Mario: My apology that we missed out last week. Since the restriction relaxing in my hometown it has been even more hectic and busy for me lately, to the point that I am busier than I was before the lockdown. Anyways, we are here for anime and while the whole anime industry is suffering at this point (with next season looks even grimmer), the easing of restrictions in Japan’s main cities is an encouraging sign – hopefully the anime industry picks up its pace soon.
BNA – 7-9
Mario: Okay, the first half of BNA might be a little shaky (the baseball episode was pretty meh to me), but episode 7 through 9 the show seems to get a handle on framing the big overarching act, as the main players are all in places now and these three episodes provide some twists and turns. Not all of them are effective but now BNA has a sense of knowing where it goes, unlike the first half when it fails to enrich the Anima city worldbuilding. We know about the true reasons behind Michirou’s beast ability (many see this coming), the true identity of Ginrou (it’s not hard to see this coming too), Syvasta’s roles so the next three episodes where the show wraps up can build up to an exciting climax. Hopefully it sticks the landing.
Hamefura – 9-10
Amun: Hamefura got back on track this week! After two below average (and I’d like to point out the average for this show is very high) outings, episode nine gets back to Catarina winning hearts and minds – this time of her troubled maid. This was heartwarming, in character, and a wonderful re-perspective of the high class hijinks of whatever this academy is called. Also the end story, where everyone gets her the exact same thing, had me rolling. Simply top notch. I want to point out another interesting tidbit: her parents (father in this episode, but mother in the past) are quietly supporting her shenanigans (despite her mother’s anguish at her gardening). Nice little detail thrown in there. Next episode looks like a confrontation, so I’m hyped – I would just recommend weapons (axes or hoes) instead of the magic trip hill.
Mario: Just chime in here for my general thoughts about Hamefura in this second half run. It wasn’t as great as the first few episodes for me, unfortunately. The issue I have with it so far is that it overplays the supporting cast’s affection towards Catarina every single freaking time. Episode 9 adds another side character whom Catarina “changes” for the better. As their love for Catarina grows, it’s hard to distinguish the cast from one another because all they have in mind is Catarina, and it’s kind of the same feeling as the show keeps beating that dead horse. Episode 10 introduces a villain who hated her gut, which for me is a nice change of pace but… is Catarina going to save his soul like everyone else? AGAIN?
Kakushigoto – 9-10
Mario: With these two episodes the present-timeline, where Hime is 18, is a bit clearer now. We learn that Gotou vanished from his mangaka career, and in the latest episode it was because his tragic past was leaked, prompting him to run away/ die(?) for good. While that makes sense considering how desperately he tries to hide his profession from Hime (as he thinks that it’s a low job), it’s interesting to note that episode 10 is the closest occasion where he nearly spills the beans. In Kakushigoto true fashion, it’s presented as a situation-based skit where all the hotel residents start “confess the truth”, but for me it was smartly presented. We are close to the finish line now so I can safely say that Kakushigoto has been a pretty solid show.
Hachi-Nan – 10
Amun: Had you told at the season start that one of the shows I’d still be watching 10 weeks in is the solidly B-tier Hachi-nan – I would have said yeah, probably. It’s not great, it’s often not even good – the animation is quite spotty at times – but it plays the dealt hand straight and has really been quite a decent filler show. Episode 10 finally gets around to what everyone’s known for a while: Mr. Dragonslaying Baron is better suited to run his family’s kingdom than his older brother Kurt. I’m interested where they go here, because honestly Well has been a pushover this entire season – however, entangling family gets real dicey. Also, Well better be fulfilling his harem destiny before the season ends or I retract all my compliments!
Nami yo Kiite Kure – 9-10
Mario: Nami yo Kiite Kure’s plot can go to unexpected development, making it an oddball amongst this season. In episode 9 we move further away from the radio station for Minare’s date with her ex. Minare’s vibrant personality certainly raises the game here as she makes the whole Pythonian situation feel incredible. Yeah, there’s this absurdist sense of humor where we know things could go wrong in any moment. And the way Minare figures out her ex’s motive and goes on to knock him unconscious is definitely Minare (although whether she was right remains unclear). Episode 10 showcases an interesting drawback of Minare’s self-centred personality: the way she treats Chuuya poorly (or rather, insensitively). While the radio-broadcast aspect has its own appeal, it’s Minare the uncontrollable beast that serves as the show’s biggest strength.
Ascendance of a Bookworm – 23
Amun: In our other isekai (pretty sure I’m just watching isekai at this point), we have our little bookworm, steadily building up her forces to march out on whoever would dare to mess with her books. One point from this episode is the animation of Main was weird this week – definitely didn’t feel normal. Otherwise, I like the direction of Main’s building her world – also she finally got a book done! Head Priest is more than meets the eye, so I’m interested in that (he’s probably some kind of exiled nobility or something). He’s my favorite because he calls Main out on her crap. Yup, isekai will get us through these tough times!
Tamayomi – 9-10
Mario: Tamayomi still proves to be a serviceable sports show despite its limited production values. I figure they will spend the rest of this season for this match against one of the top clubs in the prefecture. The plot is not going to break the sports popular (like, I don’t think they win this match because most underdog clubs in anime will lose but somehow gain respect from the big team), but the girls’ dynamic is still there. And even the production suffers – result in characters with limited facial range – I can tell apart all the members of our team because they all have their own significant traits and they compliment each other like a well-balanced desert. And that is something that keeps inviting me back to it.
