Completed:

• Hell’s Paradise - Well the big surprise was I thought this was a single season show. It mostly definitely is not. Still, I ended up much more satisfied than I was for the first half. Initially felt like an excuse for extreme bloody violence. By the end, I liked several of the characters quite a lot and am very curious where the story goes. If there’s a season 2, I’ll likely continue.

Current releases, following weekly (roughly organized by decreasing interest):

• Oshi No Ko S2 - No new episode.
• Makeine - Still great. The curious thing for me in this anime is it flirts with common tropes, but then subverts it somehow that makes it not bother me. I wish it just avoided certain situations completely, which would make this a much easier recommendation to non-regular-anime-watchers.
• Pseudo Harem - Great episode. This couple is adorable.
• I Parry Everything - Another episode where the stakes just keep going up, and it gets beyond the level of absurd I thought it could do.
• Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings… - More anime tropes I find very boring, but at least it was only part of the episode this time. When it focuses more on the relationship of the main couple, it’s much better.

Watched part of, but not up to date:

• Dungeon People - 6 episodes. Fun and easy watch. The content sometimes surprises me. It looks like it’d be relatively safe for kids, then something happens or is referenced and I realize it’s more adult than it looks.
• Days With My Stepsister - 4 episodes. Watched because it keeps hitting very high on the weekly charts. I’m super leery of the subject, but it’s surprisingly mature and realistic. Veerrrry slow though. It’s good enough I’ll keep going, because I think it started really climbing the charts for its later episodes.
• Wistoria - 3 episodes. Watched because it’s been higher on charts. Fun story, good animation, likable characters, interesting world. Ya I’ll probably keep going.
• No Longer Allowed In Another World - 1 episode. Watched because charts. The obsession with suicide is very off putting (I don’t think this subject should be handled to lightly…), and then I learned the MC is based on a real person (who actually died by suicide) and that made it feel really icky to me. I’ll admit, I laughed several times in the first episode. But I dunno if I’ll keep going.

Current releases, following weekly (roughly organized by decreasing interest):

• Oshi No Ko S2 - Finally hit the climax I’d been waiting for. Really nailed it between the last episode and this one, then hooked in for exciting plot progression. Great episode.
• Makeine - Looks like focus is shifting to a new character again, with a new accompanying (excellent) ED. It was a bit of an exposition episode, so a bit less exciting than the last few, but still excellent.
• Pseudo Harem - A bit slower episode for me. Still good.
• I Parry Everything - Caught up this week. It’s great. Tension and scale keeps escalating and the silliness keeps outclassing what I thought was peak absurdity. Characters are very likable and animation is serviceable. Try a couple episodes!
• Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings… - Ya, mostly just finishing because I’ve watched this far. The general conceit of the series feels mostly forgotten, and is largely the type of anime I wasn’t really here for from the beginning.

Watched part of, but not up to date:

• Hell’s Paradise - 10 episodes. Alright I was kinda iffy for a while, but I’ve really enjoyed the last couple episodes. Finally filling in story a bit and setting up an overall plot that is fun and understandable. I’m definitely finishing now.
• Dungeon People - 4 episodes. Got some time to try it out more and it’s excellent. Surprisingly darker than I expected, based on the animation style! But very silly, fun exploration of dungeon crawl tropes, and a low stakes mood. Really nice easy watch that slightly mollifies the gaping hole that finishing Frieren and Dungeon Meshi left.

Completed:

• Scavenger’s Reign - Not anime, but so good. Super strange world with bizarre but just realistic enough creature designs, great animation, great sound effects. Y’all should check it out. It’s a wild ride from start to finish, and I’d be ecstatic if it gets picked up by somebody for a second season.

Current releases, following weekly (roughly organized by decreasing interest):

• Oshi No Ko S2 - The last few episodes have been excellent. I thought they’d get to a mid season climax sooner and move on to other plot, but nah it seems to keep adding in backstory and side stories to fill in on many of the characters. It’s been great, but I’d like it to finally get to the climax.
• Makeine - Surprise hit of the season. I’m absolutely loving it. Probably more than Oshi No Ko, if I’m being honest. Seriously worth checking out.
• Pseudo Harem - That previous episode was such a fake out not-ending. I had to look up details to make sure I hadn’t missed something. No, it really has like 5 more episodes planned. Then this week just picked up and kept going lol. It’s been great and gives me such cozy early-relationship feelings.
• Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings… - Previous episode kinda threw me. I wasn’t expecting certain tropes to be in this kind of show and I don’t know what I think of it. Then the current week episode kinda kept going on that. I’ll probably finish out the season, since I’m this invested already but it’s sorta losing me. Surprisingly, Yuki was my favorite part of this week’s episode!

Watched part of, but not up to date:

• I Parry Everything - Almost caught up. Really enjoying this one a lot! Feels similar quality and tone to Helck and I really enjoyed that one.
• Hell’s Paradise - 8 episodes. Still a bit graphic for me, but I’ve enjoyed it enough to keep going. Animation is quite impressive.
• My Deer Friend Nokotan - 3 episodes. I haven’t felt like returning to it. I think I may drop it for this season, since I’ve read it doesn’t really improve from this point.
• Dungeon People - 1 episode. I’ll probably make time for this soon after I finish catching up with Parry Everything.

Oh nice. I’ve been verrrrrrry slowly watching OG Trigun over the last year. I think I’m also at episode 13. It hasn’t really clicked for me, hence the ultra slow watch. But I’d like to finish it and get to the new version. Maybe I’ll prioritize it a bit more since you’re watching and can bounce thoughts off of.

Last I remember, there was finally some character development exploring Vash’s motivations. But I just can’t shake the feeling of it being off brand Cowboy Bebop and not as cool or fun. And definitely agree on struggling with outdated norms of humor.

What do you mean? My kids have been playing my library using the new Family Sharing rules for a couple months on my LCD deck by opting into the beta.

And yes, the new Family Sharing is amazing. It’s made me want to buy exclusively into Steam ecosystem.

Finally had some time to catch up.

Completed:

• Cyberpunk Edgerunners - Absolutely phenomenal animation, music, storytelling and production. But also not really my thing. Super downer of a story (fitting the genre) and a world I find horrifyingly possible. It’s good, but I didn’t have a great time haha.
• Was Reincarnated As The 7th Prince… - My silly light hearted watch of the season. This was sooo much better than I expected. I struggled with some certain common tropes, but the rest was so fun that I could overlook it.
• Delicious in Dungeon S1C2 - Brilliant. Tied with Frieren for my anime of the year for this year. Animation, characters, story, humor, world building, everything are just top notch. Loved it.
• Carol and the End of the World - Yea, not really anime. It’s weird and different and evoked a lot of emotion out of me. Not nearly as downer as the premise made me expect. Much more of a metaphorical exploration of the value of life and experiences. The asteroid is coming for all of us, anyway, it’ll just hit at different times for each. How are you spending your remaining time? The show peaks at like episode 6 though, and the last few I think are skippable.

Watched part of:

• Oshi No Ko S2 - Caught up. I loved S1 (just missed my anime of the year because Frieren) so I was very psyched for S2. It’s started slow but really ramped up quick. The last couple episodes have been phenomenal. Really looking forward to where this is going.
• My Deer Friend Nokotan - 3 episodes. Very hit or miss, but I’ve literally lol’d multiple times. Probably keep watching when I’m in the mood for something dumb lol.
• Makeine - Caught up. Surprise hit of the season for me. Absolutely loving it. The animation and production quality are stunning, and I love all the characters. It sorta feels like it’s focusing on the three main female characters in each 4 episode chunk. The last episode had a new ED that suggested a different focus. Definitely finishing.
• Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings… - Almost caught up. Enjoying it but not loving it. The conceit feels a little forced and unrealistic, every time it happens. Yuki is my least favorite part, by far. Feels the most over-the-top ridiculous and kinda taking me out of my immersion for the rest. I like the other characters and it’s a fun lighter watch, so I’ll probably keep watching.
• Pseudo Harem - 4 episodes. Super cute main characters and pretty realistic setup. Enjoying a lot. Likely finish.
• Scavenger’s Reign - 9 episodes. Not really anime, but figured it’s worth a mention. I’m loving this. Most of the time, my mouth is slackjawed open in horror at whatever the hell is happening. Body horror, psych horror, great characters, striking animation and sound that feels so realistic I can believe these crazy things are really happening in this bizarre planet. Really loving it.
• Hell’s Paradise - 4 episodes. Incredible animation, but wow it’s gory. It’s a bit much for me. I’ll probably watch a few more at least.
• Dungeon People - 1 episode. Liked the start. Try more when I have time.
• I Parry Everything - 1 episode. Giving me Helck energy, which I liked a lot. Likely try more some time.
• Plus Sized Elf - 1 episode. Nah, not for me. Too much fan service.

I just signed up for their 2 year subscription deal, and always looked forward to getting my latest edition. Also listened to their podcast, which was great too. Super bummed about this.

Can’t believe we’re in a new season already. Oshi No Ko is an obvious must-watch for me. Otherwise feels a little lighter, which is great. Might catch up on last season a bit.

Been a very light season for me. Tons of IRL commitments, little viewing. I’ll have a lot to catch up on eventually!

Watched all of:

• Mushoku Tensei S2C2 - Excellent adaptation. Really love how well it’s coming together.
• X-men ‘97 - Ya, not really anime, but I was excited about it. It peaked mid-season for me. Still good and worth watching, especially if you have nostalgia for the OG series.

Watched part of:

• I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince… - Most of the way through. Surprisingly good. It’s got some problematic content (way too much fan service for me, weird pedo-like obsession, etc) but the rest is very well done, so I’m overlooking those. The first few episodes are just unhinged and wild in a really fun way. Lloyd is a hilarious MC. Definitely plan to finish.
• Cyberpunk Edgerunners - About halfway. Really good. Not my typical interest, still enjoying a lot. Definitely plan to finish.
• Chillin’ in Another World… - A few episodes in. Fun and light. Enjoying more than expected. Probably finish.
• Spice and Wolf Remake - Only watched a bit. Interesting but hasn’t grabbed me yet. Probably watch a few more.
• Jellyfish Can’t Swim At Night - Good but haven’t been in the mood for this style lately. Probably watch a few more.
• Ojisaan to Obasaan - Yea, tried one episode. Not for me.
• Bartender of the Gods - Tried a bit. It’s okay. Probably pass.

Catch-up efforts:

• Konosuba S1 - Finished this season. It’s good but it’s kind of a lot. Probably try more S2 eventually.
• Slime-san S2 - Finally got over the hurdle of those meeting episodes and the rest was good. Didn’t realize quite how much catch up there is!
• Date A Live S1 - Tried the first bit because it was ranking so highly on Anime Corner. I dunno, I didn’t love the beginning. Maybe not for me.

Stuff to definitely watch later:

• Dungeon Meshi S1C2 - Must watch.
• Yuru Camp S3 - Must watch.

Interested in trying:

• Kaiju No 8
• Go Go Loser Ranger

Eventual catch-up:

• Konosuba S3
• Demon Slayer S?
• MHA S?