Category Archives: Episode Writeup

HeartCatch Precure! – Episode 1

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I’m delighted to announce we’re starting off on a new journey, and watching the premiere of a production I’ve been curious about for years now: HeartCatch Precure! I had an absolutely phenomenal time watching through Hugtto with you all, and from what I hear, HeartCatch stands among the very best entries in the Precure catalog. It’s frankly been kinda depressing not having a Precure to be working through, and I’m eager to see what this storied entry in the franchise has up its sleeve.

Based on its main staff alone, it’s easy to see why this entry is so acclaimed. Director Tatsuya Nagamine is a Toei legend, who before his tragic passing handled both Dragon Ball Super and One Piece’s absurdly accomplished Wano arc. Meanwhile, our character designer is friggin’ Yoshihiko Umakoshi, the legend responsible for Ojamajo Doremi’s marvelous designs, alongside such other distinguished projects as Casshern Sins and Mushishi. Beyond that, we’ve got the tantalizing promise of Rie Matsumoto’s debut film awaiting down the line, the project that preceded her triumphant Kyousogiga. I’m eager to see what this dream team has cooking, so let’s not waste another moment, and get on with the Precure!

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The Apothecary Diaries – Episode 4

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I am eager to return to the imperial palace, and check back in on the continuing adventures of our dear drug-dealing Maomao. Having ingratiated herself into the rear palace’s upper echelon through her apothecarial know-how and generally keen intellect, she now finds herself in the unfortunate position of being Jinshi’s top field operative, an agent he can employ in situations too delicate for his own imposing presence.

Of course, Maomao being Maomao (gosh her name is fun to say), she’s still going to bring her own rebellious spirit and sense of moral responsibility to her assignments. Thus she ended up holding her tongue through the conclusion of last episode’s drama, as Concubine Fuyou demonstrated the unique peculiarities of back palace politics. By suffering the “disgrace” of being offered to a soldier as a gift, Fuyou was actually able to find freedom with the man she loved, while avoiding the greater sin of directly refusing the emperor’s company. Power works in interesting ways here; like Maomao herself, the concubines are both elevated and imprisoned, fearful of drawing either too much or too little attention. It’s a delicate balance of social performance and backstage plotting, and really the perfect venue for Maomao to strut her stuff. Let’s see what she gets up to next!

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1000xRESIST – Chapter 2

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’re returning to an intriguing new interactive project, as we explore the second chapter of 1000xRESIST. Our first excursion provided a diverse stew of variables to chew on, setting us in an apparent post-apocalypse where variably purposed clones of an overseeing ALLMOTHER pushed back against the OCCUPANTS, spectral giants that have seemingly destroyed most of humanity. After meeting our protagonist “Watcher,” we were introduced to fellow sisters like “Healer” and “Bang Bang Fire,” as well as the apparently rebellion-fomenting “Fixer.”

Alongside this present-day narrative, we were also tasked with sifting through the memories of Mother, which took the form of an intimate story of connection and betrayal at a Canadian academy. As a teenager, our mother Iris sought to assimilate and separate from her Hong Kong heritage, a process complicated by her friendship with fellow expat Jiao. We also learned a great deal about Iris’s own domineering mother, and received a number of hints regarding the tear-prompting plague that preceded the apocalypse. It’s a credit to the game’s confidence and clarity of execution that these two spheres of drama seem so naturally linked, and I’m eager to see whatever catastrophes shaped the insecure Iris into the all-knowing Mother. Let’s get to it!

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Rock is a Lady’s Modesty – Episode 11

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Hello folks, and welcome on back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’re checking back in with Lilisa and the gang for a fresh episode of Rock is a Lady’s Modesty, as the band solidifies in the wake of their semi-successful stage performance. Though they didn’t end up resonating with the crowd, their opponents in Bitter Ganache were nonetheless forced to concede that Shiro was exactly where she belonged, tethering her exceedingly selfish bandmates to something resembling a stable melody. Thus our initial lineup is apparently set, with dueling guitar and drums restrained by an overwhelming bass while Tina just plinks away having a merry time of her own.

It is indeed a lopsided group, one whose dynamic speaks to the spirit of individualist rebellion embodied by Otoha and Lilisa. But as Shiro noted last episode, this too can be a form of earnest friendship or even solidarity, the tonic of sincere critique in a lifetime of mealy-mouthed prevarication and under-the-table social sniping. Our girls have found a place where both their sharp edges and secret passions can be cherished; now let’s see how they continue to corrupt Lilisa’s beloved stepsister!

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Monogatari Off/Monster Season – Episode 13

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we are returning to Monogatari’s Monster Season, as Araragi and his companions greet the newly revived Deathtopia Virtuoso Suicide-Master. Having journeyed across heaven and hell for an antidote to Deathtopia’s decrepitude, the party now prepares for a combined reunion and interrogation, with the vampire who gave Acerola her very identity now on trial for the attacks on Kanbaru’s old basketball team.

This arc has certainly offered Isin plenty of opportunities to indulge his love of ciphers and mysteries, while also serving as both a thematic reprise of Kizumonogatari and a referendum regarding Araragi and Shinobu’s growth over the past year. The prior sturdiness of their partnership was exemplified through how easily they’d banter about disowning each other; now, with Araragi facing aspects of Shinobu’s past he had never previously considered, it is an open question as to whether this single year of solidarity can measure up to a half-millennium of austere isolation.

Can a teenager just past the crest of adolescent identity-forming truly relate to an ageless vampire? Is their current happy collaboration a mere quirk of circumstance, or a reflection of how they have truly come to find consolation and community in each others’ presence? In truth, even their current fears speak to how well they understand each other, and it’s frankly gratifying to see them indulge in that most rare and precious of practices: honestly communicating their anxieties, that they might come to better understand and support each other. Now let’s see what Deathtopia makes of all this emotional growth as we get back to the Suruga estate!

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Dear Brother – Episode 16

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I hear the bells tolling coldly from a distant tower, and feel a rush of wings as pale birds blot the sun, meaning it can only be time for a return to Dear Brother. Our last episode struck at the heart of Seiren Academy’s psychological sickness, as the return of exam results and resulting Sorority pleasure cruise brought Nanako closer than ever to the imperious Miya-sama. Having banished poor Junko for failing due to her ill health, Miya-sama then attempted to corral Nanako’s rebellious spirit, offering both an apology and a warning to cut off her contact with Dear Brother himself.

It all served as a blatant display of manipulation and cruelty, and fortunately, Nanako has now gained the confidence and independence of spirit to recognize Miya-sama’s games. As such, when Junko came to thank Nanako for being the sole student to stand up for her, Nanako was quick to agree with her perspective, and acknowledge the terrible cruelty of the Society’s dictates. After the briefest interval of feeling at peace with Seiren’s eccentricities, Nanako stands ready to challenge Miya-sama’s authority, or at the very least undercut it through her own compassionate stance. Let’s see how this delicate duel commences as we return to Dear Brother!

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Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End – Episode 19

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’re returning to the snow-topped peaks and lush vales of Frieren, as our indifferent mage is roped into competing for her first class mage driver’s license. The arc at large is proving a natural test of her priorities; as someone who lives many hundreds of years, she’s seen little benefit in flattering the human organizations that claim to define and validate magical proficiency. And frankly, I get it; between freelance work and simply existing in the modern world, there are few phrases I dread more than “we’re adopting a new portal/platform/processing service.”

Nonetheless, such indulgences are the cost of existing in a world defined by common societal rules, and Frieren’s willingness to subject herself to this nonsense is an obvious demonstration of her growing integration into the lives of others. Having been separated from Fern and teamed up with two girls whose mutual concern is as obvious as it is oblivious, she’s found an opportunity to test her increasingly personable nature with neutral players, and proven a far warmer, more inquisitive person than the mage Himmel first called to adventure, or even the one he parted from beneath the fireworks. With only two days left to acquire a supersonic sparrow, let’s see how our trio is faring!

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Shoushimin Series – Episode 11

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’re returning to Shoushimin Series, as our two leads attempt to truly, finally kick their antisocial habits. Having accepted that they will likely always enable each other’s allegedly abnormal tendencies, Osanai chose to break off their relationship altogether, ending the ambiguity of their ill-defined bond with the finality of “we are no longer anything to each other.” And thus the two continue their wandering high school lives, each finding new opportunities in the wake of their separation.

Normally, this is where I might talk about how denying your passions only hobbles your potential, or how the anxieties they’re currently experiencing are largely reflective of the identity-forming panopticon that is high school, and what they truly need is to embrace their own truths and seek out the people who genuinely relate to them. All of that is generally true, but here’s the thing – Osanai just committed a litany of crimes in order to falsely frame an old enemy of kidnapping her for ransom, all while making Jogoro and Kengo unwitting accomplices in her conspiracy. That’s not really on the “harmless eccentricity” end of personal quirks; Osanai is quite frankly a danger to herself and everyone around her, and it seems unclear at this point if she could sculpt her lust for revenge into something compatible with civil society. Of course, I don’t engage with fiction to watch morally pristine characters engage in socially laudable behavior; I love the messy shit, and Osanai’s passion being so difficult to pacify or integrate only makes it all the more compelling. Let’s see how normal our leads are becoming today!

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Apocalypse Hotel – Episode 4

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I figured we’d take a walk through the ruins of Tokyo, and stop by the prestigious Gingarou Hotel. In spite of humanity’s apparent decline, Yachiyo and her fellow robotic staff members have been doing a fine job of keeping the beds made, cupboards dusted, and shampoo hats in proper working order. And lately, their diligent efforts have actually been paying some dividends, as they’ve entertained both plant-based lifeforms and alien tanukis in a mere fifty-year operating span.

Though it’s been a fine show from the start, it felt like Apocalypse Hotel really hit its rhythm with the introduction of Ponko and her tanuki family. With Ponko on the staff, Yachiyo now has a sounding board for her philosophy, one of those classic guileless characters who through their sincere ignorance can often arrive at unexpected wisdom. And with the cast now fully furnished, I’m hoping the show will return to some of the vivid melancholy of its premise, that poignant search for meaning in a world with no apparent future. Are they just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, or is there something vital and worthwhile in this staff’s struggles, even if just for their own sake? Let’s see what guidance their hotel directives can offer as we check back on Apocalypse Hotel!

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The Mighty Nein – Episode 3

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I’m eager to check back in on the adventures of The Mighty Nein, who as of yet mostly don’t actually know of each other’s existence. Critical Role have taken an exceedingly bold approach to adapting their second long-form campaign, revising and restructuring in order to better fit their stories to this animated format. As such, we haven’t actually reached The Mighty Nein’s original first episode yet, and have instead been documenting the group’s individual adventures across Wildemount, as they circle and converge in the leadup to their fateful union.

And personally, I’ve been absolutely loving the changes. It’s certainly harder to critique this season in terms of direct reflections on its DnD-rooted dynamics, but that is itself a great sign, an indicator that the production team are less interested in animating precise tabletop sequences than in taking the raw material of the Mighty Nein and reconstructing it into its most satisfying, visual drama-native form. Tabletop campaigns have many virtues, but polished narrative coherence is generally not one of them; the format inherently resists the sort of dramatic inevitability that defines traditional fiction, encompassing a lot of circling and getting sidetracked and general reveling in the off-kilter indulgences of collaborative storytelling. Nonetheless, there is the seed of a powerful traditional narrative in the arcs, bonds, and conflicts of the Mighty Nein, and it is clear this production team is determined to make it flourish. Let’s see how our heroes fair as we return to the table!

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