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74/100

It’s packed with problems, but there are too many good parts for me to rate it any lower. The show really shines during the grounded moments on Earth, not so much in the mecha fights. The relationships between the gang were all super well developed, and their endings felt satisfying to me. But I don’t get how the show keeps having Zero Two ghost Hiro, and then they make up, only for it to happen again like three times. It gets repetitive after a while.

As for Hiro and Zero Two’s ending, I know some people weren’t into the whole sacrifice thing; maybe they wanted something ... closer to the manga, where everyone got a happy ending. But I think this version works perfectly fine. Them finding each other again might actually be more beautiful because of fate and all that. It’s easy to love, but falling in love again is something else entirely.

The message? Reality can be beautiful, and love triumphs all

42/100

Sigma Ayanokoji.

Just because you have a sigma male doesn’t mean your show is good. Classroom of the Elite parades itself as some intellectual battle royale, but once you strip away the edgy monologues, it's just another shonen anime trying to act smarter than it is, I said shonen because this is a show made for toddlers. The mind games? Surface-level at best. The so called social commentary? Doesn’t even exist. What you get instead is a power fantasy where Ayanokoji just steamrolls through everything with zero effort, making the entire plot feel predictable and hollow.

It wants you to think it’s deep, but it never actually ... says anything. The school system itself is a decent idea, but the show devolves into generic anime drama, complete with unnecessary fanservice that just clutters things up.

Not every anime with a deadpan genius needs to exist.

59/100

Terror in Resonance has a killer setup: terrorists, cryptic riddles, and a city on edge. But while it starts off strong, it never fully capitalizes on its potential. The direction and the haunting score set the mood perfectly, giving the series a sleek, cinematic feel. The first few episodes pull you in with their mystery and tension, but as the story goes on, it starts to lose it.

Nine and Twelve are intriguing leads, and their dynamic keeps things interesting. But then there’s Five, whose introduction shifts the show from psychological thriller to something closer to cat-and-mouse antics. There are themes of government corruption and societal ... neglect, but they don’t hit as hard as they should.

Visually and musically, the show delivers. Narratively, it's just fine. The ending aims for an emotional gut punch but doesn’t hit with the weight it should. It’s a stylish, well-directed anime that’s worth watching, but it’s also frustratingly close to being something very great.

58/100

Not far off from an 6/10, 3/5 for this romance? sci-fi? mystery? thriller? Don’t know what you would call it, but its got a bit of everything, and it doesn’t fail at any of them. Just an all-rounder that does what it sets out to do pretty well.

It’s pretty obvious what the twist is, even in the first few episodes, but I was convinced past halfway. The mystery isn’t exactly trying to fool you, more like nudging you toward the answer while pretending you’re solving it yourself. It doesn’t matter much, though, because the general idea and hook of the show is strong, the stakes ... are personal, and the execution is well done. The time-travel mechanic is just flexible enough to work without overcomplicating things, and the emotional moments work even when you see them coming. Not a masterclass in suspense, but it doesn’t have to be.

There’s one rule you shouldn’t break when revealing your big twist though: show, don’t tell. But <em>Erased </em>kind of shows you. And keeps showing. And by the time it finally tells you, you’re just sitting there like, “Yeah, I know”

Ending was cool, but if you want to break into the Good section on my scale (61 or above), take some notes.

- Wished there was more Airi, but I guess that’s what you get for a 12-episode anime
- Some pacing issues in the second half
- Just don’t make the twist so obvious

72/100

MAHIRU-CHAN!

From the director who gave us Steins;Gate and Nana, you’d expect something at least competent, and The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten mostly delivers on that front. The story? It’s a predictable one, no question, boy meets girl, they’re polar opposites, etc. But if you’re into this genre, that’s part of the appeal. It’s formulaic, yes, but there’s something oddly satisfying about watching the formula executed well.

The art is clean and works well with the tone, though don’t expect any real visual flair. The character designs are pleasant, and they help sell the central dynamic between Amane and Mahiru. Speaking of which, the characters ... themselves aren’t anything groundbreaking. Mahiru plays the tsundere role with a bit of depth, and Amane’s kind of an oblivious, well-meaning guy. They both have their flaws, which makes them more relatable, even if they occasionally toe the line of being annoyingly predictable.

60/100

Felt like the writers were asleep for the first nine episodes, woke up for episode 10, and then immediately went back to sleep. Nothing actually happens, and Violet often takes a backseat to the main character of each episode (which I get is intentional to make her seem more human by the end, but still). The series devolves into "melodrama of the week," with forced emotional manipulation and shallow character development. The portrayal of a post-war world is overly idealistic, with characters depicted as excessively kind, lacking the depth expected from such a setting. The series often resolves complex conflicts too easily, undermining the gravity ... of the situations and leaving viewers unsatisfied. Biggest issue? The Major. They did NOT need to make it a romantic relationship. Seriously. It’s a big, big, big, did I say big? MISTAKE. I cannot stress this enough. Can they please stop forcing this Major nonsense? He is not a good character.

60/100

This series is surprisingly deep for what it is. Beneath all the wild drama, it really explores love, regret, and how people grow from their experiences. The way Natsuo navigates his emotions and ambitions makes him feel like a real person rather than just a romance protagonist. His relationship with Rui feels raw and natural, while the whole thing with Hina is unsettling in a way that the show doesn’t fully condemn, which makes it even more uncomfortable to watch.

That’s kind of what makes Domestic Girlfriend stand out, though. It doesn’t shy away from difficult emotions or morally messy situations. You’re constantly torn between feeling ... for the characters and questioning their choices. The series makes you sit with that discomfort instead of offering easy resolutions.

I also liked how everything comes full circle by the end. Natsuo getting to chase his dream felt earned, and even with all the chaos, the story had an underlying emotional weight that stuck with me. Definitely could’ve used another season, though, there was still more to unpack.

67/100

Horimiya: Piece doesn’t really add much. If anything, we actually get less of Hori and Miyamura’s relationship this time around. That said, the show still delivers on some great moments between them, and when it hits, it hits.

It’s really just a feel-good series. Watch it in your own free time, and you’ll probably enjoy it. Piece definitely helps with appreciating the whole Horimiya series more as a whole. Still, I can’t help but wish for a college arc if they ever decide to make one, but that would mean writing more manga. I just felt like there are still so many unfinished stories left to ... tell.

70/100

Some good ideas here. Horimiya is a solid romance anime that captures the feeling of loneliness well, there are moments of warmth that made their connections feel genuine. It’s sweet, the animation style is nice, and all the characters are developed really well. But while it does a good job at what it sets out to do, it never really pushes itself beyond that. Nothing about Horimiya is particularly special or surprising, it’s just a well-made romance anime that plays things safe. Still, if you’re in the mood for something wholesome and easy to watch, it’s a solid pick.

90/100

Your Lie in April hits different when you’ve lost someone. Death happens to all of us, we can’t change the outcome, and I realized that a long time ago. But this anime isn’t about death. It’s about life, about finding purpose, about playing every note like it’s your last.

I think what really stuck with me, though, was the way it portrayed Kousei and his mom. I used to play piano when I was younger. My mom’s a piano teacher, so I know what it’s like to have someone push you, to want you to be better. Kousei’s mom wasn’t trying to make his life miserable. ... She just wanted to see him succeed; no mother would wish something bad on their child.

The music in this anime is unreal. "Again" is my personal favorite, and every time it plays, I start sobbing. I cried a lot throughout the show, but espicially those last two episodes? Absolute cinema. Your Lie in April isn’t just sad, it makes you feel everything all at once: love, loss, and the beauty of moving foward.