Wolf Girl & Black Prince

Episode 5

It's the Christmas season and love is in the air for Erika's small corner of the classroom. Erika's riding high from the end of last week's episode, when Kyoya didn't outright confess his feelings for her, but certainly gave her hope that her efforts to win his heart will succeed. So she's getting the warm fuzzies at the idea of Christmas and doesn't even try to top Marin and Aki's extravagant plans. Ever the "wolf girl," she still lies but she aims lower, claiming she and Kyoya just have a standard date at home planned for the evening.

Despite Kyoya's Scrooge-like attitude regarding the holiday, everything seems to be going Erika's way. Kyoya's on his best behavior, helping her get a picture to share with her friends on their supposed Christmas date, showing concern when she succumbs to a stomachache, and explaining why he does so much for her—he really likes her! The better things go for Erika, the sweeter the episode seems, but it also gets more boring. Hoping for more sadism might be strange, but as the show revolves around an S&M-style relationship, it's far too early for Kyoya to be the reformed, perfect boyfriend. Visions of ridiculous soap opera drama to unsettle the otherwise "sweet and happy" relationship loom dangerously overhead.

Then Kyoya opens his mouth and inserts his foot, hurting Erika with a few simple words. Kyoya is controlling, there's no doubt about that, but his abuse is never personal or cruel. Degrading in a broad sense maybe, but never pointedly hurtful. (Erika seems to have settled quite happily into her masochist role, even getting excited at the idea of him giving her a dog collar.) The little stunt Kyoya pulls is insulting and cruel, and Erika's reaction is the perfect payback, a "Yes!" moment for anyone hoping to see him get his comeuppance.

Lingering on Kyoya's stunned reaction and his longing stare at his silent phone later was a wise storytelling choice. (Although seeing him constantly alone in a dark apartment underscores an annoying and overused "I'm a sad loner at heart, and that's why I'm bad" trope.) There's a heart under all that arrogance, and it's not buried very deep. While he clearly gets a thrill from the small-time S&M game, he also does love Erika whether he knows that or not, and he finally realizes he's gone too far.

The way he makes it up to Erika doesn't show the level of respect a healthier relationship may have—he never says he's sorry and instead demands that she apologize—but he shows he's sorry in a meaningful way. Almost. Erika holds her own, not apologizing for her actions but clearly eager to forgive him. The way she recognizes the roots of Kyoya's jerkiness makes them well balanced. She'll put up with his tsundere-ness if and when it pleases her. It makes this dynamic interesting to watch.

Unfortunately, Wolf Girl & Black Prince episode 5 suffers from the time spent establishing Kyoya as something he's not: the perfect, sweet boyfriend. Plus, humor is at a low in this episode. While the episode is a meaningful one, it's not the best if you love this show for its humor as much as its plot.

Rating: B-

Wolf Girl & Black Prince is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Amy is a YA fantasy author who has loved anime for nearly two decades.