Week three, that traditional inflection point for any new season… Some shows make the cut, others are on probation, and course there’s some Seriously Good Stuff (*cough*Jellyfish*cough*) as well. Hit the jump and let’s run ’em down.
The shows that I’m watching are in bold, shows my wife and I are watching together are in bold italics, strikethrough marks dropped shows and (*) marks shows that are watched but not regularly reviewed.
Oblivion Battery
Train to the End of the World
Let’s get the easy ones out of the way first:
Both shows had first episodes that were… problematic for various reasons. Oblivion was just loud and stupid. Train was somehow both chaotic and leaden. And when it came time for the second episodes, I just couldn’t drum up any enthusiasm.
In what’s developing into a moderately busy season, that’s not a good sign.
Status: Dropped.
Bartender Glass of God
Eps 2-3
Bartender: Kami no Glass
Bartender has shifted to a more character driven approach… Which is not a bad thing, not at all. Characters are the heart of all shows, right? The problem here is that the main characters are all still pretty insubstantial and the side characters are largely cardboard. That’s a pretty precarious place to be at this point in the season.
Status: Hanging on by it’s fingertips. A character driven show needs a bit more substance to its characters. Some sign of growth and progress would be nice too.
Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night
Eps 2-3
Yoru no Kurage wa Oyogenai
Kiwi and Mei are solid additions to the cast, and I like how the show has explored their backstories. And how their stories are intertwined with and illuminate Mahiru and Kano’s stories. And now we’ve got four girls with complicated (and unhappy) pasts – giving those pasts the big ol’ middle finger. They’re gonna move forward into the future. As a group. As JELLEE.
Only thing that kinda bothers me, is the lack of conflict in the group, at least so far. It’s all been just too easy. Which also makes we wonder how the group will handle the disappointments and roadblocks we know are coming. This isn’t Non Non Byori after all…
Sidenote: As I was searching for screenshots, I noticed that Kiki ended up in front of Mahiru’s jellyfish mural. Funny how that keeps happening… Coincidence? Symbolic? Incoming plot point?
Status: Y’know what? I’m buckled in for that ride. Based on just the first three episodes, I’m invested. I really wanna know what happens next.
Also, Jellyfish makes me wish I was blogging weekly again… Must resist the temptation.
If you’re not watching, you really should be.
KonoSuba – God’s blessing on this wonderful world! 3
Eps 2-3
Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! 3
Sadly, it turns out that lightning did not strike a 3rd time. With this cast, it shouldn’t be that hard… But they couldn’t manage it. It’s just leaden, rote, and spectacularly unfunny.
Status: My wife noped out after the 2nd episode, I gave it the boot halfway through the third. It’s sad to treat an old favorite so, but it’s unwatchable.
The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio
Eps 2-3
Seiyuu Radio no Uraomote
As it turned out the final scene of the 1st had been a clue to the show’s future direction… The second episode was much stronger than the first. The third episode, stronger still as it explored the girls’ complicated personal and professional relationships. And it’s clear now, they’re both awkward, lonely, and seriously lack self confidence.
Then the bombshell dropped in the last part of the episode. And a second one, this one thermonuclear, in the final scene.
The show is still rough in spots, doing a lot of telling rather than showing, but it’s more or less working out.
Status: Where will it go from here? I am very interested in finding out.
Spice and Wolf: merchant meets the wise wolf
Eps 2-4
Ookami to Koushinryou: merchant meets the wise wolf
So, pretty much a frame-for-frame remake of the original. But taken as it’s own thing, pretty mixed. One one hand, as the voice actors settle into their roles, the chemistry between Lawrence and Holo is really beginning to shine. On the flip side, this isn’t a series that demands a lot from it’s animation staff, but which does need a little more than it’s getting. (I have to admit, I was so tempted to edit that screenshot. So much of this show is needlessly dark and low contrast.)
Back in the day we watched it in dub. I’m half tempted to check out a few episodes just to hear Brina Palencia reprise her iconic performance. Will still watch the main series in sub though.
Status: It’s certainly staying in the keeper category, but there’s still room for improvement.
My Hero Academia: Memories
Eps 2-3
Boku no Hero Academia: Memories
The thematic recap had been a bit scattershot, so I wouldn’t say it’s really useful as an intro or a recap. Only one more recap episode to go, then the main series kicks off. That’s what I’m really looking forward to.
Laid-Back Camp 3rd Season
Eps 2-3
Yuru Camp Season 3
The animation style is getting less jarring over time… But anime characters over photorealistic backgrounds will never entirely not be jarring.
Other than that, it’s pretty much the same as always, a very enjoyable watch. It’s actually kind of hard to say anything about it. The one big difference is that this time around, we’ve read the manga and know what’s coming. Not that being spoiled is a problem, it’s more a case of we’re lucky enough to get to see it twice.
Ep 4
Speaking of the manga, I’ ve been waiting to see this scene animated ever since I saw it. They nailed it.
Status: Unquestioning keeper.
Sound! Euphonium 3
Eps 2-3
Hibike! Euphonium 3
Man, they’re not easing into the story… The show hit the ground running and hasn’t slowed down. It’s a bit odd that they’re not giving anything any time to breathe. I guess they don’t really need much in the way of introduction or establishing of the main cast though. I just hope they aren’t going to try and jam the whole school year into one season.
Speaking of introduction and establishment – they are spending an inordinate amount of time with the first years. But I guess they really don’t have much choice, they’re all new after all. Keep your eye on Suzume though, mark my words that girl is trouble. I don’t get her game, but I have an uneasy feeling. But I don’t think she’s actually out to cause problems…
And of course, there’s also Mayu Koroe who seems to be going out of her way to cause friction and unrest. She isn’t the Little Miss Innocent she tries to play act.
Kumiko, she seems to unexpectedly risen to the occasion as President. But I guess that most of the job is just straightforward. And she’s always got Reina to lean on. Shuichi remains an enigma as always.
Status: Going for Gold at the Nationals!
Whisper Me a Love Song
Eps 1-2
Sasayaku You ni Koi wo Utau
A rather different kind of romance. No, not the yuri. (And why would you think that? People love who they love.) But rather the nature of the relationship.
When Yori confesses to Himari… and learns that Himari meant something entirely different in her “confession… What does Yori do? Do she chase her? (Kinda.) Does she force herself on her? (Nope, if anything she’s kind of a loner who doesn’t care for being in the company of others.) Instead – she vows to become the kind of person Himari can fall for. (Which actually appears to be working.)
And overall, I’m enjoying it’s gentle approach and rather stately pace.
Status: Keeper!
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So, two first ep drops, one third ep drop, and I’m left with a nice solid eight anime season.
And I just realized I haven’t update my Anime Viewing History since 2021… Should fix that soon. The original spreadsheet is up-to-date through 2022 and shows my average per season is nine. So, I guess this season isn’t that far out of line.
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And though the calendar says spring, the weather ’round these parts refuses to cooperate. It’s currently cold and wet, more like March than April-almost-May.
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So, how has your watchlist shaken out? Busy season? Slow season? Average? Drop a comment and let’s chat about whatever crosses you mind.
Apprentice Mages Lounge. 
Okay, just the ones we share:
BARETENDER: Glass of God: So far, it seems all right, but yeah, I’m waiting for it to shift into gear. We got the point, now let’s see some story happening. Not bad, but still idling its story engine.
Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night: I’m all in. Kiui is great all around. I love Mei’s backstory and character. And of course I was already on board with Mahiru and Kano. They’ve hooked me.
Spice and Wolf: merchant meets the wise wolf: You know what? I’m still watching the second half of the earlier adaptation of this, and I am very much enjoying watching the story again. It holds up well to that earlier series. They could still make a misstep, but for now I’m happy with this.
Laid-Back Camp Δ: You said it best that the most difficult part is actually saying anything about it. Excellent, but the very nature of it limits discussion about it.
Whisper Me a Love Song: Looking forward to the next episode, which is my make-or-break for it. It seems promising, I just need to be sure. Anyway, I agree, it’s a very different love story than you usually see, and that’s good, and not just because it’s a yuri love story. We have a lot of those, those aren’t unusual anymore – and that’s a good thing – so it’s nice to see a story moving out and exploring the space allowed. And I think that its gentle and relaxed tone is directly related to it being girls’ love.
Wait, weren’t you watching Salad Bowl? Did I miss a drop? Or am I misremembering?
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I don’t remember Derek mentioning Salad Bowl; I think I did at some point? In any case, I’m watching and enjoying it. I think of it as a lesser Hinamatsuri.
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That’s probably it.
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Re: Kami no Glass ”The pieces are on the board, let’s start the game!”
Re: Shin Spice and Wolf*: I am by no means unhappy! (Especially now that the VA’s are hitting their stride.) I just think it’s about 90% of what it could be.
Re: Salad Bowl: No, I’m not watching. It just didn’t catch my eye.
* A friend has started calling it that, and I think I am too. It’s lot less to type out in conversation.
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@Shuumatsu Train: I find the show easy enough to watch. The weirdness doesn’t go too deep, but it’s not quite surface level either, and there’s been a scene that suggests our runaway has carried our mincharacters dreams with her and unleashed them with the button press. There’s more continuity than I expected, too. Still it’s not going beyond mid-tier this season. Good mid-tier maybe, but unlikely higher. More likely mid-mid-tier.
I didn’t watch more of Oblivion Battery.
@Jellyfish: For me, episodes 2 and 3 didn’t quite hold up to the standards episode 1 set, but it’s definitely still near the top. I’ve seen people compare it to A Place Further than the Universe, but it’s not nearly there. A tier lower, I’d say (which is still pretty good, no?). As for Kiui ending up before the Mural: she’s her childhood friend, and we know from episode one she’s up to date with happened with Mahiru. If it’s the scene I’m thinking of, and if I don’t misremember, I’m fairly sure she checked out the mural on purpose. She thought, she’d just disappointed and maybe lost her only friend left, so that was probably something akin to a shrine visit for her? That’s how I saw it.
Konosuba: Yeah, at that point it’s just rolling out the franchise, or so it feels. At this point I probably even preferred the Megumin spin-off. It’s still okay, but, well, not much more.
Yuru Camp: Yeah, I’m having fun. Though my favourite bridge related scene was the tanuki encounter. I’ve been experiencing diminishing returns with this series for a while now, but it seems to have found it’s comfortable ceiling with me. Agree about photorealism + anime characters. Not a good fit.
Voice Actor Radio: I thought the quality was pretty constant from the beginning. I’m sort-of lowkey liking it. As for the very ending, I thought that was her father? We’ve seen him briefly in a flashback, but I have bad visual memory and didn’t check back.
Spice and Wolf: I’d agree with pretty much everything you say. I’m hoping for the whole story this time round, though.
Euphonium: Episod 3 was my favourite yet. Beyond that I have little to say.
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re: Jellyfish: No, being a hair less than Yorimoi is not a bad place to be at all. Though, and as a Yorimoi fanboy it pains me to say this, I think Jellyfish‘s character work is a hair better at this point. I like that’s four clear intertwined stories rather than Shirase-and-everyone-else (four parallel stories).
re: Yuru Camp The tanuki bit was good too. And I forgot to mention the “egg”, being a photographer now I want to go there. Preferably in the fall. And I also want to figure out how to make some dam curry w/o fried prawns.
re: Seiyuu Radio Being her father makes sense, but would also be annoying. The “fake out scandal” trope is way overdone in idol/idol adjacent shows.
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I personally find it annoying either way, but my auto-anime-filter takes care of that. Beyond that, I’m not sure it’d be a fake-out scandal. I don’t think a divorce background is very… idolly? And it’s something anime has discussed far less. We’ll see where this goes. I’m not holding my breath, though.
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