Fairy Tail Episode 199: The Grand Banquet

Overall, as usual, the show followed the manga pretty spot on which is always a plus I really love being able to see that the manga artist has a lot of control over what goes on in the show. And I do really appreciate the lighthearted spirit after probably around the 20ish episodes of super serious emotional term-oil that we were just put through.

Also, just when I thought that I was getting used to the new art style, I saw this episode... and I don't know why but it just looked super different to me. Maybe because everyone was dressed all fancy, so I'm just not used to it, but I can't really complain too much because this new art style is definitely growing on me the more I see it.

Here's a couple of screen shots from the most recent episode of Fairy Tail, I watched it and boy oh boy do I have opinions! Enjoy! Feel free to share any pictures or insights that you may have in the comments below. :)

Once again, Yukino being all cynical... can she just not?? I'm sorry, I just do not like her, she can literally do no right in my eyes. Maybe if she builds a time machine and changes her entire attitude and person... maybe. 

Juvia 2.0! Unfortunately Gray does not acknowledge that he appreciates her new look yet. She does look significantly better than original Juvia though. Seriously an extreme improvement in her hair, sometimes I think she should ditch the hats, sometimes they look cute on her. Like I think that currently her hair goes with hats to a certain extent. Also, I got a little happy when Lyon gave up on Juvia, because now he can fully pursue his love for Gray... which we all know is going to happen. There's not a doubt in my mind. 

I'm not sure if I should be freaked the freak out by Gajeel's creepy face or appreciate that he took the extra effort to dress up. This is probably one of the first big events he's been to where he wasn't completely covered in bandages. Homeboy is fragile as hell... but I still love him!

Don't be hatin' Gray! Gajeel is just tryna look sexy fine for Levy. Clearly she appreciates the way he looks :) Also, Gray's new undies are way more provocative than the old ones, who's a fan and who isn't?? 

If you can't put kitties in your bra then what even is the point? It only works if you have big boobs though, unfortunately, this maneuver is not for everyone. Also, probably don't try this at home... because there is an 84% chance that the cats will claw the absolute sh*t out of your boobs. But if it gets you out of a feud with one of your besties it might be worth it! 

Ohhh this scene! I really love Gajeel and Levy, like actually, they have so much like for each other it's insane and I do like that they're pretty much the only couple that acknowledges their like for each other all the time. But they aren't awkward about it, which is good because animated courtships are awkward enough for me, so I'm glad that they are just sharing cute moments between each other :)

F*cking Natsu, acting like the king. I mean it makes sense but for some reason I thought that he would be sulking until I saw this. Good to know that he was able to quickly get over seeing Lucy die right before his eyes. You really have to appreciate his ability to live in the moment. 

Is it weird that in this scene I thought that Wendy and Gray looked cute together??? I mean don't get me wrong, I will forever love GrayxJuviaxLyon, and I know Wendy is a baby midge mong, but I'm just sayin. Think about it. 

Is it time for a front hug now?? Unfortunately no... there may never be a front hug :( I mean it's not like Natsu just saved his lady love from impending doom or anything. Please by all means just say thank you from afar... with no physical contact, ever. That's exactly what I want. 

Leave it to these guys to actually enjoy having a pumpkin on their heads, seriously, if I learned anything from Dwight K. Shrute, it's that I never want a pumpkin on my head. Ever. It will take weeks for that ish to get off your head. But they do practice magic so it would probably be easier for them to get out of it than it would be for us in the nonmagical world. 

Yeah, this may be one of the cutest things you've seen all day. You're. Welcome. 

Overall this was a good filler episode, I can't really complain too much :) I'm not excited for the next mini arc though... but that's pretty much because Flare is in it. I am freaked the f out by her, not even kidding, I don't trust anyone who is forever tilted to the side. But of course I will watch it... because I'm addicted, it's a sickness. 

REVIEW: Fairy Tail Ch. 396

So this week’s Fairy Tail...Well, well, well, WHAT do we have here?

A little GAJEEL getting some time in the spotlight?

A little more focus on one subplot at a time thankyouverymuch?

A little more--oh, hold on.

HOLD IT!

\

A little- !!!!

IN THE WORD’S OF OUR DEAR REPORTER PAL JASON, A LITTLE...COOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!

First of all, let me start by saying that this arc has been amazing at freely handing out badass moments. We got your Wendy in dragon force, your Aquarius-powered Lucy, your demon slayer Gray, killer Juvia AND now Gajeel! And I’m so stoked because we don’t actually get to see Juvia or Gajeel handing out asses that often--even though their respective magical powers are absolutely NOT forces you want to reckon with-- and Wendy and Lucy always seem to get the short distressed damsel-y end of the stick fighting wise. And then Gray is, well, he has a habit of only being useful when it’s convenient. That’s why I’m so jazzed every time a new chapter comes out, I can’t wait to see who’s about to dole out some crazily, overly destructive justice every week. And this time it’s ALL. ABOUT. GAJEEL.

Gajeel, my love, my dear, my main man. Gajeel does not get enough screen time in my opinion. And why not? His hair too glorious for you? (Never) His iron-shadow dragon powers too hardcore for you? (No way) Are his mad guitar skills too much? (Maybe). I get so frustrated when people forget about him. For one, I will go down insisting that he is every bit Natsu’s equal in power, but because he’s not the main character, we don’t get to see his daily adventures spotlighted in the same way. And I’ll say it right now. Iron-Shadow is ten times more metal than Fire-Lighting.

(It’s a pun.)

From the loner, brutalizing ‘blacksteel’ torturer in Phantom Lord, to the guy who’d rather bust out a steel guitar, willingly act as a human lightning rod for his friends, his ladylove, and find a flying kittycat pal to call his own, dude’s changed so much and will always have so much potential.

And then there’s Gajeel and Levy. Yes. Love it. Awesome. Yes. I can only assume that prior to this chapter, what we lovely and diligent readers weren’t privy to, was the background development wherein Levy can be detected just out of reach of the periphery swinging from tree to tree, lurking in hedges and various shrubbery casually watching her man work. Clearly, since that’s the only way that she could have been close enough to hear him scream out in peril and rush over to save him just in time. That or because of “dragon lungs” or “true love,” yada yada. Not that I don’t totally eat it up.

With this one panel, nope, one chapter, all the FT! Gajevy shippers exploded. It’ll probably take at least a week to clean this mess up, so thanks for that, Mashima. I’ll get the mop.

And BOOM! Look at this! Just look at this. I mean are you seeing this? I’m seeing this and it’s exciting, I love it, things are happening and we are moving along quickly.  

ANYWAY I guess the next question is: Where are we going to go from here?

Natsu is down, Lucy is down, Juvia is down, Levy is down AND presumably they’ve all swallowed the lethal black water.

Next Week's Predictions?

Andi predicts: Next week Gajeel is ‘bout to whoop some booty and probably going to see more of Minerva’s cooking because that’s super important. Also, I’d be cool if Lucy and Levy got to do some fighting or something together now that they’re in the same place, and juvia’s going to be a fifth wheel. As usual.

Ariel predicts: I’d love to see Gajeel go into dragon force, FOR ONCE. I doubt they’ll let him get much face time in the Boss Battle, which is a shame because his final dragon form is probably banging, so if he’s gonna power up it should be sooner rather than later. Plus if this is anything like Gray, Lucy, and Juvia’s spotlight’s we’ll remain focused on Gajeel dealing strictly with his demon matchup, and only then will they get to the everyone’s-submerged-in-lethal-liquid-and-probably-on-the-verge-of-death-again minor detail.