Winter 2018 Week 5

Week 5 and I suffered from hearing the news that March Comes in Like a Lion is apparently not airing while the Winter Olympics are on. That is not good news. However, otherwise the season seems to be rolling along more or less as expected. Curious this week as to who is shaping up to be everyone’s favourite character this season. Share your thoughts in the comments below.

And for those who missed the announcement last week you can check it out here. Thanks to everyone for helping share the word. I really appreciate it.

Must Watch

March Comes in Like a Lion Season 2 (Episode 38)

Another good episode though this one definitely felt like a transition. So while some story threads were coming to a close, some older ideas were getting picked up again and all in all, it was a fun episode to watch but there isn’t that much to say about it as a stand alone episode. Very much looking forward to this show returning in a few weeks.

Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens (Episode 4)

While I was surprised that they wrapped up the end of the that story so neatly in episode 4, I’m kind of happy they didn’t drag things out. This felt like a satisfying conclusion. Now it just remains to be seen whether they can launch into an equally entertaining tale or whether this show has used all its charm already.

Usually Entertaining

The Ancient Magus’ Bride (Episode 16)

The main story line of this show continues to be fairly much a matter of one step forward and then freeze right there while we deal with all the emotions of everyone and get some back story. It isn’t bad but after 16 episodes, I kind of feel like their just needs to be more progress so despite enjoying most episodes, I’m finding the series overall just a little bit lacking at this point.

Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card (Episode 5)

Last week I called it business as usual and this week I’ll reiterate that point. Sakura with friends, card appears, Sakura deals with it, back to friends. The feel good nature of the show and the attention to details are what manage to pull it up from being just an average show but really there isn’t a lot of plot to speak of in this episode.

DARLING in the FRANXX (Episode 4)

Episode 4 seemed to push things that little bit further as we see an act of defiance (which leads to a rescue and a successful mission) but I have to wonder what the fallout might be. For a mecha show, this one isn’t too bad and if they flesh out the world and characters it might even become something quite good. Reminder that the reviews for this one are password protected for patrons this season.

Okay, I Guess

Kokkoku (Episode 5)

As much as I want to see this improve, this one is possibly facing sliding further down the list as at episode 5 I still have no characters that I care about in the slightest and the mystery part is starting to look like it is either going to be really overly complicated or just full of holes. I’m still crossing my fingers and hoping but I’m not convinced this show can turn things around (I’ll happily retract that in a few weeks if this gets better because that would be the best outcome).

School Babysitters (Episode 5)

Not the best episode, in fact I’d say one of the weaker ones this show has offered up this week. Both mini-stories felt decidedly pointless and there didn’t appear to be a great deal of character work with the main two. Overall, a little disappointing and I hope this bounces back next week.

Record of Grancrest War (Episode 5)

I think I want to like this show more than the show is allowing me to at this point and time. Poor writing and jarring transitions between events were way too present in this most recent episode and there’s still so much that doesn’t really make sense and the audience either needs to just accept it or this is overall going to just be a dissatisfying watch. There are still some positives coming out of the show, and I really do want to enjoy this fantasy tale, I just wish it didn’t make it so hard to enjoy without being critical.

DamePri Anime Caravan (Episode 5)

This show is oddly consistent in being pretty average but entertaining enough (assuming you don’t despise the Prince’s and their completely over the top nature). I actually quite liked some of the character work this week and given How To Keep a Mummy wasn’t up to its usual adorable standards, this one actually rose in the ranks this week.

How to Keep A Mummy (Episode 4)

A slightly less enjoyable episode with the diminished presence of the mummy this week. Not bad by any means but the real appeal of the show kind of faded without Mii-kun gracing the screen every other moment.

Junji Ito Collection (Episode 5)

The animation and visual elements of this show remain decidedly unimpressive and the second story this week was probably the low point for the series so far, but I didn’t mind the first story and overall, this series is still perfectly watchable as long as you go in with fairly low expectations.

Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody (Episode 4)

The new characters are kind of interesting, but really that’s only in comparison to the characters that already existed in this series. The actual episode was pretty flat as we walked through a dungeon and then beat up a demon (and the fact that they made that pretty flat concerns me). All and all, no real improvement on this show but it didn’t get any worse.

Sanrio Boys (Episode 5)

Well, I didn’t drop it, though somehow I don’t think that actually makes it any better. We spent most of this episode with the two newer characters and we ended on a cliff-hanger. The fact that one of these characters is almost as annoying as the sister that was introduced earlier certainly didn’t help this show’s case at all.

They Made This?

Nothing yet.

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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