Oshi no Ko 3 episode 9

Rating: B+ Big shout-out goes to music director Takuro Iga this episode, because his expert choice of ominous electronic sounds in the scene where Aqua passes Ruby in the hallway contributes mightily to the impact of the supremely dirty look Aqua gives Ruby. (The fact that the hallway was dimly-lit at the time and happensContinue reading “Oshi no Ko 3 episode 9”

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End 2 episode 7

Rating: B+ Last episode, Frieren’s team, Genau, and Methode figured out that they were dealing with a demon who used four swords. This episode, that demon and his three subordinates get their formal introductions and we get our first sustained tastes of action in a while. We also, of course, get lots of head-patting. IfContinue reading “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End 2 episode 7”

Oshi no Ko s3 episode 8

Rating: A This episode earns a top-tier rating primarily because of how much it accomplishes and how seamlessly it does so. With just a single episode, it explains older mysteries, delves satisfyingly into the fallout from last episode’s big revelation, lays the groundwork for its final big plot push, and even includes some flashbacks toContinue reading “Oshi no Ko s3 episode 8”

Frieren: Byond Journey’s End 2 episode 6

Rating: B+ After taking a week off, Frieren is back, but it’s not back to what has been the status quo for the season – i.e., shorter vignettes about various experiences Frieren and her companions have while continuing to travel north. No, even if I hadn’t seen the upcoming episodes advertised as a story arc,Continue reading “Frieren: Byond Journey’s End 2 episode 6”

Oshi no Ko 3 episode 7

Rating: A Most of the plot covered by this episode was covered in the last episode of the live-action TV series, so I mostly knew what to expect here. However, I greatly prefer this version of the events. Everything which transpires just lands with much more impact done this way. The first big matter isContinue reading “Oshi no Ko 3 episode 7”

Winter’26 Mid-Season Report

We’re past the midway point of the series (with the earliest-starting series even looking at episode 8 now!), so it’s past time to take a look at how the titles I’ve wound up following are doing. In all, I’ve kept up with 19 series this season. The two which are getting episode reviews (Frieren andContinue reading “Winter’26 Mid-Season Report”

Oshi no Ko s3 episode 6

Rating: A- Much of the story territory covered by this episode was also dealt with in the last regular episode of the live-action TV version, but I infinitely prefer this version of how Kana’s potential scandal is handled. That’s because this version both provides a lot more context and portrays Kana in a way muchContinue reading “Oshi no Ko s3 episode 6”

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End 2 episodes 4-5

Episode Rating (both): B Episode 3 ended with Stark and Fern set to go out on a date, and the first half of episode 4 deals with how that date plays out. The whole affair is as awkward as might be expected. Stark definitely tries, but he’s still operating more off a pre-set plan thanContinue reading “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End 2 episodes 4-5”

Movie Review: Scarlet

Scarlet is the latest original project from Mamoru Hosoda, the director acclaimed for movies like Summer Wars, Wolf Children, and BELLE. In this case the story is more an original take on one of the classics of English literature: Shakespeare’s Hamlet. This being anime, this naturally wasn’t going to be a straight or close adaptation;Continue reading “Movie Review: Scarlet”

Oshi no Ko 3 episode 5

Rating: B+ After four episodes focusing primarily on Ruby, the series finally remembers that Kana is a core part of the cast rather than just a bit player and gives her some love. Almost too much of it, in fact, and plenty enough to set up the franchise’s next major crisis. Kana is, understandably, atContinue reading “Oshi no Ko 3 episode 5”