The half-way point and there are still a few shows I’m on the fence about but I’m pretty happy with my line up. At the very least I’ve got a little something from quite a number of genres which means at least my week is nice and variable as I go from action to romance to drama to comedy. Even those shows not quite up to scratch are still giving me something to write about at this point with Holmes of Kyoto being the only one I’m feeling like I’m reaching to try to find anything remarkable enough (good or bad) to be bothered to mention in a review.
Still, here’s hoping that as the shows go into their second half we see some of them step right up for the end of the season. So early speculation, but what do you think is going to stick its landing to be the best of the season?
What I watched
100 Sleeping Princes and the Kingdom of Dreams (Episode 6)
I’ll just have to accept that this anime is kind of average to middling and watch it because it doesn’t make me tax myself with thinking about it once it is done, or get around to dropping it. The thing is, as unremarkable as this anime is, it is inoffensive and it does provide some calm viewing each week. Not to mention it has been pretty consistent, even if not overly good.
Angolmois: Record of Mongol Invasion (Episode 6)
As we kind of get an ongoing run through the mountains with the characters, it is becoming more apparent to me that while this works as plot driven drama and your enjoyment will very much depend on how into the conflict you are, where it doesn’t work is as a character piece given how poorly developed some of these characters are six episodes in.
Attack on Titan Season 3 (Episode 4)
Attack on Titan continues a fairly solid trend and I would actually go so far as to say it is weaving a compelling story so far this season. Whether it can hold onto its narrative for the duration remains to be seen and that’s been tricky for the show in previous seasons, but four episodes in and I have to say I’m actually reasonably optimistic at the moment.
Banana Fish (Episode 6 – Not Reviewed)
This story continues to delight in tragedy consolidating Ash’s tragic back story, introducing new characters and then summarily killing them off. There’s no big emotional impact from anything this week, but the overall affect of continuous tragic situations is leaving quite the impression.
Cells at Work (Episode 6)
The fun continues in episode 6 with an adorable look at Red and White blood cells’ pasts. That said, this show is about to tackle cancer (or at least cancer cells) and the tonal shift at the end of episode 6 seems to be setting up a slightly less amusing tone for next week. This show has definitely surpassed my expectations going in and I’m really enjoying it.
Holmes of Kyoto (Episode 6)
Honestly, part of me thinks I may just forget to watch next week’s episode given how dull this was. It wouldn’t be an actual decision to drop, but more just that I’ll put it off and then not get around to it. Which is a shame given there’s a potentially decent premise here. And yet dull and bland remain my two main descriptors of this anime.
How Not To Summon a Demon Lord (Episode 7)
And amazingly, How Not To Summon a Demon Lord has found that balance between fan service and plot and has managed to deliver an episode that delivers on both. While I’m definitely never a fan of the whole girls and slime thing, there was very little to genuinely complain about in terms of the story this week. This one was fairly entertaining.
Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi (Episode 20 – Reviewed for Patrons)
Oh well, we had one mission end almost instantly but fortunately the mermaid was nice enough to give Aoi new directions (otherwise they would definitely run out of plot before the end of this series). Unfortunately we’re back to Aoi’s cooking solving everything. This story just doesn’t know how to build any kind of excitement into its episodes.
Phantom in the Twilight (Episode 6)
This one has turned out to be another of the pleasant surprises of the Summer season. Hardly flawless and not exactly something to rave over, Phantom in the Twilight is however remaining a fairly consistently entertaining anime on my line up with small improvements almost every week. As we hit the half-way point of the season, this one is looking pretty good.
Steins;Gate 0 (Episode 18)
Like most bad guys, the professor talks too much. If he’d just got in the time machine… oh well. Steins;Gate 0 continues to escalate as we approach its final episodes and the tension has mounted high. The question is whether they’ve thought through how to emerge from this tangled web in tact. They managed it in the original series, so here’s hoping.
The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einhenjer (Episode 6)
Week 6 appears to be the week for the removal of positive plot directions and descending into fan-service for the sake of it. Both this and How Not To Summon A Demon Lord spent considerable screen time showing us the female casts’ assets rather than actually progressing their story at the midway point. Not exactly a positive sign.
My Hero Academia Season 3 (Episode 18)
My Hero Academia rolls along and while this week was definitely a bit more interesting than the last, I still can’t help but feel there are opportunities being lost here. This arc is just not grabbing me and seeing the kids pull through at the last minute isn’t thrilling so much as expected by the time they get there. Hoping next week picks up.
Episode of the Week
Character of the Week
Dropped or On Hold
- Angels of Death (Episode 4)
- GeGeGe no Kitaro (Episode 19)
- Hanebado (Episode 1)
- Harukana Receive (Episode 1)
- Island (Episode 4)
- Lord of Vermilion: The Crimson King (Episode 4)
- Planet With (Episode 1)
- The Thousand Muskateers (Episode 1)
- Yuna and the Haunted Hotsprings (Episode 1)
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Thanks for reading.
Karandi James
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Encouragement of Climb entered the ring a cute 200 lb gorilla and continues to trounce all comers….
I’ve still got to check that one out! Heard very good things about it.