The Nightwave Episode 3: The Deluxe Edition is a two-part anime-focused podcast hosted by Derek with Trey (also known as Super). This "deluxe" episode features two special guests, Tangie and RJ, who join the hosts to discuss various anime series, character rankings, and hot takes.

Part One: Featuring Tangie (0:00 - 51:17)

One Piece Discussion: The group debates the pacing of One Piece (1:53 - 4:43) and the emotional impact of Ace's death, which serves as a major turning point for the series (4:48 - 13:38).

Current Anime Binge: Tangie discusses her current obsession with Jujutsu Kaisen (JJK) and its complex rules (1:25), while the hosts share their current watch lists, including Armed Girls Machiavellianism, Fate/ Zero, Konosuba, and Wotakoi (26:00 - 41:06).

Worst Anime Picks: The conversation shifts to widely disliked shows, with the panel criticizing Blue Lock (42:15 - 46:57) and Mars of Destruction (45:17 - 47:32).

Part Two: Featuring RJ (52:11 - 2:16:27)

Animation vs. Story: RJ introduces the topic of whether some anime are "carried" by animation quality rather than story depth (53:05). The group identifies shows like Demon Slayer and The God of High School as prime examples (54:00 - 1:01:00).

JJK & Character Writing: The group shares mixed feelings about the writing in Jujutsu Kaisen compared to Bleach (1:04:15 - 1:06:46).

Character Rankings: The hosts and RJ participate in a segment ranking characters on a scale of 1/10 to 10/10 based on writing quality. They express strong disdain for characters like Mineta from My Hero Academia and Kaguya from Naruto (1:30:08 - 1:49:00), while highlighting favorites like Thorfinn from Vinland Saga (1:51:00 - 2:15:58

In this second episode of The Nightwave, hosts Trey Super and Dark Drago (also known as Tone) engage in a spirited debate over anime culture, specifically focusing on building an "Anime Mount Rushmore" and identifying the greatest fighting anime released from 2000 to the present.

Anime Mount Rushmore Discussion (1:26 - 23:13): The hosts discuss which four anime series hold the most

significant cultural impact. Their individual picks include: Trey's selections: Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, Sailor

Moon, and Pokemon (1:47).

Tone's selections: Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, Yu-Gi-Oh!,and Pokemon (3:53).

Derek's selections: Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, and Sailor Moon (19:39).

The conversation includes a lengthy, humorous debate about whether shows like My Hero Academia and Yu-Gi-Oh! deserve a spot on the Mount Rushmore, with the hosts arguing over their legacy and impact (9:40 -

18:32).

Greatest Fighting Anime (2000-Present) (25:46 - 33:46):

For the second topic, the hosts shift to identifying the greatest fighting-focused anime released since 2000: Derek: Selects Hajime no Ippo for its technical choreography, realism, and inspiration from real-world fighters (27:52).

Trey: Selects Bleach, citing its high-quality fight animation, particularly the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, and engaging filler episodes (29:06).

Tone: Chooses Jujutsu Kaisen for its modern

animation and dynamic fight sequences (30:38).

Super: Selects Baki, highlighting its extreme,

larger-than-life battles (32:54)

The episode concludes with a final call to action for viewers to share their own Mount Rushmore and fighting anime picks in the comments.

This pilot episode of The Nightwave features host Derek (dvrkdrago) alongside guests Tone, Super, and Trey. The group introduces the new 12-episode podcast series, sharing their personal histories with anime and discussing various industry topics.

Key Segments:

Introductions & Anime Origins (0:20 - 9:26): Each guest shares their favorite series (Attack on Titan, One Piece, Dragon Ball Z, Gintama) and explains how they were introduced to anime through platforms like Toonami, 4Kids dubs, and family influence.

Worst Anime Discussion (9:27 - 30:35): The hosts

dahato thoir "woret" onimo ovnorioncoc covorinashows like Gibiate, Blue Lock, Poppy the Performer, Rent-a-Girlfriend, and School Days. They discuss issues ranging from poor CGI and pacing to questionable plot choices.

Skipping the Filler (30:46 - 32:20): A new

recommendation segment where Tone highlights Soul Eater as a well-rounded starter anime.

Fan Service Debate (32:46 - 49:57): The group

engages in a deep discussion about fan service, agreeing that while it can feel excessive or out of place in some shows (like Fire Force or Food Wars), it is often a cultural staple of shonen anime that should be expected rather than cause for major offense.