Hello, dear readers! I hope your week has been enjoyable. I’m finally almost fully caught up to Spring 2024 anime. Today’s article covers my reviews for the episodes released in the ninth week of the spring season – AKA between May 27th and June 2nd. Enjoy!
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Train to the End of the World
Episode 9: More Boring Than I Thought
Episode Rating: 8/10
This episode showed us what’s been going on with Yoka for two years. Apparently, when she pressed the 7G button, she became the only person who can control and alter the 7G world. She’s essentially a god now. Pontaro immediately set up a plan to control and manipulate Yoka. He did something to her head – surgery perhaps? – that wiped her memory. Now, Yoka exists as a lonely Witch Queen, believing that 7G Ikebukuro is the way the world has always been. The only ones who keep her company are Pontaro and a strange bodyguard who insists on being called Pochi.
Pontaro hears that Yoka’s old friends are headed to Ikebukuro. That’s a major threat to his plan, so he will try to stop it. Meanwhile, Shizuru and the other girls encountered the old hermit in the swan boat once again. He gave them some information and an updated map (without any labels) before heading on his way. I really love the swan hermit and I’m so glad we got to see him again.
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Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf
Episode 9: Sweet Honey and Bitter Armor
Episode Rating: 7/10
This was a difficult episode to watch because Lawrence went bankrupt and I heavily sympathized with his distress. Understandably, he’s afraid for his career and the prospect of spending ten years or more doing slave labor to work off debt. I can’t blame him for lashing out at Holo. I think she will forgive him. Now we just have to wait and see what she might be able to do to help.
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Bartender: Glass of God
Episode 9: North Wind
Episode Rating: 7/10
North Wind is a grungy bar run by Ryuu’s old senpai from another bar, Mr. Kitakata. Compared to what we’ve seen so far, North Wind is in a sketchy area and mainly serves customers who don’t have much going for them. For instance, there’s a “hostess” who comes by often and has opened up about her suicide attempt. Although Mr. Kitakata isn’t the most friendly or tactful person, I think he’s doing significant good by providing a safe place for troubled souls to drink. I admire his work.
When Ryuu brings up their old mentor, Mr. Kase, Kitakata reveals that the old man had an accident and closed his bar. He now lives in a hospital without any relatives to care for him. Kitakata has been looking out for Mr. Kase for several years. He warns Ryuu that bartending is not a secure job and he could end up alone like the old man. Nevertheless, Ryuu loves bartending. The last part of the episode reveals something shocking: in the past, a customer died, and Ryuu blamed himself. We don’t know any details yet, but I’m eager to learn about it in the next episode.
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That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Season 3
Episode 9: The Scheming of the Seven Days
Episode Rating: 8/10
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode because it had a lot of focus on Diablo. Despite being something of a rip-off of Sebastian from Black Butler, Diablo is an entertaining character, and I love the VA who plays him (Takahiro Sakurai). In this episode, he soundly defeated the Demon Hunters of Falmuth as well as two of the three Battle Sages (Glenda and Saare). But then the Seven Days Clergy showed up and starting killing witnesses. I don’t know if they will try to kill Diablo or how he will respond.
Meanwhile, the third Battle Sage (Grigori) was defeated by Ranga the Direwolf. It’s always a pleasant surprise when we get to see Ranga. He’s both cool and adorable. The episode ends with the Seven Days Clergy showing up to kill Hinata, who is already seriously injured and unconscious. The other knights haven’t been able to heal her yet because the Seven Days restrained them. To be continued.
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Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master
Episode 9: Lady Raven
Episode Rating: 8/10
We learned the full backstory of Shiratama and her romance with Kazumi the gardener. He was always there for her. Losing him so suddenly was unbearable. But Shiratama’s mental ruin began long before she saw her lover beheaded. From the age of four, she was told she must marry the Prince or have no worth. Everyone told her she didn’t belong to herself, but to her family and the Prince. It’s no wonder she snapped if she was raised this way. I have a lot more sympathy for her than I did before.
After Hamayu stated she would not be joining forces with the Northern House, Shiratama exposed the “shameful secret” of Hamayu’s background. She is the daughter of the man who killed the Prince’s mother. To make things even more shocking, Hamayu claims she was sent to assassinate the Prince. That’s the only way to regain her status and escape from being a wild Hill Raven. After revealing all this, Hamayu fled the Cherry Blossom Palace. I really liked what she said before she took off – the bit about finding your own happiness.
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Tadaima, Okaeri
Episode 8: Interweaving
Episode Rating: 8/10
I’ve come to expect this anime to be wholesome, emotional, and adorable every time. This episode did not disappoint me. Early on, we saw Hikari struggling to befriend the neighbor’s golden retriever, Ran. It reminded me of how scared I used to be of dogs, too, but how much I still loved my neighbor’s Labrador, Beebee. Later in the episode, Masaki and company went to visit his uncle again. Things went much smoother with Kazuhiko this time. The installment ends with Masaki taking Hikari to the park, where he meets another young child. We’ll probably see them become good friends next time.
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Mysterious Disappearances
Episode 8: A Book, an Affair, and a Mermaid
Episode Rating: 8/10
Despite its awkward ending, which I assume was trying to set up the next story arc, this episode was amazing. It was my favorite so far. We learned about one of Sumireko’s most formative experiences, when she spent time at a ghostly bookstore and came to love reading and writing. The lady at the bookstore also helped her learn to speak better, leading Sumireko to become a bolder and more sociable girl.
I don’t have time to write out all my thoughts on why this episode was so significant to me, but suffice it to say that I understand Sumireko’s struggles as a small child. We are very similar. In addition, I loved the vibe of the dark bookstore and the personality of the lady who worked there. Wonderful episode.
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Black Butler: Public School Arc
Episode 8: His Butler, Locking Up
Episode Rating: 8/10
The cricket tournament has ended and it’s time for the canoe ride to salute the Queen. The boys from the blue house ended up falling into the river, much to everyone’s entertainment. Afterward, Ciel recieves an invitation to the Midnight Tea Party. In attendance with him are the four prefects and their drudges. They proceed to an outdoor dining table where the mysterious Headmaster and Vice Principle Agares are waiting.
Ciel makes his case about the missing students, calling on the Headmaster to seek help from the police. The Headmaster doesn’t reply, but Agares informs Ciel that the “missing” students are right here on school grounds. At that moment, the door opens and out comes Derrick Arden, the Queen’s relative who hadn’t responded to anyone in about a year. The episode leaves off there. As usual, I found this installment entertaining and appreciated the visuals and music.
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Kaiju No. 8
Episode 8: Welcome to the Defense Force
Episode Rating: 8/10
Though this episode was slightly less exciting than the previous few, it was still highly enjoyable. Kafka survived the battle with Hoshina, and for now, his secret is safe. After some time, Ichikawa and Iharu were released from the hospital, and there was a celebration party. We learned a little about Haruichi and how his family owns the largest anti-kaiju tech company in the world.
At the party, Hoshina announced that Kafka will be promoted to officer. Though Kafka is proud and excited about this victory, he is also terrified of Hoshina, who is intent on killing Kaiju No. 8 as soon as possible. Meanwhile, a new threat – another humanoid kaiju – descends on the city in the night. To be continued!
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Whisper Me A Love Song
Episode 8: An Old Dream and a Friend
Episode Rating: 7/10
After Shiho kept ragging on Yori and insulting Aki’s band, Aki wondered what to do. She couldn’t fully believe that Shiho told the truth when she said she never had any fun with the band. Thus, Aki went to ask Shiho for the truth. Naturally, the bitchy guitarist refused to open up, so Aki challenged her to a duel of music. Whoever gets the most votes in the upcoming school festival performance is the winner. If Aki’s band wins, then Shiho will have an honest conversation with her.
Yori and Himari are doing great as a couple, but Himari feels awkward about the fighting between the bands. She hopes she can help make peace between them. Later, Himari happens to run into Shiho at a café. She expresses the desire to get to know Shiho. The bitchy guitarist then explains her backstory of being a violinist. She was talented, but after discovering that her friend Kyou was better than her, Shiho quit the violin and switched to electric guitar. The story of her past helped paint a better picture of her vulnerabilities and insecurities.
~Thanks for reading~
Previous Posts in This Series
Anime Rants 
Tadaima Okaeri – The whole part with Hikari and the neighbor’s dog was so cute. Both the dog segment and the segment with the Fujiyoshis going back to visit Kazuhiko and his father were actually from side material that’s not part of the main story. I find it interesting that they chose to do that since it’s rare for side material to get adapted as they mainly focus on the main story.
Whisper Me A Love Song – Shiho is a very complicated character. She wants to be the best at something, but when someone is better than her and prevents her from being the best, she quits. She’s a weird mix of a perfectionist and a narcissist in a way. I do wonder how her beef with Aki will be resolved since it seemed as if she had feelings for her before all the drama had happened.
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