Man. Last season was absolutely insane. Hopefully this one will be able to keep up that momentum. If not, at least we should have some fun new originals to-
I’m sorry, how many isekai shows are there this season?
Before we get into the new shows I’ve got my eye on, let’s talk about the sequels. And hoo boy, have we got plenty of those to talk about!
- Vinland Saga season two (let’s fucking go!!!!)
- Tokyo Revengers: Christmas Showdown (never watched the first season, but I heard it was good)
- Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro 2nd Attack (for the guys who just want a girl to drag mud across their face, congrats! You can get your fix again!)
- Bungo Stray Dogs 4 (I kind of want to give this series a go, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet; maybe someday)
- In/Spectre 2 (never finished season one – I found it to be kinda boring – but I know some people who are pretty excited for this)
- The Misfit of Demon King Academy II (I doubt this will reach the same level of meme hype as the first season, but it should be worth some dumb fun)
- Is It Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? IV Part 2 (I’ll catch up with this show eventually, just not now)
Hoo boy! That was a lot of sequels. Now, let’s talk about that new stuff! What do we have to look forward to for the next few months?
Trigun Stampede
I never could get into the original Trigun. Not for lack of trying. The original just never grabbed me. So I’m looking at this show more as a newcomer than an experienced fan of the property.
That being said: I like what I see.
The most notable thing about this show is the animation. The whole thing is done using CGI and god damn does it look good! Everything moves so fluidly, the action scenes are choreographed so wonderfully, and the characters are all so expressive! Anyone who argues that this show looks bad just because it’s CG is a moron!
Will the writing match the presentation? Only time will tell. But I’ve enjoyed it quite a bit so far. Who knows? Maybe the time is coming for me to revisit the original.
NieR:Automata Ver.1.1a
This will be an interesting one. It could either be a dream come true or a heartbreaking disappointment. Time will tell, I guess.
NieR: Automata is one of the most beloved games to come out in the last decade. And for good reason, it’s an incredible game. Largely in part because of its unique approach to storytelling and its exploration of existential themes.
What worries me is how those ideas will translate into an animated show. Part of what made the game so powerful was that it was a game. The interactivity of it added so much substance to everything. Will this anime be able to capture that same magic without that interactivity?
Again: time will tell. But if they manage to pull it off, this show could be something great.
Tomo-chan is a Girl!
Do you dream of a girl who will literally just fold your spine in half? Then boy howdy, do I have the show for you!
This show is kinda fun. It isn’t going to be the next Toradora or Kaguya-sama, but it’s enjoyable for what it is: a goofy romcom starring an idiot and a tomboy. If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, then you probably will.
My only real problem with this show is how unsurprising it is. It repeats every cliché romcom anime trope and you can tell right away how it’s going to play out. So far, it hasn’t done anything really interesting or funny to expand upon or subvert those clichés. If you’re experienced with this genre, then you’ve pretty much seen this show already.
But who knows? We’re only a few episodes in. Maybe it’ll turn around and sweep me off my feet by the end of the season.
Buddy Daddies
“Dad, can we watch Spy X Family?”
“No son, we have Spy X Family at home.”
Spy X Family at home:
Jokes aside, this show is a decent bit of cute fun. It at least feels like it’s trying. It’s cute, it’s colorful, and it can be decently funny at times.
Honestly, I feel like the worst thing going against this show is the timing. Spy X Family took the world by storm and it only just wrapped up. A show so similar to it is doomed to face comparisons. And with a show as huge as the last one, that comparison could spell death for this new series.
Who knows? Maybe this one will become the competition to Spy X Family. Maybe the shows will have a mutual rivalry that push each other to new heights.
Or not. It probably won’t. But it’s nice to imagine.
Handyman Saitou in Another World
And our obligatory isekai trash-watch is…
As far as isekai shows go, this one is fine. Not great, not terrible, it’s just fine. A repair guy gets dropped in another world. Sure, fine, whatever. Let’s see what you’ve got.
I at least appreciate that Saitou isn’t yet another unstoppable god. He’s just some dude who is pretty good at repairing stuff. When trouble rears its head, he has to get clever to solve his problems. When he gets hit, it hurts! Dude is an actual human and that in it of itself is pretty refreshing.
Is the premise all that original? Dude, it’s an isekai. Originality died in the genre all the way back in 2011. But this one is perfectly fine. For me, that’s more than enough.
Hey, best isekai in a season stuffed with them ain’t half bad.
Conclusion
It’s pretty safe to say that this is a bit of a step down from last season. Not to say that all of these shows are trash and should be thrown away because none of them are Chainsaw Man or Bocchi the Rock! It’s just that it’s kinda hard to follow up such an insane season with anything.
Which is probably for the best, really. Having a slower season after the absolute insanity of the last few months should be relaxing. Besides, it’s not like we’re utterly devoid of good shows to watch.
Besides, I still have a few shows from last season that I need to talk about. Don’t think you can get away from me, ‘More Than a Married Couple But Not Lovers!’ I’ve still got to tear you to pieces!
Jonah's Daily Rants 