Last time I did this I think I listed every anime I had watched, no matter whether I kept them or rejected them. Since this time around I've only got a few hours to get the writing done, I'm going to skip the second part. Here's my short list of this season's shows as it is so far - in other words, these are the ones that I'll grant at least one more episode.
Tower of Druaga: Watched this over on Crunchyroll; looks to be a cute (really, slightly TOO cute) send-up of fantasy anime and games. It's not spectacular in any area, really, but it's inoffensive enough. One complaint: as a parody it just doesn't work very well. The jokes that are reasonably good get mercilessly beaten to submission (they use the "getting married in my home city" joke what, four or five times?) and everything else tends towards goofiness for goofiness' sake. It's not a bad show by any means, and Gonzo's sticking its neck out on the distribution means I'll give it at least one more shot, but I have a feeling this one ain't going the distance.
Kanokon: The latest contribution to the thesis (found first in Negima) that in a harem show, or more broadly a romantic-comedy that gets by on sheer moe, the male lead should in principle be cuter and more desirable than the girls surrounding him. And the Kanokon creators are very serious about this: not only did they get Mamiko fucking Noto to voice the kid, but before the end of the first episode you get to see him in whiskers and fox ears. At this point it's beyond question that Japan is deliberately screwing with us - and, needless to say, I absolutely love them for it. Beyond the shota it's an endless parade of moe: you've got the genki sempai (who's a fox spirit), the very strict meganekko class rep, easily upset twin redheads, and more. Appears to be the best sort of guilty pleasure I could ask for.
Code Geass R2: Pizza Hut's Revenge. Those of you who have been starving for some over the top absurdity of the shonen sort ever since Death Note finished up need wait no longer. The only show ever to rival that wonderful mess of epic improbability (in terms of quantity of ridiculous and convoluted) now has a sequel, and that sequel is already showing signs of being even sillier than season one - which, if you'll recall, devoted an entire episode to having the cast chase down a cat wearing a battle helmet. If the early signs are to be believed, this thing should be fantastic, and a blow against plausibility and good taste everywhere.
Kurenai. I'm not all that impressed with this yet, if I'm honest. The situation is relatively straightforward: poor workaday teenage boy gets hired to raise an aristocratic younger girl, who has (I think?) run away from her father. Nothing incredible so far, but I've got good vibes from it - I can't help thinking that if they take it in a good direction this could end up one of the season's dark horses. It's the same crew that did Red Garden, which also speaks in its favor. Worth another episode or two, at least.
Vampire Knight. Horrifically unbalanced show that can't seem to decide what it wants to be. Is it fantasy/horror? Is it a high school comedy? Is it shoujo romance? At various points it tries to be all three of these things, and jumps between them with all the grace of a '71 Mustang shifting gears from second to fifth. There are, as the title indicates, vampires running around everywhere, and at varying points we are meant to be aroused by them, afraid of them, and amused by them (when they take on - I'm not joking - super-cute chibi faces). I would practically have to be deranged to accept all of these characterizations. Even the bits where the vampires are allowed to be menacing and seductive (i.e. the best parts of the show) are hamhanded: at these moments there might as well be a neon sign in the corner flashing "DRINKING BLOOD IS A EUPHEMISM FOR SEX". The ONLY thing saving this series for me is a strong pair of leads in Yuki and Zero, and I don't know how long their appeal will last.
Special A. Good grief, why is it that shoujo high school anime ALWAYS deals with the student aristocracy? Is there something wrong with romance between students who are in the middle somewhere - say, one of the second stringers on the school soccer team and a B-student who plays viola? Is that so unsuitable for a series? Anyways: Special A is a dumbed-down Kare Kano wherein the school's first and second best students constantly compete for supremacy, while on a deeper level the're actually retarded for each other. Nothing mind-blowing, but it could be good.
Soul Eater. This season's 500 lb. shounen gorilla. It's not what I'd call a "smart" show, but it's fun, incredible to look at (the OP alone!!), and frequently goofier than it probably should be. Also, would you believe me if I told you that the people behind Ouran Host Club are responsible for this? It's hard to see at first, but look closer - the needy worried dad and the grief over betrayal moment give it away. How about that; from shoujo comedy to fighting big, bladed, soul-devouring monsters in the space of 12 months.
I also gave some thought to keeping Wagaya no Oinari-sama and To Love Ru, but in the end decided against it. Regarding the latter: I had too much guilty pleasure on my short list to begin with. Regarding the former: it's a decent enough show, but given the premise I have serious suspicions that they're going to be running on fumes four or five episodes in.
I'll add more to this list in subsequent posts as the remaining first episodes trickle out. On another note: could someone please finish subbing Shion no Ou? Yes, I know it's important to have at least three groups subbing Soul Eater, but you could stand to give a little love to the shougi series too.
Finally, I nominate this to replace/augment rickroll. Should especially be used when the people being linked are expecting porn of some kind.
