Magical Girl Raising Project

Episode 10

With the battle against Calamity Mary wrapped up, Magical Girl Raising Project came into this week with a chance to get back on its game through a fresh story arc. This episode makes good use of that opportunity, starting with a brief moment of understanding between Snow White and Hardgore Alice. Unfortunately for them, their chances of becoming friends go out the window when Swim Swim circumvents Alice's healing power by killing her in her human form. The next target on Swim Swim's hit list is Cranberry, but she may be biting off more than she can chew by taking on the person who's been rewriting the rules of the game from the very beginning.

This series has been in need of some hopeful moments in order to keep the tragedy train on the rails, and that's more or less what we get from the little heart-to-heart between Snow White and Alice. It doesn't last long and Snow White's sudden outburst undermines it to some extent, but it's still enough to tempt us into thinking that these two could be friends after the game finally ends. If nothing else, they seem poised to help one another recover from some serious emotional wounds. When Swim Swim shows up and kills Alice in broad daylight, that glimmer of hope lends the scene extra emotional weight. It's also the first time in a while that the series has been able to spring a legitimate surprise; by killing a seemingly invincible character right as a relationship starts to develop, it's able to catch us off guard.

As ruthless as Swim Swim may be, it always helps to bring the real villain back into the picture. It's been a while since we've heard from Cranberry, and her conversations with Fav continue to provide intriguing hints at the bigger picture. It looks like this last-girl-standing game is their own twisted take on what was meant to be a peaceful selection process for magical girl candidates. If that's the case, then it has some potentially major thematic implications. Perhaps magical girls really are supposed to be champions of justice, and it's the dark side of human nature that's turning them into something more sinister. On the other hand, this situation could provide Snow White with a way out; if she can appeal to a higher magical authority, she could get Cranberry's game shut down without having to fight anyone.

I'm also happy to see Cranberry back in the picture because she brings some additional dramatic tension to the show's action scenes. As she takes a leisurely stroll through the forest with Swim Swim's minions all around, it feels like someone could be killed off without warning at any time. We only end up with one more permanent casualty for the time being, but the stage is set for a compelling showdown between Cranberry and Swim Swim. Cranberry certainly seems to have the odds in her favor, but Swim Swim has already pulled off more than her fair share of surprising wins against strong opponents. Either way, the outcome of their fight will likely determine where the rest of the story goes.

This isn't a perfect episode, and it's odd that we barely heard from Ripple at all when we'd expect her to be going through some serious personal turmoil. It is, however, a welcome turnaround from the somewhat underwhelming fight against Calamity Mary. The show's strongest antagonist is back in the game, and the writing has managed to recapture that vital feeling of unpredictability. Depending on how it plays out, this new story arc has the potential to equal Magical Girl Raising Project's best efforts to date.

Rating: B+

Magical Girl Raising Project is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Paul Jensen is a freelance writer and editor. You can follow more of his anime-related ramblings on Twitter.