Episode Review
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Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 381
"Balancing a dash of humor with a bit of horror and an ever-building threat, this is one of the better episodes in recent memory."
Akame ga KILL! ‒ Episode 14
"Not been a fan of Esdeath and her obsession with Tatsumi so far? Then you are probably not going to be a fan of this episode, either."
Sword Art Online II ‒ Episode 14
"On both the emotional and thematic front, this episode acted as a nearly perfect bookend to the core concepts of GGO, and ended this arc more gracefully than I ever really expected."
Sailor Moon Crystal ‒ Episode 7
"The constant zombie plots, lifeless storytelling, and the puppet-like character designs make this show into a sort of Frankenstein's Sailor Moon, technically animated, but not recognizably human."
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 380
"There may have been fewer jokes and too much reliance on flashbacks in this episode, but we walk away from it feeling that something very important has been accomplished."
Bladedance of Elementalers ‒ Episode 12
"Bladedance of Elementalers certainly managed to get its act together in the end, but a couple of decent episodes aren't really enough to make up for the rest of the series."
Space Dandy Season 2 ‒ Episode 13
"This is a triumphant conclusion to Space Dandy, a celebration of all that has come before, both dramatically and thematically satisfying."
Akame ga KILL! ‒ Episode 13
"For the most part the episode fritters away its time on frivolities, although it throws out a few tantalizing suggestions about what might be coming next."
Shōnen Hollywood - Holly Stage for 49 ‒ Episode 13
"It's an appropriate ending, given this show's larger themes... a fine conclusion to a surprisingly great little show."
Barakamon ‒ Episode 12
"A fine goodbye to a lovely show, and it reminded me of all the reasons I've enjoyed this series. I'm gonna miss you, Barakamon."
Sword Art Online II ‒ Episode 13
"Once again, Sword Art Online's worst tendencies have made it its own worst enemy."
Magimoji Rurumo ‒ Episode 12
"If the series was going to ignore its most important plot element, it should have at least left us with a funny and memorable exit."
Invaders of the Rokujyōma!? ‒ Episode 12
"While this isn't the conclusion I'd expected, it's at least a pleasant way to say farewell to the series."
Persona 4 the Golden Animation ‒ Episode 12
"Episode 12 acts as the conclusion to a very inconsistent series, plagued with serious narrative flaws throughout its run."
Tokyo ESP ‒ Episode 12
"Tokyo ESP started with strong potential but suffered during the latter half in large part because of pacing and execution issues, and the finale is little different."
Terror in Resonance ‒ Episode 11
Shinichiro Watanabe's rumination on terrorism and Japanese nationalism comes to a close, but does it go out with a bang or a whimper?
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 379
"Of course the show will keep its focus on the major characters, but you have to wonder if Naruto Shippūden misses out a little on its grand scale potential."
Momo Kyun Sword ‒ Episode 12
"This is a low-key series finale that may leave some viewers disappointed and is mostly concerned with tying up the plot's loose ends."
Free! Eternal Summer ‒ Episode 13
"Swimming season is over, but this emotional rollercoaster of a finish ensures that it won't be forgotten."
Nobunaga Concerto ‒ Episode 10
"I couldn't imagine how they'd wrap up such a complex story, and the short answer is they didn't."
Rail Wars! ‒ Episode 12
"Unfortunately, this is the end for Rail Wars!, with nothing but a quiet little hiss at the end of the line."
Blue Spring Ride ‒ Episode 12
"While the content of this final episode is heartwarming in more than just the typical romantic shoujo fashion, it also leaves pretty much everything unresolved."
Hanayamata ‒ Episode 12
"While the finale does absolutely nothing unexpected or original, it executes with every ounce of the charm and warmth that it has established on full display."
Bladedance of Elementalers ‒ Episode 11
"The decision to give Ellis more screen time continues to pay dividends on the dramatic end of things."
Space Dandy Season 2 ‒ Episode 12
"For once the “to be continued” message at the end of this episode is meant to be taken literally."
Akame ga KILL! ‒ Episode 12
"The series would be better if it narrowed its stylistic emphasis, but as long as the series continues to be fun, then it's still watchable."
DRAMAtical Murder ‒ Episode 12
"DRAMAtical Murder ended the way that it began, and always was - boring, chaste, and incomprehensible, but punctuated with the occasional moment of much-needed silliness."
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun ‒ Episode 12
"The team behind Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun does an excellent job of wrapping up the show."
Sabegebu! - Survival Game Club! ‒ Episode 12
"Leave it to Sabagebu! to go out with guns blazing."
Shōnen Hollywood - Holly Stage for 49 ‒ Episode 12
"Overall, this episode wasn't quite the standout that last week's was, but it was still a very solid entry in a very solid show."
Persona 4 the Golden Animation ‒ Episode 11
"Episode 11 is more than a return to form. It is the epitome of the series' best elements."
Aldnoah.Zero ‒ Episode 12
"The season has had its shaky points on plotting, backstory plausibility, and character development, but at least it ends with a bang."
Barakamon ‒ Episode 11
"This episode did a very solid job of pulling the show's art-instinct and coming-of-age ideas together, and has put us in a great spot for a more relaxing finale.
Invaders of the Rokujyōma!? ‒ Episode 11
"It's as if the series itself has grown tired of these two-episode storylines and just wants to move on to something new."
Sword Art Online II ‒ Episode 12
"It isn't clear why Sword Art Online episodes always seem to break down into solid halves and terrible halves, but that certainly held true this time."
Magimoji Rurumo ‒ Episode 11
"This episode is another example of how magic seems less important as the show gets further along."
Sailor Moon Crystal ‒ Episode 6
"Sailor Moon Crystal is at its worst when it's about the boys instead of focusing on the vivid female characters that populate its world."
Tokyo ESP ‒ Episode 11
"Suffers from stiff execution; hopefully the finale, which should wrap up the source material's first major arc, will produce something less underwhelming."
Locodol ‒ Episode 12
The second-to-last episode of Locodol really shows where the series' heart is.
Terror in Resonance ‒ Episode 10
"I hope this half-episode misstep doesn't bode badly for the conclusion."
Tokyo Ghoul ‒ Episode 12
"As a "commercial for the manga," Tokyo Ghoul is also second to none, taking the most immediately effective material from its source and illustrating it cinematically."
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 378
"This episode focuses on the physical battle without much introspection on what led Obito to this point, but we've gone over that already anyway."
Bakumatsu Rock ‒ Episode 12
"Bakumatsu Rock's final episode did exactly the worst thing possible: the anime nobody can take seriously tried to take itself seriously."
Free! Eternal Summer ‒ Episode 12
"Rin and Haru spend one delicious fan-servicey episode on a visit to his old haunts. It's comfort food after all that downbeat drama."
Nobunaga Concerto ‒ Episode 9
I am convinced that Nobunaga Concerto is a more enjoyable half hour if you are well versed in Japanese history. The show pairs the events of the fabled Sengoku Era with star-studded voice acting and a gorgeous musical score. However, as somebody who has very little experience with Sengoku Era history, I've had a very difficult time following the plot. And even after reading up before watching thi...
Momo Kyun Sword ‒ Episode 11
"By far the best directed episode of the series, with every scene ratcheting up the tension, building until the final confrontation with Jakiou."
Hanayamata ‒ Episode 11
"At this point the core cast is adorable enough that the show's triteness doesn't matter much."
Bladedance of Elementalers ‒ Episode 10
"Things seem to be moving towards a confrontation of some kind, but exactly what kind isn't certain."
Blue Spring Ride ‒ Episode 11
"While there are few things more satisfying than the happy conclusion to a romance, there are things that come pretty damn close. This episode of Blue Spring Ride is one of them."
Space Dandy Season 2 ‒ Episode 11
"If you're in the mood for a surreal adventure with a hint of serious romance, then you'll definitely get a kick out of this."
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun ‒ Episode 11
"The joke quota is back on track this week after a slight dip in laughs last episode."
Rail Wars! ‒ Episode 11
"Rail Wars! has definitely improved as it's gone along, (if only by a little) so chances are good there will be a happy ending waiting for us at the end of the line."
DRAMAtical Murder ‒ Episode 11
"It's never great, but it's not always broken, and that keeps the series floating just above the realm of irredeemable failure. "
Sabegebu! - Survival Game Club! ‒ Episode 11
"Each of this episode's segments draws from a different source of humor, but all three offer an entertaining experience."
Barakamon ‒ Episode 10
"This episode was a lovely summation of the series so far."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders ‒ Episode 24
"Stardust Crusaders is done for the summer, and it's primed to go out with a bang: literally!"
Shōnen Hollywood - Holly Stage for 49 ‒ Episode 11
"Shounen Hollywood has always been smart about addressing what effort, art, and celebrity are really like than most shows, but this episode hit particularly close to home."
Sword Art Online II ‒ Episode 11
"A fairly slow and talky episode of Sword Art Online this week, but we did cover some necessary ground."
Magimoji Rurumo ‒ Episode 10
"Magic and the paranormal are featured more heavily here than they have been for the past few episodes, but even so, the story focuses largely on Kota attempting to enjoy the perks of being in a mixed bath."
Aldnoah.Zero ‒ Episode 11
"Disappointed by the relative dearth of serious action the past couple of episodes? Episode 11 makes up for it, and in a big way."
Invaders of the Rokujyōma!? ‒ Episode 10
"This episode may cover plenty of familiar comedic ground, but it manages to have much more fun in the process than anyone could reasonably expect."
Tokyo ESP ‒ Episode 10
"How our heroes are going to succeed may not be clear yet, but the last pieces are in place and the story can move toward a conclusion."
Terror in Resonance ‒ Episode 9
"Terror in Resonance needs to stick the landing, but so far it's made all of the right moves. Checkmate is in sight."
Black Butler: Book of Circus ‒ Episode 10
In last week's review, I mentioned that I was worried about how the last episode of Black Butler: Book of Circus would fill itself out, since only a few plot threads were left hanging (and only a few characters were left alive, for that matter). This week proved that those worries were completely in vain, as the final chapter of this arc proved to be nearly as jam-packed as the penultimate one, an...
Tokyo Ghoul ‒ Episode 11
"Tokyo Ghoul, for all the things it gets right as a horror and action show, does seem to have trouble deciding whether it wants to be plain gory fun or disturbingly contemplative."
GLASSLIP ‒ Episode 11
"GLASSLIP uses much of this episode to allow the relationships formed in the previous one to settle. It's a step towards conclusiveness, if nothing else."
Argevollen ‒ Episode 11
"ARGEVOLLEN still isn't breaking the mold, but if I may borrow the General's words, it shows moxie and promise."
Persona 4 the Golden Animation ‒ Episode 10
"Episode 10 contains some major revelations about the central character Marie, but ultimately comes off as one of the lesser episodes of the series."
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episodes 376-377
"Think of these episodes as taking place in an alternate timeline or view them as a 45-minute commercial, take your pick."
Locodol ‒ Episode 11
"Drags when it shouldn't, and it's too bad, because this episode of Locodol has a lot of interesting things to say about the way they do idols in Nagarekawa."
Bakumatsu Rock ‒ Episode 11
"Last week's teaser promised this to be the most historically inaccurate episode, and it did not disappoint."
Love Stage!! ‒ Episode 10
"Wait...is this the end? Ridiculous as that might seem, particularly given that episode eight was essentially a clip show, this appears to have been the final episode of Love Stage."
Free! Eternal Summer ‒ Episode 11
"New Haru's quietude is downright uneasy, like the eye of a storm. We can no longer predict who he'll explode at next, or when."
Momo Kyun Sword ‒ Episode 10
"Despite mostly failing in its attempt at real drama, Momo Kyun Sword episode 10 does pull off some things well."
Hanayamata ‒ Episode 10
"Hanayamata may not be doing anything excitingly different, but what it is doing, it is doing very well."
Bladedance of Elementalers ‒ Episode 9
"There's nothing inherently wrong with slowing down and focusing on character development, but it's generally considered bad form to bore the audience to death."
Blue Spring Ride ‒ Episode 10
"Things are really starting to come together, and despite its lack of physical action, this episode is full and totally engrossing."
Akame ga KILL! ‒ Episode 10
"Akame ga Kill! continues to be one part generic adventure and one part mean-spirited junk food. To its credit, it's never boring."
Space Dandy Season 2 ‒ Episode 10
"“Lovers Are Trendy, Baby” tells a story that is at once deeply personal and universal, a poignant tale of loneliness, love, and heartbreak that anybody who has ever been in a relationship can identify with."
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun ‒ Episode 10
"Episode 10 of Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun manages to showcase three stories in lieu of the usual two, and while the jokes are there, they seem fewer and farther between than in previous episodes."
Rail Wars! ‒ Episode 10
"It's the execution, not the concept, that makes this anime a slog."
Sabegebu! - Survival Game Club! ‒ Episode 10
"This is ultimately a decent half hour of anime, but it's not the best that Sabagebu! has to offer. The occasional dud is acceptable in a series like this, and hopefully the show will be back on form next week."
DRAMAtical Murder ‒ Episode 10
"This episode succeeds by neutering the problematic source material and carrying over decent momentum from the previous installment."
Shōnen Hollywood - Holly Stage for 49 ‒ Episode 10
"The conceit was everything here, and the conceit was brilliant and perfectly executed. More shows should pull wild tricks like this."
Barakamon ‒ Episode 9
"Overall, this wasn't the strongest episode of Barakamon, and leaned a bit too heavily on repeated gags at the expense of a stronger structure and emotional power."
Sword Art Online II ‒ Episode 10
Sword Art Online II creeps toward its inevitable conclusion, but the show is still giving in to the franchise's bad habits.
Magimoji Rurumo ‒ Episode 9
"Magimoji Rurumo owes us better than this. There are laughs in these stories, but it's far from the funniest episode."
Aldnoah.Zero ‒ Episode 10
"Primarily a character development-focused episode, putting the main players in place before the next big dramatic push."
Sailor Moon Crystal ‒ Episode 5
"This episode represents a (hopefully permanent) step up for Sailor Moon Crystal from an uneven experiment to a solidly enjoyable 20 minutes."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders ‒ Episode 23
"The first half is carried by great vocal performances and a fun surprise, but it's a slow moment in the otherwise action-packed second half that forms the heart of the episode."
Tokyo ESP ‒ Episode 9
"In terms of minute-by-minute execution the series is bottoming out here as much as the heroine is."
Invaders of the Rokujyōma!? ‒ Episode 9
"Invaders of the Rokujyoma!? still has plenty of momentum. With only one major character left to send into the spotlight, the series will soon be forced to buckle down and move the story along."
GLASSLIP ‒ Episode 10
"To its credit, this episode breaks a GLASSLIP tradition and gets things done. Whether they're done well is a different story, but this late in the series any semblance of forward motion is to be savored and appreciated."
Terror in Resonance ‒ Episode 8
"This show is full of pathos, as heartwarming and pitiful as it is dark and righteous, built on an essential human foundation that more shows should emulate."
Argevollen ‒ Episode 10
"ARGEVOLLEN has surprised before, but there's no miracle here."
Persona 4 the Golden Animation ‒ Episode 9
"Episode 9 moves the overarching plot forward a great deal, and seems to be setting the stage for the series' endgame. This is not to say that the episode is totally story focused, as a great deal of humor is present as well."