when expecting the humor to hit out of the park, there’s actually just mundane moments at best. perhaps it’s due to how this show was originally pitched to me by people. people described it as *ahem* “think of it like gintama, but for girls.” i kid you not, so many people mentioned gintama to this. now, it’s my fault for believing that fully, but i tried to be optimistic about the comedic aspect. however, it became dry a bit fast. my reaction could honestly be a mixture of things. high expectations or the burnout from trying to keep up while balancing work.

there’s so much comedy to compare this to that i was just genuinely shocked people were saying it was gintama level. now, i know i’ve never logged, nor does it say anywhere that i’ve watched gintama (which is true). but i’ve seen some clips where i’ve ended up rolling in laughter. gintama’s humor is just incomparable to anything i’ve seen thus far. though i haven’t read the manga, the little information i do know makes me less optimistic about the series.

MANGA SPOILERS: from what i can gather, something happened that made nico into a child again. she’s left in the care of moi and the others, but it makes things complicated. so for that, the romance takes a huge step back.

i think that’s what this series suffers from. trying to balance an ongoing, looming plot with the comedy. it’s a hard line to balance out, but it leaves someone like me a bit dizzy from what I’m trying to understand. this story isn’t as simple as “oh there’s a known enemy that’s after nico that we need to stop.” in fact, we don’t know who the heck is after her. i’ll go in depth later, but i found the best episodes were that had a fixed plot or moved along with the overarching story. however, i think my biggest drawback while watching was the fact i could not connect with nico. for the life of me, i understood she has faults. that’s fine. i think what isn’t is trying to rehash the message every episode. each time, nico messes up, people get upset with her for the right reasons, she covers by saying “oh, but i just want to help people,” and she’s forgiven.

sure, this is all to lead to her eventual growth. but, it did pain me halfway through that the others already know the implications of her magic, and they get the consequences. i think i could be on the nose about something because i remember the ratings for this show were an average 8-9, but now i see most people (like myself) have a similar score of 7’s. because this show is no means terrible, it’s just good. but nothing eye-opening or something that leaves audiences wanting more. not even a yoasobi opening (go check it out, Watch Me! it’s a great song) could save the story. as for animation, it’s done by Bibury Animation Studios (the same studio that created quintessential quintuplets & The 100 Girlfriends Who Really5x Love You). an interesting studio pick to make a shounen series, but it got the job done. i always love the little chibi-like moments during the show. now that the basis has been covered, let me get into the characters.

✮⋆˙NICO WAKATSUKI ✮⋆˙
i’ll actually start with nico this time to get my thoughts off my chest. her character design is very simple and cute, with her pink hair being the standout. that’s as best i can come to staying positive, sadly (ᵕ—ᴗ—). as mentioned previously, i don’t like the repetitive aspect of nico’s story. i get it, that’s part of the show, it’s the same as watching a show about nature and upset that animals are eating plants. however, the reason i find some issues with this aspect is mainly because there is an overarching plot. someone is after nico, she is this all-powerful witch that comes once in a blue moon, and her mother has the power to conjure up prophecies. all these traits call for an interesting plot surrounding nico’s power levels or the magical world itself. instead, we’re stuck in a fixed setting where the threat doesn’t arrive unless the episode calls for it. basically it feels like a comedy show until the story remembers there’s more to nico than slapstick.

that’s where nico suffers. i’m not saying her magical growth should happen overnight, but she should’ve had some sort of training montage of her having a moment of realization to work to become the said witch people rely on. instead, everything feels like doing trial and error, all for the sake of keeping the running gag of “oh, there goes nico’s magic again” type of comedy. in my opinion, the best comedy comes from having it happen naturally. i think nico would have a lot more potential in allowing for regular aspects interfering with her magic training instead of her actions causing the issues. i know there are scenes where that does occur, but i meant it as an overall thing. additionally, i think nico suffers from side character syndrome. sometimes i feel like nico isn’t the most compelling because the interest falls towards the cast of other characters that have really interesting arcs or bring their own charm. the others seem to be moving forward with their resolve, as nico hides behind moi, every inconvenience comes her way.

hence, nico gets pushed back in her own show by being outshone by the other characters, who frankly feel more compelling. i get that witches have familiars to protect and assist them, but in that sense, i feel like they are doing the heavy lifting. the times i found nico to be tolerable were when she was in the pursuit of romance or when she was just being a normal girl with her friends (i.e. nemu or kanshi). oh- i think i forgot to mention what is known about nico’s story so far. when nico was a kid, she lived next to morihito until an accident led her to move away to “hone” her magic. she returned to be under the watch of morihito to attend normal school and help people with her magic. all while her mom sends prophecies to morihito to keep nico safe. while i know why nico shouldn’t know some of the things her mom discovers, it also keeps her a ditz when it comes to what she deserves to know. (obviously, this will come back to bite her, i assume if she’s turned into a kid and sent to go back and live with her mother, it’s regressing.)

ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́ )ᕗ MORIHITO OTOGI ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́ )ᕗ
i really like morihito (moi-chan by nico). he was on my favorite characters list (the only reason he’s not is bc i want to put him next to nico, but clearly nico isn’t a favorite character of mine). the reason for this is his dedication. whatever it is, he always puts his all, no matter the stakes. in that sense, i relate to him. especially during the last two episodes, where he was trying to figure out how to stop the threat alone. throughout the season mori was the pillar for this group. he quite literally does everything, from the cooking to the cleaning. does he show his annoyance here and there? sure. but he always gets the job done. because it’s his sense of duty to keep his friends safe. manga spoilers: the reason he doesn’t express a range of emotions like the other is because nico cast a spell (who’s shocked (,,⩌'︿'⩌,,) that basically sucked all emotion out of mori. anyway, mori i felt had the most growth and gained the most when it came to the story.

friendship and acceptance. it’s seen that morihito was bullied when he was younger (for what reason other than he was a descendant of ogres). due to this, he leaned on nico a lot as his only friend and someone he cared about. when nico left, nothing truly changed for morihito as a person. this is one of the times i appreciate nico (but not as an individual, rather a pillar to push mori) because it was due to her return that life and color returned the orderly life mori had. for all the work mori does to protect and provide for nico and the others, i feel like it’s the least he deserves in return. quite ironic, isn’t it? the strongest one on the team was also the most alone his whole life. i remember there was an episode where they talked about his past and how he’s insecure about his strength at times.

mori is a soft soul. he is fixated on the smallest details when it comes to his hobbies (like vintage jeans (˶˃ᗢ˂˶). but i think his love for his hobbies reflects his personality quite well. he’s detail-oriented and very strict with himself. i honestly hope he gets a break (he would probably say he doesn’t mind, and being on rest would make him more restless if anything). another favorite episode of mine was when the group was doing mori’s chores and daily tasks to repay his kindness. even though they failed in the end, it’s the thought that counts. that episode represented how much he’s done for the group and how much he contributes to their group dynamic. sometimes i’m conflicted on the spell being lifted from mori as i feel like he’s cool as is. then again, i think much won’t change from him regaining his emotions. he was pretty much the same when he was a kid before the spell took hold. but i feel like being stoic is a charm of his in this chaos of a hyperactive group. i won’t forget to mention how smooth he is when it comes to romance ( ¬ᴗ¬). he may seem devoid of stepping into the notion of love, but that makes his actions more noticeable. especially episode 13 (WHERE THEY KISSED ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡) no, i don’t care if it was on the cheek, it still counts in my heart. he’s so nonchalant but serious it’s hilarious. like episode 24 when he just accepted the date with nico like it was nothing (even if it was to prove he could make the best date ever). his efforts into everything he does it just so sweet.

༄꠶KANSHI KAZAMATSURI˳༄꠶
there’s not much to say for kanshi (ᵕ • ᴗ •). i don’t dislike him (he’s quite literally the comedy engine in this series). but, there’s not much substance either. i did enjoy his transition from being jealous of mori about his ogre lineage and more accepting of his tengu family. i think what i expected from nico was found in kanshi. he had the struggle for being proud of his own powers/lineage because he felt like tengu’s were looked down upon compared to ogres. but he grew to use his skills to add to the groups overall prowess. i don’t think he necessarily hated his powers or heritage, i think it was more of he was upset about being shunned when compared to mori. not gonna lie, i thought originally he was going to be a love rival (i was watching to much romance at the time) between mori and nico. I’M SO GLAD I WAS WRONG ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶. if anything, he’s probably nico’s other half, like if she had a brother, it would be him. the two of them are so chaotic and always getting in trouble together.

what i said earlier about how i expected nico to have a kanshi arc is how he helps people without making a big fuss about it. not to say that nico goes around saying all her desires, but kanshi does what nico wants to do without saying it. here’s what i mean, throughout the season, kanshi has a lot of connecting moments with mori, keigo, kids, or adults. he shows them all respect and gives them pretty solid advice too. when the need for his magic comes along, he uses it no problem. granted, wind magic is less complicated than trying to master a bunch of spells, his magic is more of a add-on than a personality trait. when it comes to nico it feels like magic and her are one in the same. that is makes 80% of her personality while the 20% is just the happy go lucky girl. meanwhile kanshi is a good 50/50 of both his powers and personality (this can be applied to the rest of the cast too).

kanshi doesn’t need to say every episode “i want to help people with my magic” he just does. he just goes head in. the other difference is probably unlike nico he has his powers under control (we can semi apply this to the rest of the cast). but, i ended this season feeling like i got a full character arc of who kanshi is. we started with him embracing his tengu lineage, be a comedic relief, a kind friend, and someone who looks out for others. he messes up just as nico does, but it’s relatable because they’re daily mistakes anyone could make. i think out of all the moments this season i really liked episode 25 for kanshi. he was the one who told mori that he’s always carrying the burden of protecting alone, he always forgets that there are three other people who are there to help him. at his core, i this is who kanshi is. always there to lend a hand (sometimes this lands him in trouble than most, but it’s pure-hearted to see).

⋆.˚ ☾KEIGO MAGAMI/SPOILERS: WOLF⋆.˚ ☾
before i get into keigo, HUGE congrats to kaito ishikawa! (seiyuu for keigo). けっこんおめでとうございました！he recently got married to maaya uchida! so happy for them (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)! anyway, just needed to get that off my chest. starting with keigo, i actually really liked his character design. later on i could definitely see the subliminal werewolf traits scattered throughout. his reclusive hair like he’s hiding something the mystery he carried at school whenever he was around. i say this now, but i had no idea of the plot twist that would occur. his introduction was equally interesting. he has a niche hobby in film and media. i relate to him on that, i’m always on the hunt for niche romance stories that aren’t known (sometimes i succeed, sometimes i end up finding a story that other people end up seeing, so i fail). when i saw he had little niche hobbies like that, it made me appreciate his character more, because i totally get being invested into something that other people don’t quite understand (this was also cute to watch because he bonded with morihito because of this).

now, the story did a hell of a good job here, because i had no idea, and i mean I HAD NO IDEA (i’m slow, so it could’ve been that) keigo and wolf are the same person! let me tell you, the shock that was plastered on my face on episode 11. i was going insane. the fact that wolf and keigo are so drastically different made it less suspicious on my end to even think they were the same person. once i got over it, i felt so confused for a moment as to how keigo could let such a thing happen. i really thought he was going to be the antagonist for the season, so it was sad to see it was circumstantial. he was just a boy who wanted to help his mom and was taken for advantage because of it. i think it’s also cute that out of all the sports he used to do he did figure skating. then again, the figure skating scene in japan is huge (which is why there’s so much anime surround the sport). but, i meant it in a good way. i love figure skating! so it was a nice surprise to see a character i like also suddenly have the skill in their arsenal.

circling back to his jekyll and hyde situation, i do really like both wolf and keigo individually. though, i think it’s sad that only wolf holds the memories of what occurs before and after he transforms. i’ve heard some people say that they don’t want wolf and keigo to separate because then nemu would be two-timing. to which, it depends on how well the author handles it. she would have to either choose or go reverse harem route (i’m down with either tbh (⸝⸝ᵕᴗᵕ⸝⸝). but i think they should become separate entities. it would be better for them both. for wolf, he won’t be chained down with the fear of not knowing he’ll get to see the light of day. because ultimately, if the day comes where keigo accepts his true self, wolf will disappear. keigo’s the only one who gets to decide if he can change (of course, wolf has the same power but in reverse) but i think it’s a genuine fear. as for keigo, there was a whole episode dedicated to his insecurity of being without wolf. he thinks wolf is the only way he can be a good asset to the group. so, i think separation would do some good for the both of them. after all, they both care about each other to a certain degree. even if wolf is on the harsher side of it, he means well.

₍^. .^₎⟆ NEMU MIYAO ₍^. .^₎⟆
best girl, and honestly should’ve been the main character. her introduction made me a bit weary too. just because i thought she would be another love rival for nico, so glad i was wrong about that. i’m sick of love “triangles” or love “angles” in romance. the reason i enjoyed watching nemu this season is because she felt more compelling as a character than nico. her magic humor is circumstantial which makes it naturally humorous. her lineage of witches focuses on shapeshifting magic. for now, she can only turn into a cat, but the maximum capacity of what she’s capable of she can shapeshift into anyone. her cat shenanigans were fun to watch as she was letting go of her rigid personality slowly throughout the series. but the highlight of her true character is when she finds out a warlock was after nico. up until this point, she was to shy to face the group. however, she let go of her fears and saw nico’s life as more important than her pride. also, when i say pride, i mean that in a good way because she was raised under a strict mother.

though, of course, she never tells the others she’s the stray cat they’ve been taking in this entire time. speaking of cats, she gets discovered by none other than wolf. and the best meet cute started (⸝⸝ᵕᴗᵕ⸝⸝). i just love nemu’s romance. unlike nico, watching the romance between nemu and keigo/wolf. the reason is, nico’s love is pre-orientated. all of it occurred during childhood. of course, nico’s still trying to make mori see her in a romantic lens (not knowing the only reason he can’t get to that point is because of her spell). nemu on the other hand the romance is happening in real time. on top of that, she’s torn between wolf and keigo as individuals. as mentioned before, (i think) i prefer her with wolf. the reason being, i just personally love the intensity and excitement >ᴗ<. this isn’t to say keigo isn’t fun either, but i think his personality meshes to well with nemu. they have a lot in common in regards to self acceptance and trying to be enough for their mothers (though, keigo’s mom is better because she’s not a strict). so there’s no excitement in terms of romance. i feel like keigo gains more than nemu in their relationship.

now, that honestly could be the appeal to nemu. however, with wolf it’s just so much more adventurous. he’s also hella forward with his thoughts that it doesn’t leave space for miscommunication. he’s very straightforward with his intentions. besides a plus is because he knows all of keigo’s thoughts! there’s less to work around compared to keigo. however, this isn’t hating. whoever she chooses it’s fine with me because i can see the appeal for both. though, i prefer wolf a bit more. some people want to say she’s two-timing or will be whenever they become separated. but to her, keigo and wolf are two in the same. their personalities lean on each other so of course it’s hard for her to “decide” when they share the same entitiy. moreover, nemu’s struggle with trying to be a normal girl is just so much more fun to see. her magic feels like an add on (as it should be). magic is 50% who she is, but she is just trying to be a normal girl who wants friends, experience romance, and live up to her mother’s expectations. she appreciates her friendship with nico (because she’s the closest thing to having someone who could understand what she’s going through). nemu being the main character would allow for the comedic timing to arrive naturally. (p.s. go watch episode 20, one of my favorites. a nemu & wolf centered episode).

⋆☀︎. MIHARU KIRYUU ⋆☀︎.
our token vampire. my thoughts on miharu are quite limited because his introduction didn’t occur till way later in the season. he’s a welcome addition to the group though. his backstory was a nice mix of comedy and sadness. comedic because i thought miharu’s dad was originally his grandpa due to how wrinkled he appeared. turns out! he’s miharu’s dad! i literally reacted as much as the group did when they found this out. i think it’s quite clever to have him be a vampire without actually drinking blood. of course, this is set in modern times so vampire lore can go a different way, but i think this is the first time blood wasn’t the center of the source of energy. INSTEAD! miharu stays “alive” by gathering “energy”. what’s energy you ask? well, the source of “food” for miharu is an individual’s ki. ki is the energy that flows through every human. in replacement for blood he basically drinks the essence of a human (if prolong then it shrivels a person). either way, it was sad to see miharu’s childhood of him being weary of his effect on others that he felt like he couldn’t live a normal life.

thankfully, the ever dependable and rock of the group, morihito, takes it upon himself to take in miharu. since he’s an ogre, he has immense ki that doesn’t allow him to turn lifeless from one small intake. though, it does beg the question how long this can go on in miharu’s life. i really hope he finds a new energy source so he won’t have to stick around morihito. i feel like that would be tiring for both of them. all in all, it was an interesting conventional way of creating new vampire lore. this is probably the first modern vampire that i’ve seen in media that has not used blood as their source of sustenance. A+ for creativity there. futhermore, a new lore drop is that vampires are good swordsmen! this was like peak character design for me. it’s like the author combined two stones in one. since miharu is a vampire, they applied the “vampires get burned in the sun” lore on him. on top of that, they decided to make vampires hella good at swordsmanship. so his umbrella is a two for one, it’s a sword and sun guard! if we go back, vampires did rise in popularity around the time of medieval times.

as for miharu’s personality, he’s blunt af (˶˃ᗢ˂˶). i mean this boy says everything as he sees it. somehow this is a good trait of his because he is a magnet for girls (i forgot the episode but i swear there was a scene were girls were fawning over him). with all his skills it’s crazy to see how mature he is. i can’t think of the reason as to why he is the way he is outside of maybe needing to keep his need for energy under control. though he does uphold the vampire family name, i wouldn’t think he would need to live a strict life. his parents don’t seem to as strict on him about it. if anything, his dad thanked morihito for allowing his son to go out and live a normal life like he’s always wished they could provide him. i hope to see more centered episodes around him. from the use of his powers to his blunt mannerisms, i think he should have more centered episodes around his life too. then again, the cast is quite big as it is, so i understand. i think what he suffers from a bit is finishing his arc in the shortest amount of time. like, yes, his skills can help the group. but while the others have “i want to live a normal life” arc going for them too, miharu doesn’t seem to have much beyond that. maybe having a focus on a substitute for ki instead of hanging around mori to keep a stable energy source?

(ᵕ—ᴗ—) CLOSING THOUGHTS (ᵕ—ᴗ—)
overall, i think this is a fun story (once you accept the repetitive use of humor). i do think the plot has a lot of potential. it’s because of the story, which makes me feel like the use of comedy is teetering between the line of good and unnecessary. oh! there’s also some additional characters i haven’t mentioned, but they make for a funny addition to the cast too. my personal favorite being the class president. the whole student council is full of cliches (in a literal sense too (≧ᗜ≦) but whenever they’re on screen, something is about to go down (in the funniest way possible). in my notes, i put down episode 6 as “cute and fluff,” except i have no idea what happened in that episode that made me put that down (ᵕ—ᗜ—) might have to rewatch to figure out why i put that down. just wish there was a way the plot could move forward and just allow the comedy to flow naturally. also, there are filler episodes. i do think the manga the two characters are making and the anime it’s based on is cool, but i feel like it takes away runtime (ig that’s the whole point of filler). then again, it wouldn’t be a long-running shounen series if it didn’t have filler, so what was i expecting (ᵕ,—ᴗ—,). i guess the question that remains is “would i recommend this?” my answer would depend. if a person enjoys repetitive comedic gags and filler episodes here and there, then why not? if they’re someone who’s easily annoyed like me, then probably not.