Re:Zero ~ Chapter 2 Vol. #04 Manga Review

If you pick up too much, you might end up dropping everything.

Creative Staff:

Art: Makoto Fuugetsu

Original Story: Tappei Nagatsuki

Character Design: Shinichirou Otsuka

Translation: ZephyrRZ

Lettering: Quintessenza

What They Say:

After a string of fatally wrong attempts, Subaru has finally figured out the true culprit behind the curse. Seeking to protect everyone dear to him, he rushes to the forest accompanied by Rem. Can Subaru overcome this challenge and survive, or will his own stubborn desire to do the right thing force the reset once again?

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

Before we get into the bulk of this review, I believe it's important to point out exactly where in the timeline it is- seeing as the release schedule Yen Press laid out for Re:Zero is filled with more holes than freshly sliced swiss cheese. This might blow your mind here, but this book is the direct sequel to Chapter 2/Volume 3. The reason I point this out is that Chapter 3/Volume 1 actually came out before this particular installment for some strange, incomprehensible reason. Hell, there's still even one volume left in chapter 2 while chapter 3 is about to publish its fourth book. So not only does the release schedule make the series confusing for readers, it totally screwed with me when I went to review Chapter 3/Volume 1, thinking that it would be, you know, the next part of the damn manga instead of the sequel to something that hadn't even come out yet.

Anyway, all complaints aside, this installment of Re:Zero is meant to tie up the plotline of chapter two. When we last left off, Subaru had finally uncovered the entity responsible for several of his most recent deaths and had set out with Rem in an effort to track him down. Upon reaching the village, however, it appears that they may be too late. Both Subaru and everyone's favorite blue-haired maid take off into the woods, hoping for one last chance to slaughter a puppy- because what else is there to do in a parallel world. Soon after, they encounter a pack of demon beasts that go on to make both of their days significantly more challenging than they had already been. Subaru and Rem attempt to fight them off together but this ultimately ends in our protagonist becoming critically injured while Rem tries to shoulder the burden all on her own.

Instead of dying this time, Subaru wakes up in Roswaal Manor, mostly healed thanks to some aid from best girl (AKA Emilia). This solace is short-lived, however. Beatrice reveals to Subaru that he only has another day to live, at most, unless they uncover and kill all of the beasts that had cursed him. Removing a single curse is one thing but, according to the token loli, the number of curses he had taken on was borderline impossible to cure without some 'physical intervention.' 

And no, not that kind. This isn't Fate.

Regardless, Subaru sets off into the woods yet again, this time with Ram instead of Rem. With both of them dead set on finding her before she falls into peril, the level of urgency reaches an all-time peak as Rem could give into death's grasp any moment now. Well, at least that's what we're meant to think, but most of us already know that Rem isn't exactly what she seems. The book tails off into a brief recounting of her and her sister's childhood and how they were blessed with the power of demons at birth. However, somewhere along the line, Ram's powers were stripped, leaving Rem as the only one with immense combat capabilities. Soon enough, the three characters are reunited and Subaru disables Rem before she's able to burn herself out. Pleading with Ram to take her back to the village, he summons every ounce of strength in his body to defeat the leader of the demon beasts.

He doesn't. Fortunately for him, good ole' Roswaal himself shows up and torches the giant hellhound before it has a chance to kill Subaru for a...what is it now, fifteenth time? The day is ultimately saved and boom-  the seed of Rem's undying and unrequited love has finally been planted. With everything finally starting to calm down, maybe our protagonist will be able to take it easy for a little while? And if not...well, at least Emilia has finally decided to go on a date with him.

In Summary: 

The penultimate volume for Re:Zero's second chapter does an exemplary job of tying up the arc before moving onto additional (And likely fan service heavy) filler material in its final installment. Rem fans rejoice, as I know there are many of you out there, for she is the star of this book. With some of the best artwork Fugetsu has put out to date and an unblemished structure to back it, I'm sad to say goodbye to this section of Re:Zero's evergrowing timeline. I'm a bit skeptical going into the next chapter, as we must once again change artists, but I won't let it dissuade me from the interest brought on by this finale. I urge any of you already reading the series to continue on as well. If the following books are even a fragment as good as this one, Re:Zero will remain the must-read series it already is.

Content Grade: A-

Art Grade: A

Packaging Grade: A

Text/Translation Grade: A-

Age Rating: 13+

Released By: Yen Press

Release Date: December 19, 2017

MSRP: $12.99

Kiss & White Lily For My Dearest Girl Vol. #04 Manga Review

It's okay to cry...I'm the only one watching.

Creative Staff:

Story & Art: Canno

Translation: Jocelyne Allen

Lettering: Alexis Ecerkman

What They Say:

Ayaka Shiramine and Yurine Kurosawa have started a new year at school as second years and are classmates once again. Yurine is practically assaulting the gardening club so she can join. Meanwhile, the rest club struggles valiantly to ensure the survival of the rose garden. Amidst this, they meet Yukina Ooshiro and Towako Mita. The story of kissing girls continues--!

The Review:
Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

Remember in my last review where I praised Kiss & White Lily for getting back to its main couple instead of dwelling too much on establishing side characters and subplots? Well, this volume really hammers it in that the alternating-formula, which has become increasingly popular in the yuri genre, is going to be the same one this story follows for the most part. That being said, you can expect a heavy dose of side characters this time around. Unlike my qualms with issue two, however, this fourth installment breaks away from my initial distaste for the formula by proving the subplots, too, can harbor emotional weight. In fact, this might be the most well-constructed book in the series thus far- and it's in no way thanks to either of the main characters.

Volume four brings us back to what I believe was the first side-couple we were introduced to- way back in the first book. Mizuki and Moe, track star and manager respectively, are approaching the end of their high school careers. With that, they're obviously on the brink of saying goodbye to track forever as well. It's already been established at this point that these girls are interested in each other, so the bulk of this volume elects to focus on their personal issues rather than romantic ones. Mizuki, faced with her final race of...well, pretty much forever, has only managed to achieve success because she's been "running for Moe." But when Moe reaches out to her and says that she needs to learn to run for herself, it creates a rift between them that tears at their psyches to the point of breakdown. Mizuki, now alone and confused, must discover what it is that attracted her to running in the first place. Moe, on the other hand, must battle with questions of self-importance and exactly what role she's supposed to have in Mizuki's life.

While Mizuki's battle may have been hard fought, it ultimately ends in failure. However, sometimes failure leads to great things. Even though she had lost her last race ever, she grew strong enough to mend the broken bond with the girl she loves. The rift turns into a spark and, for the rest of the volume, the girls remain head over heels for one another. This continues sporadically throughout the volume and culminates with a beautifully executed kissing seen under the cover of fireworks.

While Mizuki and Moe were clearly the focus of this book, it does not mean the other characters went completely unnoticed. Kurosawa sees a fair share of screen time, though it is in result of yet another character introduction -- Kaoru Machida. Apparently, Shiramine isn't the only girl with feelings for the school's top student. Kaoru has actually been watching Kurosawa since middle school. After transferring out for several years, though, she had all but given up the idea of pursuing her. Well, at least until high school rolled around and she was placed in her class again. Now, Kaoru must find it within herself to overcome her introversion in order to get close to the one girl no one can get close to.

There are two central themes that volume four hones in on- looking toward the future and remedying the problems found within oneself. These ideas, when executed correctly (And I assure you that is the case for this installment), go hand in hand with one another in a multitude of ways. Book-four is not only interesting and engaging, it's a heartfelt injection into self-struggle and perseverance. From a sheer thematic standpoint, this book may just be the best in the series so far.

In Summary:

The jump back to a side character-centric formula may seem off-putting at first, but book four quickly regains its footing thanks to the excellent characterization and chemistry of both Mizuki and Moe. The gap in terms of time between the first and fourth volumes may cause a bit of confusion for some readers, but the fact that we've already been introduced to these two easily aids the continuation of their story. With a heavy thematic focus and some of the most gorgeous artwork the series has seen, Kiss & White Lily remains just as enchanting as always and reminds us, once again, that Seven Seas isn't the only group who can publish yuri.

Content Grade: A

Art Grade: A

Packaging Grade: A-

Text/Translation Grade: A-

Age Rating: 13+

Released By: Yen Press

Release Date: November 14, 2017

MSRP: $12.99

The Asterisk War Vol. #05 Manga Review (Series Finale)

Burst into bloom.

Creative Staff:

Art: Ningen

Original Story: Yuu Miyazaki

Character Design: okiura

Translation: Melissa Tanaka

Lettering: Phil Christie

What They Say: 

After a string of dominant wins, Ayato and Julis find themselves up against sisters Irene and Priscilla Urzaiz! Irene is the wielder of the Gravisheath, an Orga Lux that has the power to manipulate gravity, but its user must pay a high price: their life energy! Once the battle begins, it quickly becomes two-on-one -- and Priscilla's on the sidelines! What sort of secret power could she be hiding?...

The Review: 

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

Welp, it's been a decent run but, unfortunately, Asterisk War's manga has reached its end. Actually, I wouldn't go as far as saying 'unfortunately,' if we're going to be totally honest. I mean, the fact that the creators decided to bid farewell to this adaptation in pretty much the strangest spot possible is pretty indicative of their affinity for it. Regardless, it's not like the journey was entirely unenjoyable. In fact, there were actually several pretty enjoyable moments throughout the series. This final installment is no different.

When we last left off, Julis and Ayato had decided to team up for the Phoenix Fest. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the series (Or just need a refresher), the Phoenix Festa is pretty much the biggest competition in all of Asterisk War. Something crazy like 100 teams or something are placed into a bracket, with only 32 of them reaching the final round. In addition to Ayato and Julis, Saya and Kirin have also decided to team up- and we spend a small portion of this finale learning a bit more about them. 

While it may seem like Saya and Kirin were paired up simply due to the fact that they are two largest supporting characters the series has to offer, the 'real' reason lies in the fact that Saya appreciated Kirin's sword skills. According to her, her combat style is very similar to Ayato's and, considering she's spent her whole damn life admiring him, she knows how to work with that. The only thing this duo lacks is a proper rapport. So, with that in mind, they decide to go out shopping- you know, exactly what every other team of fierce combatants does. At the end of the day, they advance the final 32 teams. Ayato and Julis follow soon after.

The main problem here is that a new duo has been introduced, and they're pretty darn terrifying. The face of this new team is the incredibly badass Irene Urzaiz- an orphan who fled her home with her sister and has been protecting her sense. Irene possesses a Lux called the Gravisheath, which seems like a pretty big deal at first. But considering she only had a few panels to show it off before Ayato smashes it into pieces, I'd say that it didn't really live up to the hype. The book comes to a close shortly after, with Ayato and Julis heading into the final 16 teams with Team Saya's next match to follow suit.

The only thing is, the series ends right here. There are no prior mentions or even foreshadowings of any true finale. In fact, this book didn't even close out the first half of the anime's second season. It just stops in the middle of nowhere in what is probably the least natural ending to a manga I've ever read. It turns the entire five-book series into nothing more than an excuse to buy the light novels. Something like this is a slap in the face to any reader who was actually enjoying the manga. And, to be fair, it really wasn't bad. It's a loyal adaptation that just falls into nonexistence before any sort of payoff.

In Summary:

While The Asterisk War may be a solid five-book series in terms of content and characters, its sporadic abandonment after this particular volume really downplays the rest of the series. With no update in the foreseeable future or even an explanation as to why publication was halted, Asterisk War's final installment leaves readers unsatisfied and without closure. If you're able to see past this, the five books that did reach the light of day are easily accessible to fans of shonen action-harems. For readers who aren't into this genre, however, the series leaves much to be desired.

Content Grade: C+

Art Grade: B+

Packaging Grade: B

Text/Translation Grade: B-

Age Rating: 13+

Released By: Yen Press

Release Date: September 19, 2017

MSRP: $12.99

My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As I Expected Vol. #06 Manga Review

Once again, she wasn't chosen.

Creative Staff:

Original Story: Wataru Watari
Art: Naomichi Io
Character Design: Ponkan8
Translation: Jennifer Ward
Lettering: Bianca Pistillo

Cover Design: Hiroyuki Kawasome

What They Say:

Summer vacation is here! With an expectedly huge amount of free time on his hands, Hachiman decides to take it easy until school starts up again. Well, at least until some of his 'acquaintances' begin to show up. Eventually, the topic of Yukino arises. She's had an influence on everyone around her, but what does Hachiman think of Yukino?

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

Ahh, summer vacation- the time in every teenager's life to be live and free. Well, everyone except Hachiman, that is. As far as he's concerned, summer vacation is best possible time to...well, sit there and do nothing for a few months. Of course, there will always be a few things he won't mind setting aside some time for and, as always, the number-one spot on this very short list is consumed by good ole' Totsuka.

After a short chapter centered around Saki (That was likely thrown in just to remind us of her character), we're gifted some good old-fashioned dude on dude romance as Hachiman and Totsuka take a trip to the arcade. Before they get to the good part, however, Zaimokuza shows up and the group of misfit guys tail off into a conversation about slot cars or whatever it is dudes talk about. So even though we're only two chapters into the volume, it's pretty evident that the focal point this time around will be on OreGairu's side characters. I mean, with the primary female love interest locked away from society for whatever reason, what else is there for our protagonist to do?

Oh, right- he can still hang out with the secondary (And better suited) love interest! Essentially forced out by the true best-girl of the series, Komachi, Hikigaya and Yuigahama venture off to the summer festival under the pretense of 'shopping.' Of course, knowing Yui's crush on Hachiman, this turns into an absolute moe-fest as she tries desperately to not cling to him every second of the night. This becomes increasingly easier for her once the two of them run into none other than Yukino....'s sister, who is apparently spearheading the fireworks festival or something like that.

Of course, she acts as her usual self, passive-aggressively trash talking her little sister every chance she gets. And even though Hachiman is able to clearly see through the guise she puts up, he can't help but come to respect her for being so secretly malicious. This isn't to say he likes her- in fact, I'd go out on a limb in saying he despises Haruno. But just as it is with Yukinoshita, he's intimidated by her. This continues on until the end of the festival when Hachiman walks Yuigahama home in yet another surprisingly adorable 8man x Yui moment. All good things must come to a close, though, and the end of the fireworks festival ushers in the beginning of a new semester of school. Now, Hachiman must come face to face with his rival/friend(?) yet again and figure out what he truly thinks of her.

It's clear that Yukinoshita has been hiding something, and I think it's safe to assume that the next volume will center almost entirely on that.

In Summary:

Oregairu's sixth volume focus almost all of its energy on expanding the characteristics and profiles of its supporting roster. Totsuka, Komachi, and even Shiratsuka have scenes dedicated entirely to themselves. The even more surprising part of this is that each one presents to us a theme that parallels not only the series as a whole but the different perceptions these characters have concerning it. Even though its layout seems sporadic and unfocused in nature, volume-six accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do- making every one of us think deeper into the people surrounding Hikigaya.

Content Grade: B+

Art Grade: B

Packaging Grade: B+

Text/Translation Grade: A

Age Rating: 13+

Released By: Yen Press

Release Date: September, 2017

MSRP: $12.99

Magical Girl Site Episode #12 Review (Series Finale)

The most wonderful gift in the world.

What They Say:

Aya Asagiri lives a life of torture. Bullied by her peers and physically abused by her brother, she contemplates suicide as a means of escapism. One particularly harsh night, her laptop abruptly turns on and beckons her toward it. There, a website known simply as the 'Mahou Shoujo Site' offers her a chance to sculpt her own fate with the help of a stick that will grant her powers. But will something as simple as a magic wand truly be enough to save her from a life not worth living?

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

Out of all the misfortune to grace this divisive series, last week's episode really took the cake. Offing Yatsumura in its final moments set the stage for what was easily going to be an emotional ending to the series, if not anything else. With Aya more broken than ever before (Which is actually rather impressive, if we're going to be honest), combating the tempest seems all but impossible. Well, at least that's what we were lead to believe going into this week's finale.

The earlier part of episode twelve focuses on the existential, inner struggle Tsuyuno faces after death. Instead of being greeted by an afterlife or anything like that, she's placed in blanked out world in front of Nana. Following a lengthy, philosophical monologue, Yatsumura converted into a site administrator and loses all recollection of her past. It is at this point that the 'true' antagonist of the series is revealed. As it turns out, all of the administrators follow orders passed down by their 'king.' Who is the king, you ask? The most unfortunate girl in the world, of course. I have no idea what that means, but the way Nana presented it made it seem like a pretty big deal. Either way, the only thing that matters to Yatsumura now is the preprogrammed mission of collecting more magical energy to feed to that king. The best way to do that is to, of course, kill Aya herself.

Deciding to stick with her best friend to the very end, Aya teleports Sarina, Kosame, and Rina away, leaving her all alone with a collapsing yellow cube, a dead Tsuyuno, and the most menacing admin out there. As soon as Aya is able to make it to Tsuyuno's corpse, however, she starts to slip back into 'consciousness.' While this seems great for our protagonist at first, things quickly go awry when it becomes clear that Yatsumura isn't exactly feeling herself. The scene then tails off into both a physical and mental struggle for Aya as she's forced to figure out how to deal with this both without dying or re-killing her friend. This ultimately results in the cliched, yet powerful idea of love trumping all other things.

Aya winds up teleporting both her and Yatsumura to the beach they promised to visit together earlier in the series. Unfortunately, this alone isn't enough to snap her out of her delusions. What is enough, however, is TIME TRAVEL. Yup. Apparently, Aya is able to teleport herself back in time to when Yatsumura is still a child and somehow manages to transfer some of her own energy into her. I want to believe this is a sort of metaphor or something, but I really don't think it is. It wouldn't make sense. It wouldn't explain how, once the daydream-ish scene came to a close, Yatsumura came back to life and held the now-dying Aya in her hands. 

In yet another emotionally-fueled scene, Aya clings to life and promises, yet again, to stay with Yatsumura forever. When you pick apart this act piece by piece, there are tons of questions that need to be answered. But, in all honesty, the execution of these strange ideas being mushed together actually works out in a very impressive way. A new theme is immediately brought to light- and it isn't just "Friendship defeats everything!" It's the concept of finding good things in a world of pure evil. The fact that Aya and Yatsumura were able to persevere through the worst types of adversity humanly possible proves that they are truly not 'unfortunate.' Oh, and remember how I was worried about everything being tied up in just one more episode? Well, thanks to an unexpectedly surprising move from the director and writing staff, they decide against tying anything up. The series ends with plenty of room for a continuation and even heavily hints at it.

Will there be a sequel to Mahou Shoujo Site? Maybe. As is the norm for this type of thing, it depends on how the series fares overseas. And in the event that there isn't a sequel, the anime serves as a huge motivator for continuing the story through its manga predecessor. I know it sounds a little weird, given that I've been all over the place with my opinions on this show, but I'm actually looking forward to any mention of a new season. I feel like Mahou Shoujo Site still has a lot left to give, and I can imagine how anything following episode twelve could turn out great. But, as always, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

In Summary:

Is Magical Girl Site the tryhard-edgy anime that the Internet's keyboard warriors are making it out to be? Yes and no. There's plenty of over-the-top, chaotic nonsense in this series that, frankly, would not fly in real life. But you need to take into consideration that this isn't meant to be an emulation of a typical Japanese setting. I mean, they can stop friggin' time for Christ's sake- and people are calling the show illegitimate because no one stands up to bullies. While its final arc shines in terms of thematics and execution, still expect utter nonsense spread throughout the bulk of the series. But if you're able to deal with that and don't mind a hefty dose of moe gore, I urge you to give this a try. If anything, it's definitely entertaining.

Episode Grade: A-

Series Grade: B-

Streamed By: Prime Video

How To Raise A Boring Girlfriend Vol. #07 Manga Review

Her first rebellion caused a dull pain...like being pricked by a pointed tree branch.

Creative Staff:

Original Story: Fumiaki Maruto

Art: Takeshi Moriki

Character Design: Kurehito Misaki

Translation: Kumar Sivasubramanian

Translation Consultant: Chitoku Teshima

Lettering: Phil Christie

What They Say:

Tomoya takes a trip to the mountains to see Eriri, who's hard at work finishing the art for their game. But when Tomoya gets there, he finds Eriri collapsed with a high fever! Is completing their game worth risking Eriri's health?

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

Well, we're approaching the end, ladies and gentlemen. With only one volume remaining and Cherry Blessing finally complete, the end is all but spelled out for our friends in Blessing Software. But even though the final climb may be bittersweet in nature, there's still a fair share of cuteness to go around. And even if that cuteness may be the result of poor decisions on behalf of good ole' Aki-kun, it's still something to look forward to as everything we've built over the last couple years comes crumbling down.

When we last left off, Tomoya had abandoned his promise to Katou, venturing off to the Nasu Highland to check on Eriri after she collapsed from fatigue. Considering that there is no way in hell someone like Katou would have objected to this in the first place, Tomoya's hasty decision seems a bit...unnecessary. Sure, he was worried about his childhood friend. Who wouldn't be? Eriri has predominantly been my favorite girl throughout the series too- but even I'm not understanding the reason for his sudden...spontaneity. The only reason that comes to mind is that he might not be entirely comfortable with the end product his team has created. Or at least, that would have made sense if he didn't rave about it for the next few chapters.

Even though the game wasn't entirely finalized in time for Winter Comiket, Blessing Software was still able to hand-print a solid 100 copies. To their surprise, these copies sold out almost immediately once word spread that "Eri Kashiwagi" had done the artwork for it. Following this, Cherry Blessing became even more sought-after due not only to its limited production and stunning artwork but also that its story rivalled some of the best writers out there. Needless to say, the game was a success. Everything that our team had been working on for an entire school year (Which really isn't all that long in terms of VN production, if we're going to be real) had panned out okay. Well, almost everything.

After Comiket, Tomoya plans on throwing a mini wrap party of sorts. But when approaches Katou about the matter, she can't help but finally show off a glimpse of emotion- telling Tomoya that he essentially screwed her over and rendered her useless by going behind her back. I'm sure there was a bit of jealousy thrown into that mix as well, but what pissed her off more than anything was how little she meant to the team in the long run. With all that being said, she storms off back to her house and leaves Tomoya speechless in confused. And, as if that wasn't enough, we're faced with an immediate time skip to several months in the future where things still aren't remedied between them.

What makes this even worse is that our protagonist has decided to choose the least opportune moment possible to pitch the idea of a second game. Utaha is about to graduate, Eriri is so happy that she can't even draw anymore, and Katou is all but MIA. It's not like she's attempting to avoid Tomoya or anything but, in her mind, she's made it pretty clear that she doesn't want any part of the circle from this point on. So just what the hell is Aki-kun going to do now? He's only got one book left to patch things up with Katou and reunite the team. There's absolutely no way things can work out like this...right?

In Summary:

With yet another well-structured and well-written installment in the series, Saekano remains just as consistent as ever. With only one book left until completion, it's sad to think something I've enjoyed so thoroughly is going to ultimately be coming to a close soon. Hopefully, the last bit of problems (Which are greater than ever, mind you) will be wrapped up as neatly as they were in the animated series. And if perchance, they are not...well, I'll be pretty darn irritated. Because up until now, this has been one of the most entertaining and intellectual harems I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

Content Grade: A

Art Grade: A

Packaging Grade: A-

Text/Translation Grade: A+

Age Rating: 16+

Released By: Yen Press

Release Date: September 19, 2017

MSRP: $12.99

Magical Girl Site Episode #11 Anime Review

The Girl in the Corner.

What They Say:

Aya Asagiri lives a life of torture. Bullied by her peers and physically abused by her brother, she contemplates suicide as a means of escapism. One particularly harsh night, her laptop abruptly turns on and beckons her toward it. There, a website known simply as the 'Mahou Shoujo Site' offers her a chance to sculpt her own fate with the help of a stick that will grant her powers. But will something as simple as a magic wand truly be enough to save her from a life not worth living?

The Review:

Content: (Please note that the content portion of the review may contain spoilers)

With just a few episodes left until the Tempest, the girls must make haste with their plan to capture a site administrator. In the event that they fail, it's very likely that each of them will die within a matter of days. Of course, there is a pretty significant chance that their operation in itself will lead to a fatality or two- but hey, someone needs to do something, right? With no options left, the girls split off into three groups in an attempt to pincer one of the admins. Fortunately for them, the one with the really weird face that punches peoples' heads off walks right into their trap.

The unfortunate part of this is that (As we expected) the administrator is not one to be messed with. Even after being surprise-attacked by Rina, she only winds up losing one leg. Yeah, this seems like it would be a big deal for most people, but this particular apparition seemed no more worried about losing a leg than she would have been had she lost her car keys. Regardless, the fight carries on for a few minutes before the admin ultimately gets teleported up to the roof. There, Sarina is lying in wait with her trusty yoyo and straight up cuts the ghostly figure into pieces. Once everyone else reaches the roof, however, it's revealed that this figure is no ghost at all, but rather the reanimated corpse of another girl their age. How the corpse was reanimated? No idea. Why it had wires and stuff instead of organs? Also no idea- but that's all beside the point.

The main idea we're supposed to leech from this is that the admins are theoretically the same as the girls themselves. Unfortunately, before we're even able to figure out how we feel about this, Nana shows up out of nowhere and blows a few holes into Sarina. As it turns out, she had used the other administrator to lure the girls right into her hands. And even though Sarina is probably not dead (Or at least I hope she's not because no one really made a big deal out of it), Nana's scheme is certainly not over as she plans to finish off all of them tonight.

The thing is, Yatsumura has other plans. Left with no other options and running out of hope, she uses her stick one last time to entrap everyone but herself. I believe her plan was to use this window as an opportunity to take Nana down herself, but that backfires completely as she too is gunned down with ease. Despite losing probably 25% of her body's fluids within a matter of seconds, Yatsumura stands strong just long enough to insult Nana a few times and say her goodbyes to Aya. The goodbye is expectedly heartfelt, backed by a slightly-expected "I love you," before her body goes limp. In a totally-not-metaphorical way, the rain begins to fall and Aya breaks into a panic, creating what is easily the most emotionally-charged moment of Magical Girl Site thus far. 

At the end of their rope and trapped inside a literal box, the girls must figure out a way to end things once and for all. Unfortunately, the chances of that seem slim to none.

In Summary:

Given that many loose ends need to be tied up within the last few episodes, I'm surprised to say that this particular installment of Mahou Shoujo Site has been the best so far. The pacing is spot on and, even if I never particularly cared about Yatsumura or Aya all that much, their goodbye scene is pretty heartbreaking. Seeing Aya become borderline insane with grief was pretty tough, even though she's been a terrible character up to this point. Maybe I'm still emotionally scarred from the last scene in Angel Beats, but any time someone does that thing with their hands where they try desperately to hang onto something after it passes, I get a little teary-eyed. At the end of the day, however, things will need to be amped up even harder as there is only one more episode until everything must come crashing down.

Episode Grade: A-

Streamed By: Prime Video

Spring 2018 Anime Accolades

Technical Awards

Best Original Soundtrack/Score

Violet Evergarden

Music by Evan Call

Sound Direction by Youta Tsuruoka

Best Insert Song

"Peter Pan Syndrome" (Caligula)

Written by 40mP

Performed by Reina Ueda

Best Opening Song

"Sincerely" (Violet Evergarden)

Performed by TRUE

Best Ending Song

"Michishirube" (Violet Evergarden)

Performed by Minori Chihara

Best Opening Animation

Darling In The FranXX

Directed by Atsushi Nishigori

Best Ending Animation

Steins;Gate 0

Directed by Kenichi Kawamura

Best Adapted Story

Steins;Gate 0

Created by Chiyomaru Shikura (With Nitroplus and 5pb.)

Directed by Kenichi Kawamura

Best Original Story

Darling In The FranXX

Series Composition by Naotaka Hayashi and Atsushi Nishigori

Directed by Atsushi Nishigori

Best Artwork/Animation

Violet Evergarden

Art Direction by Mikiko Watanabe

Original Character Designs by Akiko Takase

Color Design by Yuka Yoneda

Key Animation by Haruka Fujita

With Kouhei Funamoto as Director of Photgraphy

Acting Awards

Best Supporting Actor

Mamoru Miyano

For Kaoru Ijuuin in Tada Never Falls In Love

Best Supporting Actress

Asami Imai

For Makise Kurisu/Amadeus in Steins;Gate 0

Best Leading Actor

Mamoru Miyano

For Okabe Rinatarou in Steins;Gate 0

Best Leading Actress

Yui Ishikawa

For Violet Evergarden in Violet Evergarden

Character Awards

Best Supporting Character (Female)

Anzu (Hinamatsuri)

Played by Rie Murakawa

Best Supporting Character (Male)

Tarou Kabakura (Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku)

Played by Tomokazu Sugita

Best Main Character (Female)

Violet Evergarden (Violet Evergarden)

Played by Yui Ishikawa

Best Main Character (Male)

Okabe Rintarou (Steins;Gate 0) 

Played by Mamoru Miyano

Best Character Ensemble

Steins;Gate 0

Character Designs by Tomoshige Inayoshi
Based on Designs by huke

Originally Created by Chiyomaru Shikura

Directed by Kenichi Kawamura

The Final Awards

Best Director

Taichi Ishidate

For Violet Evergarden

Best Anime

Violet Evergarden

Directed by Taichi Isdhidate

Produced by Kyoto Animation