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I don't really get why this show is so hated. I understand the overpowered MC trope is well overused by this point but I think the way this show goes about it is quite refreshing. Instead of having your typical Kirito, in this case the MC is very self aware and introspective of his abilities and while not explored to great depth in just 12 episodes it at least hints at the idea of this being an overarching theme (I intend on reading the source material and I'm hoping that I'm correct). The dialouge is poorly written and the 4 side girls lack any depth ... at all (aside from maybe Balirosa). This oddly feels like it was originally written to be a harem and after the events of the first episode the author was just "nah" and didn't bother rewriting. The whole fake hero side plot feels terribly unnecessary and a gag that couldve been cool for like 1 episode. The plot is interesting enough to make me want to keep reading after the anime is finished but not interesting enough to write hoke about. I feel a story like this might be 5x better in LN format due to the fast paced nature of modern anime but I guess I'll find that out when I read the LN. Anyways this is probably a 6 but I find the show oddly charming. 7/10

I have so much to say about this anime but to keep it short and simple this is a modern essential for almost any anime fan.

I only want to address one glaring issue I had with the show, since if I talk about everything this show is amazing at this review would be an dissertation. I recommend going into this show blind, trust me, it's a treat.

The only reason Magus Bride is NOT a 10, is because I simply can not get over the age dynamic between the shows main protagonists Elias and Chise. However, to the shows credit, I can confidently say that it ... is tasteful in it's execution. Without spoiling too much Chise's age is used as a plot device that would perhaps have less impact if she was 18 or older. Additionally, aside from literally two short scenes that made me feel slightly uncomfortable, there isn't really much about Elias that even whispers "pedophile". Do I think all this gives them free pass? No chance. There are many things about Japanese culture I will never understand fully. I still think it's wack, and I'm sad because otherwise this is a perfect show.

Please watch this show its amazing 👏

While my original rating of this show stands at a 8/10, I came to revisit this show and cant help but feel conflicted. Some way or another my rating got brought up by one of my friends, who adamantly disagreed with it. So I watched it again with their points in mind, and I cant help by agree with some of them.

The shows sets itself up as a story of discovering ones self identity and coming to terms with that while being comfortable around others. We see Miyamura, an introverted, antisocial high school teen, come into contact with Hori, an extroverted, popular, always perfect ... class queen, and what do we find out but that they are almost completely different people outside of school.

I give this show the most credit in that it feels like one of the most realistic high school romances I've ever seen. The dialogue feels natural and unforced, the awkwardness isn't overdone or out of place and most notably the connection between the characters doesn't feel forced. These are common "tropes" found in Anime that I honestly cant fault for, but unless done properly can be annoying at times. But what happens when you do everything super realistically? It can be kind of boring. Some of the appeal I get from Romantic Comedy anime is that ridiculousness of knowing what dumb decision the character is going to make before they make it, or cringing alongside them when they say something off putting or super awkward. To me, Hori and Miya just seem emotionally perfect by the end of the show. I guess I just want them to retain some of their flaws while acknowledging them to better themselves emotionally Like for example...

When Miyamura cut his hair, it really just didn't sit well for me. The first time I watched this show I didn't have a problem but the second time I kind of find this to be a contradiction in some aspects. The show is setting itself up so that Miyamura can some to terms with his past self and be comfortable in his element. While he's embarrassed by his tattoos and piecing's I wanted him to find himself more comfortable at school. The first time he vists Hori's house when he had all his piercings on and his hair up, THATS the Miyamura I wanted him to be at school. But when the school finds out him and Hori and dating, they scoff at him for not being good enough for her, and Miyamura's reaction is to cut his hair??? If anything he should've put it up and wore it proud. It makes him unique more than anything. He goes from this complex emotionally deep character to your average MC in one episode.

I'm not going to get to deep into some of the homophobia arguments as I think a lot of it is more or less reading in between the lines. I think there are a few moments where this show does struggle to be socially aware. For example one time Hori told Miyamura something along the lines of "Now I have to worry about you cheating on me with other guys" as a reaction to guys checking Miyamura out. I think this choice of dialogue is weird, and I know it gets weirder in the Manga, but my interpretation is not this, and I think it's better if it isn't. If something in this show made you feel uncomfortable, I'm truly sorry.

So do I think less of this show on my second watch? Nope! Still a pretty solid show overall. I think if anything my originally rating should've been a 9/10 and on second watch that would be moved to an 8.

Great show with some weird flaws, I still highly recommend it.

Call of the Night is well executed supernatural romance with an aesthetic that's nothing short of eye candy. Right off the bat, it showcases a unique and exciting color pallet that feels like a psychedelic wonderscape. While some of the dialogue is an eye-roll, this show doesn't skimp on the interpersonal relationships of the characters themselves. It manages to stay quirky and delirious, while simultaneously being elusive and thought-provoking. While some may be put off by the absurdity of this show, others will be drawn in by the rich metaphysical commentary it displays so well.

You can read extended reviews on my page, thanks! (pending)

While this review does contain spoilers, I tried my best not to reveal anything super major.


Exposition (skip if you've watched this show already) -
Conceptually, this show is very intriguing. The naïve and inexperienced Kaede, ventures into a new game genre by recommendation of her close friend Risa, but decides she doesn't want to get hurt while playing and so she maxes out her defense immediately, neglecting all of the other stats. Despite this, Kaede, known as "Maple" in game has practically found a cheat code, weather it be coincidence or sheer luck. We are later introduced Risa's character, Sally, who is almost the opposite ... of Maple. Rather than relying on many skills Sally uses her real life reflexes, to her advantage. Sometimes even tricking opponents into thinking those reflexes are skills.

Thoughts (and a bit more exposition)
This show might be one of the most real-to-life representations of what an actual MMO would be, other than the literal juggernaut that is Maple. The whole idea of this show is that you have a character who's very inexperienced that somehow finds herself as the "final boss". Almost every episode Maple finds some equipment piece or skill that's just incredibly overpowered, slowly becoming a threat to the "big guilds" and even the game developers. Do I think it's dumb to have a nearly unkillable MC? Sort of... but the shows dynamic makes up for this with the added aspect that those who are around Maple, are very susceptible to danger, mostly by the giant target on Maple's head. Where this show falls apart for me is NOT with how ridiculously overpowered the MC is (at least not for the most part) but more so in how poorly the characters are built, and how little attention they get. Maple's guild members each have their own special set of talents giving them unique and interesting roles, Maple serving as the almighty shield to them all. But it falls flat for me simply because of how little the show makes me care about the other characters. Each members personality, with the exception of Risa, feels bland and incomplete. For example, in one episode Risa stumbles upon Maple building a sand castle with this random kid, Kanade, who has this random spell cube that is just briefly explained. That's literally all I could tell you about him. This show would be so much better if instead of focusing on the main character so intensely we got to see more time out of the characters around her. More than half an episode is spent on Maple doing a multi stage quests that ends up giving her another overpowered skill. In that same episode I found it cool when Maple brings this skill to her craftsmen, Iz, who makes a new set of white and gold armor to properly accompany the aesthetic, and further justify Iz' role in the guild. BUT THE ARMOR SET IS NEVER USED?! She uses the exact ability meant to be paired with the armor, multiple times, but we don't see the new armor once. It just seems so pointless.

Where I feel this show went wrong is just how much attention they gave to Maple. The whole demon morph ability "Atrocity" feels like it would be much better suited if it was on literally anybody else. Also the "Machine God" ability would have been PERFECT if it were given to someone like Iz or Kanade. It just seems like such a fumble to have Maple be the one with all these super overpowered attacking abilities and not her guild members. The show just feels so close to being really good but has so many poor decisions.

So why a 7? Well, I liked it. Maybe sometime later I'll move it down to a 6, but I honestly feel like with a bit of tweaking to the story in the second season, this show has everything it needs to be great.

It is ridiculous? yes.
Is it corny? sometimes.
Does it make any sense whatsoever? no.

Is it f*cking awesome!? YEAH!

This show rules. Yeah, there's a lot of fanservice. Yeah, you probably shouldn't watch it in public. Yeah, it's a little off the rails. But my god is this show a breath of fresh air. Going into this I was a little sketched right out of the gate by the first three eps having fanservice in practically every scene. It wasn't really catching me until very suddenly at the end of episode 3. This show does a fantastic job leaving you at the edge of your seat. Without spoiling ... anything, all I have to say is be ready for some plot twists.

There were some things I didn't quite like about this show however. Most of the action in this show is kickass but some of the characters feel a bit too ridiculous. That said what I applaud this show so much for is not taking itself seriously, while simultaneously having a really good plot. Sometimes it can be so ridiculous and make zero sense at all, but everything just feels right. I apologize to any Mako stans, but she's annoying as fuck, and I ended up skipping most of her scenes. I did watch this dubbed, and all of the cast killed it. Still found Mako annoying as fuck though, sorry. Ryuko is probably now one of my favorite anime heroines of all time after this show.

Great show. Look past the fan service, and there's a lot to unpack.

8.8/10

Okay... let me start off by saying... I did not expect this show to be as good as it was.

I really, really, enjoyed this show. Despite having slice-of-life elements, almost every episode of Lycoris Recoil was, simply put, really good. Speaking of slice-of-life, the show does a fantastic job of switching between that and action. Every scene just feels right, even if it has no major impact on the story. The Animation in the show clearly shows an extensive budget with some really talented artists. But by far Lycoris Recoil's strongest trait is its character design. Aside from Kraft Lawrence and Holo (Spice & Wolf), ... Chisato and Takina might be my favorite anime duo of all time. Their dynamic is just so well executed that it's very easy to look past some of the flaws in the show.

Speaking of flaws, there are a couple. First, without spoiling anything, some of the action scenes in this show logically make zero sense. However, while in some shows I would find this to be a detriment, in Lycoris Recoil it doesn't bother me one bit. If you're reading this and trying to decide if you want to watch it, this might not make a lot of sense, but trust me on this one. Second, The "opposition" I initially found to be slightly confusing, but over time it eventually started to unfold quite nicely. A couple of nitpicks with the sound design that are few and far between (I'm an audiophile to be fair) and maybe a goof with the animation once or twice (the animation is fucking incredible otherwise) but overall I simply can't find any major or even minor flaws that hinder the experience of this show. To me, a show like this can have flaws and still be an amazing show.

9.3/10... Well done A-1.

"Spice and Wolf" is a captivating and unique anime series that blends elements of fantasy, economics, and romance. The show takes place in a medieval world where humans coexist with various animal gods. The story follows the adventures of a traveling merchant, Kraft Lawrence, and a wolf goddess named Holo.

The anime's storytelling is its strongest aspect, as it manages to keep the audience invested in the characters and their journey. The interactions between Lawrence and Holo are charming and endearing, and the way their relationship develops over the course of the series is both heartwarming and exciting. The series also incorporates a lot of economic ... theory, which might seem dull at first but is surprisingly engaging and informative.

The animation and art style are beautiful, and the show does an excellent job of capturing the medieval aesthetic. The backgrounds and scenery are richly detailed, and the character designs are unique and memorable. The soundtrack is equally impressive, with a beautiful and haunting score that captures the mood of the series perfectly.

Overall, "Spice and Wolf" is an excellent anime that is well worth watching. It offers a compelling and unique blend of fantasy, economics, and romance, and its charming characters and beautiful animation make for a memorable viewing experience. I have personally fallen in love with this show and have rewatched it multiple times. It is currently my favorite TV series of all time.

Tsurezure Children is a quirky short length romantic comedy with genuinely well executed dialogue.

While most romcoms you find will have that sort of "buildup" element where things only really become official towards the end of the series, Tsurezure Children break tradition by giving us not just a dating couple, but many dating couples. The only thing I would've liked out of this show is to see these the different couples have some interactions between each other. What makes the show stand out is some of the dialogue is genuinely really funny and interesting. You get almost every color of the rainbow when it comes ... to personalities and dynamics.

While I would give this show closer to a 7/10, comparing it to some of the other Romcoms I have watched, it stands out to me for being unique, short, and an overall fun experience. Not to mention in the English dub literally almost single voice actor I recognize. Jad Saxton's character is hilariously funny.