Writing About All Things Pop Culture
Pop quiz: do you guys know why sports movie or anything that involves a lot of training includes a montage? Because if we had to sit through all the training, then we’d get bored super fast. Also, given how risque some of the training the heroes of Edens Zero is, it’s for the best. This week, Edens Zero finishes its training, gets back on the road, and back on the hunt for Ziggy!
When you spend your life accumulating enemies, you have to wonder: is it them, or are you part of the problem? This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a cartoon make a famous hero deal with this dilemma. The Batman:TAS episode “Trial” did a great job with this concept. Still, given how many enemies Scrooge McDuck’s made, you have to wonder if he’s egging them on. That’s why this episode sees Scrooge taken to karmic court. Is he responsible for making his worst enemies? Spoiler alert: they were all jerks before he met them.
Ever since we first met old man Hyogoro in Udon Prison, I liked him. He was the first friend Luffy made while he was on his “involuntary vacation.” Then it turns out he was once the badass leader of the Yakuza in Wano, and my respect for the guy grew even more. Luffy found himself a powerful ally and teacher in Boss Hyogoro, and now the old man’s repaying his debt to Luffy by helping to free Wano. But will it cost him his life in the end?
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE DROUGHT’S OVER! After a months-long vacation, Amphibia officially returns for the second half of Season Two. And given the trailer that Disney dropped on YouTube, Matt Braly’s team has big plans for the show. Legend of Zelda-esque temples; ancient puzzles and prophecies; even greater mysteries to solve. I am beyond pumped for what’s to come. Before any of that can happen, though, it’s time for Anne and the Plantars to return to Wartwood in the season 2 opener. Which, for some reason, dropped on Disney Channel Africa already, then got leaked onto the Internet. It’s like that one episode of The Owl House from months ago, but I can’t complain.
Well, everyone, it’s finally over. Nine weeks, six decades of sitcoms, twists and turns around every corner, and it’s over. We’re at the series finale of WandaVision. So, did we get everything that we wanted out of the series finale? No, we didn’t. My theory about Pietro turned out to be wrong, but more on that later. But unlike some shows whose series finales can leave us disappointed (*cough* Game of Thrones *cough*), there’s not much to be dissappointed about here. It’s Marvel; we know that there’s going to be more to the story later on, so the story will continue. Ergo, I’m reviewing each part of the finale and where the show goes from here. It’s series finale time.
So, I think that we can all agree that, whatever Mashima has planned for Edens Zero, Rebecca’s going to be a big part of it. Time and again, we’ve seen how powerful her ability to manipulate time can be. A power that she’s only started to scratch the surface of, at that! The path forward is obvious: if Rebecca wants to keep up with everyone, she’ll need to master her time Ether. She’ll need to become a Time Witch.
Let it be known here and now to all who read this. The 2017 reboot of DuckTales is the ultimate love letter to the legendary Disney Afternoon block! They have included the likes of DarkWing Duck, Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers, Goof Troop, Quack Pack, Gummi Bears, and even Bonkers. But as the show enters its home stretch, it finally adds the last show from the Disney Afternoon: TaleSpin.
You know that famous line from The Incredible Hulk TV series starring Bill Bixby? “Don’t make me angry. You won’t like me when I’m angry.” That line can be applied to anyone who’s mad. And if there’s one thing that will make the Straw Pirates mad, it’s messing with their friends and crewmates. Case in point: Nico Robin’s going to demolish the spider-lady who captured Sanji. This should be fun.
Ever since WandaVision started, fans have been relentlessly asking questions about it. Is someone controlling Wanda and making her do this? How the heck did Pietro and Vision come back? Is Agnes really Agatha Harkness? But do you know what the biggest question has been? It’s how did the event dubbed the “Westview Anomaly” start, and how did Wanda’s powers start acting like they were on steroids? Not one knew the answer to those last two; not even Wanda.
That changes with the penultimate episode. Naughty Agatha makes Wanda take a trip down memory lane that reveals the truth about the Westview Anomaly. And that’s only the start of the bombshells we get this week.
So, I think that we can all agree that after the knockdown, dragged out fight on Foresta, Shiki and the others all need training. If they’re going up against Justice, Ziggy, Shura, and Emperor Nero, they need to get stronger. Thankfully, Xenolith is going to train Shiki up to defeat his Grandpa, and the others are going to get in on this. But I should warn you guys: Xenolith’s training methods are a little…out there.
When I first met this version of Fenton Crackshell Cabrera, I didn’t think much of him. But now, he’s yet another stellar member of an already amazing cast that I’ve grown to love. It’s only fitting that one of the final episodes focuses on him finding a sense of happiness and accomplishment in life in the new episode “Beaks in the Shell”.
The war for Foresta’s come to an end, and all that’s left is for each faction to pick up the pieces. Now that Shiki knows what his Grandpa will do, he’s more determined than ever to stop him/bring him to his senses. However, Edens Zero isn’t the only group after Ziggy. Emperor Nero’s Elite Guard, the Oceans 6, have set their sights on the Demon King. In other words, the heroes will have a new enemy to fight in the near future! And what’s worse: Shura’s leading them!
You guys ever hear the story of Momotaro? It’s an old Japanese tale about a boy born from a giant peach. In the legend, Momotaro goes to Onigashima to defeat the demons residing there. And during his journey, he convinces three talking animals to join him in exchange for the Kibi Dango he has. The four beat up the demons, take their loot, and come home as heroes.
Why am I bringing this up? Because the latest chapter of One Piece made me realize that cute little Otama’s the manga’s version of Momotaro.
If you thought last week’s episode of WandaVision was crazy, then you haven’t seen what this week’s episode does. See, what happens is…wait a minute, I’m not telling you guys! You should read my review and find out!
After about four months of fighting, more fighting, and confronting emotional trauma, the Foresta Arc seems to be coming to an end. Ziggy’s mad plans for Foresta have been thwarted, the machines have come to their senses, and the whole planet can begin to heal. And mourn the ones they lost. In the long-term, this will lead to potential strife and discord in the Aoi Cosmos. However, in the short-term, the Edens Zero gained an important victory with the defeat of Muller. Now, for the first time, we get to see Kleene truly smile. And it is beautiful!!
When we learned that the Alliance planned to storm Onigashima in a surprise attack and face an enemy force that was six times their size, I knew that Luffy and his friends were in for a tough fight. So far, they’ve held it together, with the Alliance already taking out some key members of the Beast Pirates. Plus, the Worst Generation of Pirates is now locked in combat with Big Mom and Kaido themselves. Even after all this, though, I know that the heroes face down long odds if they want to win. And unless they do something to thin out the enemy’s ranks, they’re going to get overwhelmed.