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Momo Kyun Sword
Episode 11

by Miles Nelson,

Wow. I hoped that Momo Kyun Sword would continue its upward trajectory in terms of quality, but I wasn't expecting this! I can say without a shadow of a doubt that episode 11, “The Last Battle! Momoko vs Jakiou!!” is the best episode of the series yet, delivering a truly satisfying climax that works both dramatically and in terms of action. The Oni/Celestial War is decided, Momoko comes into her own, and Onihime's old life is shattered forever. For the first time since the show began, I really cared about what was happening onscreen for the entire runtime, and that's nothing to sneeze at.

The reason for this dramatic leap in quality comes down to one thing: direction. Episode 11 is by far the best directed of the series, with every scene ratcheting up the tension, building until the final confrontation with Jakiou. From the action to the cinematography to the music to the pacing, every element has been given the utmost attention and it shows. There are no distracting unfunny jokes, nor are there any pointless character digressions bogging down the story for no reason. Each of Momoko's allies is in charge of keeping a secondary antagonist at bay until she is finally left alone with Jakiou. This plot structure is purely archetypal, without an original bone in its body, but compared to the asinine plots of most other episodes, (The Celestial Maidens become an idol group! Everyone visits a hot spring!) it's practically Shakespeare. The climactic nature and weight of the events is allowed to fully sink in, and it's the excellent presentation that makes all the difference.

That being said, there is one striking negative element, regarding Momoko's character. When Jakiou asks why she continues to fight him even when hopelessly outmatched, she replies that she fights to protect her loved ones, as images of the animal trio and her grandparents flash across the screen. These people have repeatedly shown themselves unworthy of Momoko's love, having lied to, lusted after, and used her. At the very least she should have mixed feelings towards them, so her proclamations of love feel odd and make her seem moronic. While this aspect of the character is still present in episode 11, the amazing execution of everything else overshadows it. Momoko's voice actress, Ayana Taketatsu, has always done a great job with what she has been given, and this episode is her best yet. At the same time, although Momoko's story is the heart of this episode, it is not the most compelling; that honor belongs to the princess of the Oni, Onihime.

Though all the fights in the episode have some appropriate gravitas, it is Onihime's confrontation with Jakiou over her origins that is the most emotionally resonant. Jakiou's response to her questions is heartbreaking, and her sorrow at his words really made me feel for her. Onihime's been a main character since the second episode, but these last few episodes have given her the best dramatic material in the entire series, telling a deeply personal story about the nature of her identity and family ties. Looking back, Onihime has always been an enjoyable character, ranking as one of the most tolerable among the main cast, so giving her strong material is a smart decision. However, her story is still unfinished, with the twelfth and final episode yet to conclude it. I never thought I'd say this, but I have a feeling that the end of Momo Kyun Sword will be worth the wait.

Rating: B

Momo Kyun Sword is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Miles Nelson has been watching anime since 1997, and writing about it since 2013. You can read some of his articles at My Geek Review


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