The Click

January 26 - February 1

Lordy, it's been a while! And not without reason, let me assure you. Life has strange ways of dumping lots of unwanted crap, oftentimes literally, at your doorstep at inconvenient times. And in between said crap, the daily rigors of full-time work, loads of computer issues, sick pets, and other assorted smatterings of complications, The Click was, sadly, pushed to the wayside.

Not this week, though! I'm back, with something resembling A Vengeance. Maybe

Robotech
(SPACE)
-Monday January 28 5:00pm - Episode 31 "Khyron's Revenge"
-Monday January 28 5:30pm - Episode 32 "Broken Heart"
-Tuesday January 29 5:00pm - Episode 33 "A Rainy Night"
-Tuesday January 29 5:30pm - Episode 34 "Private Time"
-Wednesday January 30 5:00pm - Episode 35 "Season's Greetings"
-Wednesday January 30 5:30pm - Episode 36 "To the Stars"
-Thursday January 31 5:00pm - Episode 37 "Dana's Story"
-Thursday January 31 5:30pm - Episode 38 "False Start"
-Friday February 1 5:00pm - Episode 39 "The Southern Cross"
-Friday February 1 5:30pm - Episode 40 "Volunteers"

Canadian Sci-Fi equivalent SPACE (the all-caps, I've been assured, is intentional) mines the 1980's nostalgia camp so profitable these days of pre-packaged nostalgia; Unlike Transformers or Voltron, however, Robotech actually somewhat exceeds its corny 80's camp. Kinda. Certainly the complex characters and intricate plot, well carried over by Robotech matron and enemy number 1 of bearded and crusty anime fans everywhere Carl Macek, rise above the usually cheesy acting (featuring quite a number of now-common Los Angeles-based dub actors) and often strange editing. And, of course, after ADV's recent and uniformly excellent re-dub of the original Macross series, re-airing Robotech might seem a bit pointless. But, um, I'm not really making my Click Pick choice obvious this week, I guess, but it's Robotech! It's neat and fun and on TV in Canada, and I figure since at one point I made a big stink over the admittedly-lame Voltron I should do the honorable thing and give Robotech the spotlight.

PREMIERES:

Black Lagoon
(G4TechTV Canada)
Friday February 1 8:00pm - Episode 15 "Swan Song at Dawn"

The Black Lagoon Company's rivals, a pair of destructive twins, put the pain down on our favorite foul-mouthed pirates.

Bleach
(YTV)
Friday February 1 9:30pm - Episode 47 (Repeats Sat Feb 2 2:00am)

As Ichigo trains hard to achieve Bankai, Hinamori and Hitsugaya hash it out over Captain Aizen's death. And by "hash it out" I mean "fight." In case I weren't obvious enough.

Blood+
(Adult Swim)
Sunday January 27 12:30am - Episode 42 "Soprano of Miracles" (Repeats Sun Jan 27 3:30am)

Blood+ has surprised me recently by being entertaining and somewhat thoughtful! Though sadly this happened far longer than halfway into the series, which had only been very pretty but surprisingly bland until then, so.

Death Note
(Adult Swim)
Saturday January 26 11:30pm - Episode 14 "Friend" (Repeats Sun Jan 27 2:30am, Tue Jan 29 12:30am, 3:30am)

(YTV)
Friday February 1 10:00pm - Episode 15 "Wager" (Repeats Sat Feb 2 1:30am)

The chaos caused by the dual dueling "Kira"s has fully transfixed L and Light, and the two Sherlock-ian high schoolers attempt to use the situation to their own twisted ends.

Desert Punk
(Starz Edge)
-Tuesday January 29 12:00am - Episode 21 "Successor of the Desert"
-Tuesday January 29 12:30am - Episode 22 "Hidden Agenda"

The eponymous Desert Punk himself is M.I.A., and that leaves his diminutive female sidekick, Kosuna, in his stead, left to carry out his unfinished business and deal with his numerous and powerful opponents. And student loans.

Digimon
(Toon Disney)
Monday January 28 8:30pm - Episode 229 "Falcomon: Friend or Foe?" (Repeats Tue Jan 29 1:00am, Fri Feb 1 8:30pm, Sat Feb 2 1:00am)

Marcus and Thomas set aside their poorly-conveyed rivalry to rush to the aid of one of their comrades, who is in desperate need of an antidote that only the mysterious Falcomon can help them find. Digimon: Saving Lives Since 1999.

Gundam Seed Destiny
(YTV)
Friday February 1 10:30pm - Episode 43 "A Call for Counterattack" (Repeats Sat Feb 2 2:30am)

The Archangel in all its poorly-rendered CGI majesty blows back the Orb opposition to a stalemate, which means temporary peace and unsettling dread for all! Yeah!

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
-Saturday January 26 9:00pm - Episode 134 "End of Tears"
-Saturday January 26 9:30pm - Episode 135 "The Promise That Could Not Be Kept"

Yes, yes, the dreaded "filler" episodes are nigh-imminent. Considering how well the similarly-lame and almost as numerous Dragon Ball Z "filler" story arcs performed ratings-wise, it's too soon to call for Naruto's popularity demise, as many on the internet are keen to predict. As has been proven many a time, people who watch TV are generally stupid and will watch anything. Of course I'm not referring to you, gentle readers! You are all amazing and you know that. This week on Naruto: thing s happen on cartoons show.

(YTV)
Friday February 1 8:00pm - Episode TBA

I guess YTV's schedule update-person is a member of the striking Writers' Guild? Do they even have Guilds in Canada? TOO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUND.

One Piece
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday January 26 10:00pm - Episode 121 "10 Percent Survival Rate! Sarori, the Mantora Master"

Luffy and crew face their so-called "Final Judgment" at the Upper Yard in the strange land of Skypiea, as they square off against one of the "Knights," the aforementioned Sarori. Who is a Master of Mantoras. Whatever those are.

Pokemon
(Cartoon Network)
-Saturday January 26 9:00am - Episode 513 "Sandshrew's Locker"
-Saturday January 26 9:30am - Episode 514 "Dawn's Early Light"
-Friday February 1 8:00pm - Episode 515 "Tag! We're It"
-Friday February 1 8:30pm - Episode 516 "Glory Blaze"
-Friday February 1 9:00pm - Episode 517 "Smells Like Team Spirit"

Cartoon Network goes quite literally Pokemon crazy! Why this is, I have no idea. Either way, they must crank out new Pokemon episodes daily out of some kind of sick assembly line, so for those of you about to watch two-and-a-half hours of new Pokemon this week, I say: Godspeed.

Tactics
(Sci Fi)
-Monday January 28 11:00pm - Episode 7 "Alluring Call"
-Monday January 28 11:30pm - Episode 8 "She's a Ghost Fox"

Kantaro and his quarreling Tengu partner continue their side-business of butting heads and busting ghosts and other supernatural freaky things. And they look damn pretty doing so, all flowing locks and swarthy kimonos and such.

Transformers Animated
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday January 26 10:30am - Episode 7 "Nanosec" (Repeats Sun Jan 27 11:00am)

Bumblebee, fresh from his starring role in Michael Bay's recent opus, deals lots of vehicular damage to the newest Decepticon menace: Nanosec. The naming conventions in this show are so beyond clever it's simply staggering.

Witchblade
(IFC)
Friday February 1 11:30pm - Episode 5 "Search" (Repeats Sat Feb 2 2:30am)

Masane, devoted mother and noted "Brick-House" as Rick James might say, keeps mum on the powers of the Witchblade that she wields. And wears, slightly over her naughty bits. Later that night on IFC: Kevin Kline in These Are My Feelings.

MOVIES/SPECIALS

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade
(Starz Edge)
Sunday January 27 6:40am

Appleseed
(Encore Action)
Friday Feburary 1 6:45pm

SARCASM: Wow! I am very excited to be featuring these films yet again, week after week it seems! Every time I write about them or even see their names I am NOT filled with listlessness and boredom! I sure am glad that third-tier cable networks don't just simply dump their otherwise fine selection of anime features willy-nilly into odd timeslots!!!

NOT SARCASM: It's good to be back, lad(y or ies, I'm unsure of the specific demographic data) and gentlemen! With nearly TWO YEARS of writing The Click under my belt, it's been a fabulous amount of fun and I do feel as though my week is woefully incomplete if I go without. See you all next week!

REPEATS/STRIPS

Astro Boy
(Adult Swim)
-Sun Jan 27 5:30am - Episode 41 "Deadline to Danger"
-Mon Jan 28 5:30am - Episode 42 "The Island of Mystery"
-Tue Jan 29 5:30am - Episode 43 "Ditto"
-Wed Jan 30 5:30am - Episode 44 "Cleopatra's Heart"
-Thu Jan 31 5:30am - Episode 45 "The Return of Cleopatra"
-Fri Feb 1 5:30am - Episode 46 "Phantom Space Ship"
-Sat Feb 2 5:30am - Episode 47 "The Gigantic Space Crab"

Big O
(Adult Swim)
-Sun Jan 27 1:30am - Episode 4 "Underground Terror" (R Sun Jan 27 4:30am)

Bleach
(Adult Swim)
-Sat Jan 26 11:00pm - Episode 48 (R Sun Jan 27 2:00am, Tue Jan 29 1:00am, 4:00am)

Cat's Eye
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Mon Jan 28 9:30am - Episode 19 "Only Say Good Night to You" (R Tue Jan 29 5:30am)
-Tue Jan 29 9:30am - Episode 20 "Lover's Holiday" (R Wed Jan 30 5:30am)
-Wed Jan 30 9:30am - Episode 21 "Wanting to See You Again" (R Thu Jan 31 5:30am)
-Thu Jan 31 9:30am - Episode 22 "Visitor on a Snowy Day" (R Fri Feb 1 5:30am)
-Fri Feb 1 9:30am - Episode 23 "Winter is the Warm Sun of Love" (R Sat Feb 2 5:30am)

Digimon
(Toon Disney)
-Sat Jan 26 5:30pm - Episode 35 "Flower Power"
-Sun Jan 27 5:30pm - Episode 36 "City Under Siege"
-Mon Jan 28 6:30am - Episode 172 "Bizarre Bazaar" (R Mon Jan 28 10:00pm)
-Tue Jan 29 6:30am - Episode 173 "Trailmon vs. Trailmon" (R Tue Jan 29 10:00pm)
-Wed Jan 30 6:30am - Episode 174 "You Want Fries With That?" (R Wed Jan 30 10:00pm)
-Thu Jan 31 6:30am - Episode 175 "From Dawn to Duskmon" (R Thu Jan 31 10:00pm)
-Fri Feb 1 6:30am - Episode 176 "Darkest Before Duskmon" (R Fri Feb 1 10:00pm)

Dragon Ball Z
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Jan 26 10:30pm - Episode 157 "A New Guardian"

Eureka 7
(Adult Swim)
-Wed Jan 30 1:30am - Episode 32 "Start it Up" (R Wed Jan 30 4:30am)
-Thu Jan 31 1:30am - Episode 33 "Pacific State" (R Thu Jan 31 4:30am)
-Fri Feb 1 1:30am - Episode 34 "Inner Flight" (R Fri Feb 1 4:30am)
-Sat Feb 2 1:30am - Episode 35 "Astral Apache" (R Sat Feb 2 4:30am)

FLCL
(Adult Swim)
-Tue Jan 29 1:30am - Episode 4 "Full Swing" (R Tue Jan 29 4:30am)

Fullmetal Alchemist
(Adult Swim)
-Sun Jan 27 12:00am - Episode 13 "Flame vs. Fullmetal" (R Sun Jan 27 3:00am)

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Adult Swim)
-Wed Jan 30 1:00am - Episode 17 "Angels' Share" (R Wed Jan 30 4:00am)
-Thu Jan 31 1:00am - Episode 18 "Lost Heritage" (R Thu Jan 31 4:00am)
-Fri Feb 1 1:00am - Episode 19 "Captivated" (R Fri Feb 1 4:00am)
-Sat Feb 2 1:00am - Episode 20 "Re-View" (R Sat Feb 2 4:00am)

Inuyasha
(Adult Swim)
-Sun Jan 27 5:00am - Episode 63 "The Red and White Priestesses"
-Tue Jan 29 5:00am - Episode 64 "Giant Ogre of the Forbidden Tower"
-Wed Jan 30 5:00am - Episode 65 "Farewell Days of Youth"
-Thu Jan 31 5:00am - Episode 66 "Naraku's Barrier, Kagura's Decision"
-Fri Feb 1 5:00am - Episode 67 "The Howling Wind of Betrayal"
-Sat Feb 2 5:00am - Episode 68 "Shippo Gets an Angry Challenge"

Kami Chu
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Sun Jan 27 9:30pm - Episode 2 "Please God" (R Mon Jan 28 2:00am, 1:30pm)
-Tue Jan 29 5:00pm - Episode 3 "I Didn't Mean It" (R Tue Jan 29 8:00pm, Wed Jan 30 12:30am, 12:00pm)

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Jan 28 10:30pm - Episode 117 "Losing Is Not An Option"
-Tue Jan 29 10:30pm - Episode 118 "The Vessel Arrives Too Late"
-Wed Jan 30 10:30pm - Episode 119 "Miscalculation: A New Enemy Appears!"
-Thu Jan 31 10:30pm - Episode 120 "Roar and Howl! The Ultimate Tag Team"

Noein
(Sci Fi)
-Tue Jan 29 12:00am - Episode 7 "Precious Person"
-Tue Jan 29 12:30am - Episode 8 "Secrets"

Orguss
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Mon Jan 28 8:30am - Episode 21 "Father" (R Tue Jan 29 5:00am)
-Tue Jan 29 8:30am - Episode 22 "Reside or Decide" (R Wed Jan 30 5:00am)
-Wed Jan 30 8:30am - Episode 23 "Destroyer" (R Thu Jan 31 5:00am)
-Thu Jan 31 8:30am - Episode 24 "Mu" (R Fri Feb 1 5:00am)
-Fri Feb 1 8:30am - Episode 25 "Tiram Soldier" (R Sat Feb 2 5:00am)

Paradise Kiss
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Sun Jan 27 10:30pm - Episode 2 "Illumination" (R Mon Jan 28 3:00am, 2:30pm)
-Tue Jan 29 6:00pm - Episode 3 "Kiss" (R Tue Jan 29 9:00pm, Wed Jan 30 1:30am, 1:00pm)

Pokemon
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun Jan 27 10:30am - Episode 495 "The Champ Twins"
-Mon Jan 28 7:00am - Episode 501 "An Elite Meet and Greet!"
-Tue Jan 29 7:00am - Episode 503 "A Grass Menagerie"
-Wed Jan 30 7:00am - Episode 504 "One Big Happiny Family"
-Wed Jan 30 3:00pm - Episode 478 "Arrival of a Rival"
-Thu Jan 31 7:00am - Episode 505 "Steamboat Willies"
-Thu Jan 31 3:00pm - Episode 479 "A Staravia is Born"
-Fri Feb 1 7:00am - Episode 506 "Top-Down Training"
-Fri Feb 1 3:00pm - Episode 480 "Leave it to Brocko"

Remi
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Mon Jan 28 6:00am - Episode 28 "Lize's Sympathy" (R Mon Jan 28 9:00am, Tue Jan 29 4:30am)
-Tue Jan 29 6:00am - Episode 29 "Warmth of Happiness" (R Tue Jan 29 9:00am, Wed Jan 30 4:30am)
-Wed Jan 30 6:00am - Episode 30 "A Brother's Ring" (R Wed Jan 30 9:00am, Thu Jan 31 4:30am)
-Thu Jan 31 6:00am - Episode 31 "Thank You, Mathias" (R Thu Jan 31 9:00am, Fri Feb 1 4:30am)
-Fri Feb 1 6:00am - Episode 32 "A Great Idea" (R Fri Feb 1 9:00am, Sat Feb 2 4:30am)

Samurai Champloo
(Adult Swim)
-Sun Jan 27 1:00am - Episode 8 "The Art of Altercation" (R Sun Jan 27 4:00am)

Shin Chan
(Adult Swim)
-Wed Jan 30 12:30am - Episode 19 "The Herpes Effect" (R Wed Jan 30 3:30am)
-Thu Jan 31 12:30am - Episode 20 "Gratuitous Child Nudity" (R Thu Jan 31 3:30am)
-Fri Feb 1 12:30am - Episode 21 "At Least They Pay for the Ouchie" (R Fri Feb 1 3:30am)
-Sat Feb 2 12:30am - Episode 22 "Damn You, Telepathy!" (R Sat Feb 2 3:30am)

Transformers Cybertron
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Jan 28 6:00am - Episode 35 "Escape"
-Tue Jan 29 6:00am - Episode 36 "Family"
-Wed Jan 30 6:00am - Episode 37 "Titans"
-Thu Jan 31 6:00am - Episode 38 "Warp"
-Fri Feb 1 6:00am - Episode 39 "Giant"