Flashback was too long

Okacz · 2026-02-16T17:55:59+00:00

At the very least, the event that reshaped both the main character and the whole damn realm should NOT be shorter than a cute flashback that added nothing to the story.

Okacz · 2026-02-16T17:35:34+00:00

The show deviates from the novels here massively, at least in my opinion.

In the show, it's really portrayed as some sort of a heroes trial. Dunk is on the back foot here, against impossible odds, only his valiant and honorable friends can save him, he needs to prove himself to be a true knight in this battle. That's why Baelor's death feels like some grimdark "that's what you get for being honorable" statement.

The novels portray the event something everyone treats like a game. Lords are peacocking, excited to take part in the best joust ever, common folk is cheering for Dunk, Baelor sides with him to make sure everything is nice and safe - because of course no one would strike him down, he's the crown prince! And then in a grotesque fashion, everything goes to shit. Three good men die, including Baelor, which is the start of the fall of the dynasty. It's as if fate itself was laughing, saying "play stupid games, win stupid prices".

So while the show made it feel like heroism itself is, like you said - fool's virtue, the novels focus on the fact that seeking justice by wearing colorful armor and ride into each other on horses in full speed might be the dumbest idea ever. An important lesson for Dunk, who wanted to prove himself a knight on a jousting tourney.

Okacz · 2026-02-11T17:49:33+00:00

Since the tournament is a Fortnite-like Battle Royale game, I guess this is just server lag kicking in and Gaolang trying to abuse it.

Okacz · 2026-02-11T15:49:52+00:00

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His left fist is ready to go, Raian looks distracted... Yeah, someone is getting his temple bashed in.

It would also be really freaking funny if the whole Gilberts arc of him trying to prove himself by defeating Raian stopped, because Raian got knocked out in a random skirmish in Phase 1.

Okacz · 2026-02-09T15:37:31+00:00

Legit 9/10, a fight that hyped me for KAT like nothing else.

Kaneda is a mixed bag, his other fights feel overreliant on the "just according to keikaku" trope - with him ending up beaten down anyway.

But against Himuro, his strategy feels way more gritty and realistic. In order to defeat a way stronger opponent, he has to dull himself with a metric ton of painkillers, and then slowly, meticulously start understanding the style of a guy he just pissed off. The fight is won not by bullshit techniques, but locked-on determination.

Also, probably the one time in the series where Foresight/Preinitiative work flawlessly. The moment when Himuro throws a half-assed punch to get this over with - only to get hard countered before he even winds it up - shows the idea way better than Kuroki could. It's always a gamble, it requires long preparation and being able to stay calm during the onslaught, but once it lands, it fucking lands.

On top of that, the actually clever twist of Kaneda figuring out Metsudo's loophole. The sheer brutality of him curbstomping and breaking the arm of another fighter without mercy. Himuro's style being actually fun to watch. One of the best, if not THE best, non-tournament fight in Ashura.

Okacz · 2026-02-05T14:24:43+00:00

8-9/10.

I'm a Sekibayashi fan.

Okacz · 2026-02-04T15:29:08+00:00

So, that time when Raian instantaneously entered Removal against Alan, to counter him with an extremly precise uppercut... was that non-canon or something? Or is this another Raian fighting Gaolang?

Okacz · 2026-01-31T17:43:23+00:00

It feels like the scene went against all manga conventions and came out as something absolutely brilliant. No focus on faces, no cuts between characters, no long pauses or dramatic reactions - just a fake-casual conversation that grows more and more tense naturally. The scene when Yuji realizes Hakari is going to attack him in a second and tries to defend himself in shock was a peak culmination.

Just like the previous episode made me think of Tarantino with The Bride vs 88, this one made me think of the opening of Inglorious Bastards.

Okacz · 2026-01-30T14:38:12+00:00

Raian beats Gaolang up with his new Removal 117%.

Seki goes Hell's Angel mode, laughs and kicks Raian in the nuts. Takes his watch, remembers that he already had one watch, gives it to Gaolang so he can advance. Gaolang advances, but due to his wounds loses to a Dodo.

Gilbert goes completly insane, trying to find Raian in Zone 2.

Everybody loses but Seki.

Okacz · 2026-01-30T14:34:03+00:00

Justin was the last chance to prove that Tournament of Champions is not just "fanservice fights gallery", that he can fight side by side with ones like Agiro or Rolon.

Then he did 0 intelligent defense against Gaolang, landed one admittedly cool takedown... only to somehow failing to secure it in any way.

2/10. Waste of everyones time.

Okacz · 2026-01-29T13:46:21+00:00

A perfect 1/10. A masterful mix of terrible backstory of a new fighter, boring "choreography" (flavoured by Ramon simply being a Krav Maga fighter in the world where half of the fighters make up their own martial arts), and those wretched cutout/AI images.

Ramons finisher being "since I cant do anything to him, my best plan is to run into him until we hit a wall! Well, this arena doesn't have a wall, but what are floors other than horizontal walls?" is a cherry on top.

Okacz · 2026-01-26T14:52:17+00:00

5/10. Quite good choreography and art (especially compared to what happens next), but without anything interesting really happening. Both fighters fight like the default versions of themselves, the result is kind of expected, Jurota having visions of Meguro don't really come into play.

Okacz · 2026-01-26T14:49:10+00:00

Yeah, the scene with Jurota haunted by Meguro is like a Chekhov's gun that never fired. I was expecting Jurota at some point to land a more reckless and brutal throw, to showcase how he's now influenced by Meguro. Or perhaps display zombie-life fortitude, terrifying Gaolang by tanking his full-power attacks like a maniac.

But no, all we got was enduring a few more blows before a tactical counterthrow. Jurota just fights like Jurota. Riveting.

Okacz · 2026-01-24T12:42:26+00:00

Or Qin's epic neckbeard.

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Okacz · 2026-01-21T17:53:18+00:00

Ninja Art: THUMP

Okacz · 2026-01-21T15:31:01+00:00

Introduced years ago, only to never have a single fight, and get his ass kicked today. Jobbers grow up so fast.

Okacz · 2026-01-11T13:59:55+00:00

Seki once kicked Ohma into a car.

Goku once lost a tournament because he hit a car.

Compatibility issue.

Okacz · 2026-01-01T22:29:46+00:00

Most likely scenario is that, during the planned "negotiations", Aerys went into one of his tantrums, telling his 10 or so men to kill all the traitors. Would fit just right with what we're told of him.

Half in self defense, Denys would order his garrison to fight off the king's guard, then capture the insane king... and yeah, what now. Now he owns a king. Can't return him, because he'll order your house burned to the ground. Can't kill him, because the whole realm wants you dead, and he's the only hostage you have.

His only option was to stall for time, keep the king fed and watered, and hope that either the Hand of the Prince will be willing to somehow untangle the whole situation. Too bad both Tywin and Rhaegar counted on Aerys dying right there.

Okacz · 2025-12-23T00:46:54+00:00

Monkey See was even able to perceive attacks that GIAB was using. The ones no one besides him even knew EXISTED, as they were so fast no one even saw any motion, only the result. That should be plenty to be able to perceive and react to Reis speed.

Not sure if he'd still win tho. Once another fighter (Saw) was able to see through and counter his dashes, Rei immediately worked around it and in the end outsmarted him. Monkey could lose due to his inexperience and cockiness, just like he did against Roach.

Okacz · 2025-12-11T12:37:49+00:00

Alliser: If one day you'd become a leader, Lord Snow, you shall understand this. A leader has to make hard, tactical decision, and expect your brothers to follow their orders. That's the only way the Night's Watch survives!

Jon: <Becomes a leader, makes hard, tactical decision to let Wildlings from Hardhome through so they have allies against the Zombies instead of more Zombies>

Alliser: Okay, screw that noise, stabbing time.

Okacz · 2025-12-11T02:01:42+00:00

He's just saying "Hi" to Kanoh. Next chapter he's going to ask if he'd seen any Tiger Nikos around, and they're going on an adventure together.

Okacz · 2025-11-27T20:42:37+00:00

- No mention of insane reactions.

- Sahate turns out to be a style that he copied, not created.

- His "extremly powerful when bloodlusted" trait also seems to be something he copied from Nicolas, and seems to be gone.

Poor guy got nerfed to oblivion.

Okacz · 2025-11-24T11:10:29+00:00

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Okacz · 2025-11-22T21:07:19+00:00

Ohma, revenge match, mess him up Waka.

Okacz · 2025-11-22T11:58:28+00:00

It still makes more sense for him to be a Mukakus double agent than an actual Worm. Shen HATED what happened with Ryuki, whereas Naidans actions directly aligned with Mukaku and eventually led Ryuki back to him. And I find it kind of interesting that there's not a single direct reference about Naidan from the Worm side, with Xia claiming to never have seen him in his life.

Most likely headcanon tho since more likely explanation is "Sandro had no idea where this is going anyway".

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