Rating: B+ The writing and pacing of The Apothecary Diaries have always been skillful at providing some answers while continuing to raise other questions, and episode 41, “Fox Village,” is no different. It provides a couple of big reveals but nowhere near the full truth on what’s going on and redirects some previous mysteries. MuchContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 41”
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The Apothecary Diaries, episode 40
Rating: A I expected the intrigue to ramp up a bit with the return of Loumen to the Rear Palace, as a person with his insight, expertise, and experience is the kind of person who could be a catalyst for action even if he’s not directly part of it. Episode 40 shows how completely IContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 40”
The Apothecary Diaries episode 37
Rating: B+ Even The Apothecary Diaries isn’t free of the seemingly-ubiquitous bathing episode in anime titles, as this episode proves with Maomao, Xiaolin, and Shisui spending much of the episode in the Rear Palace’s baths or concerned with what goes on there. The difference here is that this may be one of the least sexyContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries episode 37”
Winter 2025 Wrap-Up
Due to some production delays, not all Winter ’25 series that aren’t continuing into the Spring ’25 season have wrapped at this point; both My Happy Marriage and I Left My A-Rank Party still have episodes to air as of 3/31/25. However, with the Spring ’25 Preview Guide getting underway, I have decided not waitContinue reading “Winter 2025 Wrap-Up”
Spring 2025 Preview Guide
A look at the titles debuting during the Spring 2025 anime season.
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 36
Rating: A- Since writing the review for episode 35, I’ve seen some discussion from those familiar with the source material which advocates that last episode would have been better-served running about a minute farther into the scene in the cave than it did. I didn’t agree with that assertion at the time, and I disagreeContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 36”
SERIES REVIEW: Magic Maker: How to Make Magic in Another World
I was not originally planning to give a separate review for this series as a whole, but this is easily the most underrated and underappreciated series I saw in the Winter 2025 season, so I’m doing this review in part to call attention to the merits of a series which is more unconventional than itContinue reading “SERIES REVIEW: Magic Maker: How to Make Magic in Another World”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 35
Note: My apologies for this being a bit late. Family plans interfered with getting this written in a more timley fashion. Rating: A- Jinshi has been contemplating for a while now about revealing the two big secrets he’s been keeping from Maomao: how he’s related to the Emperor (and possibly even which truth to tellContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 35”
Special: A Look at Non-Japanese Isekai
Over the past several months I’ve started looking into current isekai stories from non-Japanese sources. That trends in this genre outside of Japan closely mirror what’s going on in Japan is no surprise, though some of these works ape the construction and signature characteristics of current Narou-influenced isekai more than others. Before we get intoContinue reading “Special: A Look at Non-Japanese Isekai”
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? V episode 15 (season finale)
Rating: A DanMachi may not always be the best-looking or most flawlessly-animated series, but it has rarely fallen short on dramatic presentation and does better than most when it comes to delivering on its biggest moments. That is no less true for this season finale, which brings to a conclusion the anime’s adaptation of novelsContinue reading “Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? V episode 15 (season finale)”
USA Anime 