Episode Review
— Archives —
- All
- Anime
- Manga
- Novels
- Games
- Toys
- Events
- People
- Live-Action
Text-only Compact View
Text-only List View
Text-only Grid View
List View with Images
Grid View with Images
Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo
"This series leans heavily toward the comedy end of the body-swap story spectrum, but there's a reasonably clever spark hiding behind all the dumb fun."
Show By Rock!!
"It's like a pinch of DiGi Charat, a dash of The iDOLM@ster and a quart of Sanrio-style magical girls mixed together and thrown into a frenetic cyberpunk setting."
Heroic Legend of Arslan
"It's clear Tanaka did a lot of research on his choice of setting, and it will be interesting to see what path Arslan takes for himself."
Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign
"Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign shows that you don't have to be smart to be entertaining."
Uta no Prince-sama - Maji Love Revolutions
"While it is short on plot, it's long on loveliness, from the varied backgrounds to the boys themselves."
Blood Blockade Battlefront
"While the story itself is simple material, it's the two powerful artistic voices behind the wheel that drive this setup over the edge to make it striking and unique instead."
Gunslinger Stratos: The Animation
"On the heels of a mediocre first episode, Gunslinger Stratos: The Animation is beginning to show some promise."
High School DxD BorN
"The first episode suggested that Koneko was finally going to get her backstory turn, and episode 2 delivers on that."
Kuroko's Basketball ‒ Episodes 13-14
"For a show that often gets stuck in an episode-long rut of anxiety or anger, these episodes are an extremely welcome depiction of the series' range."
Plastic Memories
"Plastic Memories has a lot of potential, and I hope it achieves more than just straightforward melodrama."
Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works ‒ Episode 14
"This week's emphasis on new original material works out well."
Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma
"While Food Wars has its issues, there is one thing it is difficult to deny – it does a great job with tension. "
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
"These first two episodes show some innovation and dedicated world building that make it both fun and unique."
The Idol M@ster Cinderella Girls ‒ Episode 13
"There's another season coming this summer, but to be quite honest, this final episode doesn't feel like it needs any follow up."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders Egypt Arc ‒ Episode 14
"It's finally Iggy's time to shine, and he's definitely met his match in a falcon named Pet Shop."
Assassination Classroom ‒ Episode 12
"The show's writing is getting better at dealing with characters who aren't goofy yellow mutants with apocalyptic intentions."
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 407
"There's more action when you compare it to Sakura and Ino's studying montage from last week, but the episode's substandard animation easily drops it a grade."
Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works ‒ Episode 13
"This is really the point where the first season should have ended."
Sailor Moon Crystal ‒ Episode 19
"As with other pivotal moments in the series, this episode tries to cover too much ground in twenty-five minutes."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders Egypt Arc ‒ Episodes 12-13
"This was a 100% silly detour for both our heroes and villains, but the temporary teamup was tons of fun."
The Idol M@ster Cinderella Girls ‒ Episode 12
Those only familiar with the Disney or French versions of the Cinderella story might not know it, but the title of this week's episode seems to be a reference to the variant collected by the Brothers Grimm – in that version, Cinderella plants a magic tree and waters it with her love and sorrow for her mother. That is what is needed to make her magic “flower” bloom; for the girls of the Cinderella...
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 406
"This episode is low on action and takes too many predictable paths to convey Ino's story."
Yurikuma Arashi ‒ Episode 12
"In the post-Yurikuma world, oppressive institutions still exist, but they're slowly being eroded away by the raging counterstorm of love."
Gundam Build Fighters Try ‒ Episode 25
"With the major drama of the tournament finals done and dusted, this final episode is packed with fanservice for loyal viewers and not much substance otherwise. "
Kamisama Kiss 2 ‒ Episode 12
"Everyone has been given a half-hearted end to their storyline, but as sophomore seasons go, this was a worthwhile continuation."
Yowamushi Pedal Grande Road ‒ Episode 24
"Yowamushi Pedal Grande Road never loses sight of what it is, a sports anime with a lot of heart and an uplifting message of friendship and support."
Yatterman Night ‒ Episode 12
"The series started incredibly strong, but lost momentum as it fell into more well-worn plots and ideas."
Maria the Virgin Witch ‒ Episode 12
"In the end, Maria the Virgin Witch stands as a successful and even feminist work of humanism."
Gourmet Girl Graffiti ‒ Episode 12
"This final episode plays to the show's strengths, avoids most of its weaknesses, and touches on the ideas that sit at the core of the premise."
CROSS ANGE Rondo of Angel and Dragon ‒ Episode 25
"As graceless as it may have sometimes been in execution, it accomplishes a lot more, and more effectively, than the bulk of recent anime series have."
Tokyo Ghoul √A ‒ Episode 12
"Tokyo Ghoul was a deeply flawed, but wholly unique experience, and it went out as strong as it possibly could."
Durarara!!×2 ‒ Episode 12
"There were so many matryoshka wheels spinning around in this season that the story ultimately seemed to be locked in place."
Kuroko's Basketball ‒ Episode 12
"This week on Kuroko's Basketball, get ready to have some feelings."
Aldnoah.Zero ‒ Episode 24
"There is a better series laying somewhere amongst this content than what we actually got."
The Rolling Girls ‒ Episode 12
"Rolling Girls wasn't great, but it deserved a better ending than this."
GARO THE ANIMATION ‒ Episode 24
The adult-oriented fantasy action show comes to a close... for now.
The Idol M@ster Cinderella Girls ‒ Episode 11
“Alignment” is actually a major theme this week as Cinderella Girls pairs off its last aspiring idols and the combination couldn't be more mismatched."
Log Horizon 2 ‒ Episode 25
"And Log Horizon comes to an end. Temporarily, I hope. Pretty please?"
Shirobako ‒ Episode 24
"The final episode of Aerial Girls was delivered, the wrap party is over, and Shirobako ends with them. Or so it seems."
Assassination Classroom ‒ Episode 11
"By introducing a character who can fight Koro Sensei on equal terms, the show forces itself to stop fooling around."
Death Parade ‒ Episode 12
Everybody get your hands up, it's the final episode of Death Parade!
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 405
"Tenten's mini arc comes to a close this week, and although the episode adheres to many of the same conventions as the previous two arcs, it features its own distinctive twists."
Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend ‒ Episodes 11 & 12
"What these episodes don't do is give the series a sense of finality, either in a thematic or a storytelling sense."
KanColle ‒ Episode 12
"It's a bit of a stretch to call the ending of Kancolle a surprise, but it's certainly disappointing."
The Testament of Sister New Devil ‒ Episode 12
"A distinct effort is made to wrap things up while still leaving plenty of room for the sequel."
Gundam Build Fighters Try ‒ Episode 24
"All three main characters had powerful reasons to fight one-on-one with the Gunpla Academy members, making every stage of the battle interesting."
Parasyte -the maxim- ‒ Episode 24
"Well, that was… an ending."
Yona of the Dawn ‒ Episode 24
"There are endings that wrap everything up in a nice little bow and endings that just sort of stop. Then there are those like Yona of the Dawn's final episode."
Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! ‒ Episode 12
"This finale is packed to the brim with fast-paced action and hard-hitting revelations, but it never feels rushed."
Yurikuma Arashi ‒ Episode 11
"Yurikuma criticizes how the idea of salvation can be used to justify a life of suffering."
Kamisama Kiss 2 ‒ Episode 11
"Most likely in the hopes of a third season, all chance of resolution to the Akura-oh storyline has been thrown out the window."
Yowamushi Pedal Grande Road ‒ Episode 23
"The other characters' reactions to Onoda and Manami's actions keep the ongoing climb from getting tedious."
Maria the Virgin Witch ‒ Episode 11
The true source of Maria's power problems is revealed in this penultimate episode, and Gabriella has a listen to Funimation's new broadcast dub!
Yatterman Night ‒ Episode 11
"If there's a lesson to be taken out of this show, it's the perseverance of the human spirit in spite of all odds."
Gourmet Girl Graffiti ‒ Episode 11
"Either one of these stories would have been a chore to watch at around twenty minutes, but cutting them down to half that length keeps either one from wearing out its welcome."
Kuroko's Basketball ‒ Episode 11
"I look forward to an episode where Kuroko does more than simply observe, and where the players are more than whatever the audience believes they are."
CROSS ANGE Rondo of Angel and Dragon ‒ Episode 24
"While Rosalie and Hilda's effort to save and redeem Chris is far from the most important element of the story, it is the one thing that the episode does fully resolve."
Durarara!!×2 ‒ Episode 11
"I don't know how you take material this apocalyptic and make it this drab, but DRRR x2 found a way, and it's a real bummer."
Log Horizon 2 ‒ Episode 24
"I was already going to miss this show, but I won't complain about another episode or two demonstrating why."
Aldnoah.Zero ‒ Episode 23
"The penultimate (or is it really?) episode of Aldnoah.Zero had so much going on that it could not even be bothered to use its opener."
The Rolling Girls ‒ Episode 11
"This episode felt busy in a bad way, but hey, at least we got a bunch of great fights!"
GARO THE ANIMATION ‒ Episode 23
"It's a return to the show's roots as an animated heavy metal album cover, and anyone who's into this show for its artistry will be satisfied."
Shirobako ‒ Episode 23
"This episode combined everything that makes Shirobako great, tying it up into the perfect package."
Sailor Moon Crystal ‒ Episode 18
"Hold on to your hats, everyone – this week on Sailor Moon Crystal the pretty guardians start to get it right."
The Idol M@ster Cinderella Girls ‒ Episode 10
Cinderella Girls turns in an inconsistent episode featuring three of the girls spinning off into their own group.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders Egypt Arc ‒ Episode 11
"This was one of the tensest episodes of Stardust Crusaders yet, but it never loses its healthy sense of humor."
Tokyo Ghoul √A ‒ Episode 11
"Kaneki is the bridge that burned, and now everyone else is going to burn along with him as the snow falls silently around them."
Assassination Classroom ‒ Episode 10
"An acceptable placeholder, burning up some excess airtime in a reasonably pleasant manner."
Death Parade ‒ Episode 11
The mysterious woman's backstory is fully revealed while Ginti makes an interesting final judgment on his two loiterers in the penultimate installment.
Your lie in April ‒ Episode 22
"This is a story about teenagers wearing their big, messy hearts on their sleeves, and the show does that too. If that's what you want from an anime, it should leave you fully satisfied."
Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend ‒ Episode 10
The last girl in Saekano's harem arrives in an episode that attempts to turn the genre's fanservice on its head.
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 404
"Provides us with a compelling look into the mind of a secondary character who often gets the shaft in the main storyline, without skimping on the action."
Parasyte -the maxim- ‒ Episode 23
"After an excellent first couple arcs and questionable middle stretch, Parasyte is pulling itself together (no pun intended) for the ending."
Gundam Build Fighters Try ‒ Episode 23
"Here was an episode that told us how great Gundam is, when it is much, much better at showing us."
KanColle ‒ Episode 11
"KanColle is trying to juggle an awful lot of ideas here, and it'll take a deft hand to wrap everything up cleanly."
The Testament of Sister New Devil ‒ Episode 11
"Don't you just hate it when you suddenly realize that the room you're standing in is actually part of the digestive system of a hellbeast?"
Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! ‒ Episode 11
"After hinting at a deeper connection between Atsushi and Kinshiro all season, their checkered past is finally revealed."
Yurikuma Arashi ‒ Episode 10
After last episode's emphasis on Ginko and Yuriika, it's time to catch up with the rest of the cast. PLUS: Impressions of Funimation's new broadcast dub!
Yona of the Dawn ‒ Episode 23
"The battle against Yan Kumji has ended, Yona and the pirates have saved the day, and now, plot-wise, it is time to move on and find that last pesky dragon."
Kamisama Kiss 2 ‒ Episode 10
"Episode 10 is a rushed, if adequate, end to the Mount Kurama arc."
Yowamushi Pedal Grande Road ‒ Episode 22
"Now this is the episode of Yowamushi Pedal Grande Road that we've been waiting for!"
Maria the Virgin Witch ‒ Episode 10
"Maria's greatest strength isn't her magic, but her ability to encourage people to be their best possible selves."
Yatterman Night ‒ Episode 10
"This episode of Yatterman Night is definitely one of the most engrossing the series produced in a while."
Gourmet Girl Graffiti ‒ Episode 10
"The execution may leave a lot to be desired, but this is one of the better story ideas that Gourmet Girl Graffiti has put forward."
Kuroko's Basketball ‒ Episode 10
"This episode of Kuroko's Basketball gave us one of the closest, most fast-paced games yet."
CROSS ANGE Rondo of Angel and Dragon ‒ Episode 23
"Ange has always been the star and central character of the show, but for the first time in the series an episode is completely dominated by her will. And boy, is it fun to watch."
The Rolling Girls ‒ Episode 10
"This episode had around four simultaneous stories going, and though none of them have quite combined yet, they're all moving forward in their own entertaining ways."
Durarara!!×2 ‒ Episode 10
"Unfortunately, this episode's a bit of a sleeper, with progressively slipping direction. At least there's a new simuldub to talk about!"
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders Egypt Arc ‒ Episode 10
"D'Arby has the wit, verve, and individuality to hang tough alongside our heroes, making him a formidable and entertaining foe."
Aldnoah.Zero ‒ Episode 22
Whatever else you can say about Aldnoah.Zero, it certainly is not dull. Last episode there were indications that the Earth forces were plotting a big attack. This episode it actually happens: a two-pronged attack on the Moon base and landing castle where Princess Asseylum was believed to be. It would seem, though, that games are being played within the Earth forces as well, with a covert team secr...
Log Horizon 2 ‒ Episode 23
"Log Horizon continued to ignore the fact that it's ending in only a few episodes this week."
GARO THE ANIMATION ‒ Episode 22
"The plotting is still spotty, and there are fewer character revelations to disguise that this week."
Assassination Classroom ‒ Episode 9
"Assassination Classroom has its episodic storytelling down to a science, which makes me wonder how well it will handle the challenge of bringing the season to a close."
Your lie in April ‒ Episode 21
"The show's in top form this week, with the hazy whites, greys, and blues illustrating not just the wintry weather, but Kaori and Kosei's mental states."
Shirobako ‒ Episode 22
"Hiraoka starts telling Tarou his story, and we get to humanize two jerks with one stone."
The Idol M@ster Cinderella Girls ‒ Episode 9
"This week, Anzu does something besides complain and sleep! Yes, it is time for the diminutive slacker to prove her mettle."
For all articles, see the archives