteries behind why and how everyone became trapped in this game are tossed aside, (at least for the time being) and this is one of the reasons this show works so well.
Log Horizon isn’t so much about players making this frenzied dash to escape the game alive, as much as it is about the players adjusting to their new lives and learning how the game works as their “new reality.” What makes this show great is that it has a really amazing universe to immerse the viewers in, between the mechanics of the game and the amazing, beautiful world the game itself takes place in. Add to this a cast of interesting and fun characters, very cool action, a true sense of adventure, and you have one really awesome show. This show does everything right that Sword Art Online did wrong, and the results are hard to argue with. This is one of my favorites of the season, and it really pains me that I misjudged it early on and did not include it in the weekly round-up. I should also mention this show has one of the catchiest, coolest Opening songs since Attack on Titan. Trust me, after watching it a few times you can’t help but sing about LIVING IN THE DATABASE.