When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace

Episode 10

It may be December in the real world, but that's not going to stop When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace from trying its hand at a good old-fashioned pool episode. Whether this harem comedy tradition elicits cheers or groans, it's safe to say that the show was going to go down that road eventually. After all, it'd be tough to poke fun at a genre without addressing one of its best-known setups.

Jurai makes two trips to a water park in this episode, one with Chifuyu and one with Sayumi. Each trip gets an extra dose of humor courtesy of a supporting character. In the episode's first half, Kuki tries to make Jurai look bad in front of Chifuyu by luring him into awkward situations. The ever-sleazy Sagami takes over in the second half, swapping Sayumi's swimsuit for one that becomes transparent when wet (or so he claims). In both cases, mayhem and hijinks ensue.

This episode takes a different approach to comedy than other parts of the series, drawing humor from the absurdity of each situation rather than leaning on witty dialogue. It's unlikely to cause any hysterical fits of laughter, but it's entertaining nonetheless. Kuki's increasingly complex plots and Sayumi's efforts at staying out of the water are both carried out well, while splitting the episode in half prevents either joke from growing too old.

Jurai ends up providing a more nuanced punchline with his deflated reaction to arriving at the water park for a second time. It's a fairly understated moment, just a quick shot of his miserable expression, but it works on more than one level. Jurai's expression can be seen as the mirror image of a viewer who's grown weary of formulaic swimsuit episodes, but it's also just funny in the context of the story. It's a nice bit of commentary wrapped up in a goofy reaction shot.

The comedic elements keep things light and entertaining, but there's not much substance to be found here. The scenes with Kuki and Chifuyu don't tell us anything that we didn't already know, and even the happy conclusion feels like a repeat of a previous storyline. The series continues to be uncertain about how best to use Sagami, and his role in this episode is underwhelming. Over the last two episodes, he's been wavering back and forth between playing silly pranks and spouting more ominous lines of dialogue. So far, he's failed to make much impact with either. If Sagami is meant to stir up conflict among the main characters, he's done a poor job of it. The most compelling rivalries, especially the simmering tension between Hatoko and Tomoyo, have managed to develop without any action on Sagami's part. He needs to either step up his efforts or step off the stage.

On a positive note, this episode puts more effort into the animation than its predecessor. As the characters take on water slides and obstacle courses, there's a better balance between movement and static conversation scenes. The constant comedy also lets the series play more to its stylistic strengths, filling the frame with deliberately over-dramatic titles for each of Kuki's plans. There may be less here to think about than there was last week, but at least there's more to look at.

Ultimately, this episode is as harmless as it is forgettable. The show's dramatic elements have taken the week off, and the comedy is simply minding the store while they're gone. What's left is twenty minutes of disposable fun that does almost nothing to advance the plot. It's easy and enjoyable to watch, but this series can do better.

Rating B-

When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Paul Jensen also covers anime and manga at SharkPuppet.com.