Claymore Forum

I'd say you need to get your mind of the gutter, but... the association's unavoidable.

Perhaps it was only a matter of time because they broke out the tentacles. Maybe we should’ve put money on whether they’d show up before the bagpipes.

Alright, if we’re talking bets, I’m starting to feel like this thing was created out of some gentlemen’s wager to take a hentai or some awful OAV from the 90s and actually fashion something good out of it. Like, they’d have to work within all the trappings and tropes of schlock to somehow fashion something legitimate. Seriously… the monster in this episode is powered by his ferocious male sex drive (guess “Yoki” is just code for libido.) He tears these girls up by impaling them with his tongue and/or fleshy tendrils, and then wiggling those things up around inside them. That’s, like… well... it's like a coarse pube or two away from the Overfiend.

Man, watching this is such a head trip. It has all these elements that are supposed to suck and insult your intelligence, yet it somehow makes them thrilling and, hell, even intelligent. It’s like eating a deep fried Twinkie that’s inexplicably packed with protein, omega-3 and Vitamin K.

If this were a fighting game, I figure Clare’s would be one of those “lower tier” fighters who has pitiful attacks, but an arsenal of deadly counters that only the real hardcore gamers can master. The flashback went on for so long that I totally forgot about her extra-powerful “Yoki sense” and her ability to cloak her own Yoki from others. I’m not 100% sure how it works that she’s able to dodge all the Awakened Being’s attacks (because he’s pure Yoki?) so I’m just going to go with my own explanation that she’s parrying him, over and over. Maybe she's even building up her super bar.

And, again, I sure wish they’d have more to differentiate these ladies aside from their hairdos and vaguely-distinguishable symbols. I was starting to get into “Wait - - didn’t she just die?” territory at times.

Watch this episode "Those Who Rend Asunder (Part 2)" below, decide for yourself and then read my comments on the previous episode here.

Tom Pinchuk’s the writer of HYBRID BASTARDS! & UNIMAGINABLE. Order them on Amazon here & here. Follow him on Twitter: @tompinchuk

@metalsnakezero said:

Clare has the ability to sense yoki energy from her enemies and the more energy they use, the easier it is to sense it. From there, she can predict their movements. She isn't able to do this all the time but when she is completely calm.

Let's just call it "parrying."

@sotyfan16 said:

The indistinguishability of the Claymores is just one thing that comes with 1) the traits of a Claymore once they have taken in a Yoma and 2) the fact that they are part of the Organization and everyone is supposed to dress the same. The Claymores may have different powers and personalities but they aren't very independent so they never think of changing their look. You are only beginning to see the powers the Claymore have to offer.

Well, that's the in-story explanation. I do think the show might've benefit from an out-of-story reasoning to make the girls look different. Green Lantern, the Jedi Order and Bleach's shinigami handle differentiating-in-uniform better.

@Lurkero said:

Based on your reviews, Tom, I get the sense that you are enjoying this series.

Ha... just maybe?

Claire's special abilities are very cool. When they were revealed I first wondered why her ranking was so low if she could do that, but then I realized there was now the potential for some great tension filled moments later in the series.

Yeah, this series understand that you need to make your lead an underdog. It's something a lot of anime seems to forget.

@zaldar said:

I found this show from the few I watched (up to about episode 6 I believe) to be fun and entertaining but I would never have called it intelligent.

There's intelligence in execution. It doesn't have to be complex for that.

@eldiax said:

" deep friend Twinkie " Hilarious misspell!

Got me!