Meeting Date: 3/3/2018
Disclaimer: The Herald Anime Club discusses shows as they’re airing. Naturally, there will be spoilers for a given episode. You have been warned!
Mike Ferreira: Good evening, and welcome to the Herald Anime Club. I’m Mike Ferreira, and I’m joined by Anthony Simpson.
Anthony Simpson: Evening.
Mike Ferreira: Tonight, we’re taking a look at School Babysitters Episode 8, “Love Letters and Festivals,” and The Ancient Magus’ Bride Episode 21, “He’s…. he’s not really going to try to kill that kid, right? ‘-‘ ”
Anthony Simpson: Starting with Ancient Magus’ Bride, Bone Daddy almost went down an unforgivable path.
Mike Ferreira: Oh yeah… he came super close, there. This was about to go to some dark places.
Mike Ferreira: I mean, yeah, they kind of led into it pretty heavily, and that stinger at the end was kind of amazing in itself, given that they’re basically using an innocent kid as a bargaining chip now.
Anthony Simpson: I mean I get WHY he choose that path but like I think if went ahead with his plans…I would have probably ended up not liking him as a character.
Mike Ferreira: Yeah. I’m kind of glad the general reaction across the board (even the cast) was “this is monstrous,”
Anthony Simpson: Even it was just some no named random character I would had the same reaction.
Anthony Simpson: I’m Chise punched him for even attempting what he did. He deserved it.
Mike Ferreira: Definitely.
Mike Ferreira: The rationale was pretty disgusting, as well. “I chose her because I didn’t like the way she looked at you” – that’s like… I can’t even to begin to describe how fucked that line was.
Anthony Simpson: I mean yea Bone Daddy doesn’t have the best social skills but that is like psycho level shit there.
Mike Ferreira: Yeah… that was just psychotic. Though, that said, it wouldn’t be much better if his logic was “she trusts me so I lured her here.”
Mike Ferreira: The whole situation was just messed up
Anthony Simpson: It was.
Mike Ferreira: You know… I was kind of lamenting the lull the show got into last week… I kind of take it back. “child killer with abuser logic” is just… wow.
Anthony Simpson: In Elias’s eyes the ends justify the means. Fucked as it may be.
Mike Ferreira: Indeed.
Mike Ferreira: Moving to a less dark note, the witches were fairly interesting, all said and done.
Anthony Simpson: I enjoyed the witches. Short as that part may have been.
Mike Ferreira: Yeah… I kind of liked the idea of a place so secret that it exists only in the veil of dreams
Mike Ferreira: Kind of hoping we see more of that head witch, too – she seems to be another figure like the old dragon, someone who will serve as a guide on Chise’s life. (Speaking of: Yay for old dragon!)
Anthony Simpson: I wanna see more of her too.
Mike Ferreira: But yeah… honestly, it seems like those were the two big things that happened. “Chise and Elias meet the witches” and “Elias goes psychotic abuser and tries to kill Chise’s only friend because love.” Also brief cameo by David the Gnome Dragon
Anthony Simpson: The Elias goes psychotic was my favorite part of the episode.
Mike Ferreira: It was fascinating. Chilling, but fascinating.
Mike Ferreira: And I’m kind of glad they played it up as totally screwed-up
Mike Ferreira: Otherwise, well… things could’ve gotten weird. And dark.
Anthony Simpson: I mean I didn’t enjoy myself watching that part but that was needed to show what depths Elias was willing to go.
Anthony Simpson: I mean the show went to these depths before. Remember the dude killing the cats to save his wife.
Mike Ferreira: Yeah. It’s very easy to forget that this is the same show where we had a literal framed shot of cats dangling in a barn.
Mike Ferreira: Or a woman erupting into a puddle of evil black goo
Mike Ferreira: I think this is the first time we’ve seen that level of “dark’ this cour, so it definitely did its work in delivering a shock to the system
Anthony Simpson: It sure did. I wonder how much dark we are going to get in the last few episodes.
Mike Ferreira: That’s what I want to know.
Mike Ferreira: Especially now that Chise is with Joseph/Cartaphilus
Mike Ferreira: Any other comments for this week’s episode?
Anthony Simpson: Other than it being a damn good episode no other comments.
Mike Ferreira: Agreed. Moving on, we’re back to the Babysitter’s Club (not that one) with School Babysitters Episode 8.
Anthony Simpson: So we get a good reaction picture from the early part of the episode.
Mike Ferreira: Oh yeah.
Anthony Simpson: So MC gets a love letter and turns the girl down. I can’t blame him with the situation he is in.
Mike Ferreira: Definitely. Raising a kid on your own is a lot of work
Mike Ferreira: It really felt that this half of the episode was just an excuse to get Inomata and that other girl together, though – they really stole the show
Anthony Simpson: It would have been a chase two rabbits and catch none situation.
Mike Ferreira: Indeed.
Anthony Simpson: It was good to Inomata and the other girl together.
Anthony Simpson: It was good to see Inomata with other girls period.
Mike Ferreira: Yeah. They really grew on me this episode. They have great chemistry
Anthony Simpson: They do. Plus more snarky butler was excellent.
Mike Ferreira: Ohhh yeah. He was the best part. lol.
Mike Ferreira: I missed his dry snark so much!
Anthony Simpson: He snark was great.
Mike Ferreira: “It is a joyous day indeed, for our young master has received a love letter.” Just out of nowhere, he’s in his apron dishing up sakura rice, delivering this with a total lack of urgency
Mike Ferreira: his delivery in the back half was amazing, too. “If you’re asking, my underwear is black” just slayed me.
Anthony Simpson: Oh god I almost fell out of bed with that line.
Mike Ferreira: The timing, the dry sassiness… it was so perfect!
Anthony Simpson: It was.
Mike Ferreira: I mean, especially when it opened with the poor kid just hyperventilating on the phone. Like “holy shit they went there”
Anthony Simpson: yea.
Anthony Simpson: Taka continues to be my favorite character in the show.
Mike Ferreira: He lives by the (toy) sword, dies by the (toy) sword, cries by the (toy) sword.
Anthony Simpson: he does.
Mike Ferreira: I think I’ve said it a few time now, but this show does its best when it just stops trying. This episode they totally gave up, and it was glorious
Anthony Simpson: Taka is like the little brother I never had.
Mike Ferreira: I can dig that.
Mike Ferreira: Hm… any other comments for this week?
Anthony Simpson: Nope.
Mike Ferreira: Likewise. So I guess that does it for this week’s meeting. ’til next time, remember that everything in life can be solved by a snarky butler. Have a great night, everyone!
Anthony Simpson: Have a good night.
