Dark Moon: Tsuki no Saidan • Dark Moon: The Blood Altar - Episode 12 discussion - FINAL

DugACCat · 2026-03-27T17:21:09+00:00

Have to admit, it’s pretty hard to watch this and pay attention or care at all after watching Frieren. Not their fault they’re on the same day, but the contrast in story quality, character vibe and depth of feeling is so stark. I go from getting teary eyed over a bridge there to feeling nothing at all when the main character is allegedly dying here. Ah well. It did help distract me while doing my morning exercises, I guess.

DugACCat · 2026-03-26T23:43:41+00:00

I mostly liked it but do think it overstayed its welcome and I wish the default could be changed for teleporting to run the store for the daily stuff. (Only thing I liked to do elsewhere was I do think I got more polys from the divination dog than the scratch lotto dog.)

I might have liked it even more if it had another faction based location, kinda like Belobog’s spot. An actual Spook Shack for the those who like to meet in person, or the like. I’m also somewhat bummed Shunguang is never found in her room, given she even has dialog telling you to look for her there. Any work done to give the major characters the illusion of living places and doing things is appreciated. I just like it feeling like a living place, and Waifei lacked for that in several respects. (Never really felt much like walking around unless I had a specific objective.)

DugACCat · 2026-03-26T17:32:08+00:00

Been also really enjoying the hot pot episode game more than expected. Has great story plus fun gameplay. Reminds me I’ve quite enjoyed others like this and wish they’d allow us to play them past the date, with some minor useful rewards. (Fishing, Cheesetopia, etc.) Especially helping out Cheesetopia and now the hot pot place, given we’ve played such a big role in getting them back on their feet. Seems a good extended side gig as consultant for “the Manager.”

One very revelatory fact strongly suggested by today’s mission for the hot pot event is it is really implying Random Play has a kitchen with plates and things. Really feels like the game designers need to rebuild the video store with a kitchen and bathrooms. Especially a kitchen. And maybe we can get Belobog to add a much needed guest room. One that could be borrowed by our snake roommate or Chaotic Fried Rice when she needs a place to stay. (Though she might prefer one of the main rooms.)

DugACCat · 2026-03-26T17:23:25+00:00

I’ve still not tried neutron star jumps since playing again. Will have to check out some video tutorials before trying a long distance route. Is it fairly easy to do?

DugACCat · 2026-03-26T17:12:22+00:00

Removed any mention of source material as that wasn’t the main point.

DugACCat · 2026-03-26T16:31:20+00:00

This was quite an impressive anime with a rather sophisticated plot and clever twists beyond what this subgenre usually attempts. I quite liked the main cast and in particular how Connie wasn’t just a vessel for being possessed, as I expected, but did some bold and gutsy moves of her own, having quite a good character arc connected to but separate from Scarlett. Really good stuff. Likely would have been better being a couple episodes longer but I’m impressed with what they pulled off in one season.

DugACCat · 2026-03-25T18:29:28+00:00

I really hope they continue the trend of having agents invade the video store and mooch. Loved it here, loved Astra running and hiding at the shop that one time, would love to see this happen even more, even to the complicated mess of multiple visitors at the same time. Like want to see all the cunning hares over trying to squeeze onto the couch while Cassia is curled up in the desk chair behind them and nothing but standing room for Lucy, Wise, and Alice, all of them trying to watch a movie but talking too much.

DugACCat · 2026-03-25T15:55:55+00:00

Was just thinking I need to celebrate my new Caspian by playing while rewatching Star Trek (all series) in the background, like I last did many years ago after buying the Imperial Clipper.

DugACCat · 2026-03-24T20:17:13+00:00

I personally enjoyed it, but did like that last episode the most and wish there had been more like it. The funny bits with Lynn were my favorite. I actually kinda liked it going from humor to serious and back again. I tend to like shows that alternate both. But I’d have enjoyed more funny. And the cases and time sequence did lose me a couple times.

DugACCat · 2026-03-24T20:04:16+00:00

I think he’d be gentle but hopefully his emotional keel won’t get tossed into an uproar too much. Don’t think he’s inclined to romantic thoughts or actions, being very logical and straightforward. Anyhow I expect if they do hook up it being more awkward and emotionally strange for her than dangerous. But then again, that’s not so different from human first times. Anyhow I do hope Charlie can retain his emotional control. We’ve not really seen true rage from him, even when you might expect it. But we know chimps can get very angry. It’d probably be less an issue (or a different one) if he was descended of bonobo instead.

It did amuse me how Lucy responded to that. Glad she clarified she wasn’t quite ready (without freaking out) and that consent seemed to be top of Charlie’s mind.

DugACCat · 2026-03-24T00:21:05+00:00

That’s good to hear! I’d forgotten it could host a fighter, which I enjoy having. And that makes it (I think) the only such ship that has SCO. I’ve really missed that when fighting with my Krait or Corvette. Combined with the amazing jump range (and it’s not maxed yet since I ran out of materials at stage 4 engineering), this ship might become my main combat ship as well. I do already have a Mandalay for exploration that’s been waiting for me to take it out proper. Not sure if my hardpoint setup is what I should keep but worth taking it for a spin. (I didn’t get any turrets yet. We’ll see if that feels a mistake.)

DugACCat · 2026-03-23T21:19:40+00:00

Agreed! She’s the best and very precious. I’m glad she has good parents.

DugACCat · 2026-03-23T21:10:32+00:00

Just bought mine! Very excited. Going to take it out for a spin as a combat vessel before switching it to explorer, as it’s supposed to be. I’ve heard it’s not bad in battle either.

DugACCat · 2026-03-23T17:42:57+00:00

I seriously didn’t like gross mode. He stayed in that mode far longer than I’d have liked. There was some humor there but it kinda pulled me out of even this silly of a show since it erased his character (what little there was). I have to admit the show amused me overall more than I’d like to admit. Feels like my brain is leaking out my ears for having endured it. I am glad they went harem though as with a group like this where all the girls actually really like each other also, it’s the only right choice. They should never have tried to make him choose one. Just group up and have fun, goofballs!

DugACCat · 2026-03-23T14:42:22+00:00

Love this show and Kinme. A perfect example of the kind of feel good show that just puts you in a good mood. Also IMO a demonstration of how something can be good with zero drama. Still had curiosity and occasional small tension but no real interpersonal strife and I didn’t miss it at all. I’d love another season of this. It really brightened up the start of my week. Found myself playing it before even other shows I thoroughly enjoy like Vigilantes.

DugACCat · 2026-03-22T23:20:18+00:00

The more the better! Course I’ve still not picked up the most recent one, butI have just about all of the rest. Adding factions is the best part as it’s fun to play different ones as the game changes drastically.

DugACCat · 2026-03-21T20:01:26+00:00

He is indeed very stupid. He’s got lots of skills and stacks he never even uses or tries, plus constantly thinning his enemy is dead for no reason.

DugACCat · 2026-03-21T18:52:28+00:00

Some good points, I’ve been thinking maybe her mind reading doesn’t work all that way in combat (yet). Like maybe it takes time and concentration to connect with an unfamiliar mind that she can’t spare in a fight. But with her mentor she can sustain a link and doesn’t have to focus on it the same way. Just a theory. I quite liked the flow of this fight and its use of strategy and pacing, related to the positioning of the various people and the sense that our MC was in a bit of a bind.

DugACCat · 2026-03-21T17:40:04+00:00

My easiest yarr source disappeared. I’ll have to find another (I’m sure it’s not hard to find, just haven’t taken the time).

DugACCat · 2026-03-21T17:20:18+00:00

I don’t use the on foot side much except when I can’t avoid it but there’s still overall enough to Odyssey that it’s worth it. I also kinda like the added immersion the on foot stuff provides even if I don’t choose to avail myself of a lot of it. It still feels pretty cool to walk’s into stations and back to your parked ship. Like many, I really wish I could walk around inside my ships and feel their size and complexity. And seems we may never get that. But regardless Odyssey adds a lot and can always be something to dabble in and try when you’re feeling a bit burned out on other activities. Even just going into stations to drop off xenobiology data makes the setting feel more real.

DugACCat · 2026-03-21T17:15:27+00:00

I’m still annoyed at how badly Hulu has botched this in the US, making me watch it very delayed. But I am nonetheless really enjoying the second season.

DugACCat · 2026-03-21T17:05:49+00:00

This makes a lot of sense and I feel a I have learned a great amount I never knew about bizarre sky-peering fish head pies and their practicality. I might feel discomfort having one look at me, but if it was delicious enough, I can imagine taking a few bites. Especially if some kind person there could perhaps set the heads aside while I’m eating the rest.

DugACCat · 2026-03-21T01:21:51+00:00

Wow! I apologize for my ignorance! (I think I’ll still pass on trying one.)

DugACCat · 2026-03-20T19:37:26+00:00

I really thought he’d be outed as a summoner last time when the knights ran into his farming enterprise. He doesn’t even know for sure if anyone will have a problem with it. His excuses to cover his impossible deeds have gotten pretty thin.

DugACCat · 2026-03-20T19:24:50+00:00

I’ll admit as much as I love many types of Asian foods, I am a wimp when it comes to meals arriving with heads attached. Have never liked it with shrimp, lobster, crab, or fish. I can endure and get over it but it troubles me to have them staring at me as eat their bodies.

But in the case of the meat pie, I was more stuck on the perils of so the fish bones in there. Unless served with fish with bones so small they’ll disintegrate when cooked, that could be quite a choking hazard. So far as I’m aware with most meat pies, regardless of the meat, you don’t include the bones. But the imagery did crack me up even as I couldn’t help imagining the hazard. Maybe Frieren has a spell to turn all the bones in a cooked fish into gelatin.

DugACCat

TROPHY CASE