テレビアニメ – Anime QandA

True Harem Ending – ‘Conception’ Episode 12 (Finale) Review

True Harem Ending – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Conception’ Episode 12 (Finale)

What’s the show? Conception, Episode 12 (Finale).

So how’s this episode? It’s utter perfection.

What?! I mean for this show… it’s gives us the ultimate in stupid/sexy/trash ending and I hate it and love it all at once! Man this show was a trip!

Okay, before you get into summation mode let’s talk about what happens. A lot happens, too much in-fact, in a more reasonably paced anime the events of this episode would have taken place over two episodes and less time over the previous episodes would have been spent on Alfie. Anyway, Itsuki ventures into the 13th labyrinth to defeat the 13th phantom by sacrificing himself—except he changes his mind and doesn’t want to. Meanwhile the star maidens have assembled to do their part of the ritual but Maihiru decides she can’t bare to lose Itsuki so she and the other Maidens rush over to help him. There’s some nonsense, the star children transform into a couple of mecha, Alfie takes a laser beam for Itsuki and turns into star dust, the star maidens start glowing and give power to Itsuki who merges with the mecha children to create an ultimate mech and he defeats the 13th impurity.

…okay. And that’s the condensed version! And that’s not even the whole episode! Itsuki and Maihiru are about to enter the portal to return home when the star maidens arrive to see him off and give him some parting gifts. But they decide they can’t bare to live without him so they all jump in the portal too including Alfie who’s miraculously alive and Mana who now has the body of a teenage girl dressed in a tanuki onesie.

I, uhh… I have so many questions… ask away!

I mean… that’s *exactly* how I imagined she’d look as a real girl, so kudos for that.

Well obviously how is Alfie alive for one?! Don’t know. It’s a total cop-out if you ask me, her sacrifice and death scene was actually pretty touching. But she’s alive because no sad endings here. Actually I take back what I said about it being a cop-out, it’s totally on brand for this show. I wouldn’t expect anything less!

Uh-huh and Mana being a “real girl” now? Mana says it’s because of the “night they spent together” turning her into a “real woman” but let’s face it, it was because the show wanted to add another to this already absurd harem.

Speaking of which do they actually address what they’re all going to do presumably living with Itsuki in his world? There’s an amusing montage of all the girls going about their new lives, which then ends with all of them in wedding dresses at a church altar waiting for Itsuki to show up, he then asks them all to give birth to his child which they all respond with a resounding “yes!”

Harem ending! (P.S. I didn’t make this stitch, stole it from Reddit).

Right… overall thoughts on the final episode? For the kind of show Conception is, this was a fitting end. For some people that will be an endorsement and for others a warning. I enjoyed it for what it’s worth but then again I’ve always had questionable taste when it comes to… well everything. Stupid, sexy, trash indeed.

Previous Conception Reviews:

Sexy/Trash/Anime – Episode 1 Review
Holding Hands Counts As Making Babies – Episode 2 Review
Faking It – Episode 3 Review
My Coffin Waifu – Episode 4 Review
Power Bottom – Episode 5 Review
Visitor, Baker, Stockholm Syndrome Maker – Episode 6 Review
Bun In The Oven – Episode 7 Review
Reality Check – Episode 8 Review
Playing It Straight – Episode 9 Review
Retrosexual – Episode 10 Review
But Is It Bestiality? – Episode 11 Review

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But Is It Bestiality? – ‘Conception’ Episode 11 Review

But Is It Bestiality? – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Conception’ Episode 11

What’s the show? Conception, Episode 11.

So how’s this episode? I’m kind of at a loss for words. And not because it’s so bad it’s beyond description and obviously not because it’s done anything so good it’s left me speechless, I’m just kind of in disbelief that something like this exists.

As are we all, week after week. So what happens in this episode? A lot, and very little of it makes sense and tonally it’s all over the place but I’ll try and make sense of it all. So Itsuki and Alfie have a star child together and immediately people notice that there’s something different about this one. Namely it just looks like a normal kid and not a kid in a Halloween costume like the others. Alfie falls sick and is bedridden so Itsuki goes to a Christmas market to find a gift for her and the other maidens. Meanwhile, it’s revealed that the only way for Itsuki to seal the 13th labyrinth is to sacrifice himself—which raises way more questions than it answers!

Also Mana’s apparently been playing an unspoken game with the audience all season.

Like what? Like what was even the point of him creating star children in the first place if this series was just going to end with him needing to sacrifice himself? And he’s surprisingly okay with it?! Like I know he’s been a bit of a passive and agreeable protagonist all the way through the series but he took more convincing to sleep with a guy then he did needing convincing to be a sacrifice! Speaking of which…

Speaking of what? Itsuki sleeps with Mana.

What?! As in Mana the annoying flying tanuki thing?! Yes, and to the show’s credit it was funny and I mean, Mana was practically begging for it these last few episodes so I shouldn’t really be surprised…

Mana has a human girl’s shadow here, nice little touch.

Right… anything else you need to add? Alfie is 30 years old. I know that’s not a big deal but the show makes a big song and dance about it (literally) so I figure it’s worth at least mentioning. What is a big deal (probably not) is that Alfie herself is actually a star child, one who lost her powers and more or less became a normal woman. Hence why his and Itsuki’s star child is different. Maybe this will play a part in the finale somehow and Itsuki won’t need to be sacrificed? Or maybe it’s just more random backstory from the game.

There were a lot of weird references to 80’s J-drama that went over a lot of people’s heads, mine and Itsuki’s included.

Uh-huh… so overall thoughts on the episode? With the exception of a few lackluster episodes Conception still manages to surprise me in the three areas that I first honed in during the first episode. In the stupid department, in the sexy department and in the trash department. There’s an air of sincerity around this episode too which is less surprising since I know it’s capable of it from time-to-time but it was appreciated at least. And regardless of my feelings on the plot developments here (and at this point I’m not sure why I should even bother caring about that aspect) the show remains entertaining and I can’t fault it on that.

Previous Conception Reviews:

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Retrosexual – ‘Conception’ Episode 10 Review

Retrosexual – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Conception’ Episode 10

What’s the show? Conception, Episode 10.

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

Oh? And how’s that different from previous weeks? It’s very different many of the previous weeks either had just enough heart and sentimentality to carry them through or were stupid and comedic enough to be entertaining on that side of things. This episode tries to do both but fails miserably at both.

That bad huh? It’s not like I hated it though, I was just indifferent—which sometimes can be even worse a crime for an episode of an anime!

Being “fat” is the *least* of Mana’s problems.

Okay so what’s it about? So as surprise to absolutely no-one the 13th maiden isn’t a guy, it’s actually Alfie the daycare worker/trainer who has been looking after all of Itsuki’s star children. And in this episodes favour she’s a great girl and fun to watch—unfortunately they have zero chemistry together which I think is more to do with this show’s gradually worsening production values than anything else. The two of them “dating” and getting to know each other is either uninteresting, poorly paced or just plain cringe-worthy like the scene where she’s about to kiss Itsuki and succumbs to diarrhea from eating too much paper (I’m not even going to bother to explain the reason).

Alfie’s whole ~thing~ is that she’s into retro stuff.

That does sound particularly lackluster. Are there any bright points to the episode? Anything at all? Aside from seeing more of Alfie (I love her design, if I hadn’t already fallen for Yuzuha, Alfie would be best girl) the episode did at least have a scene in the dungeons which is appreciated since that’s kinda the point of the show. Though I’m not so attached to the story that I missed it in previous episode. But yeah not much positive to say here, Mana was at her overbearing worst and everything else was just awkward and flat. We can only hope that things will improve from here!

Previous Conception Reviews:

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Playing It Straight – ‘Conception’ Episode 9 Review

Playing It Straight – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Conception’ Episode 9

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…

This about sums up the attitude of the whole show.

Previous Conception Reviews:

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Reality Check – ‘Conception’ Episode 8 Review

Reality Check – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Conception’ Episode 8

What’s the show? Conception, Episode 8.

So how’s this episode? Okay, so ‘Conception’ just went and did something really unexpected–but at the same time totally on brand for it–that is to say it was nonsensical and dumb and funny and left me scratching my head at what I’d just watched.

Well I’m sort of intrigued and sort of terrified, what did the show do? It ~literally~ had an entire episode that was a parody of popular reality TV show ‘The Bachelor’ and executed it pretty much flawlessly down to the most stupid and inane details of that show.

I mean, sure, ‘Conception’ and ‘The Bachelor’, makes sense!

I, err… well I never would have picked that. But wait, how do you know it was such a good parody of ‘The Bachelor’? I hate reality TV however the irlwaifu finds her time for a few of these trashy diversions and yes the Australian version of ‘The Bachelor’ is one of them and whenever the show is on, rather than leave the room I remain on the lounge, glancing between it and my laptop screen making snide remarks at how stupid it is. I’ve been doing this for a good 5 years now so suffice to say I’m well acquainted with this dumb reality show.

Is that a daikon in your swim trunks or are you just happy to see me?

Okay then, so the episode is a parody of a reality TV show? Is having adequate knowledge of said reality show essential to your overall enjoyment of this episode? Essential? Probably not. But, it absolutely helps but that’s more because there’s a lot of really subtle (and there’s a word I never thought I’d be using about this show) references to very specific elements of ‘The Bachelor’ TV show that’d fall absolutely flat without knowing the reference. That said this episode also contains such ridiculous and tonally all over the place moments as a naked humanoid Mana covered in food and getting “assaulted” by farm animals, dramatic backstories about dead parents, handjobs in the pool, rape gas, protagonist Itsuki getting turned on by the idea of having to seduce men, fourth wall breaking about said BL potential expanding the show’s female audience and “Margherita Pizza”.

…Huh?! Shh, shh, just let it all flow over you until you’re too numb to process what madness your witnessing, its honestly the best approach!

So, umm… didn’t this at one time used to be a show about ‘fighting impurities by creating star-children with star-maidens’? I feel like something’s been lost along the way… You could say that. I’d say this show has shown its true colours though. I made the connection last week that the antics were reminiscent of the ‘Naked Gun’ comedy film series and I stand by that comparison (no matter how old it makes me seem). This show doesn’t care about your expectations or what would ordinarily constitute a ~normal~ episode of any given anime show. This is ‘Conception’, dammit! And it knows its stupid/sexy/trash and it’s going to hammer that home until you leave or just succumb to the madness!

Itsuki is surprisingly adaptable to the situations around him. That said, I absolutely *don’t* want to see him fuck Mana…

Previous Conception Reviews:

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Bun In The Oven – ‘Conception’ Episode 7 Review

Bun In The Oven – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Conception’ Episode 7

What’s the show? Conception, Episode 7.

So how’s this episode? I am now 100% convinced this is a gag anime and I mean I should have seen it coming—there’s precedent for this type of thing. After all Studio Gonzo who’s responsible for this “video game adaptation” also did the ‘Akiba’s Trip’ anime based on the game of the same name. The difference here though is ‘Akiba’s Trip’ was consistent and polished (somewhat), this is just…

“Sexy, stupid, trash”? Yeah, I guess not much has changed since I made that call about the show in Episode 1. It’s just now the show abandoned what little pretense it had and is just going 100% goofy—which I’m all for by the way. Like the scenes with bakery loli Colette in the bakery felt like they were straight out of a Naked Gun film what with the sexually suggestive pastries and then the ‘climax’ to her story with the revelation that a sausage fits perfectly inside a chikuwa and then the two of them dressed as sausage and chikuwa respectively in bed together as the soft romancing music plays.

I… uh, I have so many questions, remind me again what “chikuwa” is? A type of hollow fish cake like a tube… so you know… able to put a sausage inside of… not the wittiest of sexual innuendo I’ll admit!

No caption could compete with the silliness of this image.

Ugh, I’m sorry I asked. So what else happened? There’s a school festival! And as expected it’s weird and silly—there’s a recurring gag about an idol performance that never happens, the bread conglomerate that’s the rival to Colette’s bakery shows up Maihiru and best girl Yuzuha manning the ‘lunch pack’ bread stand. And then when they run out of lunch pack bread they begin selling “all you can stuff panties”, fill a paper bag with as many panties as you can… I don’t even know, it’s like some weird fever dream. And that’s only like a little more than half the episode!

And Itsuki even asks best girl Suzuha how she’s doing… so sweet!

Better tell me about the rest of it then… Then we have another maiden show up, Taura who is the postwoman(?) and delivers all the letters by running really fast. And before Itsuki can make a star child with her he has to pass a test devised by Mama to please Taura’s employer—it’s a ludicrous series of trials taking place in a repurposed haunted house that involve him delivering letters under extreme circumstances even including skydiving (while still inside the building?!)… did I mentioned this episode is like some deranged fever dream?

I’m so confused… you’re confused?! I had to watch and somehow articulate what I’d seen!

Fair point. Anything else you wanted to add? Just that I think this show is kind of brilliantly stupid and I think this episode, more than any other just lets loose with, well… everything and it’s better for it. But then again, I’ve always been a fan of dumb comedies so if it keeps on like this I might actually be able to call this a “good” show–haha who am I kidding, this’ll never be a good show, but at the very least it’s a good time!

Loli eats penis shaped bread, yup just another day living the anime life!

Previous Conception Reviews:

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Visitor, Baker, Stockholm Syndrome Maker – ‘Conception’ Episode 6 Review

Visitor, Baker, Stockholm Syndrome Maker – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Conception’ Episode 6

What’s the show? Conception, Episode 6.

So how’s this episode? Have I mentioned this show is trash? Because this show is ~absolute~ trash. And yet…

And yet…? I can’t help but be completely entertained by its trashiness week after week, oh sure sometimes the show can pull out a genuinely heartfelt and emotional story like with Yuzuha in Episode 4. And then other times we can have a full half of an episode about Mana convincing Itsuki that Stockholm Syndrome-ing an uptight rich girl named Femiruna is a legitimate romancing technique. And because Itsuki is stupid he doesn’t realise what he’s doing is completely morally reprehensible, and because this show is stupid it works and she falls for him. And because ~i’m~ stupid I sat there laughing through most of it.

Laughing at it or with it? A bit of both, I’m fairly certain this show is self-aware–it knows it’s not to be taken seriously and it’s absolutely playing into it. It’s also uncommonly lazy as it reuses a couple of jokes at least three times each, down to just playing the same piece of animation again. And I was fine with that too–there’s a certain charm knowing your watching something that’s at (or at least near) the bottom of the barrel, it loosens your expectations and allows you to just shrug and go along with the nonsense. In a way an anime this bad is liberating.

Okay so you said “half” the episode was about the Stockholm Syndrome romance, what’s the other half? Well the first half is about Itsuki trying to romance a 10 year-old baker girl–

*spit take* Excuse me?! Don’t worry, they don’t get anywhere with it, he just helps her out with her bakery for a bit. They are saving the romancing for next episode! Also, I’m just assuming she’s 10 because of the way she looks, they didn’t say how old she is, she could be a thousand years old for all we know!

To be fair, she didn’t actually say that, that’s just Mana ~assuming~ her innocence.

Uh-huh… remind me to call in sick for the next episode’s review… yeah good luck with that.

So your overall thoughts on the episode? Each week I realise a little more just how bad this show is… I mean I’ve always known it was Stupid/Sexy/Trash. But each week it seems to up the stupid and the trash factor and I kind of find that endearing about it. I very much doubt I’ll remember this show fondly or even at all once it’s done, but it’s 20ish minutes of the week where I can switch my brain off and just watch some dumb stuff happen and sometimes that’s all an anime needs to be.

Previous Conception Reviews:

Sexy/Trash/Anime – Episode 1 Review
Holding Hands Counts As Making Babies – Episode 2 Review
Faking It – Episode 3 Review
My Coffin Waifu – Episode 4 Review
Power Bottom – Episode 5 Review

If you liked my post and want to support my content, please consider supporting my Patreon page, or donating by buying me a coffee on Ko-fi!

Power Bottom – ‘Conception’ Episode 5 Review

Power Bottom – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Conception’ Episode 5

What’s the show? Conception, Episode 5.

So how’s this episode? I didn’t expect a repeat of last week’s episode that introduced me to my new ‘Coffin Waifu’ and I’m glad I didn’t get my hopes up because it’s more or less a trashy return to form with this episode!

Oh yeah? Well it’s a beach episode for one.

Oh god… That said–surprisingly one of the more chaste beach episodes I’ve seen! Yes we get a brief shot of every girl in a bikini but aside from that the shenanigans and service are rather weak. Not a jiggle to be found!

Better beach volleyball action than Harukana Recieve (except this scene lasted 3 seconds).

You must have been so disappointed. I don’t know if that’s sarcasm or not but yes I was. In fact we got more man-service than anything else in this episode as we’re introduced to a new ~male~ character in the form of Narcisstes the aptly named playboy who’s relentlessly pursuing the star maidens as well as feeding his own ego. Except, as we find out during the post credit scene Narcisstes isn’t ~exactly~ who we thought he was as his true desires lie in our male protagonist Itsuki. That’s right, the harem has expanded to include a dude!

He only has eyes for Itsuki, but the show managed to make us *think* he was into the star maidens, so kudos for the reversal!

Wait, what’s that got to do with “man-service”? He ends up either shirtless or naked (or possibly something to do with his butt and Mana’s lubed up paws?!) more than any of the women in this show… it’s almost like this show is trolling all the straight males expecting an ecchi heaven with the premise of the show and delivering nothing of the sort week after week!

You mad? Not at all. I mean sure fan service is nice and all, but this show is just dumb fun and if nothing else it keeps me mildly amused for 20ish minutes a week. And that’s about all I expect from the show going forward.

Fair enough. Anything else worth mentioning? Well Itsuki “sleeps” with 2 technically 3 star maidens this week which makes the episode feel rushed but at the same time expedited the inevitable which ~might~ result in something different from the whole ‘courting, then bedding shtick the series has adhered to thus far. Also it was fun seeing Aire getting to take a bit of control back in the bedroom situation which has up until this point been largely scenes of women ‘submitting’ to Itsuki. Having her go full BDSM on his ass (literally) was a much needed reversal and was not only amusing but vaguely empowering for Arie.

So seems like you’re still enjoying the show, then? As much as one can enjoy a show like this. Also, I don’t if it’s just that I’ve gotten used to it or they were less obtrusive but Mana’s presence felt less obnoxious this time around and that’s always a positive!

Previous Conception Reviews:

Sexy/Trash/Anime – Episode 1 Review
Holding Hands Counts As Making Babies – Episode 2 Review
Faking It – Episode 3 Review
My Coffin Waifu – Episode 4 Review

If you liked my post and want to support my content, please consider supporting my Patreon page, or donating by buying me a coffee on Ko-fi!

My Coffin Waifu – ‘Conception’ Episode 4 Review

My Coffin Waifu – An Anime QandA Review of ‘Conception’ Episode 4

What’s the show? Conception, Episode 4.

So how’s this episode? Erm, so this is kinda awkward.

What is? So this stupid, sexy trash anime that’s absolutely insincere and not at all a good thing just had an episode about a star maiden who is amazing and I love her and I legitimately cried watching this episode.

Yeah… that’s pretty awkward, probably not something you should admit to… Shut up! I’m just being honest is all! Honestly, I was afraid this season wouldn’t have enough ‘best girls’ to do my seasonal ’10 best waifu’ list that I do but Yuzuha, the maiden of Pisces may be my best girl of the whole season (excluding Mai from ‘Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai’—nobody is dethroning her!)

That’s a pretty big call you know. Hey, no one is more surprised than me. I ~never~ expected to find a girl of such calibre in a show of such… ahem “quality”.

Well you seem pretty committed to this. What makes her so great? So Yuzuha is a ghostly pale girl with an incredibly shy disposition, she spends most of her time indoors ‘painting her dreams’ though for what reason we’re never quite sure. Until meeting protagonist Itsuki, her best friend was her bed, a gold coffin named ‘Katrine’. The reason she sleeps in a coffin? Well it turns out the poor girl has a rare disease that means every time she goes to sleep her life span shortens. So the reason she sleeps in her coffin is as to not inconvenience anyone who happens to find her body when she inevitably dies in her sleep. She’s just so precious and wholesome and sweet I need to protect her!

Okay, well admittedly that’s rather interesting. But what about the rest of the episode? It’s hard to divorce the episode from the character as 70% of the episode (or thereabouts) is spent with Itsuki and Yuzuha, and it’s all great stuff. The remainder of the episode is typical ‘Conception’, that is to say crude sex-jokes, nonsense and poor plotting. Though admittedly Mana the perverted Tanuki was slightly less annoying this episode… but only slightly.

Apparently these two are all buddy buddy now?

So how do you go ranking an episode like this? I don’t know. I suppose I don’t. I mean rest assured Yuzuha will be on my list of best waifus for this season when I eventually come to write it towards the end of the season. But other than that there’s not much else to this episode, oh we also meet Aire—another star maiden and ‘mature’ woman of the church who’s also into BDSM but that’s a topic for next episode if the preview is anything to go by! Until then, Yuzuha is my coffin waifu—bury me beside her and we’ll sleep together for all eternity.

Okay then, you emo weeb weirdo… Hey! How dare yo— *shuts lid*

Previous Conception Reviews:

Sexy/Trash/Anime – Episode 1 Review
Holding Hands Counts As Making Babies – Episode 2 Review
Faking It – Episode 3 Review

If you liked my post and want to support my content, please consider supporting my Patreon page, or donating by buying me a coffee on Ko-fi!