Anime Review Blog (March, 2024)
Another anime blog is finally here! I hope you all are excited, I know I was when making this. I really revitalized my interest in anime these past 3 months, and have gotten super invested. I hope it does not burn out too soon, because I have so many shows still on my watchlist.
As usual, these are purely my opinions. If you disagree, feel free to debate with me from wherever you see this (Discord, Twitter, Reddit, etc.), because I love having healthy discussion. I try to view these from a literary analysis angle, but inherently we all have some biases. With that out of the way, let’s get started!
Spy x Family continues to show why it is one of the best recent shows with its season 2. You might be thinking “Wasn’t there already a season 2?”, but no, that was Season 1 Cour 2 (yes I hate it too). Frankly, it does not even make sense to do Cours unless it is a story-driven show that directly picks up where it left off.
Rant aside… the actual season 2 is super hype. We start with some usual slow-paced slice of life with Anya and co. In the back half though, we almost turn Shounen with how fire the fight scenes are. Just like with Dragon Maid, the random but impressive fight scenes in a slow-paced slice of life is super fun and interesting. Otherwise: It’s really just Spy x Family, remaining as one of the greats in modern anime.
Verdict: Remaining A+
Sometimes, cringe is required to be watched. After all, you don’t know what is cringe if you don’t at least try to watch it. Girlfriend, Girlfriend Season 2, though, is undoubtedly cringe. I fully knew this going in, because season 1 was also cringe. Something about this and Rent-A-Girlfriend are just so alluring. I know I’m going to facepalm and shout “WHY?!” whenever the MC does something stupid again. I am still going to watch. I guess you could say for both shows, that I am invested in certain characters (not the main character).
As for what is actually offered in season 2, mostly just more of the same. Though we have a new person added to the love… rectangle? There isn’t much recommending or selling I can do here. Watch cringe and embrace it, or reject it.
Verdict: Remaining C-
Finally, some new content! Re:Zero has been one of the few mainstream anime on my watchlist since the very beginning, but I’ve never had the time or motivation to sit down and watch it. However, winter 2024 did not have anything I was particularly interested in, and I finally gave Re:Zero the time of day.
Unlike many other anime, Re:Zero has a huge tonal shift, and not just between seasons, but even between arcs. Every arc that has been adapted has somehow felt like higher stakes than the previous, and the first arc had Subaru fighting off a succubus and barely escaping with his life.
Re:Zero is also a surprisingly philosophical show. Never before has an anime made me question “What does it mean to be alive?”, or even “What does it mean to be dead?”, and yet Re:Zero, with its unique premise and plot points, makes me think exactly that. Characters dying, only to revert the timeline after his own death in order to “correct” things is a unique way to approach an Isekai. I think it’s no mistake that the only Isekai I’ve watched so far, this and Konosuba, are special Isekai. They aren’t ultimately about escaping the real world into fantasy, but instead about the journey that one can have in a fantastical setting. Both face hardships, and really the big difference here is the character writing and how much of an emphasis comedy plays.
So would I recommend Re:Zero to anyone who hasn’t seen it yet? Yeah, I would! As I have experienced firsthand, there is an annoying arc part-way through season 1 that will make you tear your hair out. I spent a week detoxing my body of the cringe I endured. But somehow, it’s worth it. A terrible trait when creating a character, that can often ruin that character is given on purpose to give them development. Subaru’s growth over the course of Re:Zero is impressive, and it all stems from a trait that can potentially ruin characters in other media. It is truly fascinating to analyze and examine this. I’m glad I got in when I did because now I can be hyped for season 3 coming later this year.
Verdict: A+
Now that I had watched half of the cast of Isekai Quartet, I figured it was finally time to give it a try. It’s super fun! I honestly wish I was able to see this while airing. This is the perfect weekly series to follow. Not serious. not any huge plot points, just good fun comedy amongst a bunch of Isekai characters in a funny setting. If you like any of the source material shows (Konosuba, Re:Zero, Overlord, and The Saga of Tanya the Evil), you will enjoy this. While I’m not quite as sold on the other two I have not seen yet, I will definitely add them to my watch list and give them a try sometime. Overall, just a perfect brain off, laugh at goofy characters show.
Verdict: A-
Woah, Pokémon on this tier list? I thought we weren’t covering Pokémon? Well, Pokémon Concierge is going to act as a bit of an exception. It’s completely unrelated to the main series, is easily digestible, and most importantly: I don’t find it as cringe. Sorry Pokémon anime fans, but as much as I love Misty and Brock and Serena, hearing Pokémon cry their names, as well as very awkward fight scenes most of the time is something I can’t get over.
But wow, too much rambling in this blog post. Concierge, what’s good about it? Well frankly, if you like Pokémon as an IP, you will like this. It’s a cozy, slice of life on a tropical resort, and we follow Haru and her journey going from corporate office job slave to fun-loving Pokémon enthusiast. Frankly, we could all use some of that positive energy in these times. I don’t need to sell you on much. If you like Pokémon, watch!
Verdict: A-
Finishing off with something I’ve been hyped about for the last 6 months and I finally found the time for, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead! The premise and first few episodes of this show go so strong. The representation of Akira’s depressing office job (I’m noticing a theme here…) with black and white visuals is amazing. Then suddenly, he bursts into laughter and the screen paints itself into vibrant colors, it's beautiful. Dude is legitimately happy that he is free from his office job, even if it means zombies are overrunning the world. Mappa, you taking notes?
However, even as early as episode 3, we start seeing a slight decline in quality. Kencho was a great bud for Akira to reunite with, but beyond his debut episode, he gets tacky and very one-note. It’s really funny when he strips down and flashes the camera, because he is a host in Tokyo. But when we get that 1 or 2 times per episode, it very quickly loses its charm. Shizuka has a really interesting dichotomy with Akira, as they are on polar opposite sides of the spectrum in terms of how they view the apocalypse, but they end up working together. However, at some point, Shizuka just flips and becomes happy-go-lucky. Akira rubbing off on her is one thing, but a total personality shift is wild. Either the source material dropped the ball, or the anime cut out a bunch of character development here. The final few episodes have their positive moments, but in general, I felt the show was getting a bit tacky and cliché at the end. After such a great start, a very mediocre ending.
Let’s not fully discredit Zom 100 though, it is still a very solid show, all things considered. But between some questionable character and plot choices, as well as having episodes 9–12 delayed for months means the show is really on thin ice. If there is a follow-up season, it needs to go without a hitch, or else it could culminate to a bunch of problems.
Verdict: B+
2024 has shown a lot of promise with some great shows being on the horizon. You bet I will be covering a bunch of them in the next anime blogs, so stay tuned for that! Thanks for reading everyone! :)
