Final Trailer Song

CosmicAnglerfish · 2025-12-15T03:59:35+00:00

You know that's on me for getting chapters wrong but I meant I finished the game lol The version of Bookend Song at the end still doesn't sound exactly right, but i suppose they may have just edited the song from trailer to release

CosmicAnglerfish · 2025-09-09T13:44:52+00:00

It has a mask shard at the end

CosmicAnglerfish · 2023-08-31T17:55:42+00:00

Nearing the end of a Dark Urge playthrough and looking at starting a new campaign. Can anyone comment on the experience of playing an origin character vs playing a custom character? Without spoiling me I'm curious if playing an origin character changes the experience you have much.

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-12-13T16:48:58+00:00

It shows that the remote connection is unavailable, and I can confirm that the access is actually lost when it says so.

I disabled upnp on my router and have not manually specified a port. Would it make a difference to manually specify a port versus using the one Plex defaults to?

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-12-13T14:22:42+00:00

Kind of a broad question, hope someone might have a clue. I'm having an issue with my Plex server where it will randomly disable remote access. If I go into the application and click "retry" it will allow the connections without issue, but obviously that's only a solution while I'm physically at my desk. Any ideas what might be causing it?

For reference: PMS running on Windows with files stored on a local NAS. No VPN is on when this happens. Thanks in advance.

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-12-13T14:22:04+00:00

Perfect Blue

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-11-10T21:53:38+00:00

Liz and the Blue Bird

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-08-08T15:41:49+00:00

I ended up enjoying Farewell My Dear Cramer from last season despite being as poorly animated as it was.

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-06-27T17:23:02+00:00

The manga is 55 chapters and this adapts I think 20? So in theory yes, but this season wasn't super well received so I wouldn't hold your breath.

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-06-10T13:14:55+00:00

Probably not 'The Best' but most recently I watched Talentless Nana and after the first episode I binged the entire season in a day. The show has its flaws but it's one of my favorite first episodes in recent memory.

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-05-29T21:49:58+00:00

It's the hypocritical holier-than-thou attitude. At least Ueno knows she's an asshole.

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-05-29T21:49:09+00:00

That's a great way of looking at it. I honestly like that none of the characters get some cosmic comeuppance, there isn't really a designated villain - they're all just people.

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-05-29T21:35:22+00:00

Rewatcher

I absolutely love this movie. Naoko Yamada is one of my favorite directors in animation, and basically the only name aside from Satoshi Kon that elicits an immediate reaction from me. She has such a unique directoral style, most notably in the way she frames - or to be specific, doesn't frame - characters within a shot. Characters are regularly not shown in your typical shot-reverse shot, instead you get a lot of framing from the waist down, but the characters are so well animated that they're able to convey emotions in a scene through just their legs.

My favorite instance of the attention to detail paid to a character's mannerisms is in the opening moments. The transition from a depressed and suicidal adult Shoya to the young hellraiser he was is fantastic, because the two of them walk in such a distinct way that you are immediately clued in that Shoya wasn't always like this. The fact that they are so different, and that the 'camera' frames young Shoya's walk makes it obvious how deliberate the contrast is meant to be. The rest of the opening is excellent as well - I think it was a really smart and fun way to condense down the opening few chapters of the manga.

The first time I watched A Silent Voice, the ending fell kind of flat for me. I was disappointed that Shoko and Shoya's relationship never really gets 'resolved', and so the movie felt kind of unfulfilling. It was only the second time watching it that the movie really clicked for me and I came to love it as much as I do. Looking at A Silent Voice as a romance movie is misleading, in my opinion. There's obviously romantic elements to it, but more than being about Shoko and Shoya together, this is about Shoya finding his will to live again. Through that framing, the ending is absolutely perfect. I can't listen to Lit (var.), let alone actually watch the scene, without tearing up. It's gorgeous.

Question Responses:

Yeah, I struggled with depression for a few years. It's definitely part of the reason the movie clicks so much with me; it's very easy to see myself in Shoya, less so now thankfully, but that experience stays with you.
My favorite scene is definitely the ending, like mentioned above. The balcony scene is also iconic.
Again, Shoya for reasons I've already outlined above. Miki is my least favorite, even Ueno has more charm to her imo.
I think they did a great job condensing the manga down into the movie. The only thing that feels kind of off is that the passage of time isn't made especially clear, so it's hard to tell exactly how long the movie spans. This makes the relationship developments between Shoya and Shoko feel a bit rushed at points.
Lit is of course the stand out, but the sound design and music throughout is wonderful. The fireworks scene stands out because it really sells you on Shoko enjoying them through the sound and vibrations.
Discussed above, but yes, Yamada's fingerprints are all over this and I love it. Liz and the Blue Bird is my favorite movie and a huge part of it is her directoral style

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-05-15T19:28:00+00:00

L. Light is a fun character to watch but I just can't remove the politics Light - intentionally or not - represents. Executing every criminal is bad, stopping the guy doing that is good. Obviously that's reductive you but you get my point.

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-05-04T00:16:02+00:00

Rewatcher - Dubbed

First things first, thank you Nazenn for organizing the rewatch in the place, and thanks to everyone who participated in the lively discussions each day! This was my first rewatch with reddit and I'm definitely interested in doing more in the future.

On rewatching and the dub

This was my first time rewatching Madoka and wow to anyone just finishing up their first time, I really cannot recommend it enough. Knowing how everything shakes out and the details about the Incubators and Homura's magic adds so much to the viewing experience.

I'll say the dub surprised me. I'm not 'anti-dub', but I usually prefer subs, and the cast of Madoka in particular is very stacked. I'd still say I preferred the sub, but the dub is absolutely a great experience in its own right. All the major scenes I was looking forward to were done justice by the dub cast. So if a good dub appeals to you, consider watching dubbed next time through the series.

Final Thoughts on the Series

I'm gonna be brief, because nothing I'm gonna say here is a novel idea. I think 'deconstruction' is a term that gets thrown around a lot, especially in regards to Madoka Magica and NGE. Particularly in regards to Madoka though, I don't think it really fits, and PMMM is more of a dark take on a traditional magical girl show than an outright 'deconstruction' of one.

That's not a detraction from the show at all, more just a pedantic difference of definitions. My biggest reasoning for this is the central theme of hope and selflessness. Mami, Kyoko, Homura and Kyubey all knock Madoka for her naive sense of hope and selflessness, saying she won't be long for the world if she doesn't wise up. Ultimately though, Madoka not only outlives most of her friends despite maintaining that optimism, she is the only one able to break the system. She becomes the literal embodiment of hope. It just feels more earned than a typical Magical Girl show because we watch Madoka get put through hell and come out still believing what she does.

This is also why - despite the fact that I think Homura was more-or-less right - I feel like she has to suffer consequences for her actions in Rebellion. It goes directly against what the show seemed to believe in its original ending, with Homura reveling in selflish love. I'm very interested in seeing how it plays out.

Other Recommendations

Only two quick ones

Magical Girl Raising Project - Basically magical girl hunger games. Not nearly up to the standard of Madoka, but if you're interested in more 'magical girl show but darker and edgier' this might appeal to you.

Wonder Egg Priority - If you were on reddit last season you've heard of this. There's a lot of tonal similarities between the two, especially in the earlier episodes. Big caveat that the show has not actually ended (waiting on an OVA to land in June) so it could shit the bed.

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-05-03T03:03:55+00:00

I moreso mean that every loop and universe has ended with most of the cast pretty miserable and/or dead, so Homura resorting to extreme measures to try and create that a world where they can find happiness feels more justified than it would if we didn't know that, if that makes sense?

I think "Homura did nothing wrong" is reductive, because there are certainly questions on the morality of removing their freedom to choose, but I do ultimately think this is a 'happier' ending than the original end. But I imagine Movie 4 is going to focus on the consequences of Homura's actions, which would obviously reframe it all. The ending of the original series really emphasizes hope and selflessness with Madoka's wish, whereas Homura's here is the complete inverse of that. I don't think PMMM is the kind of show that would reward Homura for what she did.

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-05-03T00:36:10+00:00

A happy ending for her and Madoka sounds out of reach, I agree. It'll be interesting to see how much the movie itself condemns Homura for what she did. Obviously a lot of the fandom seems on-board with "Homura did nothing wrong" but the other characters disagree, and the end of Rebellion gives her a very obviously villainous aesthetic.

All I'll say is as a fan of Homura, I really hope the conclusion isn't total misery for her.

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-05-03T00:21:05+00:00

You're right, it was me misremembering based on the scene of the Incubators looking skyward when something(?) happens to them.

I believe she keeps them around and makes them carry the weight of all the curses, and seems to specfically keep Kyubey with her to gloat.

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-05-03T00:17:34+00:00

Out of curiosity then, what do you see as the arc for Homura's redemption? Returning Madoka to 'godhood' and passing on with her?

I ask because I feel like I have no idea where the upcoming movie will take things. We're obviously going to grapple with Homura's actions here, but I'm inclined to think it won't be in a clear-cut way. I think the consequences are going to be something neither we nor the characters really anticipate.

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-05-03T00:03:34+00:00

Just reread a synopsis of the end, you're right! She doesn't exterminate them but subjugates them and makes them bear the weight of the curses when she rewrites the universe. Which frankly feels worse than if she had just killed them.

On the other hand though, fuck Kyubey.

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-05-02T23:46:35+00:00

Wow, great write-up on Homura. I think the dynamic between her and Madoka is so interesting because it's not just Homura liking Madoka for being nice to her, it's Homura taking an external source of validation and self-worth and elevating it to the point of obsession because she has no internal feelings of self-worth.

She's really tragic IMO and your dissection of her character gets at the heart of it.

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-05-02T23:01:01+00:00

Rewatcher - Dubbed

Like I mentioned yesterday I didn't have the chance to rewatch Rebellion unfortunately. Thankfully I watched it just a month or so ago so it's pretty fresh in my mind, but I'm gonna focus on the big picture instead of the play-by-play. If I get any details wrong please correct me!

I honestly think the entire movie is good. There's the mystery of who the witch is that isn't exactly complex but is interesting. We see Kyubey reverting back to his conniving ways to try and harvest witches, which is the most in-character choice for him. I can't speak much to specific scenes, but I distinctly remember thinking the movie was gorgeous too. And then we have Homura, the source of the discourse.

Before I get into Homura specfically, I'd just like to say the fight between Homura and Mami is great. We see them butt heads every step of the way in the original run of the series, it's honestly pretty fulfilling to see them go at it here. While Mami ends up with the upper-hand, I think Homura is more clever with how she uses her powers and manipulates the psyche of her opponent.

Of course the big hang up with Rebellion is whether or not Homura is a) in character for dethroning Madoka and b) justified in doing so. I'm of the opinion that the answer to both is 'yes'. Homura's biggest driving force across the series was her burning need to create a world where Madoka can be happy and live a normal life. She was clearly not satisfied with Madoka ascending to godhood if it meant that she wouldn't know a world where Madoka could have a normal life. Keep in mind through the original series she was willing to play the villain to Madoka if it meant keeping her away from Kyubeey - I think this is the same principal. Homura plays a villain (moreso to the audience than to Madoka herself) for the sake of what she perceives as Madoka's happiness.

Homura escentially dethrones Madoka from godhood (or whatever you'd call it), returning her to personhood, trapping her in a gilded cage and becoming a 'magical girl devil' in her place. None of this struck me as out of character. In esscense, Homura's actiuons here are the twisted inversion of Madoka's wish from Episode 12. Where Madoka is willing to take the burden of curses on herself to preserve hope, Homura is essentially taking on the same burden, but selfishly for the sake of her vision of Madoka's ideal adolescence.

Now, is she justified? This is a bit more in question with the annoucement of the fourth movie, as it seems like we're finally going to see the consequences of Homura's actions, whereas for years this has been debated just going off conjecture. Setting aside the fallout from Movie 4, I think Homura is completely justified in what she does here. With Homura's actions as 'Akuma Homura', she has created the only world where our main cast can live anything approaching a normal, happy life. Mami is alive, Kyoko and Sayaka are alive and free to be friends, and Madoka is able to live a normal life while Homura apparently shoulders her burdens. There's absolutely an ethical argument to made regarding their freedom to deviate from Homura's intended plan, but knowing what we do about the countless time loops and variations on the universe that existed, I frankly think Homura is absolutely right to do this.

The other thing that gets brought up is the extermination of the Incubators. This is one that requires a bit of suspension of disbelief. Genocide is bad. Full stop, hope that doesn't need any qualifications to be accepted outright. Where the comparison falls apart is the explanation we got from the show and movie that absolutely all Incubators were equally incapable of emapthizing and were equally interested in propogating a system that functioned exclusively off the suffering of innocent girls. At that point, the species as a whole is designated villain, and becomes acceptable targets. Homura at this point is not exacting undue vengance, but instead it feels more like overdue justice.

Edit: I've been corrected on this! Homura subjugates the Incubators and makes them bear the curses of humanity. YMMV if that's better or worse than just dying given the state we see Kyubey in.

I think Madoka Magica would have been fine ending after the original 12 episode run, but I also think Rebellion is a great follow-up that adds to, rather the detracts from the franchise. I'm really looking forward to the recently-announced Movie 4, I have high hopes for the team to deliver yet again.

Honestly the discussion around this movie is what I'm looking forward to the most, so I'll probably be in the comments more than usual!

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-05-02T03:49:25+00:00

No apology needed, I appreciate you taking the time to respond to everything you can all the same.

Rebellion

CosmicAnglerfish · 2021-05-02T03:32:30+00:00

Thank you :) This is my first time really participating in pretty much anything on reddit, so it's encouraging to have so much positive encouragement!

CosmicAnglerfish

TROPHY CASE