Meeting Date: 6/23/2018
Disclaimer: The Herald Anime Club discusses shows as they’re airing. Naturally, there will be spoilers for a given episode. You have been warned!
Samantha Ferreira: Hi everyone, and welcome to the Herald Anime Club! I’m Samantha Ferreira, and I’m back this week with L.B. Bryant
L.B. Bryant: Hello!
Samantha Ferreira: This week we’re back to the Squad Jam with Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online episode 11: “YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO”
L.B. Bryant: hehe I just need to say that the other characters were much more psycho than “Psycho LLENN”
Samantha Ferreira: Yeah… when we open with Pito going absolutely berserk with her Not-Darth-Maul Lightsaber, I can’t help but think the title was a bit… misplaced
L.B. Bryant: Just a bit misleading.
Samantha Ferreira: Just a tiny bit.
L.B. Bryant: Still, lots of great moments throughout the episode.
Samantha Ferreira: Oh yeah… the big frontal assault, Fuka just continuing with no legs, that knot, return of best girl…
Samantha Ferreira: That amazing climax…
L.B. Bryant: Indeed. It’s hard to know where to begin this week lol
Samantha Ferreira: Indeed.
Samantha Ferreira: I mean… the whole episode was just this huge shot of adrenaline
Samantha Ferreira: And really built up Pito as this god-tier player
L.B. Bryant: Oh absolutely.
Samantha Ferreira: And it was choreographed perfectly, showing off Pito’s growing psychosis while LLENN confronted her own fears
L.B. Bryant: I particularly loved the music they used for many of the fight scenes in this episode. The bit with the big trucks when they were running on almost empty was particularly fantastic.
Samantha Ferreira: Agreed. The overal choreography was spot-on this entire episode.
Samantha Ferreira: It was another one of those Madlax moments.
Samantha Ferreira: Where they just married the music to the on-screen action and let them play off each other
Samantha Ferreira: For those who don’t know what we’re talking about, look up “Madlax, Nowhere scene” – you’re welcome
L.B. Bryant: Gods I still love that song. lol
Samantha Ferreira: It’s FictionJunction Yuuka – how could you not? lol
L.B. Bryant: Getting away from the music, I have to admit that the full frontal assault seemed ill advised.
Samantha Ferreira: It seems like it was intentional, though – it was pretty clear Boss was trying to get LLENN to act
Samantha Ferreira: (Also, seeing Fuka trot happily in the sniper scope was pretty funny.)
L.B. Bryant: Yeah that’s a fair point.
Samantha Ferreira: I kind of like how they turned Boss’s team into the commentators, replacing the creepy dudes as they popped into the bar one after another
L.B. Bryant: That was a really nice touch
Samantha Ferreira: It was. Really sold the whole “the stakes are lower than they’ve been playing at” angle
Samantha Ferreira: for them, it’s just another game
Samantha Ferreira: Speaking of, let us say another word for P-Chan the second… best girl’s time was short, but it was magnificent
L.B. Bryant: I laughed as soon as I heard P-Chan’s voice lol
Samantha Ferreira: Same!
L.B. Bryant: It was just amazing
Samantha Ferreira: It really was, lol
L.B. Bryant: Jumping back a bit, I do have to ask… how did LLENN not notice her laces being tied to a grenade launcher? lol
Samantha Ferreira: I don’t know either, lol. It was like “Wait… when did that happen?”
L.B. Bryant: Yeah totally.
Samantha Ferreira: That was priceless, though. Like… “how the hell-” “If you can untie that, you will be QUEEN OF THE WORLD =D”
L.B. Bryant: lol How is it going Alexander the Great?
Samantha Ferreira: That was great.
Samantha Ferreira: I still thought her approach was priceless, too.
Samantha Ferreira: She’s grinning dumbly as she trots ahead, while Pito complains about her being too short
L.B. Bryant: hehe Speaking as someone who is short, I giggled at that comment.
Samantha Ferreira: Hehe… the tone was just perfect, along with Pito’s generally annoyed half-glare
L.B. Bryant: Predictions for the final episode? :)
Samantha Ferreira: Hm. At this point, it’ll be a two-tiered showdown. LLENN vs. Pito, and Fuka & M vs. SHINC. It’s going to be huge, it’s going to be filled with action, but it’ll come down to the final duel that we’ve been building up for eleven episodes
Samantha Ferreira: You?
L.B. Bryant: I’m really curious how they are going to tie up the loose threads from the real life portion of the episode. Will we finally get the big reveal that we all know is coming?
Samantha Ferreira: I think so.
L.B. Bryant: I’d love it if they swerved hard.
Samantha Ferreira: “Oh yeah, her brain got fried by the nerve gear before she could tell you” “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ;-;”
L.B. Bryant: I’d love to see them reveal something unexpected about PIto but I doubt it’ll happen
Samantha Ferreira: That’d be awesome.
Samantha Ferreira: Now… on another note: I really don’t know what to think of the whole M thing – it’s pretty clear that Pito’s super gay for LLENN.
L.B. Bryant: Yeah that’s true
Samantha Ferreira: I mean… M’s either in denial, or he is REALLY bad at reading signals that can be seen from space
L.B. Bryant: Pretty sure it’s the latter.
Samantha Ferreira: I’d say so.
Samantha Ferreira: Now, the fun part will be seeing LLENN reacting to the news that psycho-killer (Qu’est-ce que c’est) Pito is her favorite singer-songwriter
L.B. Bryant: Yeah, that’s kind of what I’m hoping they swerve on but, like I said, I doubt that’s going to happen lol
Samantha Ferreira: lol – it’d be too obvious a swerve at this point
Samantha Ferreira: Any final thoughts this week?
L.B. Bryant: Nopes, I’m just really excited to see what’s in store for us.
Samantha Ferreira: Likewise! And we’ll find out in a week. Can’t wait!
Samantha Ferreira: ’til next time, remember: if you can master knots, you too can be ruler of the world
L.B. Bryant: Night everyone!
Samantha Ferreira: Have a great night!
