*Watches Humanity Has Declined 8*

...*blinks a bit*...*sits down*

...*at a loss for words*

I know I say this a lot with this show, but this show is weird. But weird more in ways you don't expect. It was clearly made by someone who is simultaneously a bit pervy, deeply aware of classic sci-fi literature...and one of the best writers of dialogue for anime I've ever seen.

Okay...first of all....this two set absolutely killed Endless Eight, by which I mean EE looks like a lazy waste by comparison. But then most anything would. This is how you do a time travel episode in an anime. Short of Madoka 9...this was the best I've seen an episode take time travel. It also feels like it follows the speculation about self identity Iori set down in episode 4 of Kokoro Connect. In fact, I would nominate that episode and this in particular for Kerina favorites of summer 2012.

There is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke which this episode instantly reminded me of. But it's basically leading to the best/most groan-inducing pun....intended to be read in English...I've ever seen. Bar none, I have never seen an anime as weird and deeply Japanese in its oddity simultaneously embrace the US/english speaking fans with its puns and twists.

In short, no matter what this show does for the next four weeks of its run, it has earned a honorary award from me. Now more ranks, it wins. I can't even attempt to rank it anymore, it would not be fair to the other shows. So yeah, this show has transcended to another plane. Full review later but I wanted to give this show and episode the full and singular attention it deserves. See it. It appeals especially to the kind of fan and writer I am and it has the number 2 all time spot in the history of anime for me at this point.