All the seasonal anime I watched in the seventh week of Fall 2019!
Case File nº221: Kabukicho – Episode 6
80/100 (UP 1 point from previous episode)
I swear they oughta make a spin-off series with the kids in the street gang as they were probably the most interesting and entertaining thing this show has done so far (aside from our Sherlock protagonist), the show balanced a more light-hearted story that was filled with child-like shenanigans but still managed to inject substantive menace with the episode’s borderline insane, spontaneously rapping villain.
High School Prodigies Have It Easy Even In Another World – Episode 7
84/100 (DOWN 4 points from previous episode)
Seems like a lot of our surface-level “light-hearted” isekai anime this season have something of penchant for misery, maybe I’m just overly sensitive to the kind of ostensibly heavy handed tactics that mistake ‘edgy’ drama for actual drama as if this anti-aristocracy, pro-democracy series needed to invoke North Korea-esque dramatics instilled on its antagonists to sell the message that corporal punishment, degredation and politically motivated cannibalism is bad. Still, it’s a damn good episode all things considered, especially the ending which genuinely had me on the edge of my seat…
Val x Love – Episode 7
85/100 (UP 3 points from previous episode)
For the first time since this series began I honestly had no large complaints about this episode. Not only was the fan service kinda unique, fun and well drawn but Takuma’s development as a protagonist worthy of his harem is beginning to shine through. This is more like the ‘Val x Love’ experience I was hoping for–now let’s just hope they can stick the landing with a properly uncensored version come the blu-rays!
The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious – Episode 6
86/100 (DOWN 3 points from previous episode)
While I’d say a lot of this episode was somewhat predictable, it at least managed to surprise by taking its time to getting to predictability. What’s that? How could an episode that’s otherwise predictable benefit from being predictable and slow? Well it’s because honestly this show, with its track-record could of found any number of comedic shortcuts to get to the outcome and left an acceptable but otherwise unfulfilling conclusion to an otherwise dramatic part of the story. But instead the show devoted all of its time to the rescue of an otherwise (as much as it pains me to admit it) inconsequential part of this series. This was the more relatable, less absurd conclusion to a story-arc that worked more than it didn’t.
Z/X: Code Reunion – Episode 6
87/100 (DOWN 4 points from previous episode)
This episode gives us a lot of back story on Shuri thanks to a somewhat emotional but also somewhat hilarious flashback told to us by the spirit of swordmaker trapped in her sword (just go with it) but despite the revelations that come from that story it’s best girl Yuni who comes out on top as far as development is concerned–not only finding the confidence in herself but also the power to Overboost with Am-chan, and it’s a downright adorable transformation!
Psycho Pass 3 – Episode 4
88/100 (DOWN 7 points from previous episode)
There’s no denying this is the weakest (new) ‘Psycho Pass’ episode to come this season but obviously it’s not without its redeeming qualities–of which you can find in my season collaborative review with Irina on I Drink And Watch Anime dot com.
Didn’t I Say To Make My Abilities Average In The Next Life?! – Episode 6
89/100 (UP 3 points from previous episode)
While my complaints about the previous episode are still in full effect (there’s no need for a show like this to go that dark with its content in my opinion) this episode did a darn sight better in incorporating that “darkness” into the overall narrative and likewise have its effects feel meaningful to the present. There was some noticeable tonal whiplash between the funniest parts of this show (which were expectantly plentiful) and the drama (which was at times heartbreaking) but thankfully we got leaned more on the side of ‘happy ending’ this time than the previous one.
We Never Learn Season 2 – Episode 7
90/100 (DOWN 3 points from previous episode)
Here we’re given something of a double dose of Ogata, and not so soon after her previous prominent feature in Episode 3 which makes me wonder if the show isn’t gearing up for an Ogata ending as far as this jumbled harem goes! Nevertheless we are treated to a funny, occasionally touching but otherwise unremarkable episode of ‘We Never Learn’ that has its highlights heavily focused in the comedy rather than anything else.
My Hero Academia – Episode 68
90/100 (DOWN 1 point from previous episode)
I’ll be blunt here, the best part of this episode was the opening couple of minutes that showcased (albeit truncated) Ochako and Froppy on their work study program kicking ass and taking names–it was wonderful–as were the two female heroes they were working under. And then because apparently the author of this manga can’t help but prioritising the male characters over the female ones we’re treated to a needlessly long ‘ego boost’ for a third-rate character who is barely worth a mention at this point. If you’re wondering why my score is so high for this episode despite me complaining about the majority of its content its that the aforementioned prologue was so good and that the parts with the villains were genuinely compelling and tense that it made all the other less interesting parts much more tolerable by comparison.
Rifle Is Beautiful (Chidori RSC) – Episode 5
90/100 (UP 6 points from previous episode)
In Episode 3 Hikari remarked that the sport of Rifle Shooting was kinda boring to watch, an ominous almost portentous thing for a show just about that very subject to say. A part of me worried it was the writer saying to the audience “don’t get your hopes up for something exciting” but thankfully that proved not to be the case as Hikari’s qualifying round was just about as compelling and emotion-filled as any other sports anime I’ve ever watched (but made better because it’s a cute girl).
Kandagawa Jet Girls – Episode 5
91/100 (DOWN 2 points from previous episode)
A lot of this episode is simply spent building up a new rivalry for our ‘Jet Girls’ with the idol cum jetracers known collectively as ‘Hell’s Kitchen’, and thankfully for the audience not only are these girls charismatic and entertaining but also (possibly?) a couple too–or at least as far as “coupling” this show is willing to go. The heart of this episode remains Aoi’s reluctance to get closer to Rin–regardless of how much she wants to–and showcases just how painfully shy and reserved the poor girl is when it comes to opening up to another person. The episode ends on a cliffhanger with the race about to begin and next episode looks to be an excellent pay off to all this build-up.
Fate/Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia – Episode 7
91/100 (UP 3 points from previous episode)
There’s only one word that suitably describes this episode and that word is “epic”–it’s kind of hard to believe we’re only at episode 7 out of 21 because throughout this episode there is this palpable feeling that we’re at a penultimate crossroads situation. There’s big action, big drama, dramatic reveals, high stakes, sacrifices, twists, the calm before the storm and then the summoning of the ultimate ‘big bad’, Goddess of the Demonic Beasts–Tiamat–which is all kinds of ridiculous and terrifying and wonderful and weird. This show defies expectations and classification and even review, it’s just freakin’ awesome, okay?!
After School Dice Club – Episode 7
92/100 (UP 5 points from previous episode)
Once again I am surprised at how well this show is going considering where it started, honestly the characterisation in this episode was flawless but more than that the first half of this episode may as well have been a bonafide 100/100 episode because it delivered on so many levels it’s kind of insane to even think about. Maki, the delinquent turned good samaritan from Episode 3 decides to take our shy flower of a protagonist Miki on a summer “date” to a river and the chemistry and flirtation between these two is off the charts endearing… but more than that we get an honest look at how two otherwise completely opposite people could become friends (or maybe something more–wishful thinking on my part for sure), it’s honestly just sublime. The second half of the episode is more of what has come previously, hence the fact that this is only a 92/100 and not something higher but it’s still the best episode of this show so far.
Food Wars! The Fourth Plate – Episode 6
93/100 (UP 3 points from previous episode)
The worst thing about shonen protagonists (or at least one of the worst things) is their ceaseless ability to overcome every and all obstacle put between them and their goal, its unrealistic and sometimes downright infuriating. Then sometimes a shonen protagonist earns their ‘against all odds’ win that seemingly comes out of nowhere… Among the many things ‘Food Wars’ is good at is creating an impossible obstacle to overcome and have whatever character is facing it overcome it with intelligence, savviness, technique and teamwork. And indeed it was literally the teamword that made the dream work in this episode that in clumsier hands could have seemed lazy but here felt well-earned and downright inspiring!
Fire Force – Episode 17
95/100 (UP 5 points from previous episode)
This episode wasn’t the dictionary definition of perfect, but it’s a perfect episode of ‘Fire Force’ by which I mean it managed to perfectly strike the balance between its substantial dramatic content as well as its commitment to compelling, stylistically invigorating action set-pieces as well as off-beat humour and plenty of character moments that only resonate with prior exposure. Every character was at the top of their game here and likewise our first proper introduction to Shinra’s long-lost brother Sho is appropriately dramatic, high-stakes and downright flawless. Also, I’m glad they didn’t just kill of the character of Lisa after her dark turn, it would have been an easy way to earn cheap ‘drama’ points but they took the high road and left it open for a redemption story down the way.
Previous Fall 2019 Anime In Review Posts:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
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Anime QandA 
Am I crazy or did they make the eyes in Chihayafuru even bogger?
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I don’t know, I don’t watch the show, never have.
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