We here at oprainfall don’t just love video games: we’re big fans of anime, too. So in celebration of the medium, we’re here to give you our thoughts on what we’ve been watching each week as we watch it. Old, new – anything goes.
Currently Airing:
Mob Psycho 100 III
After last week’s cliffhanger, I honestly expected this week’s episode to go in a vastly different direction, but I was both pleasantly pleased and devastated that it didn’t. One of the things I love most about Mob Psycho is that even though it has gorgeously animated fight sequences (this episode especially) and characters with impressive power sets, it’s never actually been about those. More often than not, the show is about solving issues without violence; about being responsible with the power you wield and to use it sparingly and in pursuit of the betterment of others, not to overcome them. But it’s also about understanding other perspectives, listening, and learning. Throughout his entire journey, Mob has had to learn to communicate with others, to understand them and express himself in ways that are healthy, and that’s on full display here as he confronts Dimple about the Psycho Helmet Cult. They’re just two friends who are trying to hash out their differences in constructive ways, with Mob admitting he failed to hold up his side of the friendship when he didn’t listen to Dimple or take his desires seriously. “You just got carried away. I think everyone goes through something like that. I got carried away, too.” It’s moments like these that highlight why Mob is one of my favorite characters ever, and this episode’s emotional throughline was powerful enough it catapulted Mob Psycho past Escaflowne as my favorite anime. There are still several episodes left this season and I honestly don’t know how they can top this. – Leah
– You can watch Mob Psycho 100 on Crunchyroll.
Akiba Maid War
Each week the maids get pulled into a new source of trouble and it seemed to not have the biggest consequences for what occurs as it seems to sort itself out. This episode, things have begun catching up to the cafe. We see a maid named Minami get released from prison. She is a member of the rival group that competes against the Oinky Doink Café’s group, and she is extremely violent. She takes over her group after calling them all soft and asks where the members of a missing café are – this being the one that Ranko wiped out in the first episode. With her in charge she now wants to go wipe out the café and start a war with the group. On the other side coming off of the last episode, the head of the Creatureland group tells the manager that they have to deal with the issue of the other group themselves after what they did to an affiliate café. This episode focuses mostly on Nagomi with her friend Nerula, who is part of the rival group. We also get some moments with Ranko who meets Minami by chance at the ramen shop. The two seem to hit it off a bit as they reminisce a bit about the past. Even with the hostilities Nagomi wants to form a type of bond of sisterhood between her and Nerula. We get another glimpse into Ranko’s past with a look at her former sister, who happens to look somewhat familiar. The ritual they do for this bond is kind of silly, though it keeps with the series. One thing I enjoy about Akiba Maid War are the references they make to older style gangster movies. The bond they make of course is tested when the hostilities continue and what it ends up leading to. What happens next, especially with Nagomi, is something I’m curious to see. I enjoy the ending theme of the series, and I will say it is fitting with the conclusion of the episode. – Walter
– You can watch Akiba Maid War on HIDIVE.
SPY x Family
In the first half of this episode, we finally learn who was behind the attempt to change Damian’s grades: George Glooman, one of Anya’s classmates and the son of a pharmaceutical magnate who was bought out by the Desmond Group. He hates Damian because of the buyout and thinks it means he’ll have to leave Eden College, so he attempts to blackmail the Second Son. It goes awry, of course, and he ends up getting the entire class to feel bad for him and pamper him for the day. Damian and the others even go so far as to give George their own keepsakes “to remember them.” Too bad it turns out he’s not going anywhere and he comes to school the next day embarrassed by his actions. Considering these are all six year old children, the reactions and logic here were hilariously cringe, with George’s actor really giving it his all. The second half of the episode is shorter but has some gorgeous animation as Yor parkours her way across the city to take Anya’s gym uniform to her at school. She’s afraid that Anya forgot her clothes and will be expelled for being so forgetful. Like most things in this anime, Yor is mistaken, but her concern for Anya is adorable. I loved the comedic beats with the animals and the ghost story, especially. I really want a full-fledged episode focusing on Yor and Anya to flesh out their relationship more and give Yor something other to do than poison them with dinner. – Leah
– You can watch SPY x Family on Crunchyroll.
Chainsaw Man
Denji learns that not all dreams are what they’re made out to be, and that sometimes the pursuit of the dream is more stimulating than achieving it. I think we can all relate. Devastated by this newfound knowledge, it takes a pep talk from Makima to get his head back on straight. Pursuing an empty dream will leave you unfulfilled, but pursuing one with passion and meaning is all the more sweet, and it’s a lesson Denji takes to heart as he is assigned his newest target: The Gun Devil. This Devil appeared in America 13 years ago, killing millions of people, including Hayakawa’s entire family. Fear of guns has only increased its power since, and any Devil that eats its flesh gains a boost to its own strength. If Denji can manage to kill it, Makima will give him anything he wants. Anything. That’s motivation enough for Denji, who heads out with Division IV to find more of the Gun Devil’s flesh to use as a lodestone to find the actual menace. We’re introduced to several other rookies and Hayakawa’s partner, Himeno, and honestly, I love the character dynamics on display here. These are characters I want to spend more time with, which is good, because they’re apparently trapped in a Penrose staircase. I’m curious to see how they’re going to get out of this one, and what the other rookies’ abilities look like. – Leah
– You can watch Chainsaw Man on Crunchyroll.
What anime are you watching? Let us know in the comments!
You can read previous Week in Anime entries here!
