Summer 2022 Episode Reviews: Week Two

Welcome, weebs, to Animated Observations

It is time once again to look at summer 2022’s offerings and see how they are doing this week. This time, there are a couple of new additions and some clarifications I need to add.

Lycoris Recoil Eps. 1–2

This was not a series I even realized existed this season, let alone planned on picking up. However, despite the fact that it flew a bit under the radar, there is certainly some potential here. The setup of undercover agents who work to stop danger before it arrives makes a lot of sense, especially since the introductory monologue seems to imply there is a lot more going on with this organization than meets the eye. On top of that, the dynamic being set up between the care-free Chisato and the straight-laced Takina seems like it could work really well, and has already presented some seeds of interpersonal conflict.

The one hold-off I have about this show is: why teenage girls? I spent a solid half an hour trying to come up with some thematic justifications for why they would be this young, and there were definitely some that seemed plausible. However, if their age is irrelevant thematically anyway, why not take the opportunity to focus on some adult characters? Maybe ones that have already dealt with some morally grey decisions as the result of orders from the DA. I kinda hope this series ends up being a bit more than just a cute girls show, cause there is a lot of here to like.

The Devil is a Part-Timer Season 2 Ep. 1

On the contrary, I have been eagerly awaiting the time that I get to talk about this series once again. The Devil is a Part-Timer is one of my all-time favorite comedy series, and the studios really did a disservice by letting this go without a sequel for so long. So, how did the first episode fair?

Pretty good, actually. There was, of course, plenty of high-quality humor abounds, with the primary focus of the episode being on Ushiora’s unwillingness to do anything for the house. Meanwhile, Maou has to deal with normal work BS, all the while a c*ckr*ach hides in their closet and terrorizes the apartment. The end-of-episode reveal did feel a bit out of left field but was still hilarious, and I am certainly excited to see where the rest of the season goes.

Call of the Night Ep. 2

I started talking about this show’s first episode by saying that I was pleasantly surprised, and overall, that is the best way I can speak about episode two as well. Much like Lycoris Recoil, Call of the Night already has a lot going on thematically that I think could really be utilized well given some good execution.

Between the two of them though, while Recoil arguably has a bit more going on plot-wise, Call of the Night just looks and sounds really damn good. The Jazz and hip-hop-infused soundtrack combined with a set of very minimalist backgrounds make the city and surrounding suburbs feel incredibly empty, but at the same time, also inviting. This is kind of the point of the show, I am aware, but it is worth pointing out because of how well it has been done so far.

Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer Ep. 2

Ask and you shall receive, I guess? The big quality issue as far as the video itself on Crunchyroll is concerned seems to have been fixed, which is nice. However, I cannot say that the series animation is all that compelling. The character designs are unique enough, but the action, despite only happening in short bursts, looks kinda…ok, but nothing special.

This episode does give lead us into one of the first major “arcs” if you wanna call it that, which is Yuuhi confronting his past and his abusive uncle. In that regard, it does a solid job at creating this feeling of a tortured mental state that he is going through. I honestly am not sure how long I plan to stick with this, but for now, it is still just ok.

Made in Abyss S2 Ep. 2

So, as it happens, I made a bit of an oopsie. Not only did I not bother watching the recap films, but I also was completely unaware that the third movie was entirely canon and necessary for understanding the plot, which is probably why the first episode last week came off as overly confusing.

Having now watched said film and the second episode, I can confidently say I am in fact, slightly less confused. All jokes aside, this was a fantastic episode as well. The scenery of the Golden City is gorgeous, as well as the continuously unique monster designs that populate the sixth layer. The question of the beings that stole Riko’s white whistle is also lingering in the air after that final scene. Overall, a great couple of opening episodes with a lot more to come, I am willing to bet.

RWBY: Ice Queendom is on a bit of a hiatus until episode four, but otherwise, weekly coverage will continue until I decide to drop something, which may or may not happen. What is your favorite weekly watch? Let me know down in the comments.

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