Thanks for coming back to Anime Rants! Episodes 46 and 47 of Spy x Family were entertaining as usual, though the episodes were not as interesting or intense as the busjacking incident that happened previously. These episodes did focus on a bit on the aftermath for our main characters. I don’t have an insightful introduction today, so let’s get straight to the episode reviews.
Note: Episodes 46 and 47 are equivalent to Season 3 episodes 9 and 10
Episode 46: Anya’s Era Has Come
Episode Rating: 7/10
This was an entertaining episode mostly focused on the kid cast as they were rewarded for their bravery during the busjacking incident. In addition, this installment provided humorous moments, wholesome vibes, and an interesting peaks into the mind of Melinda Desmond. It started with Anya, Damian, Becky, and Bill getting awarded their stellas. After this was a flashback to the night of the busjacking, when the children were waiting to be picked up. Becky’s dad took her home and everyone else also reunited happily with their parents and went home – everyone but Anya and Damian.
Just when things were going well and Damian called Anya his friend for the first time, Anya got too cocky and invited herself over to his house again. Damian refused to let her and took back what he said. It seemed to him that Anya was only after the benefits his rich family could provide. Before much longer, Yor arrived – running at breakneck speed – to pick up her daughter. She was so happy to hold Anya as the little girl’s brave facade broke and she started bawling like a baby. Anya really does have “nerves of tungsten” at times; but she still needed her mommy’s hugs.
Much to Damian’s surprise, Melinda came to get him. Anya read her thoughts. At first, Melinda’s reaction was that of a normal worried mother. She was relieved and close to tears. She hugged Damian, who started to cry a little. But as soon as Damian asked his mother not to mention the crying to his father, Melinda’s attitude changed abruptly. I think it was the mention of her husband that set her off. Now her thoughts were divided, with a harsh voice thinking hateful things and that she shouldn’t have come, while the loving voice of motherly instincts took the back seat. Anya didn’t seem to understand in full, but she was shocked by how scary Melinda became all of a sudden.
Loid was technically there for Anya, too. He was disguised as one of the secret police members surrounding the bus. Although he couldn’t reunite with her that night, he was worried about her. The next day, Loid gave Anya a ride to school and bought her some cake on the way to help “heal her heart.” Speaking of school, Anya was surprised when she arrived and was called “Anya-sama” (or “Anya the Hero” as Crunchyroll translated it) by some other kids. A small crowd formed around Anya, all praising her for her stella apologizing for things in the past. Anya suddenly realized she was popular.
There was a brief shot of Anya in a villain outfit enjoying her new power and plotting world domination. Damian and Becky were there with Anya and the crowd. Funny conversation and humorous squabbles between the children ensued. At one point, determined to win an argument, Damian threw a list of angry insults at Anya. He even said that her legs were stubby, which always upset her. Anya started crying again, but Damian, blushing, told her he was sorry and that he would bring her some cakes.
It was a cute moment, but Damian’s two henchman ruined it by voicing their shock that the mighty Damian would apologize. Still blushing and angry again, Damian said he only apologized to prove he was stronger. This started the argument all over, with Anya claiming to be the strongest. The two kids argued with each other until they were late for class. I enjoyed this mostly light-hearted episode, especially after the intensity of the busjacking arc. I also look forward to finding out more about Melinda. She will doubtlessly be an important character down the road.
Episode 47: Austin’s Troubles |
A Normal Mixer | Moon Landing
Episode Rating: 6/10
This installment was divided into three mini-episodes, though the third one was very short and appeared after the ending credits. In the first installment, we learned about Mr. Austin, one of the teachers at Eden College. He was also the one who was knocked unconscious by the busjackers. Since he was experiencing nightmares and other symptoms, he started seeing Loid Forger for psychiatric help. It didn’t take Loid long to figure out that Austin’s symptoms were not caused by the busjacking, but had been ongoing for several years. The source of the problem was his wife, who terrorized him daily with verbal abuse.
At first, I enjoyed this mini-episode, as it was interesting to see Loid working. I was also glad he stated that needing help does not suggest a weak mind and is nothing to feel shame over. However, I ended up liking this whole episode less by the end because it took a different direction than I was hoping for. I thought this was going to be a serious discussion about domestic emotional abuse where the man is the victim, but true to the culture of the times – early 1960s Europe – it was nothing so progressive or interesting. Austin was treated by the narrative as a pathetic man for fearing his wife. The problem to be addressed was Austin’s fear rather than the wife’s mistreatment.
Of course, we also learned that the wife was frustrated because Austin wasn’t a very productive or helpful husband. That justifies her being angry and trying to find a solution, but it doesn’t justify daily verbal abuse. Regardless of my disappointment with the handling of this case, I was happy that Loid was helping to some degree. With his coaching, Austin started to see progress in his ability to talk to his wife. That’s all my thoughts on the first mini-episode. The second one was about Yor and her colleagues.
Yor stayed late at work to help her younger colleague (Camilla) finish up. After their work was done, Camilla, Millie, and Sharon invited Yor to come drink with them. We cut to the bar and Yor is already wasted, slurring her speech, and wobbling back and forth with a red face. In the absurd scene that followed, Yor became convinced that it was normal for a wife to want to murder her husband. She wanted desperately to be perceived as normal because her life basically depended on not getting reported to authorities. But even in her surreal drunken fantasy, Yor couldn’t go through with killing Loid. She definitely has a crush on him at this point, getting ridiculously flustered over the suggestion of even kissing him.
In the end, the other women convinced Yor that it was normal to have a welcome home kiss with your spouse. Yor went home still completely shit-faced. When she got home and almost passed out, Loid caught her smoothly, looking as friendly and handsome as ever. Yor was convinced he would try to kiss her, but he didn’t. Yor continued her drunken shenanigans, and Anya muttered in her sleep upstairs that her parents were flirting loudly again. Though this whole episode made light of Yor’s reckless alcoholism, it was nevertheless entertaining as hell. Yor has definitely got some screws loose, and that makes me enjoy her character far more than if she were “normal.”
The final mini-episode showed the reactions of the kids to the moon-landing. The real moon-landing was in 1969, so it’s probably safe to assume it’s the end of the decade in Spy x Family, too. One of Damian’s two followers – Ewen Egeburg, the one with the tall cow-licked hair – was thrilled to hear about the moon-landing. So was Anya. It makes sense that she would like the idea of exploring space. Ewen was also interested in types of rockets. Strangely enough, Ewen and Anya got along very well that day. The episode ended with Damian being grumpy and jealous for Anya’s attention. That wraps things up for episode 47.
~Thanks for reading~
Written by 7Mononoke at Anime Rants
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