Ok. Summer 2022 anime season is (mostly) over. I say mostly because there were a couple of late-starters which are still running for another episode or two, but I think it’s safe to say I’ve finalized my opinions on the shows that I’d started watching. So, for fun, I’m going to go back through my Initial list, at least for the ones that I didn’t drop straight-away, and give some final thoughts. [I’m not going to be providing links for all of the shows — those are still findable from my initial list.]
Classroom of the Elite (Season 2)
I liked it, although, honestly, less so than S1. I know this is a show that’s, ultimately, all about the mind-games, but some of it seemed a bit too obscure and non-sensical even for me. Also, while I appreciate the Class B(?) leader asshole getting his ass kicked hard, the previous torture scene was a bit too much — again, even for me. [Don’t get me wrong … I’m as cool with a well-done *cough*BDSM*cough* scene as any other “cultured” anime fan, but picking on someone who was literally on the verge of having a psychological break just because … over the line for me.
Final verdict – stick with S1. Maybe when S3 comes out, this one will redeem itself?
Lycoris Recoil
O-M-G was this an outstanding show. Anime-original, so no one had any idea of where the story was going or what was going to happen. [The post-E10-ish internet discussions of whether or not Chisato was going to be dying, and if Takina would be taking revenge were just EPIC!] The characters (and character development) were awesomely crafted and not only was there a great story here, but it was well-animated too.
Final verdict – Please, oh, please, let there be an S2 … and 3 … and 4? Let this give One Piece a run for the money for series length?
Isekai Harem
[Yeah, I know it’s got a different title, but I said I was calling it “Isekai Harem” and I’m not backing down.]
This show was trash. I mean — absolute utter garbage. And it wasn’t even a nice dumpster fire. Nope. I’m talking just flat-out wasted time. One of the saddest things is that another isekai power-fantasy show this season (Black Summoner) wound up with the MC having a bigger harem and he got started on it earlier. If anything, that’s one of the worst elements of this show … there was very little “harem”ing in this harem. I think it wasn’t until the last … 2 episodes? … that the MC even had a second girl? W.T.F.? Seriously, most of this season could’ve been called “Isekai Censored-Stockholm-Syndrome-Sex-Slave” and it would’ve been more descriptive.
Final verdict – No. Just … no. I’m sorry I watched it, continually hoping it would get better. It didn’t.
My Stepmom’s Daughter Is My Ex
This was so much better (and more wholesome) of a show than I had originally thought it would be and I was extremely pleasantly surprised. Yes, there was some initial playful jabs back and forth between the main pair, but ultimately, it turned into a bit of a deep dive into relationships and how people entering (and in) relationship view the other person and how those rose-colored-glasses perspectives can wind up messing up said relationships. For what looked to be a throwaway trash rom-com, it far, far, FAR exceeded expectations.
Final verdict – If Lycoris Recoil was best action series of the season (of the ones I saw), this was, far and above, the best rom-com. Not sure they’d be able to comfortably squeeze an S2 out of it and, honestly, I’m content with that. It told a complete story and I’m happy with that.
Engage Kiss
I watched it … and I’m not particularly proud of myself for doing so. The animated action scenes were good. The story was all over the place. And it turns out (as is revealed through the entire season) that the MC is absolute, utter, shit. Just for one little slice … in order to prevent someone else from reaching a special location first … he has sex with her, but coats his … “member” … with a neuro-toxin to temporarily paralyze her. In retrospect, it seems that all of the girls he’d interacted with (including the demon girlfriend) were, pretty much, just being used by him.
Final verdict – it was a horrible mix of being light enough to not want to pay attention, but just plot-heavy enough that blinking at the wrong time meant utter confusion. Honestly, wouldn’t recommend watching to anyone.
The Yakuza’s Guide To Babysitting
Just as good as I’d hoped / expected it to be. Stayed extremely faithful to the original manga (which I’m still reading) and showed the wonderful character and character development of both Kirishima and Yaeka.
Final verdict – wholesome Slice-of-Life / found-family story that’s well worth watching. Hoping they do an S2 (or however many), presuming the manga provides enough.
Shadows House (Season 2)
There’s still that wonderfully convoluted plot. I think parts of this season suffered by throwing a LOT of new characters into the mix and then (mostly) shunting them aside once the story of “no, who’s really been causing troubles?” gets up to full-speed. I still like it, but kinda wanted to like it more.
Final verdict – if you liked S1, watch S2, but it hasn’t really gone anywhere new since then, which is a shame.
Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer
As, apparently, everyone who’s a fan of the original manga said … this could have been better. The animation was just plain ugly (or non-existent) at times and while there’s clearly lots and lots of cool story here … it just didn’t really come across well.
Final verdict – I watched it and was intrigued .. but, really, probably was skip-able.
RWBY: Ice Queendom
Not much to say here. It was well done. I don’t have enough reference to the original RWBY series to compare, but it was a fun story and the animation (especially fight scenes) was great.
Final verdict – Yep, would watch again.
The Devil is a Part-Timer (Season 2)
Bit of a let-down on this one. Yeah, it continued a lot of the S1 stuff, but it didn’t really go anywhere with it, and seemed to continually be dropping threads in the middle of the season. Perhaps this is the fault of the source material and there’s better wrap-up of some of this coming? They’ve already announced an S3, so I’ll definitely watch that.
Final verdict – honestly, inclined to hold off on this until I see S3. I think S1 told a nice, fairly complete-ish (without being complete) story. This didn’t really add much to it.
Black Summoner
This was a really fun show to watch. Plus, the MC here “harem”ed soooo much harder than the MC in Isekai Harem – granted, without any “cultured” scenes, but that’s ok. Yeah, he had to buy his first party member, but in this case, he was (sort of?) saving her from other slavery and, beyond that, he didn’t force her into his bed. Overall, the story developed reasonably and … this MC seemed to work harder at achieving stuff – even though he was sort of … “Kono Suba”ed into his situation. [Yeah, one of his “summons” is the goddess who isekai’ed him, but she agreed because he thought she was beautiful and she wanted to, not because, as in Kono Suba, the MC was being a jerk.]
Final verdict – Good fun; hope they have an S2 to further develop the nation-/power-struggle that we just got a glimpse of at the end.
Shine On! Bakumatsu Bad Boys
Ok. That did not go where I expected it to go in the slightest. From “Suicide Squad” to “Supernatural Bad Guys Trying to Beat Western Visitors” was, I’ll admit, not quite the path I had contemplated this show taking. Although, as I think about it, maybe it was (somewhat?) taking a cue from the first Suicide Squad movie? In any event, shit got real weird, real fast. Not sure I necessarily liked it, though. The story got a bit too confusing to be really enjoyable and not for any real reason other than, I think?, trying to jam a LOT of story into a single cour?
Final verdict – Realistically … not worth watching.
Overlord (Season 4)
An interesting element of this season was that the main characters (the undead main characters, that is) definitely feel like they’ve taken the velvet gloves off. In the previous seasons, there was at least a sense that Ains had some compassion and concern for the humans. [For the lizard guys … not so much, of course.] But with this season, that’s been fully discarded. And, unfortunately, I think the show loses something as a result. He’s not the player-who’s-been-isekai’ed-into-an-undead any more. He has … fully embraced being an undead terror. Was entertaining to watch but much less … fun …
Final verdict – Yeah, still would watch and sort of hoping for an S5.
Parallel World Pharmacy
I watched it. It was less interesting than I would have liked. OP Isekai’ed chemist I guess just doesn’t have quite so much you can do with it.
Final verdict – Skip-able without missing anything.
Extreme Hearts
I wanted to dislike this. No, seriously … “Idol show … but as a series-long tournament arc”! was something that I really, really wanted to dislike. As you can tell from how I’m introducing it — I didn’t. It’s not exactly full-speed brain-power sort of stuff, but it was fun and the music was decent – which, for an idol show (of any kind) is pretty much a requirement.
Final verdict – if you like idol shows … or tournament arcs? Yep, this hits the right spots. The sports side was stupid and made no sense, but don’t pay attention to that! Pretty Girls! Singing!
A Couple of Cuckoos
I’m still reading the manga, so there isn’t exactly anything here which was surprising to me. MOTS – “More Of The Same”. Unfortunately, as I am still reading the manga, I know just how much of nowhere this plot goes and that makes the anime about as painful to watch (my favorite VA notwithstanding).
Final verdict – I’m watching for Akari Kito. I have no idea why anyone else would, to be honest.
Aoashi
Fun show, actually. Seeing the MC’s character growth as he finally comes face-to-face with the understanding that his “super power” is best used from a defending position so he can actually see the whole field and direct plays was very nice to see. My one complaint (although perhaps this is just as valid for real-life?) is I don’t quite understand how he can be so utterly oblivious to how the girl (Hana – the one guy’s sister) is just so, so much into him.
Final verdict – fun soccer anime (still). Worth watching.
Sus Maid
This went in interesting directions. Clearly the MC and the maid have a backstory (although he’s barely remembering it at this point) and there’s a LOT more to why she’s there and how she feels about him. Perhaps all of her teasing isn’t quite as much “teasing” as even she thinks it is and intends it as? No clue. Season isn’t quite finished, but I doubt they’ll wrap it up in the one or two episodes left.
Final verdict – worth watching, and I hope there’s an S2 coming. The character interactions between all of the cast are just great.
