Kaze no Stigma

[Kraco]

The warming fire and the cooling wind:

Episode 9 - AniYoshi

[animus]

Seems like he has a bit of a brother complex going on O_o. Anyways, an episode focused mostly on Ren, good thing he's turning out to be like Kazuma (which is always a good thing). Haha and I laughed hearing Kazuma's evil laughter after wanting to destroy the Earth User family. This anime kinda reminds me of Avatar the Airbender (though controllng elements is a really common theme).

[Kraco]

Heh, it indeed looks like Kazuma is not only a shameless pimp but has also other villainous characteristics. Which is of course all the better! Aye, you weren't the only one who was made merrier by Kazuma's bad guy laughter!

I think there are some fundamental differences between Ren and Kazuma, and wanting to save one girl isn't actually an indication at all that they would be becoming more alike. We have to remember that so far Kazuma only works for profit (money or softer and warmer profits), and I guess for his own amusement whenever it suits him. Ren, however, wanted to save the girl, and he didn't really want to fight the Earth clan gorillas more than he needed to.

To be more specific, I think Ren either doesn't quite realise what manner of a man his brother has turned into or he sees behind Kazuma's tough outer surface. I'd personally prefer the first option, because I don't want anything to tame Kazuma.

[shinta|hikari]

Yep, it would turn out to be boring if Kazuma suddenly turns into a mushy hero guy, though such cannot be discounted since he has acted in such a way several times in the series already, especially towards Ayano.

[Kraco]

Very true. However, one reason why I like this series more than its overall level of quality otherwise would permit is that Kazuma has so far acted in a way I can totally understand and sympathise with. He's not an actual villain. The very fact he came back to his old home town and didn't launch an attack tells he still cares for the people whom he lost when he couldn't become a fire user. But he has already taught them a lesson or two.

However, his vast powers allow him much indulgence, and that's of course where the fun begins (on all fronts, including Ayano). His decision to handle matters with his old clan as business was probaby for the best for both of them: It technically keeps both sides equal (morally speaking) and is a firm common ground. I don't know if Kazuma wishes to sort things out more thoroughly, but I hope not. He doesn't look like a guy who would try to change the past. Maybe he will try to change the future, though. Who knows.

[shinta|hikari]

He is already changing the future just by being there. If he didnt come back when he did, the fire clan would already be erased, with a monster roaming around town. I agree with your assessment on Kazuma's traits though. No one would like another twisted Light around, and unlike Lelouch, he has more than enough power to own everyone else. I just hope it doesnt go kiddy and sweet on us, and maybe instead delve into darker ground.

[animus]

Episode 10 - AniYoshi

[Yukimura]

Lol @ Kazuma being extra malicious just for the fun of it, loved it. But Ren was also pretty impressive as well, he strikes me as much more competent than Ayano, certainly in brains if not also in power.

[Kraco]

Yeah. Ren is much more powerful than I thought, as well as competent, it seems, like you said. Hard to say how Ayano and his levels of raw power compare, though. Ayano becomes a bit witless in battles, so it's not like she could demonstrate her full potential (correction: she's actually witless all the time...).

It was good to see Kazuma's evil plans continue. As it is, this arc feels a bit disjointed, because there are so many factions: Ren trying to save the clone girl, the clone girl not wanting to be saved, possibly some internal struggle within the Earth clan, the fairies wanting their orb back, Kazuma working for the fairies but also wanting to shake the Earth clan for his own pleasure, and lastly Ayano, whose reasons are made clear in the next episode, I suppose. But it looks like it all will coalesce during the ceremony.

Hard to say how it all will end. This is a series where people also die, after all.

[shinta|hikari]

I dont think Ren is stronger than Ayano in terms of raw power. She has demonstrated the extent of her ability in the fight with the wind demon from before, wherein she was able to focus enough to use her power to its maximum potential and was able to greatly damage the enemy. Ren is much much smarter though, but if they ever fought, Ren will lose. I doubt a fight between two fire users will involve much strategy, and will probably be more of a test of firepower.

They also recognize her to be the strongest functioning warrior in the fire clan right now. She just has to stop being witless. (which interestingly enough, has gotten worse since Kazuma entered the scene)

[BananaFob]

Two ideas come into my mind here:

1) How come the Elder doesn't do any excorcism or protecting of his clan? All he does is just sit there on his pillow and drink tea.

2) I think the Elder is trying to hook up his daughter (Ayano) with Kazuma during the school-ghost arc.

[rgrintz]

i think he is to. it would help his clan to have someone that strong on there side.

[Kraco]

Indeed. Keeping that in mind, BananaFob could have also answered his own first question, himself. What better way to bond those two than to have them join in fights against common enemies, and without some old geezer by their side, distracting them from paying their full attention to each other? The old man might be as cunning as Kazuma.

[shinta|hikari]

Or maybe he is just trying to fulfill the role of the "wise elder" in the show, which entails that he does nothing and only "watches over" the main characters. Then again, he could just be damn lazy, and he has the right to, being the head of the clan.

[animus]

The guy's also pretty old, might put out his back throwing a fireball or something.

[BananaFob]

Ah, but the Wind Fang Clan's "Geho-sama" was a demon the Head said he was trying to prevent the whole time. If he was really serious about it, he wouldn't have let his two nephews (Head probably didn't know Kazuma was a contractor at first) and his daughter (without Godsfire) go up against a demon that Kannagi clan had barely managed to beat and went by himself to exorcise it.

Let me rephrase it:

If the Head was actually serious about the Wind Fang's demon and these other missions, he would go himself, instead of handing the responsibilities to Kazuma, Ren, and Ayano. He's Head for a reason, so he should take on the responsibilities, and not give them to the children to handle. Besides, he's not busy anyway, all he does is just sit there in his den drinking tea.

[shinta|hikari]

Weve only ever seen him sit there and drink tea because that is his place of interaction with the main characters. It doesnt mean he isnt doing anything else. (OMG he doesnt eat?? how does he survive!?! Get the point?)

He is the head for a reason, which means he cant just go into the frontlines and get himself hurt or killed. He may be strong, but Im willing to bet that Kazuma is stronger, since it was mentioned before that the strongest fire user was Kazuma's father (who Kazuma defeated), not the head. It doesnt matter if Kazuma was a contractor or not.Besides, their clan is following a very traditional setup, meaning that he may also be prohibited by clan rules from prancing around outside and doing missions for his men.

[Kraco]

The big troubles of the tiny fairies:

Episode 11 - AniYoshi

[animus]

Weak episode due to the fact that there is no malicious Kazuma laughter available! Looks like Kazuma can charm old and young alike now.

[Kraco]

Yeah, it was a pretty weak episode altogether. Kazuma was being a nice guy through and through this time. And furthermore, nothing that exciting happened, aside from some small revelations concerning the Earth clan.

It still seems strange how Ren was stronger than Ayano even in this episode. Perhaps not in brute strength, but what use is raw power if one cannot use it or it's totally ineffective? I think they should soon give Ayano some opportunities to fight succesfully against stronger opponents. While it's kind of nice to watch cool guy Kazuma saving Ayano time after time, in the end it's only creating deeper and deeper inequality, and I don't particularly want to see the gap grow too big, because I hate useless characters.