Thoughts on...the passing of Oscar Taveras

Another year of baseball is in the books. This year is a year sports writers almost dream about. You had Cinderella stories beating Cinderella stories (KC beating the Orioles; still salty about that), a new "dynasty" rise (the Giants), the Yankees and Red Sox not making it to the playoffs (hooray), and the Nationals kicking much butt, but kind of becoming unglued at the last moment.

This season also had tragedy in the form of the untimely death of Cardinals prodigy Oscar Taveras who, fittingly for the hype of his star, homered in his last at-bat.

Hearing the news of Oscar Taveras' death, it hit me more than usual. I heard this past Monday, during my usual morning ritual (waking up, dressing, heading off to work, etc). Perhaps it's because he was young and within my own age bracket, but I was stunned that this young man, someone seemingly so full of life and joyful over being able to do what he loved, he was gone. 

Now, I'd be lying if I said that I followed Taveras religiously. I saw he had a mountain of potential and homered in his first game. However, I stopped paying attention as much as the season went on. But, a death like this, it makes you stop thinking about baseball in a "oh, it's a game with a ton of overpaid athletes swinging bats at balls" type of way. Taveras was twenty-two, four years younger than me. A tragedy like this, it reinforces that you've got to be thankful for every day you're given on this earth, that you need to make the most of every moment.

Rest in Peace, young man.

-Johnthan

Thoughts on...the passing of Oscar Taveras

7:41 AM baseball, Oscar Taveras, RIP, St. Louis Cardinals, Taveras

Thoughts on...How to Get Away with Murder

(Or "It's like Lost and Scandal had a baby and Viola Davis is the adopted mother.")

When someone recommends that I check out a show, I tend to mull it over for a while (unless it's like Gurren Lagann or something, then I nose-dive into it). I mean, I've just gotten to the part of Breaking Bad where Walter tries his best to become surpass Gus Fring/Tony Montana and kills Mike and then realizes that he didn't need to. He ultimately did it because feels.

...Power-Tripping Hal?

So, when the blitzkrieg of ads/reviews/Twitter folks (follow me at @JohnthanSpeed, by the way; gotta start updating that thing) suggested demanded I check out the newest Shonda Rhines-influenced show, I reluctantly did so. Viola Davis is a great actress, Shonda Rhines has some good people in her circle with regards to watchable shows, and the ads didn't give away much. So, it had all the makings of either a colossal failure or a dominating success. There will be spoilers, by the way. Many spoilers. So, if you don't want to read them, look away.

Thoughts on...How to Get Away with Murder

8:11 AM ABC, drama, How to Get Away with Murder, Scandal, Scandal meets Lost, Viola Davis

(More) Thoughts on Gurren Lagann

A day or so, I received a text from my friend Dre. For those that don't know (read: all except for maybe five of you), Dre is the guy who suggested I check out Gurren Lagann in the first place, the "random college adventures" guy, the Kamina to my Simon. So, when he said that my initial thoughts were a bit pedestrian, I stopped and thought about it.

I agree, wholeheartedly. And not just because he made me GRIT THOSE TEETH! a few times to snap me out of a funk. See, while writing the TTGL review, I was finishing up Wolf's Rain. But, now that I'm not bawling my eyes out like some of my fellow otaku did at the end of Angel Beats (a series which was good, but disjointed at times), I can give a proper follow-up to the original post. Besides, what good is writing about an unforgettable series in a way that's, well, forgettable?

(More) Thoughts on Gurren Lagann

7:43 AM anime, comedy, Gainax, Gurren Lagann, Kamina, Kamina Shades, parody, philosophy, Real Life, Simon the Driller, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, TTGL, wisdom

Thoughts on Wolf's Rain

The past couple days, I've been watching this series Wolf's Rain.

This series is possibly one of the most depressing/saddest anime I've ever seen. In many ways, it's the anti-Gurren Lagann. I mean, even the catchy pop-rock opening is pretty much replaced by cold openings and mood music towards the end of the series (and not of the "Libera Me to Hell" variety). As an aside, the soundtrack to this series is also one of the greatest I've heard, partly due to its diversity, partly because of its beauty. For the TL;DR crowd, here's a synopsis, via Wikipedia:

It focuses on the journey of four lone wolves who cross paths while following the scent of the Lunar Flower and seek for Paradise [a Nirvana-type place, with "real-world" repercussions once "found"]. According to an old legend, when the end of the world comes, a place known as Paradise will appear. However, only wolves will know how to find it. Although wolves are believed to have been hunted to extinction nearly two hundred years ago, they still exist, surviving by casting illusions over themselves to make them appear human... 

In other words, it's in the same vein as Watership Down in terms of depressing animated series that actually make you feel something (but with a somewhat werewolf-y anime twist to it). Anyhow, since this isn't exactly a "review" or anything (none of my anime "thoughts" are, per se), the series has me thinking. Aside from being depressed to the heavens by the turn of events that occur, it has a bit of a "you need to appreciate everything around you before it's gone" feel to it (the characters Hubb and Cher, their side story and how it becomes a major point in the series, is testament to this). Also, an "a lone wolf (pun intended) needs a pack sometimes" idea creeps in, along with a theme of "redemption," usually through acceptance and sacrifice. Finally, there's a mantra of stepping up and doing what needs to be done--even if it's difficult--interspersed into the events of the series.

In short, the series is depressing. It's sad. I admittedly got all "lumpy-throated" a few times throughout it. But, through this depression, it imparts a lot of "real-world" knowledge and wisdom. Sure, the story is uneven at points, but the message is something even the most callous person can relate to.

As a bonus, here's the anime's closing theme, "Gravity," in all its heartstring-tugging beauty. Who knew a cartoon about wolves could make me contemplate life and have a bit of infinite sadness?

Thoughts on Wolf's Rain

8:52 AM anime, gravity, post-apocalyptic, Real Life, sacrifice, wisdom, Wolf's Rain

Thoughts on Kill La Kill

So, since I'm trying to go for a safe-for-work approach on this blog, you'll have to excuse me if there are limited graphics in this post.

Kill la Kill is what happens when you take Gurren Lagann, set it in a Sailor Moon/magical girl high school setting, and add in tons of fanservice. I mean, tons. It takes "Gainaxing" to another level in terms of its...bounciness. Here's the series in a nutshell:

Ryuko Matoi is searching for the person (key point) who killed her father. This search takes her to Honnouji Academy, run by the totalitarian student body president Satsuki Kiryuin and attended by Ryuko's soon-to-be-bestie, Mako Mankanshoku (who's probably one of the funniest anime characters I've seen in a while, just because she's always turned way up).

Mako, you crazy, crazy girl.

Thoughts on Kill La Kill

10:10 AM Gainax, Kill La Kill, KLK, Mako, parody, Ryuko Matoi, TRIGGER

Thoughts on Gurren Lagann

(This isn't an extensive review on the series, since many of those exist--and I try to do things out of the ordinary)

Thoughts on Gurren Lagann

9:28 AM anime, comedy, Gainax, Gurren Lagann, parody, philosophy, Simon the Driller, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, TTGL