'

So what we have here is probably the only "real" incest-themed anime out there--real meaning the incest is presented as incest in its pure form and not as a mere ploy for some fucking later on. No cheap tricks such as adopted siblings or any of that shit, the people involved are FULL blooded siblings. However, incest themes aside, this is a very pure series whose closest explicit event relating to "teh secks" is just some jacking off of one's underwear which given the context, appears creepier than it is erotic (aside from the implied secks at the end). Anyway, the story focuses on the devastating effect of a forbidden relationship on the sanity of those involved, which is better learned if you just watch the show.

Personally, I thought that the lead characters were too developed compared to the wallflowers , so much so that everyone aside from the 2 lovers appeared one-dimensional. Examples of these are the siblings' dad, whose cool demeanor never dented and Koshiro's office buddy, who never outgrew his lolicon fetish. On the other hand, Koshiro, the male lead, while imperfect is very realistically portrayed. He succesfully conveys the anguish of sturuggling to conform to societal norms while fighting a losing battle to suppress whatever he felt towards Nanoka, who is also imperfect in her own kind. Unlike her brother though, there is no such tension in Nanoka's character--not until the latter episodes. She's portrayed as an innocent girl who may be just confused or something, but somehow gets swept away by the same guy who jacked off thinking about her. She's twisted. I mean, the way she reacted to Koshiro's attack. No passion for him then suddenly, Bang! a complete 180 degree turn that puts Bruce Buffer's Buffer 180 into shame.

But still, I must rate this series highly, because it is a brave one. Not only does it tackle incest, but also divorce in a serious matter. While much talk of divorce had been highly trivialized, especially in American TV where it's just a word thrown around, this series puts it in a very realistic (non-dramatic, but kinda everyman-ish) light.

My verdict. Watch it.

Note: If I've been giving out too many "A's" lately, it's because I do not review crap anymore.

I recently "unearthed" an old Sanyo RP 5050 transistor radio while looking for some stuff, so I did what I do best and got it running again. I remember my grandmother using this radio whenever she drops by my house, but I haven't seen the radio itself for a couple of years, so finding it is a pleasant surprise.

Though the FM band is already defective, I didn't mind, as I don't listen to it anyway. What I listen to is the AM band. I found it surprising that AM radio is still very much alive here. I thought that they were a dying breed because of the interwebs, but it seems that they are still as fiery as they were 10 or 20 years ago. And no, I don't feel like an old person listening to it. It's just refreshing for someone as internet-based as I am to "find out" that the airwaves are still there.

Now I am no longer getting my fix listening to AM radio, so I'm getting interested in Shortwave. Trying to listen to stations broadcast from other countries is interesting...

PS: This is a busy week though. I'll start going to driving school the day after tomorrow and hopefully get a license by the end of the month or early June. If I 'accidentaly' run over someone and go to jail or get myself run over by a truck while learning how to drive in reverse, you know which author to follow.. Hehehe. As if those will happen.

Lord of the Phones

"12 phones, and one to rule them all" is the line I muttered after watching the fourth episode. At last, Mr.Amnesia gets to know what the fuck his role is. I remembered Bokurano after watching this espisode, as the rules of their "shitty game" are too similar for comfort. Things like dying after your role is "performed" and certain death for most, if not all of the participants makes it a lose-lose situation for anyone crazy enough to take a gamble for the country. Hell, even the "deatached" introduction to the rules is insulting enough to deter the participant, because it speaks as if his life is just worth 25 centavos.

So what now... There is a hashashashin waiting to pwn anyone who fucks up their attempt? Damn, if that's the case, Takizawa's ass is in someone's crosshairs. If it ain't blatantly obvious by now, he's gotta save his country because his flesh's gonna enjoy a nice hot bullet if he doesn't.

I must say that I like the show, but I don't like the game. I think that this selecao game or whatever the fuck it is is a demonstration of collectivism, that philosophy I so despise. Why the fuck would one be crazy enough to "save his country". Why? Does anyone have a stake at his existence? Does he owe anything to anyone? No!, right? and no, there's nothing waiting for he who is "righteous". 10 billion yen is not a reward if one's life depends on how he (and others) blow it.

Believe it or not, the best way for Takizawa is to hunt down the supporter, though no one is certain if there exists only one or one million of them. Nevermind. Playing Chain definitely got to me and clouded my thought process.

Stay tuned.

PS: Now I get the last 2 lines of the OP. It suits the game pretty well. If God won't save Takizawa from the lord of the phones, there's no point wasting his time.