Welcome back to Anime Rants with Mono (7Mononoke). We’re well into week 8 for Spring 2024, but I’m still a while behind on episodes. This article covers the episodes that were released from May 6th to May 12th. Please enjoy. 🙂
Previous Posts:
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Train to the End of the World
Episode 6: Was What I Said That Awful?
Episode Rating: 7/10
This episode was a little more serious than the previous few installments. There was less absurdity and more discussion about the nature of interpersonal interactions and friendship. We also learned that Shizuru can be very insensitive. She said some terrible things to Yoka, which is why the normally shy girl ran away from Agano and went to Ikebukuro in the past. In the present, Shizuru is being held captive by the Kuroki the “Zombie Queen,” while the other three girls try to track her down.
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Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf
Episode 6: Merchant and Unreasonable God
Episode Rating: 9/10
I feel like everything so far came together in a highly satisfying way for this episode. It was definitely a wise choice to include Yarei in this version, because his standoff with Lawrence was interesting to see. I hope Yarei has a better opinion of Holo now that she left him alive. Anyway, the main event of the episode was the reveal of Holo’s true form: the enormous red wolf. As expected, I preferred the way it looked in the old 2008 version. However, it was still adequate.
The episode did a great job building emotional suspense. Even though I knew the series would continue with Holo and Lawrence traveling together, I felt heavily involved and concerned when it seemed like she was leaving him behind. I’m so glad she thought better of it. On a final note, I had forgotten why this show was called Spice and Wolf in the first place. It’s because the first major arc ends with Lawrence leaving the city with, well, spices and a wolf – a shipment of pepper and Holo. Great episode.
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Bartender: Glass of God
Episode 6: The True Face
Episode Rating: 7/10
There were two main elements of this episode: Yukari’s marriage and the bit about the businessman and the doctor. I don’t have any particular thoughts about Yukari other than I’m glad she didn’t rush into marriage. As for the other story, it was more engaging. I loved the doctor character with the cigars. I’m satisfied with the businessman’s apology, and pleased that the two of them get along. The only thing I’ll add is that the doctor didn’t need to add her own apology; she was completely in the right. It was only the businessman who acted wrongly.
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That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Season 3
Episode 6: Those Approaching
Episode Rating: 5/10
I had a hard time getting through this episode because it was so boring. I’m come to expect nothing but droning dialogue and boring planning from the bulk of this series. Despite expecting it, I still am not used to it, or maybe I’m just not entertained by it. Most of the episode consisted of Rimuru and his followers planning to deal with Hinata and the oncoming army of Temple Knights.
The last five mintues or so showed a meeting of the Rozzo Family leaders, who I don’t think we’ve seen before. They are a mafia-like group of merchants, I think, who control things from the shadows. They seem to have one of Hinata’s Knights working with them. While the Rozzo family seems like an interesting group of antagonists, I really didn’t need another bunch of characters to keep track of at this point. My brain is already full enough. Sigh.
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Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master
Episode 6: A Tanabata Invitation
Episode Rating: 7/10
I stayed entertained throughout this episode. It had some good potential plot and character developments. For example, I am eager to learn more about Lady Hamayu, who is my favorite of the candidate queens. She harbors a secret past that Shiratama is threatening to bring to light. For another example, I am excited to see the talk between the Prince and his brother Natsuka. I’m sure it will be tense and interesting. This was a decent episode in terms of visuals, too. The kimonos of the ladies were beautiful.
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Tadaima, Okaeri
Episode 5: Big Brother
Episode Rating: 8/10
Hikari went overboard trying to be a good big brother for Hina. He exhausted himself and developed a fever. But after some time recovering with Masaki, the young child soon got well again. That was the first half of the episode. The second half showed the Fujiyoshi family visiting Koji (Hiro’s father) and his wife. Masaki was gifted a wedding kimono from the old lady, who told him she wanted to repair their broken relationship. Masaki felt a bit awkward, but was happy to accept his mother-in-law’s efforts.
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Mysterious Disappearances
Episode 5: Underwear, Snacks, and Scarlet Clothes
Episode Rating: 6/10
Although I enjoyed the art style and some of the character interactions, much of this episode was uncomfortable and lacking in the humor it tried to put forth. Sorry, but it’s not funny to me to see a middleschooler acting like a pervert and showing interest in sexuality at an inappropriate age – especially in ways that violate the rights of others. I’m talking about Mari, the girl who tried to watch Oto, Uname, and Sumireko undress.
Besides my annoyance at the “haha funny oversexualized child deviant,” I’m interested in the next mystery. There is apparently a creepy child in red who appears on rainy nights. This figure is linked to the disappearance of a certain young beautician. Also, the girl with the short black hair has a nice character design.
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Black Butler: Public School Arc
Episode 5: His Butler, Gaining Admittance
Episode Rating: 7/10
This episode was critically important for the progression of the plot, but I was only mildly interested for some reason. Derrick and the four other missing students were not in the Violet Wolf House, so the fire was basically pointless. Speaking of the fire, Sebastian and many boys from other Houses helped put it out. The members of Violet Wolf House were reluctant to accept help, and seemed resentful about everything.
Before long, the famous Weston Cricket Tournament began. Some members from each House were selected to play, including Ciel. One lucky player will be chosen to attend a Midnight Teaparty with the prefects and the Headmaster. The night before the actual games began, there was a large party. Many familiar characters were in attendance, including Elizabeth and her parents. Lizzy’s father begins reminiscing about his time at Weston. He apparently knew Ciel’s father, Vincent Phantomhive. The episode ends there.
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Kaiju No. 8
Episode 5: Joining up!
Episode Rating: 8/10
Ichikawa and Kafka were both accepted into the Self-Defense Force, but while the former was given an officer’s rank, the latter was only admitted as a cadet. Vice-Captain Hoshina is keenly interested in Kafka, seeing that he might be connected to the mysterious 9.8 Kaiju that appeared during the exam. I enjoyed the part where Kafka accidentally said the Captain’s first name out loud. Rather than getting angry, Mina apparently walked off the stage with a hidden smile.
After the admission ceremony, most of the episode focused on showing the young officers and Kafka improving their skills through rigorous training. There was also a meeting between Kikoru, Kafka, and Ichikawa. Kikoru agreed to keep Kafka’s secret but swore to kill him if he ever hurt humans. I really enjoyed the training scenes and the parts where the characters chatted together in the bath. At the end of the episode, in the dead of night, the first mission begins. To be continued.
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Whisper Me A Love Song
Episode 5: Going Home, a Meeting, and a Promise
Episode Rating: 8/10
The first part of the episode was full of bad vibes, what with Aki making Himari feel bad. However, at the end of the day, this intense talk made Himari realize that she can’t wait around forever. After talking it over with Momoka and then Yori, Himari decides to give her real answer to Yori right after the concert. I was happy to see that Aki apologized to Himari later. It means I can still appreciate her as a character. I also really like Momoka and hope to learn more about her and other girls who spend time around her.
I’m still not sure I like the fact that this series hasn’t had any mention whatsoever about the culture in which it’s set. It seems to be completely acceptable in this school to date whoever you want, regardless of gender. On the one hand, I’m glad we don’t have to deal with homophobia as a major plot point. On the other hand, it would feel a little more realistic to at least mention the issues one faces as a queer person in highschool. I guess my feelings are mixed.
~Thanks for reading~
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