I can’t help but think that because of all the mega-franchises either starting new shows or continuing from last season, that any other show that isn’t part of a big franchise is set to the back seat. It’s like how it’s almost suicidal to release your movie when Star Wars comes out in cinemas; everyone will be watching Star Wars and not your movie. That time will come up when the new Avengers movie comes out at the end of this month, no doubt. Anyway…

I think that we’ve now reached the halfway point, and that episodes are beginning to get more substantial, Darling in the Franxx is starting to be a show we are a little less inclined to make fun of. Well…that’s how I see it anyway; some of you can still think all of the traits that have appeared so far are just too ridiculous for a mecha show. But then, as I say that after last week’s flashback episode which explained a lot in terms of lore, a disappointing episode like this one comes…

I will be defending Ichigo in this post. You have been forewarned.

To be honest, if I were in Hiro’s shoes (which I’m glad I’m not), I would have trouble choosing. Zero Two is, in effect, Hiro’s first real taste of womanhood as a teenage boy and has a tragic history with her which he’s only just remembered, but she’s lied to him, has threatened to kill him in a fit of rage, and treats the remaining parasites who he feels a genuine closeness to like dirt. Ichigo, on the other hand, represents stability, and looks out for her team as squad leader like a family, but this will to keep Hiro safe is rather selfish. Sure, she’s in the dark about what the adults get up to as well, but she’s not as bothered about their secrecy as Hiro is. This week Hiro ends up in hospital after Zero Two tries to strangle him, forcing Ichigo’s hand. She tried to give Zero Two the benefit of doubt, but in her eyes, Zero Two has crossed the line…which is some relief to the adults, who have decided to hand her back to the Nines, just as a crucial mission involving them and Squad 13 comes up. Now without a pistil, Hiro is grounded, and with his yellow blood cell count abnormally high, so what will happen to him now?

I am well aware of the sudden backlash this week’s episode of Darling in the Franxx has received, especially that directed towards Ichigo’s VA, Kana Ichinose, and I think these maniacal fans are behaving in an absolutely disgusting way. The problem is with the script itself, and not Ichigo. And I’m sure I may well get a lot of ‘Zero Two did nothing wrong’ comments (just as I’m suddenly getting a lot of hits on the Darlfra post I did way back in February), but how exactly was Ichigo supposed to know her past?

In addition to this, I am very concerned that Trigger/CloverWorks have gone and let a great character design go to waste here. Sure Ichigo has a lot of jealous crush stereotypes, but taking Zero Two out of the picture, she has more character than the entire Darlifra cast put together…and this episode alone proves that theory. Now I see a lot of jealous crush stereotypical girls in a lot of shows who never get what they want, but there’s something about Ichigo that really makes me want her to win for a change. We may have seen what Zero Two has been through as a child last week, but I can’t help but want Ichigo to get a break. Then again, looking at it from another perspective, is Hiro even worth it? He is as emotionless and nonchalant as you can get, and while he has better chemistry with Ichigo, he knows that it’s never going to work out. So why does Ichigo even bother? Maybe she should just go off with Ikuno and be happy with her instead; at least in that case, she’d be with someone who genuinely does care a lot about her wellbeing.

What’s going on Trigger/CloverWorks? We’re not all Zero Two fans.

Speaking of questionable studio decisions, what about P.A. Works? I’m not sure whether to actually look for some good things in Uma Musume Pretty Derby, or to just watch it for the laughs. For episode 3, we see our main protagonist Special Week win some more races only for us to see that she really sucks when it comes to the winning concerts, and thus the entire team is whisked off to a karaoke bar.

Blinded by the praise she gets from the crowds and the winning streak she’s on, it hits Special Week hard when she comes third in an important race, so Episode 4 sees her (and the team, of course), back to the gym and attempting mock races with more experienced professionals in order for Special Week to get out of her slump. So no more carrots for her, I guess?

I’m sorry. I can’t help but make light of this show now. Instead of seeing this as one great coming-of-age show about a horse girl aiming to be the best in Japan, I should just look at this at 12 or 13 episodes as rather mediocre silliness. I don’t even know whether to call these filler episodes or not; that is how conflicted I am about this show. And here was me thinking that I’d be enjoying everything I’d picked this season.

So, while I have been despairing over Darling in the Franxx and Uma Musume Pretty Derby this week, I do have at least 3 other shows to be happy about, I guess…?

Tada-kun Does Not Fall In Love has become quite the charming little show, despite it having your basic stereotypes. So far it hasn’t grabbed me like some past Doga Kobo shows have done, but I think this one will grow on me…well, I hope it will…it seems pretty harmless so far.

It hasn’t helped itself with this week’s episode though, as it has become more of a introductory filler than anything else. We are introduced to the school’s Photography club for the first time, which both Teresa and Alexandra join unsurprisingly. The whole club then decide on a team-building exercise; a ‘take-the-best-photo-in-an-hour’ game…and once again, unsurprisingly, the best photo sees Tada and Teresa together.

I’m not 100% on this show, to be honest. I can see a lot of the comedic traits that Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun had, but here they seem a lot more predictable and a little tiresome to watch. The Photography club president is a rather annoying guy, and Alexandra seems to steal every scene she’s in. We didn’t have anything like this in a lot of past Doga Kobo shows; everyone seemed to have equal screentime, but considering this show has Tada-kun in the title, he hardly has a presence…and I think it’s that thing that’s bothering me as a whole about this show.

Still not 100% sure what to make of Hinamatsuri either. I won’t deny that it is one very funny show, but I can’t help but feel that there’s something a little missing, and I don’t quite know what. This week, just as Hina adjusts to life, someone else from her home comes to attempt to defeat her, with a somewhat predictable ending…and later, Nitta begins to realize that his companions think he’s being too soft due to having a ‘daughter’ stay at home; how things went from ‘soft dad’ to everyone going to a girly club is a little weird…but funny at the same time.

Hinamatsuri is going to be a very tough show to review. I know I’ll have a lot more to say about it when more characters come around and the current characters have more time to develop. Two episodes in, and I’m laughing, so I suppose that’s a good thing.

I suppose if the new shows I’ve picked for this season make me feel a little guilty for picking them, I do have my out-of-season choice; perhaps I should just change this column to just out-of-season shows, and not do any more new ones…

Princess Principal is not the genre of show that I am normally inclined to choose, and thus don’t really have any experience in watching them. Then again, I guess it shouldn’t really matter, as I am enjoying it immensely, even though I am finding it a little difficult to follow. Spies being spies, it’s kind of hard to tell whether they’re actually telling the truth or not, or whether I’ll end up with some massive plot twist at the end.

Episode 2 is more of a flashback episode, where Ange arrives at the academy for the first time, under the guise of a transfer student, and where she meets Princess Charlotte and Beatrice for the first time. On mission, she and Dorothy are dispatched to replace the Princess with Ange at a ball being held by the Princess’ uncle, who appears to be an antagonist for the entire show, but feel free to correct me (I haven’t seen this show before after all).

I wouldn’t totally call this a flashback episode…more like episode 1 is the introductory episode, while the real show starts here. That is something I am comfortable with, and seeing as why I was confused why a member of a royal family would become a spy and defector makes total sense after watching episode 2. My mind is put at ease, and I can enjoy this show even more.

In the meantime, over at the Netflix camp, quite a few shows have come out in the last few weeks and have made a mark. While Violet Evergarden has now become available to everyone else (ie. USA and Australia), Sanrio’s death-metal loving mascot Aggretsuko is getting her own short show this week, Sword-Gai has appealed to the shounen and fighting anime fans, but my own recommendation goes to Children of the Whales. A truly eye-opening and well thought out fantasy show.

Have there been any shows that have dazzled you this season? Do you think Ichigo deserves to get her man? Is the Persona 5 show as good as you were hoping it to be? With Netflix bringing out more new shows, do you still feel that wrath towards them when it comes to anime? Feel free to air your opinions in the comments below…