Slayers eps 1-9

Slayers is about Lina Inverse, a young (15?) sorceress.  Lina is powerful and intelligent, but also brash, greedy and careless.  After she steals treasure from thieves, the thieves go after her and she's "rescued" by a swordsman named Gourry.  Lina didn't need rescuing, but rather likes the idea of being rescued by the handsome swordsman and swept off her feet.  Unfortunately for her, Gourry takes one look at her supposedly scrawny body(I dunno, I'm not the best judge, but she looks decently endowed to me) and decides she's a kid.  When he learns that she's travelling alone, he decides to join her as her bodyguard.  Gourry is big, good with a sword, sweet, cute, chivalrous...and has flies buzzing around where a brain should be.  Lina decides she may as well keep him, since he can be useful.  And he's cute.

Before long they meet Zelgadis, a young man who was turned into a chimera who wants an artifact Lina has.  He starts off bargaining with Lina(in possibly the bet scene of the series so far,) then they become enemies, and now they're friends.  He has some very impressive angst going for him.  First, he was a kid who wanted to be stronger.  So Rezo, the villain, made him stronger by making him part demon and part golem.  He has rocky, impenetrable(so far) skin and seems to be almost as powerful as Lina.  He seems to have given up on becoming human again, and just wants revenge on Rezo.  Except that Rezo is his father.  Or his grandfather.  Or maybe further back.  He isn't sure, but he's  positive he's descended from Rezo.  I was mostly busy being impressed by the repressed emo.  It earned him a place in my anime hall of angst.  It was quality.

In separate stories, I probably wouldn't care much for any of the three characters.  On her own, Lina is annoying, and Gourry TSTL.  Combined, however, Lina functions as the brain for both her and Gourry, while Gourry helps ground Lina and help her with that moral compass thing.  Meanwhile, Zelgadis would normally impress yet annoy me with his emo, but with Lina and Gourry as foilsm he becomes the one with common sense, and often works in the subtle snark and sarcasm.  Zelgadis and Gourry are also remarkably good at shutting up and listening to Lina.  She may be annoying, but she is smart, and seems to have a decent head for strategy.  Meanwhile, Lina will also shut up and listen to Zelgadis when the situation calls for it.  Gourry only gets such moments when it's time to show off his magic sword.  I am very fond of Gourry's giant magic sword of light.  Though, unlike Lina, I don't love it more than I love him.  

I really do wonder how Gourry managed to survive before meeting Lina, though.  When they're separated, she and Zelgadis are busy running nonstop from Rezo's men, while Gourry is aimlessly wandering around, looking for Lina.

The characters also run a lot.  And I mean a lot.  Oddly, while it's clearly a...err..."running joke" in the series, anytime they do it, they do it because it's the only smart thing to do.  I rather admire that.

Though...we're only on episode 9, and already building up to the "end of the world battle against tyhe supervillain?"  What will they do for the next 17 episodes?

Slayers eps 1-9

Slayers is about Lina Inverse, a young (15?) sorceress.  Lina is powerful and intelligent, but also brash, greedy and careless.  After she steals treasure from thieves, the thieves go after her and she's "rescued" by a swordsman named Gourry.  Lina didn't need rescuing, but rather likes the idea of being rescued by the handsome swordsman and swept off her feet.  Unfortunately for her, Gourry takes one look at her supposedly scrawny body(I dunno, I'm not the best judge, but she looks decently endowed to me) and decides she's a kid.  When he learns that she's travelling alone, he decides to join her as her bodyguard.  Gourry is big, good with a sword, sweet, cute, chivalrous...and has flies buzzing around where a brain should be.  Lina decides she may as well keep him, since he can be useful.  And he's cute.

Before long they meet Zelgadis, a young man who was turned into a chimera who wants an artifact Lina has.  He starts off bargaining with Lina(in possibly the bet scene of the series so far,) then they become enemies, and now they're friends.  He has some very impressive angst going for him.  First, he was a kid who wanted to be stronger.  So Rezo, the villain, made him stronger by making him part demon and part golem.  He has rocky, impenetrable(so far) skin and seems to be almost as powerful as Lina.  He seems to have given up on becoming human again, and just wants revenge on Rezo.  Except that Rezo is his father.  Or his grandfather.  Or maybe further back.  He isn't sure, but he's  positive he's descended from Rezo.  I was mostly busy being impressed by the repressed emo.  It earned him a place in my anime hall of angst.  It was quality.

In separate stories, I probably wouldn't care much for any of the three characters.  On her own, Lina is annoying, and Gourry TSTL.  Combined, however, Lina functions as the brain for both her and Gourry, while Gourry helps ground Lina and help her with that moral compass thing.  Meanwhile, Zelgadis would normally impress yet annoy me with his emo, but with Lina and Gourry as foilsm he becomes the one with common sense, and often works in the subtle snark and sarcasm.  Zelgadis and Gourry are also remarkably good at shutting up and listening to Lina.  She may be annoying, but she is smart, and seems to have a decent head for strategy.  Meanwhile, Lina will also shut up and listen to Zelgadis when the situation calls for it.  Gourry only gets such moments when it's time to show off his magic sword.  I am very fond of Gourry's giant magic sword of light.  Though, unlike Lina, I don't love it more than I love him.  

I really do wonder how Gourry managed to survive before meeting Lina, though.  When they're separated, she and Zelgadis are busy running nonstop from Rezo's men, while Gourry is aimlessly wandering around, looking for Lina.

The characters also run a lot.  And I mean a lot.  Oddly, while it's clearly a...err..."running joke" in the series, anytime they do it, they do it because it's the only smart thing to do.  I rather admire that.

Though...we're only on episode 9, and already building up to the "end of the world battle against tyhe supervillain?"  What will they do for the next 17 episodes?

Rec me fantasy(and maybe scifi)

Basically what the title says.  Subgenre doesn't matter(well, no erotic fantasy or scifi, please.)  Most know my wants and dislikes, but for a partial list:

(more fantasy centric here)

1. Strong characterization.  Male and female.  I generally need good representation of both in my fiction.

2.  Strong plot.  Is there isn't a solid, interesting plot, my eyes will glaze over.  It doesn't have to be the most original plot ever, as long as it's good.

3.  Strong female characters.  I'm a girl.  I like to read about interesting female characters.  Preferably smart ones, too.  I don't require warrior women...a damsel in distress, court lady or girl next door can be just as, if not more, interesting as a fighter, as long as the actual character is good.  I don't mind if they start out as doormats or ninnies, as long as they get better, and believably so.  I like character growth.

4.  Worldbuilding.  Please, please, please, competent worldbuilding.  I don't mean "society based on X historical society but altered so I can do Y in it," as people often mistake worldbuilding for, but a viable, functioning world in which the characters live, social rules that dictate what they do, a working legal system, and a sensible system for magic/technology/mythology and how it works in the world, based on something existing or not.  In other words, something more developed than a spaceship and aliens/medieval-lite society with wizards and a war.

5.  Romance.  I don't require romance, but if you know me, it helps.  I like my romance to MAKE SENSE though.  Not just the princess and the rogue because they're the princess and the rogue, but the characters that are best suited for each other.  I don't need it to be prominent and am usually happier if it's backup, but if it's there, I need it to make sense and work.  (And no, I don't require happy endings.)  Also, if there's a romantic triangle, I need it to be there for important plot and character reasons, not just to add to the angst, keep me guessing about who will end up with who, or keep the couple separated.

6.  Magic.  Unless it's heavily mythology based, I do best with either only a little magic, or a world built around the magic system(see: Martha Wells, Elizabeth Willey, Moira J. Moore, Jim Butcher's Codex Alera.)  The typical epic high fantasy with the standard races and wizards based on Tolkein's formula needs to have a really strong plot for me.  Ditto for historical fantasy.  I tend to do ok, though, with any levels of magic and races in urban fantasy(though if anyone can find me a few urban fantasy series that are good and not vampire centric, I'll love them.)

7.  Snark and badasses.  See romance.  As long as it's good snark and they can back up the badass.  A serious scholar who's a strong character tops a "look at me, I'm so badass because I have a sword and don't mind killing but that and a bad attitude is all I am" anytime.

8.  Politics.  I love politics in my fiction.  As long as it makes sense and doesn't overpower the plot.

9.  And if anyone knows of any really fun adventuring couple series along the lines of Simon R. Green's Hawk and Fisher series, tttteeeeeelllllllllll mmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

more scifi focused:

10.  No or minimal pretentiousness, I beg you.  Most scifi I pick up is of the "look, i'm so much better than other forms of fiction because I have science and technobabble and space ships" variety, and I just head for the nearest fantasy book(and if they sound it from the blurb, I buy too many fantasy.)

11.  I do best with near-future post-apocalyptic(or post-apocalyptic in general) scifi, as well as scifi noir or contemporary "things we don't know about" scifi.  Spaceship scifi doesn't work as well for me.

12.  Spaceship scifi does work for me when it:  A)  Gleefully embraces it's "such-and-such genre in space" origins, instead of acting like being scifi makes it better than the genre it's based on, B)  Is amazingly bizarre and out there.

Not all inclusive, but I think it'll do.

Note:  No Robert Jordan or Terry Goodkind, please.  I've tried Jordan several times and can't get into him, and have been warned off Goodkind by several reliable sources, and given several reasons.

Rec me fantasy(and maybe scifi)

Basically what the title says.  Subgenre doesn't matter(well, no erotic fantasy or scifi, please.)  Most know my wants and dislikes, but for a partial list:

(more fantasy centric here)

1. Strong characterization.  Male and female.  I generally need good representation of both in my fiction.

2.  Strong plot.  Is there isn't a solid, interesting plot, my eyes will glaze over.  It doesn't have to be the most original plot ever, as long as it's good.

3.  Strong female characters.  I'm a girl.  I like to read about interesting female characters.  Preferably smart ones, too.  I don't require warrior women...a damsel in distress, court lady or girl next door can be just as, if not more, interesting as a fighter, as long as the actual character is good.  I don't mind if they start out as doormats or ninnies, as long as they get better, and believably so.  I like character growth.

4.  Worldbuilding.  Please, please, please, competent worldbuilding.  I don't mean "society based on X historical society but altered so I can do Y in it," as people often mistake worldbuilding for, but a viable, functioning world in which the characters live, social rules that dictate what they do, a working legal system, and a sensible system for magic/technology/mythology and how it works in the world, based on something existing or not.  In other words, something more developed than a spaceship and aliens/medieval-lite society with wizards and a war.

5.  Romance.  I don't require romance, but if you know me, it helps.  I like my romance to MAKE SENSE though.  Not just the princess and the rogue because they're the princess and the rogue, but the characters that are best suited for each other.  I don't need it to be prominent and am usually happier if it's backup, but if it's there, I need it to make sense and work.  (And no, I don't require happy endings.)  Also, if there's a romantic triangle, I need it to be there for important plot and character reasons, not just to add to the angst, keep me guessing about who will end up with who, or keep the couple separated.

6.  Magic.  Unless it's heavily mythology based, I do best with either only a little magic, or a world built around the magic system(see: Martha Wells, Elizabeth Willey, Moira J. Moore, Jim Butcher's Codex Alera.)  The typical epic high fantasy with the standard races and wizards based on Tolkein's formula needs to have a really strong plot for me.  Ditto for historical fantasy.  I tend to do ok, though, with any levels of magic and races in urban fantasy(though if anyone can find me a few urban fantasy series that are good and not vampire centric, I'll love them.)

7.  Snark and badasses.  See romance.  As long as it's good snark and they can back up the badass.  A serious scholar who's a strong character tops a "look at me, I'm so badass because I have a sword and don't mind killing but that and a bad attitude is all I am" anytime.

8.  Politics.  I love politics in my fiction.  As long as it makes sense and doesn't overpower the plot.

9.  And if anyone knows of any really fun adventuring couple series along the lines of Simon R. Green's Hawk and Fisher series, tttteeeeeelllllllllll mmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

more scifi focused:

10.  No or minimal pretentiousness, I beg you.  Most scifi I pick up is of the "look, i'm so much better than other forms of fiction because I have science and technobabble and space ships" variety, and I just head for the nearest fantasy book(and if they sound it from the blurb, I buy too many fantasy.)

11.  I do best with near-future post-apocalyptic(or post-apocalyptic in general) scifi, as well as scifi noir or contemporary "things we don't know about" scifi.  Spaceship scifi doesn't work as well for me.

12.  Spaceship scifi does work for me when it:  A)  Gleefully embraces it's "such-and-such genre in space" origins, instead of acting like being scifi makes it better than the genre it's based on, B)  Is amazingly bizarre and out there.

Not all inclusive, but I think it'll do.

Note:  No Robert Jordan or Terry Goodkind, please.  I've tried Jordan several times and can't get into him, and have been warned off Goodkind by several reliable sources, and given several reasons.

Slayers eps 10-18

Lina, Gourry and Zelgadis whup Rezo's butt and the universe is saved. This time around. As soon as that's done with, Zelgadis remembers that he's the emo angsty loner and flees before he finds himself having friends that could ruin the image. He claims it's because his appearance makes it impossible for him to be in towns and such, but I know better. This was the end of episode 10 and he had the poor manners to not show up again until the end of ep 18. I was displeased by that.

Meanwhile, Lina and Gourry found themselves acquiring Amelia, a young sorceress in training with a serious case of hero worship for Lina...when she isn't try to arrest Lina. Amelia is clumsy beyond words and is obsessed with justice. I'd say she out-Miakas Miaka in everything but uselessness(despite the clumsiness and rabid justice seeking, Amelia is rather useful and a decent sorceress...and she learns), yet I find myself somewhat fond of her...she equal parts amuses me and makes me want to strangle her.

Soon after acquiring Amelia, Lina and Gourry learn that they and Zelgadis have been framed for crimes in some far off city. This causes Amelia to think they are Evil and must be Destroyed, but she eventually sees reason. Most of the episodes are the three on the road, having a series of adventures, starving to death in the woods and constantly being attacked by bounty hunters and do gooders who think they're evil. Aside from the Unfortunate Genre Requisite Crossdressing Episode, it was all quite fun(and even that was fun aside from the fact that I just cannot find poor Gourry being forced to dress like a girl and being chased by a guy-sobbing and protesting the whole time-to be funny.)

In the city, they learn that a woman named Eris is the one who framed them from some random girl in love with Gourry. Lina doesn't react well to her. Later, they learn Rezo is alive and have their butts saved by Zelgadis, who attempts to compensate for his long absence with self-depreciating emo.

I have a Deep Weakness for MVs with this song, and this has pretty good cutting:

Note: I'm not hiding spoilers because, as far as I know, everyone on the f-list with any plans for watching the show already has, and I don't consider it to be a spoiler-type show. If anyone wants me to hide spoilers, though, let me know(though, obviously, it'll mostly be for the other seasons once I get to them.)

Slayers eps 10-18

Lina, Gourry and Zelgadis whup Rezo's butt and the universe is saved. This time around. As soon as that's done with, Zelgadis remembers that he's the emo angsty loner and flees before he finds himself having friends that could ruin the image. He claims it's because his appearance makes it impossible for him to be in towns and such, but I know better. This was the end of episode 10 and he had the poor manners to not show up again until the end of ep 18. I was displeased by that.

Meanwhile, Lina and Gourry found themselves acquiring Amelia, a young sorceress in training with a serious case of hero worship for Lina...when she isn't try to arrest Lina. Amelia is clumsy beyond words and is obsessed with justice. I'd say she out-Miakas Miaka in everything but uselessness(despite the clumsiness and rabid justice seeking, Amelia is rather useful and a decent sorceress...and she learns), yet I find myself somewhat fond of her...she equal parts amuses me and makes me want to strangle her.

Soon after acquiring Amelia, Lina and Gourry learn that they and Zelgadis have been framed for crimes in some far off city. This causes Amelia to think they are Evil and must be Destroyed, but she eventually sees reason. Most of the episodes are the three on the road, having a series of adventures, starving to death in the woods and constantly being attacked by bounty hunters and do gooders who think they're evil. Aside from the Unfortunate Genre Requisite Crossdressing Episode, it was all quite fun(and even that was fun aside from the fact that I just cannot find poor Gourry being forced to dress like a girl and being chased by a guy-sobbing and protesting the whole time-to be funny.)

In the city, they learn that a woman named Eris is the one who framed them from some random girl in love with Gourry. Lina doesn't react well to her. Later, they learn Rezo is alive and have their butts saved by Zelgadis, who attempts to compensate for his long absence with self-depreciating emo.

I have a Deep Weakness for MVs with this song, and this has pretty good cutting:

Note: I'm not hiding spoilers because, as far as I know, everyone on the f-list with any plans for watching the show already has, and I don't consider it to be a spoiler-type show. If anyone wants me to hide spoilers, though, let me know(though, obviously, it'll mostly be for the other seasons once I get to them.)