Thank you for visiting Anime Rants! Let’s jump right into Summer 2024 episode reviews! These episodes were released between Aug 19th and 25th, 2024.
Article Contents
- Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf
- Delico’s Nursery
- Twilight Out Of Focus
- Senpai is an Otokonoko
- Bye Bye, Earth
- That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Season 3
- My Deer Friend Nokotan
- Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master
- Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
- Tower of God Season 2
Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf
Episode 20: Church Girl and Miller Boy
Episode Rating: 8/10
The mini-arc with Amati is now over, meaning that the anime is moving on to cover the last content of the source material, which the old 2000s anime never completed. This is all new territory for me, since I haven’t read the light novels. In this episode, Lawrence and Holo went to the tiny town of Enberch to ask for directions to a certain Abbey. If they can find that place, there is supposedly a man there who can help guide them to the site of Holo’s old home.
We met Evan Gyoam, a young miller, and Elsa, a girl who seems to be running the town’s church after the priest passed away recently. Though Elsa probably knows where the Abbey is, she is hostile to Lawrence, telling him nothing. Late that night, Lawrence and Holo happen to see Evan running to the church. He meets Elsa in the dark courtyard, and the two of them embrace. It seems they are a secret couple. This is useful information. To be continued.
Delico’s Nursery
Episode 3: The Approaching Shadow
Episode Rating: 8/10
This episode of Delico’s Nursery was as engaging and entertaining as the last, with a little more vampire lore explained or hinted at. Dali and his three companions are forced to wait for the enemy to make the next move, since they have no good leads. They know the enemy organization is called Pendulum and that it worships the True of Vamp. In the meantime, Dali works himself to the point of exhaustion and passes out, falling off the balcony with baby Ul in his arms.
Luckily, a servant caught Delico and cushioned the fall. Baby Ul was unharmed. When he woke up, Delico found his companions helping to care for the children with newfound willingness. With improved teamwork, the vampire aristocrats continue child-rearing and trying to solve the murder mystery. Meanwhile, little Theodore is having intense “visions” of his imaginary friends, a bunch of creepy plushies, mocking him and calling him a child. I hope that kid turns out okay, but he’s clearly extremely stressed.
I was interested to learn the truth about what happened with Frida. It was indeed a tragedy. I have a strong feeling that warfare using biting and mind control is going to continue being a significant element of this show. Also, I think it’s romantic that Gerhard saved Dali’s life. I am now shipping these two even harder than before. You can’t stop me from imagining vampire yaoi, so don’t even try. 🙂
Twilight Out Of Focus
Episode 8: A Real Trashy Boyfriend
Episode Rating: 8/10
I found this episode highly entertaining. We saw the start of the relationship between Yoshino and Rei, the last couple to be introduced. They both have neat and unique character designs. They started dating after Rei kissed Yoshino – not out of sincere care, but out of a desire to make the younger boy stop crying. That scene actually made me laugh. That kiss scene was quality comedy.
Yoshino is annoying sometimes, but also cute and amusing. As for Rei, he’s still my favorite character. I don’t think it’s fair to call him a piece of trash just because he’s frank and independent. Sorry if we’re not all hyper-polite, toxically positive extraverts. Still, it would be nice if Rei learned to be more tactful with his partner in the future. I’m rooting for Yoshino and Rei to have a good relationship.
Senpai is an Otokonoko
Episode 7: Like That
Episode Rating: 8/10
This episode made me appreciate Ryuji a lot more than before. Early on, he annoyed me, but starting around episode 3 or 4, I began to to like some aspects of his personality. Now, I straight-up adore him as a character. He’s a faithful friend and a very loving person. I like how he got his ears pierced as to make a statement about how he wasn’t afraid to be different or to support Makoto.
In this episode, Makoto found out about Ryuji’s crush. Ryuji confessed his feelings. It was painful to see his hurt expression when Makoto apololgized for “causing” him to be “confused.” Ryuji made it clear he’s not confused or unhappy about being in love. Later on, after realizing there was no way to go back to before, Makoto chased Ryuji down and asked him out. The two long-time friends are now dating. I’m glad they’re giving it a try. Meanwhile, something has happened to Saki’s grandma. To be continued.
Bye Bye, Earth
Episode 7: Examiner of Curses, Blessings, and their Shapes
Episode Rating: 7/10
This anime continues to be beautiful in term of visuals and music, but subpar in terms of story and exposition. The characters are also not very well presented or developed despite the fact that I do like most of them. In this episode, Belle met Sherry, an important vocalist and essentially the princess of Schwert Land. She has trouble singing despite feeling like it’s her only use in life. Belle brings Sherry to the tavern to hear the swallow woman sing, which allows Sherry to get in touch with her feelings and shed some cathartic tears.
A few other things happened, such as Adonis restoring Tir’s sword by magically combining it with the broken sword of Tiziano. We still don’t know exactly what drove Tiziano so insane. There was also a scene with Adonis and Belle that I thoroughly enjoyed. Adonis revealed his sexual attraction to Belle and she was flustered but generally okay with the idea. I thought Adonis’ frankness was funny. Despite my complaints about this series, I’m definitely still enjoying it.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Season 3
Episode 19: Festival Eve
Episode Rating: 8/10
It’s time for the celebration dinner on the night before the three-day festival! This entire episode was highly enjoyable. The characters and their interactions were funny, engaging, and sometimes heartwarming. One of my favorite parts was when they made sushi out of the giant swordfish. That looked delicious and I’m dying to taste it as someone who loves simple and authentic sushi. (I’ll have mine with wasabi.)
Another highlight of this episode was when Shuna stood up to Lord Middray and made him taste the soup she cooked. She can be very brave and confident when it counts. The point she made about international harmony was also poignant. Finally, I loved Rimuru’s speech at the end of the episode as the festival was beginning. He made a really good case for the nation of Tempest, including mentioning that citizens can enjoy freedom of speech and freedom to choose their own occupations. Good stuff.
My Deer Friend Nokotan
Episode 8: Deer After Deer
Episode Rating: 8/10
This installment kept me entertained and smiling almost the whole time. The first half of the episode was about the girls going to a New Year’s shrine, only to find Nokotan as the Deer God of that shrine (and indeed, the Deer God worshipped by all of Hina). Seeing Nokotan honored in a traditional Shinto way – mixed with Buddhism – was amusing. I was surprised that this episode didn’t have the girls getting tipsy from Amazake. Instead, they warmed up with Antler Soup.
That was a fairly funny mini-episode, but I enjoyed the second half’s story even more. The Deer Club members all played the Game of Deer Life. It was so crazy and random. I loved when Nokotan became a Moose and made peace with the carnivores of America. I also thought it was funny when Koshitan got into a scandal about being born as a Capybara. Lol! The randomness never ends.
Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master
Episode 16: Wisteria Arrows
Episode Rating: 9/10
Yukiya took Koume to the central city to pick up the things she left at her old house and see if her father came back. There was no sign of Koume’s father, but a group of sketchy men appeared and tried to capture Koume. Yukiya and Koume managed to shake the men off, but they told Yukiya to give a message to the Prince: that Tobi of the Underworld demanded to meet with him.
When he went to deliver the message, Yukiya found Hamayu dressed as the Prince and functioning as his body double while Nazukihiko was out investigating the monkeys. Hamayu asked to take Koume into the palace, not explaining exactly why. But Yukiya agreed. He was then sent to find the Prince. It was night by then, and raining heavily.
Much to Yukiya’s surprise, he found the Prince in the middle of the forest, shooting arrows. The arrows seemed to hit some kind of invisible wall. Then, in the spot where each arrow hit, large wisteria vines began to grow out of thin air. It was magic. The Prince explained that he was patching up the tears in the boundary that protects Yamauchi. If the boundary ever fell, the outside world would be able to come in.
It’s impressive to think that all this time, Nazukihiko has been completing this sacred duty all alone. Most of those times when he carelessly disappeared, he was actually doing something more important than anyone knew. As the Kin’u, the Prince is the only one who can fulfill this duty and thereby protect all citizens of Yamauchi. He wasn’t making stuff up when he implied there was a magical element to the “True Kin’u.”
In the last scene, the Prince is back at the palace with Yukiya, Hamayu, and Sumio. He receives an official invitation to meet with Tobi, the king of the underground crime world of the Ravine. The Prince is determined to go to the meeting despite the potential danger. However, Natsuka and Rokon forcibly prevent Nazukihiko from going. They plan to send Yukiya to meet Tobi instead. To be continued.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
Episode 8: The Rice Riot That Shook the Capital
Episode Rating: 9/10
A certain morigami (forest god) came with news from the Capital of the Lofty Realm: someone was mixing addictive grains into Amahoho rice and distributing it, causing widespread addiction among buyers. As a result, Amahoho was banned. According to the morigami, the one behind this scheme was Goddess Kokorowa. Unable to believe that her friend would sabotage her efforts, Sakuna hurried to help Kokorowa.
Sakuna snuck into the Capital and embraced Kokorowa, telling her she was there to help. However, Kokorowa tried to send her back to the island. Sakuna returned to the Capital yet again, only to be attacked by Kokorowa’s automatons. Then she heard the truth from Kokorowa: she was indeed the one who mixed Amahoho with dangerous demon rice. Sakuna and Kokorowa then had a heart-to-heart, mostly consisting of the latter yelling at the former, venting her pent-up feelings and insecurities.
The conversation ended when Kokorowa dropped a torch and started a fire, causing the storehouses of demon rice to explode. Lady Kamuhitsuki heard the noise and called the troublemakers to stand before her. Kokorowa tried to take the blame first, admitting to the rice scheme. But then Sakuna stepped in and took the full blame for everything. As a result, she was banished from the Capital for good. Or so it seemed.
As Sakuna sailed away, bound for demon island, Kokorowa leaped off the docks toward her friend. Sakuna brought the other Goddess aboard and heard the good news: Kokorowa was being sent to help investigate the demons. If she and Sakuna can solve the mystery and stop the demons, they will both be allowed to visit the Capital whenever they want. Sakuna was moved to tears by her companion’s loyalty and the promise of someday returning home. The two Goddesses embraced, friends again.
Tower of God Season 2
Episode 8: Her Name is Emily
Episode Rating: 8/10
This episode introduced Emily, a chatbot developed by the Tower’s Workshop. Emily provides encouragement and conversation, but more interestingly, she answers almost any question accurately. People have been highly surprised about her ability to come to the correct conclusion. As this episode continues, we see hints about the true nature of Emily, and how she might actually be a captive human. I don’t completely understand yet, but I’m sure we’ll learn more later.
In other news, it’s now been two years since Wangnan and company formed their team with Viole. They are progressing steadily up the Tower on their way to the Workshop battle happening in a few months. Meanwhile, Khun’s team is also continuing up the Tower. Rachel is as useless as ever, looking for ways to manipulate others who have abilities that could benefit her. The episode ends with Khun asking Emily if Bam is alive. She answers, “Yes.” What will this mean for Khun and his team?
~Thanks for reading~
Anime Rants 
It would appear that Koume’s secrets are being unveiled, and while they are not exactly good things, it is more clear now that she has nothing to do with the monkeys, at least. Now they just need to navigate this potentially catastrophic ordeal with the underworld of their society. Which, it would appear that even the emperor has his limits which were heretofore unknown. Hopefully sending the brash young boy in to handle a delicate diplomatic situation won’t backfire at all on them, but I do agree that the Prince can’t go risking himself either at this critical juncture. He *is* the only one who can protect the entire realm from “the outside world,” whatever that really means. Strange that Taruhi seems to know the place where the barrier exists, from that scene at the very beginning of the show, and yet doesn’t seem to really remember it or some previous interaction he had with the Prince.
Hm, it occurred to me previously, but it’s strange that they refer to themselves as ravens which can take human form, not people who can take bird form. It is a punishment to be locked into bird form, it is considered highly improper to shift between them in polite company, and imperial family is apparently not supposed to be doing it at all, to the point where the princess did not know how it works, as if she’s never done it before. So, then, it is considered a point of high distinction for them to be able to take human form, which begs the question: if these are all ravens, sheltered in their private realm somehow separate from “the rest of the world,” then where are the genuine humans whose forms they are all imitating?
And if the monkeys didn’t get in from outside – which was actually my first guess as well as the Prince’s – then where *did* they come from?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Also, Kokorowa seems to have neglected to mention the tiny little detail of GETTING THE RICE FROM A DEMON WITHIN THE CAPITAL!
LikeLiked by 1 person