Rating: B The saying “it’s always darkest before the dawn” is practically a writing guideline for shonen action shows, and it is one that has often applied to this franchise, too. The situation isn’t at its absolute lowest point yet as the episode ends, as Hestia and her allied gods are all still safely inContinue reading “Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? V episode 11”
Category Archives: Episode Reviews
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? V episode 9
Rating: A- Given Hestia’s persistently undignified behavior, it can be easy to forget that she is actually a goddess. Even with her divine powers curtailed, she is still the supreme power in Orario within her domain: that of purity. Unfortunately for Freya, that domain is the one that stands most directly opposed to the allureContinue reading “Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? V episode 9”
Special Preview: Solo Leveling – ReAwakening
Rating (compilation part): 3 (of 5) Rating (new episodes): 3.5 (of 5) Solo Leveling is returning to TV for the Winter 2025 season, and this special theatrical presentation provides both a roughly 80 minute compilation of the first season and an advance look at the first two episodes of the second season. It was outContinue reading “Special Preview: Solo Leveling – ReAwakening”
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? V episode 8
Rating: A- In all heroic stories where things go bad, there is a turning point. In the case of this arc, that “point” is the entirety of episode 8. No action in this episode can single-handedly carry that distinction, but taken together numerous actions set the path forward for climbing out of the hole thatContinue reading “Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? V episode 8”
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? V episode 3
Rating: B+ One point that often gets underemphasized in discussions and analyses about this franchise is how much the structure and nature of familias can vary. Some (like Hestia Familia) function like a true family, while others function like businesses (Ishtar and Dian Cecht), fraternal organizations (arguably Loki Familia), spy groups (Hermes Familia), civic groupsContinue reading “Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? V episode 3”
Oshi no Ko episode 24 (season finale)
Rating: A The titles for episodes of this series are always carefully-chosen single words which pack layered meaning and significance, and the second season’s finale is no exception. “Wish” is, indeed, an apt summary of the episode, as the particular scene it references starkly shows the devastating transformation of the episode’s focal point character. ComingContinue reading “Oshi no Ko episode 24 (season finale)”
Oshi no Ko episode 23
Rating: A- Oshi no Ko can be brutally harsh at times, but rarely is it outright mean. The cliffhanger ending of this episode is one of those exceptions. Unlike the stunning ending of episode 20, this twist was easy to see coming, but its implications are going to hit harder and, for one character inContinue reading “Oshi no Ko episode 23”
Spice & Wolf episode 25 (season finale)
Rating: B+ Elsa is among the most popular supporting characters in the whole franchise, and this episode beautifully shows why. This may be Lawrence and Holo’s show, but Elsa is the true star of this arc’s climax. While Lawrence came up with the basic idea and Holo’s abilities as (effectively) a harvest goddess made theContinue reading “Spice & Wolf episode 25 (season finale)”
Oshi no Ko episode 22
Rating: B+ Looks like the trip to Miyazaki is being put off for one more episode because there are still some relationship issues to clear up (or muddy up further, depending on which girl we’re talking about). But a series like this one could never let a whole episode ride doing things as mundane asContinue reading “Oshi no Ko episode 22”
Spice & Wolf episode 24
Rating: A- Last episode ended with Lawrence, Holo, Elsa, and Evan all fleeing Tereo, which is unquestionably the smart and safe move for all of them. However, as becomes apparent during their flight on Holo’s back, the smart and safe move isn’t necessarily one that everyone can live with. And that provides the grounds forContinue reading “Spice & Wolf episode 24”
USA Anime 