User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 356: Tartarus Arc, Review./@comment-4449950-20131019015329

Okay... I can sense this is going to be long, so I think I'll divide it into sections for easier reading :/

Firstly though... Wow! What a chapter! I literally just sat there staring at my screen for about 5 minutes when I finished. Then I came back to the Wiki... and... well... I just didn't know what to do. I like sat there thinking "Do I mark the deceased...? No... Write summaries... No... Create new pages... No... Fill out team and guild pages." There was just too much going through my head to even let me think straight XD So much indeed:


 * The Council: Oh yeah! Who was right? ;D I was~ For those who don't remember/didn't read, I predicted the Council's destruction on last weeks podcast blog :3

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b549/Kyarotto/CarrotwasRight_zps9da62b6f.png

So heeeeeell yeah >:) I think this was a good move by Mashima. I mean, the Council (despite being useless most of the time) were really a strong brick wall for everyone to lean on. I mean, Mashima hinted at it himself in this chapter. Makarov and Erza don't know what to do about Minerva, so it's just "Meh, tell the Council and make it their issue". But still... everyone ASSASSINATED!? Wow Mashima. I tip my hat to you... You can write death that is actually death and plays a major role in the story. Well done :3


 * Lahar: I... I don't know what to say to be honest. I was always going around telling everyone that Lahar was an idiot and should just die for being such an annoying ass, but seeing him actually die just stuck something in my heart. I was trying not to focus on it until I woke up and had a new DevWatch message. For those who haven't seen judeezabala's work, she makes the most stunning FT character portraits that usually leave me speechless. I was taken aback when I saw that her most recent was a farewell portrait for Lahar. I guess it just proves that it's so easy to go on about wanting a character gone, but thinking it and seeing it happen are two completely different things. In all honesty I'm actually very sad about Lahar's death now, especially for Doranbolt. I guess what also makes it so much more powerful is that unlike with Gray's silly "death" and things like that, I didn't automatically go "Ahhhh, he'll be fine", like I usually do. It struck me that this was not one of those cliche scenes meant to make me think about the character and like it when they are saved. This was a lot darker than what we usually get, but I must admit I am loving it. Oh, for those who want to see Lahar's portrait by judeezabala, you can find it here.


 * Doranbolt: What can I say? I have never liked Doranbolt as a character much due to the severe split personality he seems to have. His actions always went against his words, and his words against his actions: it pissed me off to no end. Seeing him here though, and especially that bit with the knife and Cobra made me think that he could (as of now) actually grow into a character I like. He seems to have a goal now: something he needs to achieve, and I wouldn't be surprised if he gets Fairy Tail and/or Jellal along for the ride. On this note, I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes the new Chairman of the Council. It would be a nice move by Mashima I think. Also on this topic, for some reason I just keep seeing Jellal assisting him with this. I dunno, the two seem to have this connection that I think will force them to cooperate, so I wouldn't be surprised if Jellal and Doranbolt end up working together at some point. I hope Lahar and everyone's deaths really builds Doranbolt's character: A testament to how a well-written death can impact a story and build characters for the better... *glares at Lisanna*


 * Jackal: Oooooooh!! :D I am strangely attracted to this guy for some reason >:3 He seems really cool and sexy XD I think his Magic looks interesting and I'm glad he was introduced the way he was :) Awesome job by Mashima, and I hope Jackal gets a big role in this arc.


 * Cobra: Oooooohhh!! Take 2!! I have a very soft spot for Cobra: I think he is an awesome character, so seeing Mashima utilize him and not just forget him makes me so so so so SO happy! The other thing I'm really liking is this connection the Oracion Seis seem to have to each other. I mean, unlike a lot of dark guilds we have seen who are just "me me me", I like it that the OS has this sense of comradery. I'm really hoping Cobra continues to play a role in this arc. I wouldn't be surprised if Doranbolt ends up letting Cobra free and the two run into Jellal and Meredy and form their own little team so to speak. As with Jackal, I hope Cobra isn't just abandoned in his cell for the rest of the arc... I want him to play a role.


 * Tempesta: Ooooh! (Take 3). Calling Wind/Air Magic of some sort ;D What is she up to though? Personally, I would really like it if she attacked the Royal Family and killed Toma. To me is would mark a pattern: Guran Doma (old fart Chairman) is dead, Doranbolt takes his place; Toma (old fart King) is dead, Hisui can finally step up as a character and take his place; Makarov (old fart FT guild master) dies too (at some point in this arc) and the entire FT guild has to step up - maybe Laxus takes over. I seriously hope this happens, because, as much as it would likely make me cry to see Makarov gone, I think it needs to happen.


 * Silver: Awesome! So the current Silver we see is actually him in his human form? Wicked >:) Goodbye nasty Gray/Silver relationship theories! \o/ However, now I am realllly interested to see his demon form >:) Also, on this, I think his Magic is really interesting. He kind of reminds me of Yuka: like, Yuka is a Mage whose Magic gets rid of Magic. It would be interesting if Silver was this anti-demon demon so to speak XD He's a demon... with Magic that kills demons. To me that would make him one of the strongest of the Nine Demon Gates, and could be a hint at why he seems to have this knack for just doing what he wants without anyone complaining ;D Can't wait to see more of him too :3


 * Nine Demon Gates: They look badass! Silver, Jackal and the chick with the dark hair and horns are the ones appealing to me the most at the moment, though the skeleton guy also seems preeeeetty awesome :D Next weeks chapter is named after them, so I hope we meet Tempesta and get to know a little more about their Magic maybe :3 And they are from the Book of Zeref! I actually didn't see that coming at all, but it is pretty badass >:) Not to mention...


 * E.N.D.: Wow! When Cobra let spill that he was their master and the most powerful demon for the Book of Zeref I fangasmed~ Totally awesome... A real twist from Mashima that I didn't see coming. Most importantly though, I really want to meet him. Will Natsu recognize him perhaps? What kind of Magic does he possess that even Igneel couldn't defeat him? I want to know damn it!! On this note, does Zeref know about them? I keep thinking back to his convo with Mavis and now I'm also really interested to see what part Zeref will play in this story arc :D


 * FT guild: Nice to see more people there :) Juvia and Gray had that hilarious moment that made me lol, but I wish Juvia would get over Gray tbh... Poor girl deserves someone better. The others reading up on E.N.D. was a little dry, but it just proves their ignorance for this enemy, which I love. I don't see how this arc will be able to work if only FT is involved, so I seriously hope a lot of characters get dragged in to help ;D


 * Jellal and Meredy: I get the feeling they will appear a lot in this arc. I mean, Cobra and Jellal were the first two characters to mention Tartarus, so I wouldn't be surprised if both play a large role in this arc. I really hope so: it's time for both Jellal and Meredy to show their skills after the seven years. Mashima skived them in the last arc, which annoyed me to no end, but I think both could be absolutely amazing here if given the chance. Please Mashima, please.


 * FT coming to an end?: I keep hearing this all over the Wiki again >__> Man, it annoys me. We have no idea if the Sun Village arc counts as one of those "minimum 3" Mashima was talking about (really, for me, the SV arc seems more like an introduction to Silver tbh - I mean, the bottom line of the arc was that Silver existed and was strong) and even then, I think we have so much more to go through before we'll see the end. The arc has only begun and we've had more problems brought up than solved, so I think we are quite a way from the end tbh.

... ( .__.) Wow... I typed a lot ^__^" I can't really think of anything else I need to say, so I'll just tip my hat to Mashima for a superb opening to the arc. I hope to see a lot more death, many brilliant fights and some awesome characters.

Can't wait for the next chapter!

Carrot out... bitches...