Arum Journal

Oooh boy… making the anime focus entirely on Marie is basically the detriment of this adaptation. I don’t know what she’s like in the game since I only played OG P4. Here, she is a borderline Mary Sue who’s related to the true final boss in the most cliche way possible and she’s a socially awkward amnesiac girl who gets all tsundere at times, especially if her poems are read. She’s socially awkward and blunt, yet she is accepted into the IT friend group and they all love and accept her because everyone else lacks a semblance of a character and free will. Heck, because Yu is tasked to take Marie out of the Velvet Room, all of Marie’s character is only present when Yu is there; without him, she’s barely a character. She’s basically like a fanfiction OC. None of her actions or behavior get consequences and she doesn’t even bother remembering the names of the IT and only calls Yu by his name once her drama is resolved WHICH IS TOWARDS THE END OF THE STORY! Worst of all, she contributes nothing to the murder mystery plot, which gets glossed over because she’s Marie, the star of the show. A part of me wonders if Kana Hanazawa is a reason why the anime pushes Marie’s involvement so hard because she’s a popular seiyuu… Anyways, I do wonder what Marie is like in the game because she can’t be this bad, right?

Aside from Marie, the anime features a lot of the Golden-exclusive events like Yu getting a scooter, going to the beach with his friends and doing a temporary band with the other IT members. However, guess who’s also there in those events? Marie! Aside from her, those events were actually pretty decent to watch. Okay, I do admit that I did like the band portion, especially the duet between Marie and Rise.

The best aspect of P4GA is definitely the Adachi content. In Golden, Adachi becomes a social link, so Yu can form a bond with him in the game and the choices you make once the story becomes serious will affect how that bond with Adachi will go. The anime decides to take it up a notch by showcasing Adachi’s past during his days a lonely student, which was quite impactful because the plot would’ve been so different if he just reached out and formed a bond. It even takes a step further when Yu has a 1 vs 1 Persona battle with him, topped with a new anime-exclusive OST that is an extreme banger. I feel like since Adachi is technically a fan favorite, the additional content only helped him more in terms of characterization while the staff failed to do the same with Marie. Also, if possible, go search for the Accomplice ending OVA. It’s actually very interesting, especially if you know what the Accomplice Ending is—basically a Golden-exclusive bad end that revolves around protecting Adachi. It’s honestly so good.

It sucks that Julia’s going to leave. She was so cool. The ending of the first half of the episode definitely indicates that the possibility between Julia and Nakatsu being a pair has become zero. To be honest. Julia does deserve better. Anyways, it was nice seeing that both Julia and Sano tell Mizuki about how she’s blessed to have good people around her. I’m glad that there was closure in Julia’s big concerns about Mizuki. She’s safe knowing that Sano knows her secret and that he’s protecting her in secret.

The second half of the episode focuses on the photo that was taken of Nanba, Sano and Nakatsu back in Hokkaido. Apparently, someone uploaded the picture and because of that, a bunch of girls have been crowding around Osaka Academy, disrupting the peace of the school and even getting scolded by one of their teachers, Kitahama. It’s also because of this picture that Akiha Hara, a famous photographer, is seeking them out for modeling; he’s an unusual case where he picks his models for his photoshoots. Akiha also seems to have some sort of past relations with Umeda to the point that the resident man-killer is sweating bullets and panicking when his name is mentioned by Mizuki. I wonder if he’s his ex-boyfriend or something? The preview for next week’s episode even has Akiha embracing a reluctant Umeda.

Though, it does suck that the Sano family issues haven’t been completely resolved, but I guess they’re saving it for later since the Sano family lives in Hokkaido, so there can't be complete closure yet due to the distance and circumstances. However, I’m always glad that Mizuki is always reassuring Sano about Shin’s behavior. I think the way she says that Shin loves his brother a lot is honestly sweet. I can see why Sano fell for her hard; she has a way with words that really assures truth and honesty.

I have some interesting trivia about Akiha’s voice actor. He’s voiced by Showtaro Morikubo, who’s known for voicing characters like Shikamaru in Naruto, Yosuke Hanamura in Persona 4 and Bartolomeo in One Piece. Morikubo had voiced Nakatsu in the Hana-Kimi drama CD that was released back in 2000, making him the second drama CD VA to come back for the anime; the first is Koyasu who reprised his role as Himejima for the anime. Kitahama is voiced by Reigo Yamaguchi who mostly voiced supporting characters in various anime.

It’s obvious that both the Kitahama stuff and the Akiha stuff will both be the focus of this new arc and it does make me wonder how it’ll play out. I wonder if this season has 12 or 13 episodes, because I feel like since each arc ends in about three episodes, I do wonder about the final arc of the season and how many more seasons there will be because there are rumors about three seasons. Let me know what you think!

To be honest, I do like that Navi and Ult have this brother-sister dynamic going on. It’s a realistic depiction of a brother who is forced to babysit his sister; I would know because I also have an older brother and seeing them felt like seeing a bit of me and him back when we were little kids. I also like that Ult is very hands off and doesn’t spoil Navi or hold her hand when it comes to battling; he just gives her advice and makes her handle her own trouble. It’s very in-character for Ult; I also like that he’s becoming wiser bit by bit, thanks to Lacie and her guidance, when he told Navi about Raticate’s teeth. Both do gain a respect for each other by the end when Navi learns that Ult’s job on the airship is to feed the Pokemon after assuming he was lazy and doesn’t do anything earlier.

I do wonder if Navi is directionally challenged because the first time she goes off by herself, she gets lost. While she can do errands on her own like getting coffee beans from a coffee truck, she was usually accompanied by someone else when doing patrols with Emma, Would this be a recurring thing in the future? Other than that, it was nice seeing Navi wanting to be of help to the crew. She may be young, but she definitely has a good head on her shoulders if her immediate thought was wanting to find something to do on the airship.

Navi’s first battle between her and the wild Raticate could have been better, but it was still a decent debut battle. I do wonder if Ditto’s tendency to transform into a smaller version of a Pokemon will be an issue later on because it didn’t really help Ditto in battle; the only way they won was because it turned into a rock. Hopefully, they’ll work on this supposed issue in the future.

Other than that, this was a cute episode in general. The nature of it being an errand episode reminds me of past ones like the Chespin and Bunnelby one from XY and the Grookey and Eevee one from Journeys, but focus more on the humans. I do wonder how the dynamic between these two will shift going forth. Will they still banter or will they stop? Let me know your thoughts!

While the CG for the battle was a little stiff, I still enjoyed the whole segment, especially the part where Yuri jumps onto the black horse named Aslan and rides into the battlefield, giving the Hittites the advantage. It might have been a total fluke, but at least it’s showcasing that Yuri definitely has some potential if she’s able to stop feeling guilty and start thinking about getting stronger and surviving. Though, I do think the budget for the anime all went to the horse. That is a majestic stallion.

Anyways, Hadi, the eldest sister, is voiced by Shiki Aoki, who is a rare nonbinary in the Japanese voice acting industry. They voice characters like young Naoshi Usui in My Happy Marriage and Homura Kogetsu in Edens Zero. Shala, the twin sister wearing mostly blue, is voiced by Misato Matsuoka who voiced Cure Idol in You and Idol Precure and Asuka Inoue in Tamon’s B-Side. Ryui, the green sister, is voiced by Natsumi Kawaida, who voiced Akine Atagawa in The Ramparts of Ice.

At this point, there needs to be a list of people who wants Yuri dead and those who don’t. The latter list is definitely shorter than the former. Seriously, Yuri cannot catch a break. I just hope the man with the axe is friendly because she needs more allies than enemies at this point… Let me know your thoughts on this episode!

Mimi revealing her secret to Sheen has caught the attention of Omi and Fran. The latter tells Sheena deeper intel about the secret, but it also feels like a warning in a way. Mimi has been around for a long time, so she’s much older than she appears. She’s also someone who has resurrected via resurrection magic, and because one has to trade their life for resurrection, her mother was the casualty. It does make me wonder if Mimi was strong before or after the resurrection and how her mother stumbled across it. In a way, Mimi’s life is incredibly sad. Her entire purpose is just to fight. Yes, she’s protecting the kids at the school to prevent less deaths, but she’s been doing it for a long time and continues to do so. She doesn’t seem to have any desire to rebel or show any vulnerability towards the heavy burdens placed upon her. Because of this, she does feel like a puppet at times.

The way the forbidden magic is mentioned does make me wonder if someone is going to use it in the future. Where I am in the manga, nothing has happened yet, but there’s always a sense of dread looming each chapter. There are hints that either Ari or Seiran might use it due to their conversation, but who knows.

I liked seeing a more vulnerable side of Omi in this episode. She’s a stoic teacher, but underneath, she has it the hardest since one of her students had died recently and she had to get a new one before she and her students could process it. Also, am I the only one who sort of ships Fran and Omi together? Anyways, there are also a small faction of faculty that wear hoods and also discuss about the war and Mimi. I assume they are all teachers since Omi and Fran were there?

The moments between Sheena and Mimi were honestly cute. They bring about a quiet gentleness that is like a barrier to shield them from the harsh reality of the war-torn world. However, I do wonder if there will be a day where Sheena goes to the battlefield to protect Mimi. It’s highly unlikely, but this is doomed yuri central… Let me know your thoughts on this episode!

Isn’t it crazy how these four episodes easily surpasses the GIFT arc? While the GIFT arc is the weakest arc, in my opinion, there were still episodes I liked from said arc. However, this Kyo arc really dives into the heavier stakes that Beatbreak was known for and the theme of second chances very well. I’m also glad that Kyo is the first character to make his partner evolve into Mega legitimately; Klay’s Mega evolution of his partner was unstable and not through the same method. I loved the transformation sequence, especially the part where Murasamemon’s arms start increasing as he evolves. It’s so satisfying to see Habakirimon make his anime debut after being teased from the TCG. After this, I could see a few more characters getting Mega. The answer to Atratusmon has yet to be answered and we know Bearcatmon and Scourgechiropmon aren’t getting an upgrade.

I feel so validated knowing that Kyo bypassed all of the ridiculous death theories that people have been concocting. I was one of the few who knew he was never going to die because of two important factors: his connection with Asuka and that killing him off means the writers will be forced to give Reina and Makoto more screen time and you know they don’t want to do that. Besides, the narrative of Beatbreak never hinted at death flags either; it’s always going to jail to get punished for your crimes rather than having death be a form of salvation. Honestly, I like that because, sometimes, killing a character off feels like wasted potential, especially in a story where human deaths aren’t really common like this one; the only reason people die in this story are through bad people and methods. Redemption is the ultimate form of justice in this story, whether it be through second chances or being defeated after your plans get thwarted. Because of the redemption theme, I do like that Kyo didn’t kill off Souji. It would be easy and predictable to make a bad man like Souji meet his end through death, but making him go to prison yet again is probably a fate worse than death for him. It leaves an open end on whether Souji can get a second chance, even if it’s highly unlikely. 

On the topic of Souji, the fact that he can control more Ultimates aside from his usual three is crazy. Even though Splashmon and Marinedevimon were defeated and reverted back to baby form, Lilamon was still there and him trying to control the kids’ mons meant that he can also control four at the same time. It’s good that the kids know that the bonds between them and their partners are much stronger than mind control, which is why they were able to fight it off since they worked hard to get achieve their Ultimates. There is some backstory on Souji and why he became the way he is; he had an abusive figure in his life who was very violent towards him and messed up his psyche. I do like that it’s only shown briefly as a way to make viewers understand why he is the way he is, but not give him too much sympathy.

Now that Souji is defeated, it does make me wonder what is Kishiwada’s deal. Why did he do all of this? People have been theorizing that Genjo is the story’s final boss, but Kishiwada also feels like a likely candidate; maybe they’re cohorts? Also, is Rose alive, since Lilamon wasn’t deleted or reverted back into her baby form?

Still, this was an excellent episode that showcases that history doesn’t repeat itself and that Kyo doesn’t have to worry about losing anyone again as the kids are strong enough to protect themselves this time around. It did make me shed a few tears due to the emotions. By the way, I still can’t believe Beatbreak is doing well enough to the point that Toei announced a brand new Digimon anime that will air next year instead of taking gap years like they did before. It feels surreal to see Toei prioritizing Digimon again… Though, I do worry about how they’re going to conclude everything for Beatbreak in just two months. Anyways, let me know your thoughts on the episode.

I really like the storytelling in Jaadugar in the sense that everything is honestly seen in a gray matter. Slavery is a terrible concept, but it’s treated in a morally gray way in this story where it’s both bad, but also beneficial. It’s bad to sell people, but people like Sitara and Anis managed to make a good life as slaves in their new homes. The Naimans gave Toregene away for marriage to the Merkets as a form of alliance, which is bad for both Toregene and the treatment of women, but she managed to find a good life as wife to Dayir and a member of their tribe. The Mongols, while are bad as conquerors, still provide their captives a good life where they aren’t restricted and can marry other slaves or have new careers.

I also like that Toregene and the tribes she’s a part of allude to Central Asian culture and customs. Given that Sitara is technically West Asian, it showcases that Mongolians conquered Asia in all directions; though, I don’t know if they conquered the South. I just really like seeing the various types of cultures presented in this story; it shows that the author has done intensive research and also seems to take joy and pride in showcasing their knowledge from brain to paper.

I feel bad for Toregene throughout this episode. She didn’t like her circumstances, but adjusted and when she thought her life was going to be at peace, tragedy hits. The episode perfectly paced all the ups and downs of Toregene’s life without cutting away in the middle. Seriously, her life is just as bad as Sitara’s in a way—that’s why they team up. I feel like Toregene has it worse because she got forcibly married to Ogedei who killed Dayir, who she loved but realized it too late, and even bore his children. Marrying your enemy and bearing his children is certainly a cruel fate for a woman.

The major characters introduced in this episode are all interesting. Dayir is the older man Toregene got married to, but he never once laid his hands on her after marriage but always shows her kindness and is considerate of her feelings; I can see why she’d develop affections for him. I really liked the scene of him dancing and showcasing the phoenix shape of his soul. The concept of kam feels so supernatural. I wonder if Mergens are spiritual people. Khulan and Kultukan are adorable. It sucks that the latter died and the former was married off to Genghis Khan as a sign of truce in a way. The way Khulan said all that after her father’s death makes me wonder if she only said that to not be killed by her enemies. I wonder if she is still alive; if she is, will she also be a part of the revenge?

The casting for this anime continues to be stellar. Dayir is voiced by the one and only Akira Ishida who is known for voicing characters like Akaza in Demon Slayer, Gaara in Naruto and Break in Pandora Hearts. I read somewhere that Japanese commenters understand why Toregene gained affection for him due to his voice being Akira Ishida’s; I find that funny. Khulan is voiced by Inori Minase who voiced Akane Kinoshita in My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv. 999, Jeanne in The Case Study of Vanitas and Rem in Re:Zero. Kultukan is voiced by Shoya Chiba who voiced Taiki Inomata in Blue Box, Nirei in Wind Breaker and Ouri in Tamon’s B-side. Kultukan’s older brother is voiced by Junichi Yanagida who is going to voice Lysander in the upcoming Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave and voiced Mandrin in Unicorn Overlord and Milo in Metaphor: Refantazio.

This episode is really urging me to read books about Mongolian history as well as the history and cultures of the Asian continent. Does anyone have any book recommendations about these topics? I really want to read about them! Let me know your thoughts on the episode as well!

The second half also focuses on corpses, but this time, they’re being controlled by a supernatural person, Kenzo Shibukibara’s powers in which he can make roses bloom from his blood. If someone is stained with his blood, the roses bloom in that location. Though, it’s unknown if they’re fully dead or if the blood roses are controlling them. Too bad that Kenzo got defeated quickly since he does seem like an interesting character but it does seem like the silver-haired guy from the end is the mastermind behind the incident or something. It’s a shame because Kenzo is voiced by Makoto Furukawa, so one would think he’d be important as he shows up in the opening as well…

Anyways, Amaba is a cool character. I like him a lot! He’s very chill. He also seems flaky, but he’s actually a lot more reliable than he appears. I like that he’s very to the point and doesn’t think twice when doing something. His actions in the second half of the episode is noteworthy when he’s not as soft as Iwamoto and that he will cut down anything if necessary. His bantering with Haramachi is cute because they’re both in the same grade, yet are very different. I do wonder what sort of powers he have…

Anyways, this episode is definitely a lot more entertaining than the last. I can’t wait to see what’s the deal with the guy at the end. Let me know your thoughts!

Lara’s journey into finding true love has her going to school to see if she can find her prince. She dons Mari’s uniform but sticks out like a sore thumb. Fortunately, Mari takes her during exam period where there aren’t too many staff loitering around. Though, I do wonder how they’re already taking exams when school starts in April and it’s May. While Mari may not be super helpful on her quest, Yoshiya is as it’s thanks to him that Lara is able to encounter Himeka Maibara who has a crush on her childhood friend Ouji Moriyama and learns about how not all “destined” love is requited.

Himeka and Ouji are childhood friends who were born in the same hospital on the same day and have the same mole on their arm in the exact same location and on the same arm at that. Because of this, their families became close which resulted in them becoming close to the point that people assume they’re dating, but that’s not the case. I honestly like how Himeka’s story ends in heartbreak because a fated encounter like hers doesn’t always end up happy. Her happiness after confessing to Ouji and her hopes of finding a new prince is a good conclusion. It’s a good lesson for Lara and the viewers to let them know that not everything will end up as a happy ending. I hope Himeka shows up again in the future as she seems like a fun character but I don’t think Mari’s going to take her to school anymore…

I do think it’s hilarious how Lara is obsessed with watching romance shows and sobbing over them. I do wonder how she will react when she learns about queer love… Anyways, not only does she have a fondness for love stories, she’s also good at finding fresh seafood at the market and can even buy stuff at the market now! She’s leveling up in the world! I also liked Yoshiya’s character a lot! Yoshiya may be a slacker when it comes to school, but that doesn’t mean his personality is bad. I do like how he tries to help Lara find her prince by going to some of his schoolmates and asking about the most popular guy in school. I said in my review of the previous episode that Yoshiya’s great in that he isn’t creepy and doesn’t take advantage of Lara despite living in the same house as her and he continues proving himself to be great. It does seem like he has a small crush on Lara after she tells him that his convictions are admirable, but I feel like it’s more like he wants to leave a good impression on her, hence why he’s helping out. I would like to learn about him more, honestly. I’d like to see how Kyoko’s death has affected him.

Lisa continues to be suspicious to the point that she has to send her human anglerfish Kota to check up on Lara. I do wonder how Lisa became human since it doesn’t seem like Grace was the one who gave her legs. Does this mean there’s another sea witch out there who’s a bigger threat than Grace? And why does Lisa give off yandere siscon vibes?

Kota is voiced by Kazutomi Yamamoto who voices characters like Yumoto Hakone in Boueibu, Dahlia in Genshin Impact and Min-su in Yona of the Dawn. Himeka is voiced by Riko Kuramaru, who used to be in 22/7 (her original stage name was Mizuha Kuraoka), which is the seiyuu idol group Sally Amaki is in that is also a mixed media project with an anime and such. Ouji is voiced by Eiji Nagamori who mostly voiced supporting characters in a few anime. 

I wonder if each episode going forth will be Lara learning about various kinds of love and eventually falling in love with someone new. It does make me wonder how long it’ll take until Lara falls for Mari and her having the ultimate closure for her unrequited love for the Prince back then because it does seem like she’s still hung up on him. Let me know your thoughts on this episode!