Saiunkoku Monogatari is good stuff, and I’m glad I took the time to watch it. Given the show’s volume, there’s so much I could write, but I think it’s better to just say, “I enjoyed it,” and leave it at that. Of course, I’ve yet to dive into the second season, and given that it’s stuck in fansub limbo (due to the licensing, I suppose), I’ll probably hold off for awhile. Whether or not I’ll buy the DVDs, I can’t say. The show is too fresh on my mind to determine whether it’s worth rewatching or not. However, my desire to continue will probably be enough incentive to shell out the money.
I should have thought about this ahead of time, you know.
And, to make matters worse, all of the pseudo-Chinese court politics in the show got me reminiscing about playing the Romance of the Three Kingdoms video games when growing up. So much, in fact, that I’m considering picking up a Playstation 2 in the future just so I can play the most recent game from the franchise. Well, that and other games. Unlike most anime fans, I’ve never been much of a gamer, but I do have a weak spot for old fashioned strategy games and RPGs. I’ve been thinking for awhile now that I’ve been missing out.
Isn’t it great? I have a hard time explaining its appeal to myself, but it’s a very enjoyable show. But Jeff, really – could you have found a less flattering screenshot of Shuurei? I doubt it –
I absolutely love SaiMono- it turned out to be so much more than I first expected, and season two is shaping up nicely (although there is the worry about it catching up to the novels too soon). I’d even get the DVDs, but getting a 39 episode series in single DVD form is going to be too draining for the bank balance, so I may have to wait for a boxset.
If you like this series, you should take a look at Seirei no Moribito as well. So far it has much less Bishonen, but it looks like another great Fantasy series.
Yes, it is one of the most wonderful shows, and I have been blogging about it since god knows when. Nevertheless, the second season is just as good as the new arc strikes out, and for one word of advice: catch up, catch up!
Here’s a possible Chinese proverb: A man who watches “only two to three hours of new anime a week” doesn’t get through 30+ episodes between June 2 and June 10.
Oh, okay, there was a holiday in there.
I’m still working on the Aria first season, and I started at the end of May.
Saiunkoku Monogatari is on my short list, but because of the constraints of my viewing (one episode a day or so), I suspect I’ll just end up waiting on the DVDs for it.
Oh, and count me in as another who would love to hear your reaction to Zettai Shounen.
I found the heavy-outline art style in that series to be quite striking, and something I’d like to see more of. It was also nice to be introduced to the voice actress Akiko Kobayashi in that series and in Shinigami no Ballad.
That 2-3 hours per week number referred to NEW anime. If I’m rewatching or marathoning something, who knows. Although, the only reason I’ve already finished Saiunkoku Monogatari is because I’m fighting a stomach bug this weekend and spent much of yesterday plowing through the last 10 or so episodes (when I wasn’t curled up in a fetal position, wishing I were dead, that is).
I’ll try to post something about Zettai Shounen soon.
Get well, soon.
And I apologize for teasing you.
SaiMono was one of my top shows last year, and it just keeps getting better and better.
If you’re still unsure about buying the dvds, DeepDiscount is currently offering the first volume (including art box) for only $14. :D
I’ve been watching this for awhile and love it too ^.
“If you’re still unsure about buying the dvds, DeepDiscount is currently offering the first volume (including art box) for only $14.”
>__> Except the quality of the subs are questionable and unreliable. Well, unless it’s changed as of late.
This anime caught my interest back when it started (since I’m a sucker for drama), but I also never got around to watching it. It’s on the queue now.
The first DVD volume doesn’t even come out until the end of August. How would anyone know anything about the quality of the subtitles at this point?
saimono has been my fave show for quite awhile.. couldn’t explain why i love it but it just appeals to me.. (= now still waiting for the 2nd season to be subbed.. still love it but the excitement when ever i see a new subbed episode released has died down abit.. hope to catch up on it soon.. it’s such a great show!
Saiunkoku Monogatari, or the story how one awsome character got Muey to watch 39-episodes laden with Bishounens (not that they’re bad characters per se or anything, but…) :p
Shuurei o/
I’m glad this series is getting some more attention, seems like it went below most people’s radar back when it started. Well, it was relatively low-key to start with, and the sedate pace didn’t really do much good in terms of generating a discussion atmosphere around it, but…
With that being said, it was quality through and through. I’m having trouble describing exactly what made the series so good (except for the fact that most of that goodness stands on Shuurei’s shoulders), but for the sum-it-in-one-word adjective, I’d go with “charming”. Anyone looking for grittyness (even on the 12k level), are searching in the wrong place, but for those who are on the lookout for a lovable coming-of-age adventure(? in politics? haha) -sort of thing, spearheaded by a by strong-healthy-country-girl-with-a-positive outlook-on-life -type protagonist to a pseudo-chinese backdrop, well, here’s your series, don’t miss it ;-).
Also glad the first season didn’t end up on a cliffhanger as I had initially assumed by stumbling over some spoilers, but had a proper conclusion. I’ll probably pick this up on DVD eventually myself, but that’ll have to wait for a brick version in my case (39 episodes + whatever second season brings = $$$$$ at 20 bucks a volume - Sure I like it, but not that much =p)
Lastly, am I the only one who thought Shunki really should have become the Janitor of the house instead of Kokujun? Man, that was such a waste :p
Ps. Eiki is possibly the awsomest character in the series. They sooo should have given Power-Granny way more screentime.