Fewer Blurbs

Last week my store was selling pumpkin-filled powdered sugar donuts (also lemon and blueberry), but when I got one it was underwhelming. Normally, our bakery's donuts are more saturated than Dunkin Donuts', but I'm willing to risk the calories when I'm this desperate. Still, baked goods tend to sell out pretty early in the day, so by the time I get to what's left they're pretty stale and the filling doesn't taste as good (if there was much of it to begin with). We also seem to have sold out of Nestle products. The nice thing about working at a grocery store is the employee discount, but there really isn't much left after your shift is done, and you stand there starving while everyone else buys their food (or maybe it's just me).

The MLP season finale was pretty good. There would've been a riot if they had reformed Chrysalis, but starting a revolt made sense, especially if Thorax was offering the other Changelings a way never to be hungry again - it worked with Scar and the hyenas. The Homestuck epilogue came out, too, and while it wasn't exactly what I wanted, it was better than nothing. The Big War arc of Thrilling Intent finally concluded. I can't wait to see what's next.

Continuing his Dawn of the New World playthrough, my boyfriend acquired an earth monster named Riku, a harpy named May (close enough, as Sheena is actually voiced by Megan Hollingshead), and a skeleton with the same name as me. As for Telltale Batman, the only real difference the choice at the end of episode 2 made was whether or not Selina would continue to try to romance you and whether or not Harvey looked like Two-Face as he starts to go mad either way. Harvey may not have liked the idea of Selina and Bruce together (whether they actually were or not), but Travis was practically giddy over Vex and Percy getting together in Critical Role. Also, Lady Kima is here to smash things and eat chicken, and she's all out of chicken. Grog understandably still has a thing for her, and Allura was sad when they told her about Tiberius.

A Few Quick Blurbs

I haven't had a lot of time lately, so I probably didn't do as good a job with the latest Alpha and Omega review. That dance number would've been a big-lipped alligator moment if it didn't get used as a plot point instead. It was definitely the weirdest installment, but I still think the clipshow one was the worst. That being said, the Halloween clipshow for Dino Charge was done well, as it was last year. It even tried to include everyone, even though the main five were once again in the spotlight.

I will probably not get the pumpkin marshmallows after all (I was going to put them in hot chocolate, but they are way too big and it would take too long to finish the bag, and it's just way too much sugar). I did, however, get a candy bar that was "pumpkin latte" flavored, but it didn't taste like coffee at all. It tasted like pumpkin and white chocolate, which was far less appealing. The Butterfinger skull I bought was much better but smooth instead of crunchy. I'm not sure if I'll end up getting any more candy for various reasons (sugar being one of them), but if I do I might be looking for some holiday-themed version of a Crunch or Krackle.

Thrilling Intent animated the part of the final battle when they beat Xin, by tabletopping no less. There was a reference to Persona when Markus, Gregor, Ashe, and Kier teamed up to do it - the four of them in a beat-em-up screen like when the entire party beats up an enemy. My boyfriend has been re-playing Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World. Names and voice actors from the Persona series have been popping up in it. Not surprisingly, so have the names Aqua, Ventus, and Terra (two Centurions and a monster).

Teen Titans Go! has resorted to abridging the old series (I hope it's just a one-off but there could be more). Since it's a parody series to begin with, I can't really say it's wrong. However, it does feel like an incredibly lazy move, much like when 4Kids did a similar thing with their dubbing. It's a move that screams "This is what you like, right? Right?!"

That Time Again

The sixth Alpha and Omega feature, Dino Digs, came out on my brother's birthday back in May, so I thought I'd review it before the next one is due to come out next month. It has been named the worst one in the series by both fans and critics, though critics were more lenient with it. Let's start with the cover. The back cover says they have to stop a T-Rex from being excavated and coming to life. There's a T-Rex on the front cover, so it doesn't look like they succeeded (and indeed they did not). But why, you ask? Because magic exists in this universe apparently, and they sure as hell don't explain it (though they try, sort of). The environmental message of this installment is about wolves being relocated to man-made dens or "wolf suburbia." It's made ridiculous (not to mention there's a shoe-horned in dance number) and they go back to the wild at the end even though there are predators who want them dead (though I suppose the appearance of magic dinosaurs required a truce of sorts). If you want to watch dinosaurs revived by magic, just watch Power Rangers Dino Charge. I really can't compliment the actors enough, especially the guy who plays Heckyll.

I drew another piece of Critical Role fan art, in which Ghost Tiberius reminds Vax about what he'd said about Kynan in the first place. That's just an element I added to the part where Kynan stabs Keyleth and Ripley kills Percy; Tiberius was never directly mentioned again after his death (not by name anyway), but his presence was necessary a la Homestuck and DBZ Abridged. "I warned you about the boy, Vax. I told ya, dog."/"Shut up, ghost of Tiberius." As for Thrilling Intent, I love how Kier and Thog have just had it with this war.

This month's issue of Cardcaptor Sakura 3 had very nice artwork. Still lots of secrecy for seemingly no reason from both Syaoran and Touya. It also sounds like whatever is happening is purposefully redoing Sakura's journey of gathering the cards. Water has become Aqua.

I had to go to Wal-Mart to get the pumpkin Cheerios, and all they had was family-size. You can really taste the cloves and pumpkin puree.

Giving In

A couple of weeks ago, I caved and gave into the pumpkin spice. I bought the Pop-Tarts and the Twinkies. They are so delicious. It's still hot and humid where I live, but the watermelon gum I still have has lost its appeal (probably because it started melting in my purse it was so hot this summer). I don't think I'll be getting the pumpkin gum if that comes back, and I'd really rather not get pumpkin marshmallows, even though I will probably give in to that too. I was on board with the pumpkin Cheerios, but they were sold out when I went shopping after work, as per usual. I'm not interested in pumpkin Special K (I tried the apple cinnamon and wasn't impressed), and I forget if I tried pumpkin Life already. I haven't tried the Cheeto Chicken Fries yet, probably won't, but for all their Cheeto dusting, why can't they bring back the Shake-em-up Fries?

I finally gave in and signed up for Pottermore. I'm a Gryffindor (wanted to be a Ravenclaw) and a Pukwudgie (which I'm assuming is the American equivalent of a Gryffindor), so I suppose I'm a Hermione as opposed to a Luna. I have a cherrywood wand with a unicorn hair core that is 10 3/4 inches long and bendable. My patronus is a dolphin (in my fan fics I have a lynx but I'll take it). Being a Gryffindor, for me, is like being a Green Lantern. I keep getting that result too when I'd rather be a Blue Lantern. Compassion is pretty important to me.

I liked Calluna's review of Digimon Cyber Sleuth. I like how she keeps bringing up Persona in her reviews (and even in her guest appearance in Linkara's Pokemon Omicron videos recently - which actually inspired me to draw Ienzo with a Litwick). The best parts were the little skits, like when she finds a lost object for her Tanemon plushie literally on the other side of the room to replicate one of the earlier side quests. I loved the fake flashback to her eleven-year-old self crying and covering her Gatomon plushie's eyes as she's watching Wizardmon die in the anime. That's why it was so satisfying when she got a Wizardmon in the game. She broke down the game pretty concisely and demonstrated why it's better than Pokemon Go.

This time there were five more Digimon Tri episodes released. I didn't have a problem with it for the most part except for the fact that none of my questions were answered. The person masquerading as the Digimon Emperor turned out to be Jennai (or is also masquerading as Jennai). Derek Stephen Prince wasn't listed for it on imdb, so I'm assuming they're going to use young Jennai's voice actor (or it just hasn't been updated yet). I didn't trust Himekawa. I'm not sure what she's up to or how she does what she does, but I didn't think she was dangerous. As usual, the Digimon parts were great (especially Gatomon) and the only thing that continues to hold it back is the half-baked plot.

Decisions Were Made

Season 1 of Tales of Zestiria the X will end with encountering the Lord of Calamity on the battlefield in episode 13. Season 2 will be next year. It's kind of weird to do it that way, I think. Pending the success of Berseria, who knows if they'll be making another appearance as well? I hope not. The dub wasn't bad but I still don't care about the game. They have a connection with Edna's brother but that wasn't tied into the anime at all. Doing that in season 2 might make it worth it, or whenever they next try to deal with him. Conga line for peace through violence indeed.

Not only will there not be a female Aqua Ranger, but there will not be a Talon Ranger either. I'm only disappointed because expectations were so high going into this and what we got was the short end of the stick by comparison. They still used the Talon Ranger's Zord, but in this continuity Shelby created it herself. That sounds like more work to keep the Spinozord footage but cut out its proper Ranger's existence entirely.

Yotsuba and Princesses was a cool chapter. To be continued, though, not that it really ended on a cliffhanger. My favorite part was when her dad didn't understand so she went next door where the oneechans live because SOMEONE would get it over there. Asagi became her fairy godmother and made her a dress out of trash bags. Yotsuba had tied strings with ribbons to her hair to have it trail on the floor like Rapunzel, but it looked more like Princess Serenity (although she did get TANGLED up in it like a familiar scene in said movie).

I'm glad The Silver Chair movie is being made. I didn't realize the Narnia films did so bad at the box office that the series was cancelled. At this rate I'll never get to see Magician's Nephew made. Please don't let this new movie suck. I want it to keep going.

Tales of Kingdom Hearts and Fast Food

Nope it was Berseria. This is what happens when I let people correct me; I always think I'm wrong. Even dubbed, I still don't care. After that, the Zestiria story proper diverged from its video game counterpart, but I assume that was done for time. That doesn't mean I have to like it, though. They even did some parts offscreen then flashed back to them later. The way they call the drake "dragon puppy" in Engrish is weird too. And I found part zero dubbed elsewhere. Alisha should not be a tomb raider, but she can have a conga line for peace. She's seen some shit.

Marluxia's zodiac segment went up as planned, and it got two views overnight (whereas Lexaeus' got one view in about five weeks). That only leaves two more, and it should be pretty easy for people to figure out who they are (if anyone cares). I felt a little uneasy posting it on 9/11, but that's what the schedule worked out to, and it's just another day. The world doesn't have to stop because of something terrible that happened 15 years ago. You just need to keep it in your thoughts. People who were the same age I was at the time are learning about it without having lived through it. That's some perspective. Besides, I already referenced it in my Ninja Turtles: Next Mutation project. I can't wait til KH III comes out so I can work on the amv for that one. I've got a great idea for the stinger (it makes me laugh, anyway). For some reason, I keep having dreams about Ansem and the apprentices having to fight Maleficent. I can't really finish my story about if Xehanort lost in BBS without seeing how the events of KHIII affect her. I find it funny that Arby's did an ad featuring a Keyblade since there was that one fan comic I dubbed wherein Vexen and Zexion went to Arby's.

I was finally able to buy a Crystal Pepsi. For once, The Walgreen's had a few in their mini-fridge left when I stopped there on my way home. People must buy them first thing in the morning because there usually aren't any left for me at work or Walgreen's by the time my shift is over, which is mid-afternoon. It just tastes like a Pepsi, which is still pretty good since I've been drinking mostly Coke at my fiance's house (and there's a Coke bottling plant halfway between work and home). My senses are tricking me into thinking it's Sprite, but it isn't. I like it. We stopped at a 7-11 for slushies the other day, and I got the Skittles green apple one. That was pretty great too. Speaking of my fiance, he's been playing Nuka World. He plans to use all of the Raider clans to get their achievements (and Gage's perk) before killing them all to make the park an actual park again.

Top 10 Channel Awesome Duos

10. Malcolm and Rob as the Chart Guys (various). Specifically, they were in top form in the Alvin and the Chipmunks review, and I liked their song lyrics in the Phantom of the Opera review. In general, I'm not too interested in these characters, but they look like they're having fun.

9. Doug and Tamara as Uncle Lies and Aunt Deceit/Despair (various). They were standout characters in The Happening review, and even before that when they weren't named (they'd just been labeled The Abusive Parents). They're not my favorite characters in the new review format, but they are good for a laugh. "Our daughter is a twat!" "You guys like hotdogs, right?"

8. Count Jackula and the Horror Guru (various). While I don't watch either of their shows (horror's not really my thing), I have seen them pop up in other people's reviews, and I loved it when they were in Some Jerk's Haunted Mansion review. More recently, they appeared in Calluna's review of Scooby-Doo & KISS Rock and Roll Mystery (though I could've sworn they'd done a KISS episode in the past) by helping her kidnap Luke Spencer of Rocked Reviews (as well as stick around for commentary and the hallucination at the end). I've mentioned before how much I enjoyed Jack's song in part two of the Haunted Mansion Review, but Horror Guru was no less entertaining (especially the running gag of shaving his head between the pre-filmed bits and the actual review segments).

7. Billy Jo and Patty as Doctor Affect and Nurse Cause (various). I too was under the assumption that these two had their own show, but they don't. They are two of ERod's allies in the Blockbuster Buster reviews. They are actually a couple, so their back-and-forth is believable as well. I especially liked when he was criticizing her for the breach in security and she just flipped him off. Lately they've taken on the personas of Doctor Doom and his assistant, but they are nowhere near as funny as their completely original Cause and Affect (except maybe the "Don't You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me" bit).

6. Film Brain and Mike J, Uncanny Valley. These two are friends in real life and have appeared in each other's videos before. However, their submission into the Year Five movie Uncanny Valley took things to the next level. I enjoyed their interactions more than I did the ones between Film Brain and Luke Mochrie in the Year Three and Four films. Their performance is the most sincere, even if they don't swing that way.

5. Doug and Tamara as Devil Boner and Hyper Fangirl (various). I can't help but smile at this pairing. It seemed to come out of nowhere, as they weren't introduced at the same time and even got together offscreen (as revealed at the end of the Mad Max Fury Road review). The joke could've been satisfied by any character played by Doug, but DB was the most over-the-top to match Hyper's enthusiasm. Their interactions during the Old vs New Cinderella review were the best, showing that he'd do anything for her (including fight Benny over her and settle the Old vs New argument himself).

4. Tim and Beth, Phantom of the Opera review. I have seen a few episodes of their show Shark Jumping, but their appearance in the Phantom of the Opera review was outstanding. I'd say their being a real couple helped in this instance, as they were stand-ins for Raul and Christine. This was hilariously turned on its head as Tim and the others barely noticed her absence when she was kidnapped by the Fandumb Ghost (at most, Tim found himself without a ride home). They've made appearances in other  videos, but this one was the highlight.

3. Elisa and Paul, Les Miserables review. Like Tim and Beth, the couple was put into a musical production of the movie being reviewed as the romantic leads. In this case, they were the love-at-first-sight cliche in which they pretty much ignored everyone around them. Unlike Tim, Paul was sad to see Elisa go (Kyle tricked her into thinking there was a Buffy marathon going on downstairs). "Cockblocker!" These days they put out the occasional video, including their baby son.

2. Doug and Brad as Adam and Jamie, Sharknado review. It's crazy how well they pulled this off. Doug had all of Adam Savage's energy and enthusiasm, and Brad was as deadpan as the real Jamie Hyneman (even if the joke was that he had to drink to get into it). I certainly wasn't expecting the MythBusters to appear in a review about a deliberately ridiculous movie about sharks in a tornado, but I suppose they've done enough Shark Week episodes for it to make sense. I loved the parody these two did (the build team not so much, but at least the real build team are getting their own show now).

1. Malcolm and Rachel as the Devil and Evilina (various). Who else could be at the top of this list? While the Devil and Santa Christ can play well off of each other, it's not as entertaining as it was when Rachel was still around to play the daughter of Satan. Either bonding with the Critic over the original Dr. Seuss stories or torturing him under her father's tutelage (while annoying both with her My Little Pony obsession), Evilina is unforgettable. Malcolm plays the Devil so well that breaking character during the behind-the-scenes is quite jarring. The elevator scenes in the Devil review had him saying some of the best lines, like anticipating everyone turning to look at him accusingly or making up stuff about "Stupid Day." And of course there was Evilina in the control room the whole time.

Honorable Mention 1: Handsome Tom and 8-Bit Mickey. I didn't really know these two outside of the earlier anniversary movies, but who could forget them? Handsome Tom was the tall, mostly silent one, and 8-Bit Mickey was the short, excitable one (remember how he killed that federal agent when Tom wasn't around in To Boldly Flee?). Whether as themselves in Kickassia or as Willow and Peter Pan in Suburban Knights, it certainly wasn't dull with them around.

Honorable Mention 2: Nella and Elisa as Dr. Block and Dr. Tease. Lindsay/Nostalgia Chick's sidekicks appeared in several of her videos, but their standout roles were the two scientists. Nella as Dr. Block was the one grounded in realism and Elisa as Dr. Tease was overly enthusiastic. They also appeared in the beginning of To Boldly Flee when they were trying to decipher the message on the computer screens and figure out what was wrong with Spoony. They disappeared after the feds captured Spoony, allegedly fleeing to Mexico, and were never heard from again. Who knows what sort of adventures they had after that?