A lot of the summer shows are at the half-way point in their running and it really reflects how well or how poorly the overall series will be. There were only a handful of stellar episodes this week, but many landed in the average or not so special end of the rating spectrum. Here are this week's anime round-up for all the shows I've been tuning in for.
MONDAY
AKAGAMI NO SHIRAYUKI-HIME EP. 4 | In this week's episode, we finally get to see Shirayuki take her test to become a court herbalist. Once again, Zen is a total dork when it comes to his obvious crush and there's a familiar face that we finally get to be fully introduced to. In terms of what happens in the episode, it follows the same methodical beginning, middle, end. There's a problem and it's solved with Shirayuki's brain and Zen's brawn. Nothing changes much in terms of the characters except towards the end when Shirayuki sees the Zen's medical records and his time in developing a body that will be immune to poison. Shirayuki is pained and while it's understandable to feel sympathy towards such life threatening procedures performed on a young boy--not quite sure if he's still undergoing them--I didn't feel the same amount of sadness that she did. I suppose of Zen was crippled in health in some way as an adverse affect of the procedure, I would be. But, he seems more than capable and strong. But, this is just part of the road towards our two shoujo protagonists to fall in love with each other more. I'm betting it'll take the entire first series to get at least one character to say they like the other because that's just the rate shoujo paces itself.
JITSU WA WATASHI WA EP. 4 | I hope you're not expecting a serious review on this show...ever because I mean it obviously isn't one in the slightest. This week the class president is stuck without her larger human-sized external body and Asahi accepts humiliation for the sake of others. I have nothing else to say about this episode except for the unnamed character that shrinks and unshrinks Aizawa was kind of a sudden thing. I'm assuming she's the principal? I just assume whoever is in a nice office, sitting in a large leather chair and is animated with little light as the typical "evil" principal of school shows. Honestly, I watch this series for the cute and a bit naive vampire Shiragami and I'll suffer through cliche perverted boys for her. I'm also assuming that the seven legends that Mikan lists in this episode are characters we'll see further into the series since some have already been fulfilled (i.e. the hallway fairy and the vampire). I'm just going to remind myself that we're nearly halfway and I'll be free from this show.
WEDNESDAY
JUNJOU ROMANTICA 3 EP. 4 | This week for Junjou Romantica, we get Junjou Terrorist's storyline. Honestly out of the entire Junjou series, Terrorist might be my least favorite, but they're still all good--well maybe not Romantica because god the miscommunication in that particular relationship seems out of this world and there is so much lack of talking in relationships that I can handle before screaming (granted, I've never been in a relationship before but always seem to be giving my friends relationship advice. How does that work? Who knows. You tell me). With this week of Junjou, Shinobu switches out lettuce everything to pumpkin everything. I honestly laughed so hard because how much I relate to it, the not being able to cook part I mean. I think since it's a new season, this episode of Terrorist was more of a recap of what had happened so far between Shinobu and Miyagi so far and reaffirming Miyagi's authentic love for the other despite the younger's insecurity in the relationship. I laughed at the second half of the episode more so with Miyagi having to force down Shinobu's toxic gruel. If I ever tried to cook, I'm sure it'd come out exactly like that--radioactive and not safe for any life form consumption. The "twist" of the episode was Miyagi asking Shinobu to move in with him. While I'm sure this has been like a few months, maybe a couple of years, between season 2 and season 3, it sure felt fast to me. But, what am I talking about, this is yaoi for the love of god. Moving in probably should have happened in like the second episode of the first season for the Terrorist arc. Next week is another Terrorist so I'll look forward to whatever toxic meal Shinobu is cooking up.
ORE MONOGATARI!! EP. 17 | Just as Takeo says he loves Yamato in his head like every five seconds, I am the same with Ore Mo the show. I love it so much! Episode 17 solidified that. While Takeo and Yamato are the main characters of the show and most of its episodes build up upon their relationship, it's so great to see other characters being featured and being developed. They're not just flat supporting characters. While this series is very rom-com comedic, it's very real in the sense that relationships aren't just about two people, but also the friends and family around them. It's nice to see that Yamato and Takeo's friends are becoming more than just stock background characters with their own unique personalities and traits different from the main three. Good job, Ore Mo. I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for their kiss though. Who wants to bet money that it'll be in the last episode at the very last second?
THURSDAY
RANPO KITAN: GAME OF LAPLACE EP. 5 | I think out of all the shows that aired this week, this episode by Ranpo Kitan had to be my far my favorite. While the plot itself was relatively cliche, I mean the trope of good guy turned bad after fridging an important female character in his life has been redone countless of times, but I nonetheless enjoyed this episode in its execution of the build up. While we have since seen from the very first episode relatively isolated and exclusive cases--sometimes overlapping but not really--episode 5 seems to be the culmination of methodical work, a harsh reality that good in the face of the law may not be executed as ideally as one might expect because of the inherent flaws of how it is structured. I think having Kagami as trying to embody the law in a vigilante way was perfect and having this episode stand alone and thoroughly delving into his mind makes Kagami as a tragic hero much more heart wrenching. I think it's clever introducing this past character of Twenty Face. Perhaps in his series of killings, he had planned this movement for citizens to take up the laws at its purest value into their own hands. We see a sort of Twenty Faces as an ideal being accepted by the end when Sachiko's father wears the mask and kills that pedophile. We, as an audience as well, disgusted by such characters actually applaud when he dies! If that's not some well executed character and plot building, I don't know what is. I hope to see how this show advances in the next episode. Where will this lead and will it top what episodes 1-4 had developed for episode 5? Ranpo Kitan, I'm sure you won't let me down.
GATE: JIETAI KANOCHI NITE, KAKU TATAKAERI EP. 5 | Gate has been the show since it first premiered to have me excited to watch the next episode. I never felt satisfied with one episode and while that may sound like a bad thing, it's very much not. However, this episode felt very...lacking. I honestly don't care for Princess Pina Co Lada (I can't believe that's her name) and naturally, it affected my interest in the plot. While we know Itami & Co. won't just wait for the princess' orders, I'm honestly curious how they'll go about trying to help the Eastern gate with its attack. I'm expecting something great and obviously, that phone call Itami had was there for a reason. Hopefully, episode 5 becomes more concentrated with the JSDF team because they're much more interesting and entertaining to watch. With that said, I am totally behind Tuka Luna (the elf) having a crush on Kurokawa. Heck, I have a crush on her. Also, I have a feeling Rory's presence with the JSDF will quickly sour soon as the show continues. Just a gut feeling, a gut feeling that says gothic lolita demigods are a major double-edged sword.
*The show airs on Fridays, but the subs aren't out until Saturday morning, but I'm just going to include it in the Friday slot.
SATURDAY
DURARARA!!X2 TEN EP. 5 | Durarara has never failed to let me down and in this episode, I can already sense gears being turned and things being placed down in preparation for something grand. Anri is narrating and Mikado makes a somewhat longer appearance. It's so nerve-wracking to see Mikado kind of being subtly off the rails. It's bonechilling the way he smiles and says that people who claims to be part of Dollars and have ill intentions need to be taken care of. I think my favorite aspect of this episode and it's reflective in the Ranpo Kitan episode as well is this pure ideal standard that these characters have and essentially eliminating those who cannot conform, do not follow, or obey it. It's the undertone of the Reign of Terror in France way back when. It's all very philosophical in that we should not try to adapt to the purest sense of an idea because that's impractical. Best part of this episode had to be Shizuo and cat, also Shizuo smiling at his brother. Like that is all. I don't even have to explain to you, you all should know and accept that those are the best parts of the show in every episode. Shizuo, my anger management son.
WORKING!!! EP. 5 | If this season of Working!!! had to be summed up with two words, it'd have to be ALMOST, FINALLY. Like the ALMOST, FINALLY scene with Satou and Yachiyo the last two episodes. The scream heard in the distance was most definitely me when Satou hugged Yachiyo after their drinking session. This episode's ALMOST, FINALLY, we move onto the other potential relationship that has been building since the first season and that's Takanashi and Inami. Finally, Takanashi recognizes his romantic feelings towards his coworker and Inami gets to indirectly confess her long held crush. While the end of the episode it seemed that Takanashi realized more than Inami did, it was a step in the right direction. I know I've been saying this in a lot of the episode reviews but I'm sure they'll end up together by the end of the season. I'd like to thank Izumi for her coincidental blind date setup to make this ALMOST, FINALLY happen. You go, my lazy dark romantic goth writer who I aspire to be.
ROKKA NO YUUSHA EP. 5 | WHAT?! (This was the exact note I left on this episode) Now that we're getting into the actual plot of the show--aka the one the synopsis actually refers to--I've been trying to figure out who the fake is. While everyone is speculating that the fake will end up killing the braves and let the Demon King rule, I have a feeling that when we learn who it is, that agenda won't be the case. You know, those cliche bad turned good type of deals. I think the episode did a good job in pacing because I found myself so rapt up in trying to listen to each person's story and figure out who did it, that when we reached the twist of the episode I screamed, WHAT?! because it can't be Adlet, right? He's our main character for crying out loud! But, 95% of the show is essentially told in his perspective and what have we all learned in our literature classes? It's that you should always be wary of the narrator. A L W A Y S. But, this is anime and I'm sure Adlet isn't the one. Still, wouldn't it be awesome if it was?
SUNDAY
ARSLAN SENKI EP. 17 | I still hold true to my belief that Arslan Senki is one of the show stealers for great anime for the spring season. When I first watched it, I literally went, this is anime!Game of Thrones. While this idea still persists, the show has some issues especially in dealing with the second arc of the season. Since I haven't read the light novels nor have I read the manga that this probably was inspired by, I have some gripes about how the show is handling the Shindra arc. What I have been appreciating about the show is how relatively morally ambiguous they are and the pairing of their backgrounds. While, for example, Hermes is the ultimate villain of the show, you understand where he is coming from and justify his cause to reclaim the throne. However, Gaedevi is the portrait of a cliche anime villain, a villain to the point where even his own father knows and he outright said that the crown wouldn't have gone to him anyways. So why in the world did the king keep silent and not say anything beforehand? At the same time, in the time we've seen Rajendra, I don't fully like him either. Something is wrong and the preview clearly implies that he's also another character we shouldn't trust. Hopefully, his character depth reaches farther than his brother's. The highlight of the show certainly was Daryun's strategic talents as well as Arslan's empathy and compassion--one that is so strong that it shows (as the Shindrahan king states) is what will make a good ruler. I'm so pumped to see Arslan ascend to the throne and establish a much more just kingdom.
GANGSTA EP. 5* | I have fallen head over heels with Gangsta, the manga. Gangsta the anime however I have mixed feelings about. Episode 5 seemed to make some issues I've had with the series more prominent, but at the same time it's fixing other problems that makes me stop myself from saying I fully dislike it. The most noticeable thing is the poor animation and consistency in drawing. During the fight scene, a lot of the movements and changes in facial features or characteristics are drawn in a very cartoonish fashion. That might perhaps be a strange thing to say since anime is essentially a cartoon, but details vanish, faces turn flat and the drawings look more like doodles. The show has also been adding things into the show that I don't remember happening in the manga itself, while this isn't necessarily a bad thing, I'm afraid that if done too often, it might stray from the manga's path in terms of character development. Speaking of development, Alex--my love and my sun--has been poorly given air time on the show and her development as a character has suffered greatly compared to the manga. If I didn't read the series beforehand, I don't think I would have empathized with her as much as I do. However, now that we're beginning to see her PTSD settle in a very significant way, the anime is starting to give Alex the attention she deserves and I hope that her growth from this state is just as beautifully subtle and slow, but realistic as the manga portrayed it. I just love her so much, a blog post will be dedicated on her alone. My internet ode to why she's great because Alex Benedetto deserves the world.
HIMOUTO! UMARU-CHAN EP. 4* | I have never related to a character's laziness so well as Umaru. So, while the show is episodic in nature with no real plot development, I'll still watch this show nonetheless. This week's episode had a more refreshing arc in the second half as it expanded its character perspective, offering the brother's work life briefly and introducing new characters. While I'm not sure what exactly Alex, the new guy, and Sylphyn besides someone who is supposed to be the hottie of the show that catches her eye and makes her super self conscious during the gaming competition but he was still a nice addition. I think this episode of Umaru-Chan also gets a round of applause for showcasing talented girl gamers rather than the typical underdog girl versus a professional guy gamer. I appreciated that the most! Can't wait to see what the next episode has to offer!
*These episodes usually broadcast on Wednesday, but apparently there was a swimming event happening that postponed the usual airtime until Sunday.
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