Category Archives: Episode Writeup

Symphogear XV – Episode 1

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Are you all ready for some goddamn SYMPHOGEAR!? I took a little break after season four to catch my breath, but my tanks are more or less refilled at this point, and I’m ready to Blast Off Into The Starry Tomorrow of Forever’s Yesterday, or whatever other preposterous seasonal subtitle comes next.

Given that Symphogear’s fourth and fifth seasons were greenlit at the same time, it’s no surprise that season four ended us on a serious cliffhanger. As Adam was atomized by Hibiki’s fists, he warned that the “custodians will soon be descending,” implying some higher power that he, Fine, and others have actually been battling against. But the worldbuilding justification of More Punching was probably the least important thing about that finale – more relevant to the show’s own goals is that it’s already established an antagonist before the season starts, thus leaving more time in-season for roaring and punching. Let’s see how this delightful show tops itself next, as we soar into the final season of Symphogear!

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Horimiya – Episode 2

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’re returning to one of the year’s most compelling productions so far, as we check out the second episode of Horimiya. Horimiya’s first episode impressed me on a few fronts, with the most expected of them clearly being Masashi Ishihama’s excellent direction. Ishihama has tuned down his frequently aggressive style a bit for this laid-back production, lightly employing the post-processing and collage-like elements he tends to favor, but his excellence is clear in Horimiya’s abstract visual flourishes, as well as its terrific OP. Meanwhile, the actual story is demonstrating a welcome nuance of characterization, neatly sidestepping cliche dramatic beats through its characters’ willingness to actually, honestly communicate. There’s a lot to enjoy so far, and I’m eager to see where this story goes. Let’s dive in!

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Bodacious Space Pirates – Episode 11

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to the bridge. Everyone strapped in and securely fastened? I’d certainly hope so, considering we’ve been traveling through a perilous nebula for several episodes now, and just came under fire from a squadron of Serenity attack ships. That’s right, we’re returning to Bodacious Space Pirates, as Marika and her crew seek the Golden Ghost Ship of Serenity, at the command of their runaway princess!

Last episode was ultimately all about that runaway princess, as Gruier was forced to truly contend with the reality of this situation. Up until now, her adventure has likely felt more like an exciting field trip than a political ploy; she’s far from home, sure, but still vaguely certain that everything will work out okay. Confronted by hostile Serenity ships, Gruier was forced to confront the truth: she is now a princess in exile, and the ships and symbols which once promised security have all turned against her. Marika did her best to ease Gruier through this realization, but it is a difficult thing to learn that your home is gone. With no choice but to surge onward through the storm, let’s return to the bridge of the Bentenmaru!

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Backflip!! – Episode 1

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I’ve got an unusually timely article for you all, as I’ll be exploring a show that’s airing this very season: Bakuten!! (or Backflip!!), an anime-original production centered on a group of gymnasts. All anime-original productions tend to deserve at least a glance, for a variety of reasons. First off, productions that are designed from the ground up for animation unsurprisingly tend to lend themselves to animation quite well – issues of translating still manga panels or heavy exposition are irrelevant, as the narrative is designed for movement from the beginning. Additionally, in this current era of media mix productions, an original anime with less tie-in potential generally implies confidence, or even prestige; the production’s funders have faith that the work will sell itself, rather than selling the source material, and this faith is generally predicated on trusted key staff with a clear artistic vision. Lastly, anime-original works are generally written by professionally vetted writers, rather than folks riding the novice-to-published manga/light novel pipelines. This generally means the writing, characteristically anime’s weakest element, is at least of professional quality.

When you wrap all this together, it’s easy to see why anime-originals at least have the potential to shine, however their fortunes may turn. And for Backflip!!, we also have some impressively animated PVs to sort through, attesting to at least the first couple episodes’ visual splendor. My main concern going in is how well this show will be able to maintain animation quality in depicting such a visually demanding sport, but I suppose that’s a problem for the show itself to answer. Let’s check out the first episode of Backflip!!

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Adachi and Shimamura – Episode 4

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Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. You all ready to enjoy some Adachi and Shimamura? Well, “enjoy” might not be the appropriate word for this show. After all, the bulk of its running time is frequently comprised of Adachi and Shimamura coexisting in uncomfortable silence, while Shimamura reflects on how this relationship might be reshaping her self-image, and Adachi screams GIRL HOT GIRL HOT internally at the highest possible volume.

They make for an interesting pairing; Adachi’s understanding of her emotions is so limited that she’s basically running on feral instincts, while Shimamura is deeply self-reflective, but not so mature that she can actually reach healthy, productive conclusions from her personal reflections. Ultimately, each of them are fascinated by the other, but possibly more afraid of getting hurt than they are enticed by the idea of being loved. It’s precisely the kind of messy, honest emotional disconnect I love to dig into, and it’s been too long regardless since we last checked in with these anxious kids. Let’s dive back into Adachi and Shimamura!

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Dorohedoro – Episode 10

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Hello everyone, and welcome on back to Wrong Every Time. Today I’m eager to dive back into Dorohedoro, even though at this point, I’m well aware that any predictions about our trajectory are destined to be mocked, subverted, and turned into a meat pie. Dorohedoro winds where it wills, and it’s actually part of the story’s strength that it so resolutely avoids any pat, convenient narrative arcs. Just as the world of Hole is a sprawling and unknowable place, where strange rituals and unfamiliar faces lurk around every corner, so is Dorohedoro’s narrative a twisting, undefinable construction. How else could slice of life and horror coexist so casually, without either undercutting the other? Perhaps today you find the villain you’ve long been seeking, or perhaps you simply make a new friend, and enjoy some muffins together. Or perhaps this is the day you die.

Within this labyrinthian sprawl of treasure hunts and mysteries, a few truths are starting to emerge. The person in Caiman’s mouth is Risu, and the sorcerer he seeks most likely Ebisu – though how those two are connected, we’re not quite sure. On the other side, the time-manipulating sorcerer that En seeks is undoubtedly Nikaido, and he’s already making his move. Whether we follow up on any of that, join Fujita and Ebisu for a trip to the park, or check in on Caiman’s part-time labor, I’m sure Dorohedoro will somehow make it a thrilling experience. Let’s get to it!

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Toradora! – Episode 7

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“Just be yourself” is well-intentioned advice, but frankly a little incomplete. What if your genuine self isn’t actually a nice person? What if your most honest instincts aren’t the most charitable ones, and your greatest talent is tearing people down? The truth is, being yourself is a luxury within society, a privilege that demands either an unusually charitable disposition, or an unusually forgiving audience. To truly be yourself, you must first find your people – the soil that fits you, and the dynamic that rewards your natural instincts. Growing up is a process of both tempering your own instincts, and feeling around for an environment that accepts you – and until you reach that point, most advice about self-presentation is just going to sound like a sack of lies.

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Space Battleship Yamato 2199 – Episode 4

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Are you ready to journey across the sea of stars? Today we’re returning to Space Battleship Yamato 2199, a show that I am happy to report has absolutely ensnared me. I resisted its charms for an episode or two, but “Jupiter is hiding a secret floating continent full of mystical fauna, which our protagonists blow up with a giant space laser” was just too hard of a sell. Space operas aren’t generally my main thing, but high fantasy is one of my passions, and Yamato is wearing its fantasy influences with pride.

It also helps that Yamato is simply a polished and vividly executed production. Its successes embody one of my favorite art maxims: narrative is incidental, execution is everything. In another show, the first passage into warp drive might be conveyed through a quick color filter and some simulated shaky cam work. In Yamato, it’s an episode highlight, elevated through inspired flourishes like the focus on a dart suspended in mid-flight, and a vision of the Yamato sinking into a kaleidoscopic sea. With its mixture of whimsical fantasy invention and wonder-struck execution, Yamato already feels like a beloved bedtime story, a show that embodies the pleasures of a great fairy tale. Let’s get back to the bridge!

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Pokemon Sun and Moon – Episode 40

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Hello all, and welcome the heck back to Wrong Every Time. You folks ready for some Pokemon? It’s been a few weeks since I last checked in on Alola on my side, since I’ve been trying very hard to push through a variety of my ongoing projects, and make sure everyone’s getting some articles to enjoy. But goddamnit, sometimes you have to play favorites, and it’s hard to deny that Sun and Moon is one of mine.

Rather than the slow deterioration in production quality you tend to expect from long-running productions, Sun and Moon’s last episode was actually one of its greatest so far, elevated by Masaaki Iwane’s stunning animation work. Like Precure, Sun and Moon possesses a stable of top shelf talent that many shows would kill for, and I’m delighted to see them apply their talents to concepts as inspired as Mallow’s drunken finger role. Whether we’ve got more luxurious animation or simply fun times with friends ahead, I’m here for it. Let’s get back to Sun and Moon!

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The Girl in Twilight – Episode 9

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’re watching some The Girl in Twilight, because it’s long past time we got some goddamn answers. After performing a merry tour of the multiverse with Asuka and her companions, we’ve finally arrived at Seriosuka’s own blighted reality – and what’s more, Yu has agreed to serve as the tether, at last embracing the central role in their new adventure.

Given the general sturdiness of its writing so far, I expect this new adventure will do a fine job of connecting the reveal of Seriousuka’s history to its explanation for why the multiverse is deteriorating. But personally, as a character and relationship junky on perpetual lookout for my next fix, I’m most interested in seeing Asuka and Yu’s relationship stress-tested by Yu’s engagement in this new reality, and hopefully reaffirmed by Asuka’s eventual return to her. This show has been very good at illustrating the nuances that differentiate one friendship from another, and it’s been clear for quite a while that while Asuka has fun with all of her friends, Yu is both her closest and oldest friend. Meanwhile, Yu is so used to taking care of Asuka that she compromises on her own needs without a thought, and actually has to be reminded to prioritize herself by Asuka. They have a firm, rich friendship, and I’m eager to see this last arc test it in every way possible. Let’s get to it!

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