Guess this is what you lunatics would call “filler.” I’ve always found it amusing how that term’s so regular in the Otaku parlance. There are slowly-paced episodes that go on tangents, sure, but I guess it takes on a different dimension when the crew’s bound to fill up 26 episodes regardless of how much story they have to tell. It’s not like these all can be wall-to-wall fighting and this one wasn’t especially bad (that one awful episode of TRIGUN with the mutant family will always keep things in perspective for me,) but it’s definitely one of the lesser episodes.
My main objection is the amount of time that’s lavished (or wasted?) on the captain who’s hitting the Yoma juice too hard. For one, I’ve got the strong sense that she’s going to bite it fast enough that this whole sub-plot’s going to feel like - - you guessed it - - filler. More importantly, I had no idea who the short-haired Claymore giving her the pep talk was, meaning an excessive amount of screen time was devoted to some characters whom I had no proper introduction to.
And that really harps on the whole lingering hairstyle/identification problem.
On the plus side, it’s actually a rather brilliant stroke to make these Northern villains such charming and gracious hosts. There’s definitely something fishy going on. If these characters are master-level Yoma, then perhaps they’ve mastered the art of deception. It’s going to be harder for Raki to hate them after this, even as they’re plotting to wipe out Pieta. I’d wonder why these rat bastards are extending such courtesy to the kid, but I’m picking up on an intriguing dynamic between Priscilla and the king (that’s who he is, right?) It’s almost like she’s his favorite daughter and he’s humoring her whims like a big softee dad; sparing this little punk and teaching him swordplay just because she’s taken a shine to him. Which maybe raises the bigger question - - how can a big crybaby like Raki be so irresistible to the ladies?
Watch this episode "The Carnage in the North (Part 3)" 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
Like yllekkram said, everything is cleared up............ in the manga.
Actually, I take that back, the worse filler is the stuff that's in the manga but still feels like filler.
That's because the last 2 episodes were made before there was enough manga material. There's enough source material now that there could at least be a second season. I'd really like one. It would be better than this season.
Isn't the whole point of a second season for people to have already watched the first? Obviously the anime and manga don't match up but it would be a waste of time and money to got back and fix the entire war. Hell, I wouldn't even fix/replace the last 2 eps. The ending can be salvaged since there is a time skip (If I remember correctly, the anime ended fine enough character-wise that few changes would be needed.).
That is correct, it was Deneve, dunno why Tom missed that, she has been one of the more prominently featured Claymore in the series, and since she was 2nd in command of Undine's team it made sense for them to have that discussion
@sotyfan16 said:
They could very well simply go the route of FMA: Brotherhood and produce a second series that adheres closer to the source material. But they're going to need more than your standard 26 episode bloc to pull it off properly given the current length of the manga. Even Brotherhood suffered from rushed plot pacing in its earlier episodes, making incredibly emotional moments from the original series like Hugh's death feel far less impactful.