I’ve caught up on some shows, but I’m still a bit behind on others. Hopefully, I’ll be up to the most recent episode of the shows soon as I’m trying to do double episodes to catch up but you know, time is an issue some days. That said, I’ve been loving reading everyone else’s thoughts on the currently streaming shows. There’s a fair range of opinions out there. I’d love to know your thoughts on the season so far so please leave a comment below.
Must Watch
While this has been a fairly slow transition as the internship kicks off, things are moving right along now with the plot and by the end of episode 28, things are quite intense. This is a stronger thrill than anything I could get out of the sports tournament because there I couldn’t actually believe they’d let a character get seriously hurt. Here, they are on the streets, and it is entirely possible they might suffer some serious injuries. Hopefully they all pull through, but this continues to be a great watch and hopefully I’ll be caught up by next week.
Usually Entertaining
Princess Principal (Episode 3)
These two episodes are great. I actually kind of think these would be better as the first two episodes because as much fun as episode 1 was, it seems like the story really started in episode 2 and episode 1 just existed to get us excited. Of the new shows I’ve picked up this season, this is probably the only one I really think is going to become a must watch (though time will tell for all of them).
I can’t help it, this show is just a bundle of fun to watch. It plays on clichés and stereotypes but so far hasn’t managed to just be insulting and lazy in its delivery. The music has remained top-notch and the characters are definitely pulling their weight. While not a must watch show (at least not yet) there’s a great deal to like about this show so far.
In Another World With My Smartphone (Episode 3)
I was hopeful this would remain pleasant rather than lazily self-aware and episodes 2 and 3 didn’t disappoint. It is cliché filled and there’s definitely some self-awareness at play, but that hasn’t stopped them from writing a rather fun filled script with characters that aren’t unique but nor are they irritating or painful to spend time with. I’m entertained so far by this and I’m hoping to continue enjoying it.
This is trying really hard to be dark and edgy but is kind of missing the mark. Full points for effort with the gore though in episode 2, usually dream killings just result in a thin trail of blood from the mouth or nose. Actual dismemberment in the real world was definitely something new. This works as shock entertainment but isn’t doing a lot else. Then episode 3 took a different turn with first love and tragedy. I love how the colour scheme totally changes between episodes to reflect the witch of the week. Basically, I’m entertained enough, though this isn’t exactly brilliant.
Okay, I Guess
If this can manage one more fairly decent episode, I’ll probably move it to the usually entertaining category. I’m quite enjoying it, though I think a lot of that comes from the fact that it is a fantasy and its moving along at a reasonable pace so far. Still, it is promising and while it may not be a must watch hit, it has certainly been enjoyable so far.
Fastest Finger First (Episode 3)
Really not going to say this is a great anime or a great story. But, if you happen to like trivia and quizzes, these first three episodes have been awesome fun to watch. I’m kind of hoping the characters get some more development and maybe we’ll see an overall story develop, but even if these guys just keep entering competitions, I’ll watch this through to the end because this is was just really fun to watch.
Elegant Yokai Apartment Life (Episode 3)
There wasn’t a of improvement in the next two episodes but it didn’t get any worse either. This show is kind of bothering me because even though I really want to love it, it’s very much just mediocre to watch at this point. It isn’t actually bad, but I would be hard pressed to say there’s anything particularly good about it other than the subject matter given I tend to like anime that focus on yokai.
Katsugeki Touken Ranbu (Episode 3)
My disconnect from characters and events in this series continues but I’m not dropping it. The fight sequences are interesting enough and this could potentially get better as it goes so I’ll stick with it for now. Hopefully something resembling a motive for why anyone wants to change time will emerge later in the series.
Hell Girl: Fourth Twilight (Episode 3)
Doesn’t seem like much has changed for me in terms of viewing Hell Girl. Episode 2 didn’t do much for me and I found myself just counting down time until the end, but episode 3 was fascinating (in a watching a train wreck kind of way). So hit and miss depending on the scenario of the week I guess.
Vatican Miracle Examiner (Episode 3)
This isn’t the most amazing mystery you’ll ever see and the pacing s all over the shop as they cram far too much into these first three episodes, but there is something intriguing about the story so far and hopefully it will settle itself. Very watchable but nothing special, yet.
Clean Freak Aoyama Kun (Episode 3)
This has so far been more compelling than I expected it to be, though I’ll admit that isn’t saying much given I expected to drop it almost instantly. Still, there are some genuinely good moments in all three of these opening episodes even if there’s an unfortunate amount of fairly dull attempts at humour that miss or filler from forgettable characters. Basically, its watchable and the few good moments lift it enough that you end the episode feeling pretty okay about having watched it.
They Made This
There’s a small chance this show might redeem itself later on but at the moment that feeling that this was a story written by an overeager teenager without an editor that somehow got turned into an anime persists. The pace and tone are all over the shop and each of the characters is annoying in a whole range of ways. Basically, there are some great ideas scattered around the place and maybe the narrative will pick them all up and doing something amazing, but mostly, I won’t waste my time hoping for the impossible.
The new story started at episode 16 looks like it might finally be getting somewhere. The setting here is inherently interesting and if the characters and delivery had been a bit stronger this show could have been really fun, instead I’m still wondering exactly what the intentions of the writers were because the way this story is told is kind of painful at times even for those of us who really want to like it.
Tried and Dropped
Restaurant to Another World (Episode 1)
Centaur’s Life (Episode 1)
Convenience Store Boyfriends (Episode 1)
Saiyuki Reload Blast (Episode 1)
Battle Girl High School (Episode 1)
Hina Logic (Episode 1)
Tsuredure Children (Episode 1)
Fox Spirit Matchmaker (Episode 1)
Aho Girl (Episode 1)
The Irresponsible Galaxy Tylor (Episode 1)
Still not quite caught up but I’d love to know your favourite character of the season so far.
Thanks for reading.
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Thanks,
Karandi James.
Request: Could you link to your reviews in your weekly post? I try to keep up but your weekly post is the easiest way to see all your reviews over the week in one place.
Will try for next week.
Links added for this week. Will try to remember for future posts.
For some reason, I’m behind too, and haven’t even started some shows I wanted (pretty much just Made in Abyss, but I might add Fastest Finger First as it seems not bad). So, I can actually relate.
My picks would be Kakegurui and Fate/Apocrypha as the best for this season…. though unfortunately, Netflix had the genius idea to release them after several months…
I’m also fairly enjoying 18if, Hell Girl, Welcome to the Classroom of the Elite, Ballroom e Youkoso and surprisingly Aho Girl. I suppose its comedy just hit me in the right spot. Though to be honest, it’s the OP theme that sold me.
As for Gamers! and Smartphone, I’m enjoying them just enough. Or rather, the first one is getting better, but overly clichéd series aren’t my thing, as I have enough of that with LN already.
By the way, it might have been a mistake/typo, but are you also asking our favourite character? (after the dropped ones list) For me it would be Jea- *cough* Ruler from Fate/Apocrypha. Then again, I’m just a sucker for everything related to Fate.
Thanks for the comment and favourite character.
Aho Girl I found really frustrating to watch (although I tried it while I was in the hotel in Hawaii and then when I got back to Australia realised it wasn’t available anyway).
My pleasure. Yeah, there were also some parts in which the comedy didn’t really get me, so I suppose it’s a hit or a miss for each chapter (of the adapted 4-koma Manga). I would listen to the OP song all day though, Angela’s deep voice plus “banana” is already hilarious for me.
Ah, I see. Well, that is discouraging as well, or rather, it totally cut off any possibilities of picking it up again. Too bad.
I actually am pretty excited to watch Tsurezure Children. Some vines of that anime got really viral and sure enough made me a lot interested in it. I wonder why did you drop it. Can you tell me what is it lacking? Thanks for sharing!
It just wasn’t my thing, nothing overly wrong with it. And because I started this season late I didn’t have time to give everything a couple of episodes so I know there are shows I’ll have to go back and give time to at the end of the season.
From reading other reviews, it looks like a lot of people are enjoying it.