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Oct 15, 2025
Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era may quite simply be the prettiest in the entire series. As a movie, it has the space to capture all that makes Umamusume so wonderful: winning drive, rivalry, and the heartbreak that accompanies the chase for a dream. It also feels distinctly separate from the main series, though. This time, it's Jungle Pocket, who's much more cocky and confident than some of the other heroes, but you can tell behind that attitude that she's got a lot of self-doubt. I enjoyed that about her. She's questioning what victory even is to her and whether or not
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she deserves it. That mix of swagger and insecurity made her a really engaging main character to follow.
Agnes Tachyon, though, completely stole the spotlight for me. She’s so different from any other Uma we’ve seen before—intelligent, calm, and with this cool, mysterious vibe that makes her stand out right away. The whole idea of fate versus choice tied into her story gave the movie a surprising amount of depth. I just wish she'd had more time on screen, because there was so much going on there that never quite got written. Manhattan Cafe was interesting as well, but her subplot was incomplete, and I found myself wanting to learn more about what propelled her. Dantsu Flame was my own personal favorite design of the movie; she's just so cute and sweet, but she was mainly used as a friendly foil and didn’t get much beyond that. Seriously, though, that is where the biggest flaw of the movie is—the length. Because it's a movie and not an entire season, many of these characters didn’t get the character development they deserved. It never comes off as rushed or skeletal to the extent of ruining things, but you can certainly tell some of the arcs were cut short.
But then I must talk about the animation because, oh boy, this was on a different level. The race scenes were tremendous. The camerawork, the emphasis in the running, and even the little details in the characters' faces did the trick to make everything pop. It really compares with some of the best shonen animation I've seen recently. There were a few pieces of comic relief here and there that made me smile, but beyond that, the movie was otherwise more serious than usual. It fell short a little of the same family-friendly environment or lightheartedness present within the television series, and with the change in tone came a noticeable shift in atmosphere. The sound effects weren't quite as strong as I would have preferred. The background score was good enough for the tone, but it didn't hit with the same impact as before. At least, though, voice acting was incredible. Sumire Uesaka aced Tachyon's personality—she gave her this cool but confident vibe that lingered with me. Yuri Fujimoto also did a fine job with Jungle Pocket, bringing her to life with a lot of emotion, and the short cameos for the top-name characters were also appreciated.
In general, I would give Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era 8/10. It's an excellent entry into the series and a huge improvement in the visuals department. While the shorter runtime hurt some of the character depth and the tone leaned a bit too serious for my taste, it still delivered a heartfelt and exciting story with some of the franchise’s best animation yet. If you’ve been a fan of Umamusume, this movie is definitely worth watching. It might not have that same fuzzy, warm, wholesome charm that the TV show had, but it makes up with this sense of ambition, drive, and a strong emotional core.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Oct 12, 2025
I really enjoyed Uma Musume: Pretty Derby Season 3 and found it to be another solid, wholesome addition to the franchise. This season follows Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond as they rise through the ranks, aiming to prove themselves among Japan’s top racers. It’s packed with all the charm and heart that make Uma Musume so appealing. Kitasan Black is a wonderful lead. She’s hardworking, earnest, and easy to root for, and even if she’s a bit more understated compared to past favorites like Teio or Special Week, her sweet personality and determination make her genuinely likable.
Satono Diamond adds a fun dynamic as a rival,
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helping to push Kitasan forward while showing her own skills and strengths. I especially loved her character design, which reminded me of one of my Hololive oshis, Mumei, who graduated earlier this year. Some side characters appear briefly, and while most don’t get a ton of development, their appearances still add little moments of humor and charm that fans of the series will enjoy. The emotional beats are present throughout, and even with the competition-focused story, the season still delivers heartwarming moments and the series’ signature wholesome tone.
Where this season really shines is in the production. Studio KAI knocked it out of the park with the animation. Every race looks intense and full of energy, with some of the best sequences across the entire series. The sound design adds to that excitement, especially the pounding hooves and cheering crowds, and the music perfectly captures both the energetic and emotional moments. Voice acting is excellent across the board, with every seiyuu bringing their character to life in both dialogue and songs. Overall, I’d give Season 3 a 7/10. While it might not reach the emotional highs of some previous seasons, it’s still a thoroughly enjoyable watch with fun characters, exciting races, and that wholesome, feel-good energy that keeps me coming back to this series.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Oct 12, 2025
My Hero Academia season four was another strong entry in the series and one that I'd rate an easy 8/10. This season probably held my favorite arc to date with the Overhaul arc. It contained everything I could've asked for from this series, with some great action, emotional character growth, and impactful character moments that stayed with me long after I'd finished watching. The whole Shie Hassaikai arc truly invested me because the stakes were so high, especially for both the heroes and villains on a personal level. Overhaul himself was one of the series' greatest villains up to this point, in my opinion. His
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personality of being calm and calculating, combined with his frightening quirk and warped sense of "purity," made him truly menacing. I also loved Sir Nighteye and the manner in which his dynamic with All Might, Midoriya, and Mirio added an extra emotional depth to this arc. His seriousness regarding heroism was a good balance to All Might's positivity, and how he believed in Mirio and came to have more respect for Midoriya made him a character that I found myself very attached to. Mirio and Eri were definite standouts for me as well. Mirio's scene was one of the most powerful and emotional moments of the series, and Eri's storyline was heartbreaking but uplifting when she finally smiled again. Midoriya's fight against Overhaul was just incredible, both animation-wise and emotionally, and I loved getting to see how much he's developed, not just in abilities, but in being so set on saving people.
The second half with the school festival was definitely a disappointment in terms of energy, and quite frankly, it kinda took away from the pacing for me since the first half was so good. While it was sweet to see Eri get to have fun and enjoy a normal day since all she's been through, the whole Gentle Criminal and La Brava subplot just didn't do it for me. Their reasons were strange and sort of felt off from the overall story, and the arc itself felt more like filler. It wasn't terrible by any stretch, the festival parts were cool, and it let Class 1-A bond, but in comparison to the emotional impact of the Overhaul arc, it felt a little disappointing. However, it was a good cooldown from the intense preceding episodes and demonstrated that no battle needs to be life or death to be meaningful.
The final few episodes cranked things up in a rush, with focus now being placed on Endeavor and Hawks. The fight with the High-End Nomu was one of the better animated battles of the entire season and was reminiscent of something from a film. I'm still somewhat torn regarding Endeavor as a character because it's hard to forget all the things he's done to his family, but I think the show did a nice job of showing him attempt to reform and take on the role of the new number one hero. Hawks was a nice addition too, confident and stylish, and nice to watch while also looking like he might have something more going on behind the character. The animation was consistently excellent, especially the climactic fight scenes, and character designs still looked great. Again, the music was great, with openings and closings that lingered in my mind, and the soundtrack blended superhero flair with tension perfectly. Both dubs' voice acting was also excellent. The English dub can be a bit too much at times, but it still got the job done where it had to and did not sound off. Both versions of Midoriya were great, Bakugo’s rage felt real, and All Might’s voice acting continues to be the best in the series.
Overall, I’d give season four an 8 out of 10. It delivered some of the most exciting and emotional moments of the entire show, gave plenty of growth to both the heroes and villains, and pushed the story forward in a big way. While the middle section dragged on a bit, the highs were some of the best in this series' history. If the past seasons were all about setting things up, season four is like everything coming together in a more mature and emotionally resonant way that left me even more excited for what's next.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Oct 6, 2025
I thought Uma Musume: Pretty Derby – Road to the Top was another great entry in this super cute and wholesome franchise. Even with just four episodes, it still managed to tell a good story and have some really great emotional moments. The trio of Top Road, Opera O, and Vega was all great to watch. Top Road is easy to root for; she's determined and hardworking in a way that makes you like her right away. Opera O is just brimming with self-confidence, but she's still sweet and encouraging at heart, which makes her personality so enjoyable. Vega was the most interesting to me
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because of her mental struggles and how she coped with the pressures of racing. I also liked getting to see a bit more of Rice Shower and Haru Urara, despite their brief appearances—they always bring that little something extra that reminds me why I love this series so much.
The storyline itself was solid, if a bit rushed in pacing, because there are, after all, only four episodes to cram everything into. Still, I thought it did a great job in expressing the tension, grit, and emotional element of competition. The races were exciting and felt packed with energy, and each character's motivation resonated. It doesn't hit the same emotional peaks as season 2, but for what it set out to do—focusing on a smaller cast of Uma Musume and depicting their growth—it entirely worked for me.
Animation-wise, Cygames really outdid themselves here. It honestly looked close to movie quality at times, with some fantastic lighting, smooth character movements, and beautifully drawn race sequences. I’d even say it looked better than the main series in some spots. The character designs are as adorable as ever, and the way they capture each Uma’s personality through expressions and little details is just great. The music was similarly wonderful—catchy, energetic, and precisely fitting the energy of the show. Even the sound design stood out, especially in the races, where the pounding hooves contributed so much to the tension. Voice acting was flawless as usual; everybody brought so much life and personality to their characters.
Overall, Road to the Top was a short but truly enjoyable watch that added even more heart and sparkle to the Uma Musume franchise. I gave it 8/10 because it struck all the right chords for me—funny, wholesome, poignant, and downright beautiful to watch.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Oct 3, 2025
I liked the first season of Uma Musume, but season two completely blew it out of the water for me. The storyline this season was a lot more dramatic and realistic, revolving around Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen. I already found Teio to be cute at the start, but getting to see her highs and lows throughout the season really touched my heart. She's such a lively, playful personality, but the way she struggled to move on shattered my heart so horribly. Teio and McQueen’s relationship was absolutely the show's soul for me, and I also liked how Teio looked up to Symboli Rudolf, and
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it was a great nod to her true heritage. McQueen was terrific, too, more mature and quieter than Teio, and I adored how their relationship was handled. Their relationship really propelled the whole season and brought more emotional complexity to it than I ever expected.
The rest of the supporting cast also got some great moments this season. Special Week and the rest of Team Spica were always pleasant to have on hand, providing the comic relief and keeping the show wholesome even in the drama. Gold Ship was also her usual comedic self, swiping scenes at every turn, and Twin Turbo was a new favorite for just being so bonkers and ridiculous. But the standout was Rice Shower. She has little screentime, but her brief arc was really great and got me to care about her in a way I didn't expect. With a little bit of her actual life history, it makes it more emotional, and I felt the anime treated her with the sympathy she deserved. One of the things I love most about the series in general is how there is no cattiness or belligerence in the rivalries or competitions. Of course, they all want to win and get mad when they lose, but they remain polite, nice, and ultimately friends, which makes the show so much healthier to watch.
Production-wise, I think Studio KAI certainly took it to the next level from season one. The races became more intense and exciting with some excellent animation on the climactic sequences, particularly the ending. You can really feel the intensity when they're racing with that heavy thudding sound effect that sends shivers down your spine. The character designs were still very cute, and I liked how expressive they were in the comedic and emotional scenes. The music was once again showcased, complete with catchy songs and a well-tuned score that mirrored the ferocity of the races. Voice acting-wise, it was just as great as it was previously. Teio's seiyuu particularly impressed me since she managed to be so cute in the lighthearted scenes but nailed the emotional scenes without ever losing her character. The rest of the voice cast performed admirably as well, and listening to them sing their own respective songs always adds an extra level of magic.
Season two of Uma Musume was all I could have wished for and more. It preserved the gentle wholesomeness of the first season but added more drama, character study, and emotional depth that made it a far better experience. I laughed quite a bit, I cried on cue, and I left feeling like I was sure to care about these folks even more than I already do. I gave it a 9/10 because it completely hit the perfect balance for me of fun, adorable, and serious.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Oct 1, 2025
Season three of My Hero Academia was another fantastic season and had me hooked from start to finish. I enjoyed that it began right away with massive events to test the students and just kept building and building until it hit some of the most epic fights in the series so far. Of all the arcs, the Hideout Raid and its fallout ended up being my favorite. Those fights in that part were insane, and it made me respect All Might on a whole different level. I mean, when I first started this series, I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy him because he
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came across a bit cheesy at first. However, in the most recent seasons, he's had some of the best moments in the show, and this season completely cemented him as my favorite character.
Midoriya also stood out this season, and I liked how he kept growing not just in terms of ability, but in his strategy for fighting. He's starting to use his head more and adapt, so his fights are interesting because you can see him think on his feet. He's also learning more leadership skills, but he's still wild and gets himself into dangerous spots. Bakugo got a lot of attention too, and while I still think he's too harsh and violent for my taste, I will say he did grow some in this aspect here. What I appreciated most about this season, though, was that some of the other characters got their time in the spotlight. We met new heroes like the Pussycats and the Big Three, and supporting characters like Tokoyami, Iida, and Uraraka all got their time in the limelight with moments that made the class feel more fleshed out. The villains also felt more menacing than ever, with their new squads shaking things up quite a bit.
The production side of things was as sound as ever. The animation was slick, smooth, and dynamic, especially in the big fight scenes. Some of the action honestly looked movie-quality, and the character designs still burst with personality. The music was great again, too, with openings and endings that stayed stuck in my head and background tracks that struck just the right combination of superhero panache and shonen energy. The voice acting in both languages was really solid. I still think the English dub can be a bit too much, but it did a fantastic job overall. Both versions of Midoriya got his emotional highs spot on, Bakugo's rage was realistic, and All Might's voice acting is still the absolute best.
Overall, I’d give season three an 8/10. It delivered some of the most exciting and emotional moments of the series so far, gave plenty of growth to the main cast, and raised the stakes in ways that make me even more curious to see where things go next. If season one was the setup and season two was the build, then season three feels like the point where everything really starts coming together.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 29, 2025
I've been eagerly waiting to watch Umamusume: Pretty Derby for a pretty long time. Part of the reason is the game it's based on, which has built up such an immense fan base. I never got all that much opportunity to play it myself, but I quickly fell in love with both the characters and especially with the real-life racehorses they're inspired by. That mix of sports anime and horse racing history was too tempting for me to pass over. My own favorites are Gold Ship and Haru Urara, and even though they don't make nearly as many appearances in this first season as the
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others do, the focus on Special Week and Silence Suzuka was equally charming. Special Week is simply adorable, but honestly, that goes for nearly all of the umas. The series as a whole is really wholesome, and when they do the races, those are really fun and rather suspenseful. I also liked the way they handled Suzuka's storyline with her real-life counterpart, which was respectful without becoming downbeat.
The series is about Special Week as she trains at Tracen Academy and strives to become Japan's best horse girl. With so few episodes at only thirteen, the season is mostly her coming-of-age and dealing with Team Spica, but there are nice little moments sprinkled in for others like Tokai Teio, Grass Wonder, and El Condor Pasa. I did wish they'd brought more of the supporting cast into their own moment in the sun, but I see why they kept things focused, given how enormous the cast is. The team chemistry is fun to watch, and the balance of comedy and drama works really well. Gold Ship especially kept me laughing and kind of stole every scene she was in, which helped keep the mood light even during the more serious stretches.
On the production side, I’d call the anime solid. The animation is not anything special, but it's good enough to shine during the races and training, and I really enjoyed all of the character designs since each one of them has some sort of charm. The racing scenes are also properly choreographed, with proper utilization of camera work and added songs to make them appear dramatic. The music is also sweet and memorable all the way through, and the sound design delivers the speediness just right. The voice acting itself is also fantastic, with every actress nailing her role and even singing her own songs. I especially loved Gold Ship's performance, although I do have to confess I'm a wee bit biased there, but Special Week and Suzuka's voices also impressed for how well they brought their respective personalities to life. All in all, the first season of Umamusume was a delightful and entertaining watch. I gave it 8/10 since it may not be the most polished sports anime out there, but it did exactly what I required of it with an enjoyable narrative, lovable characters, and a healthy dose of charm that had me smiling all the way through.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 27, 2025
I wasn't sure what to think of the 2024 remake of Ranma ½, but honestly, I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. I remember catching glimpses of the original years back, but this time around, I actually watched it through. What I enjoyed most was that the show doesn't try to tell some huge, heavy, long-term story. Instead, it's episodic, and the majority of attention is actually just on Ranma and Akane slowly developing their relationship as they sort of trudge through all the chaos that's around them. That was really great for me. They definitely annoy each other,
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but you can tell there's something genuine starting to form between them, and that adds this wonderful little amount of heart to all the jokes.
The humor is actually the highlight here. Ranma's curse is funny no matter how many times it occurs, and I have to admit I kinda adored his girl form. His father, being a panda, was having me laugh a lot more than I expected. I don't personally care for the whole "arranged marriage" concept that the series uses to get things rolling, but the characters make it work. Akane was probably my favorite of the cast. She's short-tempered and hot-headed, but also sweet as can be when she lets her guard down. Ryoga was a stand-out, both as comic relief and as a character who is more of an adversary. The guy can't get his bearings, and the pig thing is just dumb, but he's still a good guy at heart, so you can't really help but not despise him even when he's being a bit of a jerk. The supporting characters help add to the flavor, too. Kuno and his sister Kodachi did have some pretty solid moments, too, and Shampoo was a blast when she showed up. The only plot development I wasn't really keen on was the figure skating plot, but even that had some jokes in it that managed to make me laugh.
The visuals were also top-notch in this remake, as they kept the feel of the original art style but polished it with modern animation. It was old and new at the same time, exactly what I was hoping for. The fight scenes and over-the-top martial arts sequences looked really sharp, and they even still carried that hyperbolic, silly energy that makes this show so great. The music was a pleasant surprise as well. It has that bouncy, carefree sort of quality that fits the humor so perfectly, but also resonates on an emotional level when it has to. I was also delighted to see so many of the original Japanese cast members return, as their acting really grounds the characters. I watched it mostly in Japanese, but I also checked out the English dub and found it to be good all-around.
I really enjoyed viewing this overall. Ranma ½ (2024) isn't the sort of show you watch for substantial plot or dense drama, but it doesn't need to be. It's funny, lighthearted, and backed by heroes who are similarly ridiculous and endearing in their own ways. Sure, there were definitely a few weaker arcs, and the forced interaction gimmick isn't necessarily my favorite thing, but it was able to keep me hooked front to back anyway. I gave it a 7/10 because while it’s not perfect, it’s a really cute and consistently funny watch that I’d happily come back to for a laugh.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Sep 26, 2025
Season two of My Hero Academia was just an amazing continuation of that quick first season. With 25 episodes rather than 13, it was really able to develop the world and get more time with the side characters, which I personally loved. The plot really got going immediately with the U.A. Sports Festival arc, which, to be honest, was actually one of my favorites. It’s the classic tournament setup you’d expect in a shonen, but it worked so well because it gave everyone in Class 1-A a chance to shine. The highlight for me was definitely the fight between Todoroki and Midoriya. That battle wasn’t
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just exciting visually; it was also loaded with emotional weight, especially with Todoroki’s backstory coming to the surface. Midoriya encouraging him to accept himself for who he was and fight with everything he had was one of those defining moments that stuck with me.
And then the mood of the season shifted with the Hero Killer Stain arc, where things got dark. Stain was such an ominous villain, and his whole theory on heroes being lies or corrupted made him scarier than another antagonist carrying a weapon around. The fact that he existed became a source of inspiration for future antagonists, and that made him even more important to the story. I also liked that this development plotline gave Iida his own chance to grow as a character, and his internal conflict made the ordeal even more impactful. The battles in those episodes were brutal and intense, and they effectively portrayed just how dangerous the world outside of the classroom actually is.
The final exam arc was also a highlight, mainly because it forced kids to band together and fight their teachers. It was not necessarily about sheer strength, though, but also strategy and teamwork, and I loved seeing the different personalities conflict with each other. The best part of this for me was definitely Midoriya and Bakugo's reluctant partnership with All Might. I'm still not that big of a fan of Bakugo in general because he still comes across more as a bully than an adversary for the majority of it, but even I have to admit his growth during that fight was good. Seeing him and Midoriya manage to push All Might into a corner was quite satisfying.
Production-wise, I think season two was better than season one. The animation in the epic fights, especially Todoroki vs. Midoriya and Stain's fight, was great. I also adored the character designs even more this time, and even the more over-the-top ones still had so much attitude. The music was incredible, with all the openings and endings being ridiculously catchy, and the background score capturing that superhero meets shonen atmosphere to a tee. And speaking of voice acting, both the Japanese and English casts were fantastic, though I do feel that the English dub is a little too over-the-top at times. But Midoriya's emotional highs and lows translated perfectly in both languages, and All Might's voice actors are still the stars, both his thundering hero personality and his more vulnerable moments perfectly captured.
Overall, I’d give season two an 8/10. It took everything season one built up and expanded it, giving the side characters more development, delivering some incredible fights, and introducing a villain in Stain who actually made the world feel more dangerous. While Bakugo is not really my favorite, and Shigaraki is not fully sold as a main villain at this point yet, the season ended strongly with foreshadowing for bigger threats on the horizon. It got me super hyped for what is to come, especially with All For One and the introduction of new villains like Toga and Dabi.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 25, 2025
Spy x Family Season 2 was an amazing follow-up to the series, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although the overall plot of Operation Strix did not necessarily move forward that much this season, I simply didn't care that much because the focus was turned onto Yor, and she absolutely stole the show. The cruise ship arc in particular was incredible, showing us how well-suited she is to being an assassin while still being the same adorkable, slightly clumsy Yor that we love. Seeing her balance the lethal mission with her clumsy home life aspect of things provided some of the best episodes of the season,
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and I was so stoked she finally got her due attention.
The rest of the supporting cast held on to plenty of charm as well. Anya is still as adorable and funny as ever, always keeping everyone in a good mood with her responses and over-the-top reactions. Loid was his usual calm, professional self, but you can really feel how much he's growing as a father. His and Yor's relationship can definitely use some more development, but their dynamic is still so much fun to watch. Even Bond got some attention this season, and that was lovely to see, and Fiona had one wonderful episode where her Twilight obsession was the central theme. She wasn’t around for long this time, but she definitely left a lasting impression.
Technically, the show is still blowing me away. The animation was silky and flashy, especially when it came to Yor's fight scenes in the cruise arc, which were among the series' greatest action scenes up to that point. The music and sound still went along with each other, keeping the tone perfectly balanced between action, comedy, and drama. Both casts of Japanese and English voice work were excellent, with Saori Hayami and Natalie Van Sistine shining really brightly as Yor. They nailed her combination of poise, deadliness, and comedic awkwardness. Anya's voice acting is also one of the series' highlights once again.
Overall, I'd conclude that Season 2 was another strong effort from Spy x Family. It may not have pushed the overall mission forward, but it leaned into character moments, heart, and comedy, and I was more than happy to see it do so. I scored it 8 out of 10 because it served up a really fun season that allowed Yor her moment in the spotlight, kept Anya as sweet as she was ever going to be, and preserved the first-rate production standards that make this show so much fun to watch.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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