Ranma ½ (2025) – 07
The equation with Ranma ½ is pretty simple at this point. No Happosai means good episode, lots means dreck. Last week was a cruel reminder that there are some rough patches ahead, and with Happosai dominating the entire ep the way he did it felt like the sky was falling. But the truth is he’s not an every-week presence – there will be weeks with little or (like this one) none of him.
This week happily focused on one of the two main triangles (Ranma-Akane-Ryouga being the other), while giving Soun a big supporting role. All that is pure win. The dojo sign has been taken, which means an official challenge has been issued. This is a scam cooked up by Soun and Genma to get Akane and Ranma to fight together – though eventually a real challenger shows up (way up) to throw a spanner into the works. Meanwhile Shampoo has cooked up a plan to entice Ranma into a date in exchange for the “Spring of Drowned Man Mix”, which has the power to turn him (or Genma, or a dog) into a normal man again.
That turns out to be only for one turn, but Ranma is fully hooked. Shampoo and Ranma going at it is always a blast, though it’s always a bit disappointing to see Akane overpowered and needing rescue. Shampoo even does an adorable little insert song, so much is she enjoying herself. This is pretty lightweight stuff on the whole, but that’s one of Ranma ½’s best modes so you certainly won’t hear me complaining.
Spy X Family Season 3
It’s a truism of Spy X Family that the children are more appealing characters than the adults. As such, an episode like this one has a leg up on the median one. Of course when you add Yuri – arguably the worst character in the series on many levels – that could be a counterbalance. And we’re seeing the kids in a situation that’s new for them as a collective – immersed in the dangers of the East-West hostilities.
The dynamic here is basically “left-wing terrorists” busnapping kids to strike out at the governments. Obviously this is a danger zone but Endou-sensei doesn’t go to deep here. Basically “both sides are bad” is his take – the secret police have no interest in the safety of the kids, only their grip on power. The terrorist leader is smart enough to realize that anything that gives the brownshirts license to wipe out the bus is a bad move – rather, his best bet is to draw this out so the influential parents turn up the heat on the government. What he wants: the release of 17 comrades (most of whom have been secretly executed already) and safe passage to a country called “Nortica”. Having the villain not be dumb as a stump is a positive for SxF, as that’s a route it often goes.
The meat of this arc is watching Anya, Damian, and Becky deal with this. A special nod to “little” Billy Watkins, who’s cool under fire if a bit reckless. Damian is, as ever, the most relatable and real of the bunch. He’s crushed under the weight of what he sees as the expectations on him, desperate to do the right thing, and terrified because he’s a first-grader in a terrifying situation. He lacks the escape valve Anna has in seeing that the bombs strapped to their necks are fakes. But Anya seeing how Damian thinks in a crisis and responding in empathetic fashion was easily the best moment of the episode.
Ultimately I think Anya and Damian’s developing relationship – in whatever form that takes – is both the most compelling and most important thread in SpyFam. Given that, I once again found this episode more engaging than the mean for this show, which has been the case more often than not this season. I can only call that progress, even if it’s in baby – or at least first-grader – steps.
