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Wistoria: Wand & Sword S2E4 Review

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Wistoria: Wand and Sword season 2 continues its return with episode 4, an installment that reads more like the closing act of a prologue than the opening salvo of a new season. Fans hoping for steady momentum get a rollercoaster of repetition, spectacle, and production unevenness—everything wrapped around a hero moment that’s satisfying in isolation but thin on narrative weight. Below I break down the episode’s highs and lows, what works (and doesn’t), and what to watch for in the chapters ahead. Episode Overview ©Fujino Omori, Toshi Aoi, Kodansha/Wistoria: Wand and Sword Production Committee Episode 4—titled “And So the Story Begins”—feels paradoxically like an ending. The bulk of the runtime is devoted to repeating a single climactic thread: Will’s comeback and the lead-up to a set-piece showdown. After last week’s heavy-handed tease of Will’s transformation, this episode spends significant time hyping that exact moment again before delivering a fla...
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Pokémon Horizons S2: Search for Laqua — Part 3

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Liko, Roy, and Dot leave Paldea behind after completing their Terastallization trials, rejoining the Rising Volt Tacklers as they push deeper into the hunt for Lucius's remaining legendary Pokémon — from Kleavor to the mysterious Black Rayquaza — and get closer to uncovering the true nature of Laqua. This batch of episodes oscillates between meaningful revelations about the past and sluggish pacing that makes parts of the journey feel disappointingly familiar. Below I break down what works, what doesn’t, and why this stretch of Pokémon Horizons: Season 2—The Search for Laqua Part 3 both excites and frustrates in equal measure. Liko, Roy and Dot head out with the Rising Volt Tacklers as the hunt for Laqua continues. Episode Recap: Where the Story Stands This batch picks up immediately after the Terastallization test arc. With the trio now stronger and more confident, the series returns to its long-running hunt for Lucius and his legendary roster. The episodes deliver impor...
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Needy Girl Overdose Ep. 5 Review

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Needy Girl Overdose episode 5 pivots in tone and focus, delivering one of the series’ most surprising and emotionally warm installments. Where earlier episodes reveled in biting satire of parasocial culture and the corrosive hunger for likes, this chapter rewinds to reveal the origin story of Karamazov — the trio of Lollipop, Michica, and Nechika — and reframes those harsh themes through the lens of friendship, creativity, and desire. This review breaks down the episode’s narrative choices, character development, visuals, and what it might mean for the conflict between Karamazov and the mega-streamer OMGKawaiiAngel. © WSS playground / NEEDY GIRL PROJECT Episode 5 recap: A tonal shift toward warmth and origin story Episode 5 abandons the singular focus on Kache and OMGKawaiiAngel’s public personas to dive into the past of Karamazov, showing how their creative collective formed and how the members shaped one another. The episode uses non-linear storytelling to g...
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Masakazu Suzuki Releases Matorism Complete Edition

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Masakazu Suzuki is returning to readers with a revamped "Complete Edition" of his gritty 2017 manga Matorism — a revisited and revised release arriving on Kurage Bunch on May 15. The new edition promises significant revisions and a fresh presentation of Suzuki’s hard-hitting narcotics-crime drama. Suzuki is also credited as composer on a new series, Kaigo to Hyena (Caregiving and Hyenas), by writer Hironori Jinno and artist Nozomi Ishizu, which launches on the same platform on May 26. Image via Kurage Bunch © Masakazu Suzuki, SHINCHOSHA What is Matorism? A concise overview Matorism is a crime-focused manga centered on narcotics agents — known as “Matori” — who hunt and expose drug-related crimes across contemporary Japan. Through the investigations of agents Kusakabe and Saeki, the series explores the human and social consequences of substance abuse, addiction, and the systems that both enable and attempt to punish these activities. The story combines procedural ...
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Shiboyugi Ep. 7 Review — Death Games for Survival

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SHIBOYUGI: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table continues to surprise with bold directorial choices, and episode 7 — the conclusion of The Golden Bath Game — is a clear example of the anime leaning into its own vision. This installment delivers intense emotion, striking imagery, and a finale that feels both inevitable and heartbreakingly imperfect. Below I break down why this episode lands so powerfully for some viewers while leaving others wishing for more breathing room. © 鵜飼有志・ねこめたる/「死亡遊戯で飯を食う。」製作委員会 Adaptation choices: when style reshapes the source This season of SHIBOYUGI has made it clear that the creative team is willing to diverge from light novel and manga beats in service of a distinct audiovisual identity. Director Sōta Ueno’s aesthetic choices — especially how fights and deaths are framed — prioritize mood and psychological resonance over literal recreation of source events. For viewers who appreciate an adaptation that interprets rather t...
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Nippon Sangoku Episode 5 Review

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Episode 5 of Nippon Sangoku: The Three Nations of the Crimson Sun — titled “The Borderland General Corps Marches Out” — shifts the focus from battlefield spectacle to political maneuvering, turning bouts of exposition into compelling drama. This installment is almost entirely about the fallout from last week’s coup in Seii and how Yamato’s leadership, military factions, and individual players respond to an increasingly unstable balance of power. If you expect swords and large-scale clashes, you’ll find fewer of those here; if you appreciate tense dialogue, strategic jockeying, and character beats hidden inside policy debates, this episode delivers. ©松木いっか/小学館/日本三國製作委員会 Politics, Paranoia, and the Art of Exposition What could easily be inert political chatter instead becomes the engine of suspense. The Taira Clan’s push to go on the offensive against Seii — driven by ego and opportunism — contrasts sharply with General Ryumon’s more cautious approach. The episo...
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Renji Morita (That's My Atypical Girl) Launches New Manga May 24

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Renji Morita, best known for their work on That's My Atypical Girl (Asper Kanojo), is returning with a brand-new manga titled Makanai Deka no Chōshu Meshi (The Detective's Meal During Questioning). Announced via Morita’s X (formerly Twitter) and revealed on Kodansha’s YanMaga Web, the new series is scheduled to launch on May 24 — with an earlier rollout set for Kodansha's Comic Days platform. For fans of slice-of-life touches mixed with character-driven storytelling, this title promises an intriguing new take centered on food and investigation. Image via Renji Morita's X/Twitter account ©Renji Morita, Kodansha What we know so far about Makanai Deka no Chōshu Meshi The title Makanai Deka no Chōshu Meshi literally evokes the image of a detective’s meal during questioning — suggesting a concept that blends procedural beats with food-focused moments. Kodansha’s YanMaga Web confirmed the launch date of May 24 and Morita also confirmed the ...
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