high school dxd hero – Anime QandA

High School DxD Hero Episode 12 – Anime QandA Review

An Anime QandA review for High School DxD Hero Episode 12

What’s the show? High School DxD Hero, Episode 12.

So the final episode of DxD Hero? Needs more oppai.

Sorry, what? Gotta’ have more oppai!

So are we going to talk about the episode or just sit here meme-ing? Fine~! Put aside the fact that there’s literally zero fan-service in this episode, it is still a great episode and a somewhat fitting finale for this ‘new chapter’ of this show’s lifespan.

I’m not sure what you mean by that… I’m getting ahead of myself, let’s just focus in on the main plot points, this episode can succinctly be divided into two parts. The Rating Games conclusion and what I’m calling “The Confession”.

Right, so the Rating Game finally ends? Who wins? Despite Sairorg being an inimitable foe and generally speaking all around over-powered S.O.B. Issei secures the win—just barely—because it’s the power of love that saves the day! In the heat of the battle, Issei somewhat inadvertently confesses his love—his true feelings for Rias, and it’s those feelings and living up to his intended potential that carry him across the finish line against impossible odds!

So Issei wins? Yup, and it’s not even like this was some predictable, put-upon win, it’s hard fought and dare I say emotionally involved. Because Issei respects Sairorg more than we could ever know… as much as I hate the term, the two have formed a sort of “bromance” that persists even in spite of a life or death rivalry.

And what about after that? “Harem shenanigans”? I wish, no it’s their school cultural festival and Rias’ occult club is holding a haunted house andmaid café, the latter of which is just an excuse to get our female characters in sexy maid outfits but hey you won’t find me complaining!

And then after that? Well… Issei finds Rias’ overlooking her favourite window, pensive but majestic. He says he has something to say to her… that something being finally the thing we’ve all waited so long for! He calls her by her name and he confesses his undying, unconditional love for her. And… surprise surprise she does the same, leaning in for a proper, tender, romantic kiss… only to be stopped by the rest of the “family” as they bust on through, not only to offer their support but continue the harem unabated as the other girls say they’ll have to try even harder to win him over despite the fact that Issei and Rias are very much a couple now.

Oh darn! So close to a kiss…Don’t worry; the others leave as quickly as they came and Issei and Rias share a kiss… and what’s this? Tears running down my face?! But seriously, after solong it’s great to finally have this moment on-screen, it was very touching and (probably) worth the wait? I only say probably because four seasons seems like a long time to wait for a love confession but hey, better late than never!

And is that DxD done with? Almost! We’ve got two post credit scenes, or rather a post-credit scene and a flashback within that scene. Firstly we get to see Sairorg reunited with his previously comatose mother who has made a full recovery! It’s a nice moment and solidifies not only the strength of Sairorg as a supporting character but will no doubt engender Sairorg as a powerful ally for Issei and the Gremory household in future battles.

You get a happy ending, you get a happy ending! Happy endings for everyone!

What does Issei have to do with Sairorg’s mother coming out of a coma? Well it’s all but confirmed by Azazel that Issei’s pailingual (booblingual—where he can talk to women’s breasts) was responsible for bringing her out of a coma.

Eh?! Just go with it, then the episode ends proper with Azazel ‘reminiscing’ about an encounter with a man called Indra (who my research tells me is the King of the Gods and Lord of Heaven) who threatens to kill Issei if he becomes too dangerous. So I guess we’re just setting up an antagonist of sorts for the next arc, not really essential but I guess the show wanted people to know they were thinking ahead to a possible fifth season!

He kinda looks like a ‘douche bro’, tbh…

And will it get a fifth season? I don’t know, it deserves one, I’d love all the Light Novels to be adapted because I still really enjoy these characters and the story and the fan-service, but only time (and DVD/blu-ray sales) will tell whether this was the last DxD season or just the start of a new lease on life. Either way, I enjoyed this series heaps, and Passione (the new animation studio behind the series) did an excellent job!

Previous High School DxD Hero Reviews:
Episode 0 Review
Episode 1 Review
Episode 2 Review
Episode 3 Review
Episode 4 Review
Episode 5 Review
Episode 6 Review
Episode 7 Review
Episode 8 Review
Episode 9 Review
Episode 10 Review
Episode 11 Review

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High School DxD Hero Episode 11 – Anime QandA Review

An Anime QandA review for High School DxD Hero Episode 11

What’s the show? High School DxD Hero, Episode 11.

Last episode the Rating Game was just heating up, more of the same only bigger this time? Bigger, louder, more action, more destruction—less boobs though…

Oh dear, is someone missing his gratuitous anime fan-service? It’s just unexpected to go this long without a bare boob in sight—okay there’s a ‘flashback’ to some breasts but it lasts like a second and a flashback doesn’t count!

Barely three questions in and things have derailed. Good job! If you’re still reading this, kudos to you and my sincerest apologies…It comes with the show, besides everyone reading this already knows what to expect from me, it should come as no surprise…

Couldn’t at leasthave waited ‘til the back half of the review to talk about boobs though? At least feigned a semblance of common decency?It was forefront in my mind writing this review and so now it is on paper… err, screen.

So what happens in the episode exactly? Roseweiss, Kiba and Xenovia fight against Sairaorg—and lose of course, but not before they take one of his arms off for the trouble. As a result Sairaorg has to use their team’s one and only ‘Pheonix Tear’ to regrow it in order to be at full strength against Issei. And that in essence was the best result they could have hoped for—they were horribly outgunned but at least Issei can go into the fight with the minor benefit of a ‘Phoenix Tear’ should he need to use one.

And now time for the main event? Not quite, Issei’s all “fired up” after watching Roseweiss, Kiba and Xenovia get beaten to within an inch of their respective lives and has a battle against one of Sairarog’s Rook’s. Issei warns the woman that he intends to fight with his full strength and we the audience are reminded that people can in fact die in the rating game if the hit is powerful enough to kill in one blow.

What? Does she die?! No of course not, Sairaorg withdraws her from the battle just as Issei’s punch is about to land—not wanting to risk the life of a team mate. And that’s a consistent thing this show emphasises about Sairaorg—he may be their opponent but he’s just as caring and sensitive about his team as Rias and Issei are about theirs. He’s a really good guy… but I still kind of want Issei to beat the crap out of him.

How come? The ego on Sairaorg is ridiculous—not unfounded though, he’s stupidly powerful—but still no one likes a gloater.

So now it’s time for the main event? Yes! Sairaorg proposes a team battle to close out the Rating Game, it’s Issei and Rias (with Asia on reserve) versus Sairaorg and newcomer Regulus Nemea, a dude who can turn into a giant Golden Lion or a battle axe or even a new set of armor (as we’ll see later).

Right. So what happens? Issei and Sairaorg exchange blows, and they seem pretty evenly matched—especially since Issei is so fired up. Rias however goes down against the Golden Lion and is bleeding to death; they call something of a time-out as Sairaorg admonishes Regulus for his actions and Issei uses the ‘Phoenix Tear’ to heal her. Sairaorg explains that he was only intending to use the Golden Lion’s “special abilities” if things got desperate but Issei is furious—he wants to face Sairaorg in his strongest form—only then will he be satisfied. Sairaorg accepts this challenge and the Golden Lion transforms into a Balance Breaker armour set called Regulus Rey Leather Rex (sounds like a bondage dinosaur) and the two again come to blows! But Issei is seemingly no match for Sairaorg’s super form and goes down quick.

“Maybe he’s born with it, maybe it’s Maybelline!”

Oh no! Is it all over? Not quite! In Issei’s mind palace—where the previous users of the Boosted Gear reside in spirit-form—they urge him to come to the dark-side and use Juggernaut Drive, the powerful—but incredibly dangerous over-powered mode that nearly killed him before. But Issei’s got something better up his sleeve, the power of oppai! Spurned on by the supportive shouts of “Oppai!” from the crowd and remembering who he really is (a pervert—his words not mine) and the supportive embrace of Rias, Issei prepares to fight back with his newfound strength and shows a powerful new form—Cardinal Crimson Queen! End of episode!

Well that was a more play-by-play style recap than I was expecting. It’s hard, when it’s something so action heavy you have to either focus on what’s on-screen or what you’re feeling while watching it.

Does that mean you weren’t feeling anythingwhile watching the episode? I was entertained, the episode went by soquickly—and that’s always a compliment for a show. I just hope we get at least a little bit of harem shenanigans in the next (and final) episode of the season! Other than the episode was an exciting, well-animated action spectacle with enough good character moments and development to not just be mindless violence.

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High School DxD Hero Episode 10 – Anime QandA Review

An Anime QandA review for High School DxD Hero Episode 10

What’s the show? High School DxD Hero, Episode 10.

I pray that given we’re deep into a ‘Rating Game’ arc that there won’t be as much talk about boobs this time… Looks like you got your wish, this episode is so focused on the ‘Rating Game’ that it scarcely even resembles DxD at this point!

You sound disappointed? No, not really. We’ve gotten this far in this series, it’s only fair that it actually progress the main storyline rather than, you know… harem shenanigans.

So last week ended with Kiba squaring off against one of Sairorg’s pieces, a “random medieval knight” as you put it. How’s that fight go? Oh it’s over in literally two minutes.

Oh no, didn’t you complain in your Season 3 review that the action was paced too quickly back then? It hasn’t happened again, has it? Quit your fear mongering, yes this episode carries along at a swift pace and yes I did have issues with that in the past. But the difference here is we aren’t dealing with some epic battle that’s been episodes in the making with countless lives at stake, this is–after all just a tournament style fight. Certainly they are playing to win and Issei and Rias and the others do all take their inevitable losses to heart but it’s appropriately paced to as not make the scenes dull or longwinded.

And best girl Xenovia looking stunning as ever!

So is this episode entirely devoid of “shenanigans”? Obviously not, I was being purposefully reactionary when I said it “scarcely resembled DxD”. Issei takes part in a round and naturally it’s going to involve some nudity… except it’s delivered in a very unexpected way. See, many of Issei’s abilities in battle–especially when dealing with women involve the forcible removing of clothing to render the opponent too embarrassed to fight. Except here Issei’s opponent has a trick up her sleeve… or rather out of her sleeves, rather than be subjected to his attack she promptly–but seductively strips for Issei, leaving him flummoxed and flabbergasted. Like he says in the episode “how am I supposed to attack someone who’s stripping for me?”

Ugh… so does he lose then? Nope, because she makes a fundamental error. After removing her outer clothes she moves to her undergarments except she starts with the underpants rather than the bra, and for Issei – The Oppai Dragon, this will not stand! He’s so mad that she removed her underpants before her bra that he straight up punches her in the butt(!) as she’s bending over in an alluring pose. And he wins(?) much to the speechless and borderline incredulous faces of onlookers–specifically his long-suffering compatriots in the Gremory household and the flamboyant host of the Rating Game.

I see… It’s the continued bemusement slash slight disappointment in Issei’s overall way of doing things that continues to be a source of unbridled entertainment. More than that however it’s just a really entertaining and well-written arc, even Gaspar–who often has very little to do in this series gets his time to shine in this episode and I really look forward to the battle they teased at the end of the episode with Xenovia, Kiba and Roseweiss going up against Sairorg! This wasn’t the best episode of the season but it still was very enjoyable throughout and promises big things for the final two episodes!

Gasper was a brave boy this episode! You go Gasper!

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High School DxD Hero Episode 9 – Anime QandA Review

An Anime QandA review for High School DxD Hero Episode 9

What’s the show? High School DxD Hero, Episode 9.

And how ranks this episode among the season? Probably one of the better ones if I’m honest, and that’s not to disparage the previous ones it’s just that this episode strikes the balance perfectly between the rich and complex narrative as well as the naughty naughty harem shenanigans. And that’s when DxD is at its best when it finds a way to be both deep and interesting and plot driven with character development and all the humor and drama that can come from the harem scenario.

Right, so let’s get the ‘harem shenanigans’ out of the way first. Fair enough. So after the events of the last episode where Issei well and truly put his foot in it by calling Rias “President” just before they were about to ‘do the deed’ for the first time, Issei is left for some time to contemplate things. After some introspection Issei comes to realize that he loves Rias, not only as a humble servant of her household, or because she saved his life or even as a friend–but full on loves her as a woman.

So what’s the problem? Why can’t he admit that to her. Enter Akeno, Koneko and Asia–all in various states of undress. They’re here to “heal” Issei from the troubles he’s having in confessing his true feelings. And by heal they mean rub their naked bodies over his.

And what exactly does that have to do with Issei not being able to confess to Rias? Well these three girls have been with him since the beginning and they know there’s more at play then Issei’s perhaps willing to admit–even to himself. See, Issei’s still cautious about committing himself fully to another person since his first ever girlfriend ended up being a demon and killed both him and Asia at the start of Season 1. Obviously they were resurrected by Rias–but he still can’t help but be wary of opening his heart again.

And how do the other girls help allay his fears? By confessing their love for him of course, they all promise to be by his side forever and support his relationship with Rias, ‘its the life of second fiddle girls in a harem but they wouldn’t have it any other way… Oh and Xenovia and Irina burst in as well and get in on the naked “healing session” because DxD that’s why!

Hmm, not sure I like that but I guess the emotionally logistics of a harem anime is a subject for another day… so what about the other half of the episode? It’s time for the Rating Game being held in the underworld and all the high level gods and demon-lords have come to watch the epic battle between the Gregory household and Sairaorg and his compatriots. It’s a big deal as Azazel informs Issei–this event is going to get very political but his Sensei urges him to remember what’s important–his fans. The Oppai Dragon is a popular children’s figure in the underworld and Azazel even shows him a support video from some of his child fans which is kind of adorable and strange and funny all at once.

I’m sure it’s splendid. So what is the ‘rating game’ exactly? Is it some kind of fighting tournament? Kind of–but the rules are a lot more complicated than that and can vary depending on the rule set and where the tournament is being held. Specifically here though each fighter on each team is assigned a numerical value based on the chess piece that was used to turn them into devils in the first place. At the start of every round two dice are rolled which will then determine who and how many people from each team can fight. I’m glad the show devoted a fair chunk of time to explaining the rules because this arc will no doubt take up the rest of the season and it’d be a shame if they half-assed it.

Interesting. Anything else you wanted to add? Just that I really appreciate the world-building and attention to detail in the Underworld set scenes, it really gives a sense of space and scale–something I felt was lacking back in Season 3 when they rushed through plot points. The episode ends with the start of the first round–Kiba versus a generic looking medieval knight–though I guess it makes sense to get the least interesting character out of the way first! Either way though I’m looking forward to the rest of the ‘Rating Game’ a lot more than I may have been a couple of episodes ago!

Previous High School DxD Hero Reviews:
Episode 0 Review
Episode 1 Review
Episode 2 Review
Episode 3 Review
Episode 4 Review
Episode 5 Review
Episode 6 Review
Episode 7 Review
Episode 8 Review

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High School DxD Hero Episode 8 – Anime QandA Review

An Anime QandA review for High School DxD Hero Episode 8

What’s the show? High School DxD Hero, Episode 8.

And what’s happening in supernatural harem world this week? Issei is a big, dumb, stupid, idiot-face!

Really flexing that thesaurus there, aren’t we writer boy? Shuddup.

Care to elaborate on that point though? So Issei has a bad habit of calling Rias “President” in every circumstance, professional and personal. He does so out of respect for standing in their “family” (and because like all the way back in season 1 she told him too). But Issei and Rias are really past the point of such formalities when they’re in private they are practically boyfriend and girlfriend. And so when Rias decides to ~attempt~ to take things to the next level by making out with him in the sauna, and she asks “what am I to you?” and he replies “president is president”. Of course she’s going to bed mad! They were literally 10 seconds away from ‘doing the deed’ and he went and completely misread the situation.

“President is president?” It sounds better in Japanese.

Fair enough, but maybe the poor boy was nervous, about to loose his virginity to such a beautiful woman. Don’t make excuses for him, he’s an idiot! Baka!

There’s so many ways to answer this question and Issei picks probably one of the worst.

I see you feel quite strongly about this. I feel sorry for Rias, she obviously adores the boy and she’s even ~fine~ with all the attention he gets from the other girls, but she’s his best girl, they’ve gone as far as saying they love each other, and yet he’s still too dense to know that all she wants to hear is him call her by her name!

Yeah I can see what you mean I suppose. At least the show is firmly in Rias’ corner as when Issei doubles down on the stupid by saying “president is president” again except this time in the presence of everyone on the main cast they all call him out on his clueless callousness.

Uh-huh, good to know. So what else happens in the episode, you know further progressing the plot and all that? Oh I don’t know some ratings game stuff, some training, a press conference whatever. I’m only focused on Rias getting the best out of Issei for her own sake as much as his.

Yes, they have press conferences in the underworld too!

Eh? I thought you didn’t go in for the whole ‘romance’ in anime thing, you seem pretty hung up on this? I… err, well you try watching 4 seasons of a show and not getting attached to the characters, I’ve seen them go through so much together and I just want them to be happy. Is that so much to ask?

And let’s not forget that Ravel has entered the harem as of last week and is keen to play!

I don’t know. So where’s this leave the season? I’m glad they’re explicitly addressing this now, Rias has been hinting at her displeasure in being called “President” for like nearly 2 seasons now so hopefully this moves along their relationship. Obviously I know the show’s going to milk this for some relationship ~drama~ for a couple of episodes because she does storm off—almost in tears—after his second flub. But this can only mean good things on the horizon, let’s just hope we don’t have to wait another season to see it come to climax (pun intended).

Previous High School DxD Hero Reviews:
Episode 0 Review
Episode 1 Review
Episode 2 Review
Episode 3 Review
Episode 4 Review
Episode 5 Review
Episode 6 Review
Episode 7 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!

High School DxD Hero Episode 7 – Anime QandA Review

An Anime QandA review for High School DxD Hero Episode 7

What’s the show? High School DxD Hero, Episode 7.

Ah, the part of the week I dread as you drool over anime boobs again… Hey! The last two weeks have been practically non-existent on the fan-service front, cut me some slack!

Yeah yeah… so what happens this week? The oppai is back! Rejoice!

*sigh* I meant what happened plot wise… Oh right. Well we open on a stage performance of the Oppai Dragon, which is kind of like a kids show starring Issei, it’s all about his fictionalised accounts battling evil and touching boobs, just for a children’s audience.

That seems kind of inappropriate? It’s a kid’s show in the Underworld so calm down, devil parents aren’t as prudish as human parents evidently. It’s a cute couple of scenes, Rias’ facial reactions to having to be involved in this kind of thing is hilarious. After some very well-animated backstage harem shenanigans that briefly involve all the girls (except for Rias) flashing their breasts at him, there isn’t actually any more fan-service for the rest of the episode.

If I’d taken a screenshot one frame later this would be a *lot* more NSFW!

You must have been heart-broken. You joke but I actually like how restrained… no that’s not the right word—sparing, the show is being about its fan-service. It’s definitely devoting more time to character development and world-building and making sure this increasingly complicated plot-heavy show makes sense.

So what happens after the “harem shenanigans”? Everyone returns back to school to start setting up for the school festival, surprisingly (from a fan-service perspective) but accurately (considering they meet under the guise of the Occult club) Rias and co are putting on a haunted house! But this is only the preamble to that, first we have to meet the new student who was mentioned to be attending last episode. Ravel Phenex, it’s been a while since we saw her on the show (I want to say Season 2 but I could be wrong) and she’s especially cute and it will be fun to see more with her!

The harem expands? Yeah pretty much!

Anything else noteworthy happen? Yes! Issei and Rias go to meet Sairaorg’s unconscious mother (Rias’ aunt), she’s near death and they brought Issei in the hopes that he can use his ‘Booblingual’ technique to talk to her, but to no avail—

—Sorry, what? “Booblingual” as in he can talk to boobs?! I thought I would have mentioned that before, he acquired the power a little while ago… (also worth mentioning in Japanese it’s actually pailingual, which is a much better pun—just sayin’).

Maybe you did mention it and I just blocked it out of my memory… go on then… Right, so I’m not sure why they wanted to contact Sairaorg’s mother/Rias’ aunt, other than maybe as a kindness to say goodbye or something, to get some closure maybe? But it doesn’t work, rather lazily they talk about it not working rather than actually show the scene—but maybe they just didn’t want to animate Issei trying to communicate with an unconscious woman’s chest. It’s an odd scene, and while yes it gives a bit of “tragic backstory” to Sairaorg, I’d argue the scene(s) didn’t need to be as long as they were.

Weren’t you just extolling the virtues of how this season is spending more time on ‘character development’? Yeah… I just don’t know if it was especially needed for this character. Yes he’s important as he’s the guy Issei will be fighting in the upcoming Rating Game but I don’t think it added anything personally. I don’t ~feel~ anything’s changed by adding that scene, but who knows, maybe it’ll all be important later on and I’ll be thanking the show for taking the time to include it!

Uh-huh, so what’s the verdict on this episode? It was a lot of fun, but it’s still kind of in the whole ‘in-between major plot sections’ so not a lot is happening. The harem shenanigans were great, as were the smaller, more romantic moments between Issei and Rias but this was neither the best, nor the worst this season has produced.

Previous High School DxD Hero Reviews:
Episode 0 Review
Episode 1 Review
Episode 2 Review
Episode 3 Review
Episode 4 Review
Episode 5 Review
Episode 6 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!

High School DxD Hero Episode 6 – Anime QandA Review

An Anime QandA review for High School DxD Hero Episode 6

What’s the show? High School DxD Hero, Episode 6.

As I recall the last episode ended with Issei learning a new ability, namely summoning his best girl Rias despite her being on the other side of Japan. That is indeed a summation of what happened.

Uh-huh, and why did he summon her? To poke her nipples of course.

I’m sorry I asked! It’s the only way he can power himself up, her nipples are the switch that activates his more powerful abilities, much to the disbelief of everyone around him who thought they were in a serious supernatural battle anime.

Right… so do his new abilities allow him to finally defeat this new enemy of his? Nope! It’s still not enough! I mean kudos to this show for not making Issei some unstoppable, over powered protagonist. He’s still got a long way to go…

So how does he and his friends get out of their predicament. Deus Ex Money.

What? Literally a monkey god called Sun Wukong just decides to show up, he’s also known as the Great Victorious Fighting Bhudda, a name which everyone in the show seems to recognise so he’s obviously some well-known Japanese mythological/historical figure. Which is par for the course for this show, we’ve had religious figures from plenty of Western religions only makes sense we get some Eastern ones.

He’s a cool monkey dude, also like one of the most powerful characters in this show.

So this monkey guy shows up and saves the day? More or less, maybe it’s an easy way out of a difficult situation but they’re obviously setting up a much larger confrontation while also introducing new god-like figures to the show. The supporting cast is already absurdly large at this point but at least they’re giving each of these new supporting characters enough time to introduce them and not just throwing five or six in at once and expecting you to remember them all like they did in Season 3.

Everybody take a drink, he mentioned season 3 again! I’m sorry, I know I harp on about that lacklustre season a lot but it’s important to reinforce what this season of the show is doing right by comparison. It is the make or break season for this show, if it doesn’t perform well I very much doubt it will continue, despite their being like 16+ more light novels to adapt….

Right. What else happens? Issei and his classmates leave Kyoto, the threat for the time being neutralised and Kunou’s mother safely returned to her human form. Back home, Issei is admonished by Rias, Akeno and Koneko for not contacting them after the battle and Azazel-sensei stirs the pot by suggesting that little loli fox Kunou has been added to Issei’s informal harem.

Oh geez. Don’t worry, I don’t think she actually is, she’s stayed behind in Kyoto.

I mean if you’ve got it, flaunt it, right?

Sure… So how’s the episode overall? It’s pretty good, but possibly the weakest episode so far. Even though the “conclusion” of sorts was cut-short by a magical monkey god it was at least entertaining and well-written and not in the least bit rushed. I like the fact that Issei’s powers are evolving and are doing so in a way that’s connected to his perverted sensibilities. And while there were some true series highlights during the Kyoto school-trip arc (namely to do with Xenovia and a storage closet) I am thankful we’re back home with the entire main cast all together again. I missed the interactions between Rias and Issei because there is a tangible attraction and dare I say ~love~ between the two of them that hopefully gets more attention in future episodes!

Previous High School DxD Hero Reviews:
Episode 0 Review
Episode 1 Review
Episode 2 Review
Episode 3 Review
Episode 4 Review
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!

High School DxD Hero Episode 5 – Anime QandA Review

An Anime QandA review for High School DxD Hero Episode 5

What’s the show? High School DxD Hero, Episode 5.

I don’t think I’m ready for another instalment of ‘Cactus Matt drools over anime tiddies’. Well you’re in luck, with the exception of the ad-break title card there’s zero nudity in this episode!

Oh, perverts of the world lament! Also, what did I say about using the phrase “anime tiddies”, just don’t, please.

Sorry. So lots of action in this episode, of the fighting variety, I mean. Yes, quite a bit. Also a fair bit of plot too, of the story variety.

‘Kay, well go on then. Right, so Issei handily beats the shadow dude who had him otherwise immobilised at the end of the last episode. That fight felt super unnecessary, especially since it seemed like it was just resolving a plot point that wasn’t even a plot point in the anime and only existed in the books. Unless of course he’s going to come back at a later time, which if that’s the case I suppose we’ll see how necessary it was when the time comes. Issei and cute fox girl go meet up with the others to defeat Cao Cao and try and rescue fox girl’s busty mother, and pretty much the rest of the episode is the fight.

So does Issei easily beat this guy, I mean you said in the last episode that he is just a human who wants to be more powerful than anyone else. What fight could a human put up against a team of devil’s and an angel? He wipes the floor with them. More specifically his cronies divvy up the party and each one of the Gremory household is soundly defeated. Then Issei, after nearly dying in his confrontation and having to use one of the Pheonix tears to save his mortal wounds, finally gets a blow on Cao Cao, severing his arm—only for him to have his own Phoenix tears to use. Issei’s armor starts to crack, he’s presented with the fallen—presumably unconscious—bodies of his teammates and all seems lost, when…

When what?! Oppai!

Huh? Issei reaches down into his memory palace and talks to the attractive woman who was a previous user of Issei’s sacred gear, she reminds him of his “potential” and as he harnesses his full power he summons the one thing that can defeat this dastardly and overpowered villain… oppai.

He summons boobs? I thought you said there was no nudity. Well actually he summons the love of his life, Rias. Who appears via a portal above him clad in nothing but her lingerie and somewhat perplexed as to how she got there, and then the episode ends.

That’s the look of a girl who just realised her boyfriend has *way* too much power.

Uh-huh… so, err, this was a good episode then? I thought so! I mean I love that the show is taking its time with these action set-pieces and not rushing through them. These big moments like Issei ‘unlocking’ his potential aren’t just quickly brought up and acquired, this has been multiple episodes in the set-up and the actual ~acquiring~ is suitably grandiose if admittedly ridiculous, but that’s nothing new. Issei’s powers being about breasts have always been treated as silly to people on the outside but deadly serious to Issei and it’s that balance which make his character and this show so endearing—even after all this time.

And just Xenovia being ridiculously sexy as usual.

Previous High School DxD Hero Reviews:
Episode 0 Review
Episode 1 Review
Episode 2 Review
Episode 3 Review
Episode 4 Review

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High School DxD Hero Episode 4 – Anime QandA Review

An Anime QandA review for High School DxD Hero Episode 4.

What’s the show? High School DxD Hero, Episode 4.

Oh no… What?

What do you mean, “what”? You know what! Oh, you mean how I talked way too long about the fan-service in Episode 3? Don’t worry, there’s like hardly any fan-service in this episode.

Really? Yup.

You must have been so disappointed. Listen mate, I know you might think I’m nothing but a no-good horny boy but the story and the characters are like the majority of the reason I’m still watching this show! They are genuinely great and this episode is no exception!

I like all the high school field trip stuff too, very nostalgic.

Oh yeah? Well go on then, what happens in the episode? Well it picks up more or less immediately after last week’s episode, the gang is confronted by Cao Cao from the Khaos Brigade and his assortment of demon/devil/angel killing allies on a long bridge in Kyoto. Cao Cao makes his intentions clear, he’s just a mere human—descendant of heroes of old—who wants to be as powerful as to be able to kill gods, and the Gremory household and their like is first on his checklist to the top! He possess powerful weaponry and powerful allies, and while he tests Issei’s abilities by sending out a couple of his henchman against him and his friends, this encounter on the bridge is more or less just a venue for him to declare his intentions and see what power level he and the others are at.

Right… But then the battle is interrupted as an envoy for Vali, accompanied by a giant ancient robot thing appears. Her name is Le Fay Pendragon and she’s a big fan of the Oppai Dragon! Also she’s incredibly cute and flies on a broomstick and I think I’m in love! Ahem—

Can we get a Sabrina: The Teenage Witch anime pls.

So, the harem expands… Something like that, anyway, she’s just here to introduce herself too and soon after Roseweiss awakens from her mid-afternoon drunken slumber and unleashes hell upon the Khaos brigade which is their cue to leave the episode, but not before telling Issei and the crew exactly where they’ll be next, laying the groundwork for an epic battle to come!

Drunk Roseweiss slurs her words, also is ridiculously powerful.

Uh-huh. I kinda preferred it when you were talking about the fan-service, at least then I could follow what the hell you’re saying. This only the half-way mark of the episode, there’s still plenty to cover and plenty to confuse you.

Fine, continue. I’ll try and wrap it up quickly, I’m not used to talking about a DxD episode with so much plot. So, the night comes for Issei and the others to mess up the Khaos Brigade’s plans. Issei, who’s with cute fox ayakashi Kunou gets seperated from the rest of the group and is ambushed in a subway station by Saji, a character we’ve never met in the anime but who had a previous battle with Issei in the books, of which we get a fleeting flashback to. So in other words a flashback to something that never actually happened on-screen until this ‘fake’ flashback!

Oh boy, this is giving me a headache… I’m not doing a good job at explaining this, or maybe I am. I don’t know! Yes it’s kinda confusing in the episode but it’s still a lot better than Season 3 was. For everything that happens in this episode, it’s still well paced—that is to say it’s not rushing it’s storyline. Yes, there’s a lot of information imparted but there’s also still a lot of episodes to come in this season.

I’ll take your word for it. So this Saji, guy, does he get taken out easily by Issei? Nope! Issei is pretty much trapped by Saji’s shadow magic when the episode just kind of ends… damn you cliffhanger?

You don’t sound as rapturously excited like you were with episode 3, I do recall you saying that it was the ‘best episode of any anime this season’ or something of a similar ludicrous hyperbole. This episode’s great, it’s just not as great as the previous one, in a few ways… That’s not to say I’m worried about the show at all, I know there needs to be these kind of ‘putting the pieces in place for the big battle’ episodes and I’m super appreciative that the show is actually taking the time to develop these scenes and flesh out the characters, it’s just watching week-to-week doesn’t give the immediate satisfying pay-off that you’d get when binging a show like this. I am still hyped for the rest of the season, don’t let anything I say dissuade you from that fact!

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