Category Archives: Episode Writeup

Pokemon Sun and Moon – Episode 18

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I have just concluded my duties on the summer season’s preview guide, meaning I am treating myself to another fun-filled episode of Pokemon Sun and Moon. I hope you’re all enjoying this journey as much as I am; while I often ramble at exhaustive length about the visual beauty and thematic poignancy of anime’s most ambitious productions, a great deal of anime’s importance to me comes down to how soothing and rewarding it is to settle down with a show as comforting as a good friend or a long, lazy nap.

As someone who watched a great deal of anime growing up, the art form’s fundamental modes of visual and emotional expression feel a bit like home to me. And when you combine that with the artistry and affectionate characterization of a show like Ojamajo Doremi, or Chihayafuru, or Sun and Moon, you end up with productions that aren’t just pleasant to watch, but a genuine source of stability and emotional support. Supporting people through difficult times is one of art’s greatest callings, and I can only hope that joining me on these journeys has given some of you that sense of support, as well. I’m glad you’re all here with me, and eager to get back to the adventure, so let’s dive into another episode of Sun and Moon!

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Big Windup! – Episode 1

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’re embarking on a new journey, as we explore the first episode of 2007’s baseball-focused drama, Big Windup! I didn’t really know anything about Big Windup! before starting this project, save for a general familiarity with its character art, so I of course went to work checking out the staff and such to get some picture of what I’m in for. That led to me discovering this was directed by Tsutomu friggin’ Mizushima, and with that, my anticipation for baseball action was thoroughly primed.

If you’re not familiar with Tsutomu Mizushima, I’d describe him as a workmanly director with a particular mastery of editing, meaning his shows usually benefit from both high-paced narrative momentum and phenomenal comedic timing. His shows are defined less by specific visual signatures than a general sturdiness of form and lightness of tone, and his recent catalog is brimming with fine shows like Girls und Panzer, Shirobako, Witch Craft Works, and Prison School. Both Witch Craft Works and Prison School clearly demonstrate he’s able to augment his style to match the aesthetic of his source material, and beyond that, I’m also excited to see an award-winning sports manga by a female mangaka.

As a final point, this first episode is directed by Mizushima himself, with animation direction by the show’s character designer and Chief AD Takahiko Yoshida, meaning we’re undoubtedly in for a blueprint of the show’s intended style going forward. With all that established, let’s check out the first episode of Big Windup!

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Bodacious Space Pirates – Episode 6

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Hello everybody, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time! Today I’m excited to dive back into Marika’s celestial adventures, as we join her intrepid team for another episode of Bodacious Space Pirates. The show’s previous episode served as the climax of its second mini-arc, as Marika, Chiaki, and their classmates managed to fend off an enemy boarding attempt, making excellent use of resident tech expert Lynn’s hacking skills, as well as Marika’s own confidence and quick thinking. Having passed what was essentially her pirate captaining practical exam, Marika has also come to a personal decision: she’s ready to take on her father’s legacy, and assume leadership of the Bentenmaru.

Of course, we’ve still got some preparations to consider before setting sail on that great starry sky. For one thing, Marika should probably set about actually recruiting her yacht club classmates, who’ve already proven they’re pretty much bridge-ready. And also, apparently Chiaki is a pirate captain too? That seems worth investigating. Regardless, the sails are beginning to unfurl above our young leads, and I’m eager to see their journey begin. Let’s get to it!

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Pokemon Sun and Moon – Episode 17

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Right now it is technically summer where I am living, which in local terms means the weather outside shifts at random between punishing, stagnant humidity and unrelenting rainy downpours. Even as I sit in my office (aka my bedroom), my air conditioner can do little to protect me from the swampy tension in the air, which clings to my clothes and utterly dishevels my beautiful hair. I am tired of this damnable place, but fortunately, I also know a place where summer works exactly how it’s supposed to – the islands of Alola, which just so happen to also be brimming with adorable pokemon and thrilling adventures-in-waiting. So let’s not waste any more time reflecting on the atmospheric deficiencies of my own climate, and instead take a trip back to some islands that embody the very best of slice of life and children’s animation. Let’s explore another episode of Pokemon Sun and Moon!

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The Big O – Episode 6

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today I’m delighted to be returning to The Big O, that exceptional mix of noir and giant robots that we all enjoy so much. Well, at least I’m greatly enjoying it; it’s a delight simply exploring the diverse sights of Paradigm, and Roger and Dorothy have made for dynamic, endearing tour guides.

Along with the show’s excellent art design and likable cast, what I most appreciate about The Big O is its willingness to embrace the weirdest consequences of its genre mix. While it’d be easy to construct a series of propulsive, action-packed murder-mysteries in the context of this world, The Big O has instead embraced both gothic horror and noir’s tendency towards ambiguity and even surrealism, frequently spending more time luxuriating in the atmosphere of Paradigm’s mysteries than following clues towards a destined end. Personally, I think ambiguity and atmosphere tend to be far more effective worldbuilding tools than outright exposition; through presenting a world with a rich sense of place but no clear answers, The Big O grounds us in the day-to-day experience of Paradigm, while implying there is more to this world than we could ever know. Let’s sift through the detritus of the sleeping city, as we explore a new episode of The Big O!

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Symphogear AXZ – Episode 7

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Hello everyone, and welcome the heck back to Wrong Every Time. Today we are absolutely continuing our journey through Symphogear AXZ, as our last episode left us on a… hm, is there a unique word for a positive cliffhanger? Like, normally “you need to know what’ll happen next” is something relevant to a moment of great narrative uncertainty and distress, but in this case, we’re not hanging on to see “how will the good guys get out of this one” – the good guys are fine, and actually just resolved their whole LiNKER subplot last episode. We’re instead in the reverse case: “wait and see just how badly the good guys beat the crap out of the villains.” I’m actually pretty certain that’s still just a cliffhanger, but either way, with all six wielders now at full strength, episode six left us with the promise of a full ensemble battle, or at least an immediate forced retreat by those dastardly alchemists. Let’s see where our journey takes us in another episode of SYMPHOGEAAAR!

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Pokemon Sun and Moon – Episode 16

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Having been extremely good and worked hard enough last week to increase my overall article buffer, today I am treating myself, and you know what that means – we’re heading back to Alola, where the seas are blue and the skies are clear and the pokemon all have adorable mannerisms that make you wanna just squish their little faces. Sun and Moon’s last episode was brimming with just that sort of charming character acting, as we watched Ash and his pokemon engaging in some genuinely grueling training in order to beef Rockruff up for his big fight. And with Rockruff now on his team, Ash might now possess the proper poke power to continue his island pilgrimage, or at the very least solidly trounce Team Rocket. But whether this episode advances the larger narrative or just luxuriates in slice of life reveries, I’m just happy to be back in Alola, and hope you’ll join me for another episode of Sun and Moon. Let’s get to it!

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Kaguya-sama: Love is War – Episode 2

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time! Today I’ll be continuing a journey through one of the most acclaimed recent shows that I haven’t already seen, as we explore the second episode of Kaguya-sama: Love is War. So far, Shinichi Omata’s creative, energetic direction has been Kaguya-sama’s strongest feature by far, with nearly every gag earning itself a unique style of visual embellishment. Building off the base color scheme of Kaguya’s own design, Omata has created a spy-versus-spy reminiscent aesthetic that gives the whole show a sense of cohesiveness and cool, acting as a perfect tonal counterpoint to the show’s absurd conflicts.

Visually, I don’t really have any complaints. However, the show’s initial premise already feels it’s wearing thin for me – meaning for this episode, what I’m really hoping for is some expansion in terms of the show’s scope, and particularly in terms of its emotional punch. I know Kaguya and Miyuki like each other, but I don’t really know them well enough to know why they like each other, or see their relationship as something to actively root for. I’ll forgive a lot in a show if it has a compelling central romance, and if Kaguya-sama can match its stellar visual execution with some endearing character writing, I’ll probably be hooked. Let’s see what’s in store in the second episode of Kaguya-sama!

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Pokemon Sun and Moon – Episode 15

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Over in the real world, COVID is still ravaging the globe, protests are raging worldwide in response to my country’s racist, murderous police force, and government officials are calling on the military to cut down citizens with absolute impunity. If these aren’t the end of the days, they are the very least a brutal crucible through which all of us must pass with tremendous hardship, emerging into a future that bears little resemblance to the untenable past.

In light of all that fire and brimstone, I think we could all use a brief trip back to Alola. Staying involved and fighting for a better future is important, but we have to keep our spirits up as well, and recently, very little has given me as much joy as Pokemon Sun and Moon. Both Sun and Moon’s heroes and villains are utterly charming characters, the islands themselves are an inherently relaxing destination, and every episode demonstrates the strengths of this production’s animators in new ways. Last episode was entirely taken up by Lillie learning how to pet a Vulpix named Snowball, and I’d be perfectly happy with an equally fuwa fuwa premise this time as well. Let’s set aside the concerns of the day for just a moment, and enjoy some Pokemon Sun and Moon!

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Toradora! – Episode 6

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“Are you tired of being nice? Don’t you just want to go ape shitt?”
– Anonymous

It’s a little ironic that Ryuuji and Taiga initially bonded over their mutual inability to truly express their feelings. Though they have the same fears anyone might have about directly confessing to their crush, in a general sense, Ryuuji and Taiga are both unusually transparent, straightforward teenagers. Ryuuji would never lie or manipulate to get ahead, and Taiga wields her emotions like a rhinoceros driving a go kart, crashing through social niceties with the force of her feelings. And though they can’t really appreciate this, it’s actually that transparency and sincerity that their friends like about them. Kitamura respects Ryuuji for his straightforward decency, and Minori regularly lets Taiga’s rage be the vehicle for her own feelings. Our heroes envy their friends for their seemingly effortless cool and grace, but those friends in turn understand their own actions are in part performances, while Ryuuji and Taiga are always, unabashedly themselves.

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