Protocol of the Two-sided Gospel -X-day Protocol-

In a sense this series really shouldn't be as good as it is - but make no mistake, based on three episodes at least it's pretty goddam good.

(Heijikyokusen no Epigurafu)
"Epigraph of the Closed Curve: Closed Epigraph"

I admit to a healthy skepticism about Steins;Gate 0, but that ep was really, really good.

「シュタインズ ゲート 横行跋扈のポリオマニア」 (Oukoubakko no Poriomania)
"Egoistic Poriomania"

Note to self – “I am mad scientist. United States. Chaos. And invade!” is the wrong thing to say to Homeland Security

「境界面上のシュタインズゲート」 (Kyōkaimenjō no Shutainzu Gēto)
"Open the Steins Gate"

I’m going to go against character and make this post a brief one, which is fitting I think in that this penultimate episode was one that pretty much speaks for itself. And I’ll start with a confession – I finally caved and re-watched the first episode before I watched episode 23.

「存在了解のメルト」 (Sonzai Ryōkai no Meruto)
"Being Meltdown"

There should be something to please everyone in this week’s Steins;Gate. It’s a near-perfect blend of the hard-core character drama of last week and the plot-driven intensity that marked the end of Suzuha’s arc.

「因果律のメルト」 (Ingaritsu no Meruto)
"Paradox Meltdown"

Wow, that was really a heartbreaker. It might have been too slow for some tastes, but I wouldn’t change a second of it.

「怨嗟断絶のアポトーシス」 (Ensa Danzetsu no Apotōshisu)
"Disruption of Apoptosis"

I’m going to resist the urge for a general “I told you so” because I’m sure that by tomorrow, the combination of microanalysis and thoughtless spoilers will have found 20 things wrong in the next few paragraphs. But for now, it feels good to know that we’ve finally reached the point I’ve felt this series has been building towards.