Week 4 of Summer 2019 Anime In Review

It’s week 4 of Summer 2019 and these are the new seasonal episodes I watched–ranked and reviewed–you know the drill by now!

Demon Lord, Retry! – Episode 4

73/100 (UP 4 points from previous episode)

Yukikaze can get it.

I’m still kind of at a loss of what to think of this show, but I’ll give it at least one thing in its favour, its predictably unpredictable, which is kind of pleasant. By which I mean everything it does feels like it’s from another (better) anime but it at least goes about its various plot points and character development in unexpected ways and unexpected times. I’m having fun with this show for the most part, but I very much doubt I’ll remember it once the season is over… That said, Yukikaze is probably my favourite trap character ever and they’ve only appeared in two episodes so far so that’s gotta count for something, right?!

given – Episode 3

74/100 (UP 2 points from previous episode)

Me @ this anime: “DO SOMETHING!”

This show is growing on me, even if Mafuyu isn’t (yet), they’re still teasing at some tragic backstory but what we’re given (no pun intended) is still sadly lacking. Everybody else on the cast remains a lot more interesting and carries the show.

Magical Sempai – Episode 4

79/100 (DOWN 1 point from previous episode)

I was going to say something in line with “nice box” but that seems inappropriate right now…

12 minute (or however many minutes) ‘gag-anime’ can be compelling character driven experiences in addition to their sketch-style formats, it’s been done before, trust me. But ‘Magical Sempai’ skirts around it in a frustrating way–not the least because it refuses to give its protagonists proper names. That said, it’s still funny and silly and occasionally sexy and sometimes that’s all you need, I’m just saying it could be better.

Cop Craft – Episode 3

80/100 (DOWN 5 points from previous episode)

Some good action though.

There’s almost too much going on in this episode, like they crammed the events of two episodes into a single one and as a result it feels like the budget has taken a hit too with some of the action resorting to still frames where such a tactic wasn’t used in previous episodes. Tilarna is pretty goddamn flawless in this episode though, she kicks ass and is absolutely endearing, what a package.

Hensuki: Are you willing to fall in love with a pervert, as long as she’s a cutie? – Episode 3

81/100 (DOWN 6 points from previous episode)

I never even had a foot fetish until anime happened, goddamit!

It’s weird to think how beholden the overall ‘original’ appeal of this show is so tied to the gimmick of “discovering” any given girls’ perverted trait, we had one in the first and one in the second but the third girl remains a mystery by the end of the episode and as a result this episode kind of flails in between, feeling more like half an experience than a full one. It’s still fun and funny and occasionally sexy but it’s ultimately missing a certain spark that made the previous two episodes such a joy to watch.

If It’s For My Daughter, I’d Even Defeat The Demon Lord – Episode 4 

82/100 (UP 6 points from previous episode)

Send all the headpats Latina’s way!

Things take a dramatic turn, and even though it could be argued that it was tonally jarring it at least fit within the context of the world and showed in full ugliness the racism that exists in this fantasy world between human and devil kind. It’s overall effectiveness was heightened by the audiences attachment to little Latina which had been built through the cutesy-ness of previous episodes. Meanwhile Dale shows the seriousness of his paternal instincts which was a nice change from his usual over-the-top doting antics.

Are You Lost? – Episode 4 

83/100 (UP 2 points from previous episode)

Pantsu!

Things begin to feel a bit more cohesive as the girls upgrade from fishing for food to hunting small animals using traps, plus there’s a terrific running gag (and one that provides the show’s best fan-service so far) of Asuka volunteering to testing the traps out and getting caught in provocative situations.

Isekai Cheat Magician – Episode 3

83/100 (DOWN 3 points from previous episode)

Still best character.

It took me the longest time to actually remember what this episode was about as I wrote up this review at the end of the week–that might seem like a searing indictment of the quality of the episode but honestly this episode was plenty good–it’s just it didn’t do anything all that noteworthy or shocking. It was just a solid episode of this show that continued it down a specific narrative path… whatever that may be…

Fruits Basket – Episode 17

84/100 (UP 4 points from previous episode)

*tries not to cry*, *cries a lot*

Another episode that brings the high emotions and likewise wrings the tears out of me—the female characters in this show, both living and dead, remain the emotional core of this show and the series is (in my opinion) stronger when it’s focusing on them rather than the male members of the Soma family—but I have a feeling I’m alone in this opinion!

How Heavy Are The Dumbbells You Lift? – Episode 4

84/100 (DOWN 5 points from previous episode)

Me, finding out the beach portion of the episode is less than 5 minutes of the episode…

Gotta be honest, kind of annoyed that they crammed a beach episode into the last quarter of the episode–the whole point of a beach episode is that it lasts the entire duration of the episode! Minor quibbles aside, the first part of the episode felt like it was stretching a minimal amount of plot out but it was still a lot of fun. I’m hoping we could get a bit more character development too as it feels like we need to know more about Hibiki to help cement her as our protagonist.

The Demon Girl Next Door – Episode 3

85/100 (UP 1 point from previous episode)

That about sums it up!

The start of this episode is astoundingly funny and just a little bit whimsically surreal (as it takes place in Yuko’s dreams) we’re also properly introduced to Lilith’s ancestor who is a wonderful comedic foil to Yuko’s deadpan delivery. And while the rest of the episode settles in for what is already well-worn (but nevertheless delightful) territory quite quickly there’s still inspired comedic moments as well as some much needed development in Yuko’s power levels. It’s admittedly slow-going but that’s all part of the appeal with this slice-of-life, cute girl doing cute thing type of show.

Is It Wrong To Try And Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon? II – Episode 3

85/100 (EVEN with previous episode)

If nothing else Hestia gives good face.

This episode does a lot of things well but it also does them very quickly, which on the one-hand is appreciated because it’s not unnecessarily dragging things out but likewise it feels like some important moments aren’t given the time they deserved. Mild spoilers ahead, but I feel like Lili becoming the second member of Hestia familia was a moment worthy of more screen-time than it was given as the show didn’t seem to think of it as that big of a deal. Nevertheless, things are moving ahead and should prove to be interesting in the coming weeks.

Do You Love Your Mom And Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks? – Episode 3

86/100 (DOWN 4 points from previous episode)

Oh mama…

There’s a lot that’s great about this episode, the armor shopping scene was pretty excellent in delivering the goods (though I would have liked to have scene Wise in some of the outfits too) and the hot springs shenanigans–while inherently familiar are still a lot of sexy fun–there is however one thing I didn’t care for and that was the introduction of Wise’s mother. She’s something of a man-hungry demon lord who’s exploiting the rules of the game and while a perfectly fine antagonist as it stands, I disagree with the show (or rather Mamako’s) assertion that all parents and children should get along and that Wise’s mother isn’t beyond redemption. Some parents are terrible parents and shouldn’t be allowed to be parents but I’ll reserve full complaints for this plot point come the (presumed) resolution in the next episode.

Re:Stage! Dream Days♪ – Episode 3

86/100 (DOWN 1 point from previous episode)

Weapons grade waifu.

This show just continues to be wonderful wholesomeness and sweetness–even when it’s an episode about the girls shooting each other in airsoft survival games. We’re introduced to Kasumi, a survival games enthusiast with a secret past in the music industry and there’s not really much else to say, it’s just an entertaining well-made show–as it has been in the previous two episodes too!

YU-NO: A Girl Who Chants Love At The Bound Of This World – Episode 17

87/100 (UP 1 point from previous episode)

I mean, she’s not wrong…

There’s a lot of really fantastic and eye-opening moments in this episode–even if the show seems to have deliberately slowed down its overall narrative pace and while the various ‘twists’ that get revealed were things that were guessed by attentive viewers weeks ago it was still compelling to see the details and specifics of some of the imparted information. Plus the emotional stakes for Kanna as well as this show’s direct but still sensitive treatment of her sexual past was impactful and mature in a way that I’d never expect comparing it to our protagonists antics in the first episode.

Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san 2 – Episode 3

87/100 (UP 4 points from previous episode)

Like, how many seasons worth would you say?

Even when this show is just idling it’s still perfectly enjoyable, wholesome and lovely (which is the majority of episodes to be perfectly honest) so when it does something to further develop the relationship between Takagi and Nishkita it makes all the more of an impact–which is exactly what happened in this episode. On paper it might seem small (and I won’t spoil it because this show is still unavailable on Western streaming services) but it was very touching but still in-line with the show’s overall cheeky but sweet tone.

Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest – Episode 3

88/100 (UP 6 points from previous episode)

Can I get one of these to ‘nom’ on my neck too?

With every passing episode I seem to find myself finding more and more to love about this series, yes that’s right I’m throwing out the ‘love’ word to describe this show! Hajime continues to grow as protagonist and is a genuinely compelling presence, while Yue the 300+ year old vampire loli steals this episode with her cutesy-blood-sucking shenanigans. Also, I’m always in awe of a show that I have genuinely no idea where it’s going to go moment-to-moment which this show very much falls into the category of!

Wasteful Days of High School Girl – Episode 4

89/100 (DOWN 2 points from previous episode)

#notsponsored

Considering how much of a jump in overall quality there was between episode 2 and 3 (a score of 83 for ep 2 and 91 for ep 3) you’ll forgive me for being wary if lightning could strike twice but things were more or less as comedically rich and breathtakingly funny as they were in the previous episode–even if there wasn’t quite as much direct character development. What we did get instead was the fleshing out of two side characters who’ve proved themselves to be a valuable part of the ensemble. Also, did I mention this episode is absolutely hilarious?

Fire Force – Episode 3

92/100 (DOWN 1 point from previous episode)

Also, this show is gorgeous, consistently so.

Talk about exposition overload! A part of me was kind of annoyed at just how much was simply ‘said’ rather than ‘shown’ as that age old narrative adage “show don’t tell” repeated in my mind but I’d be lying if I said what we learnt wasn’t compelling, meaningful and set the stage for just how large of a story this show intends to tell. So in this instance I absolutely forgive it for the exposition dump because it’s just made me more excited for things to come. Also, speaking of excited, we’re introduced to new girl from Fire Force Company 1, Tamaki and she’s absolutely best girl–and I’m not just saying that because she wears a bikini top as a part of her outfit… okay that’s part of the reason but I still love her already! 

O Maidens In Your Savage Season – Episode 4

95/100 (UP 1 point from previous episode)

Me, while watching every anime.

Man, this show. Every time I start a new episode there’s a small part of me that wonders if it’ll somehow find a way to disappoint and yet every week I’m left in awe of what I’ve just seen. Meaningful character development? Check! Uplifting emotional scenes that perfectly balance cheesy adolescence and rich heartfelt purposefulness? Check! Laugh-out-loud awkwardness with genuinely smart comedic writing? Check! Gasp inducing plot developments and juicy drama? Check! Seriously, there’s very few people I wouldn’t recommend this show to–it’s just that damn good.

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And there we have Week 4 done and dusted! Let me know what episodes you thought were the best in the comments below–thanks for reading!

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Previous Summer 2019 Weekly Anime Review Posts:

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3

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