ShouJoe

Today we break through the illusions. But first, Sarah and Joe must contend with our real lives, which means, Joe must confront that fact that Gundam Seed Destiny is pretty bad, meanwhile Sarah continues to cycle through hobbies.

In Fushigi Yugi, we resolve some plot points very quickly to get to what really matters, school life. Or, magic hallucination school life. Whatever you want to call it. The important thing is that we get to see Yui make jokes. Man, that’s so good. That should just be the show…but it isn’t. Then we get yet an...

This week we get stuck in some illusions. But first, Joe and Sarah recap our regular lives.

In Fushigi Yugi, new comer Tomo is making a name for himself with his sex-based plans that will definitely work. Then Miaka learns that maybe fewer people are dead than she thought. Meanwhile, the rest of the Suzaku seven hangout in the desert.

Things take a turn this week. For Joe, that means he got sick, while for Sarah that means she has a new bike! You can tell which of us is doing better!

In Fushigi Yugi, we start culling through the cast of characters in ways that are very dumb. Then we hangout in an ice cave and learn that there are more fetch quests ahead of us. And then, a wolf shows up and derails the whole thing with a series of completely baffling plot points that leads us into what I can only describe as the “st...

This week I hope your brought your snow shoes. But first, Sarah recounts her advantures at San Japan, while Joe has finally finished the last book of Earthsea. Then we reflect on how much Bible lore we both know.

In Fushigi Yugi, Nuriko tries desperately to talk about her character backstory and feelings while all the other members of the Suzaku seven ignore her. Tamahome gets a hint from Yui that this is all a story in a book which is so shocking he forgets that Suboshi is a guy he hates. And Miaka does a cool...

This week we get some recaps. But first Joe recounts all of his recent movie watches while Sarah is rewatching Bleach.

In Fushigi Yugi, we check in on Tamahome’s family, and yeah, it’s going about as good as we expected. We get introduced to a new bad guy and then it’s time to sail off. But first we get a recap episode. Then we sail off. Meanwhile, Keisuke does a little library investigation of his own. Will Miaka take his advice? No, the answer is no.

This week we hit the midpoint of Fushigi Yugi. But first, Joe talks about the many movies he’s watched while Sarah went to a convention with both friends/guests of the podcast!

Then in Fushigi Yugi, we watch as Nakago’s master plan comes to fruition as his master spy takes center stage. Wow, I can’t wait to see what the plan is! What’s this, I’m getting a phone call! Hello? Uh huh… just one guy you say… well that surely can’t be true… and he… into a river… that can’t possibly be right…

This week we learn about the importance of background checks. But before that, Sarah and Joe catch up. Joe has finally been freed from Wuthering Heights while is shipping Spiderman and Black Cat.

In Fushigi Yugi, evil Tamahome has decided that he does need to kill Miaka after all just as Hotohori decides that this is finally his shot with her. Miaka meanwhile tries to take a stroll into a river. Ill advised I’d say! Then Tamahome and Hotohori have it out over their love rivalry and we learn about Nagako’s super secret backup plan.

We’re back this week for three episodes. IRL Joe gets his power knocked out while Sarah does some virtual farming and web-slinging.

In Fushigi Yugi it’s time to retrieve Tamahome, but will all go according to plan? Yui is still in her feelings about Miaka’s betrayal and honestly she seems like she’s having a blast being a evil queen. Unfortunately, Nakago has other plans, poison brain-washing related plans. That’s right, Tamahome goes evil mode this episode and even gets a cool earring!

Spoiler Alert: Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, and the Avatar comic books.

We get back into the swing of making bonus content with Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender. And this time with a guest. Welcome to the podcast, JP!

We all like nostalgia movie sequels made years after the fact right? Tron Legacy, The Matrix 4, Jurassic world. It’s always a good move. Haven’t we all asked ourselves what Aang and the gang have been up to in their early 20s? Katara and Aang building republic city, Toph training some randos meta...

Content Warning: Torture

We’re back this week with more Fushigi Yugi. IRL, Joe has finished KOTOR II and has been thinking about Star Wars nonstop, while Sarah is “making it work” by rewatching all of Project Runway.

In Fushigi Yugi, we gotta collect the last three Suzuki seven ASAP and boy does that happen in record time. First, the gang goes to a zombie village and debates if dying is a good plan or not. Then we revisit Tamahome’s family and pick up our last member of the team, a little Flute boy. Not what...

This week we meet some bandits. But first, we catch up on our real lives. Joe has been playing KOTOR 2 and is thoroughly Kreia-pilled this week, while Sarah plays Halo: Campaign Evolved.

In Fushigi Yugi, we get a debrief on the Yui situation, while Taitsukun hatches her master plan. Then we’re off to the mountains to find our fifth member. Also Hotohori gets to come along this time and try to make his place in the romance storyline while Tamahome has to sit on the sidelines. Then, Miaka and co get caught up in some bandit po...

Content warning: Suicide, Sexual Assault

Things get intense this week in Fushigi Yuugi. But not so much in our real lives, which consists mostly of talking about movies and whatnot.

In Fushigi Yuugi, Miaka takes a quick trip home before deciding to return again to the book in search of Yui…or maybe really to return to Tamahome… We learn that Tamahome is secretly just a really good all around guy, get a new member of the team, and finally we catch up with Yui and see how things have been going for her. Sure hope...

Today we learn about blood transfusions. But first, Joe and Sarah catch up and learn that…neither of us can pay attention for an hour long podcast? How can this be?? What else could we get distracted by, cross stitch? A Jurassic Park video game?

Then in Fushigi Yugi, we resolve the Mirror Miaka mystery using the most powerful weapon of all, stabbing yourself real good. Then we talk about the perils of mixing your blood with other people and how it’s only okay to do if you use bubble magic. Then Miaka takes a break and...

Well, we did it. We made our way through the entire manga collection, including Adolescence of Utena (1999) and After the Revolution (2017). Some of us even read the side stories.

Wow, pretty amazing how a story made side-by-side to the anime could turn out so different in manga format. Better? Not really. Prettier? Oh yes!

We recap the changes in the manga and talk about if the ideas are really all that revolutionary. Are princes good? Do men know more about women than they do about themselves? Should Juri be gay? These questions and more are...

We return the to book this week. In our real life, Sarah is trapped house sitting while Joe is out for revenge.

In Fushigi Yûgi, we get into some love triangles? Squares? Shapes? You get it. We also get our newest member Nuriko, and we definitely aren’t worried about how her stuff will go. Yui is still in that library. It’s kind of a mess this week, but we look forward to seeing how it comes together.

This week, we start our new show! In our real lives, Joe is back into playing KOTOR II and Sarah went to Love Island singles event and is playing some horse games!

In Fushigi Yuugi, our hero is pagemastered into the world of ancient China. Where she can gain the powers of Suzaku and gain the power to…get into Jonan High school? That’s right! The stakes have never been higher for our girl Miaka. Will her and her strong friend Tamahome be able to collect the stars or something! Who knows??

We finally finish up our 9th show! Wow, that many already? It sure goes by faster with these 12 episode seasons. This week, Joe went to the movies to watch the Utena movie (again). Meanwhile Sarah is running out of new life material. Weekly habits don’t make for good podcast material!

In Hana-Kimi, we wrap up season 1 with the shocking finale to the dorm v dorm v dorm contest, which we are all heavily invested in I’m sure. Mizuki is being targeted and gets snatched away and the only thing that can save her is Nakatsu kick...

Content Warning: Discussion of Sexual Assault

This week, Sarah and Joe did not go on trips and don’t have nearly as much to say. Joe’s but news is that he watched the Hunchback of Notre Dame and Sarah is maybe done with social events for a while. Real exciting stuff.

In Hana-Kimi, we wrap up our beach arc with some not so great developments with Makita. We are not loving that. But then we jump into our final arc of the sports festival. That’s right, its dorm v dorm in an athletic/other...

We’re back from our trips! Joe recaps Boston while Sarah recaps New York! The Northeast United States. Big cities! People. Great! Then we talk about movies and tv as per usual.

In HanaKimi it’s time for a summer job. Mizuki, Izumi, and Nakatsu get roped into working for Dr. Umeda’s sister. And? What’s this? A love rival appears for some reason? And he’s, a college guy, and he’s kind of irritating but also kind of normal. Weird! Sure hope this plays out in a fun way!

We hit the midpoint of Hanakimi. But first Joe talks about Dune (1984) and then we talk about TV for some reason. Sarah meanwhile has been working out while watching Anime because she is very productive!

In Hana-Kimi, we resolve our drunken kiss with a drunken fist. Then we fly through a brief bully arc until, big bro comes to town, dun dun duhhhhnnnn. Mizuki has to pretend to be a girl again and convince him that she should be allowed to stay. Oh yeah, and Izumi can high jump now or whatever, so, uh good for him.<...

This week characters consider if they’re gay or whatever. Not us though, Sarah recounts her disappointment with singles events while Joe got into the sweet embrace of roller coasters. How exciting.

In HanaKimi, things pick up…and are put back down as we fly through some shoujo staple tropes with little to show for them. Having your period while undercover? No big deal. Getting a dress as a gift from back home. Don’t worry about it. Accidentally getting drunk? Who know? Maybe it’ll count!

This week we start a brand new show. We attempt to reintroduce ourselves but find that our lives are kind of boring right now. Hm, maybe it’s just the changing of the seasons…

And speaking of change, in HanaKimi our protagonist Mizuki decides to move to Japan and go undercover to attend an all-boys school and for her totally-not-romantic admiration of high jump star Izumi Sano. Or maybe I should say, FORMER high jump star dramatic music plays because he’s quit. Mizuki now has to navigate pretending to be a boy in the school for pretty...

Content Warning: Sexual Assault & Abuse

We finish off out Utena watching with the 1999 movie! And speaking of movies, Joe has finally watched Project Hail Mary and had a good time with that! Meanwhile Sarah has started running again.

Then we grapple with the Adolescence of Utena. The hair, the hair! So different! Also, more ghosts?? And, wait, what’s that noise in the distance? It sounds like…the engine of a car? No way, Utena isn’t a series about cars right?? There’s no way that could be!

This week we revolutionaize the world. But first, Joe makes Sarah learn facts about Star Fox and complains about realistic looking animals. Sarah thrills with her allergy test results and excitement for Love Island's return.

In Utena, we have the final duel called Revolution! Utena and Anthy finally talk to one another and we learn all about how much Akio sucks. Also there’s a duel but that’s pretty much not the point of this episode. What’s actually important is cool flying sword animations. Yeah, those are awesome!

This week we gain the power of revolution! But first, Joe recaps his adventure to Chicago and Sarah retracts a proclamation.

In Utena, we get some long awaited backstory. That’s right, the Kashira shadow troupe take the main stage! Then we finish off our duels with a re-rematch with Touga as he tries to prove he’s more than just a pretty face.

This week Nanami tries to climb the ladder.

In our real lives, Sarah has gotten a new puppy to add to the litter, while Joe has watched some less well known cartoon movies. Big stuff!

In Utena, Nanami learns that family is not all that it’s cracked up to be. She stays with Utena, Anthy, and Akio, which is a terrible idea. And tries to run away but barely misses the mark. Then we get a part recap-part plot imperative episode that leaves us all feeling bad. Strange to think we only have six ep...

This week we blow out our candles. In reality, Joe has watched the Lion King and Sarah visited a horror themed bar and performed live band karaoke.

In Utena, we get a new guy who stays around for a total of two episodes. We all love a new guy! Except Juri, who hates this him and is totally justified in doing so. Then Utena and Akio share some time together and we work through our feelings on that one!

This week it’s apocalypse time! But first, Joe and Sarah talk about our lives. Joe has watched more of live-action one piece and is not impressed, while Sarah has started Love if Blind and doesn’t think she’d do well on that show.

In Utena, we begin a new arc. New montages, new sequences, new cars! Hurray! We get back to the duels and deal with Saionji and Miki this week. Then we end on a goofy egg themed episode. Happy late Easter everyone!

This week we cap off the black rose saga. But first, Joe recounts his experience watching Eraserhead and Sarah talks about sorting her extensive manga collection.

In Utena, we finish the black rose saga and try to figure out what the heck is going on. We only partially succeed. Then we get a nice clip show episode to round us out. Next week, it’s Apocalypse time!

Check us out on the MangaTak podcast!

The week characters emerge from the background. But first, in the real world Joe has decided to learn about Capital (the horror!), while Sarah has finished all of Survivor and is fairly disappointed in the 50th season.

In Utena, we check in on Wakaba and see how things are going for her. They are…not great. Unfortunately Saionji somehow weasles himself back into the story and we end on a surprising person seizing Touga’s sword.

We hit the midway point this week. In the real world, Joe has begun a new gundam series and Sarah has retreated back indoors for now. Some things never change.

In Utena, we get a return to gag episodes with the cowbell of happiness. Then we jump right back into drama as we revisit Juri’s whole deal and see if we make any progress there (we don’t). Then we check in with our favorite elementary school kid and see how he’s liking his role is society. What’s this? He doesn’t? Well, he is just a...

The vibes shift this week. But first, we talk about our lives! Joe has finished Turn A Gundam and had a great time with it, while Sarah has started listening to Business Wars.

In Utena, we kick off the second saga with a brief recap, then we meet the family as we are introduced to Anthy’s brother Akio. We also get an idea of what the black rose means and it turns out it’s a secret society?? Gasp! Then we get some cool new duels with Kanae and learn some about Mickey’s sister, Kozue. I hope...

This week we finish off the student council saga! But first, Sarah and Joe catch up on what they’ve been doing. Joe watched the 2025 Japanese movie Kokuho and had a pretty good time. Sarah has voluntarily lounged outside for the first time in forever. Maybe winter truly is over!

In Utena, we round out the student council saga with a quick duel from Nanami and her, uh, upsetting past. Then we get a two part episode dealing with Touga. Has his master planning set himself up to become the champion and revolutionize the world? Or will Ut...

We return this week with our 100th episode! Wow! That’s a lot of podcasting! We celebrate our 100th episode by completely forgetting about it and instead Joe talks about making a sandwich and Sarah talks about the upcoming season of Survivor.

Then in Revolutionary Girl Utena it’s time to meet Juri and her tragic backstory that for once, correctly does a love triangle. You love to see it. Then Utena and Anthy switch bodies in our wacky second episode. Then lastly, Saionji gets more screen time as he decides that he is the protagonist of the...

Happy Year of the Horse everyone! We’re riding up on episode 99 this week. So close to landmark 100! Joe discusses his new roommate and lunar new year’s party while Sarah talks about adult sleep overs and running in jeans.

In Utena, Mickey and Utena face off. We learn that Mickey has a lot of ideas about things that may or may not be true. Then Nanami decides to protect herself from wild animals by getting a rather young boyfriend. Surely this will turn out okay!

Its back to school life for Utena in our latest episodes. But in the real world, we catch up and talk about our various goings-ons.

In Revolutionary Girl Utena it’s time to party! Anthy gets nominated to be dance queen and becomes friends with Nanami, sure hope that goes well for her! Meanwhile utena gets more quality time with Touga because her memory is worse than we expected. Then we meet the rest of the student council starting with nice boy Mickey. He says he won’t duel Utena, so I guess we’re safe this week!<

Content Warning: Physical Abuse

This week we start a new show! But first, Sarah and Joe catch up on what’s been happening. Joe has gone to the opera and Sarah considers her reality tv watching diet.

Then we start Revolutionary Girl Utena with episode 1 and 2. Our hero Utena is a simple middle school girl. She goes to class, hangs out with her friend, gets involved in duels, climbs a million stairs, gets engaged. Normal stuff!

This week we say goodbye to Miyo and the gang until the season 3 specials. In real life Joe is cat sitting for his GF and learns the dangers of letting a cat physically sit on you. Meanwhile, Sarah has been hanging out and watching some horror movies. Then we talk about American animation studios for a solid ten minutes, as one does.

Then we finish off My Happy Marriage, we wrap up the Naoshi arc rather easily as Arata remembers that he’s a good guy actually and Miyo and Naoshi try to change each other’s mind...

As we approach the end of my happy marriage we ask ourselves, are they ever going to get married?? IRL Joe is prescribed to be a Corolla driver forever and Sarah is dangerously close to finishing all of Survivor.

In my happy marriage we learn some Naoshi backstory which really changes Joe’s mind about a few things. Fortunately, Miyo has decided to be a woman of action and hatches a plan to save kiyoko, with the help of…some kind of little boy version of him. It’s weird.

We begin to close in on the end of season 2. But first, Joe recounts his ski trips and Sarah updates us on her survivor re-watch progress. Then we talk about anime a little bit and how meaningful genre distinctions are in reality.

Then in My Happy Marriage, Miyo gets put in the witness protection program and she must stay at the Royal Palace?? What?? That’s right, it’s two episodes of hanging out and talking. Exactly what we’ve been waiting for. We meet the ministers of the government and as expected they suck. We also get so...