Category Archives: Episode Writeup

The Girl in Twilight – Episode 7

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’re returning to one of our more unusual projects, as we explore the next episode in the hilarious and highly imaginative The Girl in Twilight. So far, the show has turned out to be a unique mixture of some very disparate priorities. On the one hand, it’s a high-concept timeline-hopping science fiction adventure… but in practice, the show frequently seems less interested in exploring the mechanics of its timelines, than it is in simply celebrating the personalities and friendships of its main cast, as well as the ways different worlds play off their “natural” temperaments.

As someone who generally cares a whole lot more about characterization than worldbuilding, this has been absolutely all right by me – and with endearing, multifaceted characters and a great script, The Girl in Twilight has consistently made the most of its unique dramatic balance. Additionally, Tomoyo Kurosawa is just plain killing it as our heroine Asuka, and proving she clearly needs more starring roles as soon as possible. However the secrets of our current world play out, I’m looking forward to spending more time with these idiots in another The Girl in Twilight!

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Pokemon Sun and Moon – Episode 28

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. It’s friday for me right now, and though the particular conditions of my employment mean I don’t have a “work week” so much as an unending stream of content production responsibilities, it still feels nice to end the theoretical week with something lighthearted and fun. And I’m guessing you all know what that means: we’re heading back to the Alolan islands, back to the Pokemon school, and back to the adventures of Ash and his exuberantly animated friends. Last episode finally introduced Gladio into the show’s lineup, progressing the show’s actual, overarching narrative enough to clearly earn a retreat back into goofy episodic shenanigans. But whether this episode offers comfort or continuity, I’m confident we’ll all have a resoundingly pleasant time. Let’s get back to Sun and Moon!

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Symphogear AXZ – Episode 11

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You folks ready for some Symphogear? When last we checked in, Hibiki and Kirika had concluded this season’s “let’s do some off-brand Symphogear pairings” conceit with fabulous fury, as Kirika unleashed a Climax Song in order to protect St. Germain from her betrayal-happy superior. We always knew Adam and Tiki were huge assholes, but at this point their dickery has exceeded even my most jaded predictions, and I am beyond ready to see our team initiate some countermeasures.

In terms of narrative structure, it also feels like we’ve at this point basically resolved all of this season’s individual character conflicts. The season’s first half was essentially dedicated to Maria and Chris’s struggles with accepting their former lives; Maria resolved that through her trial with Elfnein, and then paid that assistance forward by assisting Chris with her conflict with Sonia. Then Shirabe and Kirika each received a boost from Tsubasa and Hibiki, leading us to a point where the cast can hopefully communicate more confidently and honestly among themselves. Hibiki herself has actually taken a bit of a backseat in terms of emotional development, but given she carried the bulk of season three’s drama, it makes sense to put her on the backburner for the show’s penultimate season. But anyway, that basically catches us up to now – let’s dive on in then, and explore a new episode of Symphogear!

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Dorohedoro – Episode 4

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Hello everyone, and welcome once more to Wrong Every Time. Today I come to you in a spirit of contrition, as my motives for this current article could not be more impure. We’re going to be continuing Dorohedoro, largely because I… I… I want to know what happens next.

I know, I know. I’m the one who always says that plot is details, and regularly spends a good third of my articles rambling about layouts, and who generally only addresses narrative events insofar as they’re relevant to character journeys or thematic arguments. But Dorohedoro’s world is just so damn interesting, and pretty much every time it offers an explanation for one of its magic tricks, that explanation blossoms into five new questions demanding an answer. I’m also genuinely invested in the fates of both our humans and our sorcerers, and also simply eager to see more of Hole’s beautiful architecture, as well as Hayashida’s marvelous narrative inventions. Most plots are not so fascinating that they offer much more than a template for genuine craft to shine, but Dorohedoro’s story has me genuinely intrigued, and I’m prepared to follow this alarming instinct where it leads. Let’s check back in with our friends in Dorohedoro!

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Pokemon Sun and Moon – Episode 27

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Folks, I’ve been consulting the relevant sages, and it is absolutely time for some Pokemon Sun and Moon. They foretell of pleasant, lighthearted adventures under the Alolan sun, and perhaps even a generous dash of expressive, comically exaggerated character acting. They also mentioned a crew of characters it is impossible not to love, accompanied by creatures who are equally comfortable chilling out as cute pets or battling each other through sumptuous cuts of fight animation. I frankly think I need not have bothered consulting these sages in the first place, as all of their predictions seem suspiciously obvious, but I nonetheless agree with their fated prediction. Let’s enjoy another new episode of Pokemon Sun and Moon!

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Oregairu S3 – Episode 2

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After two long seasons of internal struggle, Yukino has made a decision. She cannot keep relying on the patience of her mother to maintain a double life, and simply avoid the family for as long as possible – she values her chosen life enough to fight for it, even if it means open confrontation with the family she fears. She’s spoken honestly with her friends about her feelings, and also about the potential consequences of this choice; but Yukino is Yukino, and if she didn’t approach this problem with the honor and forthrightness she approaches everything, she’d be lying to herself.

In structural terms, Oregairu’s three seasons have conformed relatively neatly to its three leads – Yui thanked Hachiman and helped solidify the group in season one, Hachiman admitted to his desire for honest friendship in season two, and now Yukino must reckon with her family, a task that promises to be the most difficult of all. But she knows now that she’s not alone, and though I’m sure we’ve got some painful episodes ahead of us, I’m eager to see this crew tackle them together. Let’s return to the fantastic Oregairu!

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Bodacious Space Pirates – Episode 8

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Hello everyone, and good to see you back at Wrong Every Time. Today I’m eager to return to Bodacious Space Pirates, as it feels like we’re at last settling into the daily rhythm of Marika’s new life, and thus have finally been assigned a mission outside of the usual smash-and-grab performances. Well, I say “assigned,” but in truth Marika’s actually dealing with a stowaway, a young girl who apparently smuggled herself off the last cruiser full of under-stimulated vacationers. But either way, her arrival likely marks the end of Marika’s transition phase, and the beginning of her true captaining career.

It certainly seems like the right time to me. These last two episodes have been greatly instructive in terms of fleshing out the day-to-day nature of pirating in Marika’s universe, but they haven’t given Marika much of a chance to express her own approach to captaining, or given us all that much insight into Marika’s new teammates. Bodacious Space Pirates’ ability to lightly build up an ensemble cast through bridge chatter is one of its strengths, but I’d like to see Marika actually developing some trust with her crew, and this seems like a fine opportunity. Whatever challenges await, the bay doors are opening, and the sea of stars is shimmering ahead of us. Let’s get to it!

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Pokemon Sun and Moon – Episode 26

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I’ll hope you pardon me for engaging in what has become one of my favorite traditions around here, by rambling my way through another episode of Pokemon Sun and Moon. Traditionally, this would be the week where I’m frantically rushing through new premieres, suffering through the worst indulgences anime has to answer for, and ultimately doing things like jogging in place or jumping jacks while watching, purely to stave off the onset of full brain death.

Instead, I’m not doing that. Due to the support of you folks, I can now mostly spend my time working on projects I enjoy, tackling shows I’d appreciate even if it didn’t pay my bills. Sun and Moon is one such show, and I’m eternally grateful to you all for letting me celebrate shows like this every day. Without further ado, let’s see what Ash and his friends have been up to on the shores of Alola!

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Symphogear AXZ – Episode 10

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Hold onto your hats folks, we’re barreling back into SYMPHOGEAR! Season four’s last two episodes have more or less acted as a mirrored pair, and I’m fully expecting this one to complete the set. First off, Chris and Maria faced off against Cagliostro, obliterating my favorite alchemist in a blast of collaborative fury. Next, Tsubasa and Shirabe teamed up, dueling Prelati in a high-speed highway chase. At this point, we’ve only got two more wielders and one more member of the original alchemists – so if our trajectory is anything to go by, we’re in for a fight between Hibiki, Kirika, and Saint-Germain herself.

It’s clear at this point that AXZ is attempting to resolve a character writing issue that emerged last season: the lack of any genuine relationship between several members of the main team. Maria and Tsubasa quickly became a pair, and Chris happily embraced a big sister role relative to Shirabe and Kirika, but characters like Shirabe and Tsubasa had never shared a conversation, much less a point of genuine emotional connection. Through the “Fool’s Stone” and its subsequent training, AXZ has found a narrative excuse to rectify this character writing issue – now, all the main characters truly must get to know each other, because their strength in battle depends on it.

Ultimately, I feel like this whole process stands as an affirmation of Symphogear’s fundamental appeal: world-destroying threats will come and go, but the charming bonds between these leads are the core of this show. I’m happy this season has contrived a reason to expand those bonds, and eager to see Symphogear’s most genki characters explore their own friendship. Let’s get to it!

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Adachi and Shimamura – Episode 1

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I’ll be continuing with my unexpectedly timely episode notes, as we explore the premiere of yet another airing show: Adachi and Shimamura.

At first glance, Adachi and Shimamura looks like precisely my sort of thing: a delicate, intimate character drama, elevated through precise character acting and a keen understanding of conversational nuance. You could with some accuracy call this the “Kyoto Animation Formula,” but KyoAni hardly have a monopoly on productions like this, and from Wandering Son to Bloom Into You to After the Rain to Just Because to Stars Align to… well, as you can see, I’m a fan of the genre.

Beyond its general genre space, Adachi and Shimamura’s key staff also seem reasonable enough. Director Satoshi Kuwabara doesn’t have any big hits to his name, but his history reveals enough storyboarding and art director credits to make it clear he understands the importance of staging and cinematography, rather than being a fully management-side leader. More promisingly, series composer and scriptwriter Keichiro Ochi has precisely the type of experience I’m looking forward: a massive number of scripts contributed to Oregairu, which is one of the best-written shows of the last ten years. Without further ado, let’s explore the first episode of Adachi and Shimamura!

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