Razia Sultan Episode 8

Rukn is knocked to the ground during the fight. A barbarian starts to swing his mighty hammer down on the prince's head when at the last second Nasir comes to his half-brother's rescue. Rukn now has no choice but to join Nasir's band of gladiators. As the battle continues, I continue to wish this show had better choreographed action sequences. Suddenly Rukn sees his chance to break away from the group and go grab the royal sword.

About two hundred feet away from the stand (seriously, that's how it looks), Rukn makes a bionic slo-mo leap. He grabs the blade of the sword (ow) just as Nasir grabs the weapon from the other side. Since the outcome of the battle is technically a tie, Emperor Iltutmish decides the brothers must now face off one on one, which I thought was the originally plan in the first place. 

(I also have to laugh at how one shot will have Rukn with messy, sweaty hair. The next shot he is nicely coiffed. The shot after that he's back to bed head. At least Nasir remains steadfastly sweaty.)

Rukn goes to mount his horse, thinking he'll have the advantage since his mother sabotaged Nasir's saddle. But then Nasir successfully needles his half-brother into fighting on their own feet. Once more a poorly performed sword fight is accentuated with yelling and kicking. Rukn is knocked to the ground. Nasir starts to swing his sword in a killing blow when he suddenly remembers the inscription on the pommel. He checks himself and instead drives the sword into the ground.

Rukn isn't finished yet. Now we get a poorly executed fist fight with odd sound effects. Nasir picks up a discarded shield and bitch slaps his brother around. Rukn runs over and mounts his horse which means of course Nasir must jump on his own steed. The two men race towards each other. Just as Nasir makes a mighty swing, the already cut strap on his saddle breaks and he is thrown to the ground.

Rukn picks up a war hammer and starts pummeling Nasir. Everyone gets a reaction shot. Rukn is about to burst Nasir's head open like a watermelon when Turkan cries out to her son not to do it. It would be bad publicity. Nasir is carried off the field and Rukn awaits the proclamation of his victory - but wait, what's this? A new contender rides onto the scene. It's Razia's perfume stalker from last episode. He introduces himself as the prince of Shahgadh and demands his chance to fight in the arena.

(It's not really a fair fight if you think about it. Rukn for all his smarmy ways has already been in two fights whereas this guy is fresh and rested. I also can't help notice his love handles.)

Anyway, the emperor agrees to one more fight. Rukn thinks to use the same tactic that worked before: throwing sawdust into his opponent's eyes. The perfume stalker easily dodges the projectiles and even has time to be distracted by Razia's beauty. Whoa, the stranger nearly circumcises Rukn with a sword. That was a close one, Prince Smarmy. Rukn faints and frankly I don't blame him. He's been through a lot today.

Back at the palace where Nasir's injuries are being treated, everyone is talking about this mysterious Prince of Shahgadh. Who is he? Where did he come from? Why did he fight today? Emperor Iltutmish is prepared to name the stranger the new governor of Dehli, but the perfume stalker has apparently left the building. Some of the women in the harem suspect foul play was used to help defeat Nasir. The emperor poo-poo's the idea. They're going to throw a party tonight and the emperor hopes the mysterious prince will show up to receive his reward.

He's not, as the so-called prince is in actuality a commoner called Altunia, who must slip back into camp before his creepy looking master notices he's gone.

Meanwhile, Shah Turkan's top notch spies have already discovered Altunia's slave identity. Turkan schemes on how best to use this information.

Innocent Lilies 2 Episode 5

 

Japanese Blonde Girl wakes up to find herself back in the Ouran High School Host Club room. Drum Major Boy and the band start to explain their plans for world renewal. With Japanese Blonde Girl's help, they'll simply wipe out the existing human race and start all over with newer, better humans. Drum Major Boy had tried to do this once before with his original witch, Aqua, but she locked herself away and separated her power into Black and White. Japanese Blonde Girl doesn't seem to have any problem with being the mother to a new world order.

 

Badminton Girl, left behind down in the parking garage, doesn't know what is going on or what to do. The spirit of Rina appears before the girl, urging Badminton Girl to get her ass in gear and go wake up Aqua. She's conveniently located beneath Black Witch Academy.

 

While Badminton Girl races to save the day, Drum Major Boy and Japanese Blonde Girl go through a ceremony involving lots of apples. Before the spell can be concluded, though, they're interrupted by the arrival of Aqua. She tells Japanese Blonde Girl to snap out of it and not to trust Drum Major Boy. Japanese Blonde Girl is confused and doesn't know what to believe.

 

Thank goodness, here comes Badminton Girl to talk some further sense into Japanese Blonde Girl. Oh no! The band mates kill Badminton Girl! And here I was just saying how much I liked her. Her death is not in vain, though, as Japanese Blonde Girl realizes what an ass Drum Major Boy is. 

 

 

This realization gifts Japanese Blonde Girl with not only another new outfit but a new hairdo as well. She also now has the power to summon the spirits of her dead friends to fight at her side.

 

Drum Major Boy puts on his battle mask as the epic War Between The Sexes begins. While the dead girls take care of the band mates, Japanese Blonde Girl faces Drum Major Boy. His white go-go boots are no match for the powers of peroxide.

Somewhere in the afterlife/Mars/Yggdrasil, all of Japanese Blonde Girl's dead friends get to hang out together and have tea.

Innocent Lilies 2 Episode 1

Remember that show Innocent Lilies? I understand if you don't. I'd like to block it from my mind myself. Well it seems the show must have made some money somewhere because Japan has made a sequel. And for some reason I'm watching it.

 

 

The porn-lite tradition continues as the show dips its toe into Fifty Shades territory. A young girl (in requisite sailor outfit) is bound by restraints. She's surrounded by other witches, these dressed in black, as they chant for power. When the laser light show begins, all the black witches bite their fingers to contribute a drop of blood to the ceremony. Their human sacrifice explodes but the results aren't what the Black Witches were hoping for. They need a more powerful White Witch for an offering.

 

And there she is, Japanese Blonde Girl, kicking a bunch of guys around as feathers fly off her costume. To finish them off, Japanese Blonde Girl says the magic words and makes...  wait, is that a parasol? Did she just summon an umbrella as her weapon of choice? Whatever, it works and the guys are no longer a part of the story.

 

Changing back into her normal sailor school outfit, Japanese Blonde Girl is joined by Annoying Girl. Annoying Girl no longer has her witchy powers and can do nothing now but receive text alerts as to where other young girls are being bullied.

 

The Fifty Shades Girls are beating up on one lone white witch. One of the Black Witches has a whip, another one a fan with deadly spikes. The third one has... a hand puppet. A hand puppet.

 

 

Just as they're about to take their new sacrifice away, Japanese Blonde Girl arrives on the scene. After binding the Fifty Shades Girls with her red tentacles, Japanese Blonde Girl reaches to grab the wrist of the Bullied Witch. The touch causes Japanese Blonde Girl to flashback to season one and images of her villainous sister, Hoodie.

Anyway, the White Witches run off. Eventually the Black Witches break free of their Twizzler restraints and swear to capture their ultimate sacrifice. Off to the side a drum major looks on. Further unrelated images show us a girl on a rooftop playing badminton with herself in honor of someone named Rina.

Opening credits.

Japanese Blonde Girl and Annoying Girl take Bullied Witch back to their secret base (also known as a warehouse) in order to tend to her wounds. Oh, Bullied Witch introduces herself as the Rina who didn't make it to her badminton game up on the roof. She explains she had been attending another white witch academy when those Black Witches suddenly showed up and started hunting them.

Talking about the Black Witches makes them appear at the hideout. Whip Girl explains how superior Black is to White and how they will eventually rule the world. So they're like Nazi Witches.

The Black Witches go through their Sailor Moon transformations and change into their Fifty Shades leather outfits. Japanese Blonde Girl starts to change herself when Rina comes running over and stops her. Rina says this is her fight and now it's her turn to protect her protector. She does her own transformation and Japanese Blonde Girl is shocked to see Rina has the same elaborate angel outfit.

Rina, who was earlier being beaten up, is now the one doing the beating all by herself. Some wonder why she didn't do this before.

During the fight Puppet Girl pulls a bow and arrow out of her butt. (Hey, if the Sims can do it, why not Nazi Witches.) Annoying Girl valiantly leaps in front of Rina and takes the arrow. Distracted by Annoying Girl's death, the Fifty Shades Girls capture Rina. Japanese Blonde Girl is too weak to transform and is about to fall to the ground in a faint when she's caught by Drum Major Boy. He introduces himself as Tera right before Japanese Blonde Girl passes out.


So unlike season one this season will have a cast of ten! We've got white witches, black witches, and possibly male witches.

Innocent Lilies 2 Episode 4

The Black Witches have Rina tied up as they begin their ritual. Meanwhile down in the parking garage, Badminton Girl whines to Drum Major Boy about why isn't he rescuing Rina. (Although her voice is very whiney, I must say I kind of like Badminton Girl.) Before they get very far, the trio are confronted by Japanese Blonde Girl's dead-now-alive schoolmates. Drum Major Boy quickly makes tracks (in his rockin' white go-go boots) and disappears.

 

Japanese Blonde Girl prepares for battle with her zombie friends by transforming into her angel outfit. Badminton Girl tries to intercede only to realize at the last second, "Hey, I ain't no witch and I ain't got no weapons." Rina, feeling the pain of both Japanese Blonde Girl and Badminton Girl, appears to reach the pinnacle of the Black Witch ritual.

 

Japanese Blonde Girl casts a massive spell that frees the dead girls from the evil that controls them. Apologies all around. Sorry for trying to kill you and all that. After renewing their old pinky pledge of friendship, the dead girls explode.

Back at the black magic bat mitzvah, all the pain Rina has been experiencing through her friends causes her to transform. The black witches are extremely pleased with the results and think they'll be able to use Rina for their own nefarious plans. Rina's having none of that and transports herself to the parking garage where Japanese Blonde Girl is having a mental breakdown.

Blaming herself for the (second) death of her friends, Japanese Blonde Girl turns into a black witch. The other Black Witches show up and start to celebrate Japanese Blonde Girl's turning to the dark side. The celebration is cut short when Japanese Blonde Girl starts wiping the floor with them. She starts to go after Whip Girl, the apparent leader, when she's stopped by Drum Major Boy and his two band mates who have come to protect Whip Girl.

Rina tries to get her friend to calm down. Japanese Blonde Girl attacks. This gives the black witches time to change into their Fifty Shades bondage outfits. At this point Japanese Blonde Girl is simply attacking anyone who moves whether they be friend or foe. Rina tries once again to get Japanese Blonde Girl to come to her senses. It takes all of her strength but eventually Rina is able to drive the darkness out of the other girl's heart. This spiritual rebirth grants Japanese Blonde Girl a new outfit.

Oh no! This was all too much for Rina and she's dies.

The Fifty Shades girls are back to thinking they have the ultimate witch to use as their tool. This is when Drum Major Boy and his band mates suddenly turn and attack the Fifty Shades. They take possession of Japanese Blonde Girl and carry her away to use her for their own purposes.

Innocent Lilies 2 Episode 3

 

Japanese Blonde Girl and Badminton Girl are being held in a prison cell. The Black Witches come by to gloat and to introduce some special guests. It's the cast from season 1! There's Cat Ear Girl, Nerdy Girl, even Annoying Girl who just died. The Black Witches used their magic to bring the dead back to life. They knew it would bring pain to Japanese Blonde Girl. Because she's an empath, Rina will feel Japanese Blonde Girl's pain which will somehow make Rina strong enough for the Black Witches' ritual.

 

Japanese Blonde Girl (Why is she so sweaty?) is tied up while her former dead friends slap and punch her. 

 

 

 

This goes on for some time. Elsewhere, Rina writhes in sympathy pain until she reaches critical mass. Satisfied with their results, Puppet Girl and Fan Girl eagerly lick Japanese Blonde Girl's face for her tears of pain. Done with her, they put Japanese Blonde Girl back into her cell. This gives Badminton Girl the time to tell her and Rina's backstory.

 

The two prisoners are bonding when suddenly Drum Major Boy breaks into their cell and helps them escape. Whip Girl doesn't seemed too concerned about it. They still have Rina. Prepare everything for the ritual!

 

Outside in an alleyway, Japanese Blonde Girl hears the singing again. Drum Major Boy explains it comes from the origins of witches. Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a girl witch and a boy witch. They lived together in paradise until one day the girl witch committed a sin. Feeling guilty, the girl witch imprisoned herself within a powerful spell, one the boy witch was never able to break.

 

End of story time.

  

Innocent Lilies 2 Episode 2

 

Wearing a disguise (which includes an eye patch for some reason), Japanese Blonde Girl proceeds to go undercover at the Black Witch Academy so she can rescue Rina. Greeting her at the door is Badminton Girl whom we saw briefly in the previous episode. Watching from afar is Drum Major Boy. He flashes back to when he took Japanese Blonde Girl to the Ouran High School Host Club room to recover from her faint. He's the one who told her about the open enrollment at Black Witch Academy.

 

 

Back to the present, Drum Major Boy is joined by two other band members. Tera enjoys an apple. Wait, does this mean Drum Major Boy is also a student at Black Witch Academy? I'm confused already.

 

Whip Girl gives her opening speech to the school's new recruits. She explains how women are superior to men, black superior to white. All you have to do is lick someone's tears of pain in order to gain power. I have a bad feeling there's going to be a lot of licking in this show.

 

 

Their first lesson begins as a test subject (also known as a sweaty fat guy) is brought in. The students are ordered to beat test subject up. One of them is quite eager to get her slap on. Ugh, just as I feared, she leans in to lick the fat guy's cheek. This licking causes the girl to earn her Black Rose, a tattoo that comes and goes, as well as a large plastic-looking halberd.

 

This inspires another girl to eagerly join in the beating and licking. Her reward is a curtain rod. Well, that's what it looks like. In the background, Badminton Girl looks on in horror. Japanese Blonde Girl tries to make friends but Badminton Girl is a lone wolf.

 

While snooping around the academy, Japanese Blonde Girl hears someone singing but can't locate the source. For some reason this brings on a recap of season one.

 

The Black Witches go to check up on a bound Rina and update her on the history of white people burning witches. Outside the door, Badminton Girl and Japanese Blonde Girl eavesdrop. They wait for the Black Witches to depart before rushing into the room to save Rina. Japanese Blonde Girl must take off her disguise in order to use her powers to break the bonds.

 

The Black Witches come back into the room. They knew Japanese Blonde Girl would come and try to save Rina. Japanese Blonde Girl transforms fully into angel-mode as the battle commences. Badminton Girl also fights back while Rina just stands there. (I still don't trust Rina.) Our heroines are knocked down and out and taken prisoner.

Sound of the Desert Episode 1

Somewhere out in the Gobi Desert a really dirty woman is hanging out with her dog that is supposed to be a wolf but doesn't really look like a wolf. They spot a caravan passing by and the ragged woman decides she's had enough of her rags; it's time to steal something newer and better.

 

The caravan stops to make camp. There is one man riding a camel who has the power to stay clean and keep his white clothes sparkling white despite being surrounded by blowing dirt. This is Jiu Ye and when he's not riding a camel he is having to utilize a wheelchair.

 

That night Raggedy Anne sneaks down to the camp to start pilfering. She's caught in the act and must use her martial arts skills to try and get away. Jiu Ye may be in a wheelchair but he can still wield a crossbow. Raggedy Anne knows she can't outrun a bolt and so defiantly surrenders. Jiu Ye is intrigued by this dirty woman. Instead of chopping her hand off he gives over some clothes and salt to Raggedy Anne.

 

She goes back to her cave, cleans up (where'd she get the water?) and tries on her beautiful new blue outfit. The next day Raggedy Anne is out and about in her blue outfit when she comes across another group of men being attacked by bandits. She sends up a howl which brings out a pack of not-wolves. She orders the pack to scare off the bandits.

 

The men she saved were lost in the desert. They ask Raggedy Anne to show them the way to the nearest city. Since she has nothing better to do, Raggedy Anne agrees, telling them the trip will take a day or so on horseback. As introductions are made Raggedy Anne identifies herself as Xin Yue although I take it this isn't her real name. She has a history she must keep hidden.

 

Xin Yue doesn't know how to ride a horse and so must ride with Xiao Wei (a future corner of a love triangle with Xin Yue and Jiu Ye). As they make camp for the evening, Xin Yue has a flashback to several years ago when she saved a man she found in the desert. She refers to the man as "Father" even though he's not biologically related to her. As thanks for saving him, Father wraps a rope around young Xin Yue's throat and drags her kicking and screaming to civilization.

 

While she's leading the group to the nearest town, their ultimate destination is Jian An City. They thank Xin Yue for her help and pay her off. Xin Yue heads back to her cave but she's decided it's time for her to give up the wolf pack and start living with humans again. Her father had mentioned how great Jian An City was so Xin Yue sets out for it.

 

The only money Xin Yue has is the payment Xiao Wei gave her. Not understanding the value of money, Xin Yue spends it like water. She also struggles with the use of chopsticks. With all her money gone, Xin Yue goes out to look for work. Kicked out of the inn for not paying her bill, our wolf girl is forced to go sleep in the woods outside of the city with the other homeless beggars.

 

The next day Xin Yue goes around to the big houses looking for work as a laundress. At one of the houses a very suspicious woman who calls herself Aunt Hong does offer Xin Yue some housework in exchange for food. Don't trust her, Xin Yue!

 

A-ha, just as I suspected! This is a whorehouse. Aunt Hong drugs Xin Yue and locks the young girl up to be used later.