Rating: A- What self-respecting anime series with a bevy of sexy ladies in its cast – especially one with a reputation for pointed use of fan service – wouldn’t have one or more of a beach, water park, or hot springs episode? With Cid gone for a season (in fear of the girls’ displeasure withContinue reading “The Eminence in Shadow, episode 28”
Category Archives: Episode Reviews
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 7
Rating: B+ If last episode was the big showpiece of the garden party, this episode is the metaphorical side of the clean-up. It covers in efficient fashion a number of matters brought up last episode, providing the smoothest and clearest sense of plot progression seen so far in the series. Few details from last episodeContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 7”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 6
Rating: A- More than any other, this particular shot strikes at the essence of how much of an adorable little freak Maomao is. It is the franchise’s signature moment, the one that any fan of the LN and/or manga versions was eagerly waiting to see, and the anime production has executed it well enough thatContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 6”
The Eminence in Shadow episode 26
Rating: B+ The series has been cycling through members of the Seven Shades for feature treatment this season, and this episode is Alpha’s turn. What we learn about her here is quite interesting and, honestly, a little heartbreaking. It’s hard not to sympathize with her given how Cid/Shadow/John Smith handles the situation. To this point,Continue reading “The Eminence in Shadow episode 26”
Oshi no Ko episode 11 (season finale)
Rating: A- For a series which has idols at its heart, Oshi no Ko has been remarkably light on actual idol performances. Since episode 1, the closest the series has gotten is the silly exercise video with Pieyon (which I don’t count) and Kana’s past music videos (closer, but not really the same thing). TheContinue reading “Oshi no Ko episode 11 (season finale)”
Oshi no Ko episode 5
Rating: 4 (of 5) In a recently posted interview on ANN, the writer for the source manga, Aka Akasaka, explains how he came up with the idea for this series and the process he went through to gather sufficient insider details to make the effort feel realistic. I recommend it as a complementary read forContinue reading “Oshi no Ko episode 5”
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? IV episode 18
Rating: B+ In some respects, writing reviews when familiar with the source material is actually trickier, since you have to avoid spoilers and carefully gauge if an anime-only viewer could reasonably discern key points only from what’s been animated so far. In this case, though, I think it’s safe to say that the direction theContinue reading “Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? IV episode 18”
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Episode 17
Rating: A- There’s a great line from the recent series 86 which immediately came to mind a couple of times while watching this episode: “It’s a child’s right to dream. I do respect that. And until that child wakes up from her dream, and finds herself crushed against the merciless rocks of an unyielding reality,Continue reading “Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Episode 17”
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? IV episode 16
Rating: B+ The split between three fronts continues in this episode, but this time the third front isn’t the rescue party, but rather Hestia talking to Hephaestus about where Tsubaki went. That short scene mostly just exists to reinforce scenes on the two main fronts, and so really isn’t of much importance. What is transpiringContinue reading “Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? IV episode 16”
Is It Wrong to Try To Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? IV episode 12
The first half left off on one hell of a double-cliffhanger: Bell and Ryu are stranded in the Deep Levels, while the rest of Bell’s expedition must face off against the floor boss of the Great Falls, the double-headed dragon Amphisbaena, without him. There’s plenty of despair to go around! Though both sides get addressedContinue reading “Is It Wrong to Try To Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? IV episode 12”
USA Anime 