Site Update 7/16/16: Moving Forward

On June 30, Examiner sent out an e-mail informing writers that they were closing up shop.  Since then, I've been working pretty much around the clock, trying to move as much content here as possible.  Alas, between the amount of content published, the fact that Examiner's site was a perpetually lagging and unresponsive nightmare (a likely reason it went out of business), and the short time frame (though to be fair, I got more time than I thought I was going to get) I wasn't able to get everything transferred.

Now, this shake up changes some things, but not so much.  The Stephen King and anime write-ups will continue, only the content will be posted here directly.  Sadly, the 'Rurouni Kenshin' write ups are pretty much dead in the water (for now anyway, I'll get to that later.)  I wasn't able to get everything moved and I'd rather not have that huge gap.  I'll likely watch it on my own time so that I can make room on the Netflix queue, but that's it.  The 'Dragon Ball Super' write ups will continue and I will also start up on other series.  I'd also like to use this as a chance to branch out into other things.  Reviewstream does allow me to do that to some capacity, but having everything here actually makes it a bit easier to accomplish, in all honesty.

How does the site shut down affect the business model, you ask?  Not going to lie, losing a revenue stream sucks.  However, Reviewstream is still viable and this site offers streams that have yet to be tapped (Patreon and Amazon affiliate links for example, both of which will be pressed harder.)  I've monetized my Youtube channel, though that's not going to mean anything until I actually start posting content there.  It's probably just going to be vlog stuff, but it'll (hopefully) help a bit and should add some variety to the page.  For those who are looking to redistribute their wealth, either for the sake of income equality or because being rich is too much of a burden for you; or those who have qualms about using Patreon, I've also added a Paypal button to the page.  It's way down at the bottom for the sake of quasi-subtlety, but it's there if you go looking for it.

Another question that may arise is whether or not I'm going to go back and "re-do" the content that was lost in the shut down.  At this point, the answer is no.  I know, it sucks having an archive full of dead links.  As of now, though, I'd rather look forward to new things.  I have, however, added a new Patreon milestone where I would go back to re-watch, re-read, and re-review everything that wasn't able to get transferred.  It's a bit steep ($7,000/month) but I think it's justified.  For one thing, that's A LOT of time and work on it's own.  I would also want to keep putting out new content consistently for the site and there is also the monthly short story and novella that comes with some of the lower milestones.  In short, I'd be earning it.  If that isn't enough, there's also the charity milestone which precedes this one to take into consideration.  

I suppose one could also use the $30 request reward level to help fill in the gaps.  I don't know why you'd want to waste your request on something that was already discussed and would be buried in the archive, never to be seen on the front page, but it is an option.

This was a bit of a curveball, but I think it's endurable.  In some ways, this could work out better.  This site runs a lot smoother than Examiner did, so readers will likely be more willing to come here rather than see their computer freeze up for 20 minutes at a time.  I also have more flexibility here in terms of content fodder than I did there.  Admittedly, the business cards I ordered a few years back are now useless, but I never really ended up using them anyway.  Beyond that, I'm going to keep making content and I've come up with contingencies to make up for the financial loss of the site's shut down.  If all goes well, this could end up leading to some growth in the future.    

'Dragon Ball Super' episode 51: 'Feelings that Transcend Time - Trunks and Mai'

You'd think that the fact that Bulma kept the second time machine wouldn't require a lot of explanation.  Oddly, the episode devotes a lot of time to detailing the circumstances. It was nice to see the flashbacks to the Cell saga, though. I do wonder why the others were so surprised that Cell came from the future. Didn't they know that already?  I'm pretty sure that at least Krillin was there when they went to go blow up the "present day" Cell in Dr. Gero's basement.  Maybe it just never came up?  It's not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things, but it was odd.

I also wonder if we're going into a "Terminator" situation where the technology from the future is what allows that technology to be developed in the first place. It seems like Bulma is getting a lot of her knowledge from "future Bulma's" notes.  I suppose a stable time loop is better than an unstable one, but it is one of those time travel scenarios that makes you go cross-eyed.

Said notes are actually vital, as the damage to the vessel extends to more than just the window.  While you'd think that the heroes wouldn't have time to waste, it seems they can do nothing but wait, as it's going to take time to get the ship in working order.

With that, Goku and Vegeta go to train.  As Whis isn't in the mood to mentor the pair, Vegeta goes to the gravity room and Goku goes to King Kai's planet.  King Kai's sour mood makes perfect sense, but I'm confused as to what Vegeta's deal is.  He seems to harbor some sort of grudge that comes out of nowhere and doesn't even fit with his "I need to surpass Kakkarot" schtick.  It'll probably get addressed in some future episode, but it was strange, regardless.

As there's really nothing else for people to do, the others just sort of hang around.  Future Trunks becomes fixated on Chibi-Mai, which is a little strange to watch, in all honesty.  I know those two were close in his time, but the looks he was giving the small child set off some mental alarms.

Once he snaps out of it, he does tell her how they knew each other.  This leads to the episode's highlight, as he details how the remnants of humanity mounted a resistance against Black's attack.  Said resistance is led by Mai herself.

We get to see them try and fend off the foe, only to come up woefully short. Of course, even Trunks' aid doesn't do much to help turn the tables either.  Black Goku is just that formidable a foe.

It seems that the writers are fans of "The Flash", as Black mimics Zoom's bullet catch rather well when her squad tries to pump him full of lead.  The scene comes complete with Black Goku dropping the shells to really rub in the futility.  Black's instance is arguably more impressive, as Mai's squad was wielding machine guns compared to handguns, meaning more shells to catch.

Even heavy explosives prove futile against the foe, though that was expected.  Even Black himself remarks that they shouldn't have thought that it would work.  It's good to see that humanity is still fighting back, but it just goes to show how hopelessly and hilariously outgunned we really are.  Then again, it seems like Black is something much more than anything of this realm.

Once again, we get some hints as to his nature. He says that he comes from someplace beyond the universe and he's deemed humanity the biggest failure of God's creation, hence his determination to wipe them out.

We see that Black has somehow absorbed Goku's fighting ability.  The villain also goes on to say that he's hoping to fight Goku again in order to get even more powerful.

Where the last episode had Beerus and Whis confused as to what Black was, this one suggests that they may have some idea. Neither one seems to remember, but both note that they feel like they've met Black before.  Whis is tasked with looking into it, but that's all they really offer.  It did make for a nice, cryptic way to end the episode. It isn't the biggest wham moment, but it piques the viewer's interest none the less.

Alas, overall, this episode isn't much to write home about.  The flashback....to the future was what really made this episode work.  The music featured in that sequence was fantastic and it was a great confrontation overall.  Black Goku continues to shine as a villain.  He got some great taunts in and the voice acting on his front remains top notch.  The mystery surrounding him remains intact, but once again, we got some hints that help form a better picture of the villain.  Sadly, the rest of the episode just seemed like wheel spinning.  Even the earlier reveal that Future-Mai is still alive never gets followed up on in any capacity.  Hopefully next week's episode will be able to move things along in a much more effective capacity.




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Stephen King bibliography: 'The Green Mile' part 1

Thus, we come to another one of Stephen King's door stoppers. On the plus side, he decided to serialize this and release it in six smaller parts, though you can now buy the whole work in one collection. As such, I can review it in a similar fashion. It will make for a faster read through, allow for more in depth analysis, and it will help curb lapses in memory. So, with that, let's start walking down the green mile.

Truth be told, this work doesn't get off to a very strong start. It isn't all that eventful and a lot of the characters are just relegated to being names. John Coffey and Percy Whitmore are the only two who make any sort of lasting impression. The latter is especially impressive as he really doesn't get a whole lot of page time. However, the character is frequently discussed, so you still get a feel for the guy.

Even the narrator feels a bit flat at points. As this is told through first person flashbacks, it's a long time before we even get his name. It's Paul Edgecomb, for those curious. Eventually, a character does name drop the narrator, but only gives the first name. Had it not been for a quick check on Wikipedia, I honestly wouldn't have been able to give you his last name. If it was mentioned, it was only once at the beginning, but clearly it didn't resonate enough to stick.

The plot centers around a newly arrived inmate at a prison in 1932, the aforementioned John Coffey. While Michael Clarke Duncan was rightly praised for his performance in the film, reading this proves that he perfectly captured the character and pretty much lifted him off the page. While Coffey is charged with a truly brutal crime, his demeanor doesn't seem like it fits. Even the guards (of whom Paul is one) are caught off....guard by his disposition.

Actually, one of this section's highlights was the flashback detailing Coffey's arrest. It was one of the more gripping parts of the book. It's one of the few parts where it seems like things are progressing and you feel like there are stakes involved.

Another highlight was the appearance of Mr. Jingles: a small, intelligent mouse that finds its way into the prison. It was something of a show-stealer in the film, but the book manages to make the small critter just as cute and charming.

On top of that, the mouse's appearance allows the guards to actually show some personality. One jokingly writes down the "visit" in the prison log book, while another protests that it would get them in trouble. The prior bit was rather amusing, but you get a much better sense of the comaraderie between the guards as they react to the rodent and watch it scurry about. That scene, which takes place near the end of the section, gives you a greater glimpse into all of their characters than pretty much everything that had preceded it.

As this was largely set up, it can get a bit dry as we're given a lot of background information. Luckily, the section ends on a high enough note that I am interested to read what's to come. Hopefully, the next section will be able to take the momentum that Mr. Jingles provided and allow for more character interaction and plot progression.

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'Dragon Ball Super' episode 50: 'Goku vs. Black! The Road Towards the Sealed Future!'

Last week's episode ended with a hole in the sky being torn open and a hostile, quasi-alien enemy coming through.  This episode picks up from there, as everyone stares in awe at the arrival of the mysterious "Black".

Not surprisingly, Beerus and Whis sit this out and act as spectators, yet it is their reaction that carries the most weight.  Both immediately notice Black's ring of time and also make cryptic statements about Black's power, saying that it feels strange to them.

Of course, it's ultimately Goku who goes to face his doppelganger.  It seems like all of the team members present are about to get into it, but he beats them to the punch.  The showdown manages to successfully showcase the differences between the two, but also the similarities.  More often than not, Goku's traits are presented in a completely different light, making for a great "dark mirror" character.
Take for example, Goku's love of a good fight.  With him, it's more about sportsmanship and skill, where Black's love of it stems from the violence itself.  Even getting hit seems to give Black some amount of pleasure, and in fact, characters note that his power level spikes after Goku lands attacks.  Whether it's a clue as to Black's true identity has yet to be determined, but it is quite possible.

While it is a fairly good fight, neither one really gets to hit their height.  Goku goes super saiyan 2, and does manage to fare better than Trunks, but the battle is interrupted as Black is pulled back into the time portal.  In true villain fashion, Black does destroy Trunks' time machine just before he vanishes, ensuring that the time traveling hero won't be able to return.

It is here where Beerus and Whis drop some major exposition points.  They explain that Black's ring is only used by kais.  This actually makes some bit of sense given the earring that Black wears.  Not to mention that it also hints at that kai-like character that appears in the opening credits.  More than that, the ring is used to travel temporarily to the future.  As noted, going backward in time is strictly forbidden, even by the gods.  It seems that Black was only able to do it this time due to Trunks' time travel.  As such, it isn't possible for Black to return to continue the fight.

I knocked on the ring before, but it is nice to see that it helps establish the character and also has very specific applications and limits.  The way it just appeared when Black needed it was suspicious, to say the least, but at least the writers are going somewhere with it.

The downside, however, is that the episode hits a point where it seems like things have wrapped themselves up.  Black is in the future, unable to return; and there's no way for the heroes to go there.  Even Beerus and Whis note that they don't have the capability to bring Trunks back.  Beerus has no ring and Whis' abilities at time manipulation are limited to what we saw back during the Frieza fight.

Trunks is distraught, but being stuck in this timeline wouldn't necessarily be so bad.  His family's alive, and he can keep fighting to protect this Earth from whatever threats may arise.  It also works from the viewer's standpoint as he was a popular character and we wouldn't be averse to having him stick around.

It does lead to a heartwarming moment where Vegeta assures his son not to give up and that they'll figure something out.

Sure enough, Bulma does.  It seems that she still had the time machine that Cell used tucked away in a capsule.  The thing is in clear need of repair, but it's certainly in much better condition than the one that Trunks used.

I said before that the writers missed an opportunity to have the heroes visit Trunks' time and it looks like that's where the arc will be going after all.  It was a decent fake-out, but seeing this should be interesting.

I still have no idea how everyone is going to fit in there.  The time machine is clearly built for one person.  Unless people can be put into those capsules, there's no way they're all going to fit.  I'm pretty sure that people can't go in, but if they can, that seems somewhat horrifying.  It could make for another weird, horrifying, alien setting, but we'll see.

All in all, the real strength of this episode was the new information about Black.  They didn't reveal everything, which is a plus.  It did, however, give you enough to start putting together more likely theories, as opposed to things like saying that it's Goten or Turles.  I still think it would be hilarious and awesome if it was the latter, but I don't see that being the case.

Having it be Goten would have been an interesting angle, in all honesty.  Given that Goku died long before, it obviously couldn't work, but had this been a different iteration of Trunks than the one who came back to warn the team about the androids, there could have been some weight there given Trunks and Goten being such close friends.

The episode's end suggests that the future iteration of Mai survived.  Well, she either survived or she was reanimated.  The way Black was clutching his chest, it's quite possible that Goku's corpse is possessed, meaning other deceased characters could succumb to the same thing.  We'll have to wait until next week to find out, though, as all we get from Mai is a twitching hand.


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'Dragon Ball Super' episode 49: 'A Message from the Future! Goku Black Invades!'

After two rather strong episodes, this one decides to hit the brakes a little. That's not to say that it's a total dud, but compared to its predecessors, it is a bit lacking.

Right off the bat, the cliffhanger where Trunks attacks Goku is abruptly resolved. Admittedly, seeing Bulma literally slap some sense into the future iteration of her son was fun to see, but it still seems like a missed opportunity.

I said before that his attacking made no sense, but he does somewhat justify it, explaining that last he knew, Goku was still dead from the Cell games. He also later says that he wasn't sure if he had successfully made it back to the past. I suppose it's possible, but considering that Vegeta and Bulma were standing right there, it's a little bit harder to believe.

Upon discovering the nature of Trunks, Whis and Beerus reveal that time travel is a very serious crime that even the gods are not permitted to violate.

Considering Trunks' noble intentions, I suppose this is supposed to be a bad thing, but truth be told, I am very much in favor of this "law". Whis is right; time should only go one way. I could point out that, technically, Trunks didn't time travel as he went to a separate timeline, but I suppose that's splitting hairs. Actually, is Trunks' Earth one of the 12? I suppose it would have to be, but again, that could be splitting hairs.

Fortunately, the two agree to look the other way after being given some fish sausages.

After a fair bit of comedic filler, the episode gets more serious as Trunks reveals what happened to his Earth. The good news is that he was able to avert the release of Majin Buu by defeating Babidi and Dabura, but the arrival of Goku Black made it somewhat moot.

We do get a few tidbits of information, such as the fact that Black has apparently traveled to several worlds and wiped them out. We also learn that he literally appeared from nowhere and just started wrecking stuff.

Unlike the androids, where Trunks came to offer a warning ahead of time so that the team could prepare, we learn that the plan is to bring the team back to his time.

Given how small the time machine is, it would have been a tight fit, but it becomes moot as Black arrives. Again, it's a missed opportunity. Seeing them go to the future and see what had become of Earth would have been really cool, but oh well.

You might wonder how Black was able to track Trunks when he clearly had no idea what happened before. Well, his time ring is able to detect the rift and reopen it so that Black can pursue. Yes, he has a ring that magically appears and can do that because shut up.

The writers totally pulled that one from an area where the sun doesn't shine. I'd say that it was plot necessity for the team of good guys to fight the big bad, but given that the heroes were on the verge of going back anyway, it's kind of moot.

Credit where it's due, Black's arrival in the present is appropriately dramatic. It makes for a great way to end the episode as Goku meets face to face with his nefarious doppelganger.

The episode does have a few highlights peppered throughout. The look on Future Trunks' face when he sees the still living Bulma speaks emotional volumes.

The bit where Future Trunks assumes that Whis is the god that the group speaks of was pretty funny, largely due to the look on Beerus' face as Trunks begs.

I also got a kick out of seeing young Trunks cheer on his older self when the latter spars Goku. Given the smirk, it seems like Vegeta got a kick out of that too.

Speaking of the sparring match, it was a little pointless, though I suppose it gives the episode an action beat. It was nice to see that Future Trunks can go super saiyan 2. Granted, it's completely moot given what Goku can do, but still.

Overall, this episode is a mixed bag. The second half is definitely much stronger, but plot progression is minimal. I really could do without Pilaf and his gang. They don't really add anything and are often a detriment. It doesn't seem like they're going anywhere, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. The next episode looks like it's going to be intense, though, so that is something to look forward to.

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'Dragon Ball Super' episode 48: 'Hope Again! Trunks Wakes up in the Present!'

2 episodes in and I'm already loving this saga. This episode was a blast and the story line is just getting started. It's really building up well and I'm looking forward to seeing what turns it takes next.

The episode opens with a rather tense stand off as Trunks, now alone, ponders his options as he is face to face with this new enemy who looks exactly like Goku. While retreating to the still intact time machine is the ultimate objective, Trunks decides to buy himself some time with a brief skirmish with Black.

It was kind of sad to see that after all this time, Trunks is still only capable of hitting the first level of super saiyan. I kind of figured that he'd hit 2, or even 3 by this point. Credit to him, though, he puts up a surprisingly valiant effort against the villain. True, Trunks ends up losing, but he does manage to escape.

I love how even Black doesn't know exactly what happened when the time machine disappeared. Whatever entity the thing is, and for all of its power, there are some things that seem to be beyond its comprehension. In any event, he's intent on finding out what happened and where Trunks went. It'll be interesting to see the story unfold in two time periods. You'd think that once Trunks made it back, that would be the last we'd see of the dark future, but that might not be the case. Who knows? Maybe future Black goes back in time to face the present day heroes.

He's already making for a great villain. He's very intense and revels in malice. The resemblance to Goku isn't explained, though it seems clear based on his dialogue that it's a different entity. Trunks seems to forget this, but we'll get to that.

When Future Trunks does arrive in the present, he's seriously wounded and unconscious. Luckily, present day Trunks is there when his machine appears.

There's a great "race against the clock" feel as he calls Bulma, who proceeds to contact Vegeta on Beerus' planet. The group teleports to Earth, where Goku has to go to Karin's tower to get more senzu beans. All the while, present day Trunks is learning more about this stranger. He notes the resemblance, and Pilaf suggests it's a long lost older brother. When Trunks' name is revealed, it just hammers in the fact that something is amiss. Of course, no one really has time to explain things to the poor kid, so all he can do is look on in shock.

Yet, for all of the tension that's built up, this episode gets rather silly at points. This was true in the last episode, but I think that this episode handles it better. The two elements just seem to blend better, though I can't put my finger on as to why. You'd think that the comedy would undermine said tension, but it doesn't. It's good, though. It helps add to the fun of the episode The humorous moments actually do generate laughs, so it's a welcome addition.

I'm torn on the ending scene. As Future Trunks wakes up, he sees Goku and immediately attacks. At face value, this is a logical reaction, given Black's resemblance. However, if you give it even a few seconds worth of thought, Trunks' hostility makes no sense. As noted, that being obviously wasn't Goku. His speech patterns made it clear, but that future's Goku had died long ago of a heart attack.

More than that, didn't Trunks go back specifically to seek their aid? Vegeta was standing right there, so he knows that he's back in the past. It might make more sense if he were still wounded and delirious, but the senzu beans generally bring people back up to full capacity. Also, Trunks doesn't seem too out of it when he starts throwing punches.

For all of the logical inconsistency, it was still a great way to end the episode. It was genuinely surprising, especially considering he had previously looked up to Goku. While he may be the same Trunks we saw back in the Cell saga, it's clear that Trunks isn't the same. It also makes for a great cliffhanger ending. True, Trunks isn't even close to a match for Goku, but the fact that he doesn't view them as allies anymore will likely pose a problem.

This episode started off on a high note and it just got better from there. Pretty much everything about this episode worked. I was never bored, in fact, I was pulled in for the entirety of the episode. It makes you wish that the episode had a longer run time because this was great. I'm really looking forward to next week.

'Dragon Ball Super' episode 47: 'SOS From the Future! A New Black Enemy Appears!'

The new story arc begins and, as teased in the last episode, this one kicks off with a glimpse at a dark future where the world lays in ruins. If you thought the future with the androids was bleak, this puts that to shame. It is both figuratively and literally a much darker future than what we had seen before.

I figured that this would be an alternate version of "Future Trunks". Between the darker world, the hair color change, and the villain (whose identity I knew going in ahead of time) it seemed like the more logical approach. I was surprised to see them directly state that this is the same Trunks who appeared back in the Android/Cell saga. It's nice that they made that clear, but it was still unexpected.

The villain this time around is a being named "Black Goku". No, he's not black. He does spend a majority of the episode manifesting as a sort of shadow being and he wears black, but really, I think that "dark Goku" would be the more appropriate name. The aforementioned reveal about Trunks also makes it clear that this isn't actually Goku, as he had died long before in this timeline. Could this mark the return of Turles? We'll see, I suppose.

The episode spends about half of its run time in this future and the other half in the present. This leads to a bit of mood whiplash as Trunks' dark future is contrasted with the brighter, more humor based scenes depicted in the present. The contrast was likely intentional, but it can still be a bit jarring.

Truth be told, I thought the future material worked better. There was more emotional weight and it did a much better job pulling you in to what was happening. Seeing Goku and Piccolo "train" by racing to see who could pull the most crops was amusing, but I don't know if I'd call it essential to the plot.

The nod to Goku's roots (ha) training under Roshi was nice. You'd think that at this point, this style of training would be bush (ha) league, but Piccolo notes that the activity does still yield results. Whether this was a way to encourage kids to get out there and exercise is unclear, but it is certainly possible. It goes well with the scene where Beerus is seen to be enjoying lettuce (of all things) later on in the episode.

It isn't a total bust, however, as we get some more information on the Omni-king. While he doesn't fight directly, his ability to destroy entire universes is confirmed. Beerus and Whis explain that there used to be 18 universes, but the Omni-king had 6 of them destroyed. It's jarring given his characterization, but it's certainly important information to know for future plot lines.

All in all, this was a solid start to the story line. The stakes are established right off the bat, we're given an intriguing villain, and (not surprisingly) it was nice to see Future Trunks again. I'm looking forward to this arc; I have a feeling it's going to be an exciting one.

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