Anime for the Season: Spring 2018 Week 4

A lot won’t have changed this week as I’ve been without internet for a lot of it but I did have some reviews scheduled that I’ve linked to. Next week I’m hoping to do some double episode reviews and catch up but we’ll see how time goes. In the meantime, I’d love to know your thoughts on the season so far.

What I watched

3D Kanojo: Real Girl (Episode 4)

They kind of pushed this a little far to be credible, but I kind of liked that the drama help Tsutsui kind of become a more likeable character. Okay, there’s still a lot about him to roll your eyes at, but it is no longer just Iroha carrying this anime.

Caligula (Episode 3 – Not reviewed)

Not watched this week.

Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card (Episode 16)

While they finish up Meilin’s visit this week, they also gave us some fair indication that they seem ready to move into some actual plot development next episode. Let’s hope they follow through on that because as pleasant as the nostalgia in this anime is, coming to an actual plot other than collecting shiny cards would be lovely.

Cute High Earth Defense Club Happy Kiss (Episode 3)

Not watched this week.

Darling in the Franxx (Episode 15 – Reviewed for patrons)

No new episode this week – special not reviewed.

Devils’ Line (Episode 4)

I’ve kind of given up on this show making any kind of sense and now I’m just seeing how much of a disaster the story ends up being. Do not expect characters to make smart choices or behave logically. Stuff happens, deal with it.

Doreiku The Animation (Episode 3)

My intrigue kind of hit a wall with this episode when they delivered a truly stupid plot development (that’s in addition to the fairly illogical system they were already asking me to accept which I might have without this step). While I’m still curious about when things are going to get really bad, my general feeling about this show is starting to sink.

Full Metal Panic Invisible Victory (Episode 3)

This episode worked beautifully. Okay, if the poor visuals are a deal breaker, they continued this episode, but the characters are all back in action and things are moving. I loved it.

GeGeGe No Kitaro (Episode 5)

Another perfectly fine episode. Nothing exception but we get another yokai of the week and this time we get another one of Rat Man’s doomed to fail get rich quick schemes that of course fails. The only real issue is that Kitaro is more or less a no show until the end.

Kakuriyo No Yadomeshi (Episode 4 – Reviewed for Patrons)

Not watched this week.

Libra of Nil Admirari (Episode 3 – Not reviewed)

Not watched this week.

Lostorage Conflated WIXOSS (Episode 4)

They are definitely trying to step up the tension this week with WIXOSS as things seem to be going from bad to worse for the characters we’ve grown to love in previous seasons. The rules, as normal, leave a few really big questions just kind of hanging there but hopefully we’ll find some answers as we go.

My Hero Academia Season 3 (Episode 4)

Well, they finally got into the fight and while there are some very good things that come out of this, I still kind of feel this season is a little lacklustre so far compared to the rush that season 2 became fairly quickly as they plunged us into the tournament arc. Part of the problem is I’m not really caring about the villains they are facing as they simply seem a plot point to make the kids step up. Maybe this will improve, and it isn’t dreadful, but it certainly hasn’t been the strongest return for MHA.

Record of Grancrest War (Episode 16)

It seems we’ve arrived at the part of the series where once again Theo is just going to have everything go his way for no apparent reason other than plot convenience (much like the first few episodes before it all went wrong). Poor Milza. I wonder if he realises he’s losing because he isn’t the main character?

Rokuhoudou Yotsuiro Biyori (Episode 3)

At episode 3, I’m pleasantly surprised. Despite the slice of life label and the general relaxed tone of this anime, there seems to be some actual story bubbling underneath with some decent drama. Not enough to shake away the general calm of watching, but enough to keep me pretty interested in what this might do next.

Space Battleship Tiramisu (Episode 4)

Well, I didn’t expect that this could go a whole season without stepping on a nerve or two and this last episode was pretty much a great example of why I’m not really into these kinds of shows. Both set ups and punchlines were pretty much a miss for me this week leaving a fairly sour taste in my mouth.

Spiritpact: Bond of the Underworld (Episode 10)

For more emotional drama, this story brings the memory walk to an end and lands us squarely in the midst of a crisis. Watching the characters in this story as they get fleshed out one layer at a time has been really fascinating this season and I hope the conclusion delivers.

Steins;Gate 0 (Episode 3)

I’m not loving this, but I’m also not disliking it. So far I’m finding it interesting but not the amazing viewing experience of the original. I’d very much like to be more invested in it as there are certainly some points of interest, but I’m not there yet.

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online (Episode 4 – Dropped)

I’ll move this one down into the dropped pile for next week. Episode 1 of this didn’t make me interested. The two following episodes failed to give me any reason to care about the character. Episode 4 made me watch the character I still didn’t care about playing a game that had no stakes for winning or losing established at all. So incredibly bored with it and incredibly disappointed. I’m done.

Tada Doesn’t Fall in Love (Episode 4)

Pleasant is the buzz word for this anime. It isn’t fantastic and it is pretty low key viewing for the most part, but there’s something generally charming and cute about the cast so even though not a lot has happened it’s been interesting enough.

Tokyo Ghoul: Re (Episode 4)

Lots of fighting, not even cool fighting, between characters I barely know or care about. Hmm… This is quickly moving into the ‘I should have dropped it’ territory.

Episode of the Week