User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 371: Tartarus Arc: Part 2 - Song of the Heavenly Dragon, Review./@comment-4449950-20140216015651

Okay... You all knew it was coming, so here it is. Sorry for the delay, but I bought a new laptop on Friday and spent all of yesterday setting it up :) Plus, I have a new keyboard, so I can't type as fast yet T^T New keys and all~

Anyways. I. HATED. THIS. CHAPTER!! So much meh, so much bleh, and a heap of omfgareyouserious's thrown in too...

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b549/Kyarotto/Why_zpscfa76e77.gif

This is my main question.

Why?

Why did all of this have to happen in one chapter? Why did the pacing lose itself here? Why did everything in the world that could be convenient get thrown in, whilst character development got thrown away?

Why?

To show that I'm not some super hater, there were a few good things with this chapter... A few:
 * Silver's loyalties are being tested :) Hopefully the prediction I made way back when the 9DGs were shown proves to be correct.
 * Sho was mentioned.
 * Mirajane's stupid front ponytail is gone for now

....aaaaand that about sums up good things. Let me get onto the bad.

WARNING! Long list inbound.


 * The so-called massive bomb that would destroy FT did destroy the building, though every nearby shop/house/place (literally shown to be metres away) DID NOT GET TOUCHED AT ALL. Picky, I know, but this is the first convenience in the chapter: destruction of chosen areas.
 * WHY THE FUCK is Cube in Magnolia!?!? I mean, I don't even understand. There was no reason given as to why they decided to come in the first place: Kyouka even said it was pointless. Did Sayla convince them? Did someone make a wrong turn at Bosco and they wound up there? No, they were in Magnolia ONLY because the plot called for it. Heck, chapters ago Kyouka was talking about moving them to manually activate Face. Nope, apparently complete world domination for a supreme ruler you worship can be put on hold to go watch something that exactly 1000 Demons DO NOT GIVE A FUCK ABOUT!! Were any of them really that happy after FT exploded? I don't think so. They all basically went "Well there we go" and moved on. Pointless, pointless, pointless plot hacks for the sole purpose of getting them close to FT >__>
 * Good on Cana for learning a new spell, but I have to question its use and the way it was shown. So, by her standing in the middle floor of the guild, she can cardify (now a word) and collect EVERYONE in the building? Even Laxus, injured in bed needing medical attention. Even the people who were likely on the top floors or in the cellars? EVERYONE? I'm glad it was a spell rather than some stupid nakama hack, but I'm just so pissed off by the pacing and, again, the convenience that Cana just happened to learn (heck, master) a spell she has never been shown using before.
 * Elfman. What, do possessions also just break when you get put into cards? Should Cana stand back in the fight with Sayla and every time she takes them over Cana puts them in a card an releases them to counter the attack? ( -__-) I understand that perhaps with the bomb off Elfman's "job" (if you like) was over, but wasn't his prime mission to destroy FT? Again, I find it was just dropped off far too soon for the ease of not having to deal with it later.
 * That page with the FT members running. Again, where are the others? We know that there are hundreds of FT members - look at Mak's speech to the guild earlier in 359. Do all these members just plan to stand around on UnderCube whilst the others rush in? Are the injured Raijinshu going to just lie there? Even if these guys do storm the base, I can only see the main characters (Juvia, Gray, Levy, Gajeel) getting any sort of action, with the others just hanging back. Oh... did I mention this just reeks of the Phantom Lord arc? Again, I'm just pissed off that the whole FT guild rushes in without thinking. They know for a fact that Tartarus has their friends, but, like Natsu did, they think that everything will be fine and ignore the fact that their friends could be put in more danger due to their actions.
 * The other guilds: Are we not going to see them? Is it going to be FT-takes-all again? They were brought up and Minerva's connection to ST brought up, and now... nothing? I swear, if they don't appear and FT solos these guys.... AAAARAGGGG!! I mean, a small alliance was needed for OS... Heaps of FTs strongest were needed for GH. And now, the strongest (for me) of the Balam Alliance can be taken out by a few of FTs best plus some minors? No help needed? Damn it >__>
 * Mirajane. Good for her, she escaped just how we all sad she would. However... she just waltzed out like she knew exactly what was going on. Was she not unconscious this whole time? Does she not question wtf was going on? Okay then, say she could hear everything the others were saying and knew she was in Tartarus. Would she still not try to be the least bit cautious? When Erza awoke she was confused and uncertain and she questioned where Mira was. She had no idea how to get out. Mira should know the enemy, and not be so goddamn cocky. If she was actually being normal, she would be cautious. But no, again, the plot called for complete confidence and a turnaround, so Mira is as happy-go-lucky as everyone else, despite having NO IDEA that FT are even there to help.
 * Lisanna and Natsu just happen to find a sword? Okay, I read through the theories that Silver gave them one, and I'm cool with that, but did they seriously have time to escape and find the exact location of Erza in the massive HQ? More importantly, Lisanna was shit scared a few chapters ago. She had no idea what to do and was down about everything. She was assaulted by one of the 9DGs, but as soon as she and Natsu escape, she's all cocky too. I mean, is she not daunted by the idea that there are 8 Demons beside Sayla crawling around? Again, these guys too should not have any idea that FT has arrived to help, but again, they are all cocky for the sake of being cocky. It makes 0 sense to me and I am so pissed. Natsu too, who was one-shotted by Silver just grabs Kyouka by her arms and smiles like an idiot. Does he have no self-preservation or is he seriously that certain they can beat her in their condition? Even worse, he brought Lisanna along. LISANNA IS NOT A GOOD FUCKING FIGHTER! I hate to push this point again, but she was owned by a Demon, and Natsu just drags her into battle? Please >__>
 * Erza. God-damn mother-fucking Erza. Any hope I had for the chapter left me at that final page. Was it badass? Yes. Was it cool? Yes. Did they deserve it? Yes. Should it of happened? FUCK NO! Let me get something straight: Erza was tortured for how many chapters again? She was sliced open (with pain enhancers), electrocuted and mentally assaulted (Jellal, her lack of armour) and she just stands up as soon as she's free like none of that happened? OMFG! She should have been out. Completely floored and unable to go on. And for those people saying "She's used to torture 'cause of the ToH"... I'm sorry... but that is the biggest load of crap I have ever read. So, if I get stabbed a heap of times with a knife as a child and today someone walks up and stabs me I can turn and say "Hohoho bitch. I've been stabbed many times before and that ain't gunna work >:)". No! NO NO NO!! YOU DO NOT GET USED TO TORTURE! Plus, again again again, Erza has no idea that FT are even there to help. As far as she knows, Mira is still captured. She should have seen Natsu and Lisanna and questioned why they were there... been sad that they were there. She should have known Kyouka's abilities and told them to run. She should have feared the other Demon Gates. But no... FUCKING NO! She immediately gets into her hakama clothing (I am so sick of it now) and gets back at everyone with that stupid fucking cocky grin. FUCK MY LIFE! Did the last days of torture do JACK SHIT to her confidence? I understand that the FT characters value their friends and powers, but this was just too far. TOO BLOODY FAR... What's worse...
 * The fight build-ups. So... Lisanna, Natsu and Erza are going to take out Kyouka by holding her arms? What is this? I don't like the idea that FT storms the place and all grab a Demon Gate. I- I just... this is possibly the worst fight build-up in FT, and if these fights do occur here and now I will crack it even more. It just feels so wrong and so out of place and BLECK! I am hoping - praying - that Erza tries to get Kyouka but she escapes unharmed and then the three find Mira and get out. If they do any sort of permanent damage or any of the 9DGs fall like this... I... Oh shit... I will throw furniture through walls. The only thing I want to come from this is that perhaps Gray has a short encounter with Silver. THAT. IS. ALL.
 * Erza still has no idea that Face was unsealed, and that Jellal is "dead". As a JellalErza supporter, I am cut.

As always, I am waiting for the next chapter to completely give up on this part of the arc. There is still some hope that things get a little better, but this chapter was just rushed, poorly done in my opinion and completely contradictory to EVERYTHING that was previously built up: the fear, the uncertainty, the deception. All gone. All fucking gone in 18 fucking pages.

Final score: 1.5/10. 0.5 for every "good point" I mentioned above >__>

TL;DR:

This chapter was awful. No amount of badassery can make up for poor plot developments and contradictory, unbelievable actions.

Come at me sluts...

Carrot out.