Oshi no Ko 3 episode 3

Rating: B+ While I expected this series to take a markedly different angle on the cosplay scene than Dress Up Darling or 2.5 Dimensional Seduction, I’m not sure I quite expected what we got in this episode. But as usual, the series uses it as an opportunity to examine behind-the-scenes issues in the entertainment industry.Continue reading “Oshi no Ko 3 episode 3”

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End 2 episode 2

Rating: B+ This episode firmly falls into the “events while traveling” part of the series, which many fans of the franchise would argue is where the series is at its strongest. Indeed, even though this isn’t one of the series’ more exciting and impactful episodes, there’s still a lot to like and a lot ofContinue reading “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End 2 episode 2”

Oshi no Ko s3 episode 2

Rating: B+ One of the recurring themes of the franchise has been the somewhat cynical notion that nearly every successful move in the entertainment industry – even ones that seem fully spontaneous to a layman – has actually been carefully calculated. When characters in this franchise have acted without rigorous planning and intent (Akane slappingContinue reading “Oshi no Ko s3 episode 2”

Zombie Land Saga: Yumeginga Paradise

Yumeminga Paradise, which screened in American theaters on January 19th, is a direct sequel to Zombie Land Saga Revenge. Though it does provide a brief summary of past events from both TV seasons at its beginning, this is not an entry point for the franchise, as full familiarity with all previously-established characters is assumed. TheeContinue reading “Zombie Land Saga: Yumeginga Paradise”

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End s2 episode 1

Rating: A Frieren is back, and all’s right with the world! And this time I’ll be writing about it week-to-week. Jests aside, this is a strong return. While its first episode in nearly two years doesn’t do anything dramatic, it does deliver on everything I expect from this series, and that makes it plenty goodContinue reading “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End s2 episode 1”

Oshi no Ko s3 episode 1

Rating: A- The season’s opening episode is a very busy one, but remarkably, not a rushed-feeling one. It uses a sharp, efficient pace to update the audience on what has happened in the six month interlude since the release of the “Pop In 2” video and lay out the current state of affairs for allContinue reading “Oshi no Ko s3 episode 1”

The Apocalypse Files #3

Episode 12 was clearly the series’ final episode, so it’s time for one last look at all of the strangeness and a general look back on the series as a whole. While there’s more natural splendor to experience here, the real highlight of the episode is something that fans have been longing for almost sinceContinue reading “The Apocalypse Files #3”

Isekai Quartet 3, episode 10

Episode Rating: B It’s finally time for the music festival! This being Isekai Quartet, naturally the performances weren’t going to go off without the final boss showing up and a fight breaking out. It’s so expected at this point that hardly anyone in Class 2 even seems fazed by it. In fact, they take itContinue reading “Isekai Quartet 3, episode 10”

The Apocalypse Files #2

When I did the first installment of this exercise a few weeks back, I was half-jokingly making a reference to the classic TV series The X-Files with the title. After Touring After the Apocalypse episode 11, though, I have to take the reference more seriously. One of the key underlying implications of The X-Files wereContinue reading “The Apocalypse Files #2”

Isekai Quartet 3, episode 9

Rating: B+ The appeal of Isekai Quartet is heavily predicated on clever callbacks and sly applications of lore from its components series, so few things in the franchise truly count as plot twists. The revelation that the prize for the upcoming music contest might be one of the mysterious buttons which brought most of theContinue reading “Isekai Quartet 3, episode 9”