Day by day, Phos’ quest for purpose and identity reaps fresh disappointments. The most common, unquestioned identity for these gems is “warrior,” and so Phos throws themself into battle, hoping to earn the praise of their fellow lustrous. Even as Phos’ actual strengths and virtues (a kind heart, an inquisitive mind, an effortless ability to make their friends laugh) solidified their bond with Amethyst, they struggled to lift a sword and run a patrol route, desperate to prove they could somehow overcome the fundamental reality of their atomic structure. And in the end, the results were disastrous. Struck silent by the terror of the Lunarians, Phos proved utterly incapable of aiding Amethyst in battle, and was ultimately rescued by the increasingly exasperated Bort.
Category Archives: Episode Writeup
Spy x Family – Episode 13
Hello folks, and welcome the heck back to Wrong Every Time. Today I am eager to return to the ongoing drama of the Forger clan, and see what new troubles await in the wake of Loid’s successful Penguin Operation. The show seems to have arrived at a comfortable narrative neutral at this point, with Anya’s successful integration into school life leaving time for ambitious larks like the dodgeball episode or aforementioned penguin shenanigans. That’s fine by me; I’m interested to see how this story develops, but Spy x Family is most fundamentally feel-good comfort food, elevated not by the wild twists of its narrative, but by the skill and polish with which it executes comedy beats and family moments. A tale’s intrigue is largely defined by the facilities of its teller, and between the strong base material and exceptional adaptation, this production is a tale-teller I have come to trust. Let’s see what nonsense our makeshift family’s been getting up to!
Star Driver – Episode 14
Hello folks, and welcome the heck back to Wrong Every Time. Today I am eager to catch the ferry to Southern Cross Isle, and resume our investigation of the fascinating Star Driver. We’re now a solid stretch of episodes into the show’s vaguely defined second act, which was essentially delineated by the activation of the King’s Pillar, and Takuto’s subsequent clash with Sugata. Though they allegedly resolved their differences via the Fists of Friendship, it’s clear that Sugata is no longer satisfied with the status quo as realized in the show’s first act. Encouraged onward by his troubling friendship with Head, Sugata is slowly learning to embrace his power, as well as a philosophy that frames power and righteousness as one and the same.
Meanwhile, Takuto’s been busy hacking away at a fresh fleet of Cybodies, and dramatically undercutting Kiraboshi solidarity in the process. For both Kanako and Benio, it seemed like contributing to Kiraboshi was initially the only way they could gain power and, through that, perhaps some fragment of agency in their lives. In defeat, each of them actually seem far happier than they were before, and more willing to embrace their conventional teenage desires.
With Sugata embracing conservative hierarchies just as Takuto dismantles them, it’s clear we’ve got a collision awaiting some time in the future. But considering we just reached this act five episodes ago, I imagine there’s still some time for shenanigans between then and now. Let’s see what wonders await as we return to Star Driver!
Hugtto! Precure – Episode 35
Hello hello hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I am delighted to announce that we are returning to Hugtto! Precure, after far too long away from our unlikely heroes. It’s been several months since we last checked in with Hana and the gang, but I’m hoping to make up for lost time with as much enthusiasm as I can muster. And we’ve certainly got reason to expect greatness; last episode’s exploration of Gelos’ insecurities about aging, interwoven with Hana’s steady demonstration of how heroism need not follow some strict aesthetic template, proved some of Hugtto’s most poignant and insightful material so far. Whether we continue in that vein with the newly punked-up Gelos or counterbalance it with some delightful nonsense, I’m eager to return to this most cheerful and charming of shows. Let’s dive back into Hugtto!
The Demon Girl Next Door S2 – Episode 4
Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I’d like to embark on a journey back to The Demon Girl Next Door, and see what nonsense the denizens of Banda Terrace are getting up to. Last episode saw Shamiko exploring the wonders of the internet for the first time, which ultimately resulted in the acquisition of a grand prize: Momo’s fiercely protected ChitChatterer profile. With this secret True Name in hand, Shamiko will surely uncover all of Momo’s weaknesses, and defeat her utterly come their next battle!
Or, more realistically, this will simply help the two of them grow closer through idle conversations, with the mediating barrier of the internet working its usual magic in facilitating carefree, low-stress communication. That’s sort of been a theme for this season: gradual steps towards more honest communication, as Shamiko learns to more clearly assert her desires, and Momo learns to earnestly confess her fears. It’s always charming to see these two attempt a normal conversation, so let’s not waste any more time dithering, and jump right back into The Demon Girl Next Door.
The Great Passage – Episode 2
The opening shots of The Great Passage’s second episode serve as the firmest possible reaffirmation of its character acting acumen. Not only are the incidental characters walking through this establishing shot traditionally animated (itself a rarity for modern crowd scenes), they’re actually given personality, boasting distinctive body language and a variety of character-defining gestures in their time on the screen. It seems fitting that a show which has already attested to the intentionality of every creative choice you make would be so generous in animating these tertiary characters; as with the dictionary they hope to build, everything that is included is included for a reason, and honed to the highest possible standard.
Spy x Family – Episode 12
Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we have the privilege of bearing witness to a key moment in alternate European history, as the Forger clan cement their alliance through the conscription of their final family member. That’s right, Anya wants a dog, and I doubt your usual mundane mutt will do. Considering the secrets that define the Forgers’ existing family members, I’m fully expecting their pet to transform into a giant robot, or at the very least shoot plasma rays out of its eyes.
Given both the ominous conclusion to the last episode, as well as Spy x Family’s consistent focus on the legitimacy and poignancy of found families, I’m expecting this episode will involve some sort of rescue from an animal testing facility, or perhaps a daring breakout staged by the dog in question. But regardless of the narrative details, I’m sure the execution will be a delight; Cloverworks’ preceding dodgeball episode was both one of the funniest and most impressively executed episodes so far, leaving me eager to see what they’ve been cooking up since. Let’s get on with it then, and find these Forgers their perfect pet!
Bodacious Space Pirates – Episode 26
Hello my friends, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we arrive at a day of great and terrible import, as we watch through the very last episode of Bodacious Space Pirates. This production has been a gleefully irreverent, often illuminating, and perpetually charming smash of seemingly incompatible genres, fostering an unexpectedly vivid compromise between grounded science fiction and club-based slice of life shows. Between the depths of space and the bustle of the classroom, Bodacious Space Pirates found its own points of commonality: an emphasis on relatable yet larger-than-life characters, a reverence for the small details of craft and execution attendant in any task, and a general sense of wonder regarding the world around you.
It’s been delightful watching Marika take command of this strange universe, rising from a carefree high schooler to a confident pirate captain at a meteoric pace. And though I’m sad to be parting, I’m happy that the show is ending on a high note, expanding its conception of space piracy to include an entire galaxy’s worth of enticing foreign shores. With Marika’s crew at her back, let’s face off with that stuck-up interloper Quartz, and show these invaders what Sea of the Morningstar pirates are made of!
Star Driver – Episode 13
Hello folks, and welcome the heck back to Wrong Every Time. Today I am beyond eager to dive back into Star Driver, because goddamnit, what is happening in this show!? The last episode saw the narrative seemingly tensing for a whole-scale board flip, with Kanako demonstrating the variable subfactions and distinct priorities within Kiraboshi, even as Sugata slipped ever closer towards proud villainy. Having shifted from just sort of being a generally creepy guy to receiving private lessons on arrogance from Head, it’s clear that Sugata is now headed down a dark road; even if he’s currently using the King’s Pillar simply to assist Takuto, I can’t imagine he’ll stop there. After all, as Head says, power is gifted by the gods, and the gods intend us to use our gifts.
Meanwhile, the drama of both Kanako’s makeshift family and the You sisters is demonstrating a variety of awkward fault lines both within and adjacent to the Kiraboshi organization. Both Kanako and Marino seem more dedicated to protecting their loved ones than progressing the organization’s central cause, so I’m hoping we might see some defections in the near future, which could shed some light on how this organization came to be. Regardless, with Igarashi and Enokido at the helm, I’m sure we’re in for a fun and fascinating time. Let’s get to it!
The Demon Girl Next Door S2 – Episode 3
Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I am happy to report that we’re diving back into The Demon Girl Next Door, and continuing the squad’s investigation of Sakura Chiyoda. Their attempts to trace Sakura’s final known activities have reaped both strange rewards and further mysteries, with the biggest victory so far coming in the form of Momo’s newly acquired Combat Fork. An apparent relic of her father’s, its appearance at Mikan’s old family factory seems to draw a line between Mikan, Sakura, and the fate of Shamiko’s dad. But what could it all mean?
Well, I’m sure these mysteries will unveil themselves in time. As you might have guessed, I’m more intrigued by how these developments will impact the story on a personal and thematic level, rather than that of pure plot. The fact that Shamiko only heard a voice guiding her to the fork after thinking back on a time when Momo seemed happy feels significant; after Momo spent so much of the first season looking after Shamiko, developments like Momo’s move to Banda Terrace seem to be leveling out their relationship, and giving Shamiko more opportunities to take care of Momo instead.
All of this serves as a direct challenge to one of Momo’s greatest weaknesses: her inability to admit weakness, or to accept the help of others. As such, Shamiko’s acquisition of the Combat Fork feels like a validation of both her personal progress in becoming someone who can support Momo, and also an illustration of how Momo is becoming more willing to be supported, and not take all the weight on herself. I expect we’ll be seeing more negotiation of their evolving dynamic in the wake of this victory, and I’m eager to get to it. Let’s return to The Demon Girl Next Door!