Category Archives: Episode Writeup

Sound! Euphonium 2 – Episode 11

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Well, this episode kinda sucked. My review focuses on KyoAni “doing the best with the material they were given,” but apparently that’s not actually true – this whole sequence took up just a few pages in the book, and the studio crew apparently decided to turn it into a full episode of nonsense. Reina’s crush has always been a pretty silly conflict, and giving it a full episode right near the end of the season certainly didn’t help. Ah well.

You can check out my full review over at ANN, or my notes below!

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Girlish Number – Episode 10

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Poor, poor Chitose. This episode really did make me feel for her – she may be a brat, but the things she’s going through are just too real for me to help but sympathize with her. Girlish Number’s articulation of the fear of being left behind, and the ways we’re forced to act publicly even when we think we’re losing everything, made this a tough episode to sit through. Chitose’s burned a lot of bridges at this point, but I hope she makes it out of this okay.

You can check out my full review over at ANN, or my notes below!

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Mawaru Penguindrum – Episode 12

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Penguindrum’s twelfth episode begins with a familiar refrain, as we hear Shoma’s bitter speech on fate revisited in Kanba’s voice. But this time, it’s tied to the hospital, and the mysterious man known only as Sanetoshi. A clear set of new symbols mark the occasion – two black rabbits with piercing red eyes, and an apple with a bullet sticker. Sanetoshi places a picture frame on the doctor’s desk, and we see it’s of some expedition to the arctic, marked with the familiar penguin logo. One man in particular is familiar to us – sharing a unique set of angular, unfriendly eyes, he’s almost certainly Kanba’s father.

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March comes in like a lion – Episode 9

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March comes in like a lion had a bit of a lesser episode this week, though Rei’s match against Mr. Matsunaga was still both entertaining and dramatically important. I continue to appreciate how thoughtfully March approaches character drama focused on someone who’s fundamentally unhappy – Rei’s daily life is full of failures, victories, and new emotional discoveries, but all of that occurs in the context of his more overarching depression. Some occasional lazy jokes are a fine price of admission to a show that handles March’s key variables this well.

You can check out my full review over at ANN, or my notes below!

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Nichijou – Episode 18

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And we’re back on the Nichijou train! Last episode was very important, as it finally saw the integration of Nano into the group of high school friends. I was extremely relieved to see that; the show’s tone had been suffering overall from Nano’s unhappiness, and letting the professor interact with people like Yuuko and Mai seems like an extremely good plan. The professor is frankly becoming one of my favorite anime characters – I’ve come to terms with the fact that a truly good Yotsuba anime will almost certainly never exist, but the professor seems to demonstrate it’s not actually an impossibility. Either way, Nichijou is here right now, so LET’S GET TO IT.

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Sound! Euphonium 2 – Episode 10

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Euphonium had another stunner this week, finishing off Asuka’s story in the most cathartic possible manner. Even Mamiko’s material was really great this time, and the contrast between the two couldn’t be starker – Mamiko’s scene was all quiet reflections on the realities of family, Asuka’s was a melodramatic showdown between two of the show’s most compelling figures. Euphonium 2 has had some rough patches, but this last arc has been the series at its best.

You can check out my enormous review over at ANN, or my notes below!

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Girlish Number – Episode 9

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Girlish Number finally turned back to Chitose this week, centering an episode on both her and Kuzu-P’s understandable anxieties. While I obviously don’t “like” these characters as much as I like the more emotionally generous side characters, I thought this episode did a fine job of bringing their anxieties home. Just because they’re assholes doesn’t mean they don’t have problems too!

You can check out my full review over at ANN, or my notes below.

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March comes in like a lion – Episode 8

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March had another strong episode this week, one that brought some narrative congruity to a few disjointed sequences by tethering them all to Rei’s upcoming shogi match. The show seems to have largely resolved my initial complaints at this point, mostly through the natural progression of its character work. With Rei, the sisters, and side characters like Harunobu all so well established, the show’s comedy has become more warm and character-focused than abrasive and tonally incongruous, making the show a general pleasure to watch. While I wouldn’t say it’s the “best” show I’m watching this season, I’m pretty sure there’s no show I’m enjoying more than March. It’s a story I’m always happy to spend time with.

You can check out my full review over at ANN, or my notes below!

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Ojamajo Doremi – Episode 1

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Today we embark on a new notes adventure, checking out the unusually renowned children’s show Ojamajo Doremi! Most of what I know about this one consists of “it has a remarkably high-tier staff,” that staff includes Mamoru Hosoda at some point, and its face game is extremely strong. Children’s anime in general tends to be somewhat better-written than the stuff for teenagers, so I guess we can lump that into the “potential knowledge” pile. Also witches? I believe witches are involved. Either way, I’m down for another exploration of one the shows those sakuga nerds keep going on about. Let’s get right to it!

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Nichijou – Episode 17

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And we’re back with more Nichijou! Last episode was a very important one, as it finally made the first dent in Nano’s anxious school experience. In spite of her hopes, Nano’s arrival at school has largely just been a source of frustration and anxiety for her, but Yuuko visiting her house will likely go a fair way in making her feel welcomed. Plus I’d just like to see Yuuko and her friends spend more time with the professor, who is good and important and needs all of the friends. Give your friends to the professor, Nano, don’t be greedy.

Anyway, enough preamble. Let’s open another day with some bright and shining NICHIJOU!!!

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