01.22.06
Report on 2006 Jan 22 meeting
For a while I was afraid nobody was going to show up, but then Rob arrived. Michelle was with us for a few shows, and then Jason showed up for about the last ten minutes of the meeting — so, um, small turnout today. I suppose it could have been due to the Broncos game.
Anyway, we watched the regularly-scheduled episodes of Naruto #46, Full Metal Alchemist #30, Panda-Z #29, Hikaru no Go #55, Damekko Doubutsu #8, Bleach #19, and Galaxy Angel III #37-38.
Since so few people were there, I took notes on the episodes, which follow:
2005 Jan 22
Naruto #46: Recap: Naruto wins his fight. Kakashi is impressed with how quickly Naruto heals — the power of the Nine-Tails. Hinata offers her medicine to Kiba and Akamaru; Kiba tells her to worry about herself, and to give up immediately if she’s matched against Gaara or Neji. The next match is announced: Hinata vs Neji. The two face off, and Kakashi explains that they are related by being from the head family and branch family of the Hyuuga clan. Lee explains that old families like Uchiha and Hyuuga have many family-specific techniques with special rules governing how they are passed down, usually to the benefit of the head family. The fight begins, and Neji advises Hinata to give up because she’s not suited to become a ninja; she’s too kind and soft. Hinata denies that she only signed up for the exam because her teammates wanted her to — she wanted to change herself. Neji states that a person cannot change; “A failure is a failure!” Neji continues to berate her, angering Naruto, then activates his bloodline limit, the Byakugan — special vision that allows him to see chakra flows. By watching Hinata’s body language, Neji claims that he can tell that Hinata is remembering past experience and predicting that she will lose to Neji, and therefore fears to engage; she can’t change. Naruto yells, “You can!” Hinata calms herself, and also activates Byakugan, then takes a fighting stance. Lee calls the Hyuuga style the “strongest hand-to-hand style in Konoha.” The two engage. Gai explains that the Hyuuga style targets the opponent’s internal organs and chakra circulatory system, and is therefore very dangerous. Hinata and Neji clash again, and contact is made, but it’s not clear who has the advantage…
FMA #30: Scar leads a number of people through a dump that doubles as a refugee camp. Meanwhile Ed chases the strange child, who fuses with a brick wall to escape. Just then, a strange person accosts Ed, saying “I heard you were a State Alchemist with an interest in human transformation.” Armstrong and another soldier come to the butcher shop looking for Ed, but they get the cold shoulder. Armstrong and the butcher engage in a flexing contest, then shake hands as kindred spirits. The strange person accosting Ed turns out to be a lizardlike chimera who escapes by running up the wall that Ed erects to block his path. Ed and Al catch up with the boy and save him from falling off a roof. The boy asks why his arms and legs differ from Ed’s and Al’s; Ed hesitates to explain his theory. Major Armstrong interrupts by capturing the boy, after the Lt Col spots the sign of the Homonculus on his foot. Ed tells Armstrong about the fox scar on his (original) arm; Armstrong says it’s absurd that the boy would have Ed’s arm and leg. And if they are, will Ed tear them off and claim them for himself? “Don’t be ridiculous,” says Ed. “Then you’re better off not knowing,” replies Armstrong. Meanwhile, a man who saw Scar at the dump makes a telephone report to HQ, and the chimera makes a telephone report to a Homonculus who is talking with Tucker. The Homonculus dispatches some thugs to find Ed and Al. Ed and Al tell their teacher, Izummi, that the boy is not human, but a Homonculus. She replies, “Do you know why a Homonculus is born? Did you think I didn’t know what he was?” She then collapses, spitting blood. It turns out that she’s missing some of her internal organs, and the doctor is astonished that she’s able to live. Ed and Al realize she must have done the same thing they did, in the past. Izumi goes to the headquarters, and rescues the boy, as Sig tells Izumi’s story — she had attempted to revive her own dying baby. As Izumi leaves the HQ with the child, Ed tells her to leave the boy and leave — but just then the Fuhrer arrives, along with the bomb alchemist and lizard chimera. There is a four-way — no, five-way — standoff. Back at Central City, the Fuhrer(!) tells Mustang where Scar is, and he goes to capture him.
Panda-Z #29: A quiet duel conclusion!
Hikaru no Go #55: Touya Mejin and Sai finally meet, via the Internet. Akira goes to a study session, remembering the day ten days prior when his father collapsed, which prevented him from playing Hikaru; he resolves to study Hikaru’s other pro matches to measure Hikaru’s current strength. Hikaru goes to the Internet cafe for the match, wondering if Touya Mejin were serious about retiring if he lost to Sai. The game begins, with the Meijin playing black. Waya and others begin to notice the match online, disbelieving at first. The Meijin wonders who Sai is — clearly no amateur, yet not reminiscent of any pro. The match progresses, at first peacefully, but then Sai attacks. The Meijin responds at first as Sai wanted, but then turns the tables, nullifying Sai’s attack. Akira learns that his father is playing Sai, and remembers his own final game against Sai…
Damekko Doubutsu #8: The talented youngster and the family of catgirls.
Bleach #19: Rukia is sentenced to die in 25 days. Meanwhile, Ichigo has three days to recover his shinigami powers and escape from the Shattered Shaft, as part of his training. Yoruichi attempts to train Sado and Inoue as well, with mixed results. Back in the shaft, it’s been about 70 hours for Ichigo, and his chain erodes; a Hollow’s mask begins to form on his face. Within Ichigo’s mind, he finds himself on the face of a building, facing a dark spirit. “Who are you?” Ichigo asks. “What do you mean, it’s me,” says the spirit, but Ichigo can’t understand his name. Ichigo falls, and the spirit explains that the Death God powers destroyed by Kuchiki Byakuya were only those borrowed from Rukia — not Ichigo’s own. Now is the time for Ichigo to find his own Death God powers, which were awakened by Rukia’s, before the world crumbles and Ichigo becomes a Hollow. Ichigo remembers something Ishida said about Death Gods’ spirit threads being red, and uses that to find his own. Within the box, he finds the hilt of a Soul Slayer. “Well done,” says the spirit. “Pull me out!” Back in the ‘real’ world, Tessai binds Ichigo, who appears to be turning into a Hollow. There is a huge blaze, and Ichigo appears wearing Death God clothes and a Hollow’s mask. Ichigo takes the hilt of his Soul Slayer and breaks the mask, revealing his own face. Usahara then takes Ichigo to Lesson Three — all Ichigo needs to do is knock of Usahara’s hat. Which may not be as simple as it looks…
Galaxy Angel S3 #37: Vanilla gets… a love letter?! #38: Ranpha vs pirates. And space fish.