I know, it's a bit odd having 3 shows in a singular media thread post. However, a group of friends and I have this thing where we have our own mock-TV block and watch shows that we've been meaning to. And of course, these three shows all finished today, thus, I find it fair to put them all in one, large media thread post. So with that in mind, now I can start the media thread post proper.
Spectacular Spider-Man - 10/10
God, what can I say about Spectacular Spider-Man. This series is probably my favorite interpretation of Peter Parker, and is able to do a lot that the live action movies just fail to do, especially the MCU ones.
Peter Parker in the show is amazingly done, both the voice and characterization are great here! The show is really able to convey the nature and conflict that comes from trying to be both Peter Parker and Spider-Man. How that messes with his personal relationships, while also trying to ensure he keeps his identity hidden. It makes a lot of his supporting cast really interesting, as you can see how having to be both impacts them, and how it may harm Peter's relationships with them. Peter's personal connection are a major aspect of the show, and the supporting cast are given enough time for you to get to know, and connect with them, which I really like.
And god, I love Spider-Man's rogues gallery, and they're done to a great extent here. While I love the Sam Raimi Green Goblin, I genuinely think the Green Goblin in Spectacular Spider-Man is my favorite. His performance overall is really good, and already makes him a standout villain. Spectacular Spider-man also has some absolutely fun moments with both major and minor Spider-Man villains that make some of them really stand out. I'm not someone who's most knowledgeable with the comics, so I'm not someone who knows every single Spider-Man villain out there. The fact that this show got me excited and made me love villains I've never even heard of is absolutely amazing. I'd say there's only one villain I don't really like what they did with, but its fine, cause aside from that one, I think the villains are downright amazing. I love how they play off of Spider-Man as well.
In Season 2 especially, they began experimenting with how the show presents itself. The information or the events are expressed in really interesting ways that I absolutely love. It adds a sense of freshness and intrigue to a lot of the episodes, and it makes for great presentation.
Spectacular Spider-Man I feel really sad about, knowing that it's over. The ending is not really an ending at all, especially knowing that a Season 3 was planned, but canceled due to MCU stuff, if I remember right. The show just absolutely deserves a third season, not only due to its quality, but the fact that the story just isn't complete. And I really would like to see a proper conclusion to Spectacular Spider-Man in some form, it doesn't even need to be a cartoon! Just a conclusion in general would be something I'd love.
Cowboy Bebop - 10/10
What can I say about Cowboy Bebop that hasn't already been said? It's one of the most famous, beloved, and influential anime to exist and probably to ever exist. And it's a bit of a surprise that I just never watched it all until now. But I've come out of it just absolutely loving it.
The main of Cowboy Bebop is one of its absolute strengths to me. The main 4 characters alongside Ein have great dynamics with each other, and it really makes them all remarkable. Spike Spiegel is easily one of the best characters in any show I've seen, but the other 3 characters are amazing in their own right as well. I love seeing how they interact with the people around them, in the world around them, hunting bounties or solving people's problems. They're amazing vessels to see the world through, alongside just being great characters to see as well.
And in that regard, Cowboy Bebop's episodes are amazing. I love how we get to see the world through characters that a part of it, seeing aspects of the world of the show. And learning about main character backstories slowly as the show progresses is so damn good. Learning more and more about the main cast really got me attached to them, even more than just seeing them interact with each other.
And there's so much more I can say about Cowboy Bebop. It's aesthetic, music choice, and a lot of its side characters and antagonists are outstanding. But god, those last two episodes were downright amazing, and I felt an intense wave emotions at the show's ending. I definitely feel like Cowboy Bebop is just one of my favorite shows of all time.
Unicorn Warriors Eternal - 6/10
Unicorn Warriors Eternal was a late addition to the mock-TV block due to a show finishing early. I thought it was pretty good, but I find it just has a good bunch of issues with it that I'm not particular on.
Unicorn Warriors Eternal is odd, because it's a show with great strengths, but great issues. I think its greatest strength is its main cast, their dynamics are really fun, and they have some really interesting concepts behind them. And the general premise of the show has great promise, Warriors being resurrected across time to fight an ever reviving evil is such an interesting idea. But I just don't think the show lives up to its potential.
The big thing about the show that I really dislike is its pacing. I think it's just paced horribly. Particularly, there's stuff that ultimately happen way too quickly, while other events take up way too much time. Unicorn Warriors Eternal's story lasts 10 episodes in total, but it could probably use double that amount with how much it tries to cram in. And that ultimately leaves things undercooked, or over way too soon. There's a big emotional arc between two characters that starts and resolves in like, 10 minutes and it's just a bit disappointing to me.
And as well, for a show like Unicorn Warriors Eternal. The show leaves on a very "Please give us a Season 2" sort of ending, and while I enjoyed the show, this sort of ending just kinda blows. I would've rather it concluded, because especially with the show's pacing, I'm not really dying for another season of this show, nor do I think this kind of ending the show has is earned just yet. While the show itself isn't bad, it's got some issues I feel.
