Engage Kiss

[neflight86]

4-6

Shu, how do I hate thee? Let me count the ways...

So, he finally has a motivation for his foolishness that borders on reasonable. The revenge for his dead family fell pretty flat, but the possibility that his imouto could still be alive lends some more empathy, at the least. Still hate his useless, constantly apologizing devil-may-care attitude, though. Strange that Kisara apparently hasn't touched the painful memories of loss that are fueling Shu's self destructive campaign, since we find out she gets to choose which memories to eat, and she isn't portrayed as a bad guy (yet).

These episodes were more enjoyable by moving focus away from Shu and onto other characters more and began developing some intrigue, finally. Why they waited until episode four/five to begin hinting at a larger narrative is beyond me; I almost didn't make it. Apparently getting anonymous information from someone that you aren't paying is somewhat fishy and might warrant some suspicion. We'll chalk that up to life experience, yeah? I half expected the reasonable assistant inspector to be some sort of double agent because he was an order of magnitude more competent and helpful than any adult has shown to be in this show so far, but to my great surprise, he seems like a legitimate investigative asset and I believe Shu has another decent ally now. Good for him!

Amidst the monster of the week, we get some more insight into just how screwed Ayano is for still being head over heels for the walking Darwin Award known as Shu. She is till a great screen presence, and they even awkwardly transition into playing the forbidden pattycake during a spell of downtime at a safehouse, as exes sometimes do. Strangely, shockingly, that scene is put to use narratively in both showcasing a divide in how Ayano and Kisara view their relationship with Shu, and prompting a future separation plot point.

Ayano sincerely wants him to be safe and happy, and perhaps with her, if that's not too much to ask. He simply has a consuming desire to achieve his stupid objectives (less stupid now that he might save a life with them) that is fueled, tragically, by spending his memories of the one decent thing in his life, his courtship with Ayano, making him ever more distant. Ayano is finally clued in on this mechanism and has the appropriate contempt for Kisara now that it is known, though they remain 'frenemies/rivals'.

Kisara, on the other hand, is in love with the concept of being with Shu, and his personality apparently doesn't factor in, like at all. She has that blind devotion you see so often in anime where affection is less appropriate than worship. There's history there and a ducking like imprinting on the first person to be nice to her or something similarly anime... She states that she is entirely glad to babysit Shu's brainless/Alzheimer's husk of an existence once he's spent all of his memories with no reduction in her 'love' for him. Now I believe she is a demon. She does possess a jealousy though, since she is specifically erased Shu's memories of pattycake mere hours old for her next battle and pouts that she can't rightfully be mad at him for being seduced when he doesn't remember it. Complex, but ultimately evil and petty.

Then we have the battle nun, staple of many supernatural anime. Can't say her episode and introduction did much for me. Has history with Shu and suggests she two may have partaken in the forbidden transference of cooties back in the day and is of course annoyed when he doesn't remember her. Any woman of the cloth would be. No, the real draw in episode six was the fair attempt at confronting the mystery information broker who predictably gives our gang the slip while providing more information, just not to the audience. That's still probably the most interesting plot thread going on right now in this.

As much as I despise a certain character, I must admit this is a pretty well put together show so far. The story beats are paced well, the action is silly but flashy, and there is enough mystery to keep me wondering.

Some random thoughts:

Good use of Shu's memories being eaten to justify an exposition dump about the church and its role in the fight against demons; you don't always get a convenient way to subvert the 'why are you telling them what they already know' complaint, so bravo for capitalizing on it.

If Kisara wanted to, couldn't she eat Shu's memories of smoking to perhaps reduce his addiction? It might help him quit cold turkey and definitely improve their household finances if he's bringing some 4-6 cartons each week. He'll also probably live longer.

Ayano 10/10 lounge wear.