…then bit by bit…
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Weekly Catch up #49
It’s time to start wrapping up those seasonal anime posts for these shows, and I think next Sunday I’ll do my Spring 2026 preview for which shows I’m expecting to cover, at least the first three episodes.
What was on?
Frieren
(Ep 2.8) Sure, Frieren is the slow show that is mostly about the elf and her two friends travelling across the land, but then when it has to do action, it manages it come up with this episode, and let’s be clear, I’d take one episode of complete balls-out action every 10 episodes than a series of episodes with very mid fighting. Stark + Genau vs Revolte has some incredible action directing (even if it reminds me of mid 90s games that had a slow mode and a combat mode where detail went out the window so that it could be fast), a complete battle of attrition and wills between the three, while Fern was in clear disadvantage since her greatest asset is not being detected, but Methode was more in control of her own situation, allowing her to find an opening to unlock the battle their way, simply by giving Fern her advantage back. As everything settles, even with Stark and Genau with an extra hole in them, it’s time for both parties to go each their own way, but really can’t imagine if Sein joins he’ll be happy to hear that Frieren let Methode go, he’d probably change classes just so she’d continue in the party. And he’s an actual cleric. S
Episodes since Frieren last opened a mimic: 10
‘Tis Time for “Torture”, Princess
(ep 2.9) 'Tis finally time for Sakura to make her debut, what she didn’t expect was that it would be against Hime (126). But before we get to that, Hime has (once again) decided she WOULD NOT SUBMIT, to Ex’s already defeated incredulity, but she has a plan: a small amulet that allows Ex to give her a jolt in the shape of an electric spell so she behaves. So we’re at a point Hime thinks she has to be trained like a dog (186). Then, a spell gone wrong causes the light and dark sides of Tortura’s personality to split, and while the good side tries to sort things out, the bad side tortures Hime, and she just happens to be Tortura without the professionalism (189). In the post-credits scene, in celebration of Hime and Sakura re-uniting, they all visit a petting zoo (127). Another good example of doing something fun with the chapters, I think the origin of the recent magic mishaps being her taking the amulet is original to the adaptation. Also, it’s been years since I got an eclair, it was my favourite pastry. A
You and I Are Polar Opposites
(ep 10) It’s the school trip arc! But first there’s a lot of preparation to be done, including preparing the guides, which gets the usual group of the go-home club to stay later and help. While Watanabe hits the big stapler like there’s no tomorrow, Yamada has nothing to do so he goes out to help Honda and Nisshi, who’s sloooowly getting more comfortable talking with him, and even helped conspire with him to go to the same places. Meanwhile Azuma is still putting some thought into her relationships, this time after she thought she’d have to be left out of the group (before Suzuki bent the very much non-existing rules to bring her in), and she’s reflecting on friendships before high school. During the trip, it’s time for Suzuki to think about where she is with Tani. One of the best things I can say about You and I are Polar Opposites is how it can focus on the other two couples (Nisshi + Yamada and Azuma + Taira, who still don’t know it yet) and come up with something engaging. A
High School! Kimengumi
(ep 10) They also all go on a school trip, to Kyoto, where the leaders of each faction get separated from the group, which is a great opportunity for some one-off jokes, and it mostly delivers, really like the temple with the LED eternal flame and the drone statues. After they reunite, because they missed dinner, Rei wants to visit a legendary pop-up ramen store, and both the Kimengumi and the other leaders tag along, as their teachers try to stop their usual hijinks. I mean, this was more or less what I expected from it, and it delivered, not much to say. B
Trigun Stargaze
(ep 10) The reboot has been on kind of an high for two episodes for me, which probably means everyone else hated it, and with three episodes to go even I have to relent and things must ramp up, so how well did it do? Well, let’s just throw a big fight between Vash, Nicholas and Livio versus Bluesummers and a bunch of robots. Once again, just terrific animation and direction, you can’t stop me going on about how the story is mostly garbage, but the action has been quite impressive. Because honestly, anytime I hear these long-winded speeches with the “Eye of Michael” all I can think of is the Groovy Gang from Venture Bros. I swear I could make a fake sub where Bluesummers is saying “I’m not here to talk to him, you are the hand chosen by the master. Yours is the wheel of blood, yours is the eye of Michael” and I doubt anyone would notice. Anyway, fun until the (makes yapping hand gesture), and I guess the last two episodes will be return to norm for the reboot. B
Wash It All Away
(ep 10) Two stories in this episode, first as she’s dealing with the aftermath of the typhoon Yagara comes with one of the toughest challenges, ink on her skirt, and we learn Kinme truly works within the strict code of 洗濯道, can’t imagine what she would do if she couldn’t even reduce the stain one bit. Second story has her visiting Uka who invited her for lunch in appreciation of her efforts to make her more outgoing, where she meets her two huge dogs and the mess they make. Bit of a slow, nothing episode, but that is much closer to what I expected from it. B
Monochrome Days
(ch 38) You know what, one month interval to see sparkly eyed Barazono in a sailor suit was worth it, and as you can guess, it’s a chapter that goes into her origins, in particular her collaboration with Ai Kinjika that made both their names. Unfortunately, the “Final Act” and skipping so much story (they’re now in full serialization) just tells us this is reaching it’s end, and it’s kind of a shame considering the potential it still had untapped, was really looking forward to see something about the process of something that gets an adaptation.
Flying Witch
(ch 90) Speaking of waiting, two months to see why the troll picked up Makoto and left reunning, and turns out it had kids. Who are the same size and have the same hair as her, this is why I keep coming back. Not that she’s in any danger other than receiving some some vigorous headpats, and turns out the only way to get her out is by Sayo and her dad making the trolls laugh hard enough Makoto can sneak by. No notes, really.
Someone Hertz
(ch 25) Hey, it wouldn’t be a com looking to be a rom without a festival chapter, would it?
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“Wash It All Away (Kirei ni Shitemoraemasu ka.)” manga series final vol.12 cover by Hattori Mitsuru
TV Anime adaptation is ongoing
Kirei ni Shitemoraemasuka takes place at a seaside town laundry shop called “Kinme Cleaning,” where the proprietress Wakana Kinme is a cheerful, hardworking girl who loves hot springs. The “bittersweet” story stars Kinme and the people around her.
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“Wash It All Away (Kirei ni Shitemoraemasu ka.)” ongoing TV Anime episode 11 preview & stills
Air Date: March 16
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Wash It All Away: Episode 10 - “A Top-Class Challenge!”
** SPOILER ALERT: This writeup will contains spoilers for the episode. If you haven’t watched Episode 10 of Wash It All Away yet, please watch it and then come back to read this post. **
The episode opens with a scene of Wakana jogging before going to the opening credits. This scene doesn’t really add anything to the story, but it’s nice and calming.
After the credits, we Wakana and her landlord,…
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“Wash It All Away (Kirei ni Shitemoraemasu ka.)” ongoing TV Anime new visual unveiled
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Wash It All Away Episode 10 - “A Top-Class Challenge!”
I love when seeing the title for the episode I’m writing about in the episode preview at the end of the previous episode and not being sure where the episode will go. This can be both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because then I can be caught off-guard by what occurs, and a curse because I like trying to theorize what will happen in the upcoming episode. Ah well, it’s not like it’s the end…
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The ninth episode of Wash It All Away threw a wrench into things as a storm causes Kyusho stay overnight at the laundry mat. Between a power cut and putting a machine upright outside it’s good he kept around, plus it was an opportunity to see Wakana a little bit. Turns out she wears glasses. After the power returns the pair finishes the work that was left, then end up sleeping in the same room after Wakana realizes that she was using the other space for clothes. While nothing happens, it does turn out to be a moment for a little fan service, but also be reminded Wakana is a messy sleeper (look at that last frame).
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To wash and dress a corpse is a far different thing from making it alive: man can do the one, God alone can do the other.
C.H. Spurgeon
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Weekly Catch up #48
As we’ve entered the last month of the season, good time to say I’ve sorted out the headers for the posts and that will start with the posts for the shows below, and already added a few for the queue. Like I’ve said before, I’m really not expecting to hold the scheduling together, but I’ll do my best in at least having a show per week. Might do a Spring season preview for what could be in these posts in a few weeks, keep tuned.
What was on?
Frieren
(Ep 2.7) It starts with some backstory on how Genau and Methode were teamed up for the mission, and after discovering what sort of demons would do that kind of damage, Genau decides to stay behind and protect the bodies until they’re retrieved, and Stark to stay with him. The surprising revelation in this episode is that Serie lets Methode pat her head, but only 10 minutes per day. That Frieren is very much opposed to that idea less so, but even less surprising is he let’s her do whatever in exchange for a useless spell. Or how Fern feels very jealous seeing Methode giving Frieren a hug, just as they’re attacked by two demons Frieren feels completely comfortable letting Fern and Methode deal with them on their own. As the girls fight, Stark seems to have learned how to fish, and then they’re also attacked by Revolte, the main demon with the four swords, and if Genau was looking for blood (for killing his former partner), we’re about to see how badly he wants to spill it. Remember what I said about the first episode of an arc often being the worst because it’s making some sacrifices so the rest can shine? Well, this episode is why. It even has some really nice fighting scenes, which will probably get even better next episode. S
Episodes since Frieren last opened a mimic: 9.
‘Tis Time for “Torture”, Princess
(ep 2.8) Hime is visited by the Hellholm Pre-school Where Mao Mao goes for a rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on handbells but if it was more than enough to make Hime spill the beans, the shock to learn there’s not a video was too much for the Hell Lord who got very distraught, look at him, even his horns are sad, so Lulune comes up with a plan to cheer him up (ch 104-105), Vanilla worked up the courage to ask her parents to go out at night (bonus points for the joke where Vanilla’s dad is concerned about her going out at night) because she wants to invite Hime to the festival, but Inki and Youki asked her first at the end of their torture session, so she went home sad, until she got a call from them to join in (91), and Youki there gets the idea of torturing Hime with a shooting gallery game that is obviously rigged, not because it’s torture, but because they all are (156) and finally Vanilla comes across Sakura looking concerned about her debut next week and after thinking “what would Hime do?” decides to give her some words of support (158). Smart of them to use the festival episode to preview the shooting gallery torture, really shows who’s choosing the chapters knows very well the material they’re working with, same with using Vanilla and Sakura’s chapter here instead of later, when she’s concerned about flubbing a lot of tortures and reinventing herself. A
You and I Are Polar Opposites
(ep 9) Tani’s birthday is approaching, and Suzuki is wondering what to give him, something that will change his birthdays forever, which like Yamada points out, sounds a lot more like a curse. Seeing her excitement, Tani is now concerned he won’t be able to react properly if Suzuki tries to surprise him, but turns out Taira is kinda right, what it is matters less from whom it comes from, like the sticker he got from Azuma. On the second story, Tani and Suzuki go on a date, but instead of doing what she wants to do, it’s his time to pick up a plan, and it doesn’t go exactly as planned, but for Suzuki it all came down to a single moment, really. Looking at the manga, which they have been doing a great job of adapting with just some changes in order, we’re probably ending around the fourth volume, so I really hope we get a second season next year. A
High School! Kimengumi
(ep 9) That surely was a strange wake-up routine that somehow includes a Sonic reference. And, huh, what sort of magazines is Kiyoshi buying to do those sorts of knots? Wait, forget I asked. So, a story about Jin, the glutton/lazy of the Kimengumi with some ok slapstick moments, second story has Yui acting weird after a dream with Rei who’s also acting weird, which gets the rest of the Kimengumi concerned and Chie speculating Rei might be trying to confess. A solid bit, they should have continued to do it for eight more episodes, I’m sure that wouldn’t have pissed anyone off. C
Trigun Stargaze
(ep 9) So, how does it follow from a really good episode last week? On a funny note, as Vash considers his plans for he orphanage and dealing with Knives, so he decides to go on Nicholas’ bike to ask Home if they can shelter them in. Except he doesn’t know how to ride. Neither does Livio, but since he doesn’t want to see Nicholas doing it again, he just does his best. Home is thinking differently, and hope the orphanage can shelter the children and non-combatants as they also prepare to take on Knives. Don’t know how hard it would have been to ask the whole show to be like these two episodes, but it would be in a much better place if it was. Could it stick the landing in the last three episodes? We’ll see. B
Wash It All Away
(ep 9) The power is out and as the dad rock song goes, it’s not really something to shout about. A typhoon / power out episode could be fun, but here nothing happens. Kyuushou and Kuriru take shelter in the shop as a typhoon hits Atami, and while the later quickly bolts home, Kyuushou hangs out for a bit more because Kinme is scared of lightning and they have a sleepover (it isn’t played for anything other than a bit of fanservice and Kinme sleeping like Frieren). She later questions herself why would that be, because the amnesia angle really is the menacing shadow of something really big on top of it, and with three episodes to go, I think this show might have no answer, and since it has been just average I’m in no rush to pick up where it stops. C
Someone Hertz
(ch 24) A fun chapter with Mimei and Mizuo going to a radio festival where they end up taking part to help one of other participants in Monmid who’s running a promotion for her ad agency and things aren’t going well. A lot of jokes here that I’m sure were really really having to force the translator to reach for the bad pun book.
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“Wash It All Away (Kirei ni Shitemoraemasu ka.)” ongoing TV Anime episode 10 preview & stills
Air Date: March 9
