Shion no Ou ep 02 – trying to make a boring concept interesting…

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But it’s a failure so far in my view.

I honestly don’t see why anyone would be obsessed with chess. It’s a geek’s intellectual exercise that doesn’t interest most people in the world. When I was in Japan, I didn’t see rabid fans talking about chess with loud voices nor did I see much news about it. No legions of fans following chess religiously and no fiery discussion about it. It certainly makes an interesting and fresh concept, but the execution so far falls into your typical “battle against opponent while dealing with issues” pattern.

I’m thinking this has to be one of the easiest jobs that Kawasumi Ayako got – because she virtually didn’t have voice act at all. I mean, if she had to make noises then she have acted, but in most scenes her character Shion made no noises whatsoever. Not a peep.

I know Japanese takes competition seriously, but chess?

“If you win I’ll kill you.” Yeah right. I can’t believe there are chess crazed fans out there who would kill. Yeah the plot is simple – that guy killed Shion’s parents and tells her not to talk at all, so she doesn’t have to be distracted by language, right? So she can focus on developing her skills, right?

Absurd. Completely absurd.

I hated chess and I was never a chess club nerd anyway. There are nerds (I was), and there are Kings of Nerds. Belonging to the chess club makes a person a king of nerds (I suppose being the club president of the chess club would make one the “emperor” of nerds). I’ll watch more until I get really sick and tired of it but I doubt I’ll be writing more reviews. Mike may like it better and if he does, he can write a review for it.

65% (I take 15 points off for Ayako-chan’s non acting and 2 points off for my dislike of chess) recommended for your daily anime diet. I wonder if the Japanese Shogi Association commissioned someone to draw the mange and then make the anime for this?

Author: Ray

I'm a hardcore Anime Fan and I'm proud of it. I know so many things and I've acquired so much knowledge you wouldn't believe. But my love is anime. I've been drifting in this world for so long that I don't even know what an anchor means. I've seen so many shows that I've lost count. The only thing I'm sure of myself is that I care for the lowly and disenfranchised. I hate the rich and powerful and I love what I do, or what I can do. I like anime and I don't mind watching different types of shows. I have experience in different types of Japanese animation. I would be called an "expert" in a bizzaro world. One day, I'd like to start a revolution. I love the US, pizza, beer, sashimi, Chinese food, and steak. But I love freshly baked bread more than a well-aged steak. In reality, if I were born Japanese I'd be a real, hardcore Otaku. I love to love and I can hate strongly. I'm passionate in nature and I don't mind shedding tears. I can be reached at rayyhum777 at animediet. My Twitter is rayyhum777 at twitter.

2 thoughts on “Shion no Ou ep 02 – trying to make a boring concept interesting…

  1. Yeah, I agree. Shogi is boring. The show would have been so much better if it was about real chess.

    Who is your roommate Mirrinus? Does he play Shogi or real chess? Does he have a rating?

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