New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT

Episode 9

I know I was gushing last week about how consistently great New Panty & Stocking has been, but the nature of a sketch-driven pseudo-anthology like this is that it'll never be completely consistent. This ninth week for the show might be the most all-over-the-place spread of stories since it started. It's still averaging out to "pretty good," but the peaks and valleys, especially when it comes to tone, are extremely noticeable. That's just the nature of the beast, and it does keep New Panty & Stocking interesting to watch.

Two out of three of the shorts this week sport direction from Panty & Stocking newcomer Yuki Kawano, who covers a wide range of material in this debut. Things start with a pretty straightforward Stocking-focused episode. The gluttonous girl's competition for a special ohagi will look immediately familiar to any convention attendees who have partaken in Studio Trigger's trademark rock-paper-scissors contests, and I don't even mind the appearance of Super Guy Jin as much anymore now that I know he's apparently based on a real-life western fan friend of Hiromi Wakabayashi.

There's just a fair amount of indulgent love in this bit all around, from those inside-baseball references to Trigger itself, to the various Ghost doppelgangers Stocking takes on being shout-outs to classic Japanese period pieces like Zato-ichi or Lone Wolf and Cub. The entry even crams in appearances by Polyurethane and Gunsmith Bitch, seemingly to allow Kawano to play with as many characters as possible. Also, it's neat to get at least a momentary instance of how Polyurethane could operate without his older brother (answer: not particularly at all), and all of the proceedings are rendered with some lovingly extra-fluid-and-bouncy animation. Stocking gets to do her best impression of the second Kill la Kill OP; it's all a strong, simple, somewhat standard entry.

It's a cavalcade that sets up an anticipated entry in the next short, with a spot fully focused on the Angel brothers—the "Poly Peeps" according to the translation. I can appreciate the idea of what this bit is doing, as it spotlights Polyester and Polyurethane by showing just how out of their depth they are stepping into the home territory of the Anarchy sisters. The raw raunch almost feels closer to "old" Panty & Stocking, which makes sense for a vibes crossover like this. But it also informs some of the more iffy sensibilities of the episode.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the audacity of Polyester getting strapped to Panty's bed and nearly wrecked by her automatic sex-toy setup well enough—there's something to be said for Panty & Stocking flipping the fanservice script where any lady-focused material is based in unabashed enthusiasm while the guys are the ones letting loose the embarrassed "Kyaaaaa!" And I certainly ain't gonna complain about them conspiring to put the cute boys into crossplay. But there's just a bit more of a stink of tired accidental-gay jabs going on with Polyester and Brief's interaction in particular to let me laugh as much at a guilty pleasure like this. Also, the disguised looks donned by the boys are so unconvincing that I could never believe any of the other characters would fall for them, to the point that I have to conclude that Scanty, Kneesocks, and the others are intentionally going along just to fuck with the bros, or they're happy to have a reprieve from Panty and Stocking. Either way, this part's more side-eye than side-splitting, and it just sort of shrugs to an end.

Maybe that's just a jerky balancing act New Panty & Stocking has to pull before it busts out one of the most unilaterally sweet entries it's entertained, though. This is the other Yuki Kawano entry, and nominally serves as the Panty & Kneesocks follow-up to the Stocking/Scanty team-up from the third episode. Only, instead of a rather neutral character combo, it seems that Kawano, Wakabayashi, and the rest of the team stumbled into the most potent crack-ship possible in this show. It has to be healthier than Kneesocks hooking up with her sister..

It definitely helps that Panty herself has seen such an amount of character development through both seasons of the show so far. It's believable that she'd be humbled and empathetic enough to want to cheer Kneesocks up on her birthday—in her own way via co-opting Brief's school prom for a party. She was also just casually confirmed as bisexual (or possibly putting the "pan" in "Panty") a few episodes ago, so I buy that she wouldn't mind taking Kneesocks out on a date. Point is, as frankly sweet as Panty's efforts and her chemistry with Kneesocks get in this episode, it never swerves into out-of-character, first-party-fanfic as it can almost feel like in moments.

As well, Kneesocks herself is given just a bit more to go on compared to Scanty in previous entries. The opening scene featuring baby versions of the sisters is adorable, but Kneesocks's codependency on figures like her sister and pivoting that onto Panty when needed gives her something of a contrasting personality to really work with as part of the couple. It also means they don't come off like a half-palette-swapped iteration of the main pair the way Stocking and Scanty did.

It's also still a dynamite Panty & Stocking episode underneath all this sickly sweet shipping. There's a montage of rad new outfits for Kneesocks, and the inevitable Ghost attack brings a barrage of brilliant gags and action. I gotta love how the beastie that's absorbed angel powers is suspiciously Ramiel-shaped. And there's a sputteringly pause-worthy moment of a dress getting ripped off to reveal uncensored Panty pussy. Even the wild westaboo asides of Wakabayashi and co continue, with a line referencing Voodoo Doughnut.

But beyond all that simple aesthetic excess, this continues that theme of positive growth glimpsed in entries like last week's musical indulgence, as Panty's earnest rebellion rubs off a bit on Kneesocks. Even a demon can change after 666 years. Maybe that's why this episode had to momentarily return to blunter, cruder sensibilities for its middle portion, to more soundly remind audiences how far Panty & Stocking has really come. Perhaps supposing that this episode was uneven with purpose is reading too far into the intent of this stupid sex cartoon. But then, nine weeks ago, an earnestly romantic little story between Panty and Kneesocks wouldn't have been in the realm of what I expected from the show either. Studio Trigger, for good and ill, is always full of surprises.

Rating:

New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT is currently streaming on Prime Video.

Chris has to slay a bunch of anime reviews to earn his own Heaven and Hell coins, and he hopes his editors won't deduct too much for occasional potty mouth here, given the context. He's probably reskeeting fanart of Panty and/or Stocking on his BlueSky right now, and you can also check out his own back catalog over on his blog.

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