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Bungo Stray Dogs ‒ Episode 5
"This may have been a one-shot interlude episode designed to introduce us to the character of Edogawa Rampo rather than to further the overall plot, but it's also one of the most enjoyable thus far."
Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III ‒ Episode 31
"And the Most Awesome Transformation of the Week prize goes to…Sailor Mercury!"
One Piece ‒ Episode 739
"The One Piece anime has been on a roll lately as we power through all the post-arc shenanigans."
Kumamiko - Girl meets Bear ‒ Episode 5
"This episode exemplifies Kumamiko's problem of being unsure what kind of show it wants to be: not quite a goofy comedy or an ongoing personal dramedy."
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress ‒ Episode 3
"Like all great blockbusters, Kabaneri's not afraid to take things a little bit stupid with a whole lot of style."
Joker Game ‒ Episode 4
"Episode 4 is a major step up from everything that's come before in terms of raw, undiluted commentative bite."
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- ‒ Episode 5
"After a couple of milder episodes, the visuals have gone back to being quite graphic, and the musical score is certainly hitting its stride."
High School Fleet ‒ Episode 4
"This episode remains harmlessly watchable even in its slowest moments, but it lacks some of the impact that helped earlier episodes stand out."
Kiznaiver ‒ Episode 4
"The show still has plenty of potential, but this was not one of its better episodes."
The Asterisk War ‒ Episode 17
"This battle does not disappoint, with both sides putting on a satisfying display of back-and-forth one-upmanship."
Ace Attorney ‒ Episode 5
"Ace Attorney is still no masterpiece, but this quality bump makes me way more optimistic for the show going forward."
Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto ‒ Episode 3
"With its general formula established, Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto delivers its funniest (and darkest) episode yet."
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 5
"I don't think there's a single second of this episode that I don't like."
Ushio & Tora ‒ Episode 31
"Today's story is Nagare's story and it's a doozy, but things always come back to Ushio."
Concrete Revolutio ‒ Episode 17
"Episode 17 demonstrates how far Concrete Revolutio has come. Something like this would have been a complete mess in the first season, but it still manages to make sense as a story, even if it's thematically confused."
Flying Witch ‒ Episode 4
"Okay, maybe this episode of Flying Witch slants a bit more heavily into the “magical” part of its magical realism aesthetic."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 5
"I keep underestimating how much Diamond is Unbreakable seems to draw from horror stories, as now we straight up have a monster sneaking around this creaking house."
The Lost Village ‒ Episode 5
"At this point, I feel confident in saying that The Lost Village has hit its stride."
Shōnen Maid ‒ Episode 3
"Like the previous episode, this one largely feels more like a collection of moments than a couple of cohesive stories."
Big Order ‒ Episode 3
"The show can't stick with a single tone or train of thought for more than a few minutes, and it's making the already fragile façade of its plot come apart at the seams."
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 458
Itachi's Story concludes and Naruto finally returns to its main storyline after over 30 episodes of filler! Was it worth the wait?
Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 16
"Even as it rewrites its own rules, Assassination Classroom manages to create compelling human drama through the relationship between Aguri and the Reaper."
And you thought there is never a girl online? ‒ Episode 4
"Netoge is still no artistic wonder, and at this point it's only really toying with a sense of depth, though it is still leaving room for development."
Bungo Stray Dogs ‒ Episode 4
"Bungo Stray Dogs is still working to get its feet on the ground this week, and it really needs to find the balance between humor and action."
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 4
"Twin Star Exorcists has a penchant for featuring exorcists and love interests who are content to just be fairly pleasant people."
Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III ‒ Episode 30
"Despite all its important revelations, this week's episode feels a little slow, as if it wasn't put together quite right."
Kumamiko - Girl meets Bear ‒ Episode 4
"There's still a lot to like in this show, but it needs to spread its repertoire out a bit. Every joke gets stale if you tell it too many times."
One Piece ‒ Episode 738
"I really was not expecting to enjoy this episode as much as I did."
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World- ‒ Episode 4
"It would be nice if the technical merits were a little stronger, but there's still enough intriguing stuff going on here to keep viewers coming back."
Flying Witch ‒ Episode 3
"The show's fundamental contrast between rural and magical life is extremely strong, and this episode elaborated on that platform with a variety of nice gags and endearing experiences."
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 4
"Our feet have stepped forward onto school ground and thus the "Academia" part of the title is in full effect as Midoriya and his peers face the U.A. high school entrance exam."
High School Fleet ‒ Episode 3
"Even as it focuses on establishing the cast and delivering big action scenes, the show continues to move the plot forward."
Series Premiere: Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto (Episodes 1-2)
"So far, I've been consistently amused by Sakamoto's unyielding perfection, but it's also the kind of gimmick I can see getting old quickly."
The Asterisk War ‒ Episode 16
"Long story short: the fights don't ascend above common anime action clichés, which also include the unreasonably-long pauses in the midst of matches while characters talk."
Kiznaiver ‒ Episode 3
"In short, Kiznaiver now looks like it's definitely smart enough to earn its focus on character psychology and human connection."
Ace Attorney ‒ Episode 4
"Nobody can deny that this wacky show stays true to its wacky source material—at the cost of any outsider getting all the jokes."
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable ‒ Episode 4
"This is the episode of the batch so far that feels the most reminiscent of Stardust Crusaders."
The Lost Village ‒ Episode 4
"The Lost Village can be entertaining when it's moving slowly because its characters are so inherently silly, but I was happy to see the show actually get moving this week."
Big Order ‒ Episode 2
"Where it takes a lot of shows at least a handful of episodes for their wheels to start falling off, Big Order only needed two weeks to prove that it has absolutely no clue what it's doing."
Season Premiere: Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (Episodes 1-2)
"Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is a revenge-of-the-nerds adventure that actually delivers on the promise of its premise: that giant dorks can be heroes without letting go of their geekery."
Concrete Revolutio ‒ Episode 16
"Concrete Revolutio continues to craft strong individual stories, without packing in too many details to lose its viewers this time."
Ushio & Tora ‒ Episode 30
"It's a real level-up episode, showing the strengths of Ushio & Tora 2.0."
Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 15
"Assassination Classroom is back after some unfortunate delays, and it even brought new opening and ending theme songs to make up for the wait."
Joker Game ‒ Episode 3
"It's a spy adventure that anyone can enjoy and understand, wearing its anti-war themes on its sleeve without letting them detract from the scheme-driven fun of the action in a classy period setting."
And you thought there is never a girl online? ‒ Episode 3
"I'm really not sure where the story goes next, but so far it has proven solid enough to deserve retaining its viewers."
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 457
"All things considered, Itachi's Story has been an enjoyable ride, but as things stand, it feels incredibly incomplete."
Twin Star Exorcists ‒ Episode 3
"The show has an endearing, more-than-the-sum-of-its-parts charm going for it that I can't help but appreciate, even in more low-key efforts like this one."
Bungo Stray Dogs ‒ Episode 3
"Bungo Stray Dogs hasn't quite found its balance between comedy and action, although I do think it will get there sooner than later."
One Piece ‒ Episode 737
"This partial-filler episode pads things out just as much as anything else and doesn't aspire to do more."
Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III ‒ Episode 29
"Okay, now I know I'm not imagining it – Sailor Moon Crystal's third season is using a lot of yuri imagery."
Series Premiere: Kumamiko - Girl meets Bear (Episodes 1-3)
"It's a sharp and unique little comedy, at the very least hard to forget, an anime like nothing else out there."
Series Premiere: Shōnen Maid (Episodes 1-2)
"If you're in the market for an amusing sitcom with a likable cast and crisp visuals, it should make a welcome addition to your spring anime list."
Series Premiere: Re:Zero (Episodes 1-3)
"Its obvious light novel trappings might drive some viewers away, but the series has already shown more to itself underneath the surface."
My Hero Academia ‒ Episode 3
"So far, MHA is constantly finding that balance between extremely traditional Shonen Jump property and something more."
Series Premiere: Flying Witch (Episodes 1-2)
"It leans heavily towards the atmosphere end of the atmosphere-comedy spectrum, but it's hard to complain about a show this charming and solidly constructed."
Series Premiere: High School Fleet (Episodes 1-2)
"It's an easy recommendation for fans of cute girls doing military things, and it's approachable enough to entertain viewers outside of its core demographic."
Season Premiere: The Asterisk War ‒ (Episodes 13-15)
"Character interactions are where the series shines brightest."
Series Premiere: Ace Attorney (Episodes 1-3)
"It's as close to the game as you can get, resulting in a show with ho hum production values that takes few if any risks."
Series Premiere: Big Order
"Takes what could have been an interesting premise and somehow manages to make it feel both overstuffed and devoid of anything important actually happening."
Concrete Revolutio - Episodes 14-15
"The first two episodes of Concrete Revolutio: The Last Song, especially the second one, are more cohesive than almost all of season 1."
Ushio & Tora ‒ Episode 29
"This episode was heavy on flashbacks and world-building, but managed to keep its focus on a fight in the present, leading to a rare half hour of riveting action that lines up chess pieces in the background."
Series Premiere: Kiznaiver (Episodes 1-2)
"There's a potentially great show hiding in Kiznaiver. The mix of Trigger's visual exuberance and Mari Okada's hyper-emotive storytelling seem like a fertile match, and Kiznaiver seems to at least be trying to be exactly that theoretical show."
Season Premiere: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part Four (Episodes 1-3)
"Between Angelo the friendly neighborhood serial killer and the Nijimura brothers, there's a definite theme of evil coming from the inside and spreading its way outward."
Series Premiere: The Lost Village (Episodes 1-3)
"The Lost Village is an extremely ridiculous show."
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 456
"Itachi's Story is still the most entertaining filler arc in years, but its blunders are becoming increasingly difficult to overlook."
Season Premiere: And you thought there is never a girl online? (Episodes 1-2)
"The story is at least giving itself room to develop a deeper story while spinning its romantic comedy antics."
Season Premiere: Twin Star Exorcists (Episodes 1-2)
"It's a familiar story being presented with such genuine enthusiasm that you can't help but want to go along for the ride."
Season Premiere: Bungo Stray Dogs (Episodes 1-2)
"The generally lighthearted tone helps keep things much less dark than they could be, although the ending theme certainly suggests that things could go in that direction later."
Season Premiere: Joker Game (Episodes 1-2)
"Joker Game is already offering viewers a world with rich and varied perspectives, even if the way they express those views is not remotely subtle."
One Piece ‒ Episode 736
"After several dozen or so episodes of pure fighting, nuggets of information like this feel so refreshing."
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III ‒ Episode 2
"The positive changes to this season of Sailor Moon Crystal seem to be sticking so far, not just with its transformations but also with its character interactions and plot progressions."
Series Premiere: My Hero Academia (Episodes 1 & 2)
"The first two episodes of My Hero Academia are as indicative of the genre as you can imagine when it comes to plot, but the execution makes it shine so much stronger."
Season Premiere: Ushio & Tora (Episode 27)
"It appears that Tora has literally met his match, and this show has given me nothing but reasons to be excited for what happens next."
Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 14
"I'll give the series the benefit of the doubt on this one, but the last thing Assassination Classroom needs to do is to start making up plot twists as it goes along."
Naruto Shippuden ‒ Episode 455
"Although a decent chunk of episode 455 is taken from previous installments, this week's Naruto Shippuden adds a number of intriguing new details to a story we all thought we knew."
One Piece ‒ Episode 735
"We're still in the calm before the huge post-arc info dump comes, and all the characters who need out are packing up and heading home."
Series Premiere: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal: Season III
"I realize that it might be too early for a celebration, but it really looks like the third season of Sailor Moon Crystal is going to be far superior to the first two."
Season Premiere: Sailor Moon Crystal (Episode 27)
"I realize that it might be too early for a celebration, but it really looks like the third season of Sailor Moon Crystal is going to be far superior to the first two."
Season Finale: Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū (Episode 13)
"It's only halfway complete, but Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju already stands among the best that anime has to offer."
Season Finale: Dagashi Kashi (Episode 12)
"The show ends where it began, with a bunch of likable teenagers enjoying their time together as they amble very slowly towards the future."
Season Finale: Utawarerumono (Episode 25)
"Even if there turns out to be a third season on the way, U2warerumono is best left forgotten."
Assassination Classroom season 2 ‒ Episode 13
"Once again, we have a divided episode where one half clearly outshines the other."
Season Finale: Gintama (Episode 316)
"As the Farewell Shinsengumi Arc comes to a close, viewers are forced to say goodbye to the staff of Odd Jobs Gin-chan for the fourth time."
Series Finale: Myriad Colors Phantom World (Episode 13)
"While the series may be a bit of a disappointment overall by KyoAni standards, neither it is it a train wreck."
Season Finale: Mr. Osomatsu (Episode 25)
"Even in its curtain call, the show managed to subvert viewer expectations and serve up a heaping helping of irreverency."
Series Finale: Snow White with the Red Hair (Episode 24)
"Snow White with the Red Hair proves that not every story has to be epic and change your world."
Season Finale: Dimension W (Episode 12)
"Overall, Dimension W started out promising, stood on shaky ground until about episode five, and then threw itself off of a cliff."
One Piece ‒ Episode 734
"As last week's episode finished off with the final blow of the Luffy vs. Doflamingo fight, this week is mostly about getting the reactions of the enormous supporting cast."
Series Finale: Schwarzes Marken (Episode 12)
"It's a finale with some disagreeable elements but on the whole, it's a satisfying conclusion to the story."
Season Finale: Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash (Episode 12)
"This was never an easy story – but in the end, it is one worth watching."
Season Finale: Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans (Episode 25)
"This episode conveyed big changes on the horizon for each main character through a thoughtful, slow buildup that has me both excited and scared."
Season Finale: Haikyu!! Second Season (Episode 25)
"Once again, the show excels in depicting the aftermath of an emotional game."
Season Finale: BBK/BRNK (Episode 12)
"BBK/BRNK got pretty ambitious with its storytelling in the latter half of the season, and this episode is simply too short to offer a proper ending to every side story."
Season Finale: Luck & Logic (Episode 12)
"While this episode of Luck & Logic neatly concluded its story arc and deftly set up a plot for its upcoming season, there was nothing particularly special about it."
Season Finale: God Eater (Episode 13)
"Though it was a more momentous than usual episode, it left too many loose ends unresolved, and if we don't get a second season it's going to hurt."
Series Finale: Durarara!! (Episodes 35-36)
"This finale was never going to be able to live up to the promise of 62+ bloated episodes, so covering the major bases as well as it did is worth its own special flavor of applause."
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