There are some anime where the moment the final episode ends, you are perfectly happy to wait for the next season. From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman is definitely not one of them. After spending two seasons watching Beryl Gardenant casually embarrass swordsmen who are supposed to be among the best in the kingdom,…
There are manga endings that feel inevitable, and then there are endings where you genuinely have no idea how the author is going to fit everything into the remaining pages. Hope You’re Happy, Lemon (Kuso Onna ni Sachi Are) is firmly in the second category. After 105 chapters of awkward romance, old wounds, body-swapping chaos,…
There are moments in a manga when a character simply wins a fight. And then there are moments when a character wins something much bigger than a match. For me, the ending of Subaru the Invincible Chapter 20 belongs firmly in the second category. The latest chapter, “Brainwashed,” didn’t just set up another exciting karate…
There is something incredibly satisfying about watching a character who has absolutely no idea how strong he really is. That is probably the biggest reason I enjoy From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman so much. Beryl Gardinant doesn’t behave like the typical overpowered fantasy protagonist. He isn’t chasing fame, collecting titles, or constantly reminding…
There are plenty of fantasy anime where the protagonist discovers some ridiculous hidden power and immediately starts acting like the strongest person alive. From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman takes almost the exact opposite approach, and honestly, that is why I enjoy it so much. Beryl Gardinant doesn’t want fame. He doesn’t want a…
There is something incredibly satisfying about watching a character who has absolutely no idea how strong he actually is. That is probably the biggest reason From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman has worked so well for me. Beryl Gardinant does not look like the typical anime protagonist. He is not a teenager with a…
There are plenty of romance anime about lonely characters who suddenly meet someone special and discover the meaning of life. Honestly, that formula can feel pretty tired when it is handled without much thought. Love Unseen Beneath the Clear Night Sky, however, approaches loneliness from a much more personal angle, and that is largely because…
There are plenty of romance anime built around two lonely people slowly finding their way toward each other. Love Unseen Beneath the Clear Night Sky (Toumei na Yoru ni Kakeru Kimi to, Me ni Mienai Koi o Shita) certainly starts that way. You have Kakeru Sorano, a withdrawn university student, and Koharu Fuyutsuki, a bright,…
There are romance stories that are simply cute, stories that are designed to make you smile for a few hours, and then there are those rare series that stay in your head long after you’ve finished reading them. Toumei na Yoru ni Kakeru Kimi to Me ni Mienai Koi o Shita, officially known in English…