I really like this show. I guess I’m just repeating myself over and over again. There was a moment as I was watching this episode, right at the beginning, maybe in the middle of the opening credits, when I was just hit with a wave of giddy joy. Like I was just excited and happy to be here. In my house watching TV on a Saturday at noon.
It was the same type of excitement you get when you’re getting ready for a date with someone you are really into or when you’re about to head out to an event you have been looking forward to for a long time. But it’s just a Saturday morning cartoon and it’s giving me the same thrill. Now that’s worth raving about
Before we get into the episode, and we will get into it. A heck of a lot happened this week! I just want to show you all one last screencap from the opening credits. I just happened to get this one this week and I found it too adorable to get rid of so even though it has nothing to do with my post, I want to share it with all of you:
Awwwww, right? For some reason, I’ve always been particularly happy that Anya managed to make a friend right away.
As promised, let’s talk about episode 14 of Spy x Family. Great right? It reminds you that this is still an action shonen series and when it wants to, it can pull off that edge-of-your-seat experience, no problemo.
Even though it didn’t really happen, and even though I had seen it before, just the possibility of the Forgers losing Loid or anyone else is heartbreaking to me. I understand that both adults here have very dangerous jobs but up until that scene, there’s this vague feeling that the rules don’t really apply to Yor and Loid. That these two are in fact immortal. But they’re not. And Bond’s vision reminded us of that in a soft way. No matter how soft, it still hurt my little heart. And of course, at the core of it is a very young orphan who might lose her family again, and the only support she’s ever known.
I’m doubling back but man Yor is perfect in her mama-bear role. You can just feel that it gives her a sense of purpose. She would also be completely crushed if she lost her new family.
Thankfully, that didn’t happen. Also thankfully, Anya and Bond did not disarm a bomb as that would have been a rather dumb turn of events. Instead, they did the most Anya and Bond think possible and it was perfect. I told you these two were … skookum. I just learned that word and I hope I’m using it right!
Beneath all the emotions and the pure adrenaline/anxiety roller coaster this episode was taking me on, there’s a pretty solid political thriller going on. The students putting together a gruesome act of terrorism in hopes to force a war has an echo of realism to it that makes the entire thing resonate a lot more than it would otherwise. Sylvia’s speech about war simply ending with the idea that anyone who would want it is nothing but an utter child is one of my favourite moments. It reminds us that the characters have gone through a lot before the start of the show and the stakes are high.
The minister switcheroo is a spy thriller trope. I feel like we’ve seen variations of that scene in dozens of movies and shows if not more. Normally, this could be a bit of a bad thing. I don’t mind clichés at all but when a story relies on them too heavily, it tends to get boring. Fortunately, Spy x Family is rather fond of genre subversions and actually throwing in clichés once in a while actually makes everything that’s more original in the show shine brighter.
Some of you may know that I am an absolute softie when it comes to animals, even animated ones. So that last scene is the worst place to end an episode on, for me. That’s exactly where chapter 21 ends as well, for those following along with the manga. I might be wrong but I think so far cour 2 is even more faithful to the manga than the first cour. That one was already very faithful but they added some (really great) flourishes here and there and moved some things around to make it flow better. These last two episodes have been pretty much scene for panel the entire time. I’m not complaining, there are some great panels ahead!
Previous Posts
- Spy x Family episode 1 – Family Man
- Spy x Family episode 2 – Found Family
- Spy x Family episode 3 – Family Ooting
- Spy x Family episode 4 – The Elegant Family
- Spy x Family episode 5 – Meet the Loidman Family
- Spy x Family episode 6 – Like Mother, Like Daughter
- Spy x Family episode 7 – Extended Family
- Spy x Family episode 8 – Family-In-Law
- Spy x Family episode 9 – Briar Family Issues
- Spy x Family episode 10 – Dodgeball Lessons with Mom
- Spy x Family episode 11 – Family Pride
- Spy x Family episode 12 – Family Finale
- Spy x Family episode 13 – Family Pet
That last scene — I felt bad for the dog, too. What I liked about that scene is that Loid did, too. He felt remorse at what he thought he had to do. That’s part of what makes him such a compelling character. He loves his makeshift family. He doesn’t even kill animals lightly — or, so far, threaten to kill them. I haven’t read the manga, so I have no idea what happens.
Part of my brain is trying to convince me that Yor is too one-note. The other part of my brain happily responds that when the single note is so awesome, it might not matter. But if I have one tiny tiny (little) disappointment with this show, it’s that it hasn’t given us a single followup to that scene in the first few episodes. Remember the one? Yor had just finished a job, and she looked so bleak thinking about the cleanup. It was an existential crisis, and I thought it deepened her character.
Though, now that I think about it, maybe every subsequent decision she’s made, including her overwhelming protection of Anya, stems from that moment?
The story hasn’t had the chance to develop Yor too much yet. This said, Yor is the most straightforward character which is a complete subversion of the femme fatale trope and I think that’s on purpose.
Anya still thinks of herself as some sort of probationary employee and worries that she’ll be rejected/replaced if she doesn’t deliver or seems too strange. I wonder when the Forgers will CONSCIOUSLY realize that they’ve become a real family?
I wonder as well. As far as the manga goes, I think Yor may have just realized it
So I was wrong last week; Bond really does see the future. Great addition to the cast; adore him already.
And, yeah, Handler really does seem to have war experience. We knew about Loid, but that speech was devastating. Not sure how much the kids got it.
Also that dog really is a tragic character. Was going to be blown up, and now that that’s off the table he’s in danger of being shot, poor thing.
And next week we’ll get Yuri back; on the job this time (if I interpret his brief scene this week correctly).
Season 2’s every bit as fun as season one.
He does! He was basically the only success of that project. Actually, Bond and Yor also make a great team