A lot of set up episodes this week with the non-seasonal series having their own mini conclusions before the finales. Once again, another solid week of anime episodes. 🙂

Three to four weeks of episodes left. Almost time to write some end of year posts.

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Seasonal Anime

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Golden Kamuy Season 3 Episode 8

Well, this wasn’t the episode I was expecting but I enjoyed it anyway. This week, when assassin’s become old and senile. One old man from the end of the Meiji Era, Yoichiro the Manslayer. A guy that lives all by himself and barely keeping together and slowly dying while summoning Hijikata, from the shinsengumi, again. An old rivalry revives the killer and pride in Yoichiro for the last time before Hijikata kills him for the last time. I didn’t even know the guy until now, but it was so sad. There was a small thing on Asirpa about the let prisoners out in Russia, but man. Scary and sad stuff.

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Akudama Drive Episode 8

This was an episode that I was waiting to see. You know, besides Doctor being generally unfitting to be anywhere and dominate Hoodlum for her own gains. Yeah, blech. Anyway, this is where Swindler returns to her used to be normal environment with sister only for it to turn against her. This is the moment where we see her change. Fighting for survival, finding her own happiness, and such. Swindler changed her hair and clothing, and killed people who sold people on the black market and she had to be tricky about it. Maybe she will become who she is meant to be even if it’s not what she originally wanted.

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Adachi and Shimamura Episode 8

A small romantic arc, Adachi attempting to follow some false Shaman’s advice to get closer to Shimamura, whose advice hasn’t done anything and is shown through the last scene when the Shaman’s hair turns out to be false and other things. Adachi’s failure with chocolate was terrible as well. The two do manage to get closer together though. Shimamura actually considered Adachi’s feelings a little bit which was shocking, though her phone call with a friend is going to add some tension. Along with the fact that neither person has purchased chocolate before their Valentine’s date. Not too excited to see the disaster happen next week, but it will mean something for both of them at least.

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Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 9

I like this episode quite a bit. The opening bit was a small and wonderful film on it’s own featuring an outcast’s stresses, bullying, and the eventually murder of those bullies in the movie theater about demons where that’s the focus of the episode. Best part of the episode and it puts you in that characters mindset very well. The rest of the episode was great too. Itadori was teamed up with another professional Jujutsu Sorceror who is much more logical and cold then Satoru, Nanami. Itadori and Nanami’s dynamic was great as they uncovered the case and started to solve it. Plus, we saw how much Itadori has grown in abilities. Very good stuff. I could go without the flash back, but whatever.

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Moriarty: The Patriot Episode 8

This episode was all about Sherlock’s perspective and I really enjoyed it because of that fact. This Sherlock is the kind of Sherlock that only comes from anime. Not just unusual and inhuman, but really strange and obsessed with solving crimes because he doesn’t do anything else. A fun and very lazy boy in a very anime sense. This is also the part where Mrs. Hudson gets introduced, which the show went hard on, and we meet Watson as well after meeting other failed house guests. Sherlock being blamed for a crime is the dynamite that drives them all together. Does Moriarty know he’s going to be paying Sherlock’s bills for a while now? Anyway, can’t wait to see the second part of this.

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Non Seasonals

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Love Live! Sunshine!! 2 Episode 9

This was Ruby’s episode to show her finding her own path by taking Leah from a competitor idol group with her. All in honor of their older sisters and I adored it. This episode and last episode are pure gold with cool character dynamics and such. The ending idol performance with the two groups was perfect as well. Not a lot to say about this episode, because it’s so simple, but sometimes thing are powerful because they are so simple.

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Dai-Guard Episode 22

And now, the conclusion to Ibuki’s arc that started last episode. Her finding another way to live besides relying on her dead dad and it comes through getting to know what her other dad does. So it’s great to see that. I also like that the other team mates struggled with talking to her, so it’s her other dad showing up and helping that broke her to find her own way. I like that she didn’t have to put her focus on another dad, but finding her own truth. With that came the Dai-Guard defeating another Heterodyne together again. A lot of things seem to break the team apart, but they always come together in the end.

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Bamboo Blade Episode 22

A lot of loses in this episode. The first half this episode is the build up towards the tournament. Tama knows she has a challenge coming up and starts training, Kirino does her fun arts and crafts, and the team is stronger than ever supposedly. Boy are they going to lose. In the first round, Miya shows how strong she is against her opponent for Dan, but ends up losing regardless. Though, she wins because Dan supports her in the end.

The third round revolves around Tama’s fight against Rin and she loses too. Everyone got too relaxed while Tama is out there in a situation she’s never been before and it causes her to rage and lose control. A side of her that we have seen plenty of times already, just not here. How will Tama recover from this? We will know in the next episode, but I think she’s going to become stronger and find her center again.

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