SEASONAL PRATTLE
It’s another week and yet another dose of Munou na Nana doing what it does best – placing its brand of tension, manipulation, and deceit in an excellent position for success. Needless to say, there’s a lot to appreciate in Nine’s approach when framing Nana’s scheming and its following twists, namely being strong in how it meshes plausible trains of thought with convincing acting. It’s a treat to see this show work its character-heavy beats here especially one on one with “Michiru” and Nana, and this chunk of the narrative never wastes those opportunities – putting pressure on Nana in a couple of sneaky ways that only lead to an immense one with Jin’s introduction and another finely pulled cliffhanger. This series’ level of writing isn’t the deepest, but it just refuses to bore or sputter like a variety of shows.
Jujutsu Kaisen (9)
“Exterior talents are well represented yet complemented by a sound floor of traditional storytelling”
This is the kind of routine showing that’s good to see out of Jujutsu Kaisen – where the show’s exterior talents are well represented yet complemented by a sound floor of traditional storytelling. I was really wondering how Kaisen would maneuver itself into a suitable position after last week’s 11th-hour change in narrative, and it turns out the trick was just to use proper framing devices and let Junpei and Nanami carry as leads while the underlying details fill in the cracks and glue it together. And even though episode nine had its fair share of ground covered with its multiple character introductions, it didn’t feel rushed at all – pretty much all interactions between our sorcerers felt earned, and material that had clear tonal intentions had ample room to settle so they never came off as truly jarring when switched. Good stuff.
Tonikaku Kawaii (9)
“The amount of second-hand embarrassment crests, overshadowing what good sentiments its opening material brought”
The new entry of Tonikaku Kawaii has come and gone, proving that the series’ appetite for soft blushing and light scenario writing is still very much real and further starving an already skinny narrative with more empty calories. Episode nine is a seesaw of quality: Initially, our content handles itself well, finding some good comedic mileage out of Aya’s crush being exposed and the general exploits of Nasa’s new living situation with her family. However, the flow of this episode goes downstream from there. Tsukasa needing to get her laundry done is ultimately composed out of some of Nasa’s most awkward lines of dialogue to date, and the following shopping trip for new clothes isn’t much better. By the time Nasa is sheepishly wondering if he would be able to see his wife in her underwear someday, the amount of second-hand embarrassment crests, overshadowing what good sentiments its opening material brought.
Kamisama ni Natta Hi (8)
“Unveiling a background long-anticipated, but inevitably struggling to pull the emotional levers it’s aiming for”
At the sight of Kamisama ni Natta Hi eighth episode, it would seem that the series finally decided to put an end to its poor ways and focus on competently progressing the narrative – or so one would think. If there is anything worthy of praise within this anime, that has to be its consistency to flop – various in method, length, and impact but always present nonetheless. Episode eight had the honor of taking the first real stab at Hina’s character, unveiling a background long-anticipated, but inevitably struggling to pull the emotional levers it’s aiming for due to pure shabby writing and execution. Not only are Hina’s revealed circumstances underscored by a melodramatic illness and broken parenting, angles that are highly worn in Maeda’s work, but the build and close of it all belong in the trash. There’s a fair share of badly placed tonal shifts as our content tries its hand at romantic and comedic efforts and even worse, abysmal character acting / logic. Hina’s dad basically no selling the gravity of seeing his daughter that he assumed died a while ago for a large chunk of the episode is one thing, but not even getting confirmation that it’s really her standing in front of him and just going with her claims is another. What a mess.
Kimi to Boku no Saigo no Senjou, Aruiwa Sekai ga Hajimaru Seisen (8)
“Not amounting to anything too noteworthy”
Kimisen offers an episode much in the vein of last week – not being glaringly awful in its content or delivery but also not amounting to anything too noteworthy either as it relates to those very same aspects. With that said, this eight entry is a mild, stepping stone-ish affair with more excitement and upside for what Salinger is going to do next now that Iska arrived as opposed to anything his material accomplished here. Decent action beats with Rin and one of Alice’s better exchanges with Iska pre-prison break round this one out.
