Originally planned for a special Christmas review, it took me a bit longer than I expected to finish
Encouragement of Climb: Next Summit, but finish I did. The fourth season in this fantastic series, sadly, has its ups and downs. Much like, well, a mountain. Fitting metaphor, I guess.

We return to normal updates tomorrow. Happy New Year, everyone!

- Tim Jones

Today Allen reviews Mieruko-chan, a series that has a poor girl see ghosts, which they try to wring out for comedy. He's not pleased with the results.

Join us again on Sunday for a surprise review for the new year!

- Tim Jones

Yuji Nunokawa, one of the co-founders of Studio Pierrot, passed away yesterday on Christmas Day at the age of 75.

While we have poked fun of Studio Pierrot in the past for its less-than-stellar production values, it cannot be stressed enough how much joy and fun its company has brought to so many anime fans since its founding in 1979, including here at T.H.E.M. Creamy Mami, Bleach, YuYu Hakusho, Naruto, Fushigi Yugi, Urusei Yatsura, and many, many more series have given us countless hours of entertainment, memories, and discussion. Mr. Nunokawa will be missed here.

Stay tuned soon for a new review from Allen.

- Tim Jones

So yeah, I have the review for The Maid I Hired Recently Is Mysterious, which is a light comedy/drama kind of a deal that's reasonably OK. The potential downside is that, while a ten year old boy crushing on an older girl can be kinda cute, what counts is where they go with it. For now, at least, that's not anywhere iffy, so.... enjoy?

And that's our lot this week. Next week will be a lot more harrowing... for the show's main character. See you all then.

-Stig Høgset.

So yeah, our pick of the week is Tim and I going into My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! X, the sequel to the well received My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! And it's honestly kind of disappointing.

And that's that. Next week will be.... somewhat better, I guess? See you all then.

-Stig Høgset.

Hoo boy, Allen has quite the pick for us this week. He takes one look at Romantic Killer and wonders who thought any of this was a good idea. Particularly the mascot.

I'd like to say that things will be better next week, and by all accounts, it should have been, but.... yeah. See you then.

-Stig Høgset.