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There's No Freaking Way I'll Be Your Lover! Unless... ‒ Episode 7
Oh boy, there is a lot to unpack here and arguably a lot of it isn't good.
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 ‒ Episode 17
Even if he wins and suffers no adverse effects in the short term, we as the audience are always wondering how much of that candle has burned down and whether the next transformation will be his last.
Sakamoto Days ‒ Episode 17
It's hard not to laugh at how out of place a ditzy, blue-haired anime girl feels in this show.
Sword of the Demon Hunter ‒ Episode 19
After last week's bust of an episode, this is one of the most satisfying of the series so far.
The Summer Hikaru Died ‒ Episode 7
There's nothing outwardly untoward about Yoshiki and Hikaru playing hooky, but we feel a foreboding inevitability creeping up on them all the same.
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 ‒ Episode 19
Marin walking in the park while Gojo takes pictures of her for ten minutes is enough to earn my perfect score.
Secrets of the Silent Witch ‒ Episode 7
When it comes down to it, this episode is an exploration into the mindset of teenage bullies.
Witch Watch ‒ Episode 20
As strange as it sounds, Cat Nemu cozying to Keigo might be the most romantic moment in this entire episode.
CITY The Animation ‒ Episode 7
Episode 7 nearly feels like a reminder that, while the animation has been top-notch for most of the season, CITY is a multifaceted piece of media and excels at everything it attempts.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus ‒ Episode 7
Sakuta’s old classmates are not capable of atoning for what happened because their logical minds will inevitably conclude that they’re not in the wrong because the supernatural isn’t real.
Ruri Rocks ‒ Episode 7
I'll stop positively appraising the show's ability to deliver the lesson of "Maybe the real treasure was the friends we made along the way" when it stops being so earnestly good at it.
Gachiakuta ‒ Episode 6
Jabber is the kind of drooling sadist that wandered in straight from the set of the latest Danganronpa game. The more Rudo wails on him, the more Jabber seems to be having the time of his freaky-ass little life.
To Be Hero X ‒ Episode 20
Let's break down who the real winners and losers of this conflict between superheroes are.
Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Season 2 ‒ Episode 19
By the time I realized it was no longer a portrait of grief, but a spooky story about a haunted house, we were already in front of it.
Bad Girl ‒ Episode 7
This episode of Bad Girl was fun, popcorn fare, and I think I’m going to start to enjoy the show more now that I’ve given up on it ever bringing its more subtextual ideas to the surface.
Call of the Night Season 2 ‒ Episode 7
Kyoko, like Kabura, is a loner who feels estranged from her family and friends, yet finds companionship in a periwinkle-haired vampire who awakens her lesbian longing.
With You and the Rain ‒ Episode 7
Although With You and the Rain is anything but ordinary, it does a beautiful job of presenting itself as utterly normal.
Dr. STONE SCIENCE FUTURE ‒ Episode 18
It’s a little disappointing that Senku’s application of the tech in the Stone World relies on blatant fantasy rather than real science.
The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 ‒ Episode 6
I'm never gonna see this Phoenix animated, am I?
DAN DA DAN Season 2 ‒ Episode 19
DAN DA DAN's genius is that it would work just as perfectly if it were a straightforward romantic coming-of-age story without any of the golden testicles, alien probes, evil giant worms, or subterranean death cults.
New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT ‒ Episode 6
This episode just needs to live up to its hype, blow the windows off the venue as everyone knows it can, and go home, leaving the audience with their world rocked, lying in their juices.
Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube ‒ Episode 7
If this episode teaches us anything, it’s that yandere ice girls are hot.
Turkey!-Time to Strike- ‒ Episode 6
This episode checked off every possible box I dreamed this show would have and more.
Clevatess ‒ Episode 7
One of the chief appeals of dark fantasy is that ever-present sense of dread and danger lurking around every corner, and the more Clevatess can tap into that well of inspiration, the better.
Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon Season 2 ‒ Episode 7
As far as world-changing lore drops go, it’s hard to top what this episode gives us.
Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra ‒ Episode 6
I really hope Mynoghra continues down this darker path it’s been going down for the past two episodes now.
There's No Freaking Way I'll Be Your Lover! Unless... ‒ Episode 6
I really liked this episode and no, I'm not just saying that because Mai wasn't in it at all.
Sakamoto Days ‒ Episode 16
The first stretch of this episode is just a non-stop train of bloody action
Ruri Rocks ‒ Episode 6
As the Mythbusters once said: "Remember kids, the only difference between screwing around and science is writing it down."
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 ‒ Episode 16
We spent three weeks building up to Kafka being back in the game, only to have Kaiju No. 9 immediately peace out.
Sword of the Demon Hunter ‒ Episode 18
Lots of foreshadowing and some cute daddy-daughter moments, but it's still a very dull episode.
One Piece ‒ Episode 1139
I couldn’t quite put my finger on it initially while watching the episode, but I wasn’t really invested in the Buster Call scenes despite intellectually understanding how big of a deal it was.
The Summer Hikaru Died ‒ Episode 6
Playing with fireworks is an apt visual metaphor for Yoshiki's relationship with Hikaru.
With You and the Rain ‒ Episode 6
This episode of With You and the Rain depicts what’s been my typical experience with mixing the two species: cats will whip the dog into the shape they prefer.
Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Season 2 ‒ Episode 18
Ms. Nene… I don't feel so good.
Secrets of the Silent Witch ‒ Episode 6
As for the mystery of the tea leaves, the 'whodunit' is only half of the mystery. We still have the 'whydunit'—the motive—to uncover.
Witch Watch ‒ Episode 19
As sweet as this episode is, it's hard not to find it funny that Nico effectively cursed Morihito into keeping her in the friend zone.
CITY The Animation ‒ Episode 6
This episode is the joys, pains, and regularity of life presented through the most stylish lens imaginable.
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 ‒ Episode 18
Unlike a lot of other stories where people try to present themselves as the main character, Gojo is a main character who almost refuses to see himself as such.
Call of the Night Season 2 ‒ Episode 6
This is quite possibly the sweetest and most heartfelt the series has been to date. Then LG shows up.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus ‒ Episode 6
Everything points to one likely conclusion: This Ikumi isn’t the Ikumi Sakuta went to school with at all.
Gachiakuta ‒ Episode 5
Anyone who is simply tuning in each week for twenty minutes of solid action-adventure entertainment will likely continue to have a good time.
To Be Hero X ‒ Episode 19
This episode acts as the ensemble continuation of our three yet-unfinished arcs: Loli, Ghostblade, and The Johnnies—with Loli getting most of the focus.
Bad Girl ‒ Episode 6
The more time I spend with these little idiots, the more I like them.
Turkey!-Time to Strike- ‒ Episode 5
This week, the girls learn about climate change and gravity.
Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra ‒ Episode 5
Atou did to those soldiers what MenaRD did to Kakeru in Street Fighter 6.
Dr. STONE SCIENCE FUTURE ‒ Episode 17
It seems believable plot progression has long since exited the building, launched into orbit, and is currently catching up to the Voyager 1 probe on its way out of the solar system.
The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 ‒ Episode 5
Maybe this is a sign that the series is actually beginning to get better writing, or maybe I'm so desperate to have this be worth my time, I'm willing to latch onto anything.
DAN DA DAN Season 2 ‒ Episode 18
If an episode goes the extra mile to hire the lead singer of freaking Dragonforce and the former lead guitarist of Megadeth, then it automatically gets five stars. That is codified in the Big Book of Anime Critic Law. I don't make the rules, I just enforce them with fanatical zeal.
New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT ‒ Episode 5
There aren't any ridiculous animation style shifts or serious tonal swerves to catch the audience off-guard as in "special" episodes like last week's—bar a few odd indulgences.
Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube ‒ Episode 6
Much as in our own world, social media influencers are the true source of all that is evil.
There's No Freaking Way I'll Be Your Lover! Unless... ‒ Episode 5
Asking somebody who you think has feelings for you to embrace you just so you can confirm that you like somebody else is wild.
Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon Season 2 ‒ Episode 6
This show hasn't had space for developing a cast of villainous counterparts to our heroes ...You know, except for the fact that it's been doing that all along right under our noses.
Clevatess ‒ Episode 6
The great character writing is quickly becoming my favorite element of Clevatess' story, but that doesn't mean I'm not excited to see Alicia do battle with a horde of ugly bugs and their smug, magical ringmaster.
One Piece ‒ Episode 1138
Bonney is allowed to explore Kuma's past in a meaningful way without having to wonder how she might know a certain detail or bit of backstory.
Sword of the Demon Hunter ‒ Episode 17
This episode centers on a schematically poised duel, with a postscript that feels like a grave misjudgment.
Sakamoto Days ‒ Episode 15
Apart may not be that weird of a name by anime standards, but it feels like his dad set him up for failure even before he became a serial killer.
CITY The Animation ‒ Episode 5
I know it's reductive to call a creative work perfect, but even that adjective feels unsatisfactory in describing the joyous and masterful animation packed into this episode.
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 ‒ Episode 17
This episode rejuvenated a significant part of my soul.
The Summer Hikaru Died ‒ Episode 5
This was a great episode to watch on the day after I cleared out my shower drain.
Bad Girl ‒ Episode 5
While this episode didn’t inspire too many laughs, I still see the potential in the series even as it shifts away from its initial appeal.
Witch Watch ‒ Episode 18
This episode is a strong example of how well this show can stretch some otherwise simple premises.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus ‒ Episode 5
Ikumi is, quite literally, looking for trouble. She doesn’t simply help those she comes across, she seeks out those in pain or danger and helps them—regardless of the consequences.
Ruri Rocks ‒ Episode 5
Nagi, reserved and knowledgeable as she is, knows that the only way to go about confirming any of this is to test, test, and test some more.
Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Season 2 ‒ Episode 17
Toilet-bound Hanako-kun is a great guide for getting yourself out of a time loop, but perhaps not for wooing the person of your dreams.
Gachiakuta ‒ Episode 4
This is Gachiakuta's chance to demonstrate what our weekly adventures with the Cleaner Crew will be after all of the setup and infodumping is (mostly) out of the way.
Secrets of the Silent Witch ‒ Episode 5
Monica's found acceptance for the first time in her life and now is finally in a position to grow beyond the box she's made for herself.
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 ‒ Episode 15
Kafka gets past his henshintile dysfunction and manages to transform into Kaiju No. 8 by the end of the episode.
To Be Hero X ‒ Episode 18
With this episode, we just see Ghostblade's second episode from the perspective of Little Johnny—and gain little-to-no insight from it.
Call of the Night Season 2 ‒ Episode 5
Kabura leaves many details shrouded and unsaid in her backstory, which feels appropriately melancholy. Time ravages memory.
With You and the Rain ‒ Episode 5
Shedding season isn't a season. It's for life.
Anne Shirley ‒ Episode 18
Oh, step off, Charlie Sloane, you miserable little twit.
The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 ‒ Episode 4
It's a shame the series couldn't deliver on more action or engaging choreography during this anticipated conflict.
DAN DA DAN Season 2 ‒ Episode 17
I never thought that such an otherwise respectable, artistic program would have the gall to spring something so brazen and lewd on its audience without warning.
Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon Season 2 ‒ Episode 5
Unsurprisingly, for a woman in love with a literal vending machine, Lamis doesn’t have an ounce of prejudice in her whole body.
Dr. STONE SCIENCE FUTURE ‒ Episode 16
There’s no way she can fill out those curves with such a low BMI… unless she’s part balloon animal?
Clevatess ‒ Episode 5
I like that Clevatess was able to begin its tale with an adventure that felt self-contained and satisfying in its own right while still sowing the seeds for a larger narrative.
New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT ‒ Episode 4
We have here probably the first part of New Panty & Stocking since its giant-sized premiere to really feel like it made this riotous return as worth it as humanly possible.
There's No Freaking Way I'll Be Your Lover! Unless... ‒ Episode 4
Despite my complaints, this is probably the best episode of the show thus far.
Turkey!-Time to Strike- ‒ Episode 4
In contrast to how last week we saw the girls panicking over potentially causing butterfly effects, this week Mai has taken them to the Kagome Higurashi School of Haha Who Cares.
Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra ‒ Episode 4
Some visual flare could’ve been just what this episode needed to feel more substantial.
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 ‒ Episode 16
This episode was a pretty firm reality check for Gojo, and I like that his classmates playfully told him off for his borderline self-destructive tendencies.
Sakamoto Days ‒ Episode 14
Nothing screams body positivity like watching Sakamoto pummel a guy off a building.
CITY The Animation ‒ Episode 4
CITY the Animation is rapidly approaching a level of joyousness where, if you like life, you will love this show.
Sword of the Demon Hunter ‒ Episode 16
This episode starts off feeling like a formulaic interlude, but it turns out to be something much better.
The Summer Hikaru Died ‒ Episode 4
Rituals are at the forefront of this week's episode, and it's a subject that gels well with the narrative's focus on small town secrets.
Bad Girl ‒ Episode 4
While the middle stretch was a total miss for me, the beginning and end segments saved it and brought this episode back to above average.
Secrets of the Silent Witch ‒ Episode 4
Among mages, if there is one to be feared, it is the Silent Witch.
Witch Watch ‒ Episode 17
This episode isn't totally without its charms, but it's probably the weakest one we've gotten to date.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus ‒ Episode 4
The various heroines have noticed the pattern in Sakuta’s life—that he’s basically “the great detective who somehow always runs into a murder case no matter where he goes.
One Piece ‒ Episode 1137
The Toei team leaves it all on the field for 1137.
Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Season 2 ‒ Episode 16
This episode didn’t provide many answers, but its romantic and fantasy visuals were works of art.
Ruri Rocks ‒ Episode 4
Ruri doesn't like sand. It's coarse, rough, irritating, and it gets everywhere.
Gachiakuta ‒ SEASON PREMIERE
Gachiakuta may not be perfect, but it is hitting all of the right notes for a fun and quirky action anime without breaking a sweat.
With You and the Rain ‒ Episode 4
With You and the Rain continues to prove that it understands the pet/person bond while it pokes gentle fun at what it would be like to have a literate animal in your life.
To Be Hero X ‒ Episode 17
Sheng became X not because he cared about being the world's greatest hero but because being the top hero gave him access to the world's best medical staff and technology.
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