Darn you, show, stop that!

Maerchen Maedchen
Studio: Hoods Entertainment
Genre: Fantasy

Seriously! Stop being all funny and s–t! You’re makin’ me look bad! Alas, I suspect subsequent episodes are going to heed what I just said in jest. Team Russia has been an absolute delight of nothing but nonsensical shenanigans and incompetent antics. They’re just a bunch of dorks! Silly, lovable dorks. It’s so contrary to what one typically would associate with Russian characters in fiction. They’re often stereotypically portrayed as stoic and grim. It’s nice seeing that little subversion out of these guys. Particularly the team’s de facto leader, who looks like the typical Russian stereotype, and yet manages to be perhaps the silliest member of the entire group.

“It’s not the magic we’re laughing at!” “These guys are silly enough on their own!”

Really, the entire fight with Russia was one big comedy of errors. In the best way, however. Though this comes at the expense of really being able to even classify it as a “fight.” What little actual action there was had some pretty nice animation. Aside from that, though, there’s not a terrible lot to say about it aside from the ending.

The result of the matchup was sweet in a way. And it also sets up a little more how Hazuki’s own magic supposedly works. Her book seems to respond to her innermost wishes. And that’s a cool concept, in theory. But I like them portraying how it could be a double-edged sword, considering Hazuki’s almost excessively selfless nature and tendency to wish others well.

“C-crap! Screwing up is my magic?!”

The subplot of the council, or whatever they were called, trying to slant the match against Team Japan wasn’t particularly special. But I did actually like the point it ultimately led to. The conflict between traditions and adaptation to modern circumstances. Surely there’s a middle ground, but I like how this series played it. Acting as something of a representation of how people tend to try to validate their actions by claiming they’re adhering to one or the other when really they couldn’t care less about tradition or adaptation and are just acting on their own selfish desires. It’s interesting.

The episode was ultimately another great example of dumb fun. I’m hoping the rest of the series can take notes from this. I wouldn’t mind it getting a little more serious, so long as it doesn’t lose sight of that silliness that makes it so endearing when it does work. I do think Team Germany is going to supply no shortage of drama, especially how they were being built up in the beginning and end of the episode. But that’s a topic for another time. For now, I’ve gotta say this was yet another solid episode of Junk Food, and I’m genuinely glad I picked this up. But if you’re looking for something really out there, apparently Ryuugo no Oshigoto! has gotten… weird. At least that’s the case if EvilBob’s recaps are to be believed.

“But let’s be honest. You’ll be coming back to watch us, anyway.”

Or if you’d rather stick with me on this one, then Maerchen Maedchen is Simulcast on Crunchyroll, Thursdays at 11:00am EST. That’s all for me, here, folks. As always, thanks for reading. Keep up the awesome.

Take care,
C. Voyage