Category Archives: Episode Writeup

Anne of Green Gables – Episode 4

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You can do it, Anne! It only took one wagon ride to convince Matthew you belonged in the family, and Marilla may well be a tougher nut to crack, but you’ve had a whole extra day to win her over. For as much as Marilla has protested over Anne’s precocious and talkative nature, it’s been easy to see her initial distrust fade into something at least a dash more warm and accommodating. And with Anne having promised to make the most of this final ride, I imagine she’ll be returning to the star-struck wonder of her first journey, with a sprinkling of melancholy to tug at Marilla’s heart. Marilla’s certainly a tough customer, but it’s hard to imagine any fundamentally decent person won’t be won over by Anne eventually.

I’m quite looking forward to seeing Anne triumph today, even though it’s also been fun to witness her larger-than-life despair. Whether in happiness or sorrow, Anne is determined to live with the intensity of her storybook heroes, with Takahata’s production providing a suitably gorgeous backdrop for her adventures. It’s been a privilege to watch and write about this profoundly generous production, and I hope you’re half as excited as I am as we return to the hills of Green Gables!

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The Demon Girl Next Door – Episode 3

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I am eager to dive back into The Demon Girl Next Door, whose first two episodes were as charming as is legally permissible. Yuko and Momo have already proven themselves to be excellent heroines in their own right, and far greater as a matched pair. Yuko’s confident spirit and profound incompetence slot her into a long and distinguished line of anime gremlins, while Momo’s deadpan affectation is a fun twist on expectations that make her a perfect foil for Yuko. Momo seems genuine in her support for Yuko’s ambitions, but also can’t help but tease her adorable demon friend, making for a wonderful central dynamic.

Of course, along with that strong character chemistry, I’ll also be keeping an eye on this show’s intriguing perspective on magical girls more generally. Like Madoka Magica before it, Demon Girl seems interested in how magical girls can be used as a signifier for society’s expectations about women. In these worlds, righteousness is not something we embody, but something we are assigned, and must perform as the eye of society wills it. Demon Girl gestures towards the limits of this philosophy even with its lead’s personalities: Yuko’s chipper disposition makes her a natural magical girl type, while Momo’s cool, imperturbable affectation is more regularly assigned to villains. But here they are, trying to do their best with the roles they’ve been given, and propping each other up in spite of society’s demand for blood. Let’s see how our perfectly mismatched heroines fare!

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Shadows House – Episode 1

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I’m reaching deep into our bag of outstanding projects, as we check out the first episode of the recent production Shadows House. I know very little about this production, beyond the fact that its source material seems relatively well-liked, and that the adaptation received a modest but altogether consistent degree of praise. 

Director Kazuki Oohashi cut his teeth on a variety of SHAFT productions, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see some degree of the post-Shinbo school’s signature tricks represented here. After that, he storyboarded and directed several episodes of the Persona 5 anime, meaning he’s also spent time with that irrepressible stylist Masashi Ishihama. Given this combined education, I’m expecting ornate scene-setting, a strong focus on overall layouts, and a general disregard for naturalism as a cinematic goal. Ishihama is one of very few directors who can pull off horror in animation, so I’m eager to see if Oohashi brings some of that style to this production. Without further ado, let’s dive into Shadows House!

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Eureka Seven – Episode 9

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Yeah, no, we’re not doing another five year break between episodes. Eureka Seven has been a delight to return to, and I’m eager to learn more about Holland’s mission and history. The conclusion of last episode seemed to promise we’ll be digging into Holland and Talho’s shared past, but whatever this episode brings, I’m content just to luxuriate in this show’s overwhelming bounty of character animation and background design. We just plain don’t get originals of this scale and quality anymore; the market has moved towards single-cour light novel adaptations as a rule, with only an occasional Deca-Dence or Sonny Boy slipping through the cracks. It’d be easy to lament this transition, but every era of anime production has its own pleasures and pitfalls, and I’d rather celebrate the good in each of them. Let’s explore the wild bounty of the ‘00s then, as we return to the skies of Eureka Seven!

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Oregairu S3 – Episode 8

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Alright Hachiman, how are we doing this? Last episode saw our quasi-hero taking clear steps towards establishing his anti-prom, as he conscripted a bunch of former allies to his planning committee, and even got Jazzhands hyped about a potential multi-school collaboration. Of course, all of his plans have been theoretical so far; he hasn’t even raised the possibility of a second prom to any school officials, meaning his greatest battles are still ahead of him. At some point Hachiman will have to face Yukimom directly, and I’m eager to assess the bloodshed.

Meanwhile, Hachiman’s personal life is such a clusterfuck that I barely have the strength to untangle it. Iroha will make it out of all this with her usual grace, but Yui is being set up for some kind of Fated Tragedy, which frankly feels terribly unfair. It was Yui’s kindness and generosity that essentially taught Hikki and Yukino to be decent people, and to desire the kind of sincere friendship they initially distrusted. But Yui isn’t some ethereal saint with no desires of her own; she instigated this whole situation because she actually likes Hikki, and having her bow out to ensure the others’ happiness would just be a repeat of the same self-sacrificing behavior she hates to see from Hachiman. I’m not sure how this show will make Yui happy, but I’m ready to hold it accountable if it fails. I’ve got my eye on you Watari; if you make Yui unhappy, I’m getting on a plane.

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Pokemon Sun and Moon – Episode 48

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today it is too damn cold outside, as it will remain in my state for roughly eight months, before suddenly becoming habitable again sometime in late May. Accordingly, I have already developed my seasonal sniffle-cough, which will be accompanying me for the entirety of this megawinter, regardless of my personal choices. Going out for a jog is now a laborious process; heck, even stepping outside for some fresh air no longer provides that vitalizing rush of warmth and sunlight. Winter is a plague visited upon me for reasons unknown, a gentle reminder that the universe is frequently cruel for no reason.

As you may have gathered, I am not thrilled about winter’s onset, and could very much use a reprieve from its encroaching grasp. As a result, I am extremely pleased to announce that today we’re returning to Sun and Moon, and staging a tactical retreat into the sun-drenched isles of Alola. There are few things that can rally my spirits like a dash of Pokemon, and I hope many of you also enjoy these cheerful adventures. For all I tend to focus on art’s ability to inspire or provoke, providing simple comfort and cheer is also one of art’s great callings, and Sun and Moon absolutely excels at it. Let’s venture on back to the islands of Alola!

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Big Windup! – Episode 7

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I am pleased to report that we’re returning to the dugout and loosening our shoulders for a fresh inning of Big Windup! This production has more than proven the merits of its sports drama/psychology combo, harnessing the unique dynamics of baseball to essentially construct a unique psychological subgame. Abe must use his players as board pieces to outmaneuver his opponents, carefully managing their emotions to essentially “trick them” into playing better than their own instincts would dictate. Simultaneously, he must carefully manage the expectations of his opponents, using their own preferences against them through manipulation of Mihashi’s precision pitches.

All of this would likely work if Abe were playing some strategy video game. Unfortunately, this is real life, where the emotions of others are never fully within your control, and your opponents have just as much opportunity for tactical innovation as you do. Mihoshi’s coach concocted a maneuver that actually put his team in the lead, and with two innings left, Mihashi is on the verge of an emotional spiral that may end his pitching career altogether. With Abe’s plans in tatters, could it finally be time for Mihashi to step up, and for Abe to trust his pitcher’s instincts? Let’s find out!

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ODDTAXI – Episode 11

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The lines are taut and bait is set; all that is left is to spring the trap. In spite of his professed desire for a simple, solitary life, Odokawa has found himself at the center of a deadly conspiracy, with the lives of half of ODDTAXI’s weary souls on the line. Though he claims indifference to fame and fortune, his concern for the lives of others would put self-professed “hero” Taichi to shame, while his understanding of justice far outstrips the insecure Little Daimon. He has seen the true face of his city, suspended in that liminal space between departure and destination, where their masks slip for a moment and their fears breach the surface. He has seen the faces we hide behind our social media avatars, and he has accepted them. Though he is gruff and impersonal and rude, he expects nothing more from his passengers and friends; his poise offers the quiet promise that we can learn to accept each other, even without our airbrushed profile pictures.

Other characters have begun to receive their honorable discharges, as they fly too close to social media glory and have their wings melt back to wax. Kakihana claimed wealth beyond his means, and was robbed for his trouble. Taichi claimed a hero’s mantle, and learned what happens to old heroes in turn. When you wish upon the monkey’s paw of social media, you must learn to live with the results; and now, it’s Iwai’s turn to either escape or pay the parasocial piper. Let’s begin Operation ODDTAXI!

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Hugtto! Precure – Episode 26

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’re diving right back into Hugtto! Precure, in the wake of Harry finally revealing his troubled past. It turns out Harry was actually a former employee of Criasu Corp, along with his ragtag hamster companions. When confronted by his old friend Bishin, Harry was briefly consumed by Criasu’s negative energy; fortunately, Homare was there to remind him that we are not defined by our regrets, and that he is not alone.

It was an excellent climax for a variety of reasons, as one of Hugtto’s most closely-guarded secrets (Harry’s past) collided with one of its strongest emotional threads (the bond between Harry and Homare). As the unofficial group parents, it’s been delightful watching them support each other in times of trouble, and this served as the most resounding affirmation of their friendship so far. Meanwhile, the reveal of Harry’s former associates promises a whole new host of “villains” to defeat and befriend, as well as more information about Criasu Corp itself. What can you tell us about your old friend George, Harry? Let’s find out!

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Horimiya – Episode 6

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’ll be diving back into the delightful drama of Horimiya, where our leads just recently Did The Thing, and admitted they have feelings for each other. Heck, Hori even announced that Miyamura is her boyfriend! Admittedly, that announcement was mostly intended to make her embarrassing father shut up, but I’m still counting it as a confession. Either way, our leads are now in an actual relationship, putting Horimiya wildly ahead of the pack in terms of its dramatic momentum.

Anime romantic comedies/dramas rarely get to the point of portraying ongoing, active romances, both because the journey towards romance provides such a clear dramatic template, and also because such experiences are likely to be a bit less relatable to their teenage viewers. But in truth, the give and take of an active relationship provides a fascinating venue for drama, while also allowing for the steady dopamine hits of watching characters you love express their love for each other. Horimiya is now uniquely equipped for the dispensation of warm fuzzies, and I’m hoping it will take this opportunity to utterly melt our hearts. Let’s get to it!

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