Saiunkoku Monogatari – 17
[Opening Song: “Hajimari no Kaze” by Hirahara Ayaka]
[Summary: “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie”]
Shuurei was put in a very difficult position and is now held by Kochou as a prisoner along with Eigetsu at Kougarou. A person behind the curtains has been pulling strings because they want to kick Shuurei out of Court, Eigetsu from his position, and to get rid of Kou Reishin once and for all.
Reishin is confined at the Imperial Palace on suspicion of impropriety regarding Shuurei passing the National Exam. Due to this and Shuurei’s confinement, this person has angered the Kou family as well as Shuurei’s friends and supporters.
Will Shuurei be able to prove to the Court, as well as the country of Saiunkoku, that she is capable of being an official despite that she’s a woman? Or will this man bring down the dream that she has achieved after so long?
[Ending Song: “Saikou no Kataomoi” by Tainaka Sachi]
[The Kuroneko’s Thoughts]
UWAHHH! What an exciting episode! So many changes are made and to think the Kou clan has so much power!! *-* And Shuurei is so strong! I envy her strength to be able to deal with all of this stuff. If I was in her place, I would’ve started crying a long time ago. xD
Saiunkoku Monogatari Episode 16
According to Ryuuki, Shuurei and Eigetsu are in danger due to their special circumstances, Shuurei being the first female government official and Eigetsu being the youngest to pass the examination. Because of this, Ryuuki has been posing as a guard and tailing them around as the two perform menial duties. However, that’s the most he, or anyone else for that matter, can do for these two presented scholars.
I loved the fact that the animators made those despicable government officials’ character designs to be horrible. It definitely worked well, after all, it made me cringe and laugh at their ridiculous faces at the same time. I did find the fact that Ryuuki had the time to follow Shuurei around the grounds as a guard to be weird. Isn’t he the emperor? Does he really have that much leisure time on his hands?
~Empress
Code Geass Episode 3
Having gotten into the headquarters of Prince Clovis’s base, Lelouch meets his older brother. Lelouch questions his brother Clovis about the death of his mother. Finding him useless, Lelouch kills Prince Clovis. Strangely, the death of Clovis is kept silent the next day. And someone from school looks awfully familiar to Lelouch.
It’s really amazing how emotions can be shown. One doesn’t realize that simple facial differences (movements, positions, etc) can give a person a complete different attitude or persona in the case of this anime –that’s the nice thing about anime I guess, no bad acting, just bad writing. Karen, wow…she’s the stereotypical, in-your-face kind of person, but yet she does not annoy me. In other words, she’s a good character, even if stereotypical. Though…I think I’m saying that because I really like her character design, heh.
~Empress
Code Geass Episode 2
After witnessing the deaths of many people, Lelouch has received a mysterious power from an unknown girl. With the power of the Geass, he can control people to do as he wishes. Lelouch gains control of a Knightmare, thanks to the Geass, and starts to wreak havoc with the troops of Prince Clovis as revenge.
The mecha action! I have to say, I’m not a particular fan of the mecha genre. But boy am I gobbling this stuff up thanks to Code Geass. I mean, from what I’ve seen of other mecha shows, the robot designs aren’t anything different. It’s just…somehow cooler in this show. But then again, I don’t think I’ve ever watched a mecha show from beginning to end. So I’m not the best source when it comes to this.
~Empress
Saiunkoku Monogatari Episode 15
[Summary: “The Child Doesn't Know the Parent's Heart”]
Tou Eigetsu and Kou Shuurei were forced to manual labor after passing as the top three of their examinations. Of course, there are people in the shadows who are unsatisfied with this arrangement (like Kou Reishin, Shuurei’s uncle.) However, there was nothing that could be done.
Kouyuu, the directionally-challenged young man, was adopted by Kou Reishin into the Kou family. But even he, who passed the examinations as the Jougen (the one who placed first on the exams) at age sixteen, has troubles that plagues him.
Shuurei and Eigetsu have their problems in the palace and Kouyuu has his own inner problems to deal with.
Will Kouyuu be able to find the help that may ease his mind? And will Shuurei and Eigetsu prove to the council that they are more than qualified to be a part of Saiunkoku’s government?
[The Kuroneko’s Thoughts]
This episode was so heart-warming! :3 And I begin to like Kouyuu more and more in this episode too. He’s so cute when he’s frustrated. Seeing him drunk is something new too! haha~ Shouka is a wonderful father figure but so is Reishin…in his own reserved, twisted way. Aaah…who knew parents were so complicating? ^^
Saiunkoku Monogatari 14
-Preseverence Wins Out in the End-
“All we can do is wait for that girl to claw her way up here.”
Shuurei and Eigetsu have passed the imperial exams, in the top 3 places no less. But instead of praise, these two receive spite from everyone else for seeming “unqualified” to even be a part of the imperial court. Shurrei and Eigetsu must endure the hardships and rumors set upon them by others as they claw their way to the top. The first jobs they are assigned to as two of the top three scorers on the exam…are cleaning the lavatories, polishing shoes, and sorting out papers! This work is set forth on them by Official Ro who seems to be gunning for them like everyone else, or could there be other reasons for his unreasonable work assignments?
~Miso’s Thoughts~
I enjoy this episode because it is pretty much the start of the new story line, their attempt to rise to the top of the court. One of the scenes I liked was near the middle when Ryuuki is dressed as guard, great seeing him dressed up like Seiran. Hmmm poor Shuurei having to go through so many people treating her differently, but it’s all for a reas…….oops I think I’ve said too much, getting a few episodes ahead gomen ^.^
Code Geass Episode 1
The Empire of Britannia has invaded Japan. Lelouch, a young Britannian in Japan at the time of the invasion, promised to his Japanese friend Suzaku that he would crush the empire. Now a high school student, Lelouch is out gambling as always with his pal Leval. However, on their way back to school, the two Britannian students witness a truck running into a wall. Lelouch goes to the truck and checks it out, accidentally getting himself locked in the trailer. It turns out that Lelouch has gotten himself involved with a terrorist activity.
May I say that one of the things that drew me to this show was the fact that CLAMP drew the character designs? And of course the character designs were superb. Though Suzaku seems like an exact clone of Syaoran from Tsubasa Chronicle. I must declare this though. I am infatuated with Lelouch. The opening was great. It wasn’t too introductory nor was it too fast paced. It was just right and it definitely got ME hooked. (And that’s a pretty big thing to say. I normally have to force myself through the first few episodes of any anime series because they’re normally aren’t that good. Though there are the exceptions, including Shonen Onmyouji.)
~Empress
Saiunkoku Monogatari Episode 13
[Summary: “An Unexpected Surprise”]
Shuurei and the others were being chased by the Seikintou and they fled to the #1 brothel of the red-light district — Kougarou and here, another adventure begins!
Eigetsu had gotten into some trouble the night before but it seems that the Seikintou had stolen his official wood token, that enables him to take the Kaishi exam. It seems that the Seikintou has been stealing other wooden tokens from people and collecting them!
Shuurei’s childhood friend, Santa, seems to be one of the Seikintou and had confessed that the Seikintou was going to move to Kougarou to reign. However, Kochou, the head madam of the #1 brothel, was one of the gang leaders that controls the underground from the shadows.
The battle between the government and the Seikintou begins! Shuurei is captured by Seikintou’s leader–is there anyone there who can help her?! Or will she meet her end? And who is this mysterious Yougetsu?!
[The Kuroneko’s Thoughts]
Who on earth would name their kid “Santa”?!?!? Other than that, this was a definitely an episode worth watching! It’s filled with action and a little lesson for all girls out there! Even a small lesson for the men too~ All of the characters in this series are absolutely lovable. ^^
Saiunkoku Monogatari Episode 12
Having past the aptitude test, Shuurei is happy and is still working as hard as ever. During her spare time, Shuurei has always gone to the pleasure district to do some accountant in order to earn some extra cash. Now that she’s about to become an government official, she must now tie loose ends and saw her goodbyes. However, things don’t exactly go smoothly for her as a few culprits start stirring some mischief in the pleasure district.
We finally get to meet that green-haired kid who’s in the OP animation in this episode! I like his character design. It reflects his personality very well. As for the whole pleasure district and whatnot, apparently it’s tasteful prostitution — if that’s even possible, heh. In one of the scenes, we see some of Shuurei’s father’s assassination skills be put into work. I find it sad that we don’t get to see it more. In a way, it’s logical that we don’t see it (him being all nice and philosophical), but then again, how does he keep up the skills if he doesn’t practice it?
~Empress
Saiunkoku Monogatari – 11
[Summary: “Lovesickness Has No Cure”]
After jumping into the river in the middle of winter, Shuurei catches a cold and is currently being taken care of by Seiran. Shuurei’s father hears of her illness and rushes back home from the archives to look after her. Ran and Kouyuu visits Shuurei but when they offered to help out, they were reduced to cleaning whilst Seiran did the cooking. Chamberlain Kou and Reishin (Shuurei’s uncle) also decided to visit her and bring her flowers and medicine.
The father of the boy who was the cause of Shuurei’s falling in the river drops by and mentions that his son was now missing. Ran, Kouyuu, and Seiran goes out to find the little boy.Back at the mansion, Ryuuki goes to visit Shuurei.
Will something happen to them? Will we learn more about Shuurei’s mother? Watch this episode!
[The Kuroneko’s Thoughts]
This episode started out beautifully and really funny, but at the end, things began to become more sorrowful. Shuurei is really loved by many of her friends and her family–AND HER FANS! YAYYYYY! Finally, a female character that’s not totally hatable! ^^
