Meeting Date: 6/3/2017
Disclaimer: The Herald Anime Club discusses shows as they’re airing. Naturally, there will be spoilers for a given episode. You have been warned!
Mike Ferreira: Good evening everyone, and welcome to the Herald Anime Club. I’m Mike Ferreira, and this week’s panel features Anthony Simpson and L.B. Bryant.
Anthony Simpson: evening
L.B. Bryant: Hello!
Mike Ferreira: Tonight, we’ll be discussing The Royal Tutor’s ninth episode: “They’re LIBEL to talk this one out.”
L.B. Bryant: So let me open up this chat by exclaiming; two Kai episodes in a row?! This series sure knows which side its bread is buttered on.
Mike Ferreira: The good boys?
Anthony Simpson: The “Alternative Facts” were out in force this episode.
Mike Ferreira: Definitely. Though we did learn that guns are a thing in this world where your royal guards carry fucking spears everywhere
L.B. Bryant: There were lots of fun things about this episode though it’s a shame that most of them took place in the final act.
L.B. Bryant: Not that I didn’t enjoy the first half of the episode but the best bits were towards the end IMO
Mike Ferreira: Indeed. You kind of knew that stuff was going to hit the fan once we faded to the commercial break.
L.B. Bryant: Agreed.
Anthony Simpson: We also got some hints that Heine saw some shit back in the day.
L.B. Bryant: Heine was a mother f’in BAD ASS in this episode
Mike Ferreira: Well, when he wasn’t being patronized to
Anthony Simpson: Poor Heine being confused as a child again.
L.B. Bryant: hehe, it was fun to watch him get repeatedly indignant about that
Mike Ferreira: Especially when our antagonist was trying to give him toys or let him play outside
Anthony Simpson: So I wanna bring the episode back to Kai. So we learned Kai beat the shit out of someone from beating Bruno. Moral of the story is don’t beat up anyone Kai cares about.
Mike Ferreira: Definitely. He’s some sort of Believable Hulk
L.B. Bryant: Or just don’t piss off Kai in general
Mike Ferreira: Also, don’t piss off Heine. He will end you
L.B. Bryant: I always suspected that Kai had that kind of inner rage inside of him.
L.B. Bryant: Heine fighting off the bad guys was awesome. That was some serious Yoda vs. the Sith shit right there
Mike Ferreira: Indeed. The humiliating ending was just the icing on the cake
L.B. Bryant: I admit, I giggled at that quite hard.
Mike Ferreira: Same. All the little paper stars and flags fluttering about while the guy sits shellshocked – it’s a tremendous visual
Anthony Simpson: Hence what I mentioned about Heine seeing some shit in his youth. We got a brief glimpse with him and the King in their earlier days, so we got a hint that Heine has at least been involved in combat.
Mike Ferreira: True that.
Mike Ferreira: I wonder if this has to do with that *other* article Viktor mentioned?
Anthony Simpson: That part with the gun was a great sight gag.
L.B. Bryant: I did find it interesting that the other article was brought up and then forgotten about within a matter of seconds.
Anthony Simpson: Yea, so this episode brought up Kai’s past but also is starting to hint at Heine’s past.
L.B. Bryant: Makes me wonder how quickly we’re going to see that come back into play.
Anthony Simpson: Probably next episode.
Mike Ferreira: That’s what I”m thinking
Mike Ferreira: We’re down to Act 3
Mike Ferreira: Shit’s gonna hit the fan and fast
Anthony Simpson: Of course, Kai beating someone up and getting suspended explains why the royal family has a tutor for the boys.
L.B. Bryant: That’s true. I think I’ve pretty much given up hope of this series being a multi cour series
Mike Ferreira: Yeah… the pacing just doesn’t service a multi-cour
L.B. Bryant: Which is sad.
Mike Ferreira: It’s not like, say, Snow White with the Red Hair or Sakura Quest, where you can see them planning for the distance run from a mile away
Mike Ferreira: The next three episodes will be frickin’ intense. Mark my words.
Anthony Simpson: They better be or I’m going to be sad.
Mike Ferreira: How can they not? Rosenberg knows shit, and it’s coming to light… Viktor’s going to find out for sure.
Mike Ferreira: Side note: …am I the only one who finds it odd that, in a show set in an allegoric Germany, our biggest bad guy so far is a frickin’ Jewish dude?
L.B. Bryant: I hadn’t put too much thought into that.
Mike Ferreira: It’s been nagging me for a bit now. Like… it’s a little odd
Anthony Simpson: Well it wouldn’t be the first time anime made some less than stellar portrayals to those of Jewish decent.
Mike Ferreira: Indeed. Angel Cop, anyone?
Anthony Simpson: Oh Angel Cop where they changed the subs so it said Americans were they clearly didn’t say that.
Mike Ferreira: The one and the same! “If this is justice then I’m a banana.” That Angel Cop
L.B. Bryant: So getting us back on topic; did anyone else laugh as hard as I did at the hostages making funny faces in their ransom photos?
Anthony Simpson: I loved that, it was great.
Mike Ferreira: That was adorable
Mike Ferreira: And Maximillian was just SO HAPPY to be there
L.B. Bryant: lol Indeed. That and Heine kicking ass were my top two moments of the episode.
Mike Ferreira: Honestly, the stellar B-half more than makes up for the slightly draggy intro. (Side note: Poor Ludwig – knocked out, and made this miraculous escape that we never saw)
L.B. Bryant: Yeah, that’s what I was saying earlier with the best moments of the episode being in the latter half. And yeah, that poor guard was super amped up to finally be useful and comes back to discover that nope, he missed the window.
Mike Ferreira: Indeed. Not just missed the window, he missed literally everything.
Mike Ferreira: I’m genuinely curious to see how the last few episodes unfold at this point. There’s a lot to work with.
L.B. Bryant: I’m actually a little worried that they have too much to work with and won’t be able to tie things up neatly.
Anthony Simpson: I’m curious as well.
Mike Ferreira: We have just over 75 minutes – it’ll be tough to pull off, but not impossible.
Mike Ferreira: I’ll be a bit more confident next week, but it seems to be running at a good clip so far.
Anthony Simpson: I’m hoping we don’t end up with a “read the manga” ending.
L.B. Bryant: I hope so as well.
Mike Ferreira: That’d just be a wet gob of spit to the eye if they copped out
Anthony Simpson: Its either going to be that or an original ending since the manga is still ongoing.
Mike Ferreira: Oh definitely.
Mike Ferreira: Unless we get a surprise confirmation of season 2 (Please?), we’re going to get some form of compromise
L.B. Bryant: This is true.
Mike Ferreira: So, any final words on this week’s episode?
L.B. Bryant: I have no idea where we’re headed in the final episodes but I’m certainly excited to find out.
Anthony Simpson: We are nearing the home stretch of the series so the last three episodes are good.
Mike Ferreira: Indeed. Here’s hoping.
Mike Ferreira: Anyway, have a great night, everybody!
L.B. Bryant: Night all!
Anthony Simpson: good night.
