Winter 2018 Week 10

Another week of the anime season passes us by and we’re now close to the end. Earlier today I opened the polls for best and worst of the season. If you missed it, be sure to check them out and to vote for your favourite and least favourite shows of the season. In the meantime though, I have another experimental recording for you to listen to and my list of anime from the week. I’d love to know your thoughts on the anime this season so be sure to leave me a comment below.

Must Watch

March Comes in Like a Lion Season 2 (Episode 40)

When this show came back, it came back. This episode does not let up and keeps you on edge as the epic battle of shogi between Yanagihara and Shimada plays out with Rei and Nikaidou looking on (and at times forgetting they were supposed to be providing commentary as they got too caught up in the match). An excellent episode and one that gave us a new perspective on two of the supporting characters.

Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens (Episode 9)

If I had complaints last week about the conclusion to the arc feeling rushed, this episode put most of those complaints to rest as we get an episode devoted to Lin’s backstory. Perhaps if I were less invested in a character the episode wouldn’t work as there’s very little else going on other than seeing how his personality was formed and a potential set up for the next episode, but Lin is a character I’ve been made very interested in and so this episode shines.

Usually Entertaining

The Ancient Magus’ Bride (Episode 22)

Chise makes a decision and a deal with Joseph with some fairly gruesome consequences but this is a fantastic episode for showing us how far she’s come since episode 1. Now we just need to see whether she can reconcile with Elias before the end of the season.

Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card (Episode 10)

A little less thrilling this week. Okay, a lot less thrilling. This episode seemed to go back to Sakura hanging out with a friend and grinding us through the slice of life stuff before finally giving us a capture at the end but the payoff doesn’t quite feel worth the wait. Still, the two cards captured were interesting and the capture itself was very well done. This anime continues to deliver about what I would expect from a continuation of Cardcaptor and that means taking the parts I was less fond of as well as the parts I loved.

Spiritpact Season 2 (Episode 3)

Okay, I’m splitting season 2 from season 1 at this point. Season 2 hasn’t had the rough start that season 1 had and all three episodes have so far been pretty on point with only one or two moments of pure ugly screen time. As a result, I’m moving this up a category in my list and have my fingers crossed hoping that it continues to build on the foundations it has worked so hard to lay at this point.

Okay, I Guess

DARLING in the FRANXX (Episode 9 – reviewed for patrons)

Another fairly solid episode that dealt with the characters quite well even if it still isn’t actually addressing any of the questions people have about the setting, world building or overall plot. I find it interesting that this show is kind of blatantly ignoring all of those greater mysteries and just focusing on these minuscule issues of relationships between the parasites. It seems like it must be a deliberate choice but it is an odd one.

Kokkoku (Episode 10)

I could more or less copy and paste what I wrote last week but let’s add in that they did actually fight the villain this week, for reasons still unclear given most of them could just leave stasis already. Anyway, not a particularly good or bad episode, it just kind of was.

DamePri Anime Caravan (Episode 10)

As other anime seem to be losing me in terms of holding my interest, DamePri is bouncing back beautifully after a weak middle section and is promising one of the more interesting season finals from my ‘Okay’ shows this season. Ani’s kidnapping wasn’t quite the pointless plot conflict it seemed to initially be and they might even manage to bring everything in together for a fairly solid ending. Here’s hoping at least.

School Babysitters (Episode 10)

An amazing step backwards for this show right after a beach episode. If Mii-Kun had had more screen time this week I think School Babysitters might have slipped below How to Keep a Mummy.

How to Keep A Mummy (Episode 9)

Well, they still managed to hit their cute factor for this episode but if they were aiming for any other kind of emotional resonance they slightly missed the mark as they don’t have anywhere near enough depth to really do more than just be cute. Plus, minimising Mii-Kun’s screen time is always a risky move when he is the major draw for the show. Still, not a bad episode.

Record of Grancrest War (Episode 10)

Milza is leading an attack against Villar but I’m not sure anyone is surprised at this point and they certainly aren’t playing this battle out to impress us. All things considered, this feels like filler more than anything else and I’m not sure the grand battle leading us into the end of the first cour should feel like filler.

Sanrio Boys (Episode 10)

At this point this show isn’t bad, it just isn’t any good. It’s pretty dull to be perfectly honest. And that’s actually probably worse than bad because I’m struggling at this point to say anything about it other than noting its existence. However, if you enjoy watching the boys prepare to put on a play, maybe you will find if more entertaining than me.

Junji Ito Collection (Episode 10)

Yuck, yuck and well, yuck. This was disgusting and after a number of incredibly mediocre episodes delivering this really made me want to drop this to the bottom of my list. I do however try to take the whole season into account and yet I’m still thinking that if next week isn’t amazing this show may end up as the worst show I stuck with this season. Let me just throw in one more, ‘Gross’.

They Made This?

Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody (Episode 9)

Is anyone surprised the Undead King is now dead and Satou didn’t get a scratch on him? Nope. Good, then you have been paying attention to this show. It really isn’t a show about a hero fighting monsters but if you are going to include an arc that seems to set up just that you should at least commit to it. However, this was a very dull affair that ended predictably.

Tried and Dropped (or on hold)

• Maerchen Maedchen (Episode 3)
• Hakyuu Houshin Engi (Episode 2)
• A Place Further Than The Universe (Episode 1)
• Hakumei and Mikochi (Episode 1)
• Katana Maidens ~Toji no Miko (Episode 2)
• Laid-Back Camp (Episode 1)
• Ms Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles (Episode 1)
• Citrus (Episode 1)
• Mitsuboshi Colors (Episode 1)
• Slow Start (Episode 1)
• The Ryou’s Work is Never Done (Episode 1)
• Working Buddies! (Episode 1)
• Karakai Jozu no Takagi-San (Episode 1)
• Mitchiri Neko (Episode 1)
• Pop Team Epic (Episode 1)

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Thanks for reading.

Karandi James

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