Kaiseki Anime Podcast Episode 115 – Fall 2022 Season Wrap

• 00:00 Intro
• 02:35 Beast Tamer
• 06:12 Bibliophile Princess
• 08:00 Encouragement of Climb: Next Summit
• 11:20 Futoku no Guild
• 12:30 I’ve Somehow Gotten Stronger When I Improved My Farming-Related Skills
• 15:12 Muv Luv Alternative
• 17:00 Raven of the Inner Palace
• 18:41 Reincarnated as a Sword
• 21:05 Shinobi no Ittoki
• 22:10 Urusei Yatsura
• 24:05 BLUELOCK
• 25:44 BOCCHI THE ROCK!
• 26:56 Do It Yourself!!
• 29:21 I’m the Villainess so I’m Taming the Final Boss
• 30:55 Love Flops
• 32:47 Mob Psycho 100 III
• 35:10 SPY x FAMILY Cour 2
• 36:44 The Eminence in Shadow
• 38:11 To Your Eternity Season 2
• 39:38 Welcome to the Demon School! Iruma-kun
• 40:53 Akiba Maid War
• 44:05 Chainsaw Man
• 47:13 Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury
• 48:42 Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
• 49:52 BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War
• 51:22 Golden Kamuy Season 4
• 52:41 Outro

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Music Credits:

• “Clover 3” by Vibe Mountain
• BLUELOCK OP: “Chaos ga Kiwamaru” by Unison Square Garden
• “Seasons” by roljui

[Review] Akiba Maid War is AOTS

I’ve written more about this show this season than any other on both this blog, Twitter, and even on Discord, simultaneously praising, recommending, and freaking out about it. I can no longer imagine the fall season without Akiba Maid War charging right up the center and standing at the forefront. From start to finish, the characters and this ridiculous setting demanded my attentions, easily competing for both anime of the season and the overall year.

[Review] I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss

I’m walking into this review a bit off-kilter, having thoroughly enjoyed the premise and writing in the first arc, then gradually spiraling into disappointment through the middle and ending. I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss may have let me down at the end, but I still appreciate Aileen’s character and her romantic interactions with Claude. Their blunt flirting left little to the imagination and made for some of the most entertaining couplings of the year.

[Review] Romantic Killer is the RomCom You Can’t Help but Love

A ton of promising shows dropped at the start of this fall season, but one that continues to fly under the radar due to its Netflix release late in the season is Romantic Killer, an eye-catching romcom with a defiant heroine. On the surface, this show looks to be a modern Cinderella; we have Anzu Hoshino, a girl whose life revolves around three greats: video games, her cat, and chocolate. When Riri the fairy pops into her life with a mission to add some romance into Anzu’s life à la otome game tropes, we start the roller coaster that is our lead’s attempts to survive the onslaught of handsome young men and compromising scenarios. What started as a seemingly structured storyline with a predictable ending turned rapidly into one of my favorites of the fall that may very well be among the most entertaining romantic comedies of surprising depth in recent anime seasons.

[Review] Parallel World Pharmacy – A Drawn-out What If

It wasn’t too long ago that I wrote about Parallel World Pharmacy‘s use of cosmetics and skincare, so I’ll refrain from speaking too long on the series now other than to quickly go over what did and didn’t work for me over the course of the season. As an isekai and slice-of-life, PWP did well to draw me into its world and our protagonist’s place in it. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Falma use his experience from his former life as a pharmacologist to aid in his current one as a pharmaceutist now that medicine and magic co-exist. The show’s attempt to ramp up the drama in the latter part of the season reminded viewers, perhaps uncomfortably, about our own recent pandemic. While I appreciated the higher stakes, Falma’s near perfect handling of this emergency in addition too all the previous ones dampened any real concern, resulting in an ultimately forgettable series.

[Review] SHADOWS HOUSE 2nd Season – New Faces, Same Emilico

The second season of SHADOWS HOUSE couldn’t have come sooner, and it wasn’t too long into it that I was reminded of all that I loved in the first season. Character interactions like those between Emilico and Kate, a dark Victorian-esque setting blanketing the scenery with shadows and lace, and a mystery that carries on still unsolved–these all balanced together to create a story that continues to enthrall. If, however, you hoped for resolution to our children’s fears, then you’ll be disappointed to know that this sequel does not wrap up the mysteries, but rather sets the stage for even more curiosities as they step closer to adulthood.

[Review] Lycoris Recoil is the Joy that Keeps on Giving (and never changing)

As busy as the summer anime season was this year, there was a whole lot of mediocrity on that list. Only a handful of shows rose above the masses, with Lycoris Recoil taking one of the highest spots with charm and gusto. So much of the story might have faltered in other, lesser experienced hands, but each week the series defied the weaker elements of its framework with strong characters and writing. I’d be pressed to consider this show the best of the season, if not for the less-than-satisfying ending which lacks a much needed change for true resolution.

[Review] Aoashi – Fighting to the Limits

The time has finally arrived, my long-awaited sports anime that ticks off all the boxes and then some, leaving me wanting for more. The set-up, our characters, their journey, and the final game all contribute to what I love most in this type of show. I don’t know if a sequel is in the works, but if it happens, I will be there cheering wildly from the stands.

[Review] The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting

The reality of the word “yakuza” now is one romanticized beyond all recognition. Almost every story I see lately focuses on a singular character or entire family ripe for redemption through love. The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting makes it easy to forget that our comical characters are anything but a normal family. While I would normally sit back mindlessly and just enjoy the heartwarming episodes, the occasional small reminder of their true way of life makes the ride a bit of a bumpy one by the end.

[Review] YUREI DECO: A Love-y Attempt at Substance

The anime-original YUREI DECO recently wrapped up after 12 episodes and for all intents and purposes is a complete package with little need for a sequel or spin-off. Part of this is due to the material from which it took inspiration as well as the manner in which the writing paced itself through to the end. Colorful and idealistic from the beginning, the larger themes of freedom, value, and family are inspiring but too ambitious for such a small box. While I was fond of YUREI DECO’s characters, I ultimately found myself frustrated with the rushed ending that did little to address the story’s many issues.