Playing It Straight – ‘Conception’ Episode 9 Review

What’s the show? Conception, Episode 9.

So how’s this episode? It’s pretty gay.

Whoa! Don’t go throwing around that word as a negative. I wasn’t, you just assumed I was, which makes you the bad guy here!

Okay fine, so you meant it in its actual sense of the word. What makes this episode so “gay”? Well last episode we were given the revelation that there’s an additional 13th star maiden out there that Itsuki has to produce a star child with. But Mana has convinced Itsuki that the 13th star maiden is male. Cue all the man-service as this show goes full gay! Well, right up to the doorstep of gay, as usual this show never commits to going balls deep, content to play in the shallows.

Thanks for that vivid comparison… while earlier in the season I was annoyed at this show’s lack of follow thru (back then it was that the show teased it was about sex but then backpedaled) but now it doesn’t even bother me a little bit because that’s what comedies do—and make no mistake that is all this show is at this point. It’s not an action comedy, or fantasy comedy, it’s not even an Ecchi harem comedy it’s just plain comedy.

But is it a good comedy? Pfft, define “good”. It makes me laugh and that’s all I need in a comedy. Do I think this is a good anime? No, it’s trash, but it’s fun and funny.

I don’t know why but this made me laugh so hard.

Okay, fair enough. Let’s go back to what this episode is about though—so I’m guessing Itsuki doesn’t in-fact do a love ritual with a man? It comes very close, but ultimately the idea was for Itsuki to be open to the idea rather than actually go through with it, something about cultivating a more open mind. The episode could have easily fallen into the trap of “lol gay stuff is gross and wrong” but I never felt like it was taking that road—which I’m thankful for. Sure Itsuki says some stupid things, but for the most part it played its gay scenes straight—for the lack of a better word. It never relied on any tired ‘gay anime character’ stereotypes either.

Just 3 straight boys having fun together!

So basically it’s a tease episode that amounts to very little but did it with a surprisingly respectful tone? Something like that. Basically if you’re still watching this for the actual plot, I feel sorry for you because I don’t think this show is particularly interested in it either! That said, viewing it strictly as an episode of a comedy show, I enjoyed it! But then again, I’m easily amused…