Toppa Bashin – Episode 15

Oh good lord…

It’s a CHRISTMAS EPISODE!

I don’t mean to be an Uncle Scrooge, I love Christmas, but I fucking HATE Christmas Specials, Movies and all popular media surrounding Christmas.

Legitimately fuck this episode, I hate it already.

Why hello there Commentator-chan.

Hopefully you haven’t decided to bring Curators that are actually working for King Uchuuchouten as a Nazo-Otona this time around.

There better be a purpose to you being at this god damn Christmas party.

Because I refuse to accept being sewn to J’s balls as a reasonable answer.

Infact, give ME his drink. I’m gonna need as much as I can get to survive this episode.

God don’t let me get into the habit of drinking while I do these… I might fly off the handle way more than usual.

So J’s going to be a Special Guest in their “Special” Corner, and My Sunshine is presenting their talk show.

Lovely. And the only alternative is Bashin or Striker…

Man I really do not like any of our cornerstone holders.

Kyouka seems about as bored as I am about this Christmas party, and Okyou is trying to identify with her. It seems like Okyou is Kyouka’s only source of entertainment.

Apparently “the others” have been invited to do something without Kyouka.

Just because she doesn’t play Battle Spirits onscreen doesn’t mean she can’t enjoy it, plus Kyouka actively supports the fact that J likes playing it, so I’ve got no clue what she’s being left out of.

Well apparently “The others” were invited to make Christmas decorations for everybody.

Bashin having the attention span of a Goldfish (And the hair to match) decides to give up on making decorations.

Look at Striker, look at the pain in his eyes while he watches his dumbass friend give into boredm.

It’s got nothing on mine my green-shirted friend, nothing.

So you didn’t get invited to do much then?

Kyouka really isn’t missing out on anything is she? Nothing like a Christmas episode to do the equivalent of wasting a precious episode slot.

You know what? So do I! But I’ve got a duty to fulfil and you aren’t making my life any easier, Goldfish-head.

Yes.

That’s why we call them “Card Battlers”

That’s kind of what they DO.

Aibou out here acting like Battle Spirits isn’t the exact reason he’s able to fucking talk the ungrateful little rodent.

Yes.

Because the last time you went to J’s art gallery you scared a poor woman and embarrassed Bashin all for the sake of eating a fucking mushroom.

Which resulted in you getting your tail crushed.

Plenty of incentives to not be where Bashin is right now.

So apparently Bashin has been speccing into thoughtfulness, because he’s apparently prepared a “Special Present” for someone, and Aibou was about to blurt out the details of this “Special Present” despite it needing to be kept a secret.

Aibou has a higher chance of revealing Isekai to the world than Bashin does with his big mouth.

Who in the name of shoddy character designs is this?

Interesting…

I can’t read Japanese so this is complete gibberish.

Meanwhile, in the Kitchen, apparently no one at school has the mental capacity to bake a god damn cake.

Honestly how much do you have to suck to be unable to bake a cake? Even I can do that and I can’t even cook.

Apparently Meganeko has all the makings of a housewife.

And all that talent is going to be completely wasted on… Bashin.

So what was the Cake for? Just to impress Card Sensei?

An assignment? For a party? What was it?

…

I cannot wear this Smile Profile picture in good conscience anymore, now that he’s finally donned a fucking Santa outfit.

I just can’t. No sir.

I certainly won’t be a good boy if you don’t get out of that ridiculous fucking outfit Smile.

If it’s not an affidavit that serious plot shit is about to go down this episode, I will consider it a personal insult.

This joke got old BEFORE you got here in a Santa costume Smile, get to the god damn point so I can actually enjoy this episode for a change.

So rather than take the initiative and look for J herself, and possibly kill some boredom THAT way, she sent OKYOU to tell J that she was bored.

What a prissy little princess she is.

Do you reckon Okyou will tell J that in several years time someone is going to be reviewing him? Maybe that will prompt him to do something interesting.

Well, Smile’s fucked off. I can safely say we’ll be cutting away from this scene in a few.

Unless J decides to show us what’s inside that letter that was left there.

…It seems Smile has left J 2 cards. I can’t identify the second one but I definitely can identify the first!

The WhiteTiger Huck, a Cost 5 Yellow Spirit from the Hunter Beast Family.

With the effect of allowing you to deploy a White Nexus without paying the cost from your hand.

While J is a white user, and despite being a Yellow card, Huck is designed to assist with his deck. And in a big way too since J favours Nexus cards.

And contrary to my previous statement, I have actually identified what the other card is.

White Potion, a Cost 4 White Spell that refreshes any of your spirits.

You’re probably wondering why you’d want to use this over Pure Elixir, and that’s simply because of Pure Elixir’s attack restriction, White Potion effectively nets you an extra attack with a Spirit that already has, and also can be used for defence as well.

So those are the cards Smile gave to J. It seems that Smile is dealing cards like a typical drug dealer.

Nothing slips passed J Sawaragi like his Drug (Card) Dealer hiding behind his Helicopter.

Meanwhile, with the pair who are supposed to actually matter but are about as interesting as watching paint dry.

Striker’s asking Bashin and Aibou what presents they want for Christmas.

A Surprise to No one!

But of course!

“Just” to make an amazing deck for next championship?

As an avid lover of deck building, you should be re-building your decks for ALL situations.

Tournament? New deck.
Locals? New deck.
Fun? New deck.
Boredom? New deck.
Realised a problem with the old deck and need to edit a card out? Fuck that, toss the thing and build a New deck!

It’s… still going to be a Red deck with Siegfried. Only thing that might change might be a couple of Magic choices, or some new Spirits to change what is perhaps your early game plan.

But otherwise the basic strategy might be the same, we’ve only just started hitting the surface of deck variety.

Oh good, these guys feel the same way I do.

Battle Spirits is definitely more important than Christmas right now, probably because it’s August the fucking 8th.

…And they’re using Isekai like a personal bloody playground.

Isn’t there some kind of mission they’re supposed to complete? As Cornerstone holders?

We have King Uchuuchouten who wants the Cornerstones, but not much else on what the Cornerstones are actually meant to do.

This is becoming rather routine, I suppose it no longer really needs commenting on.

It’s going to persist in this god-awful practice until Season 2, no point raging against the pointless.

For once Bashin decides to make life easier for me.

You all got that? You all read your pamphlets?

Cuz I ain’t repeating it, only other thing I’ll note is that The MeteoriteArmor Monoqueiroz is at Level 2.

Bashin summons Lizardman and Rokceratops. With Striker at 2 Life this gives him enough Spirits to finish off Striker.

Bashin then levels up all his Spirits except for Taurusknight to Level 2.

Not that Taurusknight would be in any particular need to Level up thanks to his Awaken keyword, if Bashin attacks with him last then he can still swing with a hefty amount of power.

Lizardman attacks but is blocked by Monoqueiroz.

At 7000 BP, Lizardman isn’t strong enough to take out Monoqueiroz

Okay, now THAT was cool.

Monoqueiroz’ Counter attack just freaking throws a boomerang that slices Lizardman in two!

I guess we know the Studio got a bigger budget for Christmas.

Metalburn takes a life from Striker and Bashin passes his turn.

Bashin still has 2 spirits available to attack, but bringing an opponent to one life puts them over the safety line for most typical defenses.

If Bashin attacked and Striker countered, it would be supremely easy for Striker to just wipe out Bashin’s life, especially since Striker has 2 Spirits available, he would just need a 3rd.

Bashin makes this odd comment about Striker having not used The Fruit of Life yet.

Either Striker hasn’t drawn it, or he’s discarded it in favour of something else, which is appropriate given that his reliance on it was causing him issues.

And Striker, for like the first time ever, summons the Gowsilvias given to him by Bashin, here he summons 2 of them at Level 2, reducing Monoqueiroz to Level 1 to make up for the core.

Striker attacks with Gowsilvia and Bashin responds with a block from Taurusknight.

During the Flash timing he uses Taurusknight’s Awaken to level him up to Level 3, but there’s a slight mismatch here.

There was no Level 2 Marker for Taurusknight’s Level, so it was assumed it was just at Level 1, but apparently Taurusknight had 3 core on it before using Awaken and taking Metalburn and Rokceratops’ core.

So Taurusknight was infact at Level 2, and they failed to mark it. Add that to the fuckup tally.

Oh now they’ve put it there. Come on at least be consistent with your clarity.

Welp, Gowsilvia only has 4000 BP at Level 2. But I wonder how much Core Striker has gathered in his reserve…

…That answers my question with “Not enough” apparently, alright new card.

Another of Battle Spirits’ legendary banned cards. This is Life chain.

It lets you destroy one of your Spirits’ and gain core in your Reserve equal to the cost of that destroyed spirit.

I don’t know what specific scenario caused it to be banned, but I imagine bullcrap like Spirits that remain on the field when destroyed basically making you gain core equal to cost for no legitimate reason. Or triggering nasty effects on Spirit destruction.

Or maybe just the fact that it nets you more core than it Costs.

Like in situations like this, with 4 Green reduction that was 1 Core cost card.

Destroying Monoqueiroz gave him 5 Core, by playing that Card he now has 4 more Core to work with than he had BEFORE he played it.

And that’s not considering that he’ll just get back the Core he paid.

Life Chain can also be used during Flash timing, if you block and then use it, your Spirit meets the same fate but you get more core.

Card is actually just wack now that I’m seeing it used.

With 6 Core in the reserve, Gowsilvia gains +1000 BP for each, for a total of 6000 BP.

It’s Level 2 BP is 4000, so that beats out Taurusknight at 10,000 BP.

Later Taurusknight.

Thanks for playing.

So is Eight just Ryuk? Hoping that Striker will kill every other member of the cast?

Because honestly Striker is the Main character we fucking deserve after all this crap.

Anyway, Striker ends his turn after defeating Taurusknight.

Bashin plays Double Draw!

Alright place your bets! Will he draw Siegfried?!

…He didn’t draw Siegfried.

Instead he drew Flame Tempest and Mind Flare.

Unsure if he’ll use Mind Flare, I’ll hold off on reviewing it.

Bashin levels up Metalburn in preparation for his upcoming move.

With Metalburn at Level 2, it won’t be caught in Flame Tempest’s effect.

Sayonara to Shockeater and Rokceratops.

But Striker still has 2 Gowsilvias to contend with… Probably a good time for some of that Mind Flare.

I’m loving it whenever the characters state that there’s a new card, It makes my life so much easier.

Mind Flare is a Cost 6 Red Magic with 2 effects, during flash timing it will grant +4000 BP to a Spirit.

But during the Main step, if the opponent controls 2 or more spirits with the same name, you can destroy spirits until there’s only 1 left of that name.

Since Striker has Gowsilvia, one will be destroyed.

Since Bashin gets to pick which Gowsilvia gets destroyed, he obviously selects the refreshed one.

Now Striker has no blockers, and only 1 life to Bashin’s singular Metalburn.

And like Clockwork, Striker just barely loses.

Striker’s track record is Bashin and a Nazo-Otona, that’s basically it.

Poor guy hasn’t even managed to beat Suiren yet either.

So when the show needs to pad for time, it just takes it out on Striker is that it?

Wouldn’t it be significantly easier to just… add another character?

With an original deck maybe so I’m not so godforesakenly bored?

Only so many times I can watch Striker lose to Bashin before I get fed up.

It seems Kyouka was SO bored she decided to just fuck off.

Instead of looking for J to cure that boredom.

All of these kids are just idiots aren’t they?

I presume the massive “J” on the card doesn’t mean anything then, but apparently the letter is addressed to Kyouka.

Bashin sent Kyouka a gift?

I’m sensing that one of the previous lines were incorrect in the subbing I tell ya.

I’m surprised J just doesn’t immediately shit himself when Okyou hops onto his shoulder.

Every single one of my other friends sound like they’ve been kicked by an angry rooster when their Cats try to hop on them.

…Given the time this was released it might be more accurate for Bashin to have sent this to Kyouka.

But is it bad that I still can’t bloody tell whether or not the letter was actually addressed to Kyouka or J despite the hint of it being a Love letter from Bashin?

J givin’ the letter the most supreme stink-eye of the series so far.

Judging by his reaction, it’s possible that it was from Bashin to Kyouka, and Okyou is entertaining the idea that Bashin wants some of that Kyouka sugar.

And she seems to be spying on someone.

Also god the school is dark, someone turn on the lights.

And Card Sensei is…

talking… with… his… turtle…

WHAT?

…

Fucking wow Bashin.

Like legit wow.

I’d fault Meganeko for forgetting she has a Cake in her bloody arms but for fuck sake Bashin don’t talk to someone that’s focusing if they’re holding something important, like a GOD DAMN CAKE

Honestly I feel bad now, that was a well made Cake ruined by Bashin’s stupidity.

Little late there Card Sensei, but boy do you have some explaining to do.

…Yep I certainly feel like crying myself, that was a well made cake ruined by Bashin’s carelessness.

I HATE HIM, I REALLY DO!

And they CUT TO A DIFFERENT SCENE!

NO!

NOW I’M FAR TOO CONCERNED FOR MEGANEKO’S STATE OF MIND TO GIVE A SHIT ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE!

And of course, Commentator-San is drunk off his absolute tits.

Oh how I envy this man at this very moment. I had a glass of Cider in the middle of this post but Cider isn’t nearly enough to wash away what I want to get rid of.

…Oh god no.

Commentator-San really cannot handle his alcohol whatsoever can he?

And Commentator-San starts trying to sing the god damn ending theme.

I wonder who the hell was managing the spotlight and thought it would have been funny as hell to entertain what is clearly a Drunk man’s rambling.

Well clearly he’s doing us all a favour and getting himself fired from Batosupi TV.

Hire me for that shit, I’d do a better job under influence than this guy.

#BlackAceForBatosupiTV

Apparently J is nowhere to be found after receiving that Letter that made his face crinkle in rage.

Concerned mother is obviously concerned.

She doesn’t read J’s letters, lets him be independent, worries about his well-being.

This mother is mothering right.

Where the hell have you been Kyouka?

There was a letter for you, from Bashin, that apparently J’s mother couldn’t wait to rid her hands of and gave to J instead of waiting until about now to give it to yourself.

…I take back what I said about her mothering correctly.

AH YES.

BECAUSE CARS ARE KNOWN FOR DRIVING THROUGH EXPENSIVE ART GALLERIES AND HITTING SMALL ENTITLED 12-YEAR OLD RICH KIDS.

Detective Sunshine is on the case.

You know, given that without J she has absolutely nothing better to do and is a good way for her to be ruthlessly shoehorned into the episode.

Okay, this ensures that it was indeed for Kyouka, despite the massive “J” printed on the card.

How could it be anything else?

But apparently Okyou was stupid enough to convince J that it was a god damn love letter.

So either Bashin is either super thoughtful.

Or he’s a 2-timing sack of shit who wants to start a harem with My Sunshine and Kyouka.

And given that he’s a 12-year old boy with absolutely 0 awareness of how girls feel, you can bet your ass that I’m going with the one that makes J look about as dumb as Bashin is.

Seems we’ll see what misunderstanding J’s gotten himself into.

…I…

What…

But…

IS THIS SHOW JUST DESPERATE TO MAKE ME LOOK STUPID!?

I AM NOW HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT BASHIN IS A 2-TIMING PIECE OF SHIT.

BECAUSE HE LEGITIMATELY DID SEND A LOVE LETTER TO MY SUNSHINE!

WHATS IN KYOUKA’S LETTER!?

AH YES, MY RAGE HAS HIT IT’S PEAK.

RIGHT AS WE CUT BACK TO BASHIN… Admitting his mistake to Meganeko-FUCK!

LET ME TAKE OUT MY ANGER ON YOU, YA FREAKING OXYGEN-WASTING TANGERINE!

Meganeko makes the absolutely infuriating statement that Bashin wasn’t to blame, and it was the fact that she spotted Card Sensei talking with his turtle.

Curiosity may not have killed the cat that is my anger but it’s certainly suppressed it. I better get an explanation for Card Sensei’s talking turtle and SOON.

Oh just FILL HER IN DAMMIT!

Striker! Do something! Just because you look like a Banana doesn’t mean you have to act like one!

Bashin, for the love of god please consider that all the Chosen Card Battlers are also people and have around the same intellect as you do, which is to say absolutely none.

So please don’t let Card Sensei almost tripping over nothing deconfirm that suspicion for the love of all that is good in this world.

So apparently no one has been able to finish the Christmas decorations in the Gym because apparently they were in need of Bashin’s materials.

But rather than owning up and saying sorry for forgetting, STRIKER admits they forgot, and Bashin just gets angry at the kid for not continuing what they were doing after they left.

And the kid just admits he was too much of a prick to actually do any work of his own after badgering Bashin to get materials.

Deep breaths, Deep breaths.

Bashin happened to that cake.

You should solve that problem by ensuring that it doesn’t happen again.

And the only way to make that 100% certain is Death.

Come on girls, get the axes!

This show is no fun.

Where is the passionate undying rage!?

Good, suffer.

You schmucks have ruined Christmas for me and it’s August fucking 9th (as of time of writing)

You still have FIVE Hours to decorate a Gym?

What was Card Sensei on about people being “Here soon” then.

Five hours is not bloody soon!

Five hours is exactly how I feel this episode has dragged on for.

And now the parents have arrived because apparently they have a 6th sense to detect when their children are being a waste of space.

Pfffft, and Hayami apparently got Striker’s brothers to assist with a lightstand to give off the bright light effect.

And with the power of parenting, they’ve managed to complete all the necessary Christmas preparations.

And yet I still can’t find a care to give, where’s J with Kyouka’s letter? I need him to beat Bashin’s ass for me.

Nothing like Bashin being an absolutely spoiled piece of shit in the middle of Card Sensei taking the time to give an important speech.

Ah yes! The enraged J has finally arrived to kick Bashin’s ass in the middle of his Christmas party!

…Please don’t tell me he planned for J to take his letter the wrong way just to fight him on Christmas day…

…THAT WAS YOUR PLAN?

TO HAVE KYOUKA BRING MY SUNSHINE ON A PLANE?

THEN WHY DIDN’T YOU INFORM MY SUNSHINE IN HER LETTER THAT SUCH A THING WAS HAPPENING AND INSTEAD JUST GIVING MY SUNSHINE A LOVE LETTER!

Where’s your fucking sense of curiosity? You have no idea why J’s here do you?

J is mad.

And I am happy that something in this show is as enraged as I am.

Except I have a reason to be enraged, J is an entitled little shit who thinks he’s in any way affiliated with his sister’s non-existent love life.

FINALLY, A FIGHT!

Who’d have expected you’d be firmly attached to J’s groin area?

Given that you’re apparently here now despite J having left long before you’d even noticed.

I see you’ve sobered up Commentator-San.

You made a bad decision, should have topped yourself up while you had the opportunity.

Because for me it’s 3 am and far too late for me to go get a Latte.

Well that was the quickest review I’ve ever had the pleasure of running through.

Thanks Commentator-San for making my life easier.

And J begins by using one of his fancy new cards.

Nothing like a good card review to ease the synapses I guess.

A lovely Cost 5 White Spirit of the Android family from BS02.

And oh what a new card it is. The CannonArtifact Megarock.

I decided to do away with the English card images, since they’ve begun having translation errors that don’t reflect how the actual card works. I’ll still use them if they’re accurate but otherwise, Japanese card images for the win!

Firstly, there’s a new keyword on the block, the Armor ability.

Armor is an ability that specifies a colour, and makes the card that holds it unaffected by the effects of Spirits, Nexuses and Magic cards of that colour.

So to summarise, Megarock is immune to all of Bashin’s Red effects, the Level 2 effect is a standard block BP increase, so nothing too special there.

It’s a SHINY BOI.

This card is actually really pretty, good on the animators for capturing that beautiful shine.

And we get to see the card we saw before, The WhiteTiger Huck. Summoned at Level 1.

Bashin is shocked! (shocked!) to see J play a Yellow card.

You poor poor soul Bashin, you haven’t arrived at the wonderful world of mix colouring yet.

But you’ve also got no place questioning J’s use of a Yellow spirit considering you threw three Green Gowsilvias into yours the first time you fought him.

Ah, the good ol’ Corridor of Mirrors

Anyway, after this move, J ends his turn.

Bashin explains his move perfectly so I don’t have to!

Shame that J’s Anti-Red strategy is still going strong.

Eyeburn is brought up to Level 2 for that hefty 6000 BP.

The benefit to Eyeburn needing a lot of core for a high powered level 2 is that Taurusknight’s Awaken ability will come in handy here, since Awaken may only take core from other spirits.

J blocks an attack from Taurusknight using The CannonArtifact Megarock, resulting in Megarock’s destruction…

Or does it?

The Corridor of Mirrors allows Spirits to remain on the field exhausted when they’re destroyed in battle by a Spirit of the colour they’re immune to.

So Megarock gets to block Taurusknight’s attack at 0 repercussion.

Am I the commentator for this episode or are you? J?

Because everyone seems to be making my life easier by doing my job for me and I’m getting a bit worried.

The WhiteTiger Huck blocks an attack from Eyeburn and is destroyed.

Not the loss was very damaging to J, Huck served it’s purpose the moment it was summoned, there’s no need for it anymore.

J takes his turn and summons Icemaiden and Baby-Loki.

J attacks with both Icemaiden and Baby-Loki and Bashin takes a life for both.

Bashin’s over the safety line now. With only a single life he needs to stop all attacks from getting through.

Is it a bird?

Is it a plane?

No it’s a new card!

It’s a card designed to support the Awaken keyword!

During the opponent’s start step, you can refresh a spirit with the “Awaken” Keyword, but if it’s at Level 2, you can instead refresh ALL your “Awaken” spirits.

Unfortunately while it is a useful Nexus, Bashin would actually get more Mileage out of just using Striker’s The Hermit Wise Tree, refreshes all spirits irregardless of keyword and requires 1 less core to raise it to level 2.

Plus it increases power, would just be better for Bashin to use that over this really, and The Hermit Wise Tree isn’t even Red.

Taurusknight is brought up to Level 2!

And Bashin drops his get-me-out-of-jail-free card. Flame Tempest

Megarock only has 3000 BP, but thanks to it’s Armor to Red. Bashin’s Flame doesn’t affect it.

All of J’s other spirits burn to a crisp though.

Sucks to be that Goradon right about now, Bashin still doesn’t have a way to deal with J’s 3 lives.

Second verse is the same as the first. Taurusknight is blocked by Megarock who remains on the field thanks to Corridor of Mirrors.

Bashin finally takes a life from J with Eyeburn’s attack.

Bashin ends his turn, and thanks to The Plateau of Duel, Taurusknight is refreshed on J’s Start Step.

…Oh, that’s the other card J got from “Smanta”

Welp, this match would be over except that a Level 2 Taurusknight has more than enough BP to beat Megarock, and not only that but Megarock has to be exhausted when The Corridor of Mirrors protects it.

There’s no scenario where J wins this.

Megarock decides he’s a firin’ his lazar and gets it’s attack reflected by the 5000 BP Taurusknight.

Megarock loses of course, but is protected by The Corridor of Mirrors.

AND add it to the fuckup tally.

There is no timing where Megarock comes out of this refreshed unfortunately.

Flash Timing can only be before Megarock has been destroyed, and if it’s in a refreshed state when it’s destroyed, then Corridor of Mirrors will exhaust it to protect it.

So White Potion cannot win J the game here.

Now we get this lovely little Winner’s card stipulating who won the match so I don’t have to!

What the hell is happening?

Now Now Aibou, let’s not be greedy shall we?

Bashin asked for cards, and said his present was a battle.

So of course Santa isn’t going to give Bashin something he didn’t bloody ask for, that’s not how Santa works.

Well, aside from the fact that by now we know that it wasn’t a romantic letter, and that J hasn’t even bothered opening said letter to check what was inside it.

But also why do Okyou and J even feel like they have any jurisdiction over Kyouka’s love life? She’s not an idiot, she can reject Bashin herself.

Doesn’t need her over-protective twin brother to do it for her, without consulting her no less.

Bashin denies ever giving Kyouka a romantic letter and J makes like Phoenix Wright and presents the STILL UNOPENED LETTER to Bashin.

So not only has he not confirmed that the letter is indeed romantic but now he just looks like a muppet.

But you know that’s par for the course in Battle Spirits Shounen Toppa Bashin.

And interrupting the argument between entitled-prick J and crappy-planner Bashin, we now have what Bashin ACTUALLY wanted from his silly letter sending.

My Sunshine in a Santa dress.

Oh fucking kill me.

And My Sunshine legit just starts singing an Engrish iteration of Jingle Bells.

I want to shake the hand of the voice actor who was put into a situation where she needed to sing this song and thank her for the pain and suffering she went through while doing it.

And then tear her writer’s heads off for putting me through it too.

No! No she is not! That shade of Pink DOES NOT go with a deep Red!

Well at least you’re happy Meganeko.

If anything was achieved today at least.

Meanwhile the Manager who seems organise My Sunshine’s schedule mostly without her input tells her that they gotta scoot.

She was there for all of a few minutes.

I get you want to encourage her but seriously, this Manager’s scheduling is WACK.

And of course Hayami the Speed Star hurtles toward My Sunshine at neck-breaking speed.

…I know what I said.

Piss off, My Sunshine.

Grateful?

You should be tearing his ears off, how are you not offended that your brother nicked your letter without even telling you about it, and going off on his own and POTENTIALLY ruining a surprise Bashin was trying to set up.

Bashin’s definitely an idiot for using such a method because it was NOT surefire to work but J’s apparent penchant for assuming the randomest shit at the suggestion of Okyou was a HUGE factor in that error.

“misunderstood” is an understatement.

Probably the biggest of the ones so far.

Hayami chimes in saying that Bashin wasn’t the one who sent out those cards.

If anyone’s confused, Toppa is Bashin’s first name. Hayami’s name is officially “Hayami Bashin“

So apparently J read “Bashin” and decided it was immediately the fiery haired gremlin Hayami popped out instead of Hayami herself.

Try not to think too hard J.

I know not assuming makes your brain work overtime but you can manage this.

…Oh, that’s clever.

So we were initially led to believe that Bashin sent a love letter to Kyouka or My Sunshine when in fact Bashin wanted to get My Sunshine down there as a present to Meganeko.

Bashin’s thoughtfulness was apparently way higher than we anticipated. This is super wholesome and I’m happy for Meganeko…

…Aaaaand you ruined it.

You ruined it and I want to leave.

Apparently the Battle Spirits stadium has some christmas lights set up on it, while Kyouka admires it, J acts like the edgey rival he is and stares at the 2 cards he just got.

I’m sensing his attachment to receiving cards from Smile and Elliott won’t stop with just this. It may seem like a one-sided benefit in J’s favour but as this episode has shown us, J is starting to become reliant on these regular updates to his card pool to win him games.

It’s nice to see J use another colour in his deck though. That’s definitely representing Smile’s influence slowly creeping in.

Oh thank god.

I will make this episode review relatively short, there are only 4 parts I liked about it.

Firstly being J receiving cards from Smile.

Secondly, J defeating Bashin using both of those new cards.

Thirdly, Seeing the suspicious Card Sensei communicating with his Turtle, Guriguri.

And finally, seeing Meganeko’s happy expression.

Other than that I hated it, Christmas episodes are honestly the worst kind of episodes in any series.

Not because I’m a Scrooge McDuck, but because I feel these sorts of Celebrations have 0 place in shows like this. If it’s ACTUALLY Christmas I’m not spending it watching this crap, and if it isn’t Christmas then I just feel awful part-taking in it.

Not for me, thankfully the only other Christmas episode I’ll have to deal with is during Season 4, so long wait til then.

Oh boy. So our card of the day!

is Corridor of Mirrors, with specific focus on the “Armor” Keyword.

Armor is definitely a good thing to have, being able to make your spirits completely invulnerable to certain effects is always a good way to patch up any holes your deck may have against the colours you have armor against. Decks containing lots of armor cards will surely have a defense against all colours in some way.

The problem with Armor cards is that they’re pretty situational, if you’re using a deck of armor then you’ll be a sitting duck until you find the armor you need, and if you’re using a lot of cards with armor to a specific colour then your deck will perform way worse when not put against that colour.

Nowadays Armor is something tacked onto a spirit in addition to powerful effects, the armor being the icing on the cake rather than the main sell of the card.

But of course, this is a show with writing, so it’s a significantly better tool here than in reality.

Anyway, now that’s over, I can enjoy non-festive Battle Spirits again, I’ll see you next episode!