Anime for the Season: Spring 2018 Week 8

I actually struggled this week picking an episode of the week. The reason was simple; the only show I wanted to give it to was My Hero Academia and it was my pick last week. Even for anime I really am enjoying this season, week 8 has delivered some pretty poor episodes. A large number are among the worst their particular series has offered to date. Hopefully next week things pick up.

What I watched

3D Kanojo: Real Girl (Episode 9)

More teen drama unfolds with a cast that started interesting but are now all the least interesting form of their original character. It isn’t bad, but it is a long way from being compelling viewing at this point.

Caligula (Episode 8)

This has gone from potentially interesting concept with so-so execution to just plain bad. Poor characterisation, poor pacing, and just generally boring storytelling has left me watching this wondering what exactly the point might be and ultimately not really caring to find the answer.

Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card (Episode 20)

May they still be arguing over who’s lunches look better in thirty years time. These two are so adorable. And that’s pretty much my review of the episode and the season. It is Cardcaptor and pretty much the highlight of this season has been seeing these two kids together. There’s not a lot wrong with the anime other than being pretty unexciting, so these character moments are what are keeping it afloat.

Cute High Earth Defense Club Happy Kiss (Episode 8)

Nothing new to see here as this show steps us back through its rinse and repeat formula. The only real recommendation for this episode is it you enjoy people who are negative about summer events.

Darling in the Franxx (Episode 19 – Reviewed for patrons)

I’m just so frustrated with this one at this point. I’ll finish it only because I’ve stuck around this long, but realistically, this episode is the point where I’ve officially cut any investment in what happens. I don’t care. Blow them all up at this point. Your story makes no sense.

Devils’ Line (Episode 8)

This anime is also frustrating me but at least this one didn’t really promise much from the beginning. It makes the kind of maddening stupidity of an episode like this one so much easier to take.

Doreiku The Animation (Episode 7)

There’s little left to say. Still no real payout for watching this far. The characters are all still horrible. Thematically the show has done very little. While there’s still a tiny potential for this anime to ultimately get to a point, I’m not exactly hopeful at this stage.

Full Metal Panic Invisible Victory (Episode 6)

Full Metal Panic Invisible Victory is really continuing to hit the right spots as we now follow Sousuke on his quest to get to Kaname. There’s a far more serious tone at play here then there was back in season 2, and yet there are still moments of humour to be found. All and all, this one is a pretty solid watch provided you’ve watched the previous seasons.

GeGeGe No Kitaro (Episode 9)

For the first week this season I’m going to have to say that GeGeGe no Kitaro missed the mark. This episode was pretty flat and not all that entertaining. While the series as a whole remains pretty charming so far, episodic stories do have the small problem of crumbling some weeks when things just don’t work out.

Kakuriyo No Yadomeshi (Episode 9 – Reviewed for Patrons)

As much as  I want to enjoy this anime it remains pleasant but fairly unremarkable. The biggest complaint is that nothing seems to have any weight or depth. Visually it is pretty enough, the music is fine, the characters lack a bit of depth but work. It just doesn’t have much impact.

Libra of Nil Admirari (Episode 8)

I really wish this anime were better. It isn’t terrible but it just isn’t very good because it won’t commit to being the darker story it really kind of needs to be to pull off some of these sequences. The end result is a something that isn’t quite satisfying even though it isn’t inherently broken.

Lostorage Conflated WIXOSS (Episode 8)

Another solid episode by WIXOSS linking personal trauma to a larger narrative and doing it with style. There isn’t any down time because even when it seems like we’ve taken a break from the main storyline, there’s a lot of information and incidental reveals being thrown around and while it isn’t clear how it all comes together yet it is certainly starting to outline a fairly interesting picture.

My Hero Academia Season 3 (Episode 8)

This seriously deserves episode of the week again, but I kind of made a promise to myself I wouldn’t give it to the same show in consecutive weeks. Keep in mind though, the episode was awesome, there’s so much going on, and it was amazing. Go watch it.

Record of Grancrest War (Episode 20)

The power of love finally overcomes all and only 19 episodes after they were supposed to get married, Marrine and Alexis have finally gotten together and are prepared to take the plunge. Let’s forget all the needless death and violence in-between caused by Marrine being stubborn for no real reason. This anime continues to be kind of frustrating to watch as we turn sharply into what might be the final act.

Rokuhoudou Yotsuiro Biyori (Episode 8)

Overall, I like this series. However, episode 8 is one that even if I rewatch this series later, I intend to skip. It more or less annoyed me from start to finish and adds nothing to the greater narrative so I’m just going to forget about it at this point.

Space Battleship Tiramisu (Episode 9)

This anime continues to surprise by actually having a plot that is continuing along despite the jokes and short run time. While there’s some definitely questionable logic at times, there’s certainly amusement to be had and the novelty factor (I don’t watch a huge amount of short form anime) is keeping this one working for me.

 Steins;Gate 0 (Episode 8)

Steins;Gate 0 actually did kind of impress me this week and then I realised that’s because it wasn’t focusing on any of the plot points from this series but really reliving the plot points from the original series. Still, it was a stand out episode and one I really enjoyed.

Tada Doesn’t Fall in Love (Episode 8)

Despite the image, there isn’t much of a conflict here. Tada isn’t exactly fighting to keep Teresa and Charles is pretty willing to let Teresa have her gap year before she comes home to fulfil her obligations. Which is kind of a shame because these two actually clashing would have been kind of amusing. That said, this anime remains fairly relaxed viewing with a nice cast of characters who all just kind of hang out together.

Tokyo Ghoul: Re (Episode 8 – Not Reviewed)

All found this anime remains something I’d be pretty happy to walk away from. It isn’t bad, I’m just finding it impossible to get interested in it given how much of the story and character development seems to have been just left out of the anime.

Spiritpact: Bond of the Underworld (Finished)

Episode of the Week

Character of the Week

Dropped

• Butlers X Battlers (Episode 1)
• Comic Girls (Episode 1)
• Crossing Time (Episode 1)
• Dances with the Dragons (Episode 2)
• Golden Kamuy (Episode 1)
• Gurazeni: Money Pitch (Episode 1)
• Hinamatsuri (Episode 1)
• Love To Lie Angle (Episode 1)
• Magical Girl Ore (Episode 1)
• Magical Girl Site (Episode 2)
• MEGALOBOX (Episode 1)
• My Sweet Tyrant (Episode 1)
• Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online (Episode 4)
• You Don’t Know Gunma Yet (Episode 1)

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Thanks for reading.

Karandi James

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