The Click

November 24 - 30

It's the Holidays, folks! That most magical and depressing time of year, where togetherness and warmth and bitterness and loneliness are magnified tenfold, as we all hurry to the mall to either buy gifts for our loved ones or to sell expensive crap to snobby customers! And then, at the end of the cold, cold day, each one of us can look forward to shutting ourselves off from the rest of the world, curl up on our couches with a nice warm blanket, a cup of cocoa, and absorb ourselves with the true meaning of togetherness: Television.

Blackjack
(Sci Fi)
Monday November 26 11:00pm

The Sci Fi Channel's usual stable of Monday night anime takes a breather for a week in order to air something I thought would never make it to US television, much less a relatively popular network like Sci Fi: Osamu Dezaki's feature-length adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's much lauded super-doctor, Blackjack. I love, and I mean love, Osamu Tezuka, and Blackjack was one of his more ambitious projects - a bizarre amalgamation of Tezuka's well-researched medical training, dark intrigue, and his usual iconoclastic cartoonish humor. Dezaki's adaptation sadly omits much of the humor and plays things relatively straight, but its still a solid production with slick, detailed animation and an engaging story. The dub has aged about as gracefully as you'd expect of your typical mid-90's production, which is to say, better than you remembered, but not up to par with current offerings.

Speaking of anime on Monday nights, those of you Canadians with access to what I hear tell is called the "Super Channel," some kind of supposedly Super network carried only by one solitary Satellite provider, can tune in on Monday nights and get much of the same Manga Entertainment-produced titles as aired on the Sci Fi Channel in the US! You've got your Noeins and Tokkos and Street Fighter II Vs, as well as the heretofore-unseen-in-the-US Tactics! I would make a note of this in the listings proper but its hard enough to get detailed schedule information for Canadian television as it is, and unless I can be convinced (e.g. bribed) otherwise it seems sort of fruitless to hunt down such info for such an incredibly niche network. But! At least those of you for whom this might be concerting have been notified, correct? Or, you have probably known about all of this already and don't need my snarky attitude reminding you about it. Sorry.

PREMIERES:

Black Lagoon
(G4TechTV Canada)
Friday November 30 8:00pm - Episode 6 "Moonlit Hunting Grounds"

The Black Lagoon Company is out to kick some serious Neo-Nazi ass to recover their stolen bounty, which is something I think we can all get behind. Unless you are a Neo-Nazi. In which case, why are you watching animation produced by non-honkeys? Shame on you.

Bleach
(YTV)
Friday November 30 10:30pm - Episode 38 (Repeats Sat Dec 1 2:00am)

Ichigo attempts to hurry along his deadly battle with the exasperatingly strong Zaraki in order to save the wilting life of his buddy Chad, but will the Captain be such a pushover? My money's on "no." That dude has scars. The kind of scars that say "Yes, I am a man that is totally raw."

Blood +
(Adult Swim)
Sunday November 25 12:30am - Episode 34 "The World Where We Exist" (Repeats Sun Nov 25 3:30am)

Saya triumphantly returns from her two-year hiatus invigorated and strengthened. Unlike when I came back from my one-week hiatus hung over and with more citations than one would think humanly possible.

Death Note
(Adult Swim)
Sunday November 25 12:00am - Episode 6 "Unraveling" (Repeats Sun Nov 25 3:00am)

(YTV)
Friday November 30 10:00pm - Episode 6 "Unraveling" (Repeats Sat Dec 1 1:30am)

The gaunt and unreasonably intelligent L is introduced to the rest of the police force, as the baggy-eyed madman closes in on his trail of the Death Note-wielding Light. Like Holmes and Moriarty, except all muddled with moral dilemmas and supernatural stuff.

Desert Punk
(Starz Edge)
-Wednesday November 28 12:00am - Episode 3 "Fire Dragon Kong" (Repeats Wed Nov 28 2:00pm, Thu Nov 29 2:45am)
-Wednesday November 28 12:30am - Episode 4 "An Ace in the Sand" (Repeats Wed Nov 28 2:30pm, Thu Nov 29 3:15am)

The so-called "Desert Punk" tests his Punky mettle against Fire Donkey, I mean Dragon, Kong, and the "Shimmer Sniper."

Digimon
(Toon Disney)
Monday November 26 8:30pm - Episode 223 "Curse This Curse: Marcus' Bad Day" (Repeats Tue Nov 27 1:00am, Fri Nov 30 8:30pm, Sat Dec 1 1:00am)

Marcus suffers through an entire day's worth of Digimon pranks. Word to the wise: never step on a flaming bag left on your doorstep by a four-foot-tall Dinosaur-thing.

Dinosaur King
(4KidsTV)
Saturday November 24 9:30am - Episode 12 "Alpha's Zeta Point"

Alpha Zeta? Knock it off, guys. You're not going to sound smart writing for a children's show about dinosaurs by using fancy-pants names for things. Regardless, the D-Team unknowingly heads to their enemy's hideout when they find some new Dinosaur there, hijinx ensue.

Ergo Proxy
(G4TechTV Canada)
Thursday November 29 8:00pm - Episode 19 "Eternal Smile"

The soft-spoken Pino takes a trip to a dome that appears to be some kind of amusement park, wherein the other dome-izans wonder aloud about Pino's behavior, despite her programming. Deep!

Gundam Seed Destiny
(YTV)
Friday November 30 9:30pm - Episode 34 "Nightmare" (Repeats Sat Dec 1 2:30am)

This week on Space Opera With Giant Robots (in Space), the mighty battleships of the opposing forces, the Minerva and the Archangel, clash in a grand, orgiastic spectacle of clanging metal and pyew-pyewing lasers.

Last Exile
(G4TechTV Canada)
Sunday November 25 8:00pm - Episode 19 "Sicilian Defense" (Repeats Mon Nov 26 12:00am)

Post-coronation, the noble Sylvana hurtles towards its next destination, unaware of course of the trap its many enemies have in store for it. Whole lotta fightin' goin' on.

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
-Saturday November 24 9:00pm - Episode 116 "360 Degrees of Vision: The Byakugan's Blind Spot!"
-Saturday November 24 9:00pm - Episode 117 "Losing is Not an Option"

Remember when these episodes were supposed to air last week? They were! Unfortunately they didn't - it's "sweeps" month, that wonderful time of year when networks compete to get the most viewers possible so they can charge exorbitant fees for their advertisers based upon view-gaining stunts like, say, airing a repeat of the first Naruto movie instead of any of their regular programming. Could've been worse, though; they could've shelved Naruto entirely for a marathon of insipid High School Musical-inspired live action shows.

(YTV)
Friday November 30 8:00pm - Episode 114 "Goodbye, Old Friend: I'll Always Believe in You"

MEANWHILE, IN CANADA: Choji finishes his battle with guts! And I don't mean the fat kind of guts, or the literal ones inside your stomach.

One Piece
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday November 24 10:00pm - Episode 112 "100 Million Man: World's Greatest Power and Pirate Blackbeard"

See above description, re: sweeps, same thing that was supposed to air last week, insipid crap, et cetera.

Pokemon
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday November 24 9:30am - Episode 504 "One Big Happy Family" (Repeats Sun Nov 25 11:00am)

Ash's squinty friend Brock is about to be the proud father of a hatching egg Pokemon, unless that wily Team Rocket manages to steal it away from them somehow. There's trickery afoot!

Requiem From the Darkness
(G4TechTV Canada)
Saturday November 24 8:00pm - Episode 6 "Shibaemon Tanuki - The Shibaemon Racoon Dog" (Repeats Sun Nov 25 12:00am)

The traveling Momosuke becomes involved with a much darker, more tragic Tanuki story than that of either Pom Poko or Super Mario 3.

Saiyuki Reload Gunlock
(AZNTV)
-Monday November 26 8:30pm - Episode 13 "The Man From the West ~open your eyes~" (Repeats Tue Nov 27 1:30am, 5:30am)
-Tuesday November 27 8:30pm - Episode 14 "The Whereabouts of the Miracle ~pilgrim~" (Repeats Wed Nov 28 1:30am, 5:30am)
-Wednesday November 28 8:30pm - Episode 15 "To the Limits of Mourning ~death wish~" (Repeats Thu Nov 29 1:30am, 5:30am)

The demon-hunting crew of androgynous pretty-boys come across a mysterious village where seemingly human villagers attack at random, and a duo of supposed "miracle workers" who mysteriously can resurrect the dead. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is, much like the non-functional X-Ray Specs of our youth.

Shin Chan
(Razer)
-Monday November 26 10:00pm - Episode TBA (Repeats Tue Nov 27 1:30am)
-Tuesday November 26 10:30pm - Episode TBA (Repeats Tue Nov 27 2:00am)

Here, alas, is another Canadian TV conundrum: Shin Chan has already run its initial 20-episode course in Canada, although there are obviously more than 20 episodes completed at this time - Adult Swim has them airing in the next few months - and the fact that the listings don't indicate any reruns, are these indeed episodes 21 and onward? Best to err on the side of caution, as always, so it's TBA for now. But I wouldn't be surprised if you lucky Canucks got a few new episodes of that poo-obsessed preschooler, so be on the lookout.

Tenjho Tenge
(Fuse)
Saturday December 1 12:30am - Episode 24 "Wandering"

It's the last episode of the Tenjho Tenge TV series, as Souichiro and Bob reminisce on their one-year anniversary since joining the Juken Club, and all the faces pummeled and spilled blood and jiggling boobs. Good times.

Texhnolyze
(G4TechTV Canada)
Saturday November 24 8:30pm - Episode 19 "Heavenward" (Repeats Sun Nov 25 12:30am)

Ichise and The Doc make a trip to the "Surface World," and uncover strange, unsettling things. Stuff like pay toilets! Jack Canfield books! Road House Part II!

Tokyo Underground
(G4TechTV Canada)
Sunday November 25 8:30pm - Episode 19 "Impatience: Thoughts That Do Not Reach" (Repeats Mon Nov 26 12:30am)

Aside from the puzzling, confounding title, in this week's Tokyo Underground: Love, lust, power, drama, violence, violence fighting!

MOVIES/SPECIALS

Howl's Moving Castle
(Starz Edge)
Saturday November 24 7:00pm

(Encore WAM)
Friday November 30 11:30am (Repeats Fri Nov 30 9:15pm)

If there is anybody reading this who has STILL not seen Howl's Moving Castle, please raise your hands. Then, walk directly into oncoming traffic, so that history may judge you harshly, as you so deserve. You suck.

That about covers all the noteworthy stuff - your standard-issue warmed-over repeats lie below, like starving, unwanted children from developing countries, and twice as frail and smelly! I'll be back next week!

REPEATS/STRIPS

Bleach
(Adult Swim)
-Tue Nov 27 12:30am - Episode 45 (R Tue Nov 27 4:00am)
-Wed Nov 28 12:30am - Episode 46 (R Wed Nov 28 4:00am)
-Thu Nov 29 12:30am - Episode 47 (R Thu Nov 29 4:00am)
-Fri Nov 30 12:30am - Episode 48 (R Fri Nov 30 4:00am)
-Sat Dec 1 12:30am - Episode 49 (R Sat Dec 1 4:00am)

Blood+
(Adult Swim)
-Tue Nov 27 1:00am - Episode 20 "Chevalier" (R Tue Nov 27 4:30am)
-Wed Nov 28 1:00am - Episode 21 "Sour Grapes" (R Wed Nov 28 4:30am)
-Thu Nov 29 1:00am - Episode 22 "The Zoo" (R Thu Nov 29 4:30am)
-Fri Nov 30 1:00am - Episode 23 "Two Chevaliers" (R Fri Nov 30 4:30am)
-Sat Dec 1 1:00am - Episode 24 "Airy Singing Voice" (R Sat Dec 1 4:30am)

Chrono Crusade
(Showtime Beyond)
-Mon Nov 26 12:00am - Episode 5 "Militia" (R Thu Nov 29 8:00pm, Fri Nov 30 2:30am)
-Mon Nov 26 12:30am - Episode 6 "Jewel Witch" (R Fri Nov 30 3:00am)
-Mon Nov 26 1:00am - Episode 7 "Devil" (R Fri Nov 30 3:30am)
-Mon Nov 26 1:30am - Episode 8 "Puppets" (R Fri Nov 30 4:00am, 7:36pm)
-Fri Nov 30 8:00pm - Episode 9 "Joshua"
-Fri Nov 30 8:30pm - Episode 10 "Horn"
-Fri Nov 30 9:00pm - Episode 11 "Beast"
-Fri Nov 30 9:30pm - Episode 12 "Holy Night"

Desert Punk
(Starz Edge)
-Sat Nov 24 1:30pm - Episode 1 "The Demon and the Double D's" (R Tue Nov 27 1:00pm)
-Sat Nov 24 2:00pm - Episode 2 "Rock, Paper, Scissors" (R Tue Nov 27 1:30pm)

Digimon
(Toon Disney)
-Sat Nov 24 5:30pm - Episode 21 "Home Away From Home"
-Sun Nov 25 5:30pm - Episode 22 "Forget About It!"
-Mon Nov 26 10:00pm - Episode 125 "Jeri's Quest"
-Tue Nov 27 10:00pm - Episode 126 "The Boar Wars"
-Wed Nov 28 10:00pm - Episode 127 "A World Apart"
-Thu Nov 29 10:00pm - Episode 128 "The Journey Begins"
-Fri Nov 30 10:00pm - Episode 129 "Brave New Digital World"

Dragon Ball Z
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Nov 24 10:30pm - Episode 149 "Saving Throw"

Fullmetal Alchemist
(Adult Swim)
-Sun Nov 26 1:30am - Episode 5 "The Man With the Mechanical Arm" (R Sun Nov 26 4:30am)

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG
(Adult Swim)
-Sun Nov 26 1:00am - Episode 26 "Endless Gig" (R Sun Nov 26 4:00am)

Gokusen
(Encore WAM)
-Sat Nov 24 4:30pm - Episode 11 "Shin Drops Out of School" (R Sun Nov 25 1:30am, 8:30am)
-Sun Nov 25 4:30pm - Episode 12 "Shirokin High Closing" (R Mon Nov 26 1:30am, 8:30am)
-Mon Nov 26 4:30pm - Episode 13 "Yakumi's Final Act of Honor" (R Tue Nov 27 1:30am, 8:30am)
-Tue Nov 27 4:30pm - Episode 1 "Rookie Teacher With a Secret is Born!" (R Wed Nov 28 1:30am, 8:30am)
-Wed Nov 28 4:30pm - Episode 2 "Duel! Shin vs. Ojou?" (R Thu Nov 29 1:30am, 8:30am)
-Thu Nov 29 4:30pm - Episode 3 "Kuma's First Time" (R Fri Nov 30 1:30am, 8:30am)
-Fri Nov 30 4:30pm - Episode 4 "Ojou Goes Blond! Whodunnit?" (R Sat Dec 1 1:30am, 8:30am)

Inuyasha
(Adult Swim)
-Sun Nov 25 2:00am - Episode 15 "Return of the Tragic Priestess, Kikyo" (R Sun Nov 25 5:30am)
-Tue Nov 27 2:00am - Episode 16 "Cursed Ink of the Hell-Painter" (R Tue Nov 27 5:30am)
-Wed Nov 28 2:00am - Episode 17 "Naraku and Sesshomaru Join Forces" (R Wed Nov 28 5:30am)
-Thu Nov 29 2:00am - Episode 18 "Go Home to Your Own Time, Kagome!" (R Thu Nov 29 5:30am)
-Fri Nov 30 2:00am - Episode 19 "Despicable Villain! The Mystery of Onigumo" (R Fri Nov 30 5:30am)
-Sat Dec 1 2:00am - Episode 20 "Naraku's True Identity Revealed" (R Sat Dec 1 5:30am)

Mirage of Blaze
(Encore WAM)
-Sat Nov 24 4:00pm - Episode 7 "Memories of Hateful Anguish" (R Sun Nov 25 1:00am, 8:00am)
-Sun Nov 25 4:00pm - Episode 8 "At the End of Obsession" (R Mon Nov 26 1:00am, 8:00am)
-Mon Nov 26 4:00pm - Episode 9 "Endless Void" (R Tue Nov 27 1:00am, 8:00am)
-Tue Nov 27 4:00pm - Episode 10 "Sorrowful Betrayal" (R Wed Nov 28 1:00am, 8:00am)
-Wed Nov 28 4:00pm - Episode 11 "Eternal Blaze" (R Thu Nov 29 1:00am, 8:00am)
-Thu Nov 29 4:00pm - Episode 12 "Choices of Conflict" (R Fri Nov 30 1:00am, 8:00am)
-Fri Nov 30 4:00pm - Episode 13 "Twilight of Beyond" (R Sat Dec 1 1:00am, 8:00am)

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Nov 26 10:30pm - Episode 84 "Roar, Chidori: Brother vs. Brother"
-Tue Nov 27 10:30pm - Episode 86 "A New Training Begins: I Will Be Strong"
-Wed Nov 28 10:30pm - Episode 87 "Keep on Training: Pop Goes the Water Balloon"
-Thu Nov 29 10:30pm - Episode 88 "Focal Point: The Mark of the Leaf"

Oban Star-Racers
(Toon Disney)
-Sun Nov 25 2:30am - Episode 14 "Welcome to Oban!"
-Mon Nov 26 2:30am - Episode 15 "Fierce Like Lord Furter"

Pokemon
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Nov 24 9:00am - Episode 503 "A Grass Menagerie" (R Sun Nov 25 10:30am)
-Mon Nov 26 7:00am - Episode 483 "Wild in the Streets"
-Mon Nov 26 3:00pm - Episode 471 "Gettin' Twiggy With It"
-Tue Nov 27 7:00am - Episode 484 "O'er the Rampardos We Watched!"
-Tue Nov 27 3:00pm - Episode 472 "Different Strokes For Different Blokes"
-Wed Nov 28 7:00am - Episode 485 "Twice Smitten, Once Shy"
-Wed Nov 28 3:00pm - Episode 473 "Like it or Lup it"
-Thu Nov 29 7:00am - Episode 486 "Mutiny in the Bounty"
-Thu Nov 29 3:00pm - Episode 474 "Gymbaliar"
-Fri Nov 30 7:00am - Episode 487 "Ya See We Want an Evolution"
-Fri Nov 30 3:00pm - Episode 475 "Setting the World on its Buneary"

Shinzo
(Toon Disney)
-Tue Nov 27 4:00am - Episode 13 "Ryuma, Lord of the Reptiles"
-Wed Nov 28 4:00am - Episode 14 "The Dark Spirit of Destruction"
-Thu Nov 29 4:00am - Episode 15 "Mechano City"
-Fri Nov 30 4:00am - Episode 16 "The Giant Robot"
-Sat Dec 1 4:00am - Episode 17 "The Great War"

Sonic X
(4KidsTV)
-Sat Nov 24 10:30am - Episode 30 "Heads Up, Tails!"

Transformers Cybertron
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Nov 26 6:00am - Episode 49 "End"
-Tue Nov 27 6:00am - Episode 50 "Unfinished"
-Wed Nov 28 6:00am - Episode 51 "Beginning"
-Thu Nov 29 6:00am - Episode 52 "Inferno"
-Fri Nov 30 6:00am - Episode 1 "Cybertron"

Trinity Blood
(Adult Swim)
-Tue Nov 27 1:30am - Episode 20 "The Throne of Roses I: Kingdom of the North" (R Tue Nov 27 5:00am)
-Wed Nov 28 1:30am - Episode 21 "The Throne of Roses II: The Refuge" (R Wed Nov 28 5:00am)
-Thu Nov 29 1:30am - Episode 22 "The Throne of Roses III: Lord of the Abyss" (R Thu Nov 29 5:00am)
-Fri Nov 30 1:30am - Episode 23 "The Crown of Thorns I: City in the Mist" (R Fri Nov 30 5:00am)
-Sat Dec 1 1:30am - Episode 24 "The Crown of Thorns II: The Lord of Oath" (R Sat Dec 1 5:00am)

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
(4KidsTV)
-Sat Nov 24 7:30am - Episode 119 "A Snake in the Grass, Part 3"