Episodes
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Happy Holidays to all our lovely listeners!
We have a not so festive episode this week. Joe’s got the Flu and Sarah has been busy with things but we manage to spend a lot of time talking about random stuff anyway.
In Chihayafuru, we finish up the regional tournament and jump right into nationals. Chihaya’s family troubles are resolved, Kana recites a poem, and Arata and his big hands finally re-enters the story.
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This week we learn karuta in a way I wouldn’t want to… but first Sarah and Joe talk about shounen fights and what makes them good.
In chihayafuru, it’s time to train the newbies, and what better way than at Taichi’s big ass house? Then we got to a tournament. Tsutomu is having a bad time because apparently cramming practice sessions and then immediately going to a tournament is stressful, who knew?
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Missing episodes?
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This week, we form the club! But first, Sarah and Joe catch up on their Thanksgiving breaks and chat books, reality TV, and much more! We also have a new ending segment, so get excited about that!
In Chihayafuru, we recruit the rest of the team. First, Chihaya tries to recruit a bookworm who hides in his desk. Will Chihaya do it? Or will Taichi have to (hint, it’s Taichi). Then we reconnect with an old rival and get him to join the team. These boys must stop running from their problem and start playing Karuta!
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This week we rekindle an old friendship and make a new one! But first, Joe and Sarah catch up on their favorite sidekick Robin iteration, the ACOTAR book series and more.
In Chihayafuru, Chihaya and Taichi go to visit Arata. He says he’s given up Karuta, but like, he’s not serious is he? No way. It was probably just a misunderstanding. This couldn’t possibly be linked to a tragic event. Never. Then we recruit our first member to the Karuta club. It turns out history and poetry is cool. Go learn some history everyone!
Recommendations:
Sarah -> Joe: Choice of GamesJoe -> Sarah: Harpy Gee -
This week we break out of the past and back into the present. But first we discuss the tragedy that is someone bringing the same dish as Joe's to Friendsgiving!
In chihayafuru, we finish off our tragic backstory by splitting all the kids up. Middle school arrives and we say goodbye to the karuta club. Then we just back to high school life where Chihaya is determined to make A rank! Will she succeed and strong arm Tachi into make a school club with her or will she taste defeat at the hands of some old guy? Tune in to find out!
Recommendations:
Joe -> Sarah: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from MercurySarah -> Joe: Forgotten Anne -
We begin anew, with new show, Chihayafuru! But first, Joe and Sarah catch up on our lives. Sarah’s sisters wedding planning is underway and she tries to watch some Kaiji no. 8. Joe meanwhile has just watched some good old fashion anime, well not that old, it’s from 2022.
We swipe into a new show! Our heroine Chihaya is ready to play some Karuta! Unfortunately for her, no one else is! Including her two childhood friends! We dive immediately into a long flashback to find out what happened to the three of them in these first two episodes!
Recommendations:
Joe - Son of the White MareSarah - ThredUp -
We’ve done it, another show in the bag!
But first we catch up on our lives since last recording, which has been pretty brief. Sarah is 54 hours into Dragon Age and Joe’s prepping for his parents to come visit, so that’s fun.
Then we roll into the final episodes for the big finale of Skip Beat! We’re both totally underhelmed by the ending but we talk about the show as a whole and we both had a pretty good ride. Sarah fills Joe in on how the story continues in the manga and rank the show against the others. Who is the best protagonist? Which school uniforms are the best? Which pair is the best couple? Who is the best side character? Learn this and more on this finale episode!
Recommendations:
Joe: Epic the MusicalSarah: Chibi Robo -
It’s happened, Dragon Age THE Vanguard has dropped and we talk about it for like 20 minutes.
In Skip Beat! We near the end with some fairly uneventful episodes. Kyoko and Ren start their TV gigs and both are on the struggle bus. Kyoko must figure out the source of Mio’s anger while Ren must discover what it is to love. As you’d probably guess Kyoko does better here. Just two more till the end!
Recommendations:
Joe - CloverfieldSarah - Dragon Age: The Veilguard -
We continue on with Skip beat as we approach the final arc.
In our lives, Joe has gotten one last taste of the Ren Fair before it ends this season and Sarah is struggling to find some good action anime with women in it. If you’ve got some recommendations send them in!
In Skip Beat we finish off Sho’s music video and move right on to the next thing, a TV drama! We finally address the age gap in the show as Ren starts to plummet head-over-heels for Kyoko as the last five episode roll up on us. Ren may be in denial but Yashiro is here to tell him that yes, he does in fact like this 16 year old. It’s cool dude, this is a TV show.
Recommendations:
Sarah - Diving Bored PodcastJoe - Over the Garden Wall -
We inch our way to a romantic subplot this week.
But first, Joe and Sarah spend some time discussing video game sequels, as Joe looks back at the Gears of War Franchise, and Sarah looks forward to the new Dragon Age game.
In Skip Beat! Kyoko finds away to get Rin off of her body and back into his bed, because he’s sick. Unfortunately for everyone, Rin’s whole life is work so he must power through. Will his weakened state allow him to finally connect with Kyoko? Then we jump back to what really matters, revenge! Kyoko gets a chance to star in a music promo for…Sho Fuwa. Kyoko must keep her hate in check long enough to finish the promo. But can she do it with Sho’s constant taunts? We talk about it.
Recommendations:
Joe - Fire ForceSarah - Dandelion - Wishes Brough to You- -
We cross the halfway point on Skip Beat this week!
IRL we’d been having some audio problems. But hopefully it’s all good for this episode. Otherwise, Joe has been watching some Gundam including the first Gundam complication movie in theaters and Gundam Wing! Meanwhile, Sarah has picked back up Life in Strange in preparation for the new game out soon!
In Skip Beat, Kyoko and Moko join forces to pass a commercial audition and maybe, just maybe, become best friends in the process! Then Kyoko puts on a new hat, as Ren’s temporary manager. She must hang out with him all day, which is weird for him because he knows they used to be childhood friends! When will he tell her? Will she find out on her own? Will she perish under the weight of Ren’s literal body? We will just have to wait and see.
Recommendations:
Joe - I Saw the Tv GlowSarah - Annabelle -
We approach the midpoint of Skip Beat! In our lives, Joe has gotten some finger surgery and thus had to play with the Office Dictation function. Apologies for the summary everyone! Meanwhile Sarah has plans for a girls' night with her work bestie.
In Skip Beat! we cap off the Maria arc and get back to what truly matters, revenge on Sho. Kyoto attempts to humiliate him on Live TV and we wonder why Shotaro is an embarrassing name. Then we jump to a new plot line feature Moko and her childhood bully. Can Kyoko help Moko defeat her enemies with the power of spite? We’ll have to watch to find out! Recommendations:
Joe: They Live (1988)Sarah: Pachinko -
This week Kyoko solves child trauma through acting. But first, Joe tells us about his Disney World Trip and tries to convince Sarah to take her family to the club. Then we talk about One Piece for some reason.
In Skip Beat, we finish off the Ruri arc as Kyoko does her best to win the acting competition despite her fractured leg. Then we pick up a new member of the Love Me section and solve a little girl’s family problems. All of this takes like two days, Kyoko is a miracle worker. She should get a tuition waiver.
Recommendations:
Sarah - Tales from the Borderlands
Joe - T90Official (Age of Empires 2)
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We seek acceptance in the Love Me section this week. In real life, Sarah tells us all about her TwitchCon experience while Joe finally finishes Scavengers Reign. We didn’t play Baulders Gate this week so we got recommendations! In Skip Beat, Kyoko joins LME. She gets assigned as the only member of the Love Me section, a thinly disguised attempt to make her do grunt labor. Her first major assignment is to protect the last Japanese Idol, Ruri, from the sun. Will she be able to achieve this daunting task without major injury? No, the answer is no.
Recommendations:
Joe - Kubo and the Two StringsSarah - Golden Hour -
We start off a new show this week! But first, we catch up with the exicting updates of our real lives. Sarah is getting ready to ship off to TwitchCon, but in the meantime she’s bought her first albums for her record player. Joe, on the other hand, has watched the Code Geass sequel and is getting some real sequel Star Wars energy from it (derogatory). We also decide to swap out of recommendation segment for a little update on our Baldur's Gate 3 playthrough, which you can watch on Twitch.
In Skip Beat!, we are out for revenge! We get into Kyoko’s tragic origin story and cheer her on as she plots her vengeance. She resolves to be in ShowBiz and we work through our complicated feelings about that industry. Then it’s off to the audition and we see what talent she’s got to show off. It’s…unexpected. But will it be enough to land a spot in ShowBiz? Will she ever get her revenge? Will she ever experience love again? Come find out!
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Kamisama Kiss has surprisingly been difficult to find streaming online so we'll be covering Skip Beat instead!
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We’ve done it. We finish Kimi Ni Todoke (for now). IRL, Joe is back on his VOTOMS grind watching the OVA Pailsen Files, while Sarah has arrived at the dreaded 8th season in her Game of Thrones rewatch.
In Kimi Ni Todoke, we pick up from last episode to finally resolve the conflict between Kazehaya and Sawako and we scratch our heads in confusion over the idea of cherishing someone. The girls catch each other up on what they’ve been doing this season. Then we finish off the season with a good old Christmas party! We finish up with a our final thoughts on the show and what we’d want from a Season 4 of one gets made!
Recommendations:
Joe - The Tombs of AtuanSarah - Hot Gimmick -
Twas the ep before ending, and all through the pod, we want Kazehaya to be better, because really good god! He won’t open up to his GF, making her jump through many a hoop. He’s acting absurd, like a real nincompoop. Elsewhere Kento keeps trying, to win Ayane’s heart. But instead punches a guy, which turns out fine for the most part. Chizu’s a wreck, as she tries to give a gift. But Ryu plays it cool, and they mend their rift. One more episode remains, how it ends we’ll have to see. So please join us next week, for rhetorical finale of season three!
Recommendations:
Sarah - Petite Princess YucieJoe - The Lord of the Rings (1978) -
Season 3 midpoint. We're franchise-pilled this week. Sarah has been watching season 40 (!!) of The Challenge while Joe has watched the new Alien: Romulus movie.
In Kimi Ni Todoke, we return home, but what happens in Okinawa does not stay in Okinawa. Chizu and Ryu are on the rocks, while Ayane is deciding if Kento is a good guy or not (spoiler alert: he is). Then we get some devastating family backstories and learn that Chizu has a secret brother??
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Two fifths of the way through season 2! IRL, Sarah has been re-playing Dragon Age Inquisition in anticipation for the next Dragon Age coming out soon. Joe has been entertaining friends, trying to make Ohio seem as appealing as possible. A monumental task.
In Kimi Ni Todoke season 3 episode 2, we go on a field trip! The crew goes to Okinawa and has some fun in the sun. Or at least, Sawako and Kazehaya have some fun (maybe too much fun…), Ayane and Chizu on the other hand, are having considerably less of a good time. Ayane has, then gets rid of a new boyfriend after an extremely underwhelming meet cute. Chizu gets all in her head after Ryu gets asked out by another girl. Lots of drama this episode! Come join us on the beach!
Recommendations:
Sarah - Land of the BlindfoldedJoe - Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - Show more
